Despite the delayed release to Christmas of next year, STAR WARS: EPISODE VII doesn’t seem to be much closer to beginning filming and Variety may know why. With J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan taking over screenwriting duties on the upcoming sequel, many believed it was to enhance the roles of the original trilogy actors believed to be returning. This led to speculation that the new film would be focusing on not only Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo, but also their offspring. Being popular characters in the extended universe, this seemed a logical next step.
But, according to Variety’s sources, while Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford will have prominent roles, their offspring will be relegated to supporting cast, at least in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII. The rewrites that Abrams and Kasdan have done have made the central character a “Jedi apprentice”, which is the role that Abrams has been seeking all this time. BREAKING BAD’s Jesse Plemons is supposedly up for that role along other actors including DOWNTON ABBEY’s Ed Speleers, ATTACK THE BLOCK’s John Boyega, theater actor Matthew James Thomas, and Ray Fisher. Many of these names are unknown and newly linked to the film.
While Disney declined to comment, Variety also claims that the rumors of David Oyelowo and Michael B. Jordan meeting with Abrams was because the studio wanted to diversify the main cast. It remains to be seen if that will be the case as this new list of actors is a mix of Caucasian and African-American. There has been a lot of uproar about Michael B. Jordan being cast as the traditionally white Human Torch in THE FANTASTIC FOUR, but STAR WARS has always been a movie universe where race doesn’t really matter. In the realm of science fiction/fantasy, Billy Dee Williams and Samuel L. Jackson have portrayed a pair of the coolest heroes to grace the silver screen.
At this point, I just want to get some official news about the damn movie. I would prefer an unknown lead with more charisma that Hayden Christiansen who can be surrounded by experienced actors from within and outside the franchise. Just make it happen already.
STAR WARS: EPISODE VII (may) open December 18, 2015.
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed