J.J. Abrams Confirmed For ‘Star Wars,’ Will Still Produce ‘Star Trek’ Sequels

J.J. Abrams has been officially confirmed by Lucasfilm as the director of Star Wars: Episode VII.

News of the acclaimed filmmaker’s involvement with the project surfaced Thursday afternoon. Given the large number of false reports that have popped up in recent months, the announcement was taken with a grain of salt. However, Cinema Blend reports that Disney and Lucasfilm have confirmed Abrams as the director.

Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement:

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Warsmovie. 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.”

It’s no secret that J.J. Abrams is a huge fan of the Star Wars franchise. According to the New York Daily News, the director’s involvement with Episode VII is a dream come true.

Abrams said:

“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. I may be even more grateful to [creator] George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

Although the Super 8 director will now shift his focus to the Star Wars universe, he will still be involved with future installments of the Star Trek series. Paramount’s Rob Moore told the Los Angeles Times that Abrams will continue to work with the studio.

He explained:

“J.J. will continue to develop projects for us including a new ‘Mission: Impossible,’ and he is committed to produce another ‘Star Trek.’ “

Are you a fan of J.J. Abrams? Do you think he’s the right person to direct Star Wars: Episode VII?