UPDATED: Read Disney's official statement confirming JJ Abrams to direct Star Wars: Episode VII!
Jan. 26, 2013
UPDATE: Read Disney and LucasFilm's official statement at the bottom of this story!
It looks like the power of the Dark Side was just too great for JJ Abrams to battle. The Wrap is reporting the the STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS director will be taking the helm of STAR WARS: EPISODE VII despite reports from the man himself that he would not be taking the job.
The Wrap has had some iffy exclusives in the past, so take this with a grain of salt until it is reported officially from Disney or a trade publication, but this is exciting news. UPDATE: JJ Abrams is now confirmed to direct STAR WARS: EPISODE VII by both Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. Let the casting begin! Abrams certainly has the love of Spielberg and Lucas behind him as well as the childlike sense of wonder needed to bring STAR WARS back to the glory of the Original Trilogy.
When Abrams originally denied the story in November, he said "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 than anyone to the next iterations of 'Star Wars,' but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!”
So, what does this mean for STAR TREK? Obviously he will not be able to work on both franchises, especially at two studios who have already had issues with other big series (ahem, IRON MAN). I would say if this ends up being true that JJ will say goodbye to Starfleet and hello to The New Republic.
While I think Ben Affleck or Brad Bird would have been good choices as well, I cannot argue with Abrams getting the job. The guy is talented and will do everything right with the franchise. The only reason he was able to completely change STAR TREK was because he had no connection to it. As a huge STAR WARS fan, he will give us what we deserve in the movie. I am very excited about this. How about you?
Think of the possibilities!
Here is Disney's official press release:
J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.
“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”
George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”
"To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid."
J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.
Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.
| Extra Tidbit: | I am going to eat my own words if there is even one lens flare in EPISODE VII. |
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| Source: | The Wrap |
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Good and bad
reminicent of TOS/TNG days, 'cause he screwed up the Trek universe with a BIG PILE OF CRAP!!!
Bad: I hope he doesn't do to "Wars" what he did to "Trek".
reminicent of TOS/TNG days, 'cause he screwed up the Trek universe with a BIG PILE OF CRAP!!!
Bad: I hope he doesn't do to "Wars" what he did to "Trek".
Yesssssssssssssss
There was nobody who should be doing a new Star Wars other than JJ Abrams
Also...
He's the man
Well....well....SH*T!
Let the downvotes rain like snow!
Let the downvotes rain like snow!
Oh, no doubt with his experience with episodic material he'll be able to wrangle some of the saga, but something about this feels...not wrong, just...Maybe I'm just not that sure of the next three movies in general.
Oh, no doubt with his experience with episodic material he'll be able to wrangle some of the saga, but something about this feels...not wrong, just...Maybe I'm just not that sure of the next three movies in general.
Lens flares for days!!! Yo!
Lens flares for days!!! Yo!
My mind is just blown that he is directing Star Trek AND Star Wars. I just hope he finishes his trilogy of Star Trek though.
My mind is just blown that he is directing Star Trek AND Star Wars. I just hope he finishes his trilogy of Star Trek though.
Good news I think,
Awesome.
SICKNESS NEWS
Affleck for the dark and serious second movie
Edgar Wright for the action packed third movie
Affleck for the dark and serious second movie
Edgar Wright for the action packed third movie
Wow!
As long as it's the only film he does...
I'm not gonna complain if he does more than one SW movie, I just don't want it to intrude on his already excellent ST films. If he can make it all work, this man is the new king of sci-fi, and all the power to him.
I'm not gonna complain if he does more than one SW movie, I just don't want it to intrude on his already excellent ST films. If he can make it all work, this man is the new king of sci-fi, and all the power to him.
Please be true!
Lame
I'd like to see him
I like it
Don't let George Lucas micro-manage this!!
good choice and awesome fake trailer
This saga needs some GREAT pumpin......
MTLFBWY
does this make JJ Abrams the king of the nerds?
does this make JJ Abrams the king of the nerds?
Awesome news but...
Awesome news but...
Awesome news but...
I guess he is ok
His plot has also bee revealed...
Dubious...
1/ He's already done Star Trek - It's kind of weird that there would only be one director suited for that kind of films. God knows Hollywood needs originality nowadays, and this just ain't helping.
2/ Whilst I'm pretty confident that J.J's Star Wars won't be stinker, I feel like it won't be anything earth-shattering either. It'll come out, get an 8 out of 10 on JoBlo, people will enjoy it but
1/ He's already done Star Trek - It's kind of weird that there would only be one director suited for that kind of films. God knows Hollywood needs originality nowadays, and this just ain't helping.
2/ Whilst I'm pretty confident that J.J's Star Wars won't be stinker, I feel like it won't be anything earth-shattering either. It'll come out, get an 8 out of 10 on JoBlo, people will enjoy it but won't go gaga because it won't have an identity of its own. I would've been happier with a ballsier choice (Affleck, Trevorrow, Aronofsky ?!) that could have been a disaster if done wrong, but something TRULY special if done right. I have a feeling this will be run of the mill. My only hope lies in Michael Arndt's script, because I totally and unabashedly adore Toy Story 3.
Meh.
Let's just steer clear of Luke Jr. having an allergic reaction to Sarlac saliva and getting crazy swollen hands. Hang onto that lightsaber Junior!
Let's just steer clear of Luke Jr. having an allergic reaction to Sarlac saliva and getting crazy swollen hands. Hang onto that lightsaber Junior!
Would have prefererred a bolder choice.
Would have prefererred a bolder choice.
Oh NO :(
Erm, will believe it when Disney confirm it.
We'd have to wait for Disney to tell us anyway because all we'd get from Abrams is flipping riddles.
Would rather not have him for the simple reason he has done space battles on Trek. Is he really going to bring some new or different to a genre he has already rebooted.
I still want Brad Bird.
We'd have to wait for Disney to tell us anyway because all we'd get from Abrams is flipping riddles.
Would rather not have him for the simple reason he has done space battles on Trek. Is he really going to bring some new or different to a genre he has already rebooted.
I still want Brad Bird.
Abrams: No thanks, I'll just stick with -
Disney: *makes hand motion* You will direct the new Star Wars movie.
Abrams: I will direct the new Star Wars movie.
Abrams: No thanks, I'll just stick with -
Disney: *makes hand motion* You will direct the new Star Wars movie.
Abrams: I will direct the new Star Wars movie.
Not excited..
Well then...Okay.
my favorite arguments so far...
2) jj abrams already turned "star trek" into "star wars" (right, because "wrath of khan" was nothing like a star wars movie)
3) jj abrams and the lens flare thing (meh. it was admittedly over-the-top in "star trek", but before that, no one had lens flare issues with other abrams stuff. and before you say "super 8", go look at early spielberg. "close encounters" is FULL
2) jj abrams already turned "star trek" into "star wars" (right, because "wrath of khan" was nothing like a star wars movie)
3) jj abrams and the lens flare thing (meh. it was admittedly over-the-top in "star trek", but before that, no one had lens flare issues with other abrams stuff. and before you say "super 8", go look at early spielberg. "close encounters" is FULL of them. so's "ET". it's a thing. shut up.)
4) it won't look or feel like a "star wars" movie...(yes. we can hope so. meanwhile, people are lamenting that aronofsky, affleck, and fincher didn't get the call. because those guys are famous for their mainstream sci-fi action family film credentials)
meh. at the very least, jj abrams should be able to make a better star wars film than the previous three in his sleep.
Holy shnit...
1)jj abrams is extreemly meh... Maybe not suck but meh.
2)comparing abrams to Spielberg is just stupid so shut up (even tho he's pretty good at trying to rip his film style)
3)the lends flares ARE annoying. Previous directors whom have done this, did it with a style and grace that added to the film, not took you out of it.
But I guess the best thing he has going for him is they can't be ANY worse then George Lucas' last three, so he's got a
1)jj abrams is extreemly meh... Maybe not suck but meh.
2)comparing abrams to Spielberg is just stupid so shut up (even tho he's pretty good at trying to rip his film style)
3)the lends flares ARE annoying. Previous directors whom have done this, did it with a style and grace that added to the film, not took you out of it.
But I guess the best thing he has going for him is they can't be ANY worse then George Lucas' last three, so he's got a one up there. This is a total predictable choice on Disney and probably their safest route with the series. Because if it sucks Disney knows there will still be copious amounts of his fanboys (this thread is a perfect example)defending the shit out of him and the film at best. So kudos for that! Not excited about this choice at all tho... Maybe we can really get this starting solid and add Damon Lindelof to the line up!!! YAYYYY!!! *throws up a little on self...*
JJ = Bay
NO CONFIRMATION!
This story is not confirmed!
Side note: The first Force Unleashed game had a amazing story. Here's hoping the next trilogy follows suits, no matter who directs.
Side note: The first Force Unleashed game had a amazing story. Here's hoping the next trilogy follows suits, no matter who directs.
haters gonna hate.
People are seriously never satisfied
1. This news is bullcrap because Disney took over a day to release a press release confirming the news
2. JJ Abrams is a hack because he clearly writes and directs every episode of Lost and Fringe
3. JJ Abrams is like Bryan Singer leaving X-Men to direct Superman Returns
4. JJ Abrams uses too many lens flares
5. JJ Abrams is the worst thing to happen to Star Wars (I guess people have already forgotten about the prequels)
6. JJ Abrams
1. This news is bullcrap because Disney took over a day to release a press release confirming the news
2. JJ Abrams is a hack because he clearly writes and directs every episode of Lost and Fringe
3. JJ Abrams is like Bryan Singer leaving X-Men to direct Superman Returns
4. JJ Abrams uses too many lens flares
5. JJ Abrams is the worst thing to happen to Star Wars (I guess people have already forgotten about the prequels)
6. JJ Abrams already made a Star Wars movie when he made Star Trek back in 2009
7. My childhood is now ruined because I have the ability to see into the future and I know Star Wars Episode VII will be garbage so that's why I've decided to bitch today
8. JJ Abrams is equivalent to Michael Bay, Brett Ratner, and all those other cash grabbing directors
I believe in J.J. Abrams.
Thank you!
Bring on Williams
BUT.....
I have heard no mention of John Williams yet. If he does not go with Williams for the score, he has blown it before he even begins.
BUT.....
I have heard no mention of John Williams yet. If he does not go with Williams for the score, he has blown it before he even begins.
Weird
First Casting Rumors!!!
Darth Smoke Monster, Han Sawyer, or C-3POlivia Dunham.
The numbers are bad.
Darth Smoke Monster, Han Sawyer, or C-3POlivia Dunham.
The numbers are bad.
Oh to keep on subject, well i wonder if Trekkies can handle their nerd God doing Star Wars. I wonder who they get off more to Abrams or Whedon?
Also I have never been a fanboy period as I could care less for Star Wars or Stars Trek & Super 8 kinda blew also. I do like M:I
Oh to keep on subject, well i wonder if Trekkies can handle their nerd God doing Star Wars. I wonder who they get off more to Abrams or Whedon?
Also I have never been a fanboy period as I could care less for Star Wars or Stars Trek & Super 8 kinda blew also. I do like M:I 3 though.