As the beginning of production nears for Star Wars Episode 7 and director J.J. Abrams chooses the actors that will play the roles that will, perhaps, propel their career into the stratosphere, reports suggest that those being considered to play the lead hero are in a full out fight for the part.
Before going further into the hugely anticipated new installment in the space saga we must remind fans that when the original trilogy was cast, the actors George Lucas chose to play the three main roles — Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher — were relative unknowns save for small parts in previous films.
After the first film in the trilogy, Star Wars: A New Hope was released in 1978, everything changed for the trio and they became household names idolized by millions.
The same is expected to happen with whoever is cast in the lead roles for Star Wars Episode 7 (which at the moment doesn’t have an additional title).
Variety reports that, after looking at several young actors those in J.J. Abrams’ short list include Ed Speleers ( Downton Abbey ), John Boyega ( Attack The Block ), Jesse Plemons ( Breaking Bad ), British theater actor Matthew James Thomas, and American theater actor Ray Fisher.
Star Wars Episode 7 eyes Downton Abbey, Breaking Bad stars for Jedi role http://t.co/wGEkeaZXTD pic.twitter.com/1XsgPLiMne
— Digital Spy Movies (@dsatthemovies) March 13, 2014
Here Are The 5 Actors Up For The Lead In ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ http://t.co/CPsUdgKWKN #business pic.twitter.com/EnZbMfxLJz
— Nicola Mastrandrea (@nickinbusiness) March 13, 2014
According to Collider the shortlist for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII lead includes…. http://t.co/y51BSSDlko pic.twitter.com/EFQdXMmJS6
— The NYC Film Chick (@TheNYCFilmChick) March 12, 2014
#mcm Matthew James Thomas still can’t get over how good @PippinMusical was #broadway pic.twitter.com/0s64H3YnAh
— Alissa (@alissac55) March 10, 2014
The report indicates that the search is still going on, however, insiders list these men as the ones who have moved to the top of the list of those being considered for the Star Wars Episode 7 main role.
It is expected that Abrams — as Lucas did — will not cast main stream actors and surround them with better known stars including Ford, Hamill, and Fisher.
On February 7, The Inquisitr reported that a Darth Vader-like villain had been cast in the person of actor Adam Driver ( Inside Llewyn Davis ), who is currently in negotiations for the role.
Director J.J. Abrams has stated that he is open to casting actors from different ethnicities for the lead role, departing from the use of mostly Caucasian actors in the six previous installments.
The plot for Star Wars Episode 7 is still shrouded in secrecy to the public at large, however it has been confirmed that the script is completed and production is expected to start in early summer at London’s legendary Pinewood studios.
[Image via techfleece.com ]
