‘Star Wars’ story resumes 30 years later

PORTLAND, Oregon - The highly anticipated next installment of the Star Wars franchise will be set 30 years after “Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi,” Walt Disney’s chief executive officer Bob Iger said on Tuesday at the company’s annual shareholders meeting.

Disney purchased Star Wars production company LucasFilm for $4.05 billion in 2012 and announced it would release three new films in the popular sci-fi series. Fans have been avidly awaiting details of the next film, “Star Wars: Episode VII.”

“Return of the Jedi” was the third film in the first trilogy of Star Wars released between 1977 and 1983.

Iger did not reveal any casting news, other than to confirm the return of the robot character R2D2. The official Star Wars website posted on Monday the new films would feature “a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces,” and that filming would begin in May at London’s famed Pinewood studios.

Episode VII will be released on Dec. 18, 2015, and will be directed by J.J. Abrams, who helmed the Star Trek franchise reboot.

Reuters