Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens *SPOILERS*

[Archon Revuge]

StarWars.com has posted a video announcing the new charitable initiative "Star Wars: Force for Change" - a collaboration between Disney, Lucasfilm, and Bad Robot. To kick off the project, Force for Change is looking to raise funds for the UNICEF Innovation Labs by offering fans the chance to be in Star Wars Episode VII. As if that wasn't exciting enough, the video also gives us our first official glimpse of one of the sets of the film.

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That sure does look a lot like Tatooine!

[MattG]

...the video also gives us our first official glimpse of one of the sets of the film.

Not to mention one of the (presumably) background creature/characters.

[Bazzack]

...the video also gives us our first official glimpse of one of the sets of the film.

Not to mention one of the (presumably) background creature/characters.

In all its NON CG glory! Love it.

[Buzz Bumble]

Wedge Antilles won't be appearing in Episode VII ...

Hollywood actor Denis Lawson has turned down the chance to appear in the new Star Wars films because they would have “bored him”.

The Crieff-born star said he had been approached by Disney, which bought Lucasfilm in 2012, but turned them down.

The 66-year-old played X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles in all three films of the original trilogy. In 2001, he provided the voiceover for the character’s appearance in a Nintendo computer game.

Lawson made the revelation at a screening of his most recent film, The Machine, at Strathearn Artspace in his home town.

When asked if the next new Denis Lawson film to be screened there would be Star Wars, he replied: “I’m not going to do that.”

Asked if it was because Disney had taken over the franchise, he replied: “They asked me but it just would have bored me.”

[Andiamo]

Nice PR for the fans there from Mr Lawson.

[Buzz Bumble]

When you add up all his lines and scenes from the three Original Trilogy movies, you'll be lucky if you run out of fingers ... so standing around for hours / days on end for that very likely is boring. Whereas in his New Tricks role he does have a lot more to do and less time to be bored.

[MattG]

You couldn't turn on the internet this morning without seeing it everywhere, but for completeness, here are links to the two main news items today: two women added to Ep7 cast, and 40+ photos from Abu Dhabi set.

[Buzz Bumble]

When I turned on the Internet this morning so far (just starting on Star Wars pages now), it was announcements from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference I was seeing everywhere ... so thanks for the links - bookmarked to look at later since I've run out of time right now.

[Reverend Strone]

Great to see more women in the growing cast. Will Gwendoline Christie end up playing a Wookiee perhaps? Tall roles for women are rare in movies unless there's a scripted reason for them, and she has those Mayhew-esque pale blue eyes. Of course, she's not Peter Mayhew tall, but she may not be a full grown Wookiee or perhaps the females are smaller?

Loving the Jabba's gate architectural element and buildings - very Warsy. But, the big piggy critter not so much. It feels too cartoony and out of scale to me. I shall wait to see it in proper context before making my mind up, but, whereas JJ's costar in the Unicef appeal video was a creature design win, this one I'm just not feeling.

[MattG]

More photos, this time from the UK: http://www.tmz.com/2014/06/03/star-wars ... et-photos/