Reports are coming in to suggest that J.J. Abrams (Super 8, Star Trek) has accepted the job to direct Star Wars 7, the main source came from The Wrap. At this point, there is no official release from Walt Disney or LucasFilm yet - so I think we need to treat it as a rumor, until the announcement is made. But The Wrap reported that the news is credible and is quoted from "an individual with knowledge of the production".
[UPDATE]: We heard that Roberto Orci has confirmed Abrams' involvement as true from his twitter account:
The selection of J.J. Abrams is expected. The fact that he is the one who revives and helps to reestablish the 'rival franchise' known as Star Trek at Paramount and he seems to have did his job well, are indeed the selling points. Now with the commercial and critical success of Star Trek reboot in 2009, the sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness is set for release this May.
Last year when Disney bought over LucasFilm and announced a new Star Wars film is in motion, plenty of talking on who is the director has been mooted too. J.J. Abrams, Ben Affleck, Matthew Vaughn and even Joss Whedon are thought to have been considered at one point, with the former two seems to be the favorites. However, Abrams did mentioned how Star Wars 7 may not be his follow-up project to Star Trek sequel - you can read it here at EW.
The Wrap also reported that LucasFilm chief and long-time Spielberg's producing partner, Kathleen Kennedy has been courting Abrams into the project ever since, with some backing from Steven Spielberg. Exact details about Abrams involvement is still sketchy, and I would prefer to use the word "in negotiation". More update about the director confirmation as we go. So far, we know that Oscar-winning Toy Story 3 and Little Miss Sunshine scribe Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) is writing Star Wars: Episode VII.
[UPDATE]: We heard that Roberto Orci has confirmed Abrams' involvement as true from his twitter account:
The selection of J.J. Abrams is expected. The fact that he is the one who revives and helps to reestablish the 'rival franchise' known as Star Trek at Paramount and he seems to have did his job well, are indeed the selling points. Now with the commercial and critical success of Star Trek reboot in 2009, the sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness is set for release this May.
Last year when Disney bought over LucasFilm and announced a new Star Wars film is in motion, plenty of talking on who is the director has been mooted too. J.J. Abrams, Ben Affleck, Matthew Vaughn and even Joss Whedon are thought to have been considered at one point, with the former two seems to be the favorites. However, Abrams did mentioned how Star Wars 7 may not be his follow-up project to Star Trek sequel - you can read it here at EW.
The Wrap also reported that LucasFilm chief and long-time Spielberg's producing partner, Kathleen Kennedy has been courting Abrams into the project ever since, with some backing from Steven Spielberg. Exact details about Abrams involvement is still sketchy, and I would prefer to use the word "in negotiation". More update about the director confirmation as we go. So far, we know that Oscar-winning Toy Story 3 and Little Miss Sunshine scribe Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) is writing Star Wars: Episode VII.
