When it comes to the plot of Star Wars: Episode VII, we know that Luke, Leia and Han will be back and that the story takes place about 30 years after the events seen in Return of the Jedi. Beyond that, everything else in J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan's script is a complete mystery that we won't begin to really unlock for at least a few more months. That said, the rumor mill is constantly pumping out various interesting reports on a regular basis, and today we have a very interesting one about the film's possible new villains.
The report comes to us from the folks over at Making Star Wars, who claim to have various sources on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII who have been seeing some very interesting things happening recently. If they are to be believed, then the main bad guys of the film will be a group called "Jedi Hunters" who do exactly what their name suggests: hunt Jedi. There aren't really any character details available, though they are described as "scary individuals, dressed in black, some helmeted," and as using lightsabers.
What makes this rumor a bit suspicious is the strange connection it seems to have to the new television series Star Wars Rebels and namely the character known as The Inquisitor - who is assigned the job of hunting down Jedi by Darth Vader. Making Star Wars says that their sources swear that David Oyelowo is playing one of these villain roles, but the writers at TheForce.net have done their part to shut that idea down. Apparently Oyelowo was rumored for a voice role in Star Wars Rebels at one point, and it's possible that some signals got crossed somewhere down the line. Two other actors said to be playing "Jedi Hunters" include Adam Driver (who has been rumored for a villainous role for months) and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, who has reportedly been seen walking around the Star Wars: Episode VII set sporting a set of yellow contact lenses.
The last bit of information Making Star Wars has it what actually sounds like a partial log-line for the film - albeit one based on an account from someone on set who hasn't actually seen a script. The source has apparently learned a good deal about what Luke Skywalker has been busy with the last three decades of his life, spending all of his time fighting back the Jedi Hunters and impeding their missions. By the time we catch up with him, however, he is "outnumbered, tired, and in need of help." We can't say whether or not this is actually true, but it does at the very least sound interesting.
Star Wars: Episode VII is now filming and is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 18, 2015.
