Star Wars Films: Pegg And Johnson Play It Cool

During press rounds at San Diego Comic-Con, actor Benedict Cumberbatch let slip a comment that didn't confirm but did seem to suggest that rumors of his "Star Trek Into Darkness" cohort Simon Pegg making a small appearance in  J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII" are true.

Speaking with Vulture, Pegg was asked about this and said he won't be seen on screen. He uses his wording very carefully though, in such a way that it now has people thinking he'll have a voice role:

"Well, J.J. uses me in different roles, and we're good friends. I feel like my face in Star Wars would pop people out of the movie. Look, I love Star Wars, and I don't want people to watch and go, 'Oh, there's Simon Pegg's face.' The film is cleverly cast with these amazing, unknown actors."

When asked outright if he is in the film, he smiled and said:

"Of course I visited the set. It's amazing, and I love Star Wars. I want to see everything happening. It looks wonderful, and you need to believe those characters. Any type of stunt casting might just pop you out of the movie."

Abrams wrote the script with Lawrence Kasdan for the film. Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3," "Little Miss Sunshine") vacated his job scripting the next film--after disagreements over which characters the film will focus on.

Kasdan ("The Empire Strikes Back," "Raiders of the Lost Ark") and Simon Kinberg ("Sherlock Holmes," "X-Men: Days of Future Past") have reportedly closed deals to pen the final two installments of the new "Star Wars" trilogy. Kasdan and Kinberg are also indeed writing the stand alone/origin Star Wars features. Company CEO Robert A. Iger recently revealed that the studio has three features in the works - not two as previously indicated.  "Godzilla" reboot director Gareth Edwards is going to direct the first of the upcoming Star Wars Spin-Off Films. "Fantastic Four" reboot and "Chronicle" director Josh Trank is officially set to direct the as yet Untitled Number 2 stand alone spin-off film.

The plan is to have each of these films come out in the years when we don't see a new episode of the saga - They would come out in 2016, 2018 and 2020. We still don't know which characters these spin-offs will focus on. Current franchise chief, Kathleen Kennedy spoke to Yahoo about the stand-alone films saying that they will NOT affect the main narrative of the Episodes.

Looking ahead "Looper" and "Brick" writer-director Rian Johnson has inked a deal to both pen and call action on "Star Wars: Episode VIII" as well as write a treatment for "Star Wars: Episode IX".

In fact Johnson made  some comments about his work as writer/director of "Episode VIII" recently. Sure, they're mostly vague and/or jokes with all the secrecy,

He told Filmspotting: "With these films, I am trying to harken back to the original [Star Wars Holiday Special]. We have Jefferson Starship."

When asked about how he got hired for the job, he joked: "I can only assume it was a clerical error, like in the movie ' Brazil.' There's a Brian Johnson out there who is really mad."

The series MVP composer John Williams is set to score Episode VII, Episode VIII and Episode IX.
  
Kasdan and Kinberg would also join the projects as producers with Kennedy.

There is going to be a scheduled two-week production hiatus in August to allow for adjustments in the shooting schedule following Ford's recovery from that injury where he  broke his left leg. 

Production is scheduled to take place through September at Pinewood Studio in England and on location in Ireland . The film has a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015.