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'Star Wars: Episode VII' has a director
Published: 1/24/2013 4:42 PM
Last Modified: 1/25/2013 3:11 PM

J.J. Abrams will direct “Star Wars: Episode VII,” according to several Internet reports, including the L.A. Times, The Wrap and Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter.

The upcoming film, which will be written by Oscar winner Michael Arndt (“Toy Story 3" and “Little Miss Sunshine”), is scheduled for a 2015 release. The film’s development was announced as the first part of a new trilogy when Disney acquired Lucasfilm last year.

Abrams, who is currently finishing up “Star Trek Into Darkness," had been mentioned as an early candidate, but he said in November that he wasn’t taking over the Star Wars franchise. Late last month, he said he had had discussions with producers about directing Episode VII but was no longer in contention for the job.

"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," he said in an interview with Empire magazine. "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 has several current projects that he is producing, but “Into Darkness” is the only film where he has signed on as the director.

In another interesting bit, the Wrap reports that “Argo” director and Golden Globe winner Ben Affleck was also up for the Star Wars job.

Written by
James Royal
Staff Writer

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mikehalc (3 weeks ago)

Ok this is incredibly awesome news, in my book. Abrams knocked Trek out of the park and In Darkness looks to be great as well. Abrams is a self confessed Star Wars kid and I think that is what is needed. I'm stoked. Now he needs to get Benedict Cumberbatch into the film.

Tulsa World Chief Designer James Royal (3 weeks ago)

I loved what Abrams did for Star Trek. The films had grown stale (of course, any franchise is hard to run for 10 films without getting stale), and he came in and nailed the reboot wonderfully. I'm looking forward to what he does with "Into Darkness."

That might be the worst side of him taking on Star Wars for some, really. If he's taking over that franchise, I can't see him continuing on Trek past this movie.

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