 the dish on casting

So we finally have our first confirmation of the Star Wars location shooting, but what about the cast? Here are the rumours to date

Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher

The magnificent three from the original Star Wars: A New Hope are all expected to return for Episode 7. Fisher told TV Guide in an interview in January that the three would start filming in March or April, adding: "I'd like to wear my old [cinnamon buns] hairstyle again – but with white hair. I think that would be funny."

Adam Driver

The Girls star is widely rumoured to be playing a Darth Vader-like villain, a fact seemingly confirmed when his Girls co-star Lena Dunham tweeted: "We're VERY proud of Adam Driver re: Star Wars. He's about to rip a hole in da force." Though Dunham did swiftly backtrack: "I confirm nothing bc I know nothing bc I'm on a plane with my dad!" Oops.

Benedict Cumberbatch

The ubiquitous British star has also been linked with a villan's role, though he denied it at Oz Comic-Con earlier this month. But then he wasn't playing Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness either, was he?

Gary Oldman

Slightly more than a rumour as Oldman admitted he's been "called" about a role, but we don't know what role, and "called" isn't "cast". He'd make a great Sith lord, played in the psychotic style of Leon's Norman Stansfield.

Peter Mayhew

The 7-foot-3-inch-tall British giant is widely expected to reprise his role as wookie Chewbacca, and recently cancelled a May 23-26 Comic-Con appearance in Texas “due to filming”. We hope the 70-year-old actor doesn’t have to film in the Abu Dhabi desert in that huge furry costume.

R2D2

Disney has actually confirmed that Luke Skywalker's trusty companion will be in the new film. The producers have hired British Star Wars fans Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples to build a fully functioning R2D2. But if the unit is fully functioning, will the team need Kenny Baker to reprise his role inside the droid from the previous movies?

cnewbould@thenational.ae