Report: J.J. Abrams to Direct Next Star Wars Movie

Posted on January 25, 2013

It's not been confirmed by Disney yet, but Deadline reports that J.J. Abrams will direct the next live Star Wars movie. Deadline says Ben Affleck was also up for the job. The news is a surprise because J.J. told Entertainment Weekly last month that he didn't want to direct Star Wars because he's directing the Star Trek franchise. Either they made him an offer he couldn't refuse or he something else caused him to have a change of heart.

Producer Kathleen Kennedy has been after Abrams to take the job. The next film will be Episode VII will be released in 2015. Disney purchased LucasFilm and the rights to Star Wars for $4 billion in cash and has announced it will make three films. Disney is clearly impressed with J.J.'s reboot of Star Trek. Although his take on the franchise angered some long time fans, the first film was a big hit. The next Star Trek film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain and hits theaters in May.

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