Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) has had about a year to work on screenwriting duties for Star Wars: Episode VII, but now director-producer J.J. Abrams will take over, along with longtime writer and current consultant, Lawrence Kasdan.  As the duo refines the script in advance of the film's planned start date of spring 2014, work continues in the location scouting, production design, casting, and costume design departments.

Hit the jump for more details in the press release.

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Here's the press release announcing Abrams and Kasdan as the Star Wars Episode VII screenwriters (via StarWars.com):

MASTER FILMMAKING TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR STAR WARS: EPISODE VII

As Episode VII continues pre-production, Lawrence Kasdan and director J.J. Abrams have assumed screenwriting duties for the film. Kasdan, who has been serving as a consultant on the film, is a veteran of several classic Lucasfilm productions, writing the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark and serving as co-screenwriter for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Acclaimed director and screenwriter Abrams' credits include Super 8Mission: Impossible IIIFringe, and Lost. "I am very excited about the story we have in place and thrilled to have Larry and J.J. working on the script," states Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. "There are very few people who fundamentally understand the way a Star Wars story works like Larry, and it is nothing short of incredible to have him even more deeply involved in its return to the big screen. J.J. of course is an incredible storyteller in his own right. Michael Arndt has done a terrific job bringing us to this point and we have an amazing filmmaking and design team in place already prepping for production." Location scouting, production design, casting, and costume design are already underway on Episode VII. A team of gifted artists are working to bring the latest installment of the Star Wars saga, including director of photography Dan Mindel (Mission: Impossible IIIStar TrekStar Trek Into Darkness), production designers Rick Carter (LincolnAvatarForrest Gump) and Darren Gilford (OblivionTRON: Legacy), costume designer Michael Kaplan (Star Trek Into DarknessMission: Impossible - Ghost ProtocolFight Club),special effects supervisor Chris Corbould (Skyfall,The Dark Knight RisesInception), sound designer Ben Burtt (LincolnWall-EStar Wars: Episodes I-VI), re-recording mixer Gary Rydstrom (Jurassic ParkSaving Private RyanToy StoryMission: Impossible -Ghost Protocol), supervising sound editor Matthew Wood (Star Trek Into DarknessThe MasterThere Will Be Blood) of Skywalker Sound, and visual effects supervisor Roger Guyett (Star Trek Into DarknessPirates of the Caribbean: At World's EndStar Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith) of Industrial Light & Magic. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper (Mission: Impossible - Ghost ProtocolJack RyanStar Trek Into Darkness) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin,War of the Worlds) serving as executive producers. John Williams is returning to score Star Wars: Episode VII. Shooting is scheduled to begin Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios for an expected 2015 release.
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