8 Reasons JJ Abrams Should Quit Star Wars Episode VII

The fervent rumour has been doing the rounds that J.J Abrams has been getting cold feet regarding directing Star Wars Episode VII, and may be on the verge of bailing; this will apparently hinge on whether or not we hear a titling or casting announcement at Germany’s Star Wars Celebration at the weekend, and without a big announcement, many expect that Abrams will bail from the project in the coming weeks.

LucasFilm has, predictably, been quick to quash the rumour, and indeed, it’s important to take Devin Faraci’s original report only at face value, even if he stated that he had heard the news from several trusted sources at Comic-Con.

All this talk got us thinking, however; maybe Abrams should quit Star Wars Episode VII. Though there’s every likelihood that Abrams will deliver another stellar sci-fi movie, the original announcement of his joining the franchise was met with much ambivalence by fans on both sides of the fence, and that sentiment hasn’t really dissipated yet. Needless to say, there are plenty who would like to see the director replaced, and here are 8 reasons why that should happen…

8. Is His Heart Really In It?

It’s important to remember that when Abrams name was first raised in connection with another Star Wars movie, he initially swore it off, before having a “change of heart” and deciding that it was something he wanted to do.

Furthermore, the rumours about his impending departure cite the main reason being Abrams’ dissatisfaction with the project being shot in the UK; all of the director’s prior films were shot in Los Angeles, where the director and his family are based.

Shooting in the UK means Abrams being away from his family for around a year, and while his commitment to staying close to his family is commendable, it suggests that, if true, his heart isn’t 100% in this project.

Given how disastrous the “new trilogy” of films was on the whole, a director who isn’t 100% committed to the project could spell disaster moving ahead, and given that Faraci also suggested that Abrams was butting heads with Disney on shooting schedules and locations, it suggests – again, only if true – that the partnership is far from harmonious.

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Star Wars Episode 7: 10 Ways It Will Resemble JJ Abrams’ Star Trek

There has been much buzz this week over the fact that J.J. Abrams’ hugely-anticipated Star Wars Episode VII is pulling a no-show at next week’s San Diego Comic-Con, though a glimmer of hope appears in the fact that Disney has confirmed a pronounced Star Wars presence at their D23 conference in August.

Though we have no idea how much info – if any – about the impending sequel will be revealed at the event which runs from August 9th to 11th, it means that for the next month, we’re left speculating completely in the dark about what Episode 7 may offer.

With Abrams at the helm, much attention has been pointed to the fact that he has also helmed two Star Trek movies to date, and Star Wars fans remain nervous as to how this will impact their precious franchise. For better or for worse, here are 10 ways we can expect Abrams’ Episode 7 to resemble his acclaimed Star Trek flicks…

10. Sexiness

Princess Leia’s iconic golden metal bikini notwithstanding, the Star Wars franchise has always hewed away from sexing up its female characters, and given that all but one of the Star Wars movies has had a PG-rating, that seems somewhat appropriate.

Even in the PG-13-rated Revenge of the Sith, though, Natalie Portman’s Padme was kept well under wraps and not sexualised at all, something that’s likely going to change with Abrams’ more mature influence taking hold.

Firstly, we can expect that Episode 7 will follow Sith’s trend and be PG-13, also in line with Abrams’ Star Trek movies, which feature fantastical violence and the odd hint of female sexuality. If it’s not Zoe Saldana running around in figure-hugging outfits, then it’s Kirk’s sexual liaisons with aliens, or gratuitous underwear shots of female officers as above. While I doubt Abrams will take it to inappropriate levels, expect the female characters to be showing a little more skin and sexual confidence this time around…

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Star Wars: 10 Expanded Universe Stories They Should Definitely Adapt

When the news that Disney had obtained the rights to the Star Wars films and were proceeding to create a sequel trilogy, immediately there were questions bandied back and forth. While it has since been announced that the films will be original works, for a little while it wouldn’t have been crazy to think that Disney might adapt some of the vast amount of material created in the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Covering thousands of years and going into insane detail about essentially everything mentioned in the films (there’s a backstory on everyone from the bartender in the Mos Eisley cantina to every Jedi Council member seen in the prequels), the Expanded Universe contains a wealth of material that is ripe for cinematic adaption.

Some of the adaptions would provide more screentime for characters that were only briefly seen in the films, while others would add to the ongoing story of the principal cast of characters that have already been established. The Star Wars novels were some of the first real novels that I ever read and there would be nothing that would make me happier then for any of these to be successfully transferred to the cinematic medium although the likelihood of most of them being made is low.

Here’s 10 expanded universe stories they should definitely adapt in future cinematic installments.

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