J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII for Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm, claims The Wrap (who apparently have heard from a “source close to the production” but all outlets online are reporting it as fact now).
Long rumoured for the project and and a well-known Trek geek (one could argue his Star Trek reboot was more in love with Stars Wars than anything Gene Roddenberry created), Abrams will helm the first in a new trilogy as his next film after Star Trek Into Darkness, which opens in May.
The Wrap claims that Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy had been courting Abrams to direct the new Star Wars movie for quite some time, though Argo and The Town helmer Ben Affleck had also been in “contention”.
Abrams had previously claimed weeks after the new Star Wars movie was announced in late October, that he wasn’t likely to be the man to bring that galaxy far, far away back to the big screen;
“Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time. I frankly feel that – I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series. I was never a big Star Trek fan growing up, so for me, working on Star Trek didn’t have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more then anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!”
Written by Toy Story 3 and Little Miss Sunshine writer Michael Ardnt, Star Wars: Episode VII is scheduled to hit theaters in 2015.
Disney and Lucasfilm then plan to release a second and third movie every other year after that, completing a brand new trilogy.
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5 Comments
Well, there goes my hope for an Alfonso Cuaran Star Wars. I knew it wasn’t going to happen but one can hope.
I agree with that sentiment, Dolan dude, the Great Alfonso would have been a bold and out-of-the-box choice for a new ‘Star Wars’ movie… but would he have took it if offered?
Disney are clearly taking no chances with their $4bn investment, and J.J. Abrams is a logical, safe, and sensible choice with a proven track record of genre material that is both exciting and accessible. I think they made the right choice and look forward to catching the inevitable teaser trailer with breath a bit more baited than yesterday, this could be good… REALLY good!
Cheer up! This is only the first installment, and if Disney goes old school on us, we’ll get a revolving portfolio of directors. Cuaran, for my money, would be a better second installment director. His sensibilities balance light and dark, and it’d be nice to see how he favors the darkness of the new trilogy’s Empire slot. Regardless, I’m extremely happy that Abrams is on board.
Until this comes out of Lucasfilm’s mouths, I’m not buying it.
Star Wars VII – Revenge of the Lens Flair
JJ Abrams is a hack who already destroyed one storied icon and now he is setting his sights on destroying the Holy Grail of Geekdom by blaspheming his interpretive garbage all over the wonderful universe George created. The Dark Side is strong with Darth Abrams.