Lawrence Kasdan is an American film screenwriter, producer, and director best known as the co-writer of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, as well as Raiders of the Lost Ark. In early 2013, it was announced that Kasdan was returning to the Star Wars franchise to write one of the spinoff films. In October 2013, it was announced that he would be co-writing the Star Wars Episode VII script with director J.J. Abrams, replacing Michael Arndt.