Director Brad Bird Quashes Star Wars Rumors

"Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol" director Brad Bird has denied rumors that he'll be directing the next "Star Wars" film, Episode VII. A number of news outlets reported he was potentially taking on the project, prompting Bird to take to Twitter, assuring thousands of curious followers that his forthcoming project would be a sci-fi film, but not "Star Wars."

Bird's statement came after fielding questions from Twitter followers about his directing Episode VII, which many entertainment outlets were reporting. Allegedly, he is only one of several big-name directors to have looked at, and subsequently turned down the treatment.

Brad resolved the matter and firmly denied the rumors. According to his tweet, his next sci-fi project is "1952," which George Clooney has signed on to star in.

The rumor mill will no doubt continue to churn, as the "Star Wars" franchise has taken on an almost religious import. Episode VII is slated for a 2015 release from Disney, which bought out George Lucas' Lucasfilm. The writer behind "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Toy Story 3," Oscar-winning Michael Arndt, has signed on to write the screenplay.