May de Force be with ye...

py2006

The internet is exploding with news that Han Solo will be searching Skelig Michael for Luke Skywalker...


Come on the tourist industry, get in there!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28462635

It's light sabres at the ready in County Kerry as one the biggest movie franchises in the galaxy prepares to roll into town.

The picturesque island of Skellig Michael is to be used as a location in filming for the much anticipated seventh Star Wars film in late July.

Filming has already taken place at Pinewood Studios in London and in Abu Dhabi.

But it will be the first time that the Star Wars universe has landed in the Republic of Ireland.

Skellig Michael is the larger of two islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of the Iveragh peninsula. A Christian monastery was established on the island at some point between the 6th and 8th centuries and was continuously occupied until the late 12th century.

The remains of the monastery and most of the island were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Sites used for filming in previous Star Wars movies, such as the southern Tunisian desert, which doubled as Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine, have become tourist attractions for fans of the films.

Star Wars: Episode VII will be the first in a new trilogy of films and will star members of the original trilogy, such as Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill alongside relative unknowns.

In June, Harrison Ford broke his ankle while filming in London.

Full details of the filming are still unclear but the Republic of Ireland's Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the island, has confirmed that a film production shoot is taking place later this month.

"The Office of Public Works will be providing onsite support through our staff who are present on the island throughout the summer, as normal," read the statement.

"They will be continuing to manage visitors throughout and will, obviously, continue to safeguard the national monument and the island, which is a World Heritage Site.

"This production is being fully supported by the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Irish Film Board."

Maximus Alexander

Yay, it won't be all green screen!

paulbok

Plenty of Healy-Rae's Sith in Kerry as well.

comongethappy

"This production is being fully supported by the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Irish Film Board."

Multimillion tax break for a 10 second shot.

catallus

Yay, star-trek!

Bog Standard User

comongethappy wrote: »

Multimillion tax break for a 10 second shot.

its ok they will be ripped off by the local businesses

Ruu

Intergalatic tax, space shuttle docking tax, woohoooo!

Gandalph

comongethappy wrote: »

Multimillion tax break for a 10 second shot.

I thought it was only if 75% of the movie was shot here?

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

They'll have a long wait for a sandwich around Waterville anyway......

http://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/no-loud-americans-sign-in-kerry-cafe-makes-headlines-in-the-us-637039.html

NewCorkLad

Anyone know if they will be looking for extras

Donkey Oaty

Welcome this development we must.

Maximus Alexander

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote: »

They'll have a long wait for a sandwich around Waterville anyway......

http://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/no-loud-americans-sign-in-kerry-cafe-makes-headlines-in-the-us-637039.html

From that article:

"I would not spend my money or time going anywhere i am not wanted," wrote Johnathan Watsonson. "Scotland is better anyway," he added inaccurately.

I laughed.

Peregrine

Hit 'em with a tax on wearing puffy directing pants!

Tail Docker

NewCorkLad wrote: »

Anyone know if they will be looking for extras

Yup, extra wine, extra big cars, extra helicopters and extra pay for being there.

thelad95

They should have Jackie Healy-Rae as Yoda.

hfallada

I hope the historical island isn't destroyed for some quick and easy money. I can't imagine a film crew with limited time will be concerned with protecting our heritage

Hande hoche!

I miss Stargate.

thelad95

hfallada wrote: »

I hope the historical island isn't destroyed for some quick and easy money. I can't imagine a film crew with limited time will be concerned with protecting our heritage

They probably won't even film on it, just do a sweeping shot like the Cliffs of Moher in Harry Potter followed by a scene shot in Pinewood studios or wherever.

Pumpkinseeds

He probably wouldn't recognise Luke Skywalker or Princess Leya

The_Valeyard

Jackie Healy Rae........Sith Lord.

Adamantium

Mr. Skywalker trys to being the Force to some 12th century Christian monks.......with sexy (surprising) results

krudler

comongethappy wrote: »

Multimillion tax break for a 10 second shot.

Yeah but there's a puffy director pants tax and a leaving town tax.

comongethappy

hfallada wrote: »

I hope the historical island isn't destroyed for some quick and easy money. I can't imagine a film crew with limited time will be concerned with protecting our heritage

I agree..... Look at what New Line Cinema did to New Zealand..

Its now a barren desolate hellscape, no man can survive.

I think its perfectly rational & reasonable to lunch JJ Abrams on sight, before his excessive use of lens-flare destroys Ireland.

Sulla Felix

NewCorkLad wrote: »

Anyone know if they will be looking for extras

Extra calls were in April, afair.