Star Wars 7 to be set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, Disney confirms

The sequel will start filming in London in May

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill in Star Wars (AP)

The anticipated new Star Wars film will be set 30 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, producers have announced.

In a statement on behalf of Disney and Lucasfilm, the team behind the production said Star Wars Episode VII will include “a trio of young leads among with some very familiar faces”.

Girls’ star Adam Driver has been rumoured to appear as a “Darth Vader-type character” but his role has not yet been confirmed by the production.

Breaking Bad star Jesse Plemons, Downton Abbey’s Ed Speleers and Attack the Block’s John Boyega have also been rumoured for a leading role in the movie.

The statement is the strongest indication yet that Star Wars veterans Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mike Hamill will return for the sequel.

Disney said it was unable to comment on any further casting details at present.

The new film, directed by JJ Abrams, will start filming in the UK in May in London’s Pinewood Studios.

Star Wars Episode VII is due to be released in the US on 18 December 2015, after its release date was pushed back from summer to Christmas time last year.

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