While it was already known that JJ Abrams would not be directing STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, this is the first we are hearing that Abrams actually had discussions with LucasFilm’s Kathleen Kennedy about helming the new STAR WARS film.
Abrams told Empire that “There were the very early conversations and I quickly said that because of my loyalty to STAR TREK, and also just being a fan, I wouldn’t even want to be involved in the next version of those things. I declined any involvement very early on. I’d rather be in the audience not knowing what was coming, rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them.”
Abrams had previously made it known that he was not a STAR TREK fan growing up which made it easier to rewrite the rules of Gene Roddenberry‘s universe. I do not fault him for passing on STAR WARS at all. I think he would have done a good job, but whoever gets the EPISODE VII gig is going to have a thankless job. With the backlash against the prequel films, no director is going to get a free pass on a sequel to the original trilogy. Much like Bryan Singer with SUPERMAN RETURNS, whoever takes EPISODE VII cannot copy what Lucas did but has to stay loyal to the dynamic of the existing films. Once this sequel trilogy is complete, directors can try something unique and fresh with the STAR WARS universe. But the next three must be perfect.
Abrams also revealed that after STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, he is under contract for one more movie. So, maybe he will get to complete an epic space trilogy after all.
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