20 Mar – As the media and fans continue to speculate about the casting for "Star Wars: Episode VII", Disney CEO Bob Iger dropped a new bomb: the upcoming film will take place 30 years after the events of "Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi". According to Collider, aside from revealing the setting of "Star Wars: Episode VII" and that the film revolves around "a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces", Disney and Lucasfilm have also announced that principal photography on the J.J. Abrams' directed film will commence on May 2014, and will be based at London's historic Pinewood Studios. The announcement of the shooting date comes as a shock for many since not much else is known about the film. Known details are Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan will write the screenplay for the film, "Girls" star Adam Driver is in negotiations to play the villain, and recent Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o has been approached for a role in the film.
The upcoming film marks the first film in the space opera franchise to start shooting in the month of May. Principal photography for the other films in the franchise were recorded to have started in the months of March ("IV: A New Hope", "V: The Empire Strikes Back"), January ("VI: Return Of The Jedi", and June ("The Phantom Menace", "Attack Of The Clones", "Revenge Of The Sith"). "Star Wars: Episode VII" is set for release in cinemas on 18 December 2015.