Michael Fassbender, Hugo Weaving, and Adam Driver rumored for Star Wars: Episode VII

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

It seems like every big name actor and rising star has been rumored for a part in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII. We learned last week Breaking Bad's Jesse Plemons is being considered for the lead, and now three more names have surfaced for roles in J.J. Abrams' film. A source for THR has told the site that Michael Fassbender, Hugo Weaving, and Adam Driver are all up for parts in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII. No word on who Michael Fassbender and Adam Driver might be playing, but according to a couple of sources, Hugo Weaving had a meeting about playing an Imperial commander in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII. THR's source also confirms Jesse Plemons will meet with Abrams this week about the new film. However, the source says Plemons, Fassbender, Weaving, and Driver are only a few of the names on J.J. Abrams' list of potential actors for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII.

THR's source also revealed how the script may have changed for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII. Screenwriter Michael Arndt left the project back in October, and at the time many thought it was because of the time frame. But the site's source believes his exit is because Arndt wanted the film to focus on the offspring of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia (with supporting roles for the original trilogy characters), and J.J. Abrams wanted the focus to be on the three classic STAR WARS characters. The offspring will now be supporting characters in EPISODE VII, but will have a bigger role in EPISODE VIII and IX.

What sort of impact does this have on all of the previous casting rumors for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII? THR says some characters have been removed from Michael Arndt's script, and new ones have been added. One example they give is MUD star Tyr Sheridan. At one point he was rumored for a part, but the source claims that now there is no need for an actor that young, and won't be in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII. The source also says one part that would have been originally for a 20-year old actor has now been rewritten for a 40-year old.

I wouldn't have a problem with any of these three (four, counting Jesse Plemons) in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, and I hope having the focus be on the characters from the original trilogy before moving on to the new blood is a good idea. I'm not against it, or think it's a terrible idea, but I'm just a little worried about the next movie, and I really hope J.J. Abrams knows what he's doing with the franchise.

STAR WARS: EPISODE VII is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18th, 2015.