After roughly thirty-six hours of intense rumor and speculation, Lucasfilm has confirmed that J.J. Abrams has indeed been tapped to direct Star Wars: Episode VII. Additionally, J.J., Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot will be producing the film alongside Kathleen Kennedy, and both Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg will be consulting on the project.
Personally, I’m very excited about this news. J.J. Abrams is a great director, and his passion for the franchise is well-known. The fact that Kasdan – who wrote the screenplay for Star Wars: Episode VII The Empire Strikes Back - is consulting is just icing on the cake. What do you think? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter!
Star Wars Is Being Kick-Started with Dynamite J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII
After a bevy of emails and phone calls, the formalities have been wrapped up, and at long last everyone can exhale and properly share the word with an excited Internet. Yes, J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.
“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “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.”
George Lucas went on to say “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.”
“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,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”
J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.”
Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.
William Devereux (@MasterDevwi) is EUCantina's co-administrator, as well as the host of the We Talk Clones podcast. When he's not talking about Star Wars or programming, he covers tech news for Pocketables. He is also a Microsoft MVP. 
I have to say, I’m very excited to hear that both J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (the screenwriter for The Empire Strikes Back) will be working on Episode VII (directing and consulting, respectively). Between them, Kathleen Kennedy, and Michael Arndt, Lucasfilm has put together a top-notch crew. I just hope that John Williams and Drew Struzan will be back.
Bringing on Lawrence Kasdan to consult was a brilliant move, even if he doesn’t actually do anything. It instantly elevates the film’s credibility in the eyes of the more cynical OT-only fans.
Star Wars Fans don’t get why this is bad, but Star Trek fans do. Since I’m a fan of both SW and ST I will have to go through a second franchise ruining movie.
As a Star Wars and Trek fan, I disagree vehemently.
Darth Myon, I respectfully disagree. I’ve been a fan of both Star Wars and Star Trek my whole life. I grew up on them both.
I absolutely loved Abrams’ Star Trek. I understand why a lot of hardcore Trek fans didn’t like it though. It changed a quite a bit of stuff, and the pacing and action wasn’t the same as what Star Trek normally is. Things like the Scotty stuck in the engine water tube scene aren’t very Trek. In fact, scenes like that and some of the space battles felt much more like Star Wars than Star Trek. Which is exactly why Star Wars is in good hands with Abrams.
Well considering what Darth Lucas did to the “serial’ concept, by turning the first 6 into Darth Jesus… Abrams has a tough road to hoe. Considering the importance of Midi-chlorians being in the blood of force sensitives and cloning capabilities I imagine a return of Darth Sidious is in order.
I heard that J.J Abrams is a bigger Star Wars fan the Star Trek (even if he directed the Star Trek film in 2009) so hopefully he will bring Star Wars back in the glory times of the original movies releases.