Star Wars: Episode VII Will Shoot In The UK
This article is more than 2 years old
Seven months after the announcement that Disney will release Star Wars: Episode VII in 2015, it’s still very hard to believe that a new Star Wars movie will be in theaters in two short years. Believe it or not, it’s happening! There were some early reports that Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams will start production on the seventh Star Wars film at the beginning of 2014. It now appears that production will begin in the United Kingdom.
Although Disney and Lucasfilm have not specified which U.K. movie studio Star Wars: Episode VII will occupy during its production, the film’s producer and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy issued a statement expressing her excitement and enthusiasm about returning to the Star Wars universe. Kennedy says:
We’ve devoted serious time and attention to revisiting the origins of Star Wars as inspiration for our process on the new movie, and I’m thrilled that returning to the UK for production and utilizing the incredible talent there can be a part of that. Speaking from my own longstanding connection to the UK with films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun and recently War Horse, it’s very exciting to be heading back.”
This isn’t the first time a Star Wars film has been made in the U.K. The original trilogy and The Phantom Menace were shot at various UK studios, including Leavesden Film Studios and Elstree Studios, so it’s good to see the production traveling back to England.
J.J. Abrams is a director who likes to make use of real locations and sets, unlike George Lucas‘ decision to make the last two Star Wars films — Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith — with such an overload of CGI special effects. Hopefully Abrams’ penchant for the tangible will help re-invigorate the Star Wars saga.
Star Wars: Episode VII will hit theaters everywhere sometime in 2015, in 3D.
