It seems like slowly but surely news is coming out for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, and you can expect that to ramp up even more as the year carries on. JJ Abrams is directing the new sequel to the original George Lucas trilogy, set to release on December 18, 2015. So far we’ve heard a few things, and in March of this year Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger said it would start filming in May and will be set 30 years after the events in 1983’s RETURN OF THE JEDI. We’ve also heard time and time again that Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher would be returning in some capacity. Iger noted “There will be some very familiar faces along with a trio of new young leads,” which begs the question of how many others from the original film series may come back as well. And now we’re hearing that none other than Peter Mayhew is the latest original series cast member to make a return appearance, reprising his role of Chewbacca. The Hollywood Reporter broke the story, though so far both Disney and Lucasfilm have made no official statement. This makes a lot of sense though, as bringing back Han Solo without Chewbacca would be sacrilegious to fans. Mayhew, a man I’m proud to call a friend for many years, previously reprised his famous role in EPISODE III, and just recently had knee replacement surgery allowing him to walk better. Outside of Ford, Hamill, Fisher and now Mayhew, GIRLS star Adam Driver has been reported to be playing a villain in the story, though no other official casting info has been released. It’s said three new roles will be cast, and those will be the principal characters in the story. Last week Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn revealed they had already begun filming and most of the cast had been determined. “We have a lot of them [in place],” he said about the main actors, “We’re just not completely done yet.”
It’s still unknown exactly what part the original actors will play in the new trilogy, or how much screen time they’ll have. Word has it their involvement will be limited, but considering this is meant to be a continuation of the original trilogy, we’re expecting these four will have substantial roles to play. There’s now question of whether or not Anthony Daniels will return as C-3PO, or if Kenny Baker will be back as R2-D2. Even Billy Dee Williams has expressed interest in coming back as Lando Calrissian. Chances are we’ll know all the answers to those questions and more soon enough. In the meantime, are you excited about Mayhew coming back as Chewie? Let us know in the comments.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
