Fisher, Hamill Round Out Episode IX Cast

Wednesday begins principle photography of Star Wars: Episode IX to conclude the current trilogy of stories. Ahead of that Disney announced the cast of the film. The key surprise castings is Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher (General Leia Organa). The former didn't survive the end of the movie while the latter tragically died unexpectedly. While probable Luke will appear as a force ghost, the return of Leia is less obvious.

“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” director J.J. Abrams said in announcing the news on StarWars.com. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie [Lourd], we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”

The use of previous footage was also approved by her brother Todd with Hamill tweeting "It’s bittersweet facing my final chapter without her-She is simply irreplaceable. I’m finding solace in the fact that she won’t BE replaced & would love the worldwide outpouring of affection from those who loved her when they heard the news."

Joining the pair will be returning cast members Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Issac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong'o (Maz Kanata), Domhall Gleeson (General Hux), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO). New cast members (so far) are Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Naomi Ackie (role unknown), and Richard E Grant (role unknown).

Rogue One Adds To Cast, Reveals Cast Photo and New Logo

Disney has revealed a new core cast photo along with a new logo for Rogue One. Filming for the movie, which takes place before A New Hope, began a few weeks ago that follows Felicity Jones, Riz Ahmed, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, and Forest Whitaker as they seek to steal the plans for the Death Star. Also announced today is new castmembers Alan Tudyk (Firefly), Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal), Donnie Yen (Ip Man), and Jiang Wen (Let the Bullets Fly). As for the logo, as you can see below, Disney has chosen to drop the "Anthology" and replace it with "A Star Wars Story". No explanation for the change but sadly I suspect testing discovered that a higher than expected number of people didn't understand what "Anthology" meant.

Darth Vader Big Bad of Rogue One?

As always this is to be taken with a grain of salt but Birth Movies Death is reporting that Darth Vader might appear in Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One. The movie will be a prequel to 1977's Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope by showing how the plans for the first Star Wars were stolen and I assume made their way to Princess Leia's hands for the iconic opening of that movie. Darth Vader's role is described as "[Vader] will not be the main antagonist but he will be working behind the scenes, pulling strings and will appear onscreen. Literally, I'm told - he'll be showing up via viewscreen or holo projection or something." Considering the "time" of the film's setting, a cameo appearance of the character does make sense. As usual time will tell on rumors like this.

May the Fourth Be With You Day Character News

For Star Wars fans today was May the Fourth (as in Force) Be With You Day. Fans use it to let their fan flag fly while Disney and various news outlets used it to reveal new character info from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. None of it is really major or plot related but you finally get some confirmation on what a few characters names and who is playing them along with a few behind the scenes pics thanks to Vanity Fair.

Adam Driver has been confirmed to be playing sith Kylo Ren (the three pronged light saber wielder), Gwendoline Christie's character is Captain Phasma, an officer in the First Order of Stormtroopers and Lupita Nyong'o is playing Maz Kanata which is a pure CGI pirate. The full gallery of pictures can be found here or here. Below is a behind the scenes look at Vanity Fair's photoshoot for the film.

Star Wars Adds Two, Planning Hiatus

Two new cast members have been added to Star Wars Episode VII as the production plans on a two hiatus in August. The two cast members are Pip Anderson and Crystal Clarke. Both are literal unknowns as Clarke's first roles are still in post-production while Anderson is known in parkour circles so expect he will be used for ability to perform stunt work while acting. Per usual Abrams' cone of silence rules, no information was released about what characters they would playing but I suspect both will be minor supporting roles. As for the filming break, the cause is related to Harrison Ford's broken leg (or sprained ankle, reports vary) that was caused by a door on the Millennium Falcon set.

"The Star Wars universe has always been about discovering and nurturing young talent and in casting Episode VII we wanted to remain absolutely faithful to this tradition. We are delighted that so many travelled to see us at the open casting calls and that we have been able to make Crystal and Pip a part of the film," said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy in the Sunday casting statement.

Two More Join Star Wars: Episode VII Cast

Today Lucasfilm has announced that Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years A Slave) and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) has joined the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. The pair will join the core cast on the film bringing up the female cast to four. What the roles are was not specified.

Core Cast of Star Wars Episode VII Revealed

Today LucasFilm casually announced the core cast of Star Wars Episode VII. As the staged pic (left) reveals, it is a bit of a dude-fest (only one new female cast member). As per JJ Abrams operating procedure established with Star Trek Into Darkness, no character names or story details were revealed and chances are it will be quite a while before we learn something as simple as a name. Returning favorites are Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Kenny Baker (R2D2).

After that the list dissolves into a list of "who?" with John Boyega (Attack the Block), Daisy Ridley (?), Adam Driver (Girls, rumored playing movie's big bad), Oscar Isaac (?), Domhnall Gleeson (oldest Weasley brother in Harry Potter films), and Max von Sydow (legendary actor but not known for sci-fi & action films).

Star Wars Update: Chewbacca and Filming Has Started?

As Star Wars Episode VII is a JJ Abrams production, that means information will be hard to come by and what information you do get could be incorrect or just rumor. The latest is that actor Peter Mayhew will return as Chewbacca, joining returning favorites Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher. The reason it remains rumor is that the information has not been confirmed by Disney. Which doesn't mean much since Abrams has no problem letting false rumors circulate if it contains his movie secrets (which he defines as literally anything and everything to do with the movie, even if not really remotely related to spoiler information).

In other related news, Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn said in an interview that Episode VII has already started filming. That doesn't necessarily mean the principle photography has begun. Chances are whatever is being filmed is background plating and other things needed for ILM to begin their CGI work on the film that probably started months ago and will continue almost right up to the film's release in December 2017.

First New Cast Member for Star Wars Episode VII Announced

Variety is reporting that Adam Driver (Girls) has been cast in Star Wars: Episode VII in a major role. The describe it as "Exact details are unknown, but the character is said to be in the vein of iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader." The is the first new casting announcement for the film which is under the usual Abrams cloak of secrecy. Considering his age (30), I assume his role is more apprenticeship to the big bad than the movie's big bad. The current rumor for that is Michael Fassbender or Hugo Weaving. My vote is for Weaving because he seems owns anything he is in and seems to enjoy fan interactions while I suspect Fassbender is simply unpleasant to be around. Considering Abrams has a history of even refusing to reveal the names of characters, it could be a while before learn anything specific. Theoretically Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill will be returning but that still has not been officially confirmed.