Since taking the reigns of Star Wars: Episode VII, it has seemed very unlikely, if not impossible, that J.J. Abrams would have time to also helm Star Trek 3 as well. Now, after a lot of hemming and hawing, he has finally confirmed that. That’s good news for Trek-loving Abrams haters, but the Star Wars-loving Abrams haters are still stuck with him for at least one movie.

Abrams broke the news that seemed inevitable to Collider while promoting the Blu-ray/DVD release of Star Trek Into Darkness. The general consensus was that there was no way Abrams would be able to direct both projects, especially since Episode VII is effectively launching a new era in Star Wars history, courtesy of the Disney buyout and their ambitious plans for the franchise. Asked about how he felt about passing the director’s chair to someone else, Abrams replied:

It’s a little bittersweet. But, I will say that I’m going to be producing the movie. Whomever it is that directs the film will be someone we all know is going to keep the cast and crew in good hands. I feel very lucky to have been part of it, and it definitely feels like the right time to let someone come in and do their own thing. I certainly don’t want someone to come in and try to do what I would have done. We want to hire someone who’s gonna come in and bring their own sensibility. I’m very excited to see what comes next, despite feeling jealous of whomever that person is.

Yesterday J.J. Abrams unleashed a mysterious teaser video onto the interwebs. That’s hardly unexplored territory for a guy who loves mystery and obfuscation, but it caught many by surprise simply because, based on his packed schedule with Star Wars: Episode VII and his assorted TV projects, it was hard to believe the guy had time for anything else. Now it looks like the mystery of Abrams’ “Stranger” video has already been cracked, and no, it’s not a new Lost spinoff.

Before we go any further, let’s revisit that oh-so-intriguing teaser video:

As Disney is busy plotting the future of the Star Wars franchise, it seems like they are following the same sort of approach as with their Marvel Cinematic Universe. When Disney acquired Marvel Studios in 2009, they began constructing an interconnected universe of new movies, TV series, and animated series. One of the reasons why the Marvel Cinematic Universe works as well as it does is because it has producer Kevin Feige and director Joss Whedon overseeing every piece of development. It’s why DC Comics is still having a hard time catching up to Marvel with their own burgeoning expanded universe series of films. If Lucasfilm plans to follow in the footsteps of Marvel, who will take the role of the Star Wars universe’s new mastermind? Rumor has it: J.J. Abrams.

According to StarWars7News.com, director J.J. Abrams would fill the creative consultant role for every piece of the new Star Wars expanded movie universe. The site continues to say that Abrams’ involvement will not stop with Star Wars: Episode VII, but will continue on for the foreseeable future. Considering the unproven source, we suggest swallowing this with a good amount of salt. StarWars7News.com writes:

I heard from sources close to Abrams that his involvement with Star Wars will be huge. For now he may only be directing Episode 7 but also he will supervise and consult all other side projects from the franchise — games, spin-off movies, TV series etc. And while Kathleen Kennedy will be the managing core of the franchise Abrams will be the creative core through which everything will pass.

While Star Trek Into Darkness was only released in theaters two months ago, Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot Productions are already looking to capitalize on the film’s success with another sequel. Star Trek 3 would continue the story of the rebooted crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, as it would also hopefully honor the complete Star Trek universe for the franchise’s 50th anniversary in 2016. Although there is no director or writer officially attached to the project at this point, we know that the main cast, including Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and John Cho, have been signed for a three-picture deal. And according to Lucien from BuzzHub, Star Trek 3 might go into production sooner than expected. Lucien writes:

I attended a public interview with Zachary Quinto at the Galway Film Festival in Ireland on Friday, and during it, he revealed that Paramount have told the Star Trek cast that they’re planning to shoot ST3 in 2014, and that J.J. still wants to direct! He also told the audience he does not want to be in Episode VII, but he would like to cameo in The Big Bang Theory!

Quinto said that Star Trek 3 should be “made a lot quicker than the last one,” but emphasized that nothing is confirmed or set in stone at this point.

Submitted for your approval: an unproduced script penned by Rod Serling, the legendary and massively talented creator of The Twilight Zone. His final script, in fact, a mysterious, unproduced tale called The Stops Along the Way. Now, nearly 40 years after Serling’s death in 1975, the script is being developed as a TV series by one of the most powerful and divisive talents of the modern pop-culture landscape, J.J. Abrams.

Deadline reports that Abrams is teaming with Warner Bros. TV to turn The Stops Along the Way into an “event limited series,” which is a fancy way of saying “miniseries.” So think along the lines of the upcoming Under the Dome adaptation set to premiere on CBS later this month. Serling actually wrote The Stops as a feature film screenplay, so presumably Abrams and/or whoever is hired to adapt it will expand the premise to fit the longer format.

There are no hints yet as to what the story is about, but Serling referenced it in his final interview on March 4, 1975. Just four months before his death, he described it simply as “a lovely script.” (It’s worth noting that the transcript of that interview lists it as “The Stop Along the Way,” singular, whereas Deadline’s story says “The Stops…” It’s unclear if the difference is intentional or just a typo.)

Now that J.J. Abrams has been officially announced as the honest-to-gosh-no-kidding director of Star Wars: Episode VII, everybody with an internet connection has been sounding off about whether that choice is good, bad, or some combination of the two. And sure, folks like us have devoted thousands of words to the subject, and will inevitably dedicate thousands more, but you know who we’d really like to hear from? The man himself, George Lucas! And not in some bland, focus-grouped press release or sound bite. We want to candid, no-bullshit truth of how he feels about this young pup coming in and setting up camp in his sandbox.

What would a conversation between the two sound like? Would George have nothing but praise? Would Abrams grill George for ideas about what to do, and what not to do, with one of the most beloved movie franchises of all time? If only there were some way to…oops, hang on, somebody just messaged me on Facebook. Say, wait a minute…Facebook! Of course!

And so here you have the following totally real, not at all fake, clearly 100% accurate account of Lucas and Abrams discussing that galaxy far, far away. Read on to discover George’s secret plan…