‘Star Wars Episode VII’ Returning To Tatooine [Updated]
The latest chapter in theStar Warssaga will return to the home planet of Anakin and Luke Skywalker.Star Wars Episode VIIwill take place, at least partially, on the desert planet of Tatooine.
A new report confirms thepreviously reported informationthat filming in Morocco will, in fact, double for the famous desert planet C-3PO and R2-D2 landed on at the beginning ofStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The same planet Luke Skywalker grew up on with his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, where Obi-wan Kenobi grew old, Qui-Gon Jinn found Anakin Skywalker and on which Jabba the Hutt displayed Han Solo in Carbonite. Read about the Star Wars 7 Tatooine shoot below.
Update:In addition to the report about shooting in Morocco,THRnow reports that Abu Dhabi will be used as a location, for up to four weeks. Shooting “in and around” the city will help recreate Tatooine. Original report follows.The Hollywood Reportersays “Sources tell THR that J.J. Abrams and Disney are planning an extensive re-creation of the desolate home of Luke and Anakin Skywalker in a Morocco-like environment.” Disney would not confirm the report. Obviously.
The original Tatooine, fromEpisode IVwas in Tunisia, several hundred miles away from Morocco. That whole area is covered in desert and while there may be some abandoned Star Wars sets in the Moroccan desert (as seen in these images, which are potentially mislabeled) most “Star Wars Location” websites don’t list the country as one of the filming locations.
No matter where specifically this filming will take place, the main takeaway here is we know the exact place it’ll double for inStar Wars Episode VII: Tatooine. That’s the most important planet inStar Warsmythology. The two most important Jedi in history, Anakin and Luke Skywalker, both grew up there. Dozens of important events in their lives took place on the planet. If the new film is paying homage to the originals, a return to Tatooine is a no-brainer. (Sort of like bringing backR2-D2andChewbacca.)
HowStar Wars 7will specifically feature Tatooine is interesting to think about. Maybe the original trilogy characters settle there to raise their kids. Or possibly it’s the perfect place for a new evil to rise to prominence. Maybe we’ll know more in the month or so before J.J. Abrams officially starts filmingStar Wars Episode VII.
