J.J. Abrams Turns Down 'Star Wars'
by Shannon KeirnanIf you had hopes that J.J. Abrams would be taking on the upcoming Disney “Star Wars” revamp, I have disappointing news for you. The “Lost” creator has turned down the opportunity, stating his loyalty to “Star Trek” as his reasoning.
"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,” Abrams said.
“I'd rather be in the audience not knowing what was coming, rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them."
Abrams added, “Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time. I frankly feel that – I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series. I was never a big Star Trek fan growing up, so for me, working on Star Trek didn’t have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more then anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!”
Addressing concerns that “Trek” and “Wars” might start a box office battle of their own, Abrams simply said, “I’m not thinking that far ahead!”
He added that, as a huge fan, he was confident that the continuation “will be amazing.”
At the time, “Little Miss Sunshine” screenwriter Michael Arndt is signed on to write “Episode VII,” and “X-Men: First Class” director Matthew Vaughn is rumored to be involved.
“Episode VII” will hit theaters in 2015.