The Second Coming Of Lucasfilm...

Help me, J.J. Abrams, you're my only hope...

The Lucasfilm of the past three decades is finally moving on, growing up...

There's a great article in The Hollywood Reporter about Kathleen Kennedy, and what it's like for her to run the company that makes Star Wars.  It really is a crack into the world she travels in and her approach to all this madness.

You can tell that her style will definitely be different from the Bearded One.  It's going to be an interesting five years ahead (which is how long her contract will be).  Not just for these films, but the others that she moves into production for the Lucas brand.

My favorite part of the article is the quote where she talks about J.J. Abrams leaving a three hour meeting with Michael Arndt and Lawrence Kasdan and her, where she said afterwards he "was on the ceiling" when it was over.  That must of been some story session they had with him.  Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall in that room when it went down?  How many people would kill to see that script Arndt is going to turn in?  I have a feeling this is the beginning of something beautiful.

It's a new century, a new world, and a whole new galaxy ahead of us...

The Power Of The Dark Side...

What I really want to do is direct a Star Wars film...

It's hard to resist what you love...

Especially if it's offered dangling before you like the dream you always wanted, but never thought you'd get. That's what J.J. Abrams came up against over the past couple of months it seems.  When you get offered what you never thought would be available, the temptation to say no fades into the background when you see the possibility of what lies ahead.

He had meetings with Kathleen Kennedy and talked to Michael Ardnt.  He had discussions with them about what they wanted to do, and where they wanted to go.  And he saw the 40-50 page treatment that the new trilogy will follow.  The one that Ardnt wrote and is using as the template for his "Episode VII" script.  He apparently liked the direction they were heading.  So he said yes to the most scrutinized directing effort he will ever have.

He will have fans of both "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" watching his every move, his every decision, and his every word for the next two or three years.  And the fans of Trek will have factions that not only don't like this, but downright believe that this is a betrayal.  I can only imagine the next Comic-Con that Abrams shows up to will look like.  Remember also, the next D23 is this fall.  Can you imagine there won't be a strong Star Wars presence there?  It will, and I happen to believe that there will be a panel, or large section of the main Walt Disney Pictures panel that will focus just on Star Wars.  You better get your tickets now, and stand in line soon because it's going to be mind numbingly busy.

This will be the same type of panel/session as what happened last time with Marvel when Kevin Feige walked out.  With that in mind, expect to see Kathleen Kennedy show up on stage, and I would be surprised if she didn't introduce the director of the new film.  And I expect him to come out and talk how excited he is to be working on a childhood dream, and not reveal ANY information  about the film.  This is J.J. Ambrams, after all.  And we're all going to be living through his dream over the next couple of years.

Hopefully, that won't feel like a long, long time...

Jedi Abrams...

I'm really a Star Wars fan...

It's as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced...

Wow, now this is news I didn't expect to see. For those not aware, The Wrap is reporting that Kathleen Kennedy has chosen J. J. Abrams to direct the next Star Wars film.  The more important part is that he has apparently accepted the offer.  His mission, now that he's chosen to accept it, is to make us forget the Prequels.  And with a script by Michael Arndt that he's read and has mentioned he liked, that could be possible.

So now we have to wonder what the name of Episode VII will be?  Rise of the New Republic?  Rage of the Sith?  The Return of Organa?  I have a feeling we'll hear about that soon as well.  Exciting news to hear.

This film is shaping up to not be a reboot, but a rebirth...

UPDATE:

A day later and the Mouse and Lucasfilm have ponied up with the truth.  Here's the official press release:

STAR WARS IS BEING KICK-STARTED WITH DYNAMITE J.J. ABRAMS TO DIRECT STAR WARS: EPISODE VII 

                                                         January 25, 2013

After a bevy of emails and phone calls, the formalities have been wrapped up, and at long last everyone can exhale and properly share the word with an excited Internet. Yes, J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay."It's very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie," said 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 Warsexperience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture."George Lucas went on to say "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.""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," J.J. Abrams said. "I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid."J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner."Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year's Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm's preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.

---

Past Star Wars veterans, dating back to the classic trilogy, offered words of praise from their direct experience with Abrams: 

Visual Effects Supervisor Dennis Muren, ASC, whose credits include the original Star Wars trilogy as well as landmark films such as E.T. and Jurassic Park, also worked with Abrams on Super 8. "He puts everything he has into his work," said Muren. "He totally immerses himself. He's got such a visual eye, which is so important to the Star Wars films. It seems that a lot of the same things that were in George when he made the first Star Wars films are also in J.J. I think he's going to fit into the other movies perfectly, with the energy that J.J. has. We're kick-starting Star Wars again with dynamite. It will knock people out, including the people who get to work on it. I think it's a great choice." 

Ben Burtt, responsible for such iconic Star Wars sounds as Darth Vader's breathing, R2-D2's beeps and the classic lightsaber, has worked with Abrams as sound designer and sound editor on Star Trek and Super 8. "J.J represents the next generation of filmmakers from those that were making Star Wars when I started," said Ben Burtt. "When he was a teen, he was a fan of Star Wars, and a great deal of his love for movies came out of his reaction of that firstStar Wars film. You feel that he's already invested so many years in it, and he's going to propel it forward in a new way. In other words, you're having a fan who has grown up and developed tremendous directorial skills finding himself at the steering wheel to take the franchise into the next stage. I feel like I'm there watching history turn over from one era to another." 

Matthew Wood, who served as supervising sound editor on Super 8, similarly grew up as a Star Wars fan before working on the films through the prequels. "Working with him, it was so obvious to me that J.J. and I have the same nostalgic love of that era. Now we have someone from that generation who is going to be at the helm of the Star Wars franchise that I've known and worked on, so it's a great circle. Just seeing what he did with Super 8 and capturing those moments, and knowing what was so special about that era, it's going to speak to a new generation of audience as well."

The Write Stuff...

And the Threepio goes to... 

 If you need anymore proof that the Mouse picked the right person, look no further...

For Star Wars, I mean.  Michael Arndt is a very talented writer.  He knows story.  He knows structure.  He knows how to take an arc and follow through with a payoff.  I don't know who will be the director that is chosen to film this chapter of the Star Wars saga, but I am confindant in the writer.

I have faith that the script he turns in will be well thought out, well written, and compelling.  The man knows how to tell a story, even if it's a toy story.  I trust Kathleen Kennedy guiding the project through, and it speaks volumes that she chose Arndt to work on the treatment and then the first script of this new trilogy.

If you want to see how smart a fellow he is, take a look at this video from 2007 where Michael Arndt gave a speech about his script for "Little Miss Sunshine" at a local San Francisco book store.  I believe that after watching his conversation about the screenwriting process, you'll feel safer about him being in front of a keyboard typing out the future of that galaxy far, far away.

No Midi-chlorians here, please...

The Force Is Strong With This One...

Star Wars films to infinity and beyond... 

Well, we now know who did that extensive treatment that Bob Iger mentioned in the announcement of Lucasfilm marrying the Mouse...

And it's not by George Lucas.

Vulture is reporting (and other sites are confirming) that Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) was/is the person responsible for the treatment for the storyline for the next trilogy of Star Wars films.  It wasn't just a proposal for the first film, Episode VII, it was a 40-50 page explanation/description of all three films.  And the treatment is supposed to go out to directors soon.  Brad Bird, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg are mentioned, and it may not be just to see if they want to direct, but what they think of the new trilogy.

This is great news, not only because Arndt is a great writer, but he's an avid Star Wars fan, which means we won't see something like Jar Jar Binks, or Medaclorians.  It means that Disney and Kathleen Kennedy are taking this seriously, and don't plan on releasing a film that fans will hate.  It means that they actually care what the fans think, unlike Lucas, who created this universe, and never let anyone question him.  It means there won't be a room of Yes Men that tell George everything he writes is gospel, and nothing is wrong with it, or could be bad about it.  It means now others can play in George's sandbox.

And that is a good thing for Star Wars fans.  It means that we may get adventures in this wonderful universe that are worthy of its creation.  Now, if only Brad Bird were to postpone "1952" until after he finishes "Episode VII" it'd be the greatest news ever.  Well, not ever, but today at least.

This was great news today...

Hat Tip to /Film.

UPDATE:  Lucasfilm has confirmed Arndt will write Episode VII.