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Star Wars: Episode 7 production - All we know so far

Sequel is set to shoot at Pinewood in May.

The release date of 'Star Wars: Episode 7' is looming ever closer.

The seventh film in the hugely popular franchise is coming to cinemas on 18 December, 2015 , and we're still no closer to knowing much about the plot or the cast, but what we do know is when, where, and who will be shooting 'Star Wars 7'.

['Star Wars 7' release date and plot rumours]

Here's everything we know about the production of 'Star Wars: Episode 7' so far...


'Star Wars: Episode VII’ filming schedule
Principal photography on ‘Episode VII’ is slated to get underway in May 2014.
 
A deal was brokered between Lucasfilm and the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to shoot the film here in the UK at Pinewood studios, with no other locations revealed as yet.

An Icelandic website has suggested that a 'Star Wars 7' crew will be heading to the Scandanavian island to shoot landscape scenery "plates" for the film, which will act as backdrops for the actors within the studio.


Cinematographer Daniel Mindel has stated his intention to shoot the film on traditional 35mm film, rather than the now-standard digital format, in a bid to capture the aesthetic of the original trilogy, a claim backed up by the new head of Lucasfilm.
 
Kathleen Kennedy reassured fans at Star Wars convention last year, stating that they planned to employ as many real locations in 'Star Wars 7' as they could, rather than be a CGI-fest like the prequel trilogy.

['Star Wars 7' cast - Who will return?]
 
Rumours persist that a life-size Millennium Falcon is currently under construction at Pinewood, and a recent photo from behind the scenes at Lucasfilm revealed Han’s parsec-bothering space cruiser in concept art, so we can but hope.

Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), the visual effects division of Lucasfilm, has set up a London base to deal with the production of 'Episode 7' and 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'.

'Star Wars: Episode 7' crew
JJ Abrams is the man entrusted with helming the next installment of the 'Star Wars’ saga and he’s roped in some regular collaborators to help him bring his vision to life.
 
South African cinematographer Daniel Mindel will be Abrams’ director of photography. The pair worked together previously on ‘Mission: Impossible III’, ‘Star Trek’, and ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’, so you can expect to see Abrams’ trademark lens flare in ‘Episode VII’.
 
Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey, who acted as editors on both ‘Star Trek’ films, have also rallied to Abrams’ cause, as have other ’Trek’ alumni Michael Kaplan (costume designer) and Roger Guyett (visual effects supervisor).

[Abrams assembling a cast of unknowns for 'Star Wars: Episode 7'?]
 
Classic ‘Star Wars’ contributors are set to return too including John Williams who will be providing the score, and sound effects guru Ben Burtt who will be in charge of the film’s bleeps, whistles, laser blasts and light saber clashes.
 
George Lucas will also be on hand to act as a creative consultant as will Lawrence Kasdan who, encouragingly, wrote the screenplays for ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, and ‘Return of the Jedi’.
 
‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ is coming to cinemas 18 December, 2015.

Check out our gallery of fan-made 'Episode 7' posters below...