No one could be blamed for feeling frustrated over the steady influx of Star Wars: Episode VII rumors. But with filming allegedly set to begin in mid-May, it's only a matter of weeks before the cast of Star Wars 7 starts solidifying.
The only cast members we're even remotely sure are appearing in Episode VII are the original three - Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford - though any official details about their involvement are still unknown. Besides those three, our only other lead is Gary Oldman discussing quite candidly how he has been called about appearing in Episode VII.
Oldman's comments coupled with MarketSaw's proven reporting record on Star Wars 7 in the past allow for this latest scoop to ring a little truer than most. Their source is reporting that not only has Oldman been cast, but Benedict Cumberbatch has as well, and after both were being sought for the same role.
MarketSaw's source:
"Ian McDiarmid, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Warwick Davies, Benedict Cumberbatch and Gary Oldman. I believe Cumberbatch and Oldman were pursued for the same role, but I don't know how that will work out with the script changes, but I'm told they are both involved."
Supposedly, those script changes were made to make Leia, Luke, and Han the main characters, but it's unknown what other changes there may have been to the film's plot. Perhaps either Oldman's or Cumberbatch's audition, while not being right for the initial role, was impressive enough that a new role was created or another was altered to better suit the actor. This certainly wouldn't be the first case of an actor auditioning for one role and being cast in another.
MarketSaw's source also indicates that Hamill, Fisher, and Ford won't just appear in Episode VII, but are also central to its plot:
"Ultimately it's about twins, and which will take a path towards darkness and which will follow in their father's footsteps, or at least that is what it used to be, that may come later as I think changes are being undertaken to bring the original cast into the forefront of the story leading to ramifications that lead up to the next generation of Skywalkers."
As valuable as including the original actors is to not only fans' nostalgia but good transitioning in the storytelling, let's hope Episode VII doesn't become bogged down by too much holding on to the past that it doesn't properly set up the future. Director J.J. Abrams seemed to handle that tricky dichotomy well in Star Trek, balancing the new crew with Spock Prime, and hopefully he'll be able duplicate that in Star Wars 7.
In addition to the casting and plot scoop, MarketSaw's source is also reporting that Ford's deal includes two more Indiana Jones films. This lines up with a recent rumor that Indiana Jones 5 is in the works as part of Disney's acquisition of the property.
How do you feel about Oldman and Cumberbatch possibly appearing in Star Wars: Episode VII? And what are your thoughts about the focus of the film being on the original cast? Let us know in the comments below!
_________________________________________________
Star Wars: Episode VII will release in theaters December 18th, 2015.