Producer and director J.J. Abrams, told E! Online he is excited to get started on his next big gig, directing Star Wars Episode VII, and said he hopes to make Star Wars fans proud. Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine) has been tapped to write the screenplay.

“It really is an incredible thing,” Abrams said. “It’s wildly surreal. It’s obviously way too early to talk specifics, but I’m excited to actually start it.”

He also told the Huffington Post, “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.”

Back in November Abrams had told Hollywoodlive.com that he didn’t think he would end up getting the gig.

“I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series,” he said. “I was never a big ‘Star Trek’ fan growing up, so for me, working on ‘Star Trek’ didn’t have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more then anyone to the next iterations of ‘Star Wars,’ but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!”

Looks like he won’t have to buy a ticket now.

Episode VII, J.J. Abrams, Star Wars