J.J. Abrams will be directing the next Star Wars movie

Star Trek director J.J. Abrams will be helming the next Star Wars movie. “It’s done deal with J.J.,” a source told Deadline today. Argo director Ben Affleck was also up for the gig, the source says. Despite saying publicly that he didn’t want to direct a new Star Wars, Abrams was heavily courted by producer Kathleen Kennedy to take the job. Expected in 2015, Episode VII will be the first new Star Wars movie since 2005′s Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith.
Michael Arndt is writing the script for the first installment of the relaunch of George Lucas’ franchise. Disney the company that bought Lucasfilm in October for $4 billion, with the Star Wars franchise being the jewel in the crown. At the time, CEO Bob Iger said three more Star Wars films were in the works. Abrams’ other space-based franchise sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness, comes out May 17. This weekend, the PGA or the producers guild of America will honor the Lost creator and Revolution producer with its 2013 Norman Lear Award For Television. Abrams is represented by CAA and Oasis Media Group.