George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy Discuss J.J. Abrams And ‘Star Wars’

George Lucas and current Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy have weighed in on J.J. Abrams’ involvement with the next installment of the Star Wars franchise.

Since reports surfaced that the Super 8 and Star Trek director would helm Star Wars: Episode VII, fans have been wondering what series creator George Lucas had to say about the announcement. According to The Raw Story, the man who created Star Wars thinks Abrams will do a wonderful job.

He explained:

“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.”

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy also had nothing but kind things to say about J.J. Abrams’ involvement with Episode VII. According to Mashable, Kennedy is also quite excited about the Star Trek Into Darkness director’s decision to tackle the project.

She said:

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard, leading the charge as we set off to make a new ‘Star Wars’ movie. J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. He understands the essence of the ‘Star Wars’ experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

As you can tell, everyone involved with Star Wars: Episode VII is overwhelmed with joy about the future of the franchise. J.J. Abrams, a lifelong fan of the series, said in a recent statement that he was “even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

Bryan Burk and Bad Robot will produce the sequel along with Lucasfilm and Disney. Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg will reportedly consult on the project. Toy Story 3 scribe Michael Arndt will handle scripting duties on the film.

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