Star Wars Episode VII to be shot in the UK, early 2014

Many movie geeks have always been waiting for news from the production of the new Star Wars movie. This is not much of a big news, but hey, all of us geeks are excited. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has recently confirmed that the J.J. Abrams-directed sequel to the original Star Wars trilogy will be shot in the U.K, probably early 2014. Read the press releases after the jump

Lucasfilm has announced that production of Star Wars: Episode VII will take place in the United Kingdom. All of the six previous live-action Star Wars movies have included UK production in such famed studios as Elstree, Shepperton, Leavesden, Ealing and Pinewood Studios.

“We’ve devoted serious time and attention to revisiting the origins of Star Wars as inspiration for our process on the new movie, and I’m thrilled that returning to the UK for production and utilizing the incredible talent there can be a part of that,” said Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm. “Speaking from my own longstanding connection to the UK with films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun and recently War Horse, it’s very exciting to be heading back.”

Earlier this year, representatives from Lucasfilm met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, in London to establish an agreement to produce Star Wars in the U.K. “I am delighted that Star Wars is coming back to Britain. Today’s announcement that the next Star Wars film will be shot and produced in the UK is great news for fans and our creative industries,” said Osborne.

Star Wars: Episode VII will be directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Michael Arndt and is scheduled for a 2015 release.

PRODUCTION DATE
With With Disney pushing hard for a 2015 release for Star Wars: Episode VII, production on the film needs to get underway sooner rather than later. In an interview, with Collider, Bryan Burk was asked if they know when and where they might be filming, and while he noted that it’s still early in the development process, a 2014 start-date seems likely:

“We’re progressing on a schedule to hopefully begin next year, or the beginning of next year, and the location is still kind of floating around in the air all depending on script and a whole bunch of other issues.  As I just said, everything is kind of a free-flowing thing, and when we feel like the story level on this script and everything is really coming together and schedules are all working and pieces line up, we prowl ahead, and Star Wars will be no different.”