The force is with us: Star Wars returns to UK studios

In an attempt to revisit the origins of the franchise, which begin in 1977 with the release of Star Wars: A New Hope, producers have selected British studios and production facilities for the latest film.

The six previous Star Wars films were all partly filmed in the UK at studios including Pinewood, Elstree and Shepperton.

Producers Disney announced three new Star Wars films in October 2012, when it purchased George Lucas’ Lucasfilm company for US $4.05bn.

‘Incredible talent’

“We’ve devoted serious time and attention to revisiting the origins of ‘Star Wars’ as inspiration for our process on the new movie, and I’m thrilled that returning to the UK for production and utilising the incredible talent there can be a part of that,” Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm president, said in a statement.

The three new films follow the much-criticised prequel trilogy, including 1999’s The Phantom Menace, which starred Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman.

The news was welcomed by the chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, who tweeted: “Great news for our creative industries. May the force be with us.”

Speaking at the meeting of G7 finance ministers in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Mr Osborne revealed that his favourite Star Wars character is smalll businessman of sorts, Han Solo.

In response to a question, he said: “The specific answer to your question is of course Han Solo.”

Played by Harrison Ford, Han Solo is a smuggler who joins the rebel alliance to topple the galactic empire.

The chancellor said he was delighted wiith the decision to use UK production facilities.

Jobs boost

“I think it is a real vote of confidence in Britain’s creative industries and a big movie like that – one of the most famous, perhaps the most famous movie franchise in the world – brings with it not just jobs for actors and directors and so on, but for all the other people who have put together an enormous movie.

“The plasterers, and the carpenters and the costume designers, and the lighting people, and everything that goes to make a great movie.

“The UK has done good work in the last couple of years to make it a more competitive place to come and do your movies and your television and this is a fantastic vote of confidence in the United Kingdom.”

Star Wars: Episode VII will be made by director J.J. Abrams, and will further boost the British film industry that has been regenerated by the popular James Bond and Harry Potter film franchises.

The “Star Wars” franchise has grossed more than US $4.4bn at the worldwide box office.

‘Boringwood’

Star Wars: Episode VII is scheduled to be released in 2015.

The first Star Wars film, which involved British acting talent including Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing and Anthony Daniels, was filmed at Elstree Studios in Borhamwood.

The location did not impress the films three American stars, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, who renamed the Hertfordshire town “Boringwood”.

Other locations used in the first two Star Wars trilogies included Tunisia and Norway.