So the greatest thing to ever happen happened. More thrilling than the moon landing. And I’m talking about when the Rebel Alliance landed on the forest moon of Endor, not Neil Armstrong’s land on earth’s paltry excuse for a moon, which is completely blasé in comparison.
Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm have announced J.J. Abrams, the filmmaking wunderkind, will direct and produce the hotly anticipated “Star Wars: Episode VII,” scribed by Academy Award winning writer Michael Arndt. This comes after months of speculation about who would fill George Lucas’ place as the franchise’s new leader.
Immediately after the announcement of “Star Wars: Episode VII,” Abrams’ name was thrown into the ring as a likely contender. But in November, Abrams exclusively told Entertainment Weekly that he wasn’t going to direct the new Star Wars film, preferring instead to focus on original work he was developing.
But it seems like the call of “Star Wars” was just too fantastic for Abrams to deny. While no cast or shooting dates have been confirmed, Disney and Lucasfilm have stated that “Episode VII” will hit cinemas in 2015. If they plan to keep in sync with the previous six films, a May release date is most likely.
Abrams has always been the right man for the job. He has a long history of taking average franchises and reinstalling them with a vibrant sense of modern finesse.
In 2006, Abrams, who had mostly been known for his work in television, led “Mission: Impossible III” to a then-series best.
He upped the ante again in 2011 when he produced “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”
Abrams also reenergized a competing star-themed franchise when he directed “Star Trek” in 2009 to rave reviews. The long awaited sequel, “Star Trek Into Darkness,” hits theaters this summer.
But the crown jewel of Abrams’ career was his first original feature film, “Super 8,” which he wrote and directed without the aid of a previously established franchise to suppress him.
It’s this film that I would bet my best droid got Abrams the Star Wars gig. “Super 8,” released in the summer of 2011, follows very much in the vein of “E.T.” and “The Goonies” as a film full of childhood wonder and unsullied adventure. It’s the exact type of film that would inspire today’s young filmmakers in the way that the first Star Wars film did in the 1970s.
Lucky for Abrams, he can count on the tremendously talented screenwriter Michael Arndt to write “Episode VII.” Arndt is equally as qualified for the job as Abrams, having written “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Toy Story 3,” two films, which, like “Star Wars,” feature large casts and a specific concoction of comedy and action.
While Trekkies may balk at the notion of “Star Wars” stealing Abrams away from their beloved franchise, the allure and prestige of “Star Wars” is just too great.
As enjoyable as “Star Trek” is, it lacks the appeal and legacy of the Star Wars saga. Where “Star Trek” is occasionally bogged down in science and theory, “Star Wars” has always been the perfect blend of action, adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, comedy and romance.
While we have almost two years of rumor and speculation to tie us down until May 2015, our trust and faith couldn’t be on sturdier ground. J.J. Abrams is the most daring young director working today.
Fault my inner nerd for saying it, but the Force is with him.
Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm have announced J.J. Abrams, the filmmaking wunderkind, will direct and produce the hotly anticipated “Star Wars: Episode VII,” scribed by Academy Award winning writer Michael Arndt. This comes after months of speculation about who would fill George Lucas’ place as the franchise’s new leader.
Immediately after the announcement of “Star Wars: Episode VII,” Abrams’ name was thrown into the ring as a likely contender. But in November, Abrams exclusively told Entertainment Weekly that he wasn’t going to direct the new Star Wars film, preferring instead to focus on original work he was developing.
But it seems like the call of “Star Wars” was just too fantastic for Abrams to deny. While no cast or shooting dates have been confirmed, Disney and Lucasfilm have stated that “Episode VII” will hit cinemas in 2015. If they plan to keep in sync with the previous six films, a May release date is most likely.
Abrams has always been the right man for the job. He has a long history of taking average franchises and reinstalling them with a vibrant sense of modern finesse.
In 2006, Abrams, who had mostly been known for his work in television, led “Mission: Impossible III” to a then-series best.
He upped the ante again in 2011 when he produced “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”
Abrams also reenergized a competing star-themed franchise when he directed “Star Trek” in 2009 to rave reviews. The long awaited sequel, “Star Trek Into Darkness,” hits theaters this summer.
But the crown jewel of Abrams’ career was his first original feature film, “Super 8,” which he wrote and directed without the aid of a previously established franchise to suppress him.
It’s this film that I would bet my best droid got Abrams the Star Wars gig. “Super 8,” released in the summer of 2011, follows very much in the vein of “E.T.” and “The Goonies” as a film full of childhood wonder and unsullied adventure. It’s the exact type of film that would inspire today’s young filmmakers in the way that the first Star Wars film did in the 1970s.
Lucky for Abrams, he can count on the tremendously talented screenwriter Michael Arndt to write “Episode VII.” Arndt is equally as qualified for the job as Abrams, having written “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Toy Story 3,” two films, which, like “Star Wars,” feature large casts and a specific concoction of comedy and action.
While Trekkies may balk at the notion of “Star Wars” stealing Abrams away from their beloved franchise, the allure and prestige of “Star Wars” is just too great.
As enjoyable as “Star Trek” is, it lacks the appeal and legacy of the Star Wars saga. Where “Star Trek” is occasionally bogged down in science and theory, “Star Wars” has always been the perfect blend of action, adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, comedy and romance.
While we have almost two years of rumor and speculation to tie us down until May 2015, our trust and faith couldn’t be on sturdier ground. J.J. Abrams is the most daring young director working today.
Fault my inner nerd for saying it, but the Force is with him.
