By: Eric Eisenberg

When Star Wars Episode VII was first announced the internet went nuts suggesting possible directors to helm the project. Fans and journalists alike threw out names like J.J. Abrams, Guillermo del Toro, and Steven Spielberg, but of the dozens of names none sounded better in my mind than Brad Bird. Beyond the fact that the guy has done nothing but produce awesome work since first entering the industry – such as the early years of The Simpsons,Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – the man simply has an amazing directorial mind and an brilliant sense of story and structure.

But I am incredibly sad to report that Bird will not be the man put in charge of leading the next generation of Star Wars. Despite the fact that fans even went as far as to create a campaign video promoting the idea of hiring the director for the job, Bird took to his Twitter account this evening to officially announce that he will not be making Episode VII, responding to a fan’s comment about the legendary franchise.

Responding to even more questions, he did say that he is currently working on another science fiction project, titled 1952 (which was recently rumored to have George Clooney interested). That film, however, has not yet gotten the green light from Disney, but there is a script from Damon Lindelof and it’s said to be a “Close Encounters-esque tentpole.” And while Bird may not be helming Star Wars Episode VII, that doesn’t mean he’s not excited for it.

So where do you go from here? Both Abrams and Spielberg have said no, but then again Joe Johnston and Jon Favreau have said that they would be interested in giving it a shot. If Bird isn’t doing it, who is your next choice?

Source: Cinema Blend