Star Wars: Episode VII will officially take place 30 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.
Yes, you read that right, officially. For the first time since they announced R2-D2 would return in November, StarWars.com has announced that Episode VII will be set “about 30 years after” Return of the Jedi.
This does make a good deal of sense. Return of the Jedi was released in 1983, so the December 18, 2015 release date will mark 32 years since the last chronological episode. This will allow them to explain the age of any returning stars accurately.
Speaking of returning stars, the report also revealed that “some very familiar faces” would be in Star Wars: Episode VII but that casting announcements would not be made at this time. The return of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia, respectively, has been a long process. It’s been assumed for well over a year now that they will be returning, but nothing has ever been officially announced.
The report also reveals that Episode VII will feature “a new trio of young leads.” Calling them leads is perhaps the most interesting part of that report. It has been questioned for a while whether the film would focus on Han, Luke, and Leia for one last time before highlighting the new cast, but this seems to suggest that the film will focus on the new trio.
It’s been recently rumored that a lead actor shortlist includes Ed Speleers, John Boyega, Jesse Plemons, Matthew James Thomas, and Ray Fisher and that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o was in the running for a female role. The actor shortlist is probably for at least one of the three leads, and Nyong’o’s role was reportedly a villainous role, so there could potentially be two more lead roles open that we haven’t heard about.
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