Category Archives: Episode VII

Rumor: Saoirse Ronan read for Episode VII part

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Saoirse RonanAccording to a rumor from Bleeding Cool, Saoirse Ronan has read for a female role in Episode VII. If you want to believe them, it’s a leading role.

I can reconfirm that Saoirse Ronan has had a meeting and read for one of the lead roles – to the best of my knowledge, the lead role – in Star Wars Episode VII.

This was first reported by Latino Review but, for what it’s worth, I’ve also had a rather telling, silent nod from one of my own sources near the casting of this project.

She’s likely to be some way from being cast, as yet, and there are many other actresses who could very easily take the part, including more names that you’d know just as well, but Ronan’s very talented, has a real fanbase and seems to fit the bill perfectly.

The article also says the whole Bennedict Cumberbatch thing still has legs despite claims to the contrary from the actor. It’s the rumor that just won’t die!

As for Ronan, the only thing I’ve seen her in was Hanna, and she was good in that. But of course, this is a rumor. It’s not confirmed. It may not even be reality. So take it all with a gigantic grain of NaCL.

Report: Abrams setting up Episode VII post-production facilities in L.A.

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JJ AbramsAccording to the Hollywood Reporter, J.J. Abrams is setting up an Episode VII post-production shop at the Bad Robot facility in Santa Monica. Among the additions:

A green room, sound studios and other new facilities will be developed within the three-story, 18,000-square-foot Santa Monica building, which already includes editing bays, a workshop for making props, a screening room that can double as a set and Abrams’ personal suite of offices. Star Wars: Episode VII is set to be released in 2015 by Disney.

No comment from either Bad Robot or Disney at this point, but it would make sense and would probably helpful for Abrams, who did joke that shooting in England would be a little difficult for his family.

Rumor: A Christmas Release Date for Episode VII?

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star-wars-episode-vii-logoFile this one under ‘Seriously?!?’ with a skeptical eyebrow raise.  Badass Digest is claiming that Episode VII will have a mid-December release date.  Forgive us if we take this with a mountain of salt grains.  We were told at D23 that Episode VII would have a ‘summer 2015’ release date which fits with the assumption that Lucasfilm will stick with May.  Plus, Celebration VII was announced for April 2015 which is another reason to not take this as likely.

Of course, like with most rumors, there’s a possibility it could happen but this it’s highly doubtful.

Rumor: Ewan McGregor Back For Episode VII?

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star-wars-episode-vii-logoSound the rumor alert again.  The Latino Review is now saying that Ewan McGregor will be back for Episode VII.  The assumption for the rumor is that he’ll be back as a Force Ghost since (spoiler alert) Obi-Wan died in A New Hope.  The rumor also says that McGregor wants his own standalone film.

As per usual, take this rumor with a grain of salt.  We already know that Ewan’s said he’d be happy to play Obi-Wan again if they ask him so it’s plausible but this is a looooong way from confirmed.  However, like others, I don’t think we’d have any objections to an adaptation of Kenobi or a standalone film in general for Obi-Wan.  But until it’s on StarWars.com, it’s just a rumor.

(via ClubJade)

Rumor: Ian McDiarmid in for Episode VII?

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Our friends over at Jedi News have a source telling them that Ian McDiarmid is on board to rejoin the Star Wars franchise in Episode VII. While the specifics of exactly what role he would have in the film is unclear, the source seemed confident that he would be making a return.

Dunc over at Club Jade speculated what McDiarmid’s role might be, and I’m with her. Not a clone, better chance it’s as a holocron/ghost/vision.

Rumor: Episode VII Filming In August?

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star-wars-episode-vii-logo

UPDATE: Turns out the title of this article is, in fact, a rumor.  A Lucasfilm spokesperson told Big Shiny Robot that Kathleen Kennedy as said that “Nothing has changed” and Episode VII will still begin shooting in 2014.  There was no comment on the codename.

Our friends over at Jedi News have a report up saying that a trusted source has told them that a deal has been struck to use Pinewood Studios in England for filming for the next ten years.

To quote their report:

Further to this we understand that the film has been in pre-production at Pinewood Studios for three and a half months in advance of an August 2013 shooting date. We hear they have block booked the studios for 10 years and that construction of offices and facilities on-site is underway. Also storage space is being located in the local area.

There’s also a mention in the report that Episode VII could be filming under the fake name of ‘Foodles Productions Ltd’.

As always, this is an unconfirmed rumor so take it with a grain of salt until we hear something official from Lucasfilm.

John Williams is Back for the Sequel Trilogy

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Kathleen Kennedy’s panel at Celebration Europe this morning didn’t yield much in terms of Episode VII news but she did announce that John Williams will be back to score all three Sequel Trilogy films.  A video interview (as seen below) was shown to the panel audience and he clearly seems to be as thrilled to be back in the galaxy far far away however he has yet to read the script.

You can read the entire official liveblog of Kennedy’s panel over on the main site.

Rumor: J.J. Abrams leaving Episode VII?

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Update: Lucasfilm responds, says “Yeah, no.” Original post below:

I guess it’s been too long since there was a bombshell of an Episode VII rumor, so here we go. Badass Digest suggests that J.J. Abrams wants out of the film.

Why is it that I keep hearing tons of rumors that JJ Abrams is on the verge of dropping out of Star Wars? This has been something I’ve heard for a while now, and from multiple insiders. I know that he didn’t want to shoot the movie in England and was overruled, but that happened a while ago. This weekend at Comic Con I continued to hear these whispers. No director for Trek 3 has been found yet – might Abrams end up coming back after all, leaving Star Wars to someone else?

Bryan Young over at Big Shiny Robot talked about why this doesn’t make much sense and I’m right there with him. I’m going with fan paranoia on this one and I just won’t put stock into this particular rumor until after Celebration Europe at the earliest.

Hamill discusses SDCC and Episode VII

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markhamill39309Yesterday, Mark Hamill sat down with the Hollywood Reporter to discuss all things Star Wars and San Diego Comic Con. As per usual, he was asked about his involvement and interest with the upcoming Episode VII. His response:

Hamill’s hopes are high for the Star Wars: Episode VII reunion: “We want this to happen. How could I not take this ride? They’re making all the right moves, like Michael Arndt as the writer. Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3 — he writes humor and he writes heart. I’m not someone who looks to recapture the glory of when I was in my 20s. I think it’ll probably be about the next generation. We’ll be the link to the past, but the kids will be doing the heavy lifting. And the Wookiee will have a walker.”

It’s pretty clear at this point that Hamill is keen to do more Star Wars. You get the feeling that something’s going to be confirmed on this front sooner rather than later.