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PRESS RELEASE: Disney Confirms J.J. Abrams As Director Of STAR WARS: EPISODE VII

Including comments from mastermind George Lucas and the director himself, among others, Disney has officially announced that J.J. Abrams will helm the first installment to their new Star Wars films!

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By DCMarvelFreshman - 1/25/2013


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.


Source: Walt Disney Studios
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77 Comments
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ClaireLannister2016 - 1/25/2013, 9:13 PM
First thought:
Photobucket

Second thought:
Photobucket
Last thought:
Photobucket
ruben - 1/25/2013, 9:27 PM
I still don't know how I feel about this news.
Jollem - 1/25/2013, 9:28 PM
Tony93 - 1/25/2013, 9:34 PM
i wonder what made him change his mind.
BrotherStarkofMABMindz - 1/25/2013, 9:35 PM
The Star Wars prequels did not suck they just were not cinematic history, Abrams can make the next trilogy the best so great choice
JDUKE25 - 1/25/2013, 9:35 PM
looking forward to it
JoeMomma29 - 1/25/2013, 9:36 PM
Tony more than likely they gave him full control over the movie and more mula!
AmericanPsychoWolf - 1/25/2013, 9:36 PM
Well here we go
WombRaider - 1/25/2013, 9:37 PM
@tony93 a truck load of money
DrNathanielDoom - 1/25/2013, 9:38 PM
I Think he is the perfect choice. He just knows what he is doing when it comes to fun sci-fi stories.
drcomicbook - 1/25/2013, 9:40 PM
i actually like this choice i mean Steven Spielberg did recommend him for this movie
Tony93 - 1/25/2013, 9:44 PM
Rhetorical question
;)
JDUKE25 - 1/25/2013, 9:45 PM
Durf - 1/25/2013, 9:46 PM
Nice find @Fresh. As a matter of fact I was just writing up an article about this! Guess you beat me to it. lol, but seriously I'm all for this. I think JJ will do wonders here
JDUKE25 - 1/25/2013, 9:47 PM
CavEl - 1/25/2013, 9:47 PM
Off Topic...but am I the only one who thinks that JJ Abrams looks like a younger version on Carl Frederiksen from Up?



No? Just me?
SuspenseSmith - 1/25/2013, 9:48 PM
@JDuke

Probably the best pic i have ever seen....
CavEl - 1/25/2013, 9:48 PM
SuspenseSmith - 1/25/2013, 9:49 PM
Yeah. I'm glad to be a disney employee. They ain't going anywhere for a while...
Durf - 1/25/2013, 9:51 PM
@Suspense: you work at Disney? doing what?
AmericanPsychoWolf - 1/25/2013, 9:52 PM
I think my childhood got better with that slave pic JDuke
Ghostfire - 1/25/2013, 9:52 PM
@Durf
Preach brutha!!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
masterhater - 1/25/2013, 9:52 PM
He just said he couldn't do it because he makes Star Trek and it would be sacrilegious. It still kinda is. However he is a good director and will make it the sickest Star Wars movie yet. Just no lens flares!
JDUKE25 - 1/25/2013, 9:52 PM
@Patriot LMAO that's great

@Suspense ;)
dwaynejohnsonsfromundahcheesepanini - 1/25/2013, 9:53 PM
He makes good narratives however it must be nice to have daddy help get your start. Ohh I said that and I mean it! :-P
DEATHbyEXILE - 1/25/2013, 9:53 PM
should i be excited? star trek was good, but lost was ugh. i'll wait for the trailer
dwaynejohnsonsfromundahcheesepanini - 1/25/2013, 9:55 PM
@patriotssuperguy

He's very Seymour Cassel with horseshoe rims. :-P
JULEZ13 - 1/25/2013, 10:03 PM
I'm excited.

This man is about to become a god amongst nerds... which is basically most of the world.

This decade is gonna be insane.

Welcome to the era of sci-fi films folks!
Batman27 - 1/25/2013, 10:04 PM
It's official! Mr Abrams welcome to the real world.
thatdylhooper - 1/25/2013, 10:07 PM
this is insane, so sweet, we are lucky people!!!
fanboy03191 - 1/25/2013, 10:16 PM
JJ, the Force will be with you. Always.
Kayo - 1/25/2013, 10:17 PM
i love super 8, looking forward to this
JredTheRed - 1/25/2013, 10:18 PM
BROTHERSTARKOFMABMINDZ has it right about the prequels. They were good movies. Not the original trilogy true, not even close, but good none the less. Yea Jar Jar was annoying, but so were the ewoks and c3p0 in a sense. Plus i loved the realisticish look of the puppets and stopmotion from the originals over the complete cgi of the pres.

I also don't know how I feel about JJ taking the reigns....I AM TOTAL FUGKING EXCITED ABOUT THIS, don't get me wrong, I just dont know how well he will do it. Actually right now he is probally the best choice (tho i wouldve got bird, del toro, or vaughan) all of his movies are blockbusters and his shows are hits. Everything he seems to touch turns to gold, so what happens when he touches gold? I just have mixed feelings period i guess. I really really really hope these are good films. I have ate, lived and breathed SW for as long as I can remember. As long as we get original cast as luke, han, leia, lando, etc... and they dont completely ignore the expanded universe I (and many others) have grown to love and know as the future of the SW universe. Give me Mara Jade for sure and the Solo twins. ok, i'm done for now....back to my stone cherry seven and seven...
novaprime - 1/25/2013, 10:18 PM
Cant Freaking Waittt!!! Wish the Rivalry would have went on Thoe!!!!
dwaynejohnsonsfromundahcheesepanini - 1/25/2013, 10:23 PM
Anakin: "Tell us.., tell us now!!!"
Super12 - 1/25/2013, 10:25 PM
Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Millennium Falcon. It's mission: to explore strange asteroid cave tunnels, to seek out captured princesses on small-moon-sized space stations, to boldly make the Kessell run in less than 12 parsecs!
JredTheRed - 1/25/2013, 10:29 PM
Its almost as if they are trying to unite the Trekkies and SW Fanboys...

speaking of which how come we never got an official fandom title?

Forcers? Force Freaks? Forcites? StarCorps? lol idk
JredTheRed - 1/25/2013, 10:30 PM
Forceps? lol dammit ok i done now
Batman27 - 1/25/2013, 10:34 PM
Mr Abrams if you pull this of I'm calling you the new Scifi King!
ToTheManInTheColdSweat - 1/25/2013, 10:43 PM
whedon just got replaced as nerd god,
gaddamit.
JredTheRed - 1/25/2013, 10:43 PM
^word
JredTheRed - 1/25/2013, 10:44 PM
that was @batman27 btw
Charlie2094 - 1/25/2013, 10:47 PM
Yes! So happy about this, he's a perfect choice :D
ThaJackaL - 1/25/2013, 10:56 PM
Jar Jar Abrams, and George Lucas one one major thing in common! They both have a vagina under their chin!!! HA!

Anyway this is good news right? I mean this guy brought Star Trek back from the dead! I mean it was [frick]ing dead, and as dead as it could be, and he not only brought it back he made the biggest Star Trek movie of all times at the box office both international, and domestic. SO With that said Star Wars with him as Director will be probably the biggest movie of all times.

Seriously this has the chance of being that big! Phantom Menace could have been the biggest movie ever due to the hype it had, and all the fanboys wanting it to see it so bad. The movie not being that good, and the poor word of mouth stopped it short of 500Million domestic.

Still made tons of money, and with them having their flaws I enjoyed them, and watch them from time to time, and there are a lot of great things about the prequels. Just like there are many bad things. They aren't perfect by no means. Still Phantom Menace almost made a run at it but Titanic also was out, and that movie took in the fanbase S.W never had! Horny teenage girls who had the hots for an actor. One major mistake George Lucas made was in not casting Leo as Anakin Skywalker or someone as good an actor as the role needed.

He went with an unknown who couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. NOW We have a chance to redeem all that, and maybe this will finally be the movie the majority of Star Wars fans have been waiting for.

The story of Anakin or Darth Vader is over so nothing we can do short of a total reboot in 30 years. But who wants that anyway? I say just move forward, and let's see what Luke Skywalker, Leia, and Han Solo are up to these days.

35 years after the Battle of Endor... What new dangers are there for our hero's to face? I just hope Luke is played by Mark Hamill, and it's a follow up tale where he's the wise old Jedi. I just don't want them to recast the roles with new actors. I HATE THAT SHIT.

Either way this is in all good news having someone like Jar Jar Abrams (Sorry that's just too easy not to use Jar Jar) on a movie like this will bring respect to the series again, and will add a lot of fanboy hype.

I fully expect the Trekkie's to be mad, and wouldn't doubt if they make a big deal about it once the next chapter of Trek is out after the movie this year. Which will have a different director I'm sure. Maybe they can make another movie to compete on 2015 with Episode 7.

I originally didn't want Abrams because he directed Trek, and I don't want the films to look to much a like in style or the way they are cut together but I have seen all his movies, and he is some what of a chameleon when he wants to be. He can make a movie which doesn't normally look like a typical Abrams flick. Mission Impossible 3 comes to mind. But one thing is for sure! Even those movies have one signature thing. Lens flare!

Get ready for an epic amount of Lens Flare in a galaxy far far away!
WesleyGibson - 1/25/2013, 10:58 PM
[frick]in awesome. I can't wait.
TheAbomination - 1/25/2013, 11:04 PM
Expect a lot of lens flares. Just saying...
GrayMatter - 1/25/2013, 11:14 PM
I'm excited for this. If there's one thing J.J. Abrams knows how to do, it's sci-fi and fun adventurous stuff. Which is exactly what Star Wars is supposed to be. It started out as an homage to the old adventure serials, just in space.

Then Lucas went wrong when he decided to abandon the "adventure serial with heart" motif and go with a "cram as much shit on the screen as possible to maximize merchandising and toy sale potential" motif instead.

Ironically, I remember a lot of hardcore Trekkies who had the complaint that the Star Trek reboot was too fun and action-adventure-y, and didn't have enough of the thinking man's sci-fi, which is what Star Trek traditionally has been.
yingyangpalms - 1/25/2013, 11:16 PM
@ThaJackaL He didnt exactly bring Star Trek "Back from the dead."
He and the writers created something titled "Star Trek" but they missed the point on what Trek is supposed to be and created nothing more than another Hollywood formula driven movie.
People forget, JJ Abrams wrote "Armageddon". Michael Bay gets the blame for that debacle but Abrams somehow gets a pass. It was a film so bad it won him a Razzie and it virtually destroyed Ben Affleck's respect as an actor.

Abrams has shown an abilty to make Hollywood products that make money. Not to be confused with making Hollywood products that are actually great in quality.

JJ Abrams Star Trek was crap. But somewhere in his career he figured out how to sell crap so well people would ask him to crap in their face again.
JJ Abrams, Great director/writer/producer-no.
JJ Abrams, Great crap salesman-yes!

Since most Hollywood products are pure garbage, a successful garbage salesman like Abrams is going to be very much in demand.
ThaJackaL - 1/25/2013, 11:30 PM
What do you call a series of films which didn't break 90million domestic, and the last hit only 40million domestic, and a show like Enterprise which failed on tv?

The series had dried out, and even Voyager to many felt like it didn't live up to the standards set by the original series, and TNG. Now while YES I agree what JJ brought to life wasn't the Trek that you or I grew up with he did what no director had done before on the big screen in a Trek film.

He made an Epic Cinematic film that did not feel like if you were watching a long version of one of the episodes from the tv show but actually felt like a big screen action movie. The man did a good job, and you can't take that away from him... I mean there is no denying that Star Trek was pretty much dead when he took over as director.

Also I've enjoyed his movies in the past so I know he's talented.. I mean Super 8 was a good movie, Mission Impossible 3 was good, Star Trek was good, and honestly I know he wrote Armageddon but did you read the script? It's actually very well written. The director really butchered that movie, and the cast was all wrong.

Oh, and Lost was a mega hit on tv, and Fringe while not as big! It's one of my personal favorite shows of the last decade. SO I will say this again. He is a talented director, producer, and film maker.

I still didn't want him as director on Star Wars simply because he was already attached to the Trek films. But with that said he is a great fit for Star Wars because his style of directing is what SW needs. All except the Lensflare. lol

There is a very good chance that he will bring us possibly an epic Episode in a new trilogy. I wonder now if he will be in charge of the entire trilogy or will he be allowed to only make Episode 7? That's my next question.
Batman27 - 1/25/2013, 11:32 PM
My god will you guys shut up with the lens flares shit. It's really starting to get annoying.
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