Who's involved? The biggest movie event of 2015 will almost certainly be the return of Star Wars to our screens, but there has been very little official confirmation with what we can expect for this film. We know that J.J. Abrams is directing and that he has re-written Michael Arndt's original script along with Lawrence Kasdan. Any excitement at the writer of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi being on board should be tempered, though, given that Kasdan's last major venture as a writer/director was the awful Dreamcatcher. As yet, the only 100% confirmed cast member or character for the new film is R2-D2, although you would assume that C-3PO won't be far behind. Original lead trio Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Harrison Ford (Han Solo) are strongly rumoured to return, but beyond that it has mostly been speculation. At the more plausible end of the rumour mill, Adam Driver (Girls, Inside Llewyn Davis) is in advanced talks to play "a Darth Vader-like villain," while Gary Oldman, Michael B. Jordan, Saoirse Ronan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugo Weaving, Sullivan Stapleton and Jesse Plemons have all reportedly met with producers. What's the story? It's anyone's guess. Abrams has confirmed that the film will not be based on any of the Expanded Universe material, but rather on notes and story ideas from George Lucas, which means that fans hoping for story points from Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy are likely to be disappointed. Having said that, elements of Lucas' future plans are sure to overlap with those of the Expanded Universe in the obvious places: Luke will be the mentor figure at the head of a newly established Jedi order, the story will focus on a new generation of Skywalkers. The suggestion from open casting calls is that the protagonist may be a street smart 17-year-old orphaned girl, but the lead nature of this part is up for debate. As for what new threat our heroes will face, whether from the remnants of the old Empire or something completely new, that remains to be seen as the phrase "a Darth Vader-like villain" could mean anything. Like this article? Let us know in the comments section below.
