J.J. Abrams to helm Star Wars Episode VII

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

After previously denying that he would command the directors chair for the next Star Wars film, LOST creator and Star Trek director J.J. Abrams has been officially confirmed for the role. After swirling rumors and many turned down offers, Abrams has emerged to take on the challenge that has scared away the likes of big names such as Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, and Zack Snyder.

In November Abrams was quoted as saying:

"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!"

However it seems that Lucasfilm's co-chair Kathleen Kennedy had been courting Abrams aggressively for quite a while. With the success of his Star Trek reboot and upcoming sequel, Abrams is set to become the new king of Sci Fi if he can triumph within the two most iconic series of the genre.

Star Wars Episode VII is scheduled to hit theaters in 2015. Michael Arndt is writing the script.

For more check out these links:

Comingsoon.net: BREAKING: J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII!

io9: Can J.J. Abrams do for Star Wars what he did for Star Trek?

Deadline: J.J. Abrams to Direct New 'Star Wars' Film for Disney

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[Ladywriter 7,783]

I'm hopeful....for now....

[Strider Hiryu 2,704]

Yea no, not looking forward to this one bit. I sense a great disturbance in the force.

[Sledgstone 8,672]

Star Trek was good. I'm hoping he doesn't screw this up. *crosses fingers*

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

I really don't get what people have against Abrams, lens flare aside. I've enjoyed all his work.

[Ladywriter 7,783]

Lost, that's what ppl have against him. The show was crap and it is anchor around his neck.

Compound that with him doing Star Trek- which scared and enraged people after the Lost debacle- it attacked and offended ppls inner child as ST is one of those things that ppl grew up on. I liked the relaunch and am hopeful he will do well with Star Wars.

[Dubird 6,815]

If he doesn't screw up the conitunity, I think he has a chance of doing good. I'm willing to wait and see what he does. I wasn't a huge fan of the ST reboot, but as an AU story, it worked out pretty good, plot-holes aside. I do think he'll avoid the marketing inserts that Lucas seemed to cram into the prequels, which will help.

[Kite 3,263]

my problem is not with the director or actors, but the cannon, 

It has been established in books all the way to Lukes great grand kids

 

He can ret con it all ofcourse, he got away with it in star trek,

 

But to me that would really undermine SW.

Star wars cannon has been added to in movies, cartoons, comics and hundreds of novels over many decades

 

The newest trilogy had its flaws but it at least fits well with the whole SW universe

 

it he fucks that all up in 120 minutes, I will be very sad

[Strider Hiryu 2,704]

I really don't get what people have against Abrams, lens flare aside. I've enjoyed all his work.

 

I don't have anything against him personally, I just think he's the worst possible director to pick to take up Star Wars (that and I really don't think Star Wars needs another three movies). I, personally, hated the new Star Trek movie. Not because I'm a huge Star Trek geek but because I honestly thought it was a bad movie (though I do think Simon Pegg made an awesome Scotty, the only thing out of the movie I liked).

[Sledgstone 8,672]

I have to agree that Scotty was the best character in the new Star Trek.

 

my problem is not with the director or actors, but the cannon, 

It has been established in books all the way to Lukes great grand kids

 

He can ret con it all ofcourse, he got away with it in star trek,

 

But to me that would really undermine SW.

Star wars cannon has been added to in movies, cartoons, comics and hundreds of novels over many decades

 

The newest trilogy had its flaws but it at least fits well with the whole SW universe

 

it he fucks that all up in 120 minutes, I will be very sad

 

Seriously. Even the clone wars cartoon series on cartoon network references the already established canon that was created with the novels. Lucas was the first to screw over the novels. Even tho he sold the licenses and approved the continuity of time lines in the novels he screwed over the very plot lines he approved when he made the prequel movies that forced ret con fixes in later novels to fix his new changes in the established time line.

 

I'm still hoping for a Thrawn series of movies based off the original three books by Timothy Zahn that launched the entire star wars novel establishment. That would of course mean recasting Luke, Han Solo, Leia, etc., but he should do it to get it done with. If not, they'll probably go for a clone wars era movie with a variety of jedi to choose from to make a new series of movies out of. While the action would be good, I'd rather see a continuation of Luke Skywalker's storyline.

 

What would really piss me off is a reboot. I think Disney would get serious fan backlash if they attempted a reboot of the original 3 movies. They are so iconic its pointless to reboot them at this point. Everyone knows the plot line, trying to reboot those movies would be seen a money grab and a shitty way to recast the original group for further sequels.

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

my problem is not with the director or actors, but the cannon, 

It has been established in books all the way to Lukes great grand kids

 

He can ret con it all ofcourse, he got away with it in star trek,

 

But to me that would really undermine SW.

Star wars cannon has been added to in movies, cartoons, comics and hundreds of novels over many decades

 

The newest trilogy had its flaws but it at least fits well with the whole SW universe

 

it he fucks that all up in 120 minutes, I will be very sad

 

 

I've been hearing the "established canon" argument being flung around like its some solid unalterable storyline made by just one person and hasn't changed for 40 years. From what I recall the so-called "canon" has been growing for years whether it be books, games, comics and whatnot, a lot of people have added and expanded on to the previous persons addition to the canon. Just because they aren't going to do a trilogy on the Thrawn storyline everyone is all butt-hurt over it. If they are going to bring these actors back, does it look like these people are 5 years older? The gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope is a lot more than 5 years. Whose to say this takes place long after Return of the Jedi? I haven't read all the books, but I'm pretty sure there is plenty of wiggle room to make a new story if they choose to do so. The problem is with any iconic series, not everyone is going to like it. Some people can't enjoy it for what it is. They could do a trilogy based off someone else's work, and it will get picked apart, they can make a new story and it will get picked apart, Its really a no win situation outside the fact that Lucas won't have a big part in it.  With that being said I think they'll respect the canon that exists (like Chewy not having Chewy alive way after he should have already died on Vector Prime) outside these movies,

Abrams and Arndt are both Star Wars fans, that's a good thing because its the fans that have made the best stories out of the expanded universe. Abrams was not a fan of Star Trek so he took his liberties with it. He didn't have the respect for its sanctity. That's different here. I think he will do a better job than Lucas ever did (Ep1-3), and a hell of a lot better than Affleck could. I cant believe that guy was even a candidate. With everyone else running away at the offer (because its a no win situation), someone had to step up. What if James Wong took it? Dragonball Evolution anyone? It could have been worse.

With that being said I hope they use Desann and piss everyone off that the main villain has a dino head

 

jk jk

[Sledgstone 8,672]

Just because they aren't going to do a trilogy on the Thrawn storyline everyone is all butt-hurt over it.

 

*is butt-hurt*

 

lmao.

 

There is plenty of room for additional movies to take place in the overall timeline. It literally spans hundreds of years. Hell, if Abrams wanted to, he could make a trilogy of movies based on some obscure war ridden planet that some unknown jedis show up at and save the day. Then within a year, 5 new novels would already be written that connects these new movies into the existing novel canon.

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

I'm pretty sure they are going with original cast members as they all have said they are on board to give it a go. Its unlikely they will be the main protagonists, but serve more Ben Kanobi/Tarkin/Wedge/Akbar type roles. Honestly I think it would be epic to do a story that took place 4000 years in the future kinda like KOTOR was 4000 years prior to the Galactic Empire. 

[Sledgstone 8,672]

That sounds good. Instead of rebooting anything, they could base all new movies so far down the timeline they could create any plot lines they want with no worries about canon.

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

Or they could do a side story all together kinda like Kyle Katarn in the Jedi Outcast games

Ah, talking about all this star wars stuff makes me want to play through KOTOR yet again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgsMqBkDKcU

[Myk JL 1,731]

I think Movie Bob did a pretty good explanation to why J.J. Abrams is a bad choice for Star Wars (& Star Trek).

 

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-big-picture/6763-A-Disturbance-In-The-Force?utm_source=videos&utm_medium=index_carousel&utm_campaign=all

[Pchan 5,162]

I read about this when it came up and read the topic, got a headache. I need to grab dinner.

 

Abrams - I think the studios are being anxious about it and rightfully so because the first impression in the trilogy better be a good one, so Abrams was a safe bet given his long term association with Spielberg and the latter's close ties with Kath. Tech aside, I wouldn't want to see the same directing angles or cinematography style being used in Star Trek to pop up in Star Wars. I do hope though the writers realize and consider the level of tech that the Star Wars universe was left with in episode VI and continues with that versus what we see in the 2nd trilogy. I mean, there's a LOT to talk about.