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It will be a day long remembered! On October 30, 2012 the world learned that “The Maker”, George Lucas, had sold his Star Wars franchise to the Walt Disney Company and the planned filming of the “Sequel Trilogy” comprised of Episodes VII, VIII and IX, as well as stand alone films based on some of the iconic characters from the GFFA. Since that day we have speculated as to who would star in the these new films. The speculating ended today, with the monumental casting announcement made by Lucasfilm on their official site.
Director J.J. Abrams says, “We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.”
It will take some time for Star Wars fans to fully digest today’s news. We have old friends coming home to the franchise that started their careers, veteran actors making their first visit to the GFFA, and fresh faces who will soon feel the impact of what it means to be part of one of the most beloved movies the world has ever known.
Fans have been waiting for this news for almost two years, and while we are all rejoicing, it has another significance for us. We have our first knowledge of the autographs we will be chasing for Episode VII. Here is the list of names given to us today by Lucasfilm, including some which were previously released.
RETURNING ACTORS
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One of the most popular and successful actors on the planet, Ford makes his return to where it all began. Having started his career portraying two of Lucasfilm’s most iconic characters; Han Solo and Indiana Jones, Ford went onto star in a string of highly successful fims, including Blade Runner, Patriot Games, Witness, Air Force One and The Fugitive. Ford is known to be a generous autograph signer when making public appearances and Official Pix has made his autograph available to fans several times over the last few years.
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Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill may have started his career on the hero’s journey but these days he is known as the voice of a villain. Following his portrayal of Luke Skywalker Hamill has gone on to compile an impressive (most impressive…) list of voice credits to his name. Hamill received much attention and acclaim for his interpretation of The Joker for various Batman TV shows and video games. Episode VII is not Hamill’s first return to the GFFA. He voiced the ancient Sith Lord Darth Bane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode Sacrifice (you can read more about that HERE.). Once known to sign TTM, fans now look forward to getting his autograph when he appears at Star Wars Celebrations.
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“Hello,what have we here?” Carrie Fisher may have been born into Hollywood royalty, but it was her portrayal of Princess Leia Organa that made her beloved by a galaxy. After returning to planet earth following her stay in the GFFA, Fisher went on to become a very successful author, most notably for her first book, Postcards from the Edge, which became a major motion picture starring Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Quaid, and Wishful Drinking, which she also performed as a one-woman live show. Fisher has been making several convention appearances each year at events such as New York Comic Con, FanExpo Toronto and Star Wars Celebration.
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To say Anthony Daniels is returning to Star Wars would be a fallacy. The veteran actor has indeed never left the franchise which made him famous for his portrayal of the protocol droid C-3PO. Daniels, an ambassador of sorts for the franchise, has portrayed 3PO in all seven theatrical releases of Star Wars to date (including Star Wars: The Clone Wars.) He’s brought the golden droid to life on the small screen as well, including both animated incarnations of The Clone Wars, various Lego features, Droids, Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and a little-known holiday special that aired on CBS in 1978. He’s the voice of Disney’s Star Tours and hosted the extremely popular world-wide tours of Star Wars In Concert. Daniels is a regular guest of Star Wars Celebration and has also recently appeared at New York Comic Con.
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Kenny Baker brought life and humanity to the bravest, most lovable, astromech droid the galaxy has ever know. A beloved member of the Star Wars fan family, Baker still makes many convention appearances in the UK each year and although health concerns limit his traveling, US fans were treated when he made the long trip from home to Orlando, Florida for Star Wars Celebration VI.
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They say you can’t keep a good man down, and that is certainly the case for Peter Mayhew. One of the hardest working Star Wars alumnus on the convention circuit, Mayhew barely missed a beat after recently having knee surgery. In fact not long before traveling to Pinewood Studios in England, Mayhew was signing for fans in Austrailia. In addition to his role as Chewbacca in four Star Wars films, the makers of Star Wars: The Clone Wars brought him in as a consultant to study his movement and mannerisms when they brought the mighty Wookiee to the series in the episode Wookiee Hunt.
NEW ACTORS
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George Lucas knew the importance of bringing well-respected talent into his franchise very early on. Although led by newcomers Ford, Hamill and Fisher, it was veteran actors Sir Alec Guninness and Peter Cushing’s involvment in the space opera that initially gave it credibility. That concept continued in the Prequel Trilogy with the casting of Christopher Lee as Count Dooku. Episode VII looks to continue that formula with the addition of the highly respected Max von Sydow. One of the biggest stars Sweden has lent to the world, he starred in such classic Ingmar Bergman films as The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries before coming to Hollywood. His most iconic role is that of the interepid Father Merrin in The Exorcist films. No stranger to classic sci-fi franchises, the 85-year old Swedish actor portrayed Emperor Ming in Flash Gordon, and was also been in Conan the Barbarian, Never Say Never Again and Dune. Other notable films include Hannah and Her Sisters, Awakenings, Needful Things, What Dreams May Come, Minority Report and Robin Hood.
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From Middle Earth to the GFFA! Known for bringing Gollum to life in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, Andy Serkis now joins the Star Wars family. In addition to being the actor behind the tragic former owner of the “One Ring” obsessed with finding his lost “Precious”, Serkis was also the man behind the title character in the 2005 remake of King Kong. He has made several convention appearances in the UK over the last few years.
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John Boyega
The future is as bright as the twin suns of Tatoonine for this young actor. In addition to joining the cast of Episode VII, Boyega will be in the TV series 24: Live Another Day, play Jesse Owens in the upcoming film Race and has a role in the latest adaptation of Shakespeare’s Caesar.
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A rising star, Episode VII marks Daisy Ridley’s first major role in a feature film. Many suspect her character will be the offspring of Han and Leia. What say you?
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Adam Driver has appeared in the television shows Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Girls. On the big screen he’s been in Lincoln, Inside Llewyn Davis and has a role in the upcoming film This Is Where I Leave You starring Jason Bateman and Tina Fey.
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Oscar Isaac has been in Law & Order: Criminal Intent on the small screen and had roles in the feature films Robin Hood (2010), Bourne Legacy and Inside Llewyn Davis.
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Domhnall Gleeson comes to Star Wars with the experience of having worked within another major film franchise with his portrayal of Bill Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 &2. He was also in True Grit (2010) starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin and Dredd (2012) which starred Karl Urban.
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Lupita Nyong’o
From Starwars.com: Lupita Nyong’o joins the recently announced cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. This year, her breakthrough performance in 12 Years a Slave earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
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Gwendoline Christie
From Starwars.com: Gwendoline Christie, currently starring in the hit television series Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth, has also been cast in the production. She can next be seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
BEHIND THE SCENES
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If there’s a score you love from a movie, it was probably composed by this man. In addition to Star Wars, he composed the music for Jaws, Superman, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Schindler’s List, E.T. and Saving Private Ryan. That is just a small sampling of the legendary work accredited to Mr. Williams.
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Kathleen Kennedy servded as the Co-Chair of Lucasfilm with George Lucas before being named President in 2010 with the announcement of the sale of Star Wars to Disney. She has produced some of the most memorable films every made, including E.T, Poltergeist, Twighlight Zone: The Movie, Gremlins, The Goonies, Back to the Future and The Color Purple, and those are just some of her films from 1882-1985! Her other notable films include Who Framed Roger Rabit, Cape Fear, Jurasic Park, Schindler’s List, The Sixth Sense and War Horse.
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Well known to be a fan of Star Wars, J.J. Abrams has been involved with several very popular TV shows including Lost, Alias, Felicity, Fringe, Almost Human and Person of Interest. On the big screen he’s directed Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol, Super 8 and considered largely responsible for the resurrgence of popularity of the Star Trek film series with 2009’s Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness in 2013. Will he bring balance to a post-Lucas Star Wars? If anyone can, it’s this man.
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The extremely well-respected writer The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lawrence Kasdan was also involved in The Big Chill, Silverado, Wyatt Earp, The Bodyguard and Body Heat. A collective sigh of relief was had by fans with his return to Star Wars for Episode VII.
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A frequent collabarator with J.J Abrams, Bryan Burk was a producer on Lost, Alias, Fringe, Almost Human, Person of Interest, Super 8, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness and Cloverfield.
