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We’re just a little over a month away from the start of production on Star Wars Episode VII, and news has still been very light on the film’s front. While the worst kept secret in Hollywood right now is that Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher are all returning to a galaxy far, far away, the only thing we know for sure right now is that J.J. Abrams is directing the film, off a script he co-wrote with Lawrence Kasdan, the man behind Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and that John Williams is returning to score the new trilogy. But now it looks like we have our second bit of official casting news, the first being the return of R2D2, which was announced last year.
The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Peter Mayhew, the man who brought everyone’s favorite Wookie, Chewbacca, to life in four of the Star Wars films to date is returning once again for Episode VII. This is certainly great news, especially with rumors that Mayhew’s health may have hindered him from returning to the role. This is coming off the news a few days ago that Disney CEO, Alan Horn, revealed that Episode VII has already begun filming, and that while all the casting isn’t finished, they’ve got the main cast members locked in.
The air of secrecy around this film is incredible, and while the film is likely only shooting some second unit footage, it’s amazing to think that the film has begun quietly shooting at all without any real fanfare. With the start of the official production being May 14, 2014, we should be hearing more official casting news soon. Maybe on May 4, known as Star Wars Day around the world. It would be a great time to release news in bulk, and take the world by storm. Star Wars Episode VII is currently set for December 18, 2015.
