J.J. Abrams has been determinedly coy about for Star Wars: Episode VII so far, but has given some impression of his plans for taking the sci-fi franchise forwards in a new interview.
“That thing is so massive and so important to so many people,” says Abrams. “I know from seeing the first film when I was 11 what that felt like. I think the key in moving forward with something like this is in honouring but not revering what came before.”
“There’s that deep feeling of infinite possibilities that I think was the ultimate thing I thought when I first saw Star Wars which I would – and probably will – give my left arm to try and come close to again.”
And with much of the shoot set to take place in England, Abrams will have to cope with a change in routine as well as the pressure of expectation.
“There was already a pre-arranged thing for them to be shooting in England which, really does make me insane,” confesses the director. “I’ve never shot a movie outside the US or out of L.A.”
“We are, most likely, if all goes ahead, going to be moving to London at the end of the year… There’s a whole lot of stuff happening at home. It’s not an easy thing.”
Star Wars: Episode VII is scheduled to arrive in cinemas in May 2015