After months of speculation and teases the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII has been officially announced.
As had been rumored, some of the actors that gained fame in the original Star Wars movies will be reprising their roles in Episode VII. Harrison Ford will be back as Han Solo, along with Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. Mark Hamill will once again play Jedi savior Luke Skywalker. Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker, the actors who played C-3PO and R2-D2 in the original trilogy, have also been named to the cast of Episode VII, though it is unclear whether the men will be donning the droid suits this time around. Peter Mayhew will also be returning as Chewbacca.
Joining these veterans are newcomers to the Star Wars movie franchise including John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. Andy Serkis, famed for his motion capture work as Gollum in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, has also been named to the cast of Episode VII.
“We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII,” said J.J. Abrams, director of Episode VII. “It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.”
The announcement comes just hours after original Star Wars trilogy actors were spotted in and around London, where filming on the movie is set to begun. Hamill, Fisher, and Ford’s role in the production had been rumored since the movie was announced, but Abrams’ famed secrecy kept their participation under wraps until now.
As expected, the casting news sent the internet into a tailspin, temporarily bringing down the official Star Wars website. Fans and critics of the series immediately turned to Twitter to once again voice their concerns, hopes, and jokes for Episode VII:
WHAT?!! RT @starwars "…soundtrack by Fred Durst featuring singles 'Git Dat Dagobah Stank' & 'I Did It All For The Wookie'
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 29, 2014
BREAKING! Donald Sterling cast as bartender who says, "We don't serve your kind here," in Star Wars VII. #DonaldSterling #StarWarsEpisodeVII
— Chris Gore (@ThatChrisGore) April 29, 2014
JJ Abrams photo of the New Star Wars cast. I FIXED it. Now it feels right. pic.twitter.com/RtEqINSy27
— Dave Johnson (@Devilpig666) April 29, 2014
I think we all feel that the new Star Wars cast has a very large JarJar-sized hole that can never be filled. #MeesaPhoneNoRing
— Ken Plume (@KenPlume) April 29, 2014
I am SO EXCITE about the new people in Star Wars but also wish there were more ladies? Because it's a *2015* reboot?
— Jessie (@jessiechar) April 29, 2014
Yeah woo Star Wars cast…
…But imagine how much more exciting it would be if these were the first sequels in 35 years.
— Max Landis (@Uptomyknees) April 29, 2014
JJ Abrams announces new Star Wars cast as a lonely George Lucas slowly drinks himself into a Tauntaun.
— Ken Plume (@KenPlume) April 29, 2014
Image via StarWars.com