May the Force Be With...J.J. Abrams

Ever since news came about of the acquisition of Lucas Films to the Walt Disney Company, with the promise of another round of Star Wars films, the never-ending question became...who would direct it?  Well, now it's confirmed that J.J. Abrams-- mastermind of Lost, Super 8 and Star Trek will helm the next generation of Star Wars.  It was previously announced that Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) would pen 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 Wars experience, 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.”

What about that.  Now the question comes-- will the Star Trek/Star Wars helmer find himself in conflicts between the two.  And the added irony that the two science fiction prodigal projects are in eternal conflict within one another perpetually.   

The Force in Michael Arndt

Ever since the bombshell news that the Walt Disney Company snapped up LucasFilms and thus, Star Wars, and making the announcement of new films, there's so much buzz surrounding the who, who, what, when.  Well, now comes the announcement that Michael Arndt, Oscar winning screenwriter of Little Miss Sunshine, and Oscar nominated for his work on Toy Story 3 will pen Episode 7.  Yay?  Nay?  Whatcha think?

The Empire Strikes

In a news item that will either make your geek boot tingle or twitch, the Walt Disney Co. snapped up LucasFilm for $4.05 billion, and thus will own the rights to the not just the Star Wars franchise, but the entirety of the George Lucas vault, including effects house Industrial Lights & Magic.  Further plans are evolved as Lucas himself has written a treatment for a trilogy that would released under Disney, with a planned arrival date of 2015.  This is a major purchase.  Disney, of course already has theme park attractions of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, but now with this purchase, as well as it's slightly murkier ownership rights of Marvel Entertainment gives the company a significant boost in overall blockbuster tentpole output.  This alongside Pixar, means that Disney-proper could very provide very creative output of its very own, and still earn end of the year bragging rights; the mega-money earned earlier this year for Marvel's The Avengers proves there's still much green to be earned.  And even as the Star Wars prequels did little (or nothing) to advance the franchise creatively, all of which earned major cash merely by brand alone.  Another trilogy, merchandising, further theme park attractions, and geesh, the investment will pay off in dividends, even as a potentially, a generation of film fans will have their childhoods snatched in the process.

Now, only if Disney could snap up The Weinstein Company, all would come full circle in life.  And then purchase me, you, and all of our friends, merge with Oprah (since an outright acquisition would be out of the question), we would all have a magically life.