LOS ANGELES (WTVR) – Sometime very soon, on a set far, far, away…filming will begin for the new Star Wars Episode VII movie. But the decision to shoot in Britain isn’t sitting well with director JJ Abrams.
Abrams revealed that shooting for the newest addition to the franchise will begin in London in early 2014. The Super 8 director added that he was not looking forward to uprooting from Los Angeles, where he lives with his family, admitting that the decision to shoot in Britain “really does make me insane”.
The filmmaker has taken great strides to stay in the U.S. with his wife and three kids, even covering costs out of his own pocket to remain local for this year’s Star Trek: Into Darkness.
Star Wars: Episode VII is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2015, with two sequels following in 2017 and 2019.
Disney, which bought Lucasfilm, owner of the rights to Star Wars, in October last year for $4.05 billion, hired Toy Story 3’s Michael Arndt to write the first installment. The film is expected to feature Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher returning to their original roles of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia.
Beloved characters such as Yoda, Solo and Boba Fett have also been tapped to receive their own standalone movies, which could squeeze into theaters during gaps between release dates for the new trilogy. These spin-off films are rumored to be set within the timeline of the original 1977-83 Star Wars trilogy, potentially even allowing space for the return of deceased villains such as Darth Vader.
