Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens - Review

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Last night I was treated to a movie that I had been waiting to see for thirty-two years, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. After the release of 'Return of the Jedi' in 1983 no one ever truly believed that it would take three decades for the next installment in the series to be produced. It seemed like a no-brainer that a money driven movie industry, along with a rabid fan base, would demand that after a short hiatus the next chapter in the Star Wars saga return to the silver screen. Alas that did not happen.

As we all know George Lucas would revisit his tribute to 1930s sci fi serials beginning in the 1990s with newly revamped versions of the original three films which paved the way for the three less than stellar Star Wars prequels. In the eyes of most fans the newly added scenes in 'A New Hope', 'Empire' and 'Jedi' did nothing to improve on the originals and the three films that followed them failed to capture the wonder and charm that made Star Wars the most beloved movie series in cinematic history.

Taking that into account I was optimistic but cautious about what Disney and J.J. Abrams would do with this beloved movie franchise. As it would turn out getting Star Wars away from George Lucas and into the hands of 'The Mouse Factory' was a great thing for both Star Wars and it's fanbase. As a fan who was there in 1977 when Star Wars I have to say that my expectations were far exceeded by what I saw last night.

I think what I tweeted (and posted on Facebook) immediately after seeing the movie summed it up best: "Just saw Star Wars The Force Awakens - MIND BLOWN!"

J.J. Abrams had to walk a razor thin line with this movie. He had to make a film that both captured the essence of the three originals, yet be new and fresh like his recent two 'Star Trek' movies. Amazingly the film maker was able to pull off exactly that. While watching The Force Awakens it was a joy to see an equal portion of Lucas (The Lucas who made A New Hope not Phantom Menace), Irvin Kershner (Empire), Richard Marquand (Jedi) and Abrams' influences in what made it onto the screen. I think that it would be safe to say what Abrams has produced here may be the most complete and polished Star Wars film with the exception of 'The Empire Strikes Back', which is arguably the best sci fi film ever made.

This is where things get tough. I really want to delve into the story at this point, but I realize that there are still a vast majority of fans who have not seen the movie yet and may not see it for a few days, so I'm not going to ruin it for you ... though I really, really want to talk about it.

That being said, I think that I won't be wrecking anyone's movie experience by talking about how the plot for The Force Awakens in many ways mirrors that of the first three films. A fact that has put off many of the critics who have already written about this movie. For myself personally this fact actually made the film more enjoyable. It helped connect this movie with the three original in ways that the three prequels failed to do. The plot for The Force Awakens may not have been 100% original, but who cares really? The film is both fun, compelling and stirred up more than a bucket full of emotions I can't get into without blowing any important parts of the story.

To sum it up, Star Wars The Force Awakens is an amazing movie with incredible effects, great acting and a kind of story that sadly had been missing from this franchise since the 1980s. As a fan this was what I wanted to see in a Star Wars movie for years.

In all honesty I waited til this morning to get all my thoughts together about what I saw last night, and I'm still trying to process it all, which in a way really speaks to what an overall amazing movie The Force Awakens really is. Maybe as the day goes by, or after I see it again numerous times, I can truly express whats brewing in my noggin.

Obviously I will be revisiting this film again in a few days after almost everyone has seen the movie to talk in depth more about the plot and the film as a whole in more detail.

The Force Awakens - I loved it, finally a Star Wars for Star Wars fans ... MIND BLOWN!

‘Star Trek: Beyond’ Gets New Release Date

From Variety via Yahoo! Movies

Paramount has moved “Star Trek: Beyond” back two weeks to July 22.

The studio had originally announced a July 8 release date late last year. It will face Warner Bros.’ “King Arthur” and Fox’s animated “Ice Age: Collision Course” on July 22.

See Also: Star Trek - The Trouble With Tribbles - Retro Style Lobby Card Print

The film will mark the 50-year anniversary of the television launch of the landmark science-fiction series. The TV series debuted on Sept. 8, 1966, on NBC and aired for three seasons.

Justin Lin is directing the third installment in Paramount’s rebooted “Star Trek” franchise with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in the lead roles. J.J. Abrams directed the first two “Star Trek” reboots in 2009 and 2013.

David Ellison’s Skydance Prods. and Abrams’ Bad Robot are producing. Orci and Abrams are the producers.

Lin directed the third, fourth, fifth and sixth installments of the “Fast and Furious” franchise.

2013’s “Star Trek Into Darkness” grossed $467 million worldwide, including $229 million domestically.

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Star Wars 7 Character Details Revealed In Trading Cards

From Screen Rant

Lucasfilm is trying its hardest to make sure that no major spoilers about Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens leak, but with all the new tie-in merchandise that’s been hitting shelves, that task is easier said than done. Everything from the new toys to Halloween costume descriptions have given fans new tidbits to chew over while they await the film’s December 2015 release date.

See Also: Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Retro Style Lobby Card Print - Version 5

That trend continues with the (unofficial) release of some apparent new Star Wars trading cards that seem to be part of some kind of game. It’s not entirely clear what collection these cards are from, but the symbols on them are extremely to similar to previous official Star Wars card games. And if these are legitimate, they include some very interesting character details for the new Force Awakens heroes.

Making Star Wars (which has been a go-to source for Episode VII information thus far), has images of the cards, which feature Finn, Rey, and Kylo Ren. Each card has so-called “Power-Up Link Symbols” that showcase a character’s affiliations and abilities. The Kylo Ren card doesn’t have anything juicy (outside of the Sith symbol), but some eyebrows are sure to be raised when we get to our protagonists.

Both Finn and Rey are listed as members of the Rebels (these cards seem to be using old school Star Wars terminology), but Rey also has the “Jedi” symbol on her card, while Finn does not. Given that the latest wave of marketing materials (such as the D23 poster and the 15-second Instagram teaser) have featured Finn (and not Rey) wielding a lightsaber, it’ll be surprising to many that he is not considered a Jedi according to the cards.

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Even Anthony Daniels Thought the 'Star Wars' Prequels Were Kind of Lame

From Yahoo! Movies

As C-3PO, Anthony Daniels is the rare Star Wars actor to have appeared in all of the movies — including the prequel trilogy and the upcoming The Force Awakens. And while other carriers of the Star Wars legacy (including Mark Hamill) have defended George Lucas’ prequels, Daniels now admits he’s not a big fan. In an interview with The Guardian, the 69-year-old actor shared his feelings about The Phantom Menace and its ilk, as well as bemoaning the extreme secrecy surrounding The Force Awakens.

When asked by The Guardian about the prequels, Daniels noted “ruefully” that they still aired frequently on the British Sky network, and complained about the films’ excessive use of CGI. “The effects are clever but pointless. The skill is there, but so what? Coldness, that’s the word. Bleakness, even,” said the actor.

He also hinted that Star Wars creator George Lucas turned a blind eye to his collaborators’ prequel concerns. “George has changed a lot over the years, but I think he finds it slightly hard to collaborate,” Daniels told The Guardian. “He made decisions that I believe might have been better discussed with other people.”

Daniels added that The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams is “more collaborative. He likes to listen.” (Although, he said, he and the director debated about “a certain issue” regarding C-3PO that he couldn’t yet reveal.) Like many fans, Daniels is also appreciative that Abrams insisted on practical effects. “It became clear early on that with J.J. we were getting back to the old-fashioned kind of filmmaking. We have walls. Actual sets!” he said.

While he was pleased to be back in his C-3PO costume (now modified so that the headpiece can be removed in 8 seconds, rather than the original 30), Daniels was blindsided by Disney’s total lockdown on potential Force Awakens spoilers. “The secrecy has been beyond ludicrous,” he told The Guardian. “For heaven’s sake, it’s a movie. When I got the script, it was typed in black on paper of the deepest red so you couldn’t photocopy it. I got a hangover just reading it.”

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Star Wars (1977 Marvel) #81, March 1984 Issue - Marvel Comics

Star Wars Episode 7: Who is the Jedi Luke Skywalker is Training?

As always, there could be possible Star Wars Episode 7 SPOILERS below, enter at your own risk.

From Movie Pilot

Luke Skywalker has been at the center of many of the recent Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens rumors including a recent one that we might see the actor Robert Boulter play a young Luke Skywalker in one of the rumored flashback sequences in the movie. While the idea of a flashback in a Star Wars movie still strikes many as somewhat blasphemous for one reason or another, it's looking pretty likely that we'll get at least one.

There's no conformation that Robert Boulter is in Star Wars Episode 7 in any kind of role but if you squint just right he does resemble a young Mark Hamill. We do however have confirmation that Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher's 21 year old daughter, is in the movie and playing a young Princess Leia, complete with those hair buns and everything if the Daily Mail is to be believed. And who would ever doubt the Daily Mail?

The two actors could probably pass for being relatively the same age if the flashback for both of these characters is taking place at the same time, which would make some sense. One flashback to cover all the necessary information we need would seem more prudent than multiple flashbacks throughout the movie.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Spoiler Update!

From The Daily Beast

Last week, Making Star Wars ran a report from an extra describing a scene in the film he appeared in with original cast members Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, as well as newcomer Daisy Ridley, who is heavily rumored to be playing Han Solo’s daughter. The alleged scene took place in “a hideout for pirates, criminals, and empire hunters,” and featured “pilots, some human, some alien.” The extra made it sound a lot like Mos Eisley Cantina.

Now, a more explosive report comes from Making Star Wars. The blog is claiming that a “most trusted source and friend” with “documents proving” it said that, in a sequence in the film shot at famed Pinewood Studios, Han Solo (Ford) is hiding in the ramparts of The Evil Castle when he confronts Kylo Ren, rumored to be the main villain in The Force Awakens played by Girls star Adam Driver. There, Kylo Ren kills Han Solo before fleeing the scene, while the rest of Han Solo’s crew—Chewbacca, BB-8, and the rest—retreat to the Millennium Falcon. “Han Solo is never in a scene after this. Those are the facts,” according to the source.

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From The International Business Times

MakingStarWars.net, a fan-made site dedicated to all things “Star Wars,” has posted a series of e-mails from a source claiming to have inside information on the plot of the movie. It’s worth mentioning that even the person running the site has his doubts about the legitimacy of the information, but he decided to post it on sheer interest alone.

The source claims to reveal the roles of Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher’s characters, as well as who the new players that will set the stage for “Episode VII” will be. Most noteworthy is the source's vivid description of how the audience will be reintroduced to the film’s biggest character, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).

The now old Jedi Master has put himself in exile after his powers grew beyond the Force. Fearing he would be a danger to himself and those he loves, Skywalker dedicates his life to guarding the tomb of an Ancient Sith Lord. Unfortunately, exile seems to take a toll on our beloved hero.

“Luke, it is revealed, has been experiencing severe mental torture whilst protecting this tomb by ghosts of the past, present and future and he is very unstable as we meet him,” the source says before describing the moment we first see Skywalker. “This Luke is wizened but crazed, his eyes twitch and are bloodshot, his robe is tattered, ripped and his beard is scraggy and his hair grey and long.

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New ‘Force Awakens’ Concept Art Really Makes It Look Like One ‘Star Wars’ Character Will Make A Comback

From The Inquisitr

Outside of the Episode VII cast and crew, nobody’s quite certain who or what is going to show up in the next Star Wars movie. New concept art that’s supposedly leaked from the film, though, points to the return of one major character in The Force Awakens, and it’s the sort of resurrection that could turn fans’ expectations for the next trilogy upside down.

By now, two things should go without saying for this kind of post. First, of course, is that this is all conjecture, with occasionally unreliable outlets posting supposed leaks from even more unreliable sources. Second, which should be even more obvious, is that you should stop reading right about now if you want to roll into The Force Awakens spoiler-free.

Those things said, the last few days have seen an uptick in reports that a major Star Wars character was going to make a surprise return in Episode VII. Namely, one Darth Vader. Last week, a selfie from Warwick Davis showed the diminutive actor in front of what appeared to be a Darth Vader costume on set, kicking off yet another round of speculation that Vader would be appearing in some form or another in The Force Awakens.

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Chewbacca Makes His First Appearance in New 'Star Wars' Charity Video

From Yahoo Movies

Thirty years after his last big-screen adventure, Chewbacca looks surprisingly spry and youthful — he even looks a bit like his son, Lumpy.

Chewbacca Makes His First Appearance in New 'Star Wars' Charity Video

We’re not going to speculate just how everyone’s favorite Wookiee gained that sudden tightness around his eyes, but we do suspect that his contributions to the rebellion earned him more than a few galactic credits.

Speaking of big money, the first look at the new Chewie comes courtesy of a video for Omaze, which teamed up with J.J. Abrams and the Star Wars: The Force Awakens crew to raise more than $4.62 million for UNICEF over the last year, most of which came as entry fees for set-visit contests.

Watch The Video:



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The Epic Anti-Spoiler Poster on the 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Set

From Yahoo Movies

Is J.J. Abrams’ anti-spoiler poster actually a hint that Darth Vader is coming back for Episode VII to choke young Imperial officers?

No, probably not, but it’s fun to speculate!

Frank Marshall, the husband of Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, tweeted the photo above when he visited Pinewood Studios in London on Monday where the Star Wars sequel is being filmed. Director J.J. Abrams’s hatred of leaks is legendary, and now he’s got a rabid Internet of Star Wars fans to contend with. And because they read into every little sliver of information and amplify rumors and hearsay across the geek-o-sphere, no matter what he says or does — including putting up this fun poster — will become fodder for the daily grist mill.

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See How Much Different Star Wars 7's Stormtroopers Will Look Here

From Cinema Blend

The design of the Stormtrooper has enjoyed several tweaks through the first six Star Wars movies, from the clean-cut white-and-black appearance in A New Hope to the color enhancements brought in for the digital prequels and the new Clone Wars TV shows. And if the following images are accurate, the Stormtroopers will look quite different for J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII, as well.

Maybe we’ll have to start calling them "Chrome Troopers," based on the images shared on Indie Revolver, a site that has brought interesting visual scoops over the course of Episode VII’s production schedule. These reportedly are concept images of the design of the new Stormtroopers. They look metallic, with a reflective surface that could look amazing if, say, a lightsaber glow is reflected back in the Trooper’s face. The hood is a new addition for any sort of Stormtrooper that we have seen to date, though the site claims, "The chrome troopers do not actually wear a hood or covering in the film. The metal collar stands up from the torso armor and curves up on the sides before dipping down again at the back."

Truthfully, this looks more like Doctor Doom than a character in a Star Wars movie!

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Bad Robot gives the finger to aerial "leaks" with "Episode VII" Millennium Falcon video

From Yahoo!

If you were online last week, you probably saw photos of the Millennium Falcon floating around. Taken "accidentally" during a fly-over — and then later less "accidentally" with a drone — blurry shots of the iconic ship spread faster through the galaxy than a Killik hive.

JJ Abrams wasn't about to stand for that. If anyone was going to leak footage of the Millennium Falcon, it was going to be him, dammit! So that's what he did. He even upped the ante with an impressive Easter egg clinging to the underside of the hull. That's no moon…




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‘Star Wars’ Provides Disney with a ‘Huge Opportunity’

From Variety

Walt Disney Studios is quick to admit it doesn’t have an awareness problem with “Star Wars” when it starts releasing new movies, beginning with next year’s “Episode VII.” But it also knows the future of the franchise at the Mouse House, however, relies on getting the film right for fans and newcomers.

“This title is very well known out there,” and “the single most important thing is to make sure that this movie is great,” said Walt Disney Studios president Alan Bergman, on Wednesday, at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2014 Media, Communications &; Entertainment conference.

Disney hasn’t been shy in discussing the impact “Star Wars” will have on the company’s bottom line since buying George Lucas’ Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012.

But with a new animated series, “Star Wars Rebels” debuting on Disney XD, an expanded merchandise program, and the first live action film to debut in theaters in 10 years next year, the franchise’s presence at Disney is starting to be felt.

Yet a lot is riding on the success of “Episode VII,” out in theaters Dec. 18, 2015, since the J.J. Abrams-directed film will drive much of the interest in “Star Wars” across the rest of Disney’s divisions. In addition for new films, there are plans for more TV shows, licensing deals and theme park attractions.

“If we can get this right, it’s a huge opportunity for the entire company,” said Bergman, who wore Stormtrooper tennis shoes while discussing the studio’s upcoming film slate — a standalone film, to be directed by “Godzilla’s” Gareth Edwards, is already scheduled for Dec. 16, 2016.

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'Star Wars: Episode VII' leaked photos show real sets and a huge creature

From The Verge / TMZ

Here's some good news out of the Star Wars sets in Abu Dhabi: director J.J. Abrams and crew have made a lot of actual, real, physical buildings and creatures, meaning the new film could end up looking a lot more like the Star Wars you know and love and not the CGI-heavy prequels that you may still be trying to forget about. A huge series of photos from the set leaked to TMZ this morning, and they show off a giant creature — which is supposedly controlled by five people inside of it — as well plenty of Tatooine costumes and a ramshackle marketplace. It's the biggest leak yet from the extremely secretive set, and even though there are no big details, the fact that there's a lot to see out there is a very good sign. Head over to TMZ to see the full gallery of 45 photos.

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New Star Wars films won’t draw on expanded universe

From TotalFilm

Simon Kinberg is currently working on a script for one of the forthcoming Star Wars spin-offs, but according to the screenwriter, the main series of films will not draw upon the expanded universe.

“You know, it’s not off-limits, and it’s certainly inspiring,” says Kinberg of the expanded universe material. “I’m working on an animated show for [Lucasfilm] as well, Star Wars: Rebels, that will take inspiration from everywhere.”

“But…” he continues, “I know for the movies, the canon is the canon, and the canon is the six films that exist.”

Which isn’t to say that Lucasfilm isn’t keen to develop the expanded universe further, and indeed, Kinberg’s spin-off will do just that… it just won’t feed directly into the main series.

Directed by J.J. Abrams and starring Adam Driver, Star Wars: Episode VIIwill open in the UK on 18 December 2015.

Source: IGN

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J.J. Abrams Wants To Cast Relative Unknowns In Star Wars: Episode VII

From Cinemablend

Before A New Hope, Harrison Ford was best known as a carpenter, Carrie Fisher was Debbie Reynolds’ daughter, and Mark Hamill was an aspiring actor and the son of a Naval captain. Star Wars put these three relative unknowns on the map, and it sounds like J.J. Abrams wants to do something very similar with Star Wars: Episode VII.

Lost and The Lord of the Rings co-star Dominic Monaghan appeared on the video podcast Dweebcast, and opened up about his relationship with Abrams and the director’s approach to this material. He said that, in conversations with Abrams, it’s always been clear that he wants to make stars out of newcomers, not look for massive celebrities (like Zac Efron) who will distract from the story with their presence. Monaghan says:

"We’ve talked a few times about it and he said, ‘We’re putting together a cast of unknowns – we want to follow the ’77 New Hope cast because obviously Harrison Ford wasn’t well known at that point, Mark Hamill wasn’t and Carrie Fisher wasn’t either. What he said was, we don’t want to fall into that mistake of people going, ‘Oh it’s that guy from that thing!’ and then you’re completely out of the Star Wars universe."

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Star Wars VII 'will return to ice planet Hoth'

From The Week (UK)

THE next film in the Star Wars series could include scenes on the ice planet of Hoth, last seen in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, according to reports.

Filming is not officially set to begin until May but Icelandic news site Visir reports that the Star Wars crew may begin work on scenes in Iceland as early as next month.

Hoth was the setting for an epic clash between the rebel alliance and the evil Galactic Empire, led by Darth Vader. The battle between rebels and the imperial forces on the snowy planet is one of the best loved sequences in the sci-fi series.

Director JJ Abrams has filmed in Iceland once before, recording "plate shots" for the 2013 picture Star Trek Into Darkness, Visir says.

Plate shots are background images, often used alongside green screen recordings or computer animation to create composite sequences that superimpose actors or props over a particular setting. If it does go ahead, filming in Iceland is expected to capture background imagery of this kind for Star Wars VII.

Icelandic film production company True North has been linked to the project. Members of the Star Wars crew were reported to be scouting for locations in Iceland alongside True North in October last year, although True North declined to comment on any involvement with the picture.

Disney and Lucasfilm have also released no new information about the upcoming film since the revelation last week that Star Wars VII would be set 30 years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Many believe that the new films will see the return of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill in their roles as Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker.

Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o and Girls star Adam Driver have also been tipped for roles in the new film.

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Star Wars: Episode VII Looking At 12 Years A Slave Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong'o

From Cinema Blend

Thanks to yesterday's shortlist we know that Jesse Plemons, Attack The Block's John Boyega, Downton Abbey's Ed Speleers, and stage actors Matthew James Thomas, and Ray Fisher are the actors who are being heavily considered to play the young male hero in Star Wars: Episode VII, but now a new story from The Hollywood Reporter has given us some insight as to what the production is looking for in its female roles. According to the trade's sources, actress Lupita Nyong'o - who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress just a few weeks ago for her turn in Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave - has taken at least one meeting with director/co-writer J.J. Abrams about potentially playing a key part in the next chapter of George Lucas' sci-fi epic.

Insanely heavy security surrounding the project prevents us from knowing anything concrete about both the story and the characters in Star Wars: Episode VII, though THR may have some insight as to who the Oscar winning actress may play. Apparently there is a possibility that the film will feature a descendent of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the trade says that the part is for a "non-Caucasian role." Fans will probably notice that Nyong'o doesn't look a whole lot like either Sir Alec Guinness or Ewan McGregor, but it's possible she's just a very, very distant descendant - if that is indeed her part.

As things stand, the only actor who we're 99% sure is going to be in Star Wars: Episode VII is Girls' star Adam Driver, who will reportedly be playing a villain with a role similar to the one played by Darth Vader in the original trilogy. We haven't even heard anything about Mark Hammill, Carrie Fisher or Harrison Ford. Presumably we will be hearing a lot of official announcements in the next few weeks, as production on the new Star Wars movie is scheduled to start up this spring in London.

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Benedict Cumberbatch hints at Star Trek 3 return

From Digital Spy

Benedict Cumberbatch has hinted that he will return for Star Trek 3.

The actor revived iconic villain Khan in Jj Abrams's Star Trek Into Darkness last year, and the film ended with the character being placed in cryogenic sleep along with his crew, leaving the door open for a return.

"That was a stupid thing to do," Cumberbatch joked during an interview with The New York Times. "They should have just blown me up."

Abrams will not return to direct the third instalment in his rebooted Trek series, owing to his commitment to Disney's upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII, but will stay on as producer.

Attack the Block director Joe Cornish was in line to replace Abrams last year, but has now reportedly departed the project. Roberto Orci will return to pen the script alongside new writers Jd Payne and Patrick McKay.

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Jack Reynor Rumored For 'Star Wars 7,' Matthias Schoenaerts Goes To 'Belgica' And More

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From The Playlist

We hope you enjoyed you President's Day holiday, and we welcome you back into the world of film new with a "Star Wars: Episode 7" rumor. Joining the ever growing list of actors who have met/been considered/thought about starring in the sequel — which has included Gary Oldman, Zac Efron, Michael Fassbesnder, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael B. Jordan, Jack O’Connell, Alex Pettyfer, Saoirse Ronan, Sullivan Stapleton and Jesse Plemons — rising actor Jack Reynor has been cast in the J.J. Abrams film. That's what AICN says anyway, though we'd wonder how much Paramount will want the anchor for "Transfomers: Age Of Extinction" to jump to another franchise....

If you've been doing your Oscar prep properly (and we'll know if you haven't), then you've recenty caught up with Belgian bluegrass flick “The Broken Circle Breakdown” which, yes, is a thing, and yes, is nominated for Best Foreign Film and yes, is really good. Well, surfing the wave of success is its director, Felix van Groeningen, the hottest thing to come out of Belgium since...well, since Matthias Scheonaerts, star of “Rust and Bone” and “Bullhead” (itself Oscar nominated a few years ago). Now Cineuropa reports they're teaming up, like Tintin and Captain Haddock, to make “Belgica,” about two brothers who own a bar in Ghent and various dramas that surround them "from racism and camaraderie to fraternity and rivalry." Apparently it's based on the life of van Groeningen's own father. Belgian beer and these two guys should be a good combination: in the meantime, try to catch “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” though we'll buy you all a beer if it pulls of the win.

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Star Wars Episode 7 Set To Film From May To September

From Metro

After months of speculation, reports suggest that Star Wars fans may not have to wait too much longer for Episode 7 to begin filming.

According to the website HitFix the JJ Abrams-directed space saga will go before the cameras in May, with shooting set to continue until September.

That means the film – which will primarily be shot in the UK – could potentially spend over a year in post-production ahead of its planned released on December 18 2015.

And the news expands upon Abrams’ previous confirmation that a May shoot was on the cards.

‘That’s the current plan,’ he said at the recent Television Critics Association winter press tour. ‘We have our script and we’re full steam ahead. Have script, will travel.’

Meanwhile further reports suggest that casting on the film is ‘almost complete’ even though no official announcements have been made.

A whole host of names have been linked with the project, with recent candidates including Zac Efron, Judi Dench and Gary Oldman – who confirmed that producers had ‘inquired’ about him starring.

Ken's Take: Hurray!

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