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The J.J. Abrams 鈥渕ystery box鈥� approach to publicity has provoked a swirl of rumors around his next project,听. The more reports about the film surface, the less we seem to know for sure, but here are the basic facts so far: Abrams is directing a script by he and The Empire Strikes Back听co-writer听Lawrence Kasdan (from an earlier draft by听Toy Story 3听writer Michael Arndt) and is returning for a story set 补蹿迟别谤听Return of the Jedi.听

In order to deliver the film on time for its December 2015 release date, Abrams and company are thought to begin in just a few weeks, with early reports on the shooting locations suggesting that is in the cards. A dizzying array of names are said to be approached for roles, from听听补苍诲听听迟辞听听(Transformers: Age of Extinction), with听 (supposedly) as the main villain.

While we haven鈥檛 been exactly sure how far along the production is, now we have details straight from Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn, who recently attended a Q&A with 鈥榮 Stephen Galloway听at Loyola Marymount University. According to Horn, not only is the cast essentially locked down, the film has already begun shooting.

When asked about the toughest part of the development of听Star Wars 7, Horn said simply:听鈥淐补蝉迟颈苍驳.鈥� Though听Horn would not disclose any details of just who has been cast, he confirmed that they鈥檙e almost done with the process, saying:

鈥淲e have a lot of them. We鈥檙e just not completely done yet.鈥�

Filming was thought to officially begin in six weeks, but according to Horn, 鈥淲e鈥檙e actually shooting some of it now.鈥澨�The Disney chief did not reveal what鈥檚 being shot or where鈥� but most likely .

Horn also touched on the film鈥檚 script and story, possibly the aspect of the film which induces the most anxiety in longtime fans. The prequel films were roundly derided for their simplistic screenplays, all of which were written or co-written by George Lucas. Horn acknowledged that this time around:

鈥淚t鈥檚 all about the screenplay. It has to be screenplay, screenplay, screenplay.鈥�

Asked if the script was now complete, Horn replied:听鈥淚t actually is now.鈥� Horn also confirmed 鈥� seemingly once and for all, if the issue remained in doubt 鈥� that听Episode VII听will be a real-time continuation of听Return of the Jedi. According to Horn, the new film takes place:

鈥淸...] where 6 left off 鈥� and where 6 left off is 35 years ago by the time this is released.鈥�

So the film is shooting, the script is done, the casting is nearly complete鈥� still, Horn鈥檚 comments are remarkable for how much he doesn鈥檛听reveal. At this point, we鈥檙e about 20 months from the movie鈥檚 release, but hardcore fans have no inkling about the film鈥檚 actual story or whether or not aspects of the will be included (and if so, which ones and to what extent).

Also, Horn confirmed that Episodes VII, VIII and IX are not shooting back to back 鈥� this opens up the possibility that we鈥檒l have a timeline for those standalone films (supposedly听featuring听听补苍诲听) before too long.

Now that the filming is underway, we can probably also expect some unofficial development and set pictures to make their way online eventually. Abrams will keep the cloak of secrecy firmly in place for as long as possible, but fans will听need听something concrete, and sooner rather than later. Stay tuned for more news, as always.

Anthony Vieira blogs at .