Star Wars: Episode VII bosses to hold open casting calls
Producers behind STAR WARS: EPISODE VII are reportedly holding open casting calls across the U.K. and Ireland to find unknown actors to fill two lead roles in the highly-anticipated sci-fi sequel.
Editors at the BBC claim auditions advertised on the Twitter.com account UKopencall for an untitled "major Hollywood Movie" is, in fact, for the Lucasfilm project, which will be directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by executives at Disney, following their acquisition of Lucasfilm last year (12).
Another message on the Twitter blog reveals the producers are leading a "nationwide search for lead roles for a Disney movie" and are looking for a "street smart and strong" orphan girl in her late teens and a "smart capable" man in his late teens or early 20s.
A representative for Lucasfilm has declined to comment on BBC reporters' suspicions, but the character descriptions are said to be similar to Star Wars sequel summaries that leaked online earlier this year (13).
Star Wars bosses are no strangers to open casting calls - original trilogy star Mark Hamill was an unknown actor when he won the role of Luke Skywalker in the 1970s.
Atonement star Saoirse Ronan and actor Michael B. Jordan have both confirmed they have auditioned for roles in the new Star Wars movie, while original franchise star Anthony Daniels, who portrayed loyal robot C-3PO in all six films, recently let slip that he will be back for the seventh installment.
Production on Star Wars: Episode VII is expected to begin in early 2014.
