"It's very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie," said Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy. "J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture."
"To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor," said Abrams, whose other feature film credits include Mission: Impossible III and Super 8, along with a host of TV projects such as Alias, Lost and Fringe."I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid."
Abrams will become the fourth director to tackle the Star Wars franchise after George Lucas (A New Hope, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith), Irvin Kershner (The Empire Strikes Back) and Richard Marquand (Return of the Jedi), and Star Wars creator Lucas went on to express his admiration for Abrams and his body of work: "I've consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He's an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn't be in better hands."
Star Wars: Episode VII is being written by Academy Award-winner Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Super 8) and will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and his Bad Robot producing partner Bryan Burk. Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Simon Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) will also serve as consultants.
Star Wars: Episode VII is set for release in 2015.