Update: Well, that was quick. While there's always a chance he's having to keep things quiet, Snyder's PR team reached out to The Hollywood Reporter to deny the report. "While he is super flattered because he is a huge fan, Zack is not involved in any way with the new Star Wars. He is currently in post on his two films, Man Of Steel and 300: Rise Of An Empire.”

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If the announcement that Disney had bought Lucasfilm and would be producing a series of new Star Wars films seemed to come out of nowhere, here’s another surprise. While 300/Watchmen director Zack Snyder previously ruled himself out of directing Episode VII, Vulture is reporting that he’s developing a stand-alone, parallel project.

So far, all that is known about the putative idea – which remains in the Rumour Zone for now, since there has been no official confirmation yet – is that it’ll focus on Jedi knights and is loosely based on Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai.

As for when (or even if) it fits into current Wars chronology is still to be revealed, but in real world terms, it’s apparently being geared for production after Episode VII starts shooting.

So it would appear that the Jedi are going to be bringing their “more elegant” weapons to the service of those who need them most. But the rest? Up for grabs. Start your speculating now, people: what do you think this might mean for the future of the franchise? Could it be a stealth way for Snyder to make one of the other new trilogy movies? Or will it truly stand-alone? And what would you expect from a Snyder Star Wars movie if it even happened?

The director’s latest take on a classic property, Man Of Steel, will land in UK cinemas on June 14.