J.J. Abrams gives few hints about 'Star Wars' in Vegas
2009 'Star Trek' reboot has a hidden reference to the franchise
J.J. Abrams
Credit: AP Photo
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — A newly announced "Star Wars" sequel was on everyone's mind when J.J. Abrams took the stage Wednesday at a Las Vegas video game conference, but he made only a sideways mention of the film he has been hired to direct.
The reference was a throw-away joke from his last franchise reboot.
The director played a scene from his 2009 "Star Trek" film to illustrate the importance of embroidering films with subtle details, and freeze-framed on a shot of a familiar "Star Wars" robot peeking from space junk.
"So they're looking at all the debris that's out there, and curiously, it's R2D2," he said, drawing a roar of laughter.
Gabe Newell, president of video game developer Valve, shared a stage with Abrams at the Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain Summit at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
"So now I have to go back through your movies looking at all the debris to figure out what movie you're going to direct next?" Newell asked.
Abrams has given die-hard fans few clues about his vision for the seventh live-action "Star Wars" film. He was announced as its director in January.
The Sin City appearance left fans of The Force hungering for more insight.
"I'd love to know who they'll focus on, what character, how far in the future it will be set, things like that," said Sadierose Schwartzmiller, 19, a comic-book creator who won her ticket to the event in an art contest.
Abrams has made a name for himself as a trusted steward of beloved fantasy universes, directing well-received additions to the "Star Trek" and "Mission: Impossible" franchises.
"Star Wars" creator George Lucas opened the door to the latest round of spin-offs when he sold his Lucasfilm empire to The Walt Disney Co. for $4.05 billion last fall. The company is planning three sequels and two peripheral movies focusing on characters.
"Episode VII" is tentatively scheduled for release in the summer of 2015.
Last month, Abrams told a group of reporters that he wanted to make sure the sequel was "something that touches people."
On Wednesday, he did give his audience of nerds and gamers one revelation when he announced his intention to collaborate with Newell — the man behind the hit games "Portal," "Half-Life" and "Counter-Strike."
"There's an idea that we had for a game that we'd like to develop," he said.
Fans wanted more information on that, too.
"If they would reveal even the genre," said Kellen Smalley, 32, a gamer. "If they would bring what J.J. does with stories to the 'Star Wars' games, it would be very fun."
Abrams' development company, Bad Robot Interactive, has released apps related to his movies. Newell said his company would like to work with Abrams on a movie adaptation of "Portal" or "Half-Life."
Copyright (2013) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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February 6, 2013 at 10:34PM EST Reply to CommentWell that article was a prime example of 'non-news' . Did Abrams even respond to the questions asked? Were the questions posed part of a Q&A or just people this reporter spoke to?
FistOSalmon
February 7, 2013 at 2:22AM EST Reply to CommentSo the "few hints" is actually "doesn't mention the new Star Wars movie at all".