Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were spotted in London over the weekend, where production of Star Wars: Episode VII is soon to begin. While Disney has yet to confirm the inclusion of Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in the upcoming trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, the London sightings are fairly indicative that the three will reprise their iconic roles.
There have been many rumors about who will be cast in Episode VII, though having Ford, Hamill and Fisher all in London at once with filming just weeks away seems beyond far-fetched as being a mere coincidence. Disney and Lucasfilm might divulge a bit more regarding confirmed casting on the upcoming Star Wars Day, an unofficial holiday on May 4th honoring George Lucas’ space opera.
Fisher took to Twitter herself to mention her arrival in London, Hamill had a friend tweet his whereabouts for him, and Harrison Ford does not play on the internet:
So my do dog Gary has been spotted in London, but apparently without me. Who has he been seeing? Let me know if you have any clues.
— Carrie Fisher (@carrieffisher) April 26, 2014
Met up with @HamillHimself in London today. I wonder why he's here. pic.twitter.com/zXpnxWaHyN
— Peter Serafinowicz (@serafinowicz) April 27, 2014
Harrison Ford chatting to the pilots of London's Air Ambulance in Grosvenor Square https://t.co/YJqX3KscBh
— Matthew Bell (@kertappa) April 26, 2014
According to starwars.com, the first installment of the sequel trilogy began pre-production on October 30, 2012. Principal photography is scheduled to begin within weeks at Pinewood Studios, situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, which lies approximately 20 miles west of central London. George Lucas is on board as a creative consultant, and Episode VII will be directed by J.J. Abrams (Super 8, Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek) and was scripted by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi).
It has been confirmed that Peter Mayhew has signed on to reprise his role as Chewbacca, and it’s also been said that Girls actor Adam Driver has been cast as a Sith villain, and that Jesse Plemons of Breaking Bad and Friday Night Lights might be chosen as the lead Jedi protagonist.
It’s been revealed by Alan Horn, chairman of Disney Studios, that the events of Episode VII will take place roughly 30 years after Return of the Jedi. The Disney exec said the latest film will pick up “where 6 left off and where 6 left off is 35 years ago by the time this is released.”
Image via Wikimedia Commons