StarWars.com had some announcements for the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII film.

Regarding the cast:

“Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.”

Regarding John Williams and the release date:

“Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.”

While its great to finally have confirmation on the cast and release date, the new revelations have been met with some disappointment at the near absence of any new women.

This announcement comes on the heels of news that the Star Wars expanded universe from the novels and other media, will not be acknowledged by any of the forthcoming movies. Instead, the expanded universe will live on under the banner of Star Wars: Legends. The movie canon will only be respecting the existing 6 movies and the Clone Wars television series.

“In order to give maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience, Star Wars Episodes VII-IX will not tell the same story told in the post-Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe. While the universe that readers knew is changing, it is not being discarded. Creators of new Star Wars entertainment have full access to the rich content of the Expanded Universe. For example, elements of the EU are included in [upcoming animated series] Star Wars Rebels.”

Palm Beach Illustrated has posted an interview with Carrie Fisher. The interviewer asked a very direct question if Ms. Fisher would be reprising her role as Leia Organa in the upcoming 7th Star Wars film. She answer was a concise Yes.

Exceprt from the interview:

Q: Disney is going to continue the Star Wars saga, producing movies set to hit theaters starting in 2015. Can you confirm whether you’ll reprise the role of Princess Leia?

A:Yes.

Q: What do you think Princess Leia is like today?

A: Elderly. She’s in an intergalactic old folks’ home [laughs].
I just think she would be just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle.

Carrie is the first of the original Star Wars cast to confirm her involvement. Rumors have been swirling that Harrison Ford (Han Solo) has signed on, but no confirmation, outside of an announcement he will be in the Anchorman sequel, has been made. Mark Hammil (Luke Skywalker) has confirmed that if approached, he would accept, but only if the whole of the original cast was involved. Things seem to be pointing in that direction.

Are you excited that the original cast may return in Episode 7? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Powet.tv is no stranger to the endless war between fans of Star Wars and Star Trek, as you can see from our podcast dedicated to the topic. Recently the Internet lit up as superstars William Shatner and Carrie Fisher engaged in an epic and kind of silly flame war. It looks like the war may be over, as George Takei, Star Trek’s Sulu, reminds us of a greater threat we should all oppose…

Learn more about George Takei at his official web site.

It’s Flame War Central as the eternal question of Star Trek vs. Star Wars heats up with celebrities representing both franchises lashing out with Internet videos attacking each other! It’s no coincidence that this happens so soon after the Powetcast episode 109: Star Wars vs. Star Trek dropped, as I got inspiration to do this show after watching William Shatner’s original video “Star Trek v Star Wars” a while back.

In the original video, William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, calls out Star Wars as being derivative and argues there isn’t really any comparison. This prompted Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the good Star Wars movies, to respond with her own video “Star Wars is SOOO Much Better than Star Trek“, where she argues various silly things to support her franchise being superior such as better merchandising and her hot ass. Finally Shatner has come back with his latest “Dearest Carrie…” where he retaliates and mocks Star Wars for being nothing but effects.

Keep reading for thoughts and the videos in question.

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