So you’ve surely heard the rumor that Episode VII is now slated for a December, 15th 2015 release date.  Like the Chewbacca Defense, that does not make sense.  Read why we say that after the jump.

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It’s not a new idea, and in fact our very own Chris and I were talking about a Christmas release for VII not long after the news broke about Disney acquiring the franchise. (To be fair, we were arguing for how a December, 2014 release was entirely possible…and at the time it was.)

But now it’s apparently being reported from “multiple sources” that December 15th, 2015, is the date Disney has chosen for this film’s release. If for no other reason, this makes sense with Avengers 2 coming out May 1st that same year. It wouldn’t be the best idea to get the biggest competition from another studio you own.

Once again from the site Latino Review, another trilogy spanning character is set to return in ghostly form.

We have to give some credence to this report since Latino Review has been out in front of a lot of Episode VII news.  They confirm the rumor report from Jedi News that Ian McDiarmid will be reprising his role as Emperor Palpatine and they know exactly how.  It’s not a clone and there’s an obvious clue in the thumbnail tease.

Follow the link to find out what dirt Jedi News UK dug up regarding the return of the actor who played Emperor Palpatine.

The chairman of Walt Disney Studios, Alan Horn, was quoted via tweet confirming that Episode VII will get a summer 2015 release.  Given that Avengers 2 is scheduled for May 2015, there was some speculation that Disney could push Episode VII to a holiday release so their two tent pole movies wouldn’t be competing with each other.

According to the Washington Post, Episode VII won’t be previewed at Disney’s D23 Expo despite some earlier rumors to the contrary.

Every actor, save Karl Urban, is campaigning to get into the movie that will essentially be the most secure pension fund in the world.  According to the site Enstarz,  Ray Park, the Wushu master behind Darth Maul, would love to return as the character in Episode VII and would go to great lengths to own the character.  Dear God please let this happen.  Please fix one of the most painful mistakes of the PT which was having the most compelling character offed in the first act.

Every once in a while, someone pens something that organizes your jumbled thoughts into an articulate statement.  They essentially put words to your emotions.  That is where I found myself reading this article by Daniel Krupa at IGN.  It’s part scathing indictment of the maker himself and part unbridled optimism for not only Episode VII, but Star Wars: Rebels as well.  It’s a highly worthwhile read with your morning coffee.

The famous Patton Oswalt Episode VII filibuster from the show Parks and Recs gets animated.

Update:  Awesome editorial comment embedded in the video about Oswalt getting the name of the X-Men’s jet wrong.

Our friends at Jedi News have received word that shooting of Episode VII could be starting next month.  This is exciting stuff indeed.

Thank the maker!

The next Star Wars film will eschew CGI in favour of real locations and models wherever possible, according to Kathleen Kennedy, the film executive in charge of the sci-fi adventure.

Coming out of San Diego Comic Con, there was a rumor swirling that JJ Abrams was dropping out Episode VII.  For several reasons, we were skeptical and decided not to post information about it.  In the event that you heard this rumor, you will be happy to know that it has been debunked.

Kaplan signed on last week to do costume design for the new Star Wars film. He worked with Abrams on both Star Trek films, as well as Armageddon, I Am Legend, Pearl Harbor, and all of David Fincher’s early films. These all came after cutting his teeth on Blade Runner.

Burk is the producer on Star Trek Into Darkness, as well as many of Abrams other projects. He indicates that Abrams and screenwriter Michael Arndt are working on a final draft, with production likely to begin early next year.