‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Will Combine Real Locations With Special Effects
J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII is taking a cue from George Lucas’ original trilogy when it comes to the film’s special effects.
Instead of shooting everything in front of a green screen, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said the upcoming sequel would combine real locations with state-of-the-art special effects. This should definitely give the flick a more genuine feel, something that was sorely missing from the prequels.
Kennedy explained during a panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe:
It’s a conversation we’re having all the time in the development of Episode VII. Looking at all the Star Wars movies and getting a feel for what even some of the early films did, combining real locations and special effects — that’s something we’re looking very seriously at. So we’re going to find some very cool locations that we’re going to use in support of Episode VII. And I think we’re probably going to end up using every single tool in the toolbox to create the look of these movies.
The Lucasfilm president said she’s had several meetings with director J.J. Abrams and his team at Bad Robot. Although Star Wars: Episode VII will have quite a few impressive special effects on-display when it finally arrives on the big screen in 2015, Kennedy said all of this work will be pointless if they don’t have a good script.
“I do think making huge popular culture — and I’ve had the good fortune to be a part of a lot it — is really hard to do and get right,” she explained.
Kennedy continued, “And if you don’t spend the time you need on developing characters, and finding stories, complicated stories, the audience gets tired because they think they’re seeing the same thing again and again.”
Fans of the franchise got some incredibly good news at the event this weekend. Composer John Williams’ involvement with the new flick was officially confirmed by the Lucasfilm president.
Are you glad that Star Wars: Episode VII will combine real locations with special effects?
[Image via Lucasfilm / Walt Disney Pictures]
