Update: Deadline’s picked up the story, confirming with a source “It’s done deal with J.J.” So there you have it. When Disney makes the official announcement, we’ll have it here.
This news has spread like wildfire today and without confirmation from Disney I’m almost loath to report it, so for the time being let’s treat this as speculation at best. If Disney or any involved parties update us, we’ll let you know. That said:
The Wrap is reporting that JJ Abrams is locked in as the director of Star Wars Episode VII.
They go on to report that Abrams beat out a list of directors that included Ben Affleck. If the news proves true, and I’m highly suspicious, then this means Abrams will have had a hand in the two most enduring franchises in science fiction. It also means that Star Trek Into Darkness is likely to be his last foray with Kirk & Co. Whatever cushy pull he had at Paramount (of which he had a lot) is likely moot as well now.
I can’t say I’m a fan of the decision, and I’m certainly not looking forward to all the new lens flare jokes in our immediate future. More than that, Disney could have done better here, as I’m not convinced Abrams is right for this. He’s a fine storyteller who by my count has only ever made one potentially great film*. That doesn’t mean that he won’t someday be a great filmmaker, but whatever progress he made with Trek took a helluva step back with the middling and poorly constructed Super 8. JJ’s at his best when he doesn’t have to contend with appeasing his own personal influences. His homage to Spielberg was lacking. Can we expect better if he’s seriously taking the reigns of a franchise he himself says is his most influential?
*I’m unabashed in my love of the Trek reboot.
20 comments
Sweet Jesus…. I’d almost rather see Kevin Smith.
*** Admittedly I had the same thought going into Star Trek, but loved it. So, I hope I am wrong***
Just make a sequel series to Lost with Hurley, Ben and Walt. I’d much rather see that.
Because of StarTrek, I think this is a good thing. I really liked his love letter to Spielberg, Super 8, but the final third did get a little off track, like they were trying to squeeze so much in. And I really enjoyed M:I 3, warts and all. But, hey, go back and watch the original Star Wars with the unglazed eye of youthful fandom, and man, does that movie have flaws! But we forgive. We forgive because we love.
I’ll save pre-production cold sweats for rumors like Stephen Sommers directing a Tarzan movie.
I agree about the Star Trek reboot being great. I like M I 3, and agree that Super 8 was not great.
I’m sure he can do a well enough job with this franchise, especially since I don’t really care about it anymore after the prequels.
Oh man, Ben Affleck’s Star Wars. I mean he’s a great director and all but…HAHA that would’ve been funny.
Hope this isn’t true. I like JJ Abrams, but can we please get somebody else to do a Star Wars film? I would love to see Wolfgang Petersen tackle sci fi again. And sorry, Super 8 in my personal opinion is the best film he’s ever done.
Tim Kelly, I…Like Abrams Star Trek reboot, but the sequel doesn’t interest me. Star Wars is a different thing altogether. There is no other film series, I enjoy…More than Star Wars!
We’ve already seen JJ Abrams’ Star Wars. It’s called Star Trek.
Honestly, after the prequels, what have we got to lose?
Cue evil laughter…
I hated what he did with Star Trek and I am sure I will hate this. I would have preferred Brad Bird, Spielberg or Del Toro- all of which could have been gotten if the write pitch and offer was made.
Some of the comments in here are bewildering. How is Star Wars even close to being a hard science fiction franchise? It’s fantasy… and as such, seems to be right up Abrams’ alley. Abrams is a visual director – visuals are far more important to him than plot realism and scientific plausibility. As such, Star Wars, with its outdoorsy, fantastic feel seems right for him.
Kevin Smith wouldn’t have found it too funny, I imagine.
I for one think it’s a big effing mistake to get Abrams in there. I like his movies and all (Trek and MI:3 were great and I even liked Super 8) but to have two such different franchises being brought out with one director’s distinct style is just bad, imo. Abrams’ sleek looking visuals are perfect for the Trek franchise but lacks the grimy-ness of the Star Wars universe (it’s what made the prequels look too ‘clean’). It’s also lazyness and lack of scrotum on Disney’s part for such an uninspired choice.
Oh, I don’t know. Mission Impossible III was pretty grimy and “lived in” looking.
Worrisome. I wonder why Disney didn’t go with Brad Bird; which if they did, would have been a truly inspired decision.
Might have something to do with the (perceived) colossal failure of the last big-budget sci-fi film Disney put out that was helmed by a former Pixar director….
Well, given how many people I saw complaining that JJ turned Star Trek into Star Wars with the reboot, I don’t know that I can see this as entirely a bad thing. Though Star Trek Into Darkness may either put me firmly in his camp or swing me well outside of it. We shall see.
If Abrams populates his STAR WARS flick with glittering beautiful people who don’t have a shred of a soul inside their GQ-cover bodies, he’ll get one purchased theatre ticket from me at most. But something I’d want to switch on any time at home? Doubtful.
I like the choice. I think he can capture the wonder that’s been missing from the series since the early 80’s. It’s not him & Lindelof cooking up sideways plot devices or the the Orci’s. MI:3 was the most grounded iteration that felt deep with palpable threat. Super 8 was a super (sorry) sloppy love kiss to Speilberg and kids adventure movies. Was it 100%? Nope. But it hit where it counted. That said, i hope Fincher or Del Toro are still on the cards for the dark chapter and then Brad Bird for the bombastic third. Abrams can hopefully set it up with the tone Lucas gave us before he became his (and our) own worst enemy.
Though admittedly, the Trek reboot (which I and my wife – an unabashed Trek-hater love) did already seem like the Star Trek version of A New Hope. One where Obi Wan was represented by lens flare from the beginning.
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