It isn't every day that there's a piece of Star Wars movie news, but this past Tuesday just so happened to be one of the few exceptions. Announced here on the official Star Wars website - Disney chairman Bob Iger had revealed it at a shareholders' meeting earlier in the day - was a May production start date at London's Pinewood Studios (already long rumoured/discussed, admittedly), with this deliberately-intriguing line following towards the bottom of the announcement:
"Star Wars: Episode VII is set about 30 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, and will star a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces."
Again, much of that was already long-rumoured, but it's nice to see something confirmed. As expected, director JJ Abrams and studio Disney haven't revealed a great deal about Episode VII - not even the title, which, for a Star Wars fan, is as exciting as any casting or plot announcement. Apart from a release date, though, nothing has been forthcoming from either 'The House of Mouse' or Abrams' Bad Robot. So, what does this reveal mean? After all, it's only natural to dissect any Star Wars news piece, if only because it's likely to be some time before another. That "trio of new young leads" is a nice mirror to the original casting of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, and will in all likelihood include Adam Driver. It's also expected to comprise of Han and Leia's three Solo kids - twins Jacen and Jaina, and Anakin - or a combination of them, and Ben Skywalker - Luke's son. The latter certainly seems the safer bet, as it's unlikely that Luke will be without a Force-wielding offspring; this is the Skywalkers' saga, after all, and thirty years is time enough for all three to spawn their own fully-grown Jedi protagonists. Of course, with 'Holocron Keeper' Leland Chee's revelation that the Expanded Universe will be largely reworked in the films to create a cohesive canon, we could be looking at completely new characters - Wookiee kids could even be on the table, for all we know. As for the "familiar faces"? Well, 'The Big Three' have been all-but-confirmed - Carrie Fisher has been pretty vocal on that front - and the always-active Anthony Daniels will probably join the already-announced R2-D2 in an on-screen return as C-3PO. The jury is certainly out on who else might join them - don't forget that it has been thirty years since Return of the Jedi in the real world, too. But, who knows - Billy Dee Williams' Ewoks-and-all Star Wars-themed debut on Monday's 'Dancing With The Stars' could be less of a coincidence than it appears.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HNRilkfyq4
Star Wars. Wrestling. Wayne's World. Who could ask for a better upbringing?
Likely to be found live-tweeting at baseball games/award ceremonies/parties, or getting sent out of class for swinging an "imaginary" lightsaber (alternatively, you could check out one of my articles at WhatCulture. Go on. Be a lamb!)
