J.J. Abrams signs up to direct Star Wars: Episode VII

J.J. Abrams has reportedly been selected to direct the upcoming seventh installment of George Lucas' legendary "Star Wars" series, several reports said Thursday.

"Star Trek" filmmaker J.J. Abrams is Disney's choice to helm "Star Wars: Episode VII," according to reports published by TheWrap.com and Deadline.com.

Matthew Vaughn, Ben Affleck, Colin Trevero, Guillermo Del Toro and Josh Whedon were reportedly approached to direct the film, but all declined for various reasons. It seems Abrams is one of the few directors who have merit to continue the series though, as he successfully re-spawned "Star Trek" back in 2009.

Abrams, who is in post-production of "Star Trek: Into the Darkness" originally told Entertainment Weekly that he wouldn't be directing the new installment. He also said:

“As a kid I was always a fan of special effects. Watching movies I was constantly trying to figure out how they did it, whatever the effect was. Star Wars was the first movie that blew my mind in that way; it didn’t matter how they did any of it because it was all so overwhelmingly and entirely great. It was funny and romantic and scary and compelling and the visual effects just served the characters and story. It galvanized for me; not for what was exciting about how movies were made, but rather for what movies were capable of”.

He said he was approached to direct Episode VII, but nothing came of the conversation. Until now.

The three upcoming trilogy films - Episodes VII, VIII and IX - were announced when Disney acquired LucasFilm in October.

"Star Wars: Episode VII" will be written by Michael Arndt, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Toy Story 3” and next year's "Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

Simon Kinberg and Lawrence Kasdan have been tapped to write “Star Wars” projects as well, but it’s unclear whether their scripts will be for future episodes or for films outside the official trilogy.