Daily Updates

IGN's Episode 7 Daily Updates site collects breaking Star Wars Episode VII news, leaked pictures, rumors, commentary, and previews. If something is happening today in Star Wars Episode 7, it belongs here.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

A lucky British pilot caught an interesting bit of Episode 7 trivia in a fly-by of a former RAF base. A flyer for Airbourne Aviation school in Winchester, England, spotted the Millennium Falcon and a tarp-covered X-Wing parked in Greenham Common.

• See the New Millennium Falcon and X-Wing From the Sky

According to Airbourne Aviation's Twitter account, the pilot spotted the spacecraft below from an altitude of 1,200 feet. He cruised over and snapped a shot.

Images from within the Millennium Falcon and of a new-model X-Wing fighter have previously appeared in both leaks and official promotional videos.

August 25, 2014

The stars of Star Wars Episode 7 are the latest celebrities to accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral campaign to raise awareness and funding for medical research.

Oscar Isaac started things off with a homemade video:

Co-star Daisy Ridley joined in...

...and then challenged Luke Skywalker himself.

Not to be outdone, Harrison Ford joined in with his own homemade video.

ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disease. You can learn more about it here.

August 18, 2014

Recent reports indicate that Star Wars Episodes 7-9 will rely heavily on practical effects (physical special effects) as opposed to computer generated effects. In an interview, Episode 8 director Rian Johnson stated that "people are coming back around to [practical effects]. It feels like there is sort of that gravity pulling us back toward it. I think that more and more people are hitting kind of a critical mass in terms of the CG-driven action scene lending itself to a very specific type of action scene, where physics go out the window and it becomes so big so quick."

This approach appears congruent with many on-set previews, which include examples of puppetry, physical modeling for the Millennium Falcon and X-Wing starfighter, and other examples of practical effects.

August 13, 2014

Mark Hamill is sporting the Jedi Master beard, and he's totally pulling off the Obi-Wan Kenobi look. The newly slim and trim actor showed off facial hair reminiscent of Alec Guinness' iconic whiskers in an on-set photo tweeted yesterday.

Luke Skywalker's mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, sported similar whiskers in all three Star Wars original trilogy films. The snapshot gives an early glimpse of what we can expect Skywalker to look like in Episode 7. 

August 11, 2014

This week's big news: a generous fan just won a part in Episode 7. 

The official Rad Robot Twitter feed announced that over five million dollars were raised for UNICEF Innovation Labs via the Force for Change initiative. Force For Change promotional spots were previously used by J.J. Abrams to tease on-set puppetry and the new-model X-Wing fighter.

The winner of the donor drawing is identified as D.C. Barns of Denver, Colorado, who will receive a visit to the set and an appearance in Episode 7. Barns was surprised by the news during an interview with contest organizer Omaze captured in the video above.

July 25, 2014

Filming for Star Wars Episode 7 is extending from London and Abu Dhabi to Skelling Michael, a small island off the Irish coast. Some fans speculate that the prominent ancient monastery on the island may serve as a Jedi Temple set.

July 22, 2014

J.J. Abrams officially revealed the Episode 7 version of the X-Wing Starfighter via a Force for Change charity promotional video on July 21, 2014. The fighter shown in the background of the video differs in some ways from the T-65B X-Wing depicted throughout the original trilogy, but the official StarWars.com Twitter account confirmed the craft shown is in fact the Episode 7 X-Wing.

The Incom T-65B X-Wing fighter is an iconic staple of the Star Wars galaxy. The preferred starfighter of Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles, the X-Wing is a space-superiority craft armed with four wingtip blaster cannons and two proton torpedo tubes. It utilizes a single pilot, includes a mounting dock for an R2 astromech droid, and is most distinguished by its convertible split-foil wing design.

The new X-Wing is distinguished from the Original Trilogy model in several ways. Its wing design in landing position is reminiscent of the Expanded Universe Incom Z-95 Headhunter, with the wing-mounted engines appearing at a glance to be two large engines instead of four small ones. A split seam, however, is clearly visible on close examination.

The four wingtip lasers also hint that the wings are in fact designed to be split.

The attack position of the new X-wing as illustrated by this official concept art from the StarWars.com Twitter account.

The X-Wing pictured alongside Abrams does not carry an R2 droid, though it is unclear whether a droid slot exists and is simply empty, or whether astromech droids are no longer incorporated into X-Wing design.

July 17, 2014

Actress Christina Chong (previously of 24 and Dr. Who) has been cast in Star Wars Episode 7.

Chong's role is small, and has reportedly already completed filming.

July 8, 2104

It has been a month of fascinating revelations, and today new details emerged on an exciting aspect of Episode 7 production. Thanks to a Tweet from the official Bad Robot Twitter Account, we now have confirmation that portions of Episode 7 are being captured in IMAX.

An image released on July 8 shows a section of desert being filmed with an IMAX camera, alongside the hashtag "#bestformatever."

July 6, 2014

Another two relative unknowns will join the cast of Star Wars: Episode 7. American actress Crystal Clarke and actor British Pip Andersen are the latest additions to the growing roster of Episode 7 headliners.

Neither of the new thespians' Character roles have been revealed, though Anderson is a practitioner of the acrobatic running discipline of parkour, which may suggest an action-oriented part.

When we know more, so will you! In the meantime, check out our Cast page for details on every actor appearing in Episode 7, and learn more about the Crew bringing the newest Episode of Star Wars to life!

June 30, 2014

Recent comments by Episode 7's Andy Serkis do little to clarify whether he will appear in Episode 7 via motion capture or live action. While Serkis is well-known for his acting through digital effects, his role in Episode 7 is unknown.

June 29, 2014

A recent reported rumor suggests that Carrie Fisher's real-life daughter, 22 year old Billie Lourd, will appear in Star Wars Episode 7, though whether this is conjecture, a cameo, or a substantial role is unclear.

June 27. 2014

With Harrison Ford's recovery schedule now extended to six months, Disney and Lucasfilm are reportedly questioning the viability of maintaining the scheduled December 2015 release date. While Disney has strong economic reasons for preferring a 2015 release, production delays may leave them little choice but to either alter the story (something considered by many to be out of the question) or delaying release. [1]

June 25, 2014

The official LEGO Twitter account released this nifty restaging of the original Episode 7 Cast announcement photo. 

Using LEGO Minifigures, the photographer recreated the now-iconic image of the script reading.

Also today, the future location of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art was announced. The museum will open in Chicago, Illinois in 2018.

June 24, 2014

New rumors on Episode 7 plot and characters continue to emerge, this time centered around Expanded Universe-inspired favorite the Mandalorians, as well as a sect of Sith Witches.

The rumors piggyback on other recent rumblings identifying Lupita Nyong'o, Adam Driver and David Oyelowo as potential villains, a trio of Jedi hunters harrying Luke Skywalker and company.

June 20, 2014

Looper Director Rian Johnson has been designated to helm and pen Star Wars Episode 8. Johnson, who is also known for his work on The Brothers Bloom and Breaking Bad's critically-acclaimed Ozymandias.

Johnson will also reportedly pen the story treatment for Episode 9.

June 19, 2014

Harrison Ford's on-set injury, previously reported as a broken ankle, is in fact confirmed to be a broken leg. [2]

The injury is not expected to affect the Release Date of Star Wars: Episode 7.  

June 16, 2014

Harrison Ford's ankle injury could inhibit him for up to two months. [3]. The injury is not expected to significantly delay the film's release schedule.

June 12, 2014

Actor Harrison Ford was injured today on the London set of Star Wars Episode 7. The injury reportedly took place when a hydraulic lift on the Millennium Falcon door crushed Ford's ankle. [4]

June 6, 2014

Mark Hamill admitted to some apprehension regarding the hype around Episode 7. “I have this feeling that no matter what we do there’s going to be a faction that really is disappointed. You just can’t live up to that.” said the star. [5]

Also today, the IGN Keepin' It Reel podcast explored more Episode 7 fun.

June 5, 2014

Mark Hamill is looking the role of a Jedi Master. A recently released Star Wars Weekends promotional pic reveals a beaded, slim Hamill alongside a lightsaber-wielding Mickey Mouse.

Hamill is a confirmed member of the Episode 7 Cast, alongside returning stars Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford.

Responding to a recent public outcry for more female representation in Star Wars casting, Disney announced on June 5, 2014 that Princess Leia toys will be added to upcoming Star Wars merchandise lineups.

June 4, 2014

J.J. Abrams offered up a hilarious and revealing response to yesterday's set leaks via the Bad Robot Twitter account.

The surface the note rests on is the iconic holochess table from the main deck of the Millennium Falcon.

June 3, 2014

A series of leaked images appearing online reveal multiple shots of The Millennium Falcon and an X-Wing fighter under construction in a studio area, as well as a detailed model of a large pig-like creature.

http://ll-media.tmz.com/2014/06/02/millennium-falcon-star-wars-spoiler-sneak-peek-behind-the-scenes-photos-014-480w.jpg

Credit TMZ

http://ll-media.tmz.com/2014/06/02/millennium-falcon-star-wars-spoiler-sneak-peek-behind-the-scenes-photos-016-480w.jpg

Credit TMZ

June 2, 2014

Two new actresses joined the Star Wars Episode 7 roster today. Lupita Nyong'o of Twelve Years a Slave and Gwendoline Christie of Game of Thrones were both revealed as cast, each playing undisclosed roles.

In addition to the casting news, a recent image leak obtained by TMZ revealed another practical-effects puppet, this one resembling a huge alien creature.

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