Time for a few new shots of the Star Wars sets in Dubrovnik. As you can see, portals we’ve already reported on have gotten lights fixed on them, as reported by DuList.hr.

Dubrovnik Star Wars Set Lit Up, photo DuList.hr

This makes sense as the plan of filming says it will be done from 4pm to 4am March 11th – 17th. This means plenty of night filming. Hopefully we’ll get to see the set all lit up before the production closes to street on March 9th.

Dubrovnik Star Wars Set Lit Up, photo DuList.hr

We also took some pictures a day or two ago on which you can see the control consoles at the set walls, one of which is a classic Star Wars droid interface.

Dubrovnik Star Wars Set Console

Dubrovnik Star Wars Set Droid Console

We also caught a picture of a damage to one of the pillars of the set, probably caused during the set up.

Damage on the Set in Dubrovnik

With the filming of Star Wars Episode VIII in Dubrovnik almost upon us and the sets for the filming being built at an accelerated pace, the speculations about which imaginary location Dubrovnik will play in the movie are getting louder and more elaborate.

StarWarsPost is guessing Dubrovnik might be the setting for Naboo. They are not the only one to think so, but their arguments seem quite interesting. When it comes to Star Wars movies, Naboo was featured in episodes 1-3 with Italian locations near Naples (Caserta Palace – mere 220 miles from Dubrovnik) and on the Lake of Como being used, as well as locations in Seville, Spain. StarWarsPost argue the architecture on all these locations seems to be similar to that found in Dubrovnik. Stone tiles on all of the locations are similar, and although locals will tell you ground tiles in Dubrovnik are different and much lighter than those found on locations in Spain and Italy, the new pieces of set being put into place on Dubrovnik’s main street might be going for the look of Naboo as seen in the prequels.

Star Wars Set on Dubrovnik’s Main Street

Door portals getting the Star Wars makeover on Dubrovnik’s Main Street

Naboo http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Naboo is described as a bountiful planet, home to the native Gungan species and humans of the planet called the Naboo. Planet features a variety of landscapes and breath taking architecture. If Dubrovnik really is to play the role of Naboo, the question remains, what part of the story will unfold there?

Planet of Naboo, image by www.rodluc.com

Also interesting to note is a statement made earlier this month by one of the main people in Croatia in charge of large film projects, Hrvoje Hribar (head of Croatian government – backed agency for audio visual arts). He was quoted by theDubrovnikTimes.com as saying Dubrovnik is to be “the most beautiful city in cosmos”. As he said this during his statement regarding the cost of filming, it remained largely ignored by the media, but it could actually hold an important key as to what exact role will be bestowed upon this medieval city.

We’ve heard it through the grapevine…   and we’ve heard so much over the past few months. During a quick chat with Mike Palas of StarWarsPost.com we’ve touched upon the incredible amount of gossip and rumours about Star Wars Episode VIII filming in Dubrovnik. Everybody is involved in guessing what scenes will be shot here, who are the actors which will be appearing, and all the other interesting bits of information tied to the project.

Fan Art by imgur.com user dvsdesigner

While we don’t like reporting on rumours too much as they can take away attention from the real information about the filming, it would still be interesting to mention some of the most interesting speculations to be published in the media lately. Of course, these are all COMPLETELY UNVERIFIED and are listed just for the sake of entertainment. In case any of them are true they are to be considered as SPOILERS for Episode VIII…    and there are some for Episode VII as well.

Benicio Del Toro is allegedly appearing in the Dubrovnik part of Episode VIII filming as reported by local news and entertainment portal DubrovackiDnevnik.hr. If this is true, this will not be the first visit by the distinguished actor to Dubrovnik, as he was seen here enjoying the sunshine just last year following his appearance at the Sarajevo Film Festival

Benicio Del Toro, photo Getty Images

DuList.hr, another local news portal published a few rumours going around, one saying the filming will be done, along with the already mentioned locations, on one of the local boats or ships. This opens plenty of space for speculations of exactly how is the vessel to be used for filming. The same source published that Dubrovnik is allegedly to play the role of Ahch-To – a world on which Luke Skywalker is found at the end of The Force Awakens. This means we could actually see Mark Hamill on the set in Dubrovnik.

If you’ve missed it, we already mentioned in our post from February 16th that MOS Croatia reported a speculation there will be a chase/action sequence shot on Dubrovnik’s main street – Stradun which would definitely be cool to see and even more impressive if you consider Stradun is around 900 years old (although it got its current look after the Great Earthquake of 1667).

Dubrovnik main street – Stradun, photo Insider Holidays

Earlier today we’ve reported on a few individuals in Storm Trooper and Darth Vader outfits who caused quite a stir on Dubrovnik’s main street. As it turns out, the lads are with Croatian Star Wars club „Star Wars Hrvatska“ and they travelled to Dubrovnik to do some cosplay and the results are quite cool. Below are photos as published on MOSCroatia.com website.

Croatian Star Wars fans visiting Dubrovnik, photo by Star Wars Hrvatska

Croatian Star Wars fans visiting Dubrovnik, photo by Star Wars Hrvatska

Croatian Star Wars fans visiting Dubrovnik, photo by Star Wars Hrvatska

Dubrovnik TV has also published this movie clip of an early morning Star Wars adventure on the main street

There was a lot of commotion just now on Dubrovnik’s main street – Stradun, one of the filming locations for Star Wars Episode VIII as three individuals in classic Storm Trooper and Darth Vader costumes walked onto the street among the surprised crowd of locals. There was an immediate reaction as people didn’t know if the individuals were a part of the production or not, so naturally, everyone decided to take a picture. As the crowd was rapidly forming in front of the sets being built for filming three individuals – who we heard were Croatian Star Wars fans – had to make a run for it in one of the side streets. It was by a stroke of luck we ran into them and managed only a few shots before they disappeared in one of the houses.

Dubrovnik’s main street quickly became too crowded for comfort

“Imperial forces” had to retreat through Dubrovnik’s narrow streets

Fans dressed as favourite characters make their way down the street

“Imperial troops” in Dubrovnik, Croatia

There was no time for photographs or friendly chat, photo sent by reader

Quite a bit of commotion for Dubrovnik’s lazy (and rainy) Saturday morning.

Dubrovnik locals and visitors will be getting a map of recommended pedestrian routes to use within the Old City historical district when the filming of Star Wars Episode VIII begins. The map will be published by a local production company involved in filming on Monday 29th of February and large maps with routes entered will be posted on all entrances to the Old City centre of Dubrovnik, as reported by DuList.hr. Special traffic regulation around the Old City will be imposed as well.

The same source published there will be some sort of rehearsal prior to filming on the evenings of March 2nd and 4th, which is probably the last time there will be chance for seeing some action before the sets close their doors for the public completely.

Dubrovnik’s Old City Centre, photo by www.insiderholidays.eu

As tourism season draws near, Dubrovnik is getting busier by the day and the locals are anxious to see if the high end filming will disrupt their lives and their business.

With the sets in Dubrovnik being built at an accelerated pace, the international press seems to be getting more and more interested in what the end result is going to look like. As reported by DubrovackiDnevnik.hr, city was visited by a crew of international news agency Ruptly which filmed some of the preparation work and published a short video showing how the sets are being built and what the announced filming locations look like.

As time goes, the sets are beginning to take shape more and more converting the well know city landscapes to fantasy locations of an imaginary world. Make sure to check our blog for updates as we bring some new photos of the locations during the weekend.

By now you’ve all seen the photographs of Star Wars Dubrovnik set being done on the city’s main street – Stradun. It’s easy to see from all of those pictures Stradun is a lively street with plenty of businesses operating on it as well as inhabited private apartments overlooking the street from the second or third floor. Obviously, these will have to be cleared out for the filming. You can’t have an action scene with Daisy Ridley fighting Benicio Del Toro (I wish) with an old lady in the background looking curiously out the window, cursing at the kids making noise.

Star Wars sets being built in Dubrovnik

So, Space Bear Industries, production company in charge of the filming in Dubrovnik, has signed around 100 contracts with everyone obligating them to vacate their places of business or living quarters (with exception of emergencies) during the shoot, as reported by DuList.hr. The details of the contracts are being kept a secret as one would expect, but it is heard around town that the amounts are enough to keep the owners of the properties happy and quiet, two things we Dubrovnik locals rarely are.

Interesting to note are the clauses in the contract which supposedly allow the production people inside the properties for a fee, and allow the filming of „behind the scenes“ shots as well.

As we already reported, sets for Star Wars Episode VIII filming in Dubrovnik have already began taking shape in the city’s historical district. We are bringing you some fresh photos form a couple of hours ago. So far, parts of the set are being built only on the main city street.

Door portals getting the Star Wars makeover on Dubrovnik’s Main Street

From medieval to futuristic

The weather in Dubrovnik, although generally mild and pleasant, can be quit tricky during February with quick exchanges between periods of sunshine, rain, or heavy winds. Perhaps this is the reason the sets are being built in what seems to be a full time working schedule even though the final preparations and filming are more than two weeks away.

Production tents are set up on most of the locations to aid in the preparations.

Sets are being built in Dubrovnik

Production tent in Old City Port of Dubrovnik

Large trucks apparently involved in filming can be seen all around.

Possible production truck, photo sent in by a reader

Star Wars in Dubrovnik is creating quite a buzz among the local population and the franchise is already gaining new fans in Croatia, but it remains to be seen whether they will rise as the favourite international production. Let’s not forget Game of Thrones has been winning hearts in Dubrovnik for the past 5 or so years, and there is now talk of a possible James Bond film to be filmed in Dubrovnik

With the start of Star Wars Episode VIII filming in Dubrovnik only a few weeks away (March 9th), some preparations are already under way. As reported by Dubrovnik digest locals are already seeing some parts of the set being built. There are some support tents set up in two of the filming locations (Old City Port and Trg Oruzja Square), and some parts of the set are being put up on the main streets as well.

Star Wars support tent in Dubrovnik’s Old City Port, photo Marijana Puhiera

Star Wars Set on Dubrovnik’s Main Street

Star Wars Set on Dubrovnik’s Main Street

Star Wars Set on Dubrovnik’s Main Street

With this work under way and news of the heightened security measures being implemented, it’s safe to say we are entering a more active period of preparations for Dubrovnik shoot. We will make sure to bring you some more photographs from the streets during the upcoming weeks as the works intensify.