Star Wars: Episode VII casts two new actors

Pip Andersen. Photo by Matt Cardy / Getty Images

Remember those public casting calls for Star Wars: Episode VII that took place last year? The auditions took place in 11 cities across the US and UK, attracting 37,000 would be Jedis, Wookies and Sith, then all was quiet once more.

Finally, however, the production team has announced that two applicants from the much-publicised sessions have been cast alongside the likes of Harrison Ford, Max Von Sydow and Lupita Nyong’o in the new movie, which wrapped shooting in Abu Dhabi last month and has now returned to its Pinewood Studios, London, base to continue principal photography.

Crystal Clarke, an American actress studying in Glasgow, has both stage and screen acting experience and is soon to be seen in her first feature, The Moon and the Sun, set for a 2015 release. The second new star is the British Pip Andersen, a skilled practitioner of parkour, or free running, and can be seen showing off his skills in the recent Sony Experia/Spider-Man ad.

Lucasfilm president and Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy commented: "The Star Wars universe has always been about discovering and nurturing young talent and in casting Episode VII we wanted to remain absolutely faithful to this tradition. We are delighted that so many travelled to see us at the open casting calls and that we have been able to make Crystal and Pip a part of the film."

The London shoot is due to take a two-week break in August, in part due to Harrison Ford’s recent leg injury, although the film is still expected to be complete in time for its slated December 2015 release. That said, sources close to the production have suggested to us that the 2015 release has always been a smokescreen, and the film will in fact see its release on May 4th (Star Wars Day) 2016 — but they would say that, wouldn’t they?