According to a report form Drew McWeeny over at Hitfix.com, multiple sources have confirmed  that Star Wars Episode VII is set to start shooting in mid-May and will run through September of this year. Most of the principal casting is complete, which means the next three months will be filled with news regarding each and every little bit of casting (watch this space!)
According to the report, just about everyone is coming back, including possibly Billy Dee Williams as Lando, who up until recently was thought to possibly not be returning. The report doesn’t clarify if “everyone” also includes Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca and Kenny Baker as R2-D2, although it’s likely both of those characters are coming back. In fact, It is confirmed that Artoo will be in it, and although he is mostly remote controlled or CGI in the prequels, they all had at least one shot where it was Kenny in a suit, pretty much just so it can say “Kenny Baker as R2-D2” in the credits for old times’ sake. Will JJ do the same? Â We shall see. If all goes according to plan, Star Wars: Episode VII opens on December 18th, 2015.
so, am i only the only one terrified to see Carrie Fisher in her Princess Leia bikini? For real though, I feel as though the integrity of the films is not contingent upon every original cast member making an appearance. Harrison Ford was lovely as Han back in the day, but I don’t want to have to suffer through another over the hill Ford film. It depresses me.
I wonder if the rumor back in Fall about Matt Smith talking with JJ lead to something. Duncan Shiek said that American Psycho the Musical was transfering to the West End in Fall and it was not transferring sooner due to Matt Smith’s schedule.
First, Drew McWeeny. heh-heh-heheh. Can’t think of a better name to be covering SW news.
Second, Jesus can’t they do this without dragging EVERY character/actor from the OT out of ‘retirement’ to be in these? I mean, just because the prequels were crappy doesn’t mean they’ve got to continue where Jedi left off.
Anakin/Vader & Obi-wan were really the only characters (that we knew of) that stepped from the past into the OT (yes, I know Threepio & Artoo are the real main characters, Chewbacca and Yoda were back-written into the prequels, etc.)
JJ already wasted 120-odd minutes screwing up his first Star Trek movie, with endless callbacks and writing in a part for Leonard Nimoy, because couldn’t NOT make a cliche movie.
I know JJ thinks he’s Spielberg/Dino De Laurentiis, but attempting to make the new SW trilogy like Indy IV will only make fans (like me) angry.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
I can’t imagine they won’t have Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew back in some form. Warwick Davis too! He doesn’t have to be Wicket. Oh, and John Ratzenberger, back as Bren Derlin
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Bren_Derlin
Don’t forget John Williams!