A source from LucasFilm has told E Online that the story for Star Wars: Episode VII will be completely original. This will come as quite a surprise to die-hard fans that had assumed Timothy Zahn's "Thrawn Trilogy," would be the template for the next trilogy. UPDATE!

So is that the basis for Episode 7 or not? I've heard directly from LucasFilm and other sources close to the picture, and they say: Definitely not.



"It's an original story," a LucasFilm source tells me.



In other words, forget the Star Wars novels. Forget the graphic novels. Forget everything you think you know about what happens to Luke Skywalker. According to my sources, Episode 7 will literally be nothing you've ever seen or read before from the Star Wars universe.



I also hear from several sources that, no matter what you may hear to the contrary, no director has been officially attached to the project.

UPDATE!

“Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that one possibility being considered is an Avengers-style movie universe with not only Lucas’ planned final trio of films but offshoot movies focusing on individual characters.”

Thanks to Jasper Cresdee-Hyde & Unleash Fanboy for the heads up

Timothy Zahn's "Thrawn Trilogy" is a series of novels that pick up five years after the events depicted in "Return of the Jedi." The books have been mostly embraced by the fans. They have been praised for their outstanding action and the inclusion of new intricate characters that helped expand the Star Wars' universe. The most popular of those new characters is Mara Jade. A complex female character that initially tries to avenger the death of Palpatine by killing Luke Skywalker, but eventually she falls for Luke and becomes his wife and the mother of his son, Ben.