UK To Host The Shooting Of New Star Wars Movie

The Star Wars machine is up and running, and will extend beyond J.J. Abrams’ planned “Star Wars: Episode VII” for many years to come. That much is clear, as Walt Disney and Lucasfilm have been busy tapping directors like Gareth Edwards and Josh Trank for standalone Star Wars adventures. Now, we are finding out where these creative voices will be constructing their galaxy far, far away.

Earlier this year, Lucasfilm revealed the spin-off will be directed by British star Gareth Edwards, known for his independent film, Monsters, and a remake of Godzilla that was released earlier this year. A second spin-off directed by Josh Trank has not revealed a location.

A second new Star Wars movie will be filmed in the UK from next year, chancellor George Osborne has revealed on Twitter.

The film – a joint project between George Lucas’s production company and Disney – is one of two standalone Star Wars movies that will follow different storylines from the longrunning series that is being revived with a new trilogy.

Obviously this is part of a long-in-development partnership between the UK film office and Disney/Lucasilm, who have worked to develop studio space recently and are luring special effects wizards to a new crafthouse in downtown London.

What does this mean? The movie in question likely will be the standalone Star Wars movie that Gareth Edwards is expected to have in theaters by 2016. But it also means that Pinewood Studios – where J.J. Abrams is hard at work on “Star Wars: Episode VII” — will become the unofficial production home of the developing Star Wars universe.

There are locations in and around Africa and the Middle East that can help filmmakers replicate alien territories. After that, the effects wizards being hired in house at Pinewood can recreate anything that Abrams, Edwards or Josh Trank might need.

Visiting the set of Episode VII, Osborne said the decision to film another Star Wars in Britain is a “testament to the incredible talent” at Pinewood. “This will mean more jobs and more investment. It is great news for people working at Pinewood Studios, from the set designers to the carpenters,” he said. He was accompanied by Sajid Javid, the new culture and media secretary, who said it was “clear that the Force is strong here.”

The Treasury said investment in UK-based film production was more than £1bn last year – an increase of 14% on 2012.