Executive Producer J.J. Abrams speaks onstage at the 'Revolution' panel session during the NBCUniversal portion of the 2013 Winter TCA Tour- Day 3 at the Langham Hotel on January 6, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - According to many film industry news sources, 'Star Trek' director J.J. Abrams has been tapped to direct the next 'Star Wars' movie.
The film, expected to be released in 2015, will be the first in the series to come from Disney. Disney purchased George Lucas' Lucasfilm, originator of the 'Star Wars' series, from Lucas for $4 billion in October.
Disney officials said at that point that at least three more movies in the franchise were due to be made in the near future.
Abrams' filmography as director includes 'Mission: Impossible III' and the upcoming 'Star Trek Into Darkness'. His television work includes co-creator credits on 'Lost' and 'Fringe' and executive producer credits on 'Felicity', 'Alcatraz', 'Person of Interest' and 'Revolution'.