Star Wars Episode VII timeframe revealed

Disney CEO, Bob Iger, has leaked some information about the severely secretive Star Wars Episode VII plot. Iger stated that  the new Star Wars will take place 30 years after the events of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He also mentioned a trio of new lead characters will lead familiar characters. So far, the only official cast member announced is R2-D2 but it has been rumored for months that Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill will be returning as well.

This is just more to add to the rumor pot regarding Episode VII. We literally know nothing about this movie other than the director, writers, R2-D2, and that filming starts in May.

Star Wars team seeks to delay Episode VII

Last week we got some pretty major news that Michael Arndt had been replaced with Lawrence Kasdan and J.J. Abrams for the Star Wars: Episode VII script. This comes just about a year after Disney announced their purchase of Lucasfilm and the announcement of a seventh Star Wars film. We now have news that the Star Wars team has requested a delay of the film until 2015, but was shut down by Disney.

There is still no official release date for Episode VII, however Disney is constantly hammering their intent for a 2015 release. It has been rumored as of late that the film will be released in December 2015 for a Christmas release. However, with the current script rewrite and no solid casting news, the deadline is cutting very close because filming is supposed to start in London in early 2014.
The word is that producer Kathleen Kennedy and the rest of the creative team has requested a delay for the film until 2016 and was promptly denied by Disney. The speculation is Disney CEO Bob Iger is adamant about the 2015 release due to pressure from the shareholders and demand for merchandising and revenue by 2015. This also could be due to rumors that Tomorrowland at Disneyland will be revamped and redesigned as a so-called "Star Wars Land" with a new speeder bike attraction and a life size Millenium Falcon. Similar rumors are circulating at Disneyworld in Florida for a Star Wars addition to the Hollywood Studios park.
However, some are suggesting that J.J. Abrams is confident in the 2015 release and it is primarily Kennedy that is pushing for the delay. The two are apparently working in sync with the casting, though. There is also a rumor that Michael Arndt had treated Disney to a 50-page script for a seventh film before Lucasfilm was even purchased, so this new trilogy has been in the works for quite sometime already.

I am doubting this is all due to tension between Kennedy and Abrams. She has been a longtime producer for Steven Spielberg and has been on several high pressure projects, so I think she knows what she is doing. Hopefully this pressure will give Disney some sense and not release a half-assed project for once. I am still not fully on board to this new Star Wars movie and if it sucks because Disney rushed it I am going to be even more upset. 

[Updated] Saoirse Ronan up for Star Wars?

Rumor alert!

Word has it that Saoirse Ronan has read for a lead role for Star Wars Episode VII and Episode VIII. Of course there is no information on exactly what these roles are but apparently this is a lead female role. Ronan has most recently been seen in The Host and Byzantium.
Latino Review is also sticking to their guns about Benedict Cumberbatch being involved with the new Star Wars trilogy. They are claiming Cumberbatch's denials are lies and that he will have a major role to come into play more with Episodes VIII and IX. You no doubt know Cumberbatch from Star Trek Into Darkness.
They are also reporting that a small portion of the film will be shot in Las Cruces, NM. This is speculation that the movie will bring us back to Tatooine or perhaps to the Sith home planet of Korriban.


I wish Disney would just announce something already.

[UPDATE] Saoirse Ronan has confirmed that she read for Episode VII. She also added, "so has everyone," so apparently the role is being very widely approached.

Michael Arndt confirmed to write Star Wars: Episode VII

Disney and Lucasfilm have confirmed they have selected a writer for Star Wars: Episode VII. This writer is Oscar winner Michael Arndt. He won an Oscar for his screenplay for Little Miss Sunshine and was nominated for Toy Story 3. He also wrote the screenplay for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire which is currently filming.

I don't really have anything to say about this. I am just sharing the info.