Surprising no one, Star Wars is returning to the United Kingdom, StarWars.com announces.
“We’ve devoted serious time and attention to revisiting the origins of Star Wars as inspiration for our process on the new movie, and I’m thrilled that returning to the UK for production and utilizing the incredible talent there can be a part of that,” said Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm. “Speaking from my own longstanding connection to the UK with films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun and recently War Horse, it’s very exciting to be heading back.”
They aren’t saying exactly where in the country the film will be shot, though Pinewood does seem likely due to their deal with Disney. (And it could also be good news for Scotland, though it’s probably too early for anyone to say.)
The original trilogy and The Phantom Menace were all primarily filmed in the U.K., while Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith did most of their shooting at 20th Century Fox’s studio in Australia, though they returned to the U.K. for pickup shots.
Confirmations make me spaz out. We obviously had this sense based on the bajillion reports that was happening. Generally where there’s smoke there’s fire. But when it comes to Star Wars, it is kind of more like “where there’s space there’s presumption.”
I figured it was going back to the UK but I couldn’t help but think The UK was a given for Episode II until it became Australia. The first round of news stories all said they were going back to Leavesden.
I’ll take any news confirmations over nothing at all, but I’m a Star Wars addict.
Star Wars is coming home. :-)
I hope this means lots of grim faced British dudes with a wide variety of funky haircuts, muttonchops and mustaches as background extras!
Doublesith, you can count on it, growing out the sideboards right now