Breaking Bad's Robert Forster has passed away

American actor Robert Forster has passed away at the age of 78.

In the wake of Star Wars' success, Forster played Captain Dan Holland in Disney's The Black Hole and was forever immortalised as an action figure from Mego. In the nineties, he starred in director Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, for which he was Oscar-nominated, and most recently appeared in Twin Peaks and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie for Netflix.

He'll always be Captain Dan Holland to the Star Wars generation! RIP Robert Forster.

Rian Johnson to write and direct Star Wars sequels

Lucasfilm's left field director choices for Star Wars continues with Looper's Rian Johnson if Deadline is to be believed. The site claims Johnson will be taking over directorial duties from JJ Abrams on Episodes VIII and IX.

Rumours suggest Episode VII will be self-contained, much like the original Star Wars, whereas the two sequels will follow an ongoing narrative arc written and directed by Rian Johnson.

Rian Johnson's best known for the critically-acclaimed indie hit Brick, The Brothers Bloom and television hit series Breaking Bad.

Is Johnson the right choice? Let me know in the comments below.

JJ Abrams says Star Wars script is done and confirms talks with Breaking Bad's Jesse Plemons

How's this for an early birthday (mine) present. Talking to The Wrap JJ Abrams says the script for Star Wars Episode VII is complete, and confirms that he’s talked with Breaking Bad actor Jesse Plemons about a role.

The Star Trek Into Darkness director confirmed that Plemons is among the actors he’s speaking with, and expressed surprise about the reports of his talks with the actor.

“He is one of the actors that we’ve talked to, yeah,” Abrams said. “But, you know. It’s not often that I read about actors that I’m going to be meeting… that I get to read articles about actors who are going to come in. And so I get to see someone and say, ‘Oh, I read that I’m going to see you.’ … It’s usually agents talking to people about what’s happening. It’s a lot of noise.”

And the script, expected to be delivered by the end of January, is indeed in place.

“We’re working really hard and we’ve got our script and we’re in deep prep. Full steam ahead, y’know.”