J.J. Abrams to direct new Star Wars movie

It’s official – the force is with J.J. Abrams and he will direct the new Star Wars movie. Disney has confirmed.

The company said the Emmy-award-winning director of the TV show Lost will direct the seventh instalment of the franchise.

Abrams was also chosen to reboot the Star Trek franchise for rival studio Paramount Pictures.

The new Star Wars film will have a script from Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt and will be released in 2015.

Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote two of the movies in the original trilogy, will work as a consultant on the new project.

Disney bought Star Wars maker Lucasfilm last month for $4.06bn.

Star Wars creator George Lucas said in a statement that Abrams is the “ideal choice” of director and his legacy “couldn’t be in better hands”.