‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Holds Open Casting Call In The UK

It’s here! Disney will hold open auditions for the hugely anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII in London.

The production will be filmed at the legendary Pinewood Studios on the city’s outskirts and producers are looking for local talent.

The competition is expected to be fierce for J.J. Abrams’ film, which continues the story of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia fighting for freedom against the powerful forces of the “dark side.”

According to the BBC the studio is looking for a “street smart and strong” orphaned girl in her late teens and a “smart capable” man in his late teens or early 20s.

Even though Disney has not confirmed the casting calls are for Star Wars: Episode VII, the similarities between the requirements posted for the call, and the descriptions of the characters in Abrams’ film, are considerable.

The much awaited next installment in the saga will begin production early next year and will be released sometime in 2015. A date has not been set yet.

Casting directors will reportedly visit Bristol, Manchester, London, Glasgow, and Dublin in their search for the perfect actors.

The Guardian reports Bristol auditions could be as soon as this weekend.

Gary Kurtz, producer of the original 1977 Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, said casting directors at the open auditions will likely focus, first and foremost, on the physicality of potential candidates in order to build a picture of what they were looking for, The Guardian says.

“If they do anything like we did they will be looking first at their physical presence and then talking with them to get an idea of their personalities,” Kurtz said. “At this stage they will be looking to find 10 possibles for each role. Sometimes they only have five. If they are rebooting the franchise they want these people in more than one film, so they will need people who have chemistry together.”

Kurtz says it makes sense to hold open auditions for the major roles. He adds that with the most recent prequels, they didn’t go through this process, which translated in poor chemistry on screen with big names.

Hollywood studios usually don’t hold open auditions, especially for a film of the magnitude of Star Wars: Episode VII, but it is noted that Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher were all relative unknowns when they were cast in the roles that changed their careers.

Star Wars: Episode VII will be the first of a new trilogy that will be released each year starting in 2015. May the force be with you!

[Image via Robert Shane/devianart.com]