According to reports by THR, Michael Fassbender, Hugo Weaving and Adam Driver are all being considered for roles in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Wars VII.” This news, however, takes a back seat to reports that the script for Episode VII has undergone significant changes since Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan took over screenwriting duties last fall, and that the lead characters may now be the original trilogy stars: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford.
It was always under the assumption that the screenwriter change was due to impending deadline with the film’s December 2015 release date, but THR is now saying the actual reason was a difference in opinion regarding which characters to star in the new sequel.
From Collider:
Arndt apparently felt that the main characters of Star Wars: Episode VII should be the offspring of Luke Skywalker (Hamill), Han Solo (Ford), and Princess Leia (Fisher), with the original Star Wars actors taking supporting roles in the story. Abrams felt differently, as he was eager to focus Episode VII on Luke, Han, and Leia “so audiences could have one more chance to enjoy them before a fitting send-off.”
With Arndt now given the pink slip, the lead characters of Episode VII will indeed be Luke, Han, and Leia while their offspring will take on supporting roles. This is done in mind so the offsprings and then take over as the leads in Episode VIII and Episode IX.
Additional, THR confirms that Jesse Plemons, Michael Fassbender and Hugo Weaving are also on the short list. Fassbender has met with Abrams about a role in December, while Weaving has met with Abrams to discuss playing an Imperial commander.