Star Wars: Episode VII will be filmed in the United Kingdom, Lucasfilm announced on Friday. All six previous productions for the live-action Star Wars movies have included major shooting time in the UK across the famed Elstree, Shepperton, Leavesden, Ealing and Pinewood Studios and it looks like the still untitled Star Wars: Episode VII will no different when filming kicks-off next year. Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, announced the news on
StarWars.com;
"We've devoted serious time and attention to revisiting the origins of 'Star Wars' as inspiration for our process on the new movie, and I'm thrilled that returning to the UK for production and utilizing the incredible talent there can be a part of that," "Speaking from my own longstanding connection to the UK with films like 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Empire of the Sun' and recently 'War Horse', it's very exciting to be heading back."
The deal to shoot Star Wars: Episode 7 in the UK comes soon after Lucasfilm's meeting with UK Chancellor Of The Exchequer George Osborne, which is being reported by
BBC News as a critical part of establishing the agreement to produce the new movies in this country, and one Osborne is taking credit for bringing a "major boost to the UK economy".
"I am delighted that Star Wars is coming back to Britain. Today's announcement that the next Star Wars film will be shot and produced in the UK is great news for fans and our creative industries," Osborne said today.
Directed by Star Trek Into Darkness helmer J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode 7 comes from a script by Toy Story 3 and Little Miss Sunshine writer Michael Arndt and is scheduled for a release in 2015. Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo) and Carrie Fischer (Princess Leia) have all held talks with Lucasfilm over a return to the saga and all seem likely to appear, though no official cast has yet to be announced.