Despite the mega-success of the seventh episode of "Star Wars", JJ Abrams is not forsaking television, the springboard which made his name in Hollywood in the mid-2000s.
His spell behind the camera for Disney has given him access to the prestigious cable networks, which are renowned for being elitist when it comes to series.
Before becoming the director of "The Force Awakens", J.J. Abrams was primarily a prolific creator of series including "Alias", "Lost" and "Fringe."
Even while working for the big screen, he continued to keep a foot in the TV world by taking the role of producer for various dramas, including "Person of Interest", a series created by Jonathan Nolan which was launched on CBS in 2011.
2016 will mark a turning point in his TV career. For the first time, this Jack of all trades will work with the cable networks HBO and Showtime.
For the former, he will team up with Jonathan Nolan on "Westworld," an adaptation of a Michael Crichton-penned science fiction movie.
The duo have assembled an impressive cast: Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, James Marsden and Evan Rachel Wood.
With Showtime, he will executive produce "Roadies", a series about the backstage crew of a touring rock group. For this project he has collaborated with another big name in cinema, Cameron Crowe, the director of "Jerry Maguire", "Vanilla Sky" and "Aloha."
These two productions will come on top of "11.22.63", a series adapted from a Stephen King novel.
The novelist has been involved in the adaptation of his fantastical historical tale which will star James Franco and begin on Hulu on February 15.
Not leaving movies behind
JJ Abrams will not be turning his back completely on cinema, although he does not yet have plans to get back behind the camera.
For the moment, the director is happy to take on the role of producer for several franchises that he knows very well as he has already worked on them.
After the incredible success of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," he will remain linked to the saga by keeping an eye on the eighth episode which is currently being filmed with Rian Johnson in the director's chair.
Abrams has already produced "Star Trek: Beyond", the third movie in the franchise that he revived by directing the first two in the series.
For this new episode, which is slated to hit theaters July 22, he handed the director's role to Justin Lin.
He will also produce the sixth "Mission Impossible" which is set to begin filming in the summer of 2016.
JJ Abrams has been linked to the franchise since he directed the third installment in 2006 (his first feature length film) and produced the next two.
