After months of rumors flying around the Internet and elsewhere, J.J. Abrams has officially announced he will direct the next 'Star Trek' film, reports Variety. The deal was finalized Friday. Abrams has already spent months helping to produce the new film, which is yet untitled. 'Star Trek XI' is a prequel to the original series, though not in the vein of late lamented spinoff 'Enterprise.' The new movie will detail how a young James T. Kirk first met Spock at Starfleet Academy. The fans who note that Spock is significantly older than Kirk will probably be just as saddened by the adaptation as fans who hope the two will make sweet music together in their dorm room, but if 'Trek' has taught us nothing, it has shown us that hope abounds in the hearts of fans everywhere. Thus, with a new director and a new vision, we bow our heads in the general direction of Vulcan and hope the curse on odd-numbered 'Trek' films will at last be broken.