The Avengers-like Star Wars movie world continues to take shape as the franchise continues to snap up some of the hottest young directors (and actors!). After announcing that Godzilla‘s Gareth Edwards would helm the first Star Wars  spinoff, slated for a 2016 release, it has now been announced that Josh Trank will be helming another.

Though the date of Trank’s installment hasn’t been confirmed, it seems likely that it will be nestled into 2018, snugly between new Episodes in ’17 and ’19. Trank’s Chronicle is still his only major motion picture to be released yet, but since being attached to Fantastic Four (and its sequel, because of course there’s already a sequel) Trank has become one of Hollywood and the press’ favorite names to bat around, blessed with both indie film respect and big budget studio belief.

As noted by SlashFilm, the press release (which you can read below) does not list a writer, leaving open the possibility that Trank’s Fantastic Four collaborator Simon Kinberg could be on this film. He’s already handling two other tentpoles – what’s one more?

Here’s the press release, from StarWars.com:

In addition to the episodes of a new Star Wars trilogy, Lucasfilm and Disney continue development of multiple stand-alone movies that will offer new stories beyond the core Saga. The newest director to come on board is Josh Trank.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Josh into the family,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “He is such an incredible talent and has a great imagination and sense of innovation. That makes him perfectly suited to Star Wars, and for this new slate of movies that reach beyond the core characters and storylines of Episodes I through IX.”

Trank states, “The magic of the Star Wars Universe defined my entire childhood. The opportunity to expand on that experience for future generations is the most incredible dream of all time.”

Trank captured imaginations worldwide with his critically lauded directorial debut Chronicle, a fresh and engaging take on the superhero genre. Trank is currently at work on The Fantastic Four for 20th Century Fox.

With Gareth Edwards and Gary Whitta doing the still mystery 2016 Star Wars standalone film, it seems pretty likely – but still unconfirmed – Trank’s film would be released in 2018, the year after Star Wars Episode VIII hits theaters. Timing wise, that also makes sense as Edwards recently completed a project and Trank is now filming his second, the massive 2015 release Fantastic Four. It also all but confirms he’s done with Marvel and Fox after completing that movie.

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Tyler Hanan

Tyler raves about movies on the Let The Right Films In podcast. Listen to him make jokes over his beleaguered cohost Kayla St. Onge and their more qualified guests who deserve so much better at soundcloud.com/ltrfipod. Find him on Twitter @tylerhanan.

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