Star Wars: The Force Awakens

"It's an original story."

- A Lucasfilm source, speaking about the plot for Star Wars Episode VII

Star Wars Episode VII is an upcoming American science fiction/space opera film that is due for release on December 18th, 2015. It will be the seventh installment in the long-running Star Wars franchise, as well as the long awaited sequel to 1983's Return of the Jedi.

Disney is producing the film after they acquired Lucasfilm on October 30, 2012, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy will serve as executive producer of the film, and George Lucas will act as a creative consultant for the films. As of January 25, 2013, J. J. Abrams will direct and produce the film, while Michael Arndt will write the screenplay. Episode VII will be the first theatrical live-action Star Wars movie, since 2005's Revenge of the Sith, released ten years earlier.

Cast

 * Harrison Ford as Han Solo
 * Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa
 * Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
 * John Boyega
 * Daisy Ridley
 * Adam Driver
 * Oscar Isaac
 * Andy Serkis
 * Domhnall Gleeson
 * Max von Sydow
 * Lupita Nyong'o
 * Gwendoline Christie
 * Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
 * Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca
 * Kenny Baker as R2-D2

Disney purchases Lucasfilm
On October 30, 2012, The Walt Disney Company announced that it had purchased Lucasfilm Ltd., the production company behind the creation of the Star Wars franchise, from its owner, Star Wars creator George Lucas, for $4.05 billion. The acquisition came in the wake of Lucas's announced retirement on May 31, and the subsequent June 1 announcement that veteran film producer Kathleen Kennedy was succeeding Lucas as Lucasfilm's Co-Chair.

As part of the merger, Disney revealed that it planned to release a new sequel trilogy of films, beginning in 2015, that would include the long-awaited Star Wars Episodes VII, VIII, and IX. Lucas will remain involved as a creative consultant, with Kennedy serving as executive producer.

Star Wars Episode VII has already been in development for several months as of the Disney–Lucasfilm merger. Lucas has written the story treatments for each of the three upcoming films. According to Kennedy, the development team is currently in the process of sitting down with writers to discuss story ideas. According to a Lucasfilm source, the basis for Star Wars Episode VII will be an original story, rather than taking inspiration from previous Expanded Universe content, such as author Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy of novels, which chronologically follows the events of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi in the Star Wars canon.

Assembling the team
"I've consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He's an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn't be in better hands."

- George Lucas, on J.J. Abrams Lucasfilm confirmed on November 9 that pre-production has begun on Star Wars Episode VII, and that screenwriter Michael Arndt will write the script for the film. News outlets first reported Arndt's involvement on November 8, announcing that, according to insiders, Arndt has already turned in a forty-to-fifty-page story treatment that will reportedly bring the Skywalker family saga to a close in a new trilogy.

Reports first announced on January 24, 2013 that J.J. Abrams, known for his work on the television series Lost and the most recent entries in the Star Trek film series, will direct Star Wars Episode VII. StarWars.com confirmed the reports the following day.

According to reports, Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg will co-produce all three films of the upcoming sequel trilogy. Kasdan and Kinberg will also reportedly share writing responsibilities for both Star Wars Episodes VIII and IX, although the exact division of roles has yet to be determined. Kasdan originally wrote the screenplays for both Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. StarWars.com confirmed Kasdan's and Kinberg's involvement as project consultants for Star Wars Episode VII on January 25.

Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Ewan McGregor, Billy Dee Williams and Samuel L. Jackson have all been reported to be interested in returning for the new films, though most actors have yet to be confirmed by Lucasfilm sources.

During a concert with the Young Musician's Foundation Debut Orchestra on February 9, composer John Williams stated that he was hoping to get the chance to write the musical scores for the entire new trilogy. Abrams made further statements on this at a Star Trek Into Darkness conference on April 29, stating, "Again, for Star Wars, it’s very early days, but I believe that, going forward, John Williams will be doing that film because he was there long before I was."

Mark Hamill commented about the sequels in late February 2013 stating that "they are talking to us" and he is scheduled to meet with writer Michael Arndt and Kathleen Kennedy. Hamill stated that so far nobody has signed a contract though there appears to be interest in the entire cast. Hamill went on to say that George Lucas would like to get Peter Mayhew and Anthony Daniels back for the new films as well. Mark Hamill feels that he will return to be "an Obi-Wan type role."

In March 2013, Fisher confirmed she will return as Princess Leia. A day later Lucas confirmed that Hamill, Ford and Fisher were in the final stages of negotiations and that all three were in discussions to return prior to the Disney sale. Lucas stated "Maybe I'm not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them. I won't say whether the negotiations were successful or not".

In May 2013, it was revealed that production of Episode VII would take place in the United Kingdom. All of the six other movies of the Star Wars franchise had been partly produced in the U.K., notably in the Elstree, Shepperton, Leavesden, Ealing and Pinewood studios.

Michael Kaplan, who designed the costumes for Abrams' Star Trek films has also signed on to costume Episode VII. Daniel Mindel, Abrams's director of photography, will also return to collaborate with the director, meaning the series will return to shooting on 35mm film.

On October 24, 2013, Arndt was replaced as screenwriter by the team of Kasdan and Abrams. On November 7, 2013, Lucasfilm announced that the film would be released on December 18, 2015. On November 9, 2013, it was announced that the Fox fanfare will not be in the opening of Star Wars Episode VII.

On November 19, 2013, StarWars.com confirmed that R2-D2 will appear in the film. The droid model has been provided and will be overseen by members of the R2 Builders Club.

Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn revealed on December 13, 2013, that the estimated budget for Star Wars Episode VII will be at least $200 million.

At a Television Critics Association press tour on January 19, 2014, Abrams announced that the script for Episode VII had been finished and that the movie was going "full steam ahead" and in "deep pre-production." He also confirmed rumors of him talking with Breaking Bad actor Jesse Plemons.

The following day, on January 20, 2014, Carrie Fisher gave an interview to TV Guide and mentioned that she, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill would all be reporting to work in March or April. As with previous information by Fisher, this has yet to be verified by Lucasfilm.

During an interview promoting the 2014 remake of RoboCop, Gary Oldman confirmed with Sky Movies&mdash;when asked if Star Wars was "perhaps next" and if he "had any discussions [with J.J. Abrams' team] along those lines"&mdash;that he was indeed approached for a role in the upcoming film. His response was, "They’ve called," and affirmed that it was as far as he could say on the matter. Oldman responded carefully, stumbling over his words as he avoided any disclosure beyond stating an interest in him for a role:

When musing on what such involvement would mean for his career, Oldman commented, "I mean, Planet of the Apes, Harry Potter, and Batman, and Star Wars? Bloody Hell, you know?" AMC Theaters Movie News Senior Editor, John Campea, has discussed&mdash;along with correspondents Dennis Tzeng and Lisa Darling&mdash;on the movie company's YouTube channel, the gravitas that Oldman could potentially bring to the Star Wars franchise. They remarked that the reservation with which he admitted to the approach by Lucasfilm for his involvement made the news more "serious" in tone with Oldman as a contender for a role in the film, rather than receiving a mere "stereotypical casting call."

Production
"I've learned to be very careful about Star Wars. If I say, 'There will be no skateboards in Star Wars'... that gets headlines."

- Alan Horn, Disney Chairman On March 17, 2014, StarWars.com announced that Episode VII would begin principal photography at Pinewood Studios in May 2014, and would be set approximately thirty years after the events of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. They also confirmed that the film will star a trio of young leading actors alongside "some very familiar faces." On April 5, 2014, it was revealed that filming on Star Wars Episode VII had already begun, with second unit work taking place in Iceland and Abu Dhabi.

On April 7, 2014, reports surfaced claiming that Peter Mayhew would reprise the role of Chewbacca in Star Wars Episode VII.

On April 29, 2014, actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in Episode VII.

Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: 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." Recent working subtitles for Episode VII include A New Dawn, An Ancient Fear, Return of the Sith and Rise of the Jedi.