We have endured months of rumours, speculation and wild guesswork about the likely faces in our forthcoming return to a galaxy far, far away. Well, the official casting press release of **Star Wars: Episode VII **has arrived at last, and with it the names of the principal cast - albeit with no character details as yet. Here it is in full for you below.
"The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.
*"Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker in the new film.
"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.'*
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"Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015."
The return of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker will come as no surprise, of course, since the first three and Mayhew had already been widely rumoured to be aboard. And of course it's hard to imagine a Star Wars film without Daniels, Baker and their iconic characters. Likewise, Attack The Block's John Boyega and Girls' Adam Driver had both been strongly rumoured for some time.
**Inside Llewyn Davis **star Oscar Isaac only arrived on the rumour treadmill this morning (did that report prompt this announcement? Or was it long planned?), while Andy Serkis and Domhnall Gleeson are surprises, albeit two thoroughly welcome ones. Will Andy Serkis act in person or in a mo-cap suit? Start guessing in the comment box below...
Daisy Ridley’s is probably the least well-known name in the ensemble. According to her agency profile, no doubt glowing hot from tabloid types looking for a scoop, she’s 5’ 7”, has hazel eyes and plays between 16 and 20. She has TV work on her CV (Silent Witness, Mr. Selfridge, Casualty and Toast Of London) and also has the next **Inbetweeners **movie on her schedule. You can check out her showreel here And, as an update, The Hollywood Reporter has heard that there is at least one more female character still to be cast{
Star Wars: Episode VII hits screens on December 18, 2015, and we'll be following it every step of the way between now and then (if you're dying of anticipation, try guessing the film's subtitle here). Following the table read shown above, Abrams' film starts shooting any day now. We're as excited as a Wookiee on Life Day Eve.