Corona | Coming Attractions

Earlier today New York magazine's showbiz gossip source Vulture broke the story that Watchmen / 300 director Zack Snyder would be making his own Star Wars movie. It wouldn't be the long prophecised Episode VII, or Episode VIII, or even Episode IX, but a stand-alone Star Wars movie that would feature new, never before seen Jedi characters.

This rumored Star Wars movie that Snyder was going to make would be his version of Akira Korosawa's Seven Samurai, with the Jedi Knights and their lightsabers subbing for the blade-wielding ronin.

Vulture's story swiftly spread around the internet like the Millennium Falcon doing their speedy version of the Kessel Run. But a few short hours afterward, The Hollywood Reporter doused a bucket of cold water on their competitor's tale.

According to a rep of Snyder's that spoke with THR, the Man of Steel filmmaker "is not involved in any way with the new Star Wars." Wondering if that was carefully worded doublespeak, Snyder's rep then went on to say that his client is not involved with any of the new Star Wars Episodes, nor the two spinoff movies that Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are writing.

But Vulture was not done. As the Reporter's story was picked up as gospel and reported by the same sites that, hours before, had ran with the Vulture tale, now the first site updated their original story to stick by their source and their reporting. "Vulture takes the accuracy of its reports very seriously," began the update. "This reporter heard through a source very familiar with the situation that Snyder recently flew up to Marin County to meet with Lucasfilm execs about the project. When subsequently reached by Vulture, Snyder's spokesperson would only repeat that he 'is' not currently involved."

I know from personal experience that Lucasfilm will lie; they did just that when Coming Attractions broke the news about Jimmy Smits being cast in Star Wars Episode II and III and claimed that it was a false online report. In the ten years since then the company's policy about these kind of online breaks may not have changed. Snyder may very well have gone up to Lucasfilm HQ and talked about a stand-alone Star Wars movie concept but the deal might not be anywhere close to being signed.

As a wise sage-like Jedi Knight once told a young Luke Skywalker, trust your feelings. They will guide you.