I've just started an Episode VII thread over at the SWNZ Message Boards for us to begin collecting our speculations, hopes, musings and ramblings about the upcoming film. My first contribution is a thought I had earlier today:
From what I can tell, the latest EU material involving the characters from the films (the Fate of the Jedi series) is set in 43BBY. The ages of the main characters at this point in time are:
Han Solo (born 29BBY): 72Luke Skywalker (born 19BBY): 62Leia Organa (born 19BBY): 62
Let's assume production will be in full swing by 2014. At this time, the age of the actors from the original trilogy will be:
Harrison Ford (born 1942): 72Mark Hamill (born 1951): 63Carrie Fisher (born 1956): 58
If the films are set after the original saga, and if the producers want to have a brief 'pass-the-torch' appearance by the old guard, then setting it shortly after the FotJ series would be a perfect way of having the original cast back to (believably) reprise their roles. This move would remove the problem of recasting and avoid any conflict with any of the existing EU material (so long as the history spanning between RotJ and the FotJ series wasn't explicitly contradicted).
Be sure to head on over to the boards and let us know what you think!
