J.J. Abrams regrets not signing up to direct ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’.
The 50-year-old filmmaker is best known for his directorial roles on sci-fi productions such as ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ and ‘Star Trek’, and, although he is producing the next movie in the blockbuster franchise, he’s going to miss working directly with the likes of Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill.
He told Variety: "I’d be lying if I said there genre’t pangs of regret.
"Particularly when I realise I won’t get to say ‘Action!’ to Daisy Ridley, or get to work with Mark Hamill in a scene where he gets to speak."
Meanwhile, Abrams has turned his talents to co-producing a comedy play for Broadway.
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ was originally made for audiences in London’s West End, and is now being transferred over to New York City where it will land a spot on Broadway.
Abrams will be joining a team of producers led by New York stage veteran Kevin McCollum, along with London producer Kenny Wax, who led the play to success on the West End.
The play centres around an amateur actors group who attempt to perform a 1920s murder mystery play with disastrous – and hilarious – consequences.
Having ran in the West End since 2014, the play has also spawned two more titles in the franchise, ‘The Comedy About a Bank Robbery’, and ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’.
On Broadway, the play is expected to open in April at the Lyceum Theatre and will star the original West End cast, including co-writers Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields.
Previews for ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ begin on March 9 2017, just under a month before the April 2 opening date.
J.J Abrams regrets not directing Star Wars: Episode VIII
