UPDATE 8: New Footage With John Boyega and Extras from the Episode VII Set at Greenham Common. Harrison Ford Expected on Set on Monday.

Newbury Berkshire  England UK

A curious photo was posted on Twitter showing the Falcon and an X-Wing build on a new filming location. Oh, and it looks like that’s where all the turf I told you yesterday about went…

 

First here’s the tweet:

 

X-Wing & Falcon Greenham Common is a former Royal Air Force station in Berkshire, England. The airfield is located to the south-east of Newbury, Berkshire, about 50 miles (80 km) west of London. Ā  Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War and the United States Air Force during the Cold War. After the Cold War ended, it was closed in 1993. In 1997 Greenham Common was designated as public parkland. Ā  Comparing the 2 pictures above you can clearly see that the X-Wing is parked in front of one of the 6 ground shelters (visible in the first picture): Ā  Ā 

 

greenham
The GAMA Site

 

This is called the GAMA site (GLCM Alert and Maintenance Area) which was built in the southwest corner of the base. GAMA was a maximum security QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) area with 6 large above ground shelters in which fully operational cruise missiles were stored. These shelters were specially designed and constructed to protect the GLCMs and crews against nuclear and conventional strikes. They were about 10 m high, with a reinforced 2 m thick concrete ceiling. Below was a massive titanium plate, 3 m of sand and a reinforced concrete plate. The shelters were completely covered with tons of clay. Each shelter was equipped with three hydraulic nuclear blast proof doors at both ends to assure a quick entry or exit. (via Wiki) Ā  Ā 

 

greenham

This could definitely work as some kind of a hidden base on a grassy planet with the ground shelters serving as ship hangars. And you can definitely see in the second image that a lot of turf has been applied to the place. šŸ˜‰ Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

 

UPDATE! Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

An interesting fact – Greenham Common was home to the 501st Tactical Missile Wing!Ā šŸ™‚ (thanks to Desmond)

Ā  Ā 

501

Also as pointed out by JCF member vinsanity, this place highly resemble the Jedi Enclave inĀ Dantooine in KOTOR. If you’re not familiar with the planet here’s the Wookiepedia description:

Dantooine was a pleasant world of grasslands, rivers and lakes. It hosted a small population spread amongst single-family settlements and small communities with large land holdings. Its sentient population consisted primarily of simple Human farmers, though Dantooine was also home to the primitive Dantari race. Native wildlife included the kath hound, the iriaz, the kinrath, and the graul. Ā  Ā 

 

The planet had no industrial settlements or advanced technology by the time of the Galactic Civil War, save for a temporary Rebel base there.

 

Dantooine

Dantooine

Dantooine Ā 

Thanks to JCF member TK327 for spotting the tweet. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

 

UPDATE 2! Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

Another picture was posted on Twitter together with a video clip of the set: Ā 

Ā  Ā 


 

 

UPDATE 3!

 

New picture was posted on Twitter. It’s with a very low quality but you can definitely see a white cloaked figure running. Judging by the cloak it looks like a female character reminding me of Princess Leia’s costume from ANH. Or could this be a Stormtrooper? I’m not sure, looks more like a cloak and hood than uniform.

 

Ā 

No matter the quality, this actually is the first leaked picture of what looks like a more important character (not just extra) from the movie. Ā  Ā 

 


Source: MagnarTheGreat

 

 

UPDATE 4!

 

The guys from MakingStarWars found a new image showing a black X-Wing build on the Greenham Common set. Take a closer look at the top left. Also there’s a white X-Wing in the center.

Also the Millennium Falcon is still only half build which could only mean that the ship will be filmed only from one side.

 

X-Wing

 

And yet another interesting tweet:

 

 

As you might remember from my previous reports Kira is most likely Daisy Ridley’s character production name that won’t be used in the actual movie. So it’s another scene featuring the actress. Looks like she’s definitely the lead. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

 

UPDATE 5! Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

Latino Review shared some better quality pictures with the X-Wings: Ā 

Ā  All

black x-wing

white x-wing

Falcon Ā 

Also BadAssDigest shared some interesting bits on the topic:

I’ve been off the Star Wars beat for the last couple of weeks because I heard that some folks got themselves in deep, deep shit over the pictures that IndieRevolver leaked. Like, fired. Ā  New black X-Wing? And with those orange wings? Those are Sith colors to me. Ā  Ā 

 

I don’t know that this X-Wing is flown by a Sith. I honestly don’t know who the heck flies it, but it does seem to back up a lot of the stuff I’ve been hearing about the lines between the Empire and the Republic being very blurred. The chrome trim on it is interesting, as I have personally seen concept art of the new chrome Storm Troopers – could they be in the cockpit of this X-Wing?

Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

 

UPDATE 6! Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

Check out this video of an actual Episode VII scene being filmed at Greenham. As I said before the Falcon is only half build because he will be filmed only from one side. (via The Cantina)

 

Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

 

UPDATE 7! Ā  Ā  Ā 

 

Cool shots of extras and vehicles from the set. (via Eric Geller) Ā  Ā 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE 8!

 

First a few new pics and a video from Rick Lawrence of a scene being filmed at Greenham. You can clearly hear the name of John Boyega.

 

Greenham 02

Greenham 03

Greenham

 

 

 

 

Next MakingStarWars found an interesting post on Tumblr. According to the poster Harrison Ford will be on set on Monday. Well I guess this was kinda expected considering that the Falcon is on the set but still it’s cool if true. And this will put some heat to the rumors that Isaac is piloting the Falcon in the movie.

 

Rebel-Fighter

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

198 thoughts on “UPDATE 8: New Footage With John Boyega and Extras from the Episode VII Set at Greenham Common. Harrison Ford Expected on Set on Monday.

  • September 10, 2014 at 10:00 am
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    Looks a bit like the temple on Yavin iv. Or Star Wars Hobbiton.

    • September 10, 2014 at 4:56 pm
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      Not to worry. They’re still flying half a ship!

      • September 11, 2014 at 8:56 pm
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        Let us praise them for taking the trouble to build a physical set of the ship (obviously they only built the side we are going to see). They might have gone for the lazy solution of putting up a huge greenscreen and slipping in a digital Falcon in post-prodcution.

        “The quick and easy path,” as Yoda would say, but they went the extra mile instead. Kudos!

        • September 12, 2014 at 10:32 pm
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          Actually, by catering to you loud- mouthed fanboys, that is the quick and easy path. This looks just like Epidode 4… So much for creative designs.

        • September 12, 2014 at 10:39 pm
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          Or a matte Falcon, like in ROTJ.

    • September 14, 2014 at 7:03 am
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      Do we get a trailer this Christmas? Mabey the preview at the hobbit movie. Wouldnt that just rock?

  • September 10, 2014 at 10:12 am
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    You can imagine that a matted in base will be atop of the hanger doors, very interesting ands feels very episode 4.

    • September 10, 2014 at 5:28 pm
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      The original conception George had for Yavin was obviously far grander than they ended up doing because of budget cuts.

      The original plan was to have the hangar and the ships in the exteriors like WWII airstrips.

      • September 12, 2014 at 10:42 pm
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        The Special Edition at least added nice details like the Falcon shown landing near the temple and the temple hangar shown as a tiny slit underneath a huge stone structure rather than taking up half the scene and showing only a rectangular slab above.

  • September 10, 2014 at 10:18 am
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    Dantooine!

    • September 10, 2014 at 1:33 pm
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      Would love to see that one. It is entirely possible that the planet was reoccupied again by the Rebels after the Empire’s defeat at Endor.

      They spoke of an abandoned rebel base, after all.

      I hope it will come close to how it was shown in Kotor. Grass/wheatfields and small settlements.

  • September 10, 2014 at 10:24 am
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    It has a Dantooine wibe…

    • September 14, 2014 at 12:28 am
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      Needs more purple flora.

  • September 10, 2014 at 10:24 am
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    I hope it will be Dantooine!

  • September 10, 2014 at 10:59 am
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    Don’t you think this will be a scene involving Han and Luke, Lukes X-Wing parked next to the Falcon while they discuss strategys etc

    • September 10, 2014 at 11:29 pm
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      2 x-wings in the new pic

  • September 10, 2014 at 11:00 am
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    Dantooine! they’re on Dantooine”

  • September 10, 2014 at 11:01 am
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    The Falcon looks a bit battle damaged – half of it missing šŸ™‚

    • September 10, 2014 at 2:42 pm
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      budget cuts. hopefully nobody will notice

      • September 10, 2014 at 3:20 pm
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        In an effort to reach a compromise between fans of both Star Wars trilogies, JJ Abrams decided to have half of the Millennium Falcon appear in cartoon form.

      • September 10, 2014 at 6:24 pm
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        Gonna be quite draughty when they fly it!

        • September 12, 2014 at 12:32 am
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          So the rumor is true? I can’t wait to see the half practical costume/half cartoon Stormtroopers .

          • September 12, 2014 at 10:37 pm
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            All you guys who call CG “cartoon,” try animating something… There’s more talent and work that goes into it than you think.

          • September 14, 2014 at 3:34 am
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            I agree, but the clones in AotC looked like cartoons. And not using any practical clone costumes was just ridiculous.

  • September 10, 2014 at 11:05 am
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    Don’t you think this will be a scene involving Han and Luke, Lukes X-Wing parked next to the Falcon while they discuss strategys etc?

    • September 10, 2014 at 12:00 pm
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      Maybe there’re having a coffee or something.

      • September 10, 2014 at 2:44 pm
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        “Fancy a doughnut Chewie?”

        “Arrrggghghghhhggh.”

        “Good lad.”

    • September 10, 2014 at 3:45 pm
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      They’re gonna work out who-owes-who.

      In Empire, Han says to Luke, “…that’s two you owe me junior” but in Jedi, Han says, “thanks for coming after me, now I owe you one”

      Since Han saved Luke twice and Luke saved Han once, doesn’t Luke still “owe” Han one more?

      • September 10, 2014 at 7:35 pm
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        Star Wars is Math Fantasy, not Math Science.

  • September 10, 2014 at 11:24 am
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    …WOW! – the best news story for ages;amazing how no-one in the area hasn`t spotted this before,as it looks like they`ve been working on the Falcon for a while:}

  • September 10, 2014 at 12:05 pm
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    I live in Newbury and it was mentioned on a local Facebook group. For some reason Facebook are always removing the posts as requested!

  • September 10, 2014 at 1:01 pm
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    this film is under the same pressure as empire strikes back to be good.

  • September 10, 2014 at 1:03 pm
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    Dantooine was blown up in episode 4

    • September 10, 2014 at 1:31 pm
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      No it wasnt.. Alderaan was blown up, and shortly therafter the Death Star was blown up….

    • September 10, 2014 at 3:05 pm
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      Dantooine was “far too remote to make an effective demonstration” of the death star.

      • September 12, 2014 at 7:39 pm
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        I’m so pissed off that we never got to “Deal with her Rebel friends soon enough”

    • September 10, 2014 at 3:44 pm
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      Have you even watched STAR WARS?

      • September 13, 2014 at 11:08 am
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        He’s been watching Alderaan films

    • September 10, 2014 at 8:48 pm
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      One thing that could be a worry is that there is a pattern: Episode IV, two and a half planets. Episode I, 3 planets. Episode III, 7 or 8 planets. Episode VII, 4 or possibly 7 planets? Hope they got a good editor cause we might have a mess on our hands

  • September 10, 2014 at 1:09 pm
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    The responses here are funny but I’m trying to remember when Dantooine was blown up in Episode IV.

    Boggles the mind.

    Lol….and yeah we can totally tell that’s Luke’s X-Wing….blue tarps and all.

  • September 10, 2014 at 1:15 pm
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    Seriously though, even the description of Dantooine as a grassy planet with rivers and lakes….

    Do any planets in a GFFA have multiple climates? Canonically, zero as of now. I suppose that’s just part of “the universe.”

    • September 10, 2014 at 4:37 pm
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      Yes, it’s weird isn’t it. The whole star wars universe could pretty much be contained on one Earth-sized planet with different climatic zones.

      • September 12, 2014 at 11:30 pm
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        You mean, like “Earth”

  • September 10, 2014 at 2:32 pm
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    Well I loved hunting those Grauls there back in the SWG days. I love that they also use concepts from KOTOR/TOR as well as McQuarries for the ST. I think there was some art from Tython that looked a lot like the Skellig Michael landscape…

  • September 10, 2014 at 2:37 pm
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    You can just go up there and have a look around. I did it yesterday and walked in the Falcon, they were really nice. The shelters they said were to replicate the climax to Return of the Jedi in the forest.

    • September 11, 2014 at 1:41 pm
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      Carrie Fisher asked me to tell you to shut up.

  • September 10, 2014 at 2:53 pm
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    Is it just me or that x wing looks a lot more like lukes old x wing (longer and thinner nose)

    • September 10, 2014 at 5:21 pm
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      It does look much more like the classic X-Wing as opposed to the newer one we saw in the second Force for Change video. I think this report suggests Either/both Dantooine and Yavin IV could be included in the next film.

      • September 12, 2014 at 5:24 pm
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        So, an environment that looks like something else must be that thing. In which case, this scene will either be on Endor, Yavin IV, Naboo or Kashyyyk. Nothing new or anything… šŸ˜›

    • September 10, 2014 at 5:56 pm
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      Yeah, the fuselage looks much thinner.

    • September 12, 2014 at 3:39 pm
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      I heard that they where the new J.E.W x-wing class

  • September 10, 2014 at 4:35 pm
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    It will be Yavin IV, no doubt.

    • September 12, 2014 at 10:14 am
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      Yavin IV is full of trees, though.

  • September 10, 2014 at 6:01 pm
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    If yoda force ghost has finally taught Luke how to move the xwing using just the force of his mind, Luke could now fly it remotely, like a drone xwing, making trench runs a lot safer for himself.

    • September 11, 2014 at 9:03 pm
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      And you’d think Luke would be able to use the Force to free himself from bondage in morraband.

  • September 10, 2014 at 6:29 pm
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    the Falcon and X-Wing look great but those red ships look AWFUL, i hope they make them look better in post.

  • September 10, 2014 at 6:57 pm
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    You would think the Rebels would hook Luke up with a new ride after 30+ years.
    Guess he likes the classic X-wing. Either that or maybe the Rebels are struggling financially.

  • September 10, 2014 at 7:18 pm
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    Well, since the Falcon (and lots of X-Wings) were seen landed in the hangars of different rebel bases (or in a Rebel cruiser’s, in RotJ’s case) in all 3 OT films, it only made sense that the same would hold true for the ST.

    I couldn’t care less which planet they’re on (or what that planet’s environment will be like). I’m only glad that this seems to be the case.

    • September 11, 2014 at 1:57 am
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      Rush Clovis and the banking clan!!!!!!!!!!!

  • September 10, 2014 at 7:37 pm
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    Let me guess, they’re using those paintings for inspiration because they were done by Ralph McQuarrie?

    • September 10, 2014 at 9:51 pm
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      Totally. I mean why use designs from somebody that created iconic designs that have gone down in film history? They should get with the times. Innovation equals success. In fact they should hire pre-school kids with their crayon drawings. Using designs by a genius like Ralph McQuarrie is such a terrible idea.

      • September 10, 2014 at 11:21 pm
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        The films must look consistent with first one or it isn’t ‘Star Wars’, just another sci-fi series pretending to be, like the prequel trilogy!

        • September 11, 2014 at 11:17 am
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          That’s odd…isn’t that what Episode one did?
          Tatooine/Tatooine
          Naboo/Yavin
          Trade Federation ships/Death Star

          I guess that underwaterworld was just too much.

          • September 12, 2014 at 2:17 pm
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            No, Phantom Menace didn’t look like Star Wars at all!

          • September 12, 2014 at 6:00 pm
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            It had Tatooine, a nicer-looking Death Star cityscape and Endor with less trees.

        • September 12, 2014 at 5:49 pm
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          Ok, so by that token, ESB with a gas giant, an ice world, an asteroid and a swamp world, wasn’t consistent with the first one, so it isn’t SW. The film was shot on stages and using miniatures and matte paintings, like the Prequels. Also like the Prequels, very few in-location shots could be made, aside from Hoth’s landscape. They didn’t actually go to Jupiter to film a gas giant up close, or go into the Kuiper belt to get live asteroid collisions.

    • September 11, 2014 at 2:17 am
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      Anonymous 9/10/14 – 19:37.

      Do you know how to read, or?

  • September 10, 2014 at 10:41 pm
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    I thought Han was flying a star destroyer.

    • September 11, 2014 at 12:10 am
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      Wouldn’t a star destroyer be too fuckin big for a single person to pilot?

  • September 11, 2014 at 1:13 am
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    Do we even know what dantooine looks like now? Star wars canon has effectively been reset outside the movies.

  • September 11, 2014 at 2:59 am
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    These live sets are making me glow with anticipation. I can’t believe the trouble these humans are going through to make this feel so realistic! Honestly I don’t know what else could be hoped for. I will lower my expectations so as not to be disappointed, though I feel that everyone (including Marvel) is going to be blown away!!!!

    The force is truly in the most capable of hands.

  • September 11, 2014 at 2:59 am
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    Now, in the video, is that blue screen surrounding the perimeter or just a fence for privacy?

  • September 11, 2014 at 3:55 am
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    I wonder why JJ didn’t launch the X-wings to blast down Justin Reeve’s Drone, that was secretly filming.

  • September 11, 2014 at 4:08 am
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    Since JJ Abrams likes to use real locations and props, rather than CGI & blue screen. I wonder if there are any of the old “nuclear – cruise missiles” that the RAF were storing there for the yanks, lying around inside the bunkers? ultimate X-wing ammo’…..

    • September 12, 2014 at 3:05 pm
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      “JJ Abrams likes to use real locations and props, rather than CGI”
      Yes, that is why he had nearly as much cgi shots in star trek into darkness as lucas had on average in the episodes of the prequel triology.

      • September 12, 2014 at 7:36 pm
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        Nice documentation of all the things that were done practically. But itĀ“s still unheard of among star wars fans, because it doesnĀ“t fit the “to much cgi” dogma.

        • September 12, 2014 at 10:32 pm
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          And the only reason that dogma exists, is because the story and acting was poor. They latch onto other reasons when the films did poorly. The CGI would not be noticed this strong if the presentation was better. Even the acting could have been better if their imagination was better. I don’t buy the excuses that there was too little for actors to react to. Christopher Lee managed just fine and he even stated it was because he had a background in theatre and they were taught to work with very little input on a stage.

    • September 12, 2014 at 8:17 pm
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      Proton torpedos?

  • September 11, 2014 at 4:17 am
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    Newbury? Hmmn interesting location. I just don’t hope the locals dont start to protest and hold up the filming. Newbury “By-pass” protests & “Greenham common peace camps” protests. They’ll be out in their droves, protesting about the “Rebel alliance – Empire” conflict. šŸ˜‰

    • September 11, 2014 at 10:38 am
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      Allow them the opportunity to protest, provided they dress up as space pirates and drop dead when blasted upon.

  • September 11, 2014 at 4:25 am
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    My dad was stationed at RAF Greenham Common in the 1980s. I am so stoked that my old stomping grounds are in a flippin’ Star Wars Movie!

  • September 11, 2014 at 5:35 am
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    An episode VII theme will be transitioning from what we know of the old, to establishing the new mythology.

    Some new, unforeseen threat will force the hand of a select few to form a new rebel alliance.

    Much in the same way that the Enterprise team came together in the Star Trek reboot, or how the gang of friends came together in Super 8, or even the Mission Impossible team…JJ is all about the wily gang coming together and the chemistry that is produced through their shared battles.

    I think that a new, humble rebel base will have to be formed. Maybe this will be its location? Or maybe this is for a flashback scene?

    • September 12, 2014 at 6:40 pm
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      I don’t think it is a flashback, judging by the X-Wings those are the new ones like we saw in JA’s video.

  • September 11, 2014 at 10:43 am
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    That image looks more like a picture of the wind than a woman in white. Could someone please add another version of the pic or something so I can know what to focus on?

    Muchas gracias.

  • September 11, 2014 at 10:53 am
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    I love how everyone knows what world it will be. Yes it is fun to guess.
    Just because a world like Tanaab gets mentioned or even Ord Mantell, those worlds then get expanded into other Star Wars media. In this case most think it is Dantooine or Yavin.
    I very much doubt we will see these or any other worlds that get idle mention in the previous films, accept Tatooine or Coruscant…and that is doubtful especially to the main Episodic installments.
    Perhaps Coruscant in the future, but if TATOOINE is not in 7 or mentioned, then I feel it is safe to say it is a thing of the past.
    I would love to see the ship yards of Sullust but I don’t think worlds mentioned in the films dialogues will be further explored in future episodes, unless it is stated that the characters are headed there.
    The reason worlds are stated is to make the galaxies of Star Wars a grander field and plant a seed for the expanded universe projects.

    • September 11, 2014 at 5:36 pm
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      What makes you think that exploring pre-mentioned worlds won’t further expand the “grand field” of the Star Wars universe for the audience?

      • September 12, 2014 at 11:11 am
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        I’m saying that when worlds are mentioned, it is a plot device used to make the universe seem grander or larger.
        Also a seed for future projects outside the main films.
        Simply mentioning another place and event fills the imagination.
        The mentioning of Ord Mantel allowed the audience to understand that there was a considerable gap and other battles going on out side of the main characters current events. Such as the mentioning of the battle of Tanaab.
        I don’t mind exploring any of these worlds, but it makes for a grander world and larger universe if we move on to new worlds. If we stay constant with what has come before then the universe feels smaller and closeted.

        • September 12, 2014 at 5:28 pm
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          Or even when Vader said “A presence I haven’t felt since…” in the first film, which led all the way to Mustafar in the sixth one. Every movie brings some new location to the table, that’s just how SW works. If anything, this might be reusing the grass world concept from ROTJ, where the Rebels were going to have a new main base. Lothal in Rebels also serve that role. Thematically, the good guy/rebel locations have been terrestial-looking worlds, filled with life (Naboo, Alderaan, Yavin, Endor), to contrast the cold, mechanical look of the Empire. Hoth is the exception, due to Luke’s group being on the run.

    • September 14, 2014 at 11:04 am
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      For god sake, another negationist? Ain’t leaked enough photos of Tatooine to make clear the planet is in VII?

  • September 11, 2014 at 11:01 am
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    UPDATE 3 photo;

    A while back we saw an actor/extra wearing a large white cloak, to hide from prying eyes, what he was wearing underneath, even though we could see his footwear and deduced he was a Trooper of some sort. So won’t the figure in this new picture just be the same thing, an actor/extra wearing a cloak to hide whatever costume they might be wearing?

  • September 11, 2014 at 12:49 pm
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    OHH NO IT’S A WAMPA

  • September 11, 2014 at 3:49 pm
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    Just visited the site. They’ve put blue sheeting over the inner fences so you can’t see a thing and they’ve got mobile security trying to scare people off. Way over the top!

  • September 11, 2014 at 5:19 pm
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    The white X-wing looks like the new one presented by Abrams himself. But… the black one? Are we gonna see some stealth mission?

  • September 11, 2014 at 5:41 pm
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    The dude with the white cape is gonna fly the black x-wing.

  • September 11, 2014 at 5:45 pm
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    I have no idea how you people can tell that that’s a person in the photo. Just looks like a white blob to me.

    • September 11, 2014 at 6:56 pm
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      Let alone surmising that the white-clad object is a main character in costume…seems like quite a stretch.

    • September 11, 2014 at 8:21 pm
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      If you look really close, you can see the person is wearing the new stormtrooper helmet and you can also see the Rebel insignia on the inside portion of the white cape.

      • September 11, 2014 at 9:05 pm
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        Nice one! šŸ™‚
        In all honesty, if I look close, all I can see is pixels, and if I step back a bit all I see is a white blob. I think people are looking too hard. It’s a bit like seeing shapes in clouds.

    • September 12, 2014 at 12:01 am
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      I would assume the photographer was aware that it was taking a photo of a person. Why would they have taken it at all? Aside from the white blob there is nothing on the pic that warrants photographing.

    • September 11, 2014 at 11:22 pm
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      I seem to remember a post about someone saying Daisy’s character had a tattoo of an insignia on her body. In this link, it says that soldiers were tattooed with the Restored Empire insignia. Coincidence…?
      http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Restored_Empire

    • September 12, 2014 at 9:07 am
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      Well, from the new pictures, it looks like the red is actually a tarp or something similar covering up part of the wing. It does not look like an emblem. Or maybe even a orange/black color scheme.

      • September 12, 2014 at 3:35 pm
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        looking more closely, it appears that red “something” on the wing is actually a squadron marker, with possibly 5 hashes at the back of the wing…. Red 5’s new ride?
        Also, looking at the other one, it’s easy to see that’s ‘blue 2’.

  • September 11, 2014 at 6:27 pm
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    OMG the first update photo (the welcome sign)!
    COLONEL RICHARD B. RIDDICK!!!

  • September 11, 2014 at 6:28 pm
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    This idea that they are only using one side of the falcon is rubbish. Look at the scaffolding, they will be building it all or green screening the back half.

    • September 13, 2014 at 1:11 pm
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      If you remember Return of the Jedi set potos you can see clearly they build only one side from Jabba’s sail barge in the desert.
      In the film looks amazing.
      Just wait and see the final results from this Falcon scene.

  • September 11, 2014 at 8:01 pm
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    It’s probably Dantooine since they can’t pass up the irony that this time the Rebels actually will be on Dantooine. Seems like a good move and a nice tie-in to the OT mention. As for it looking like the Dantooine in KOTOR let’s just get that canonized (again) already!!!

    • September 13, 2014 at 3:52 pm
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      This time around, with the rebel base actually on Dantooine, I guess we will see some captured rebel trying to mislead the bad guys: “Yavin 4 … They’re on Yavin 4!”

  • September 11, 2014 at 9:06 pm
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    It has come to my attention that some people have called the good guys in episode VII “rebels”. Why would they be called “rebels” when they won a cause that they were rebelling against?

    • September 12, 2014 at 12:33 am
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      because the last known cannon government of “good guys” at the end of the RTOJ was “The Alliance to Restore the Republic” (commonly known as the Rebel Alliance, and, informally, as the Rebellion)

    • September 12, 2014 at 7:05 pm
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      Did they now? Is the title really so inappropriate based on our complete lack of knowledge as to what happened after ROTJ?

      • September 12, 2014 at 8:05 pm
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        Maybe I should make myself clear. Why would they call themselves Rebels 30 years after they defeated the people they were rebelling against?

  • September 11, 2014 at 9:35 pm
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    Stormtroopers will be on the side of the rebels.

    They’re guns for hire and who’s paying? Not the empire lol

    Hard for to believe the empire is around. Maybe a few loyal followers like neo nazis but nothing over the top in terms of being a threat.. unless.. they have their hands on a super weapon or.. The S word.

  • September 11, 2014 at 11:13 pm
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    It’s Jek 14

  • September 11, 2014 at 11:33 pm
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    Wasn’t there a black ‘stealth’ x-wing in one of the rogue squadron books? I’m sure someone will correct me if I dreamt this. And I know the EU is dead but they did say they may use bits of the existing EU if they wanted didn’t they? By the way I’m not an EU fanatic I just read a few of the books year’s ago so don’t shoot me for mentioning it please. šŸ™‚

    • September 12, 2014 at 4:45 pm
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      In the most recent Darkhorse Star Wars comic series taking place almost immediately after the battle of Yavin, Leia and Mon Mothma put together a team of experienced pilots to scavenge the galaxy in search of a new, secure location for the rebel base. These pilots (including Leia, Wedge and Luke) are all given custom made black X-Wings.

  • September 12, 2014 at 12:29 am
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    Doesn’t the grass act like a natural green screen?

    • September 12, 2014 at 12:57 pm
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      That’s why they are using blue.

  • September 12, 2014 at 4:00 am
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    Look at that picture closely and that looks more like a white clean-room/bio-hazard suit.

  • September 12, 2014 at 10:57 am
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    Update 5, near the White-wing, isn’t that an engine of sort like a podracer one?
    Or a new hyperdrive for the Falcon! ^^

  • September 12, 2014 at 11:52 am
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    Script: luke has been on a 30 year mission to find sith and reunite the two religions into one he is captured by inquisitors who call him a heretic and sentence him to death, cue the old team to rescue him and a few offspring to boot.

    • September 12, 2014 at 1:24 pm
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      Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of Luke Skywalker. His thirty-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out old Sith and old religions, to boldly go where no Jedi has gone before.

    • September 12, 2014 at 8:29 pm
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      How can you reunite two religions together when they have never been united?

  • September 12, 2014 at 2:03 pm
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    I think I see an R2 unit in the blue X-Wing

  • September 12, 2014 at 2:13 pm
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    So… I wonder if anyone consulted with the VFX team before deciding to have a black X-Wing…

    It won’t be seeing any space-time in the movie without a Nebula for a backdrop…

  • September 12, 2014 at 2:22 pm
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    We keep hearing the rumor about Episode 7 and Rebels being linked. Could this be Lothal?

  • September 12, 2014 at 3:17 pm
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    As exciting as these pictures are, it’s starting to worry me that despite seeing a pig creature and a camel man, we haven’t seen anything that’s new in terms of ships or props. Has nothing changed in the last 30 years? Likewise, is there nothing more to see among an entire galaxy of inhabited worlds and civilizations? It’s one thing to present select props that are familiar in a charity promo to garner interest, it’s quite another when even the candid shots don’t reveal anything new.

    • September 12, 2014 at 8:54 pm
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      Luke’s beard – that’s brand new and it’s looks amazing, plus no over use of CG required.

    • September 13, 2014 at 2:35 am
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      But how much have we really seen?
      What is Adam Driver wearing and what environment is he in?
      Has Max von Sydow spoken any of his lines?
      What is Luke wearing other than a beard and robe??
      We have seen as much in photos as in one issue of the star wars insider’s prequel update or Lucas selects from Starwars.com during the making of Ep2 era.
      I’m sure there is more to come, its still too early.

  • September 12, 2014 at 3:21 pm
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    I like those extras and vehicle photos Clothes seems very Mcquarrie indeed and vehicle it’s so OT, like those in Yavin.
    Excited again…

  • September 12, 2014 at 3:26 pm
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    So far, I am also a little bit worried. I expected more innovation. But I canĀ“t imagine them just copying the stuff from the old days.

    • September 12, 2014 at 3:41 pm
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      PT wanted to innovate and in some aspectos failed: weaphons, ships, lightsabers, clothes, clones, robots,…
      Why we need more innovation if original stuff worked perfectly?
      By the way, it’s a movie made 30-35 years afrer OT, you will see some kind of innovation.
      I think they are not copying. There is a minor evolution in ships and clothes (its not like PT, set 20 years before) and they are bringing back old ilustrations to give coherence to that evolution.
      Only my thoughts

      • September 12, 2014 at 4:41 pm
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        From “Star Wars” where everything was new and surprising to ESB where they added tauntauns, space slugs, super star destroyers, AT-ATs, snowspeeders, probe droids, TIE bombers, blue tie-fighters, Yoda, Cloud City, Boba Fett, Slave 1, carbonite…just a palethera of new things. Then ROTJ, not as much but still TIE interceptors, A-wings, B-wings, Calamari cruisers, Jabba, and a whole host of his alien entourage, the rancor, Sarlacc, and speeder bikes!

        All the PT did for the most part was add new takes on old designs or add earth like designs that were not too removed from their original designs like planes and helicopters.

        A huge part of the fun of Star Wars for me was seeing the new things brought to bare that added without taking away from what came before. It doesn’t look like they are even trying with this movie. At least Lucas tried to be surprising.

        • September 12, 2014 at 5:14 pm
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          Yeah, agreed Lucas tried to surprise and in some points he did it, but man, you can number all list you mention cause you already have seen OT.

          “It doesnā€™t look like they are even trying with this movie.”
          At least see the movie first. I bet people knew knothing about tauntauns, snowpeeders, probots, bespin until first ESB trƔiler probably.
          In Episode 7 they can add a lot of good and memorable stuff. Just wait man, we have only seen two photos and two videos from production…

          • September 12, 2014 at 5:58 pm
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            Agreed! It’s likely all the new things could be in the model shops and behind closed doors and under ceilings. I’m just speaking to warning signs I see and the precedent for it.

          • September 13, 2014 at 4:07 pm
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            Also, be fair to the prequel trilogy! Did you see any droidekas, huge cloning facilities, holographic screens, lava rivers or for that matter even sci-fi cityscapes in the Original Trilogy as first presented? No? Then don’t complain that there was “nothing new” in the prequels.

            Of course, the more movies they make from this particular setting, the more established it becomes, and the thrill of “discovering” it for the first time can’t be endlessly repeated. Very true, in principle they have an entire galaxy to play with, but there may come a point when attempts to be oh-so-innovative for each new movie would risk introducing elements that don’t seem to fit with what we have seen already.

            And then some fans would start complaining about THAT instead!

            A slightly conservative approach must then be better, to keep the look and feel of the galaxy as we know it already. It cannot be totally reinvented each time that yellow scroll floats by.

        • September 12, 2014 at 5:21 pm
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          Black x-wing. They’re trying. A Little ship with the colors of the galaxy, very difficult to locate…
          Probalby just a silly idea šŸ˜‰

          • September 12, 2014 at 6:01 pm
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            Not with life reading and motion sensors šŸ˜‰

          • September 12, 2014 at 8:25 pm
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            Lol, good one. šŸ˜›

        • September 13, 2014 at 2:53 am
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          You are way off on the prequels design.
          There was so much new it almost didn’t look like Star Wars.
          We can’t be quick to judge and it needs to be recognizable as fitting into the Star Wars Universe.
          I missed the OT Ships last time round and don’t expect them to be identical.

  • September 12, 2014 at 4:44 pm
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    all these people going on about innovation and crap, its friggen movie set in a galaxy far far away. what was invented 40 years ago is still bloody cool. let the story tell the story. and look at the country’s on earth that have been fighting for that long and longer, they haven’t changed much.

  • September 12, 2014 at 6:57 pm
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    It looks like there’s a lot of Extras running around. Maybe a quick exit from the base? Or man your ships? There’s definitely something happening that warrants all the fuss, not just a casual, calm “nothing exciting happening” base.

  • September 12, 2014 at 7:36 pm
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    Those extras in the “update 7” pics…straight out of a McQuarrie painting! Actually they look like they could be in a scene cut from ANH. I’m loving it!

    I think there will plenty of innovation and “new” stuff in these movies, but it’s important to get that magical Star Wars “flavor” so it feels like a continuation of the previous trilogy. It looks like the art directors really nailed it with the designs we’ve seen so far as far as creatures, ships and costumes.

  • September 12, 2014 at 7:53 pm
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    I don’t know why but something tells me this may not be episode 7, but rather a spin off or episode 8.

    • September 12, 2014 at 8:39 pm
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      Han Solo spin-off! Han bites the dust in EpVII, so the first spin-off will be about a young Han
      (played by Joesph Gordon-Levitt, maybe?)

  • September 12, 2014 at 10:17 pm
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    regarding update 6: The Falcon is a SHE not a HE. Han Solo himself referred to her as a SHE.

    • September 12, 2014 at 10:25 pm
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      The Falcon does not have a sex, it is a mechanical spaceship. It is not a half biological spaceship like the one that crashed at Roswell.

      • September 12, 2014 at 10:29 pm
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        Roswell? Really? Smh

  • September 12, 2014 at 10:30 pm
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    Well if its a spinoff the X-Wing in blue looks justt like the JJ video one which was assumed to be from episode VII and also I notice the falcon is battle damaged on the top so shes not so young.

  • September 12, 2014 at 10:36 pm
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    Also someone mentioned seeing a dressing room caravan here with the name Kira on it. Same as Kelling-Michael and believed to be Daisy Ridleys charater.

    ps……anyone knows we sometimes refer to our cars etc as he or she and as the post stated Han called the Falcon a She.

    • September 13, 2014 at 1:43 am
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      Just like you call a boat “she” or a hurricane “she.”

      Or a girl?

      Or a girl… a girl is just one the many things you can call a “she.”

  • September 12, 2014 at 11:22 pm
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    I just watched again the Episode VII just now and :'( That music in the final, it’s so sad and happy at the same time. Episode VII, come soon!

    • September 13, 2014 at 4:24 pm
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      I definitely assume you are talking about the music in the updated version instead of the original Ewok “Yub-Nub” (urgh!)

      It’s a beautiful piece, though possibly it doesn’t sound quite like a normal Star Wars score is expected to. Then again, this may indicate how profoundly the galaxy has changed by the downfall of Palpatine.

      To me it sounds warm, soothing and in a way healing, a celebration that the Dark Times are past. I can’t detect anything sad in it.

      • September 13, 2014 at 6:32 pm
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        It’s sad because ROTJ is the “last” film in the chronology. Their journey came to an end.

        • September 13, 2014 at 10:09 pm
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          I see. Yes, there is a sense of “now it’s over”, the long journey over three (later even six) movies has come to an end, and the full story of Anakin’s rise, fall and redemption has been told. Surely the celebrating rebels are not “sad”, though Luke is lost in profound, yet happy thought at the sight of the Force ghosts (until Leia comes and pulls him back to the present moment).

          Yet if you have come to love these characters and would like follow them in further adventures, it is of course sort of sad to say goodbye. But halleluja, next year we will finally find out what happened to them (much) later.

  • September 12, 2014 at 11:27 pm
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    So, if Daisy and Boyega are hanging together, and her ship is blue, then his ship must be…….here’s comes the racial backlash.

  • September 12, 2014 at 11:36 pm
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    The black X Wing is red 5

  • September 12, 2014 at 11:50 pm
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    Hopefully we won’t get a inferior remake remake since Roberto Orci, Damon Lindelof and Alex Kurtzman aren’t working on this movie.

    • September 13, 2014 at 6:21 am
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      Damon Lindelof has been collaborating on Ep7
      He is not the screenwriter, but has had some influence.

        • September 13, 2014 at 6:52 am
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          Lindelof was interviewed after the script phase for Ep7 said he was with JJ for two weeks dealing with nothing but star wars.
          It was when they said Ardnt stepped out.
          Just as JJ is letting his friends cameo he also let Lindelof in on the action while JJ got Script duties.
          Believe me or not there will be a tip of the hat to Lindelof in Blue Ray features.
          I will look for the interview on you tube and get you the info.

        • September 13, 2014 at 7:05 am
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          Adam Savage: The Talking Room
          You Tube channel is Tested.
          Adam Savage Interviews Lindelof

  • September 12, 2014 at 11:51 pm
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    You’re all going to hate me, but that black ship is definitely that of Jek-14 from the Lego Star Wars movies, like it or not. It might just be a bit of fan service by having it in the background of one of the shots. But it’s definitely his ship. Take a look! http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81OD5I9F82L._SL1500_.jpg

    • September 13, 2014 at 1:22 am
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      That’s not an X-wing, not an Episode VII X wing at least.

    • September 13, 2014 at 2:48 am
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      Good find!

    • September 13, 2014 at 6:40 am
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      It looks like a training exercise. But from 50ft its hard to tell.
      If that is Boyega he looks like to be in a martial arts out fit of Chinese influence.
      I’m wandering if that is a Jedi out post, I’m getting an academy vibe.
      Also the masked soilders look to be influenced of terrorist garbs.

    • September 14, 2014 at 2:19 am
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      Don’t go and ruin this site’s constant declaration that Daisy Ridley is the clear lead by mentioning Boyega’s name being called for the filming of a scene. I mean where’s “kira”,I mean Ridley? Where’s her stunt double? That is all the writers of this site care about when touching upon which members of the cast are on set or on location.

      • September 14, 2014 at 9:43 am
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        Ridley was seen on Skellig Michael and Abu Dhabi. We have very credible reports that she was at Puzzlewood and the Iceland second unit shoot (stunt double). And now there are reports of her stunt double at Greenham Common. Correct me if I’m wrong but she is definitely one of the main leads. Still I heard other unlikely rumors suggesting that they intentionally mislead the audience with Ridley being on every location. Sounds crazy, right?

        • September 14, 2014 at 7:12 pm
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          I think his point, IMO, is that there is a difference between “lead” and “the lead.” IMO it appears that Boyega & Ridley are THE co-leads. I’m assuming that because on the first official press release announcing the new cast John Boyega’s name was first, followed by Daisy Ridley, Domhall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver. OT cast was last (that’s not exactly alphabetical order). Maybe I’m wrong but I’m assuming JJ/Disney/Star Wars do nothing official by accident.

        • September 14, 2014 at 9:02 pm
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          On that ‘secret’ Skellig shoot, the initials OW and K (Kira) are seen (unintentionally we assume). A day or so later, there’s Daisy, in a bright yellow jacket, almost posing for photographers!
          On the James Dean photo, the two women are dressed similarly, with hair tied in a bun. In a second Rick Lawrence photo, one of the women (left side first photo) is standing beside a tall red/blonde haired man, (Gleeson?).

    • September 14, 2014 at 5:35 am
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      That’s not JJ’s voice.

  • September 13, 2014 at 5:03 am
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    Ok I am slowly being convinced that EP7 might be the definitive StarWars movie. These sets are more than just large props. I think JJ is pouring his heart and soul into this. I really believe we are witnessing a rebirth of what we all fell in love with so many years ago.

  • September 13, 2014 at 6:19 am
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    What’s with the pod racer engines? First in the desert set, now here in the grasslands… Is there some sort of power shortage going on and they use them as portable generators?

  • September 13, 2014 at 7:12 am
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    I notice those generator things in the TMZ leaked photos and here too….

  • September 13, 2014 at 7:41 am
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    Here is a photo of a model black x wing done in 2009 with the orange/red on the back wings and the 5 slashes almost the same as this model.

  • September 14, 2014 at 10:53 am
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    Isn’t that Han Solo in the pics of update 8? The outfit reminds me to the concept art we’ve seen, and the hair šŸ™‚

    • September 14, 2014 at 1:07 pm
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      Definitely looks like Han. I’m 100% certain it is Han Solo.

  • September 14, 2014 at 3:50 pm
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    In the new video, we hear the director call out (with heartening eagerness and enthuisiasm, BTW): “Denise-Denise-Denise!!! John Boyega, John!”

    Clearly he is telling the actors when to do whatever they are supposed to do. We know who John Boyega is. Who is “Denise”?

    Perhaps she is playing the mysterious Lady in White, assuming we haven’t overinterpreted a pixelated blob from earlier leaks?

  • September 14, 2014 at 5:39 pm
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    This definitely has to be a rebel (or republic whatever you want to call them now) base. The extras seem like soldiers, and it looks like a training ground of sorts…plus there’s x-wings, so I really doubt it’s a jedi academy.

  • September 15, 2014 at 1:42 am
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    Rick Lawrence just got threaten from Star Wars production stuff!!! Unbelievableā€¦ I study law and he didnā€™t break any, was just taking pictures of a historic site!
    Repost from his facebook here:
    HI STAR WARS FANS , JUST READ A MESSAGES IN MY ā€œOTHERSā€ ACCOUNT , AND THEY READ
    Rickā€¦ I am contacting you in addition to Steve Nash from Ai. I am the md of the company and run the Star Wars account. If you need proof please follow the official star wars twitter feed @starwarsuk and I will direct message you back. In the meantime we would respectfully ask that you remove the imagery taken of the Star Wars set otherwisewe will have to hand over to the legal team. Please let me know your decision. Respectfully yours. Anthony Ai
    Hi Rick, We are contacting you on behalf of the Star Wars VII production team, after photography from their film set has appeared on your Facebook page. We would please ask you to remove these images (and the video) from your page with immediate effect, as they infringe copyright. Many thanks, Steve Nash, Ai Ltd.
    We would greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter, especially as youā€™re obviously such a big Star Wars fan yourself. Thanks again.
    PS TO THE 2 GUYS ABOVE IM ā€œ RICK ā€œ TO MY FRIENDS YOU CAN CALL MEā€¦ā€¦. MR LAWRENCE
    My RESPONSE
    Hi have just seen these messages as they came up in my OTHERS box and until now have Not been on a device which displays OTHERS box , So guess I have NO choice but to remove them . BUT just let me tell U when someone from YOUR security team threatens MY life therefore My son from having a Father I am a LITTLE PISSED off , and am quite prepared to take Lie Detector if You are in any Doubt. Please tell me a Simple Picture or small Video clip is worth a HUMAN life. AND yes I WAS a fan but NOT sure I will be anymore and sure My son will also consider chucking you into touch also when he returns from his mothers .Copies to both Anthony Noguera and Steve Nash of Star Wars Production Team and will post On My FB Account .
    A once In a Galaxy Far Far away FAN !!!
    O AND I DONā€™T DO TWITTER !!!!!

    • September 15, 2014 at 6:19 pm
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      The security guys like to threaten visitors by saying it’s still military land and photography is not allowed. Bullshit! The site was sold in 2003 to a company called Flying A Services Ltd. there is no legal ban on photography, the rest of Greenham Common is public land and we have every right to be there.

  • September 15, 2014 at 2:00 am
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    Good evening people I have just received the following email, as I promised it gives me great pleasure in publishing these threats. As I very much doubt that they have THREATENED the BBC or ITV NEWS in the same!

    As well as posting this here I have also posted it on the NewburyToday (NWN) Forums, I also wish to say that I have posted the complete email on facebook, although I would expect facebook to get stroppy.

    So watch this space….

    ***Copied & Pasted***

    From: Steve Nash
    steve@acceleratedintelligence.co.uk
    Date: 11/09/2014 (time: 18:34)
    Subject: Greenham Common set pictures

    Dear Sirs,

    We are contacting you on behalf of the Star Wars VII production team, after photography from their film set has appeared on your Facebook page. We would please ask you to remove these images (and the video) from your page with immediate effect, as they have been obtained illegally and potentially infringe copyright.

    Many thanks,

    Steve

    Steve Nash
    Ai Ltd

    Office: (+44) 207 353 4215
    Email: steve@acceleratedintelligence.co.uk

  • September 16, 2014 at 2:09 am
    Permalink

    I just get redirected to a general Facebook page if I use the link above. Don’t tell me they are cracking down all over the place now?

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