JJ Abrams confirmed as director of next Star Wars film

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/jan/26/jj-abrams-confirmed-star-war-film

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JJ Abrams will direct the next Star Wars film, Disney has confirmed after days of speculation, giving hope to many long-suffering fans who were disappointed by the past three installments in the iconic franchise.

The announcement was greeted with celebrations on online networks by the films' army of enthusiasts who have already watched Abrams rescue the aging Star Trek series with a high-grossing prequel in 2009.

Disney said late on Friday Abrams would work under the leadership of producer Kathleen Kennedy, the former president of Lucasfilm, and the script would be penned by Oscar-winning writer Michael Arndt.

"JJ is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise," Kennedy said in a statement on starwars.com.

Fans were equally enthusiastic. "JJ Abrams to the rescue!!! Yes!! žstarwarsVII," wrote Jonny Radtke on Twitter.

"Great news about JJ Abrams directing Star Wars. Might just rescue the brand," added Alastair Brookshaw.

Rumors that Abrams, one of Hollywood's most successful directors and producers, would take stewardship of the films filled industry publications and online forums over the past week.

The 46-year-old made his name with TV shows Alias and Lost and earned his stripes as a director of effects-laden blockbusters with Super 8, Mission: Impossible III and another widely expected Star Trek film Star Trek Into Darkness, due out later this year.

The Star Wars franchise, which was created by George Lucas in 1977, has grossed more than $4.4bn at the global box office since the first film was released, making it the third most successful movie property after the Harry Potter and James Bond series.

The Star Wars films were acquired by Disney after they bought Lucasfilm for $4.05bn in October 2012. They announced then that three new installments would be made, starting in 2015.

Lucas, 68, gave Abrams his blessing on Starwars.com, saying the director was "an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn't be in better hands".

Abrams said his new role was "an absolute honor."

Disney had previously said Lucas would remain a creative consultant on the series.

Lucas himself said in October he had story treatments for Episodes 7, 8 and 9, which he would hand over to Kennedy, who assured him that she would adhere to his ideas.