Hollywood Popular Artists

Nov 5th 2012, 20:35

The rate of growth of "Star Wars: Episode 7" talk is escalating. In less than a week, we've moved from wild speculation to what is now being reported as the first major rumor as to who will direct the first installment of a new trilogy.

Steve Weintraub over at Collider just published a story based on tips that he received from his sources, who claim to have inside knowledge of an ongoing deal. According to them, ex-"Thor," -"X-Men: First Class," and -"X-Men: Days of Future Past" director Matthew Vaughn is now in talks with Disney and Lucasfilm to helm at least the first installment of a new "Star Wars" trilogy.

As this is the first widespread rumor citing a specific director, one clearly labeled as such, and one that isn't backed up with secondary sources, we would normally, instantaneously and mercilessly roll our eyes at it, but Collider's story is getting play on most of the major movie blogs for a couple of reasons.

The first is Weintraub's track record. When it comes to posting unconfirmed rumors, Collider has a pretty good track record of being right or close to right. It was just last week that they scooped the announcement of Francis Lawrence as the director of both "Mockingjay" movies.

The second is the timing of all of this, and here's where it starts getting conspiratorial. According to Collider's sources, "Star Wars" is the reason for Vaughn's sudden departure from "X-Men: Days of Future Past," a film he's been developing for quite a while. Vaughn left that project in the hand of Bryan Singer days before the Disney-Lucasfilm announce.

It all sounds suspicious, but "Days of Future Past" isn't the first movie Vaughn has walked away from. Hell, it's not even the first "X-Men" movie he's walked away from. (He eventually came back to "First Class." Obviously.)

The first rebuttal came a short time later when Borys Kit from Heat Vision took to Twitter to share his insight on the talk. "Good Matthew Vaughn directing Star Wars Episode 7 rumor out there," he said. "Being told it's not true."

So for now, we suggest sticking out your lower lips, nodding your head, saying "That would be pretty cool," and then going on with your life until we hear something from Lucasfilm, which should be relatively soon if they plan on sticking to their 2015 release window.

Would you be happy with Matthew Vaughn directing "Star Wars: Episode 7"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

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