While he’s currently working on the Star Trek sequel, J.J. Abrams has been persuaded to take on one of the biggest movie franchises of all time – Star Wars! HollywoodLife.com’s sister site Deadline.com says that the newly-announced Star Wars: Episode VII is now in J.J.’s hands, according to a statement released by Lucasfilms. Is it a good idea?

The Official Press Release

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Lucasfilm chief Kathleen 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.”

J.J. Abrams Didn’t Want To Direct The New ‘Star Wars’ Film — At First!

When HollywoodLife.com talked to J.J. at the Veterans Day 2012: Celebrating Leadership and Service event, hosted at Universal Studios on Nov. 9, he said that he wasn’t going to work with the franchise. “Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time,” he told us. “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 than anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!”

It looks like George and Disney did a good job at persuading J.J. to change his mind!

Star Wars: Episode VII is expected in 2015, and was announced as part of The Walt Disney Co.’s $4.05 billion purchase of Lucasfilm in October.

So, HollywoodLifers, are you all excited that J.J. is directing the next Star Wars? Sound off below!

WATCH: JJ Abrams Directing ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’!

— Chris Rogers, Reporting by Russ Weakland

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@ChrisRogers86
More ‘Star Wars’ News:

1. ‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ Announced
2. Russ Says: ‘The Twilight Saga’ Is This Century’s ‘Star Wars!’
3. Kim Kardashian V. Jennifer Aniston — Who Makes A Sexier Princess Leia?

While he’s currently working on Star Trek, and doing quite a tremendous job with it, J.J. Abrams has reportedly been tapped to take on one of the biggest movie franchises of all time, Star Wars! A new report from our sister site Deadline.com says that the newly-announced Star Wars: Episode 7 is now in J.J.’s hands. Is it a good idea?

Deadline received confirmation from a source close to the situation. “It’s done deal with J.J.,” their source said.  The report also reveals that Ben Affleck had been a contender for the job, as well!

J.J. Abrams Didn’t Want To Direct The New ‘Star Wars’ Film!

When HollywoodLife.com talked to J.J. at the Veterans Day 2012: Celebrating Leadership and Service event, hosted at Universal Studios on Nov. 9, he said that he wasn’t going to work with the franchise. “Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time,” he told us. “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!”

So, HollywoodLifers, are you all excited that J.J. is directing the next Star Wars? Sound off below!

WATCH: JJ Abrams Directing Star Wars 7!

Russ Weakland

Follow @mrsandwich96

For More Star Wars News:

1. ‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ Announced
2. Russ Says: ‘The Twilight Saga’ Is This Century’s ‘Star Wars!’
3. Kim Kardashian V. Jennifer Aniston — Who Makes A Sexier Princess Leia?

During the Veterans Day 2012: Celebrating Leadership and Service event, hosted at Universal Studios on Nov. 9 by national veterans nonprofit, The Mission Continues, alongside the Got Your 6 campaign, HollywoodLife.com got to talk EXCLUSIVELY to two amazing filmmakers rumored to be top picks to direct the next Star Wars films. J.J. Abrams and Jon Favreau both had different opinions on the possibility to go to a galaxy far far away!

J.J. Abrams on ‘Star Wars Episode 7′

“Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time,” J.J. gushed. He added, “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!”

Jon Favreau is Less Squeamish About ‘Star Wars’

But Jon appeared to be a little more interested in sitting in the director’s chair, saying, “I think both J.J. and I come from a generation of people who formed our whole creative persona around what we experienced as kids from watching those films, and I have had the good fortune of working with George [Lucas] and around George, and whether it is doing a voice on Clone Wars, or being at the Skywalker Ranch mixing Iron Man – so I have been very happy and lucky to just experience the culture that Lucas has created, both in my own life growing up as a kid and professional – whether it was interviewing him at film festivals on stage, he is just a really wonderful, talented gifted guy who has changed the business so much, so I am just giddy, first and foremost as a fan, to see what happens with it. I think there is a lot of question marks of how they are going to do it, and who they are going to do it with, and what the story is going to be about; but to say that I am not excited about it is definitely an understatement. We’ll see.”

So HollywoodLifers, who would you rather see direct the next Star Wars movie? Sound off below!

Russ Weakland

Follow @mrsandwich96
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For More Star Wars News:

1. ‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ Announced
2. Russ Says: ‘The Twilight Saga’ Is This Century’s ‘Star Wars!’
3. Kim Kardashian V. Jennifer Aniston — Who Makes A Sexier Princess Leia?

Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams did a great job of keeping ‘Super 8”s secret… a secret! Even the film’s stars weren’t let in on the mystery!

HollywoodLife.com spoke to Elle Fanning about her new film Super 8 just weeks before it’s release, but the actress revealed she knew almost as little as we did about the film!
When asked about the filming of Super 8, 13-year-old Elle revealed most of her filming took place on a green screen so she and her co-stars didn’t even know what the film or “mystery “would look like!

“I haven’t even seen the movie yet,” Elle told us at the Young Hollywood Awards May 20. ”We’re going to find out (the secret) the same time you guys do.”

Elle did reveal that the film wasn’t all scary. “It has that scary aspect, but it’s also a love story,” Elle said.

The alien-invasion film Super 8 hits theaters today!

Alli Holt

Read About More of This Summer’s Box Office Hits!

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2. Vote For the Sexiest Summer 2011 Movie Couple!
3. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Shine in Green Lantern Trailer!

Secretariat star, AJ Michalka took time to talk with HollwoodLife.com about being one of young Hollywood’s newest break-out stars, sharing the spotlight with her big sister Aly and the music they can’t wait for you to hear!

Recently we’ve seen a lot of AJ Michalka‘s big sister Aly Michalka who has a starring role on the CW’s cheerleading teen drama Hellcats and playing BFF to Emma Stone in Easy A. Now with the release of Secretariat and being cast in the J.J. Abrams/Steven Speilberg film Super 8, AJ is stepping out of her sister’s shadow and into the spotlight.

21-year-old Aly and 19-year-old AJ, who were once a touring pop duo sister act, have put music on hold to concentrate on acting. They have a very Jonas Brothers way of thinking when it comes to working in such a competitive industry. They always support each other without any sibling rivalry!

“For Aly and I that has never been a struggle when it comes to family life. We’ve always been very humbled by this,” AJ tells Hollywood Life.com. “We keep each other in check which is really important. To be around people who are real and who will tell you when you have an attitude, I think it’s important.”

There have been talks of AJ appearing on Hellcats in guest starring role and she’s hoping that happens sooner rather than later.

“I would love to,” she says. “I am a huge fan of the show. It’s definitely been talked about. I like the pre-law student aspect. I actually think it would be more interesting if we weren’t related at all. I think it would fun to play Aly’s rival.”

They might not be side-by-side on stage performing, but the two sisters did collaborate on the theme song for Hellcats, which AJ is super pumped about. “It’s a fun song. It’s super fierce. It’s in your face,” she said.

Once known as ‘Aly and AJ’, the two changed their name to 78Violet and are continually working on new songs in their free time, but there’s no formula to making their music magic happen.

AJ told us, “There’s not really a writing structure we have. It changes every day. We write separately too. I think for us it changes. Sometimes she sits down at the piano. She’s really strong with lyrics. I’m really strong at melody.”

We’re excited to see AJ’s star rise even higher! Are you? Sound off below!

Aimee Curran, with reporting by Kirstin Benson

Word on the street is that Locke and Ben Linus are going to get their own show, but Jorge says he won’t be a part of it!

How’s this for a huge HollyBummer? Jorge Garcia says there are no plans for character, Hurley, to appear in JJ Abrams’ new Lost spin-off!

“I doubt [I'll be playing Hurley ever again],” the 37-year-old actor told HollywoodLife.com exclusively at Axe Music’s “One Night Only” Weezer concert in West Hollywood Sept. 21 adding more hopefully, “But never say never!” When we expressed our sadness at such an upsetting development he said, “I’m sorry! I don’t know. If something happened and they wanted to resurrect me as Hurley, I mean, I would consider it.”

Well, that’s better! Jorge — who’s Lost character is actually the inspiration behind Weezer’s new album –  is very clear on one thing, though — he does love Lost’s executive producer, JJ Abrams, whom is creating the spin-off Leaving Our Shifting Timelines for 2012. “I hope [I get to work with him again," he told us. "He is a brilliant mind and he can work a lot of things at one time, so I am ready for whenever he needs me."

While he's planning his next big move, Jorge is going to kill time by appearing on an episode of Matthew Perry's new sitcom, Mr. Sunshine. He may even appear on Lost alum Daniel Dae Kim's new program, Hawaii 5-0. "I'm kind of trying to work through [what to do with my career] now,” he said. “I mean, a lot of times, actors that are coming up and are in the hustle, you kind of dream of something that’s not even remotely what Lost was, so now it’s like, I need to figure out what my ‘now what’ moment is. Like, OK, I’ve done this, now what do I want? I’m still trying to figure that out.”

Laura Schreffler & Kirstin Benson

Mission: Impossible 4

Jennifer Aniston, time to kiss romantic comedies goodbye! Mission: Impossible 4 director JJ Abrams thinks your next step after The Bounty Hunter should be action movies with a certain James … as in Bond. We know you’ve got the bikini body, that’s for sure!

When we asked JJ about Jen and her future as an action star, the director told HollywoodLife.com, “She’d be a good one … She should go for Bond, actually; she’d be great.”

Abrams also told us he hasn’t yet cast the leading lady in M:I-4 at “Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish In Film” Pre-Academy Awards Party in Los Angeles March 4.

Who do YOU think should be the leading lady in MI4?

Get More on Jen:

1. Sorry, Jennifer Aniston — There’s Just No Chemistry Between You & Gerard Butler!
2. Jennifer Aniston & Gerard Butler: Hot Romance Back On!
3. First Look! Jennifer Aniston’s ‘The Bounty Hunter’ Trailer!

Check out HollywoodLife.com’s predictions for the actors and actresses who are going to make it big in the New Year!

1. Anna Kendrick

Although she appeared in one of the biggest grossing movies of the year, Twilight Saga: New Moon, it was her role as an ambitious and uptight corporate executive in George Clooney’s 2009 drama Up In The Air that earned Anna a Golden Globe nod. The 24-year-old actress isn’t a stranger to awards, though: she’s a former Tony nominee for her role in 2003′s Broadway production of Camp .

2. Dianna Agron

As Glee’s pregnant cheerleader Quinn Fabray, Dianna Agron could easily have been pigeon-holed as another pretty blond, but her comedic-timing and pitch-perfect voice have set her apart from the pack of Hollywood wanna-bes. And as soon as The Romantics – the film  the 23-year-old just finished wrapping in New York with Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin, Adam Brody and Josh Duhamel – premieres at the Sundance Film Festival in January, 2010, forget about it: this gal’s fame is going to skyrocket.

3. Logan Lerman

Logan Lerman is about to give Harry Potter a run for his money when it comes to being “The Chosen One.” The 17-year-old will star in Chris Columbus’ fantasy film Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief as a descendant of the Greek Gods. It’s not surprising that Logan scored the role, considering he’s appeared with Mel Gibson TWICE (in What Women Want and The Patriot) and Russell Crowe in 3:10 Yuma.

4. Jack Huston

Hello, hottie! Sexy Jack Huston, 27, is destined to steal some screen time from fellow Brit Robert Pattinson in Twilight Saga: Eclipse come 2010. He’s pedigreed, too! Jack – who appeared on the now-canceled ABC series Eastwick – is the nephew of famed actress Angelica Huston and grandson of late director John Huston.

5. Adrianne Palicki

Fans of the gorgeous Adrianne Palicki were sad to see her leave Friday Night Lights and Supernatural this season, but should be totally happy she’s making a move to the big screen. The leggy 26-year-old will star in not one but TWO major movies next year: the religious epic Legion and the remake of Red Dawn alongside Chris Hemsworth.

6. Jaden Smith

There was never any doubt that Will Smith’s 11-year-old, Jaden Smith, was going to be a star! Perhaps Will is ready to pass the torch to his son, who first appeared on the big screen with his dad in 2007’s Pursuit of Happyness. Get ready to see him kick butt this 2010 alongside Jackie Chan in the Karate Kid remake.

7. Mia Wasikowska

You’re going to be curiouser and curiouser about 20-year-old Mia Waksikowska after you see her step into the shoes of Alice Kingsley in Tim Burton’s big screen version of Alice in Wonderland. We’re already jealous of the actress – who appeared in HBO’s In Treatment – because she gets to star alongside Sexiest Man Alive Johnny Depp!

8. Jesse Williams

We only have one thing to say about Grey’s Anatomy’s newest resident, Jesse Williams: yum. Rihanna agrees – the 28-year-old actor appeared in her music video for Russian Roulette. Next up for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 star: Antoine Fuqua’s long-delayed cop drama, Brooklyn’s Finest, and the thriller Cabin in the Woods.

9. Chris Hemsworth

Although all eyes were on Chris Pine in 2009 as Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek revamp, it was hard to forget hunky Chris Hemsworth’s performance as Kirk’s dad, George. Expect the Australian hottie, 26 – the older brother of Miley Cyrus’ beau, Liam –  to blow up in 2010 as he prepares to enter the Marvel universe as Thor, and steps into the late Patrick Swayze’s shoes in the remake of Red Dawn.

10. Joe Mangienello

Bonjour, Bon Temps! Joe Mangienello, 33, is the latest star to think vampires are bloody good fun (and bloody financially lucrative). Joe, who formerly appeared on How I Met Your Mother and One Tree Hill, will play an aide sent by Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) to help Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) in True Blood’s third season.

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