Original Trilogy stars Hamill as Luke Skywalker Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Peter Mayhew playing the legendary Wookiee Chewbacca, and Kenny Baker as Astro droid R2 D2 will be back. Warwick Davis is in the film says Variety. Davis has already appeared in two films in the series 1983's "Return of the Jedi" and 1999's "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace".
Franchise creator George Lucas told Bloomberg Businessweek that he begun talks with original stars to have them return for its new films -- before he had even begun the process of the ultimately $2 billion deal and sale. It's been said that Lucas' actually spent about a year planning the franchise's future before handing the reigns of Lucasfilm over to Disney.
Speaking with Yahoo! Movies, Hamill was asked to comment on the film's recently released teaser trailer and the fact that we did not see any of the original cast in it. He says:
"This is about the new generation of characters; I think that's the most important thing. It's the opening act of a whole new approach to the storytelling. I rightly assumed that it wouldn't be our story because we had a beginning, a middle, and an end. This must be our offspring and the current generation, with us there lending the kind of support that Peter Cushing and Alec Guinness did in the original."
Hamill also talked about his look for the film, which includes a beard:
"That is what I call my contractually obligated beard. Listen: I think they look fine on other people. It's just not me. I never got used to it. But face foliage is almost a part of the costume. And it does bring a gravitas, perhaps unearned, but nevertheless, it makes a statement that they wanted to make, and I'm more than happy to oblige them."
Hamill also discussed the return of Harrison Ford to the franchise:
"He was someone that was unpredictable. I hadn't seen him in years; I didn't know what his feelings were. I know he's sometimes grown impatient with people that don't want to focus on what he's doing currently and want to go stroll down memory lane. God knows, I'm used to that sort of thing. But who knew? And for him to jump back in so enthusiastically, I was delighted. It's a wonderful character. Everybody loves Han Solo."
Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid who played Emperor Palpatine attended the 2014 London Film and Comic Con and confirmed that he would not return to the "Star Wars" universe in the upcoming trilogy--but he didn't rule out a return in a potential spin-off pre-Return of the Jedi:
"I'm definitely not in [Episode VII]. As you know, he's dead by then. I know, we believe in reincarnation, and holograms… But you know, they are going to take many twists on the story as the years go on, and I guess they may go back to a time - I've got no clue, I'm speaking off the top of my head - when the Emperor ran the universe. And I don't want anyone else to play him, do I?"
In a recent post Latino Review claims that Palpatine is part of the new trilogy after all--though played by another actor...
James Earl Jones, the man behind the voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader was asked by Variety recently about the possibility of playing the character in more films, perhaps one of the Spin-Off Films for example set before "Return of the Jedi". He said: "Oh no. I've got no illusions that I will or even hankerings to be in them, but I'm very proud to have been part of the original."
Actor Liam Neeson was asked by HeyUGuys whether he'd been invited back to play his character from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace--Qui-Gon Jinn in the franchise...While the answer was "No" He said that he would be up for a comeback.
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. 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 and Lucasfilm chief, Kathleen Kennedy spoke to Yahoo about the stand-alone films saying that they will NOT affect the main narrative of the Episodes.
While the character was rumored to be getting a solo film last month--Cinelinx posts that the studios are developing a separate trilogy of spin-off films dedicated to the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi--set between the prequel and original trilogy. Their source says:
"First up, they are not talking about an Obi-Wan spin-off movie but a trilogy of Obi-Wan movies . I need to stress that these movies are not connected. They aren't part of a story arc but three separate Obi-Wan adventures set between Episodes III and IV. It seems like the three movie ideas are as follows: One set completely on Tatooine and two where Obi-Wan travels elsewhere in the Galaxy. Qui-Gon Jinn is very much present in these stories. So too is Owen Lars . Several characters from the 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' TV Series would make an appearance. There would be flashbacks to Obi-Wan fighting in the Clone Wars."
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".
The Daily Beast has obtained a document that seems to suggest that Johnson's "Star Wars" Episodes 8 & 9 will primarily consist of "Luke and Leia" storylines. Han Solo is expected to get the most screen time of the trio in 'Force Awakens,' Could the subsequent films put the primary focus on the other two?
The Avengers: Age of Ultron star Mark Ruffalo previously worked with Johnson on The Brothers Bloom, with Ruffalo playing one half of a brotherly con act. In a recent interview with Collider Ruffalo tells the site that he contacted Johnson to tell him that he wants to be in the sequel.
Kasdan and Kinberg would also join the projects as producers with Kennedy.
Series MVP composer John Williams is set to score the film as well as Episode VIII and Episode IX.
There was 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. The injury is also said to have happened during filming on a top secret set rather than on the Millennium Falcon set as was widely reported.
Production took place mainly at Pinewood Studio in England. The film has a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015
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