Names and faces

— J.J. Abrams calls getting assigned to direct the seventh live-action Star Wars film “as surreal as it is exciting.” The director-producer-writer spoke with a handful of media outlets on the red carpet before darting into the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday night. Abrams was there to accept the Norman Lear Achievement Award for such television works as Felicity (1998-2002), Alias (2001-2006), Lost (2004-2010), Fringe (2008-2013) and the current series Person of Interest and Revolution. Abrams also is proving to be a go-to director of successful new films for long-established franchises, such as Star Trek and Mission: Impossible. Last week, Lucas film officially announced Abrams’ hiring for Star Wars: Episode VII, which has a tentative release date of 2015. Star Wars creator George Lucas personally endorsed Abrams in a statement: “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.” As for Abrams’ plans for Episode VII? “You know, obviously, it’s so early,” he replied. “I can just say what I want to do: I want to do the fans proud. I want to make sure the story is something that touches people. And we’re just getting started. I’m very excited.”

The Ben Affleck film Argo took the top honor at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday. Affleck, after winning Golden Globe Awards for best motion picture drama and director for the real-life drama, received the Producers Guild Award handed out at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I’m still working as an actor,” he said in his acceptance speech. Affleck also stars in Argo as the CIA operative who orchestrated the rescue of six American Embassy employees during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. George Clooney and Grant Heslov share the producer award with Affleck. Other nominees in the Producers Guild movie category were Lincoln, Les Miserables, Zero Dark Thirty, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Moonrise Kingdom, Silver Linings Playbook and Skyfall.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 01/28/2013

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