The movie is expected to be released in 2016.
Ohio University students might be surprised to know that the co-producer for two upcoming Star Wars films does not come from a galaxy far, far away.
John Swartz, an OU alumnus, co-produced Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens and will also co-produce the standalone film Star Wars: Rogue One, alongside producers Kathleen Kennedy and Tony To, according to a Disney announcement last week.
Swartz graduated from OU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and again in 2006 with a master's in telecommunications and media management, according to his LinkedIn page.
“That’s really an exciting thing just to think about, that John is working as co-producer on the standalone Star Wars film, and he’s also involved in the new Star Wars film that’s coming out,” said Roger Cooper, associate professor in the School of Media Arts and Studies. “He’s passionate about what he does. And that’s why he’s been able to make the kind of inroads in his career. He’s just a really great credit to our program.”
The Force Awakens is currently in post-production and has a theatrical release set for Dec. 18. Rogue One is set for a December 2016 release.
The Post reached out to Swartz, but he was unable to comment because Lucasfilms is not doing any publicity for Rogue One before the release of The Force Awakens.
Rogue One is one of two standalone films that will come to theaters in December 2016, according to starwars.com. The film will be directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla), and the screenplay will be written by Chris Weitz (Cinderella). Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) is the first actress to be confirmed for the film, according to a Disney news release.
Alex Lumley, sophomore studying broadcast journalism, is an avid Star Wars fan and is excited to hear the news of a new movie as well as OU’s ties to the film.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="13f4bc48-aa44-11e4-ac21-e347d4cfcbf5"}}
“Star Wars is a huge franchise and a huge name,” Lumley said. “To have someone who graduated from Ohio University have such a large role in the film is truly incredible and speaks to the quality of the programs we have here at OU.”
Marissa Donovan, a sophomore in the media arts and studies program, said she met Swartz when she studied in Los Angeles for a semester through a program for the media arts and studies students at OU.
“He was awesome, and really nice,” Donovan said. “He talked about how to stay in contact with people and kind of how to leave a good impression when you’re working in the media business.”
Lumley said he is one of the few hardcore Star Wars fans to have faith in Disney’s ability to pull off the movie for viewers.
“I think with Disney and Lucasfilm behind them, it’s going to be a huge success,” he said.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="0d2b29de-c90b-11e4-a7bf-dbd2a61f5027"}}
Cooper said having Swartz as a contribution to such a large production mirrors Swartz’s hard work at OU.
“He is not only very talented, but extremely hard-working,” Cooper said. “He’s making these leaps in his career.”
@mmfernandez_
mf736213@ohio.edu
@SamuelHHoward
Sh335311@ohio.edu
