New standalone Star Wars movie is scheduled for release 2016

Lucasfilm has announced the director and writer of the first standalone Star Wars film.

We all know of the new Star Wars trilogy and that filming has already started. But in addition, Disney and Lucasfilm will be producing numerous stand-alone movies that go deeper into the Star Wars universe.

Gareth Edwards will direct the first stand-alone film, with a screenplay by Gary Whitta. The film is due out Dec. 16, 2016, according to starwars.com.

Edwards directed the hit “Godzilla.” Whitta wrote “The Book of Eli” starring Denzel Washington.