Star Wars Episode VII: 7 Things We Learned In 2013

6. JJ Abrams Will Direct

To the delight of many and to the the despair of others, 2013 started where 2012 had ended with a burning question: Who would direct Episode VII? With the announcement of the Walt Disney Company buying the Star Wars franchise with plans to create three more movies, it was made clear that George Lucas would not return to the directional duties of these movies. It did not take long as it was announced that JJ Abrams would be that leader into the next generation of Star Wars films. Abrams has a daunting task ahead of him as he is the first director to solo a Star Wars film since Richard Marquand and Return of the Jedi. However, unlike Marquand, Abrams is a step further removed from George Lucas. Although Lucas did not direct Return of the Jedi, he was still a producer for the film. With Episode VII, Lucas has only had a hand as a consultant with the story treatment. Although Abrams has a big studio looking over his shoulder, Episode VII is his ship to navigate.