Dec 19, 2012 by Brian Gallagher

Luke Skywalker to Run Jedi Academy on Yavin 4 in Star Wars Episode VII

Star Wars: Episode VII will feature Luke Skywalker building a Jedi Academy on Yavin 4
Star Wars: Episode VII will feature Luke Skywalker building a Jedi Academy on Yavin 4
The impending Mayan apocalypse has provided us with an intriguing possibility for the highly-anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII. When George Lucas shot Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, he used the Guatemalan city of Tikal for the Rebel base on Yavin 4, the site where Luke Skywalker and Han Solo launched their attack on the Death Star. That city has become a longtime tourist destination for Star Wars fans, and is at the heart of the impending apocalypse that will supposedly happen when the Mayan calendar ends on December 21. A new story about the city has revealed that Disney plans on returning to Yavin 4 in Star Wars: Episode VII, although they will not shoot in Tikal.

"Yavin 4 and the rebel base return to the Star Wars plot in the forthcoming Episode VII, announced in October by the Walt Disney Co, in which Skywalker comes back to the planet to build a Jedi Knight academy. However, fans said that Disney will likely film those scenes in a studio rather than return to Tikal."


Nothing has been confirmed by Disney at this time, especially since screenwriter Michael Arndt is still working on the script. However, he did turn in a 50-page treatment before starting work on the screenplay, so this plot detail may have come from there. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher have expressed interest in returning as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, although it isn't known if their deals are finalized, or if negotiations have begun.

George Lucas chose the city of Tikal after seeing a poster of the Temple Four structure at a travel agency. He sent a crew to shoot in the city in March 1977, in the midst of Guatemala's 36-year-old civil war.

Star Wars: Episode VII comes to theaters in 2015 and stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams.



Sources: Reuters

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Comments (19)

  1. Sean

    @Roberto-Mata Yes, i could see the same happening to the Star Wars sequels as well. I hope that is they go with for Star Wars episode 7, 8 and 9, meaning on location.

    5 months agoby @themoviefanaticFlag

  2. slysnide

    Meh, I expected as much for the character.

    5 months agoby @slysnideFlag

  3. Rudy

    All of the rich lore Star Wars has and they want to continue the Luke Skywalker story. WHY!!??

    5 months agoby @rudyFlag

  4. Roberto Mata

    @themoviefanatic Well the decision lies with the Director, but Disney it's making the right choice, the prequels were almost entirely shot in blue and green screens and the originals were shot on location and set pieces, Total Recall was shot on location with set designs, with little green screens, and it worked for it, and I could see the same happening to the Star Wars Sequels!

    5 months agoby @Roberto-MataFlag

  5. Sean

    @Roberto-Mata I agree! I can't wait for it!

    5 months agoby @themoviefanaticFlag

  6. Red Camera Man

    Hmm...

    5 months agoby @redcameramanFlag

  7. The Cryptkeeper: Resurrected

    I could see that being a pretty good idea.

    5 months agoby @cryptFlag

  8. Avian

    Make it happen Disney, I will love you forever.

    5 months agoby @avian005Flag

  9. Josh

    @narrator I hope they take the main elements of the Expanded Universe, like you mentioned there, even if they then use them to spring off and tell a new story. If this story is true, it's a good start.

    5 months agoby @shuabertFlag

  10. Roberto Mata

    It's good they are taking the shooting on location route, instead of doing everything in CGI. keep it coming Disney!

    5 months agoby @Roberto-MataFlag

  11. ROFLitschristian

    Please don't suck.

    5 months agoby @ROFLitschristianFlag

  12. Bawnian©-Dexeus

    Doubt there was much location in the prequels. Why start now?

    5 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag

  13. the Narrator

    @evilwhitemale If the script follows the expanded universe's canon, Han should be a General in the New Republic, and busy raising Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin alongside Leia (who is still a politician).

    5 months agoby @narratorFlag

  14. the Narrator

    The decision on whether or not to green/blue screen a shoot is up to the director, @arrington. Seeing as this film doesn't have one slated yet, speculation of that sort won't matter much. For what it's worth, I agree with you about shooting things on location being usually better than any CGI approach.

    5 months agoby @narratorFlag

  15. EvilWhiteMale

    I wonder what Han Slolo's role will be.

    5 months agoby @evilwhitemaleFlag

  16. Time

    More blue screen. blah blah blah... and this is why everyone agrees that Episode one through three are the best movies ever. Now I'm a big Star Wars fan but there's something called overkill. The best movies are the ones that shoot everything they can live and make up the rest with blue screen. Not the other way around. Now Im not trying to say they should build a planet city, but realism is what people want today.

    5 months agoby @arringtonFlag

  17. justatadmatt

    Interesting approach. Hamill really has the pressure on him to get back into shape if he's running a Jedi Academy.

    5 months agoby @justatadmattFlag

  18. Bawnian©-Dexeus

    Also, spell check my good man :)

    5 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag

  19. Bawnian©-Dexeus

    Cool, I guess

    5 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag

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