There is an UPDATE to this story confirming that production will NOT return to Skellig Michael. Read it here.
Not so long ago, we were only a few bushes away from J.J. Abrams, Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley as they shot some scenes for Star Wars Episode VII, on Skellig Michael off the south west Kerry coast. As far as we were concerned, they got what they needed and it was back to Pinewood Studios to continue the shoot. But now, the rumour mill grinds (is there a day that it doesn’t when it comes to Episode VII) yet again and Latino Review are reporting that the movie is due to shoot once more on Skellig Michael, this November.
Speculation is rife as to what role Skellig Michael will play in Episode VII. But one of the more popular notions is that it will serve as a location for the Sith Homeworld and this is where Luke Skywalker has been held captive. Another point of note is that the stone huts that are on the island are an actual control center…for the bad guys (obviously)
Keeping in mind that the weather in Kerry around November can be particularly bad, I wonder will it only be the crew that return and shoot some pickups and some dark and stormy exteriors, which would not have been available last month, when the sun shone. Maybe Hamill and Ridley already shot the interiors. Considering that the production was only on Skellig Michael for 3 days, any practical sets were non-existent on the Island, from our understanding. Given Abrams favouritism for practical effects, the theory that these huts are control centres doesn’t sit with me completely. It’s unlikely that the director would just green screen the interiors? Or is it?
Another point worth noting is that the footage that was shot in July was apparently for the final scene in the movie and the Island was to feature for maybe 60-90 seconds only.
Either way, we’ve reached out to a number of sources on the ground and we’ll keep you posted.
