The site Comic Book Movie has posted Episode VII set photos featuring the interior of the Millennium Falcon.

Artist Tom Hodges got a glimpse of the Episode VII Stormtrooper design from someone involved in the production and he promptly sketched what he saw.  He uploaded his sketch to instagram, but it was quickly taken down.  Fortunately a few outlets managed to copy the image, so it lives on.  Hit the click through link if you want a glimpse of what a 2015 Stormtrooper could look like.  I’m only teasing the image below in case you’re trying to stay hyper-spoiler free.

Update:  The accuracy of the sketch is now being called into question.

The first Star Wars: Force for Change campaign will raise funds and awareness for UNICEF’s Innovation Labs and its innovative projects benefiting children in need.  As was announced earlier, the campaign gives you a chance to be in Episode VII, but now JJ Abrams ups the ante with a chance for an early screening of the finished movie in this new video which features an X-Wing like vehicle.  A real one.  Not a CGI one.

The Bad Robot Twitter Account has confirmed that Episode VII is filming in IMAX as had been rumored.  Thanks to our own Darth Dre for the heads up.

The Official Site has announced that two more actors have been added to the growing ensemble of Episode VII.  Actors Crystal Clarke and Pip Andersen have been added to the cast.  Anderson is a parkour expert.  I’m already looking forward to the acrobatics.

I’m not going to link to any specific article as part of our pledge to keep this site spoiler free, but there are persistent rumors that Episode VII will introduce a previously unused story telling method to the Star Wars universe.  Flashback sequences may be used for the first time in a Star Wars movie.  Previously the back story was filled in only with narrative. 

As someone who grew up before the ubiquity of home movies, the oral back story in Star Wars made it more personal because, for most of us, that’s how we learned our own back story.  As Bill Brousard said, “How do you know who your daddy is? Because your mama told you so.”

Kevin Smith is one of the patron saints of Bantha Skull (along with Paul Rudd, Jon Favreau, Alec Sulkin and a few others).  So we have to share that Kevin Smith was moved to tears on the shear awesomeness of the Episode VII set.

There was a rumor swirling yesterday that J.J. Abrams and crew were scrambling with Episode VII rewrites to expand Oscar Isaac’s role in the wake of Harrison Ford’s injury.  I did not post it because it felt like a bit of internet style “connect-the-dottery” from a Gotham newspaper that has a reputation for not letting facts get in the way of a good story.  Low and behold, Disney has categorically denied this rumor.

This deal keeps getting worse all the time.  According to CNN (via my local affiliate) the broken leg Harrison Ford suffered at the hands of the Millennium Falcon door required surgery.  The surgery was a success and the star of my favorite childhood movies is recovering.

Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold.  It seems like the rumors that Harrison Ford’s injury will cause him to miss two months of the Episode VII production are true.  Fortunately there is enough material to shoot around his convalescence.

It was originally reported that Harrison Ford sprained his ankle in an accident involving the Millennium Falcon door.  It was later said to be a fractured ankle.  Now the New York Post reports that Harrison Ford may have also injured his pelvis in the accident and may have had a chest x-ray.  I want to make a joke about “killing off Han Solo”, but that would be tasteless in the face of injuries that appear to be more and more serious with each report.  I’ll leave that to the comment section.

Harrison Ford’s ankle was injured by the door of the Millennium Falcon on the set of Episode VII and he had to be taken to a local hospital.  Shooting will continue while Captain Solo recuperates.  Somewhere George Lucas is saying, “Take THAT practical effects!”

According to IGN Middle East, Simon Pegg, known by some for his work with Edgar Wright and Nick Frost and by most for his role as Scotty in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek reboot, was spotted on-set in Abu Dhabi shooting scenes for Episode VII.  There is no indication as to the size of the role which could be something as small as a wink to the audience for Pegg’s established geek cred and prior collaborations with JJ Abrams.

Thank you to Darth Mire for bringing this to our attention.

Likely trying to cash in on the tourism boom that Star Wars has brought to Tunisia, the chief executive of twofour54, an Abu Dhabi media consulting firm, revealed that ways to preserve the Episode VII film sets are being explored.  The sets are being curated until a permanent display home can be arranged which will probably be on Saadiyat Island.

Disney has released a pic of Mark Hamill (in civies) striking a saber dueling pose next to the mouse.  The best Jedi in the history of the Force looks ready to slice some opponents who will put up more of a fight than the bumbling Battle Droids.