By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
December 18th is the day on the Calendar Year of 2015, Anno Domini for one of this galaxy’s greatest galactic battles to return. With the next chapter of Star Wars now set, the thrills are going to be great for some, but for others, its going to be a mad rush to get this done in time, and hopefully without some hiccups along the way. Budget movies can be done in under a year, but for Star Wars, is the three year development cycle going to be enough?
Filming is scheduled to begin Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios, and casting calls are already out looking for new hopefuls to fill in some really big shoes. At least the people involved — J.J. Abrams (Super 8, Lost, Star Trek), Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire Strikes Back) and John Williams (with a resume too huge to list) — should get it right. The world will be according to what J.J. Abrams and Kasdan are wanting, instead of what Michael Arndt is intending. In a report by Slashfilm, “The script Michael Arndt was writing (likely based on George Lucas‘ original outline) is no longer in play.”
Whatever the plot will be, fans will no doubt flock to whatever is presented up. At least this time, Star Wars will not look like a tribute to lens flare-ology — one of J.J. Abrams trademark styles, which is thankfully being retired. Mercifully, the galaxy is not looking too bright; just like the film, it should be tailored to look just right.