Update: Disney and Lucasfilm have confirmed Abrams as the director of "Star Wars: Episode VII." Read more about the news here.
Is J.J. Abrams going from Starfleet Captain James T. Kirk and Mister Spock to Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker?
A new report from The Wrap says that the director will helm the recently announced Disney made Star Wars: Episode VII. According to the report, a source with knowledge of the negotiations says, Abrams has agreed to direct the next highly anticipated installment in the legendary film franchise.
The report also notes that "Argo" director and actor Ben Affleck was also in contention to direct the production, but the job ultimately went to Abrams.
The "Star Trek" directors name has been in contention since Disney first acquired the rights to the "Star Wars" franchise, but back in November, Abrams told Entertainment Weekly that although he was approached to direct the movie, he was not going to take the job.
In the interview he did tell Entertainment Weekly, that the "Star Wars" franchise was one of the biggest influences in his filmmaking career.
"As a kid I was always a fan of special effects," Abrams told Entertainment Weekly. "Watching movies I was constantly trying to figure out how they did it, whatever the effect was. Star Wars was the first movie that blew my mind in that way; it didn't matter how they did any of it because it was all so overwhelmingly and entirely great."
He added, "It was funny and romantic and scary and compelling and the visual effects just served the characters and story. It galvanized for me; not for what was exciting about how movies were made, but rather for what movies were capable of."
But as The Wrap says, "The lure of the Jedi was too strong." If the story is true it means the director will have to jump from the Enterprise to the Death Star rather quickly. "Star Trek Into Darkness," his second Star Trek film is currently in post-production and opens in theaters on May 18.
The Wrap reached out to Lynne Hale, spokesperson for Lucasfilms, who immediately declined to comment on the possible hire. The Wrap also attempted to get a statement from Abrams representative CAA, but were unable to get a comment.
Last fall, Disney acquired the rights to the "Star Wars" film franchise and announced plans to release "Star Wars: Episode 7" in the Summer of 2015, where it will likely go against Disney's "Avengers" sequel and the proposed "Justice League of America" film adaptation from Warner Bros Studios.
Check out our list of potential plots for the new trilogy here and some casting rumors here. Watch the "Star Wars" Blu-ray trailer below...
