“Star Wars: Episode VII” will officially hit theaters on December 18, 2015, which will mark a holiday to remember for various Bothans, Hutts, Fetts, Ewoks, Mon Calamarians and ‘droids everywhere.
Alan Horn, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, said in a statement, “We’re very excited to share the official 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII, where it will not only anchor the popular holiday filmgoing season but also ensure our extraordinary filmmaking team has the time needed to deliver a sensational picture.”
The first installment of the sequel trilogy began pre-production on October 30, 2012. Principal photography is scheduled to begin spring 2014, at Pinewood Studios, situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, which lies approximately 20 miles west of central London.
According to starwars.com, “Episode VII” will be directed by J.J. Abrams (Super 8, Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek) and is being scripted by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi). Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Jack Ryan, Star Trek Into Darkness) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds) serving as executive producers. John Williams is returning to score Star Wars: Episode VII.
George Lucas is on board as a creative consultant, and has been in talks with former cast members Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Billy Dee Williams, and Ewan McGregor are also being rumored to reprise their roles.
Below is a clip of a recently uncovered blooper reel from the original trilogy, featuring Ford, Hamill and Fisher:
Also included in the clip is the Mos Eisley Cantina area, which was filmed on a set that is presently being engulfed by sand in the Sahara Desert in Tunisia.
This lady is happy about the December, 2015 release:
Fierce. RT @gidget_carol: Happy Halloween my little bounty hunters! #StarWars #bountyhinters #halloweencostume pic.twitter.com/yvtgVzApy3
— Star Wars (@starwars) October 31, 2013
So is this dude:
The Force is strong with this one! MT @AgentPatel: Say hi to Anakin, my 10 day old son #MayTheForceBeWithHimAlways pic.twitter.com/X4QVtwrGYz
— Star Wars (@starwars) October 31, 2013
Image via Wikimedia Commons.