‘Star Wars Episode VII’ 2015: Most Expensive Of Them All, Disney Says
The yet-to-be-named Star Wars Episode VII, expected to open in 2015, will be the most expensive of the franchise with a cost of up to $200 million, Disney Chairman, Alan Horn, says.
The continuation of the saga will be bigger and hopefully better than any of the other installments that came before and the hope is that audiences will flock to theaters in December of next year.
Star Wars needs no introduction. One of the most successful franchises in the history of movies, executives need not worry whether people will be interested in seeing the film, the concern is in moviegoers’ reaction to it, as well as what the critics have to say.
Second Unit Production has begun at Abu Dhabi, even though the cast is not all in place and there are still rumors floating around about the possible return of the original trio of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher, as Star Wars Episode VII is set about 30-years into the future from where Episode VI left off.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Horn said it’s all about giving the fans what they expect to see:
“We need to give the audience, essentially, a full meal in return for their affection and devotion and love for these properties.”
with one of the largest following and fan base, Star Wars Episode VII 2015 enters a new chapter in the space saga with a new director in the form of J.J. Abrams, who replaces George Lucas, and of course Disney Studios takes over for the first time, which has many loyal fans on edge.
There are many questions, that remain unanswered and those of us who have been fans (especially of the original trilogy) are beyond excited to see what Star Wars Episode VII will be all about in 2015.
What is certain, is that this production will cost many more millions than the most expensive in the saga, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) cost $115 million (similar in budget to The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones).
Nowadays, a blockbuster such as Star Wars Episode VII needs to go all out and spend the money to compete with other franchises, for instance the Star Trek movies.
In 2013, Star Trek Into Darkness grossed $228.8 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo and had a budget of $190 million.
“These large tentpole kinds of movies on the expensive side are in the neighborhood of $175 (million) to $200 (million),” Horn told Bloomberg TV.
It is almost laughable to look back an realize that the original 1977 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope only had a budget of $8.5 million, equivalent to $33 million today. Okay, it is laughable.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said last summer that they would be “using all of the tools in the toolbox” to make Star Wars Episode VII what fans want to see in 2015, keeping in mind that viewers are also interested in the story.
As to casting for the hugely anticipated Star Wars Episode VII, Horn says that Disney will be ready to make some announcements “very soon,” as things slowly, but surely, start taking shape for the December 18, 2015 release.
[Image via Hypersimo.com]
