The latest on STAR WARS: EPISODE VII (Due out 2015)

At last Disney has finally given us an official release date for Star Wars: Episode VII, ending heated speculation as to whether J.J. Abrams‘ movie will be done in time for a 2015 release.

Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated first installment in the upcoming third film trilogy will open on December 18th, 2015. Since 1977 it will be the first Star Wars movie to ever be released outside of May. The bigger disappointment is that the movie will be in 3D.

Discussing the recent shift in writing duties (Disney moved from Michael Arndt to Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan) co-writer/director Abrams said:

“It became clear that given the time frame and given the process and the way the thing was going that working with Larry in this way was going to get us where we need to be and when we needed to be.”

Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, Alan Horn, added:

“We’re very excited to share the official 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII, where it will not only anchor the popular holiday filmgoing season but also ensure our extraordinary filmmaking team has the time needed to deliver a sensational picture”.

Shooting is reportedly scheduled to begin spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios. No casting information just yet.

“With pre-production in full-swing, a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015, has been set for Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII”.

Star Wars: Episode VII will be directed by J. J. Abrams (Super 8, Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek)and is being scripted by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi). Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Jack Ryan, Star Trek Into Darkness) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds) serving as executive producers. John Williams is returning to score Star Wars: Episode VII.

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