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Report: J.J. Abrams to direct 'Star Wars' sequel

Director J. J. Abrams attends a press conference for the film "Star Trek Into Darkness" in Tokyo, Japan on December 4, 2012. UPI/Keizo Mori

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Published: Jan. 25, 2013 at 9:34 AM

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Hollywood director-producer J.J. Abrams has signed on to helm the seventh "Star Wars" film for Disney, TheWrap reported.

Abrams is the mastermind behind TV's "Fringe," "Lost" and "Alias." He also has directed blockbuster installments in the "Mission Impossible" and "Star Trek" film franchises.

He has been floated as a possible director of the next "Star Wars" flick since writer-director-producer George Lucas announced last year he sold his Lucasfilm studio to Disney, and more "Star Wars" movies are on the way.

Abrams previously denied to EW.com plans to take over the classic sci-fi series, but TheWrap said Thursday he has since had a change of heart.

"Little Miss Sunshine" scribe Michael Arndt is writing the script for the next "Star Wars," which is set for theatrical release in 2015.

Topics: J.J. Abrams, George Lucas

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