The force seems to be strong within Kathleen Kennedy.

Word from Deadline is that the new head of Lucasfilm may be talking to Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg, respectively, about writing “Star Wars Episode 8″ and “Star Wars Episode 9″. The twosome would succeed Michael Arndt, who is currently writing “Star Wars Episode 7″.

Fans of the series would likely welcome Kasdan and Kinberg to the fold. Kasdan wrote both “Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi”, while Kinberg is responsible for “X-Men : First Class”, one of the better science-fiction blockbusters of recent times.

Lucasfilm aren’t talking, so we’ll just have to hope this rumour is on the money.