Rumor: Simon Kinberg Has Replaced Gary Whitta as Writer on the 2016 Stand Alone Film

News broke last week that Gary Whitta was no longer working on the first Star Wars stand alone film, to be released on December 16, 2016.  While the departure seemed amicable, the question that most fans were asking was who would be taking over the script writing duties on the Gareth Edwards directed film.  /Film believe they have found the answer.  According to their sources, Simon Kinberg (Star Wars Rebels, X-Men Days of Future Past) has replaced Whitta on the film.  /Film did reach out to Lucasfilm and Kinberg's representatives about this story, but both  declined to comment.

This move seems to make a lot of sense.  Kinberg has played a huge role behind the scenes at Lucasfilm since the Disney takeover, serving as consultant on The Force Awakens, executive producer on Star Wars Rebels, and is writing his own spin off film (other than the 2016 one).  In addition to that, Kinberg was approved by George Lucas to be one of the filmmakers taking Star Wars into the future right before the big change.  

With Kinberg taking over, it appears he is now writing both stand alone films due out in 2016 and 2018.  Kinberg, along with Lawrence Kasdan (who has since transitioned to The Force Awakens writing duties), was part of the original announcement of the stand alones and it was believed that he helped pick Josh Trank to direct the 2018 film which he is believed to be writing.

As always this is just a rumor until confirmed or denied by Lucasfilm or Disney.