‘Star Wars: Episode 7′

Thirty-six years have passed since filmmaker George Lucas released Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, which obliterated box office records and cemented that the dawn of summer blockbusters had begun (after Jaws ushered in the era two years earlier in 1975). Sci-fi/fantasy movie culture has since then evolved from niche entertainment – with the occasional breakout hit like Star Wars – to a mainstay of present-day cinema, thanks to franchises like Lucas’ and the birth of the modern comic book superhero film genre.
Star Wars: Episode VII is finally becoming a reality, as a project that features some of the biggest names in the tentpole entertainment industry (including, new Lucasfilm president and executive producer Kathleen Kennedy) working to make a Star Wars installment that can meet the expectations of modern audiences – yet, at the same time, recapture the infectious sense of wonder, optimistic worldview and authentic whiz-bang spirit that Episode IV possesses (i.e. the quality that’ve endeared so many people to the film over the past four decades).

Kennedy, in hopes of accomplishing that goal, spent a month tempting director J.J. Abrams, who’s been itching to make a Star Wars movie for some time (as anyone who’s seen his Star Trek films can attest). Together, the pair are collaborating with Oscar-winner Michael Arndt – a screenwriter/co-writer on Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, Oblivion and the upcoming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - on a story that will introduce new blood to the galaxy far, far away, but also bring back some old friends to help connect the Star Wars of the past with the future. However, a couple of your favorite (former) members of the Rebel Alliance and/or Galactic Empire may be brought to life by different people.



Peter Mayhew, who portrayed Han Solo’s Wookie companion Chewbacca in Star Wars: Episodes IV-VI (and cameoed in Episode III), recently had both of his knees surgically replaced, in the hope that it will allow the 69-year-old fan-favorite (who stands 7’3” tall) to walk again, after two years of being wheelchair-bound. Unfortunately, due to his physical condition, it would seem that Mayhew won’t be reprising as Chewie in the third Star Wars trilogy – even though a newly-released Episode VII casting call (via Den of Geek) suggests that the character will be returning (albeit, with a different actor wearing the costume):

“Male, 7 ft to 7.3 ft tall with a slim/thin build and upright posture. Not too worked out or too ‘thick set’ especially in the shoulders. Broad facial features would be a bonus.”

The casting description – released by Walt Disney Pictures/LucasFilm/Bad Robot for (officially) “Untitled Studio Feature” – could very well be for another Wookie altogether, maybe even an Episode VII character inspired by Lowbacca; who, in the Star Wars ”Expanded Universe,” is Chewie’s nephew, a Jedi Knight trained by Luke Skywalker and friend to Han and Leia’s adult children, Jacen and Jaina. However, given the rumors that a Han Solo origins movie is being developed (and the possibility that Chewie will make an appearance in Episode VII and beyond), the more logical assumption would be that the search is on for a younger actor to replace Mayhew and play Han’s ever-loyal “walking carpet” hereon out.

Ford, Fisher and Hamill are (unofficially) confirmed to return for Episode VII, while the latter two are reported to have started getting back into shape for the film around three months ago (Hamill’s friend/actor Robert Englund has since confirmed as much). Meanwhile, the wheels continue to spin on the casting rumor discussion, with regard to Benedict Cumberbatch as a potential candidate, in particular.