Production is underway for J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII – The Search for an Official Title, and the rumors are flying more frequently than ever. Disney is refusing to report on these reports yet (and you’re a fool if you think Abrams himself is going to suddenly break his lifelong vow of silence), but it may prove beneficial to future generations to catalogue these speculations, if only to prove just how much we once cared about what “might” happen in a sci-fi fantasy franchise, so let’s take a look at the latest, which suggests that Harrison Ford has a “gigantic role” in the the first film in the new trilogy.
The report comes courtesy of Deadline, and it should come as no surprise to anyone with a brain in their head. Han Solo was the breakout character of the original franchise, and although most of the main Star Wars cast went on to respectable careers, it was Harrison Ford who went on to become one of the world’s most reliable movie stars. It makes sense that Disney would want to place him front and center, although Star Wars fans who were hoping the new trilogy would push the franchise forward – instead of relying on the familiar in an attempt to appease die hard fans – will be more than entitled to scoff or at least worry a little about this so-called “news.”
The report from Deadline also claims that J.J. Abrams is still casting major roles in Star Wars: Episode VII, and may have parts ready for Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis), John Boyega (Attack the Block) and Adam Driver (Girls), the latter of whom has been rumored to be in the running before.
Final casting news should be on the way soon, since they’re bound to be seen on set anyway, but otherwise don’t expect much concrete news to arrive about Star Wars: Episode VII in the near future. For such is the way of J.J. Abrams.
William Bibbiani is the editor of CraveOnline’s Film Channel and the host of The B-Movies Podcast and The Blue Movies Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
