So when it came time to write something up for this weeks EU – something not in itself comic related yet equally as geeky… Well there was only going to be one thing worth bringing up and that is of course the announced casting of Episode VII.

My initial thoughts about the newer generation of actors there are that – with the signing of say Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson or  John Boyega it definaely seems like a supergroup of actors from various genre movies (encompassing The Harry Potter Movies, Lord of the Rings, Attack the Block, Planet of the Apes, Dredd – hell even Max Von Syndow was in Judge Dredd and the not quite Star Wars but equally awesome Flash Gordon. It certainly appears as though the makers are taking the upcoming flick serious. The addition of Max Von Syndow in the casting especially lends some much needed gravitas to proceedings among a group of largely younger actors – the only real question is whether he will be a boo hiss villain like Ming or a sage fatherly figure like Chief  Judge Fargo.

Also among the cast was Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac – Who admittedly I know very little about other than it being all but confirmed Ridley will be a Junior Solo and Driver being set for the role of the antagonist. Big shoes to fill on both of those fronts can they manage the task?

The rest of the cast being made up of the original core group of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels and it is presumed Kenny Baker will be R2D2 – No surprises they would all return but at the same time there are some questions about where the rest of the cast from the original trilogy have went – the character actors like Warrick Davis or the smooth former space pirate turned hero of the fleet Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian – I don’t doubt that they will show up in some form it would be illogical to write them off and there is still value to them after all it was only recently Dee Williams reprised the role in the Lego Movie where as Warrick Davis has collaborated frequently with Ricky Gervais, but I doubt they will be part of the main cast disappointingly.
So take it for what it is, some people have already said there are a lack of female or ethnic actors represented… which seems very early too Judge, but at least it is equally as strong as the casting going into Episode I but again that isn’t a good measure. Personally I think those announced will bring it especially Von Syndow an actor with presence comparable to Alec Guinness himself and Mark Hamill who has kept his following among fans and become the definitive voice of the Joker but has largely had that big role.

But what would your opinion on the cast be?

The writer of this piece was:
Gary Kane
Gary tweets from @Kanoclassic