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Filmmakers JJ Abrams, Jon Favreau, Robert Rodriguez, Kevin Smith, And More React To 'Star Wars' News

george lucas Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
By Angie Han/

From the moment Disney announced its intentions to create a new Star Wars trilogy, one of the big questions has been which filmmaker might get a crack at the iconic franchise. But the directors themselves are fans, too, and even as we've been arguing which of them should get the job, many of them are just going through the same emotions we are — surprise, concern, excitement. Hit the jump read their thoughts.

Part of me? Thrilled. Part of me? Terrified. Most of me? Thrillified.

Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness writer Damon Lindelof also seemed to be wrapping his head around the idea of a new trilogy.

All I can say is my heart literally started racing when I heard.

Or perhaps it stopped altogether, per his Twitter:

Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) was shocked too:

Several filmmakers spoke about how iconic and influential the franchise was, including Real Steel and Night at the Museum's Shawn Levy:

The Star Wars franchise is nothing short of a generational touchstone...I literally can't think of any comparable cultural phenom that has so pervasively shaped and galvanized viewers to the extent that Star Wars has. It's embedded in my — and our — cultural DNA in a unique way and these are enduring strands.

The Adjustment Bureau writer-director George Nolfi expressed a similar sentiment, albeit on a more personal scale:

Star Wars literally defined 'the magic of movies' to me as a child. No other film had more impact on my subconscious desire to become a filmmaker.

And he's in awe of the new project:

I can't imagine a larger event-film for our generation than a sequel to Return of the Jedi.

Iron Man director Jon Favreau, another longtime Star Wars fan, talked with a mix of hope and fear:

The idea of another trilogy that further shrouds the Force in mystery as its secrets are lost to time – that's extremely compelling. I want so bad for it to be good. Can you imagine?

But not everyone was so ambivalent. Robert Rodriguez, for one, seemed wholeheartedly excited about the Disney deal, Kathleen Kennedy, and the new movies:

What an amazing world and legacy George Lucas has created — and it needs to continue in capable hands. I do think Disney is the best studio for the job and the fact that they brought in Kathleen Kennedy? I can't imagine a better scenario. And 2015 can't get here fast enough.

As did Kevin Smith, via his Facebook page:

Can't wait to see all the new movies they're gonna make. The 7 year old Kev who saw STAR WARS during its initial release in 1977 is finally gonna get all 9 STAR WARS movies he was promised back then. I'll be first in line to pay for whatever they do.

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