As speculation continues over who will return to the Star Wars franchise for Episode 7, one name appears to be all but confirmed. Actor Peter Mayhew – who previously played Chewbacca in the original trilogy – has reportedly signed up to reprise his Wookiee role in the forthcoming blockbuster, which has just begun filming. The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Mayhew, who had previously expressed interest in returning to the series, had joined the cast of the movie, which Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn later said was mostly ‘in place’. Speculation that the actor would return has also been rife among fans after he cancelled a planned appearance at a comic convention in Texas in late May, citing filming commitments. Previous rumours suggested that producers were looking to cast a new Wookiee after a call for a ‘slim’ and ‘very tall’ actor with ‘broad facial features’ appeared on casting website Spotlight in September. The advert read ‘Male, 7 ft to 7.3 ft tall with a slim/thin build and upright posture. Not too worked out or too ‘thick set’ especially in the shoulders.’ However doubt was cast over Mayhew’s potential involvement after he underwent double knee-replacement surgery last year. His fellow former cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill are also expected to return in Episode 7 although there has been no official confirmation yet. Others who have been tipped for possible roles in the film include Girls’s Adam Driver, recent Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o and Lost star Dominic Monaghan - although other recent rumours have suggested director JJ Abrams will be casting mostly unknown actors. Via: Metro
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