The cinematic universe that lives following those epic words A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far Far Away has grown by leaps an bounds since 1977. But no other event in the history of Star Wars has shaken more ground than the new that has just broke today (not even Greedo shooting first). Take a minute to let the following sink in…J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars Episode VII…Yes you read that right. If you’re feeling queasy, that’s OK. It is a massive amount of information to process in one sitting. The quest for a director of Ep VII is over but this news now asks more questions than it answers…kind of like LOST actually.
Well as the man who wiped the Star Trek plate clean and delivered a reboot for the ages he’s certainly got our vote. I mean he’s got talent for story and style and knows how to appeal to fan boys and noobs alike. Also it doesn’t hurt that he has, in the past, got the blessing from film gods like Steven Spielberg and John Williams to name but a few. Honestly, there doesn’t seem to be one thing that sounds wrong in putting Abrams at the helm of this franchise. Well almost.
There is one little item we have to address and you all know the one I’m talking about. You know, it’s that other time tested spacey property called Star Trek. He’s got a hand in that too but schedule-wise, he’ll be free of the Enterprise just in time to start work on this with writer Michael Ardnt, but still, doesn’t that seem like a conflict of interest to anyone else? Well apparently Lucasfilm and Disney don’t mind and perhaps he is actually the one who will bring balance to the Force. Or better, the one who can bridge the cold hard divide between Trekkers and Fans of the Force.
While I don’t envy the amount of pressure he’ll be under to deliver, I certainly envy the fact that he’s most likely got free reign of what he wants to do. He really is king of the universe…and I bet 1,000 Republic credits I know who’s scoring the film:P We can Expect Ep. VII in 2015 so now I really can’t wait to hear more about the development. This is going to be a hot topic for some time so let’s get the ball rolling, shall we. What say you about J.J.’s new gig???
(Source: The Wrap)
6 Comments
Dan Heaton
Given all the different ways this could have gone, I’m pretty thrilled that Abrams is taking the helm. I don’t think Disney is taking any chances and wants a well-respected guy who’s already shown that he can resurrect a franchise. His challenge is even higher here, but I think he can do it.
RidgeRacer4
Well Disney is the funny bit in all of this. I assume people left and right were taking themselves out of the running simply because they didn’t want to make the movie that The Mouse House wanted them to make. On the other hand, I think Abrams is one of the few people who will actually get full reign overseeing this picture. You said it, he’s can breath new life into something tired (like Star Trek) so he’s hoping, with a great story in tow, this ends up as good as it sounds right now.
Andrew Crump
If you ask me, this is something of a double-edged sword. Abrams, to me, is akin to raw, directionless energy in need of a conduit; if you can focus him, he can deliver on the goods when it comes to big, broad spectacle. Star Trek, for example, is a blast. It doesn’t hold up well under even mild scrutiny, but it’s still a ton of fun. Half of that is due to performance while the rest is due to Abrams’ own ingenuity when it comes to action set pieces.
So with him at the helm, Star Wars VII could just be what Star Trek ’09 was, and I think everyone but the most diehard, hardcore franchise fans would welcome that film. I know that I would. And I’m pretty sure that at worst, that’s the film we’re going to get, because Abrams isn’t flying solo here– he’s going to be working under the watchful eye of Disney/Lucasfilm, who can reign him in if he starts to indulge his worst tendencies.
Left to his own devices, Abrams is kind of a mediocre filmmaker. Maybe what he does works fine on television, but he hasn’t made a great movie yet that holds up to analysis. I think with the structure that Lucasfilm offers, he could make a vital, very good Star Wars movie, and while the choice surprises me– like many I was kind of expecting someone like Jon Favreau– I think it’s a solid one. For now. Just so long as they don’t let Lindelof anywhere near him.
RidgeRacer4
Hahahaha, yeah we saw how Lindelof LOST nearly all the avid fans of the Alien franchise with his contribution to Prometheus:P
Dan Fogarty
Not completely sold. It would take a lonnnng time before I reached Abrams on my list of favorite directors, and I’m not 100% sold on the first Star Trek movie. Dont get me wrong, it was very good, but Im not the super fan that a lot of people are. Its a lot of pretty action, with half the heart the original had. Hopefully the sequel willl rectify that.
Andrew Crump
I’m more or less in the same boat as you, particularly on Star Trek ’09 being just “pretty good”– and if I haven’t made it clear everywhere I write, I’m REALLY not looking forward to the sequel that much at all– but I think this could be a good match, so long as Lucasfilm gives him that aforementioned structure.