J.J. Abrams Confirms He Was Approached To Direct ‘Star Wars Episode 7′
Posted by The Movie God | December 26th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
One of the names that’s always been high on fans’ wishlist of directors to take on Star Wars Episode VII was of course J.J. Abrams…despite the fact that he’s currently heavily involved in the geek rival Star Trek universe.
Now comes word from Abrams himself that he was in fact approached about possibly directing the next Star Wars movie.
In an interview with Empire Magazine, Abrams said:
“There were the very early conversations, and I quickly said that, because of my loyalty to Star Trek and also just being a fan, I wouldn’t even want to be involved in the next version of those things. I declined any involvement very early on. I’d rather be in the audience not knowing what was coming, rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them.”
We’ve heard Abrams say he didn’t see himself directing the movie in the past, as well. Clearly, even being as familiar as he is with the pressure involved in taking the reigns of a cherished and timeless franchise, as he did with Trek, the spotlight was just too damn big, bright, and scorching hot in this case. The big difference between the two, for Abrams anyway, is that he’s been a huge Star Wars fan his whole life and not a big fan of Trek going into that job.
This only reaffirms just how massive the job will be, and just how insanely tough it will be for whoever it is that grabs that pen and signs on the line.
Come on, God, “One of the names that’s always been high on fans’ wish list of directors?” Really? Not my list. Not the list of any fan I know. Which lists are those?
The guy turned down the gig a while back, so I don’t know why we keep getting breathless about his…turning down the gig. His lack of fan passion for Star Trek has already given us the action-adventure version of a world once rife with philosophy and moral explorations. Thanks, J.J., what a great vision.
I couldn’t be happier that he’s nowhere near Star Wars…everything Abrams touches turns to crusty, over-baked ephemera after time. He’s a self-powered hype machine with a sufficient number of tricks in his bag to convince the masses that he’s a genius. That’s his real gift. It’s called prestidigitation.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
