Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg Are Writing 'Star Wars' Spinoffs ... Not 'Episode VIII' and 'Episode IX'?

The next phase of the Star Wars universe took an interesting twist on Wednesday, when The Hollywood Reporter reported that Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are writing Star Wars movies ... but they won't be Star Wars: Episode VIII or Star Wars: Episode IX.

But now insiders tell THR that while Kasdan and Kinberg have indeed been hired to work on the Star Wars franchise, they will be writing separate projects (hence the reason why they also would receive producer credits), not necessarily Episode VIII and Episode IX. 

Their scripts could turn into official “Episodes” in the main Skywalker storyline, or they could form the basis for spinoffs focusing on side characters.

When word got out last week that Kasdan would be writing one of the new Star Wars movies, fans were elated. Kasdan was the man behind the script for Empire Strikes Back, the greatest Star Wars film. Bringing Kasdan back into the Star Wars fold is a brilliant move on Disney's part. The screenwriter's role is a bit murkier now. So he's writing a Star Wars movie that isn't part of the Skywalker storyline but it could eventually be?

This news also pretty much confirms that the Skywalkers will be the focus of the Sequel Trilogy, meaning Episodes I through IX will be Skywalker-centric. If this is the case, will non-Skywalker movies go without the "Episode" marker?