Star Wars: Episode VII script complete; J.J. Abrams confirms meeting with Jesse Plemons

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

On Sunday J.J. Abrams spoke at the Television Critics Association summer press tour (he's out promoting his new show Believe), where the director revealed to The Wrap that the script for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII is done, and now he's doing prep work for the upcoming film.

“We’re working really hard and we’ve got our script and we’re in deep prep. Full steam ahead, y’know."

J.J. Abrams also confirmed he has talked to Breaking Bad's Jesse Plemons about a part in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, a rumor that first surfaced earlier this month.

“He is one of the actors that we’ve talked to, yeah. 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.”

There has been a ton of noise for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, and The Wrap asked J.J. Abrams about the craziest rumor he's heard about the new film.

“There’ve been so many of them. It’s amazing to see how many there are. … But it’s sweet because it shows that there’s an interest in this movie that we all obviously know is there. But it is an incredible thing to see how many crazy things get thrown out that people often then write commentaries about. How happy they are, how disappointed they are about something that is completely false. It’s a lot of noise, frankly.”

Part of the reason why there have been so many rumors might be the changes that were made to the script since Michael Arndt left the project in October. The rumor is several characters have been changed (or no longer appear in the film), which would obviously have an impact on casting. It could explain why it seems like every actor has had a meeting about a part in the film in the past ten months or so, but there hasn't been any official announcements.

J.J. Abrams is directing STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, but what about the next two films in the planned trilogy? Abrams says right now he's only thinking about EPISODE VII.

“I’m just focusing on ‘Episode VII’ right now,”

In September we learned part of the new movie might be filmed with IMAX cameras, but it looks like it'll be shot on film, according to J.J. Abrams' comments.

“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.”

It's too bad the new film won't be shot on IMAX, but maybe by the time filming starts for EPISODES VIII and IX, the cameras will be more suitable for Abrams. But obviously shooting it on film or with IMAX isn't going to make or break STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, and hopefully the new Star Wars adventures will be just as awesome as the original trilogy. Or at least better than the last one.

STAR WARS: EPISODE VII is scheduled to be released on December 18th, 2015.