JJ Abrams has been keeping very quiet about the cast for Star Wars Episode VII, but with the shoot starting to gear up and the likes of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill & Carrie Fisher seen in London, many presumed we’d find out who would be in the film on Star Wars Day, May 4th.

However it’s come sooner that that with Lucasfilm & Disney issuing the following release: ‘The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.

‘Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker in the new film.

‘Director J.J. Abrams says, “We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.”

‘Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.’

There’s no news on who the new cast will play, although it’s believed Attack The Block’s Boyega will be a Jedi apprentice, while Girls’ Adam Driver is one of the main villains. It’s a fair bet that Andy Serkis will be playing a motion capture character, but it’s less clear what Inside Llewyn Davis’ Oscar Isaac, About Time’s Domhnall Gleeson or relative newcomer Daisy Ridley will be doing.

Along with the release came the pick above from a cast script reading.