May the 4th Be With You! Happy Star Wars Day!!

So Happy Star Wars Day to all! May the 4th be with you! I have plans for Star Wars Day myself but first of all I thought I would do a round up of the recent news from the week leading to Star Wars Day and the trailers for Star Wars: Rebels released today, which look incredible I really like the new animation style.

Well first and foremost the huge new to have been released this week obviously is the news of the cast for Episode VII, this sees the return of the originals, Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Kenny Baker (R2-D2) and Anthony Daniels (C3-PO) alongside the news comers some who have heavily been rumoured and associated in the press and many who are young British Actors. So joining the cast will be John Boyega (Of Attack the Block fame), Daisy Ridley (A relatively unknown British actress), Adam Driver (Heavily rumoured to be playing the villain), Oscar Isaac (Most recent role in Inside Llewllyn Davis by the Coen Brothers), Andy Serkis (Motion capture aficianado, just please don't be Jar Jar), Domhnall Gleeson (Who I know from About Time a brilliant rom com which I recommend) and Max von Sydhow (Personally not too familiar with). These are exciting castings and although the actors and actresses have not yet been linked to there specific characters they will be playing it is fantastic to know that castings are done, and I understand there is to be further news regarding another female character within the film. With San Diego Comic Con in July, where the first Star Wars film was originally announced, I am sure we will be hearing of more news and hopefully possibly get some character pictures soon. For the press release and image of the cast check this out below;

“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."

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.”

April 29th, Pinewood Studios, UK - Writer/Director/Producer J.J Abrams (top center right) at the cast read-through of Star Wars Episode VII at Pinewood Studios with (clockwise from right) Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Producer Bryan Burk, Lucasfilm President and Producer Kathleen Kennedy, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Andy Serkis, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver and Writer Lawrence Kasdan. Copyright and Photo Credit: David James.

So to more recent news released just today we have the first two trailers for Star Wars: Rebels, I for one was very sad when I heard that Clone Wars would be coming to an end but the final series released on Netflix did a good job of bringing the series to a conclusion and with the recent announcement of what is and is not canon in the new Star Wars universe, which is basically the Films from I-VI obviously VII-VIIII alongside the character focused films that have been rumoured and the up and coming Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Clone Wars is also counted in this which brings a rich and interesting meaning to the Clone Wars between and during Episode II and Episode III. I have gone a little off point, what I was suppose to be saying is with the disappointment of the news that Clone Wars coming to an end and then the announcement of Star Wars: Rebels I was a little apprehensive at first and wasn't sure on the new animation style but I was wrong to be apprehensive and now with the two trailers released and character focused videos previously I can not wait for this to debut this fall. Check out the trailers below;

Finally here is a "Selfie Video" from JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan wishing us all a Happy Star Wars Day! And moving forward with the soon to be filming I hope the Force will be with them.

Actually one last thing as mentioned before Disney finally made there statement regarding there stance on the Expanded Universe material and how this is no longer considered canon, and I will be writing a post on my thoughts on the matter, the Expanded Universe has a huge fan base, me included and there are several things which I am sad to see no longer have any real effect within the main Star Wars lore, but more on that from me at a later date.

May the 4th be with you all!