According to these guys, we’ll see a famous location mentioned numerous times, but one that hasn’t been realized on screen before:

“One small hint: Star Wars The Old Republic has added a planet that has long been mentioned but never seen on film.”

Which planet do you think that is? The ancient Sith home world of Korriban?

Or Makeb?

Meanwhile, a source at Pinewood Studios tells Yahoo that the film’s crew has already constructed a full scale Millennium Falcon to be used during the filming:

“A full-scale 1:1 Millennium Falcon has been built as well as the interiors of the ship for filming. The Falcon is done – inside and out. The sets were built off-site, ready to move when Lucasfilm/Bad Robot were ready to move into Pinewood.”

I can feel my Star Wars juices -midi-chlorians?- start flowing…

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It’s J.J. Abrams.

With Star Trek – and aye, he successfully revived the franchise – and Mission Impossible III, he will be directing another huge franchise. It looks like he is the guy who dates ALL the beautiful girls in one town and feels like Hollywood is pretty much an abandoned place director-wise.

The news is surprising as Abrams previously commented on the possibility and said he felt too intimidated by the material to properly tackle it.

Ben Affleck was also in contention for the Episode VII directing gig. It might have been interesting to see his take on this epic, action packed space opera. Well, maybe in Ep. VIII.

Disney has just issued this official press release:

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

 

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Kasdan and Kinberg would also join the projects as producers alongside Kathleen Kennedy.

No comment from Disney and Lucasfilm yet. Studio says that official announcements about the new Star Wars movies will appear on StarWars.com.

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Where we are now, how we got here and what the future may bring.
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