JJ Abrams might be the most powerful man in science fiction pop culture, as he takes on Star Wars following his successful revamp of the Star Trek franchise. According to multiple sources, Abrams is in final negotiations to helm the upcoming Episode VII for Walt Disney Entertainment and Lucasfilm. Surprisingly this news comes after saying this past November that he had no interest in making the film, “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!”
Details of the film first emerged this past October when Disney purchased Lucasfilm for $4 billion and announced it’s planned 2015 release date (likely arriving on Memorial Day, keeping the tradition of the series) of the upcoming Star Wars film. Michael Arndt is writing this installment, “which is said to focus on a new generation of heroes and could feature appearances by Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in older incarnations of their beloved characters from the original Star Wars trilogy.”
Kathleen Kennedy will produce. Abrams’ next film, Star Trek into Darkness arrives May 17, 2013.
