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'Star Wars: Episode VII'

Israeli to produce next 'Star Wars' films

Ram Bergman named producer for two of next three episodes in epic space saga, to be directed by longtime collaborator Rian Johnson.

He was born and raised in the central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion but is soon traveling to outerspace – in the movies at least.

 

 

Israeli producer Ram Bergman, who has become a rising star in Hollywood in recent years thanks to his production of a series of high-quality films like "Looper" and "Don Jon," has been chosen to produce two of the next three episodes in the "Star Wars" saga, American media reported over the weekend.

 

"Star Wars: Episode VII," the film opening the latest trilogy in the epic space series, is shooting in London with the stars of the original trilogy, under the direction of J. J. Abrams, who helmed "Lost", "Super 8", and the "Star Trek" reboot.

 

Abrams, a successful Hollywood director, was expected to direct the next episode in the new and highly anticipated trilogy, but the Deadline Hollywood blog revealed over the weekend that the Walt Disney Studios, which hold the rights to the space saga, had decided that the next two episodes would be written and directed by Rian Johnson ("Brick," "The Brothers Bloom," "Looper").

 

Cast of 'Star Wars: Episode VII,' which is currently shooting in Abu Dhabi (Photo: StarWars.com)
Cast of 'Star Wars: Episode VII,' which is currently shooting in Abu Dhabi (Photo: StarWars.com)

 

Johnson is considered one of the most prominent directors in the American independent film industry and all his films have been produced by the Israeli Ram Bergman.

 

The Walt Disney Company was likely impressed by the success of "Looper," a science fiction thriller starring Bruce Willis, which was produced with a modest budget and generated more than $176 million around the world, and decided that Johnson and Bergman were ready to move up in Hollywood.

 

Bergman, 45, traveled to the US after completing his military service and gradually became involved in the world of film production. His decision a decade ago to produce a small independent film called "Brick" based on a script written by Johnson, who was a completely anonymous director at the time, boosted both his and Johnson's careers.

 

These days, Bergman is producing actress Natalie Portman's first film as director, "A Tale of Love and Darkness," which is based on a 2002 book by Israeli writer Amos Oz and was shot in Jerusalem several months ago.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.22.14, 23:53
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