We certainly cannot be the first to report it (sorry, I was on vacation in California), but if no one has yet, let us at Blast-O-Rama confirm the rumors. As of very very late Friday night, The Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm have confirmed that director JJ Abrams will be the director of the beginning of the next Star Wars trilogy - Star Wars: Episode VII.

We’ve covered the development of Episode VII from its surprise announcement in October, and now the project is closer than ever to reality. Abrams has proven himself a rather adept director since getting in the filmmaker’s chair for 2006’s Mission: Impossible III, delivering far better as a director than a producer, following up with 2009’s Star Trek reboot, 2011’s Super 8 and this summer’s upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness. I honestly cannot think of a better director for the role (at least of a name - the rumored Ben Affleck and Matthew Vaughn names are understandable, but don’t feel “right”), and if the rumor is true that Steven Spielberg pushed for the move, you really cannot get a bigger anointment than that.

Here’s the press release in full.

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,“ said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.“

George Lucas went on to say “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.“

“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,“ J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.