Hours after Disney CEO Bob Iger’s comments at a shareholders meeting set the Internet ablaze, Disney and Lucasfilm set the start of Star Wars: Episode VII filming in stone. Cameras will roll in May.
As previously reported, Iger gave out some tidbits during the meeting in Portland, Ore. He confirmed that R2-D2 will appear in the movie, although that was also confirmed in November. He teased that familiar faces will be in the movie, but a trio of youngsters will be central to the film. It will take place 30 years after 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
The studios said on StarWars.com that filming will begin in May at Pinewood Studios. This statement confirmed reports on Iger’s comments, but did not reveal any further casting information.
Episode VII is going to be the first Star Wars film released in December and is also the first film to start shooting in May. Shooting on the prequels began in June, while filming on the Original Trilogy started in March for the first two and in January for the third.
Several names have been attached to the project in recent days, including Jesse Plemons, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o and Adam Driver.
J.J. Abrams is directing Episode VII, which opens on Dec. 18, 2015.
image courtesy of Amazon