The Star Wars Thread

[Darth_Primus Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Primus]

From the Star Wars FB page:

The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.

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 the new film.

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."

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer

[Mister Ed Horse of a Different Color Find all posts View Profile Close Mister Ed]

What exactly is Kenny Baker going to be doing? I can't believe that they will be putting him inside an R2 unit. Maybe he'll learn to operate one of the R2's by remote? Or they could put him in some other role, I suppose.

[SD80MAC Not a True Fan Find all posts View Profile Close SD80MAC]

Max von Sydow? Awesome. Especially if he channels King Osric.

[JohnnyV Pictionary Master Find all posts View Profile Close JohnnyV]

That's a pretty good cast. I really liked Boyega in Attack the Block. Funny that two of the actors from Inside Llewyn Davis are going to be in the Star Wars sequel.

And is it just me or perhaps the lighting, but I think Mark Hammill is rocking a Hitler 'stache.

[Mister Ed Horse of a Different Color Find all posts View Profile Close Mister Ed]

And is it just me or perhaps the lighting, but I think Mark Hammill is rocking a Hitler 'stache.

I think it's the fact that the picture is black and white. I'm pretty sure he has a full moustache, but the sides are grey enough that they don't stand out from his skin color in the B&W photo.

[Darth_Primus Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Primus]

I think it's kind of funny that Peter Mayhew is reading the script. Chewbecca is a really a loquacious. Seriously, it's nice to see him with the rest of the cast.

[SD80MAC Not a True Fan Find all posts View Profile Close SD80MAC]

That's not a script reading. It's a photo op.

[Mister Ed Horse of a Different Color Find all posts View Profile Close Mister Ed]

That's not a script reading. It's a photo op.

Can't it be both? I seriously doubt they just took the picture and then left without reading the script at all.

[SD80MAC Not a True Fan Find all posts View Profile Close SD80MAC]

I'm sure they skimmed it.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

What exactly is Kenny Baker going to be doing?...

Abrams probably wanted a paid excuse to meet him.

[Mister Ed Horse of a Different Color Find all posts View Profile Close Mister Ed]

Abrams probably wanted a paid excuse to meet him.

That and the more old names they can associate with the film, the better the PR, whether they are doing anything or not, I bet.

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker Moisture Farmer Find all posts View Profile Close Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

I just jizzed in my pants!

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

I just jizzed in my pants!

Eww. Go clean that up. The nurse ain't going to do it for you.

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker Moisture Farmer Find all posts View Profile Close Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

[W.West Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close W.West]

How 'Star Wars' Director J.J. Abrams Kept the Cast Secret

It took nine months of meet-and-greets, script readings and screen tests, all conducted with more secrecy than a raid on the Death Star, for director J.J. Abrams, Lucasfilm and Disney to assemble the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII: John Boyega, 22; Adam Driver, 30; Domhnall Gleeson, 30; Oscar Isaac, 35; Daisy Ridley, 21; Andy Serkis, 50; and Max von Sydow, 85, who were unveiled April 29, will join original stars Mark Hamill, 62, Carrie Fisher, 57, and Harrison Ford, 71. Abrams cast a wide net, with actors asked to read material that was not from the top secret script. They couldn't tell anyone for which parts they were reading, and their agents and publicists had to sign strict nondisclosure agreements.

Although Abrams began meetings as early as August, sources say he didn't cast the British newcomer Ridley -- one of the first leads to be chosen -- until February. Securing Driver, who likely will play a villain, was more complicated. The actor also was sought for a role in Warner Bros.' Batman-Superman movie and had to work around his schedule on HBO's Girls. But by late February, he was on board.

Around that time, Serkis, who was in Los Angeles for the Oscars, also entered the picture. Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy, who worked with the actor and motion-capture specialist on The Adventures of Tintin, is a fan and encouraged Abrams to talk to him. As if to underscore how effective the cone of silence around Star Wars was, while word leaked out about other projects Serkis is lining up -- like the Warners adaptation of The Jungle Book, which he will direct -- Serkis remained under the radar amid all the Star Wars speculation.

Talks with Inside Llewyn Davis' Isaac began in March, according to sources, but then hit a snag in early April when it looked as if the summer and fall shooting schedule might run up against theater commitments. Meanwhile, Boyega, who made his feature debut in 2011's Attack the Block, was courted by several franchises, including Paramount's Terminator reboot. His Star Wars deal only began to firm up in the past few weeks when he dropped out of a biopic of sprinter Jesse Owens.

In fact, despite all the rumors during the past few months, many of the castings were decided only in the past few weeks; actor Dev Patel, who failed to win a part, tested as recently as three weeks ago. And despite a rush to meet a Dec. 18, 2015, release date, the casting process isn't over. According to sources, at least one major female role remains open.