'Star Wars Episode VII': JJ Abrams Reportedly Chosen To Direct

JJ Abrams To Take On Star Wars?

JJ Abrams is set to direct the next instalment of Star Wars, which Disney has said will be Episode Seven and due out in 2015, according to reports.

Disney bought Star Wars maker Lucasfilm last month for 4.06 billion US dollars (£2.56bn).

The Emmy-award-winning director of the TV show Lost also captained the reboot of Star Trek for rival studio Paramount Pictures, with the next instalment in that series, Star Trek: Into Darkness, set to hit cinemas in the United States on May 17.

Citing unnamed sources, the news was reported earlier by Hollywood trade outlets The Wrap, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety.

Soon after the news broke, websites were flush with chatter.

On Twitter, JJ Abrams, Star Wars and #Star Trek were all trending topics.

Roberto Orci, a producer and writer who has worked with Abrams on Star Trek, Star Trek: Into Darkness, and Mission: Impossible III, appeared to confirm the reports on Twitter.

In response to a question about Abrams' involvement, Orci tweeted back "True!"

He also responded to a Spanish-speaking questioner, "Creo que si!" ("I think so").

Despite denying his interest in directing the next Star Wars following The Walt Disney Co's October announcement, many tipped Abrams as the most obvious choice.

Reactions To Lucasfilm Sale
Darth Vader(01 of40)
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Lucasfilm was bought by Disney, there is no way I am wearing Mickey Mouse ears. (credit:Twitter:DepressedDarth)
not Luke Johnson(02 of40)
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STAR WARS VII: THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE (credit:Twitter:venort)
MC Frontalot(03 of40)
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Marvel, Lucasfilm... Disney systematically buying up things that were vital to me at age 12. Next they acquire Robotech, Now & Laters, air. (credit:Twitter:mc_frontalot)
The Dark Lord(04 of40)
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Does the Disney/Lucasfilm merger mean that Leia is now a Disney Princess? (credit:Twitter:Lord_Voldemort7)
Andrew Tumilty(05 of40)
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Saw news about Disney & Star Wars, looked at calendar. Nicely done Mayans, you were obviously strong in the Force.#DisneyBuysLucasFilm (credit:Twitter:AndrewTumilty)
Joe ~ Speedyf40(06 of40)
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It was like a million nerds (voices) crying out in unison then suddenly retweets! #DisneyBuysLucasfilm (credit:Twitter:speedyf40)
Professor Snape(07 of40)
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Now that Disney has bought Lucasfilm, I think we can all agree that we want to see Tony Stark kill Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars 7. (credit:Twitter:_Snape_)
SeeCat(08 of40)
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Jack Sparrow steals the Millennium Falcon. Hijinks ensue. #DisneyBuysLucasfilm (credit:Twitter:SeeCat42)
Andy Gaffney(09 of40)
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I mean to quote my generation, this shit be cray cray #DisneyBuysLucasFilm (credit:Twitter:ElloAndyGaffney)
Bam-Bam(10 of40)
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Star Wars Episode VII: The Jedi Wore Tennis Shoes #disneybuyslucasfilms (credit:Twitter:Bammer)
Cesar R Cespedes(11 of40)
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I felt a disturbance in the Force, as if millions of geeks were shocked in an instant #DisneybuysLucasfilms (credit:Twitter:Czor04)
FILM CRIT HULK(12 of40)
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NOW THAT DISNEY OWNS MARVEL + STAR WARS, HULK STARRING IN CROSSOVER MOVIE WHERE HULK SMASHES JAR JAR BINKS FOR 2 HOURS FOR, LIKE, NO REASON (credit:Twitter:FilmCritHULK)
Jeremy Lambert(13 of40)
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Star Wars Episode 7: The Return of Miley Cyrus #DisneyBuysLucasFilms (credit:Twitter:jeremylambert88)
Brandon Mueller(14 of40)
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Truly the twitter sphere now has something else to explode about. #disneybuyslucasfilms (credit:Twitter:sedvideo)
The Dark Lord(15 of40)
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Lucasfilm has just been sold to Disney. So Disney is now in control of the Dark Side? I KNEW IT! (credit:Twitter:Lord_Voldemort7)
Graeme(16 of40)
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I go for lunch and Disney buys Lucasfilm? WHAT THE WHAT? (credit:Twitter:graemem)
Bryan K(17 of40)
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I'm pretty sure this Disney-Lucasfilm news is breaking my corner of the internet. (credit:Twitter:TOCPE82)
iUtsab(18 of40)
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Disney just bought Star Wars & LucasFilm. Meaning more princess than Jedi. #StarWars (credit:Twitter:UtsabBaidya)
Dale McGladdery(19 of40)
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Let's face it, Lucas had already Disneyfied Stars Wars, anyway. This seems more up front. - Disney buying Lucasfilm http://t.co/22NiPWfv (credit:Twitter:dale42)
Greg Linch(20 of40)
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Not sure how to react to this -> “Princess Leia is now a member of the Disney Princess club, I guess.” -- @abtran in a Facebook comment (credit:Twitter:greglinch)
(21 of40)
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Giordano Ciampini(22 of40)
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Toydarian Story #DisneyBuysLucasFilm (credit:Twitter:GioFotoImg)
Pedro Montojo(23 of40)
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#DisneyBuysLucasfilm Jar Jar Poppins (credit:Twitter:pitermm)
Brian Flatley(24 of40)
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No one obviously told #Disney “IT’S A TRAP!!!” #Disneybuyslucasfilm (credit:Twitter:segansca)
Raymond Kemp(25 of40)
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There was a disturbance in the force like the voices of a million nerds were scilenced. #DisneybuysLucasfilm (credit:Twitter:RaymondKemp)
Hesiod Theogeny(26 of40)
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Now, if we can just get Disney to buy out JK Rowling.... #disneystarwars #disneypotter #disneybuyslucasfilm (credit:Twitter:Hesiod2k11)
mhoye(27 of40)
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Emperor Palpatine's New Groove #DisneyBuysLucasFilm (credit:Twitter:mhoye)
Andrés de Rojas(28 of40)
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May the Force be with... Mickey Mouse? #DisneyBuysLucasfilm (credit:Twitter:aderojas)
Popehat(29 of40)
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A long time ago, in a galaxy fully complaint with SOPA and PIPA . . . . #DisneyBuysLucasfilm (credit:Twitter:Popehat)
Hall'Owen Craig(30 of40)
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So... the Internet just exploded. #DisneyBuysLucasFilm (credit:Twitter:owenkcraig)
Johnny(31 of40)
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I guess this means Jason Segal will make the next "Star Wars" movie. #DisneyBuysLucasFilm (credit:Twitter:TheJohnny27)
Uncle Jago(32 of40)
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Mulando Calrissian #DisneyBuysLucasFilm (credit:Twitter:UncleJago)
Kevin Rigdon(33 of40)
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Is there enough room at Disney World to build a Death Star? #DisneybuysLucasfilm (credit:Twitter:pralix1138)
Joe Dunn(34 of40)
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Medicloreans revealed to be Tinkerbell pixie dust. #DisneyBuysLucasFilm (credit:Twitter:joedunn721)
Lauren Alice Dykes(35 of40)
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I kinda get the feeing I might be the only one who is super-stoked about this... #DisneybuysLucasfilm (credit:Twitter:laurendykes)
AnimationFascination(36 of40)
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Pixar/Marvel/Indiana Jones/Star Wars crossover possibilities FTW? #DisneyBuysLucasfilm (credit:Twitter:AnimatedPodcast)
witchking42(37 of40)
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Oh bloody hell. A Disney Jar Jar Binks is all we need. #tweetfleet #disneybuyslucasfilm (credit:Twitter:witchking42)
Pedro Montojo(38 of40)
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#DisneyBuysLucasfilm Jar Jar Poppins (credit:Twitter:pitermm)
Tomeu X. Sastre(39 of40)
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#DisneyBuysLucasfilm Snow White and the 7 ewoks (credit:Twitter:txsastre)
John Hardy(40 of40)
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RT @joshgreenman: Jar Jar, Goofy. Goofy, Jar Jar. #disneybuyslucasfilm (credit:Twitter:JohnHardy303)