The script for Star Wars: Episode VII, co-written by director JJ Abrams and Empire Strikes Back writer Lawrence Kasdan, is finished, Abrams confirms to The Wrap. Edits and re-writes may well follow, but with Michael Arndt gone and the director sharing writing duties with Kasdan, word from Abrams that the script is done means that there’s an agreed-upon story in place for the next chapter in the Star Wars series.
Deep breaths, fanfolk.
Abrams also addressed a couple of other news items relating to Episode VII, including recent reports that he sat down to chat with Jesse Plemons, creepy Todd from the final season of Breaking Bad. “He is one of the actors that we’ve talked to, yeah,” Abrams said. “But, you know. It’s not often that I read about actors that I’m going to be meeting … that I get to read articles about actors who are going to come in. And so I get to see someone and say, ‘Oh, I read that I’m going to see you.’ … It’s usually agents talking to people about what’s happening. It’s a lot of noise.”
In other words: unconfirmed reports may have a basis in truth, but sitting down to meet with an actor does not mean that said actor is going to have a role in the movie. To date, there’s been no real confirmation from Lucasfilm or its new owner Disney of any casting for the upcoming Star Wars movie. Any news you might have read about one original character or another returning is based on news from unnamed sources.
Abrams also discussed the possibility of Star Wars: Episode VII getting the IMAX treatment. The director admitted that he’s open to it – “In the right situation, I would,” he said – and that he plans to shoot the movie on film (as opposed to digitally), but there are potential issues. “The problem with IMAX is it’s a very loud camera. It’s a very unreliable camera. Only so much film can be in the camera. You can’t really do intimate scenes with it. It’s slow. They break down often. Having said that, they’re working on digital versions of these and so there may be a version one day. But we’re going to be shooting this next movie on film.”
