Star Wars Episode VII To Start Filming In January, Says J.J. Abrams

Disney and J.J. Abrams will begin shooting Star Wars Episode 7 in January 2014.

The Star Trek director appeared at the PGA-Sponsored “Produced By” conference this weekend to talk about the highly anticipated project. Abrams said that the new Star Wars movie will be shooting in London at the start of next year.

Abrams said: “Most likely we are going to be moving to London at the end of the year for the Star Wars movie.”

Abrams also talked about the general philosophy behind his approach to Star Wars 7. The director said that he needs to acknowledge the previous movies but that he doesn’t want to be held hostage by the past.

Abrams said: “I think that the thing is so big and so massive to so many people that the key to moving forward is honoring but not revering what went before.”

Michael Arndt, the Oscar winning writer behind movies like Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3, is set to pen the new movie.Star Wars Episode 7 will film in London and is expected to hit theaters in the summer of 2015.

George Lucas will serve as a consultant on the film but it’s unclear how involved he will be in the new movie. Lucas has said in the past that he is done with big budget films and wants to start focusing on more experimental projects.

Abram said: “Lucas has spoken for years about wanting to make those smaller, more experimental films and I hope he does because I’d really like to see them.”

As for Harrison Ford, Mark Hammil and the rest of the actors in Star Wars, Disney hasn’t made any official announcements yet. But if the company is still looking for actors Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe is dying to be in the new movie.