Planet of Tatooine (8th-circuit/tumblr)

In an interview, Disney Studio chairman Alan Horn revealed that shooting for "Star Wars: Episode VII" has already begun and the cast is nearly all set for the latest installment. 

"It's all about the screenplay," said Horn. The screenplay is written by Lawrence Kasdan, the writer of "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" and "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" and J.J. Abrams, the director of this coming "Star Wars" movie and the "Star Trek" movies. 

Fan-made poster (hail-robert/tumblr)

It was rumored that Disney and Abrams are building "an extensive recreation" of Tatooine, the home of Luke and Anakin Skywalker, in Abu Dhabi and that in order to stay true to the original films, the use of CGI will be kept to the minimum. Scenes will be filmed in a "Morocco-like environment."

As for casting, Horn did not reveal any names of the cast but there have been speculations that Maisie Richardson-Sellers, a relatively new British actress, will be playing the female lead of "Star Wars: Episode VII." Her character may be "a young black or mixed-race woman who may be a descendant of Jedi Knight Ben Kenobi."

Kenobi was played by Sir Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor in the past Star Wars movies. But there wil be at least one familiar face that fans will be seeing on the big screen - Peter Mayhew announced that he will be returning to "Star Wars" as Chewbacca.

"Star Wars: Episode VII" is expected to be released in December 2015. 

Reach Staff Reporter Michelle Man here.