J.J. Abrams To Direct ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’

Television & film director J.J. Abrams

Sources have confirmed the “Star Trek Into Darkness” filmmaker J. J. Abrams will helm the next “Star Wars” movie, the highly anticipated installment in the landmark franchise scheduled to reach theaters in 2015. Argo director Ben Affleck had also been under consideration, but was likely a fallback choice. Abrams was courted heavily by producer Kathleen Kennedy to take the job, despite his having been very public not wanting to direct a Star Wars movie. It is this reticence, combined with his somewhat liberal interpretation of the Star Trek universe is giving some fans pause on the news.

Due out in 2015, Star Wars: Episode VII will be the first new Star Wars movie since 2005?s Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. The screenplay will be written by Michael Arndt, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3. Simon Kinberg and Lawrence Kasdan have been tapped to write Star Wars projects as well, but it’s unclear whether their scripts will be for future episodes or for films outside the official trilogy. The upcoming trilogy of new films was announced October 30 of last year when the Walt Disney Co. went public with its plans to acquire Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion.

Abrams’ other space-based franchise sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness, comes out May 17, 2012.

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