Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Announced

Lucasfilm announced the principal cast of "Star Wars Episode VII," officially announcing that John Boyega ("Attack the Block"), Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver (HBO's "Girls"), Oscar Isaac ("Inside Llewyn Davis"), Andy Serkis (of the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" series), Domhnall Gleeson ("About Time") and Max Von Sydow ("Minority Report") are joining the cast, which already includes original-series actors Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker.

The announcement was made on starwars.com.

Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of 'Star Wars: Episode VII.' It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

"Star Wars: Episode VII" will be directed by J.J. Abrams ("Star Trek") and is scheduled to open December 18, 2015, the first film of a rumored third "Star Wars" trilogy. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay, Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer.