Star Wars VII lands at Pinewood

Industry sources have confirmed to Screen speculation that Disney and JJ Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII will shoot at Pinewood Studios.

Production is already moving in to Pinewood in preparation for the early 2014 shoot with crew also being assembled. As previously reported, casting is underway.

Lucasfilm announced last month that the anticipated first instalment in the franchise’s third trilogy will be filmed in the UK.

All six of the Star Wars franchise originals included UK production, including at Elstree, Shepperton, Leavesden, Ealing and Pinewood.

Chancellor George Osborne met executives from Disney-owned Lucasfilm in London earlier this year to discuss the plans.

In keeping with a long-held policy regarding major in-coming shoots, Pinewood declined to comment.

Star Wars: Episode VII, written by Toy Story 3’s Michael Arndt, is scheduled to hit cinemas in 2015, with two sequels following in 2017 and 2019.

Pinewood, which last month had its long-in-the-works planning application turned down by South Bucks District Council, faces a busy production slate before Star Wars gets underway in early 2014 with Cinderella, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers 2 among major titles due to get underway at the studios, in addition to smaller UK features.