Disney and Lucasfilm have just confirmed reports that screenwriter Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) will write the screenplay for Star Wars: Episode VII.  We previously reported that Arndt was said to have already prepared a 40-50 page draft of at least the first new Star Wars installment and perhaps the entire sequel trilogy.  This was well in advance of the announcement of Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm and the rights to Star Wars for more than $4 billion.  To see what Disney/Lucasfilm had to say, hit the jump.Here's the confirmation from the official Star Wars news blog (via Variety's Jeff Sneider):
MICHAEL ARNDT TO WRITE SCREENPLAY FORÂ STAR WARS: EPISODE VII
November 09, 2012
As pre-production of Star Wars: Episode VII begins, Lucasfilm has confirmed that award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay for the new Star Wars film. As revealed in the ongoing video series posted here on StarWars.com, Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas have begun story conferences with Arndt. Arndt won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay for writing Little Miss Sunshine (2006), and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for writing Toy Story 3 (2010).
For more news about Star Wars: Episode VII -- slated for a 2015 release -- keep checking StarWars.com.
Get caught up on the latest Star Wars news here and check out our recent coverage below:
- Disney Buys Lucasfilm for $4 Billion; STAR WARS: EPISODE 7 Will Kick Off New Trilogy in 2015 [Updated]
- George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy Talk the Future of STAR WARS; Reveal Theyâve Already Met with Writers for EPISODE VII
- 5 Suggestions for Who Should Direct STAR WARS: EPISODE VII
- Disney CEO Bob Iger and George Lucas Talk LucasFilm Acquisition and STAR WARS
- Fox Still Owns Rights to STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE; Box Set Releases Could Be Tricky
- Could the Next STAR WARS Trilogy Feature Luke Skywalker in His 30s or 40s?
- Mark Hamill Comments on STAR WARS Sale, Meeting with George Lucas and Carrie Fisher About the Upcoming Sequel Trilogy and More!
- George Lucas to Donate Most of His $4 Billion from Lucasfilm Sale to Education Charity
- STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Likely to Depart from Cartoon Network in Wake of Disney Purchase
- Is Matthew Vaughn in Talks to Direct STAR WARS: EPISODE VII?
- STAR WARS Sequel News: Harrison Ford Open to Returning as Han Solo in the New Trilogy
- Mark Millar Gives KICK-ASS 2 Updates; Comments on Matthew Vaughn Possibly Directing STAR WARS: EPISODE VII
- STAR WARS Sequel News: Michael Arndt May Pen STAR WARS: EPISODE VII; Brad Bird, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg to Read His Treatment; Zack Snyder Out
- George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy Talk STAR WARS: EPISODE VII Directors; Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino Take Themselves Out of the Running