LucasFilm head and
Star Wars: Episode VII producer
Kathleen Kennedy attended the grand opening of Industrial Light and Magic's new London facility, where post-production work will take place for the highly-anticipated sequel. The producer revealed at the opening that there are just three weeks left of shooting on
Star Wars: Episode VII. Here's what she had to say during yesterday's event.
"(It's) quite remarkable standing here within three weeks of finishing filming on
Star Wars: Episode VII. This studio continues a long tradition of
Stars Wars films being made in London, it goes back to 1976. I think
Stars Wars aspires to technical excellence and that's what brings ILM to London today as this explosion of creativity inside the UK has been quite remarkable."
ILM President
Lynwen Brennan confirmed the London visual effects house will have a "huge role to play" in
Star Wars: Episode VII, while adding that the decision to open this studio, adding to their shops in San Francisco, Vancouver and Singapore, was directly related to
Star Wars: Episode VII.
"I've been very interested in having ILM setting up a studio in London for quite some time. I've been very aware of the level of talent there is in this city as well as the amazing creative community. So when Disney announced we were going to be making the
Stars Wars movies in London, that was the perfect opportunity for us. Here we have a lengthy franchise with a good number of films out ahead of us and a longevity of work that we know we can invest in."
Brennan also added that there will be at least six
Stars Wars movies coming over the next 10 years, which will all use the new ILM London branch for post-production work.
"At least six
Stars Wars films are on the way that means we can plan our technical advancements and production capacity needed over a ten-year period."
While
Star Wars: Episode VII wraps up production, the first project for ILM London's 200 staffers, lead by creative director
Ben Morris (Oscar winner for
The Golden Compass), will be Marvel's
Avengers: Age of Ultron.