Reports: J.J. Abrams to direct next 'Star Wars'

[ZombieHorde]

Los Angeles — Another universe of sci-fi fans has been put in the hands of J.J. Abrams.

According to multiple trade reports, Abrams is set to direct the next installment of "Star Wars," which Disney has said will be "Episode 7" and due out in 2015. Disney bought "Star Wars" maker Lucasfilm last month for $4.06 billion.

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 installment in that series, "Star Trek: Into Darkness," set to hit theaters May 17.

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


From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130125/ENT02/301250336#ixzz2Iy3mRL8S

[uriel1972]

1. Goodbye continuity nt

[harmonicon]

2. I knew they were going to fuck it up.

I thought to myself, "well, whatever they do, it can't possibly be WORSE than the supposed prequels." Oh, how wrong I was. I don't even think I'll consider watching the pile of shit this is going to be.

[ZombieHorde]

3. I'll probably see it. nt

[harmonicon]

4. Well, they can't destroy my childhood again.

Phantom Menace took care of that. I didn't see the other new movies after that, apart from catching bits on tv (I even tried to watch one, but it was so bad I had to turn it off).

Abrams though... man, he puts our real garbage. I mean, he's at the top of unwatchable mountain already. I assumed I would watch anything Star Trek until his movie came out. Just hearing about it and watching previews made me know it would only piss me off; Uhura as a sex object (wasn't the skirt in the first series by itself enough of that?), sexy Spock, Ninja (aka racist-depiction) Sulu, and James Kirk did not become captain of the Enterprise at age 14 by some combination of heredity and winning a video game competition or whatever the fuck was posed. If he had, it would have been brought up some time in the several years of the show or one of the many films.

I just can't believe that Kevin Smith isn't doing it. To not have him do it is an injustice. What are they afraid of? That he'd be faithful to the original films and respectful to the legacy? You'd think that's what they'd want. It's not like they weren't popular.

[bobclark86]

5. Umm... Kirk WAS the youngest captain...

And the Kobyashi Maru is well-known from Wrath of Khan. It's not a "video game contest" and anybody who remembers skinny, hot and pointed-eared Kirstie Alley knows better.

Spock was always a badass. They just got a young guy for the role.

Uhura not a sex symbol? Three words: First interracial kiss. Two more words: Fan dance. (OK, bad example

Sulu was a fencer, not a ninja. Just like George Takei. Again, from TOS.

[CBGLuthier]

6. About that first interracial kiss thing, it is not true

That particular bit of Star Trek lore is simply not true. For one thing there were more than a few instances of various asian actresses kissing "white" actors in early 60's TV, especially westerns.

And if we want to make it about black and white there is this

Which is from 1967 one year before the Star Trek episode.

That said, I agree with everything else you say and personally I found the Abrams picture to be SUPERIOR to most of the ST movies.

[harmonicon]

7. You don't have to tell me about Star Trek.

You can be an apologist if the new/shitty film if you want, but it won't change the fact that it's non-canon crap.

[bobclark86]

9. Oh Noes!

It's not CANON! It's the end of the fucking world!

Because as we all know, the perfect Jesus-reincarnate George Lucas would NEVER do anything that wasn't the all-mighty CANON!

Next thing you know, you're going to bitch about the Time War in Doctor Who...

[harmonicon]

11. Did you miss me already complaining about George Lucas?

That's what started this. I'd also be happy to bitch about all of the shitty things they've done to the new Doctor Who - I can't even watch it anymore.

So, someone on an internet message board has made fun of me for being a nerd. Wow. I'm shattered.

[Xyzse]

22. It's alright...

I know where you're coming from.

With me, it really depends. I get a wee bit forgiving to things like these.
I mean, I don't see Abrams doing any worse than Lucas. Though like I said, I rather have a different director.

I get to be a downright jerk when they made a live action adaptation of DragonBall Z.
How they severely mangled Dresden Files in television.
How disgustingly bad Eragon was.

Basically, if I read the book first and then it gets turned in to a movie, I get nasty in my critiques if they stupidly reveal a plot point for other books, or they completely miss the point on the characters.

Any how, I was about to defend the Abrams Star Trek, just because some of the things you mentioned about it was wrong.

Kirk did not become the youngest captain in the new ST. They changed him in to a rebellious underachieving genius, who only got Captainship through plot points I am not telling, since I don't like giving spoilers.

Though, I do understand you not wanting to see it. You can't pay me enough to watch the American DBZ.

[Initech]

24. Kevin Smith would have been my first choice too.

Hopefully with JJ Abrhams on board they'll have Simon Pegg have a role in it.

[Rob H.]

8. So we're trading Lucas' tin ear for dialog for a shit-ton of lens flares

What could possibly go wrong?

[bobclark86]

10. But better dialog...

I'll take the lens flair and a better script.

[Xithras]

15. I wonder if he'll iPodify the Millennium Falcon like he did the Enterprise.

Maybe he can replace C-3P0's voice with Siri while he's at it. And speaking of C3PO, Abrams has to be loving the thought of putting C3PO on screen...can you IMAGINE how many lens flares he'll be able to render off that shiny metal ass? It'll look like the fuggin sunrise every time C3PO walks into the room.

Abrams has also had this longstanding thing with killing off main characters and disrupting storylines to keep things "edgy" (it was a recurring plot point on LOST, and he one upped himself by wiping out an entire core species on ST). I bet the Wookie goes the redshirt route within the first 10 minutes of the movie! (I could have gone with Endor, but I doubt that many fans would miss the Ewoks)

[kentauros]

17. I think the iProducting of future technology is a problem throughout Hollywood.

Avatar overdid it, and Prometheus made the Nostromo look like steam-era space-faring tech. It's probably the fault of people wanting high tech to be more visible than useful.

Thankfully, the only version of Abrams Star Trek I watched was a downloaded bootleg that I promptly deleted once I'd bothered to watch that mess. It's really too bad that his modus operandi seems to be "Let's kill off as many people as we can, and in the most imaginative and edgy ways possible!" There was no good reason to destroy Vulcan, and the main story was a rather simplistic one about revenge. The idiotic idea of a supernova destroying the galaxy made me cringe. Sure, Star Trek wasn't known for getting science right all the time, but at least it tried! Abrams didn't seem to think that was necessary.

And so, I don't think it will be necessary for me to watch whatever he produces

[Xyzse]

12. I'd Probably Watch It

In regards to it being non-canon. I think they explained the new Star Wars movie as Spock going back in time, bringing an advanced enemy that changed the timeline.

So, it is basically a completely different part of the multi-verse they espouse.

I didn't mind it too much. I liked the casting choices.
It was set up as a reboot, so of course it isn't going to be canon to the others.

As for Star Wars... I may have preferred a different Director. Abrams has too distinct a style that putting him in charge of the two rival franchises to me is ill advised.

I'd have liked Brad Bird.

[NewJeffCT]

13. I thought the plan with the Abrams Star Trek movies

was that the next two movies would be about correcting the timeline so it becomes more in sync with actual Trek canon.

[Xyzse]

14. Really?

Haven't heard. I just haven't bothered enough.
I'll watch it because it is Star Trek... Other than that, it isn't a big deal in my life.

Still, that is an interesting idea, although the discussion is about how Abrams would do with Star Wars.

I am somewhat against it. Not due to his directorial style, just that I don't think one person should handle rivaling franchises.

Like I said, Brad Bird I think would be awesome. He did well with MI: Ghost Protocol from the pacing to the spatial elements.

[NewJeffCT]

18. I read somewhere else that Ben Affleck was also seriously considered

to direct the new Star Wars movie...

[Xyzse]

19. That might be interesting.

Ben Affleck tends to go for a gritty feel.
Washed out colors and a huge emphasis on the story with how things relate. He also wrestles with ambiguous themes, which may make it better.

Lucas sanitizes his Star Wars movies even from the original.

Star Wars is more flash than actual substance. It might be interesting though.

[NewJeffCT]

23. The original movie is a fairly simple story

but, it's made memorable by some great characters and one of the all-time great movie villains, in addition to the flash of special effects.

[Taverner]

20. No the next two movies are about joining the Star Wars and Star Trek universes

Chewebacca gives birth to a bunch of tribbles...NO LIE!

[Xyzse]

21. Holy S...

Changing the Tribbles to something akin to the Prometheus Aliens busting out of Chewy's stomach....
Eeewwwww...

I guess that is how Chewy bites it if Abram gets a hand on SW.

[Archae]

16. It could end up like this.

[flying rabbit]

25. Teh awesome!

[OriginalGeek]

26. me too