OCT. 30 2012: Disney buys Lucasfilm from George Lucas for $4.05 billion, and announces a new trilogy of “Star Wars” films. Fans rejoice, trim their neck beards.
NOV. 9, 2012: Oscar-winning “Little Miss Sunshine” screenwriter Michael Arndt is announced to write “Star Wars: Episode VII.”
JAN. 25, 2013: Disney announces J.J. Abrams will direct “Star Wars: Episode VII,” despite his link to Paramount’s “Star Trek” film series.
JUL. 27, 2013: Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announces to fans at Star Wars Celebration Europe that five-time Oscar-winning composer John Williams will return to score “Episode VII.”
AUG. 22, 2013: “Star Trek” cinematographer Dan Mindel reveals he has been hired to get behind the camera for “Episode VII,” and will shoot on 35mm film.
OCT. 24, 2013: Lucasfilm announces that “Empire Strikes Back” screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan will co-write the screenplay for “Episode VII” with J.J. Abrams. The two set to work on a draft originally written by Arndt, who leaves the project.
NOV. 14, 2013: Bad Robot confirms on Twitter what most fans pretty much already knew: R2-D2 will be back.
DEC. 3, 2013: Lucasfilm launches the official “Star Wars” Instagram account with Darth Vader showing off a fresh selfie on a smart phone.
JAN. 19, 2014: J.J. Abrams reveals at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that the script for “Episode VII” is complete.
FEB. 26, 2014: TheWrap learns that “Girls” star Adam Driver is nearing a deal to play an undisclosed villain role in “Episode VII.” Disney, Lucasfilm and Driver’s reps would not confirm.
NOV. 7 2013: Disney announces that “Star Wars: Episode VII” will be released on Dec. 18, 2015.
MAR. 18, 2014: Disney CEO Bob Iger announces that “Episode VII” starts shooting in May, and that it takes place 30 years after the events of “Return of the Jedi.”
MAR. 18 2014: Iger also reveals that the film will be shot near London at Pinewood Studios, making “Episode VII” the fifth installment of the franchise to be shot in the United Kingdom.
MAR. 20, 2014: Disney and IMAX announce “Episode VII” will get a release on the biggest movie screen around (as if anybody thought otherwise).
APR. 22, 2014: While speaking at a Tribeca Film Festival panel, Disney Chairman Alan Horn teases that a major casting announcement is coming soon.
APR. 29, 2014: Disney, Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams have unveiled the cast of “Star Wars: Episode VII.” Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow join franchise veterans Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, and Kenny Baker.
