As BuzzFeed reports Daisy Ridley’s audition for the role of Rey in Star Wars The Force Awakens was so powerful the casting directors immediately realised they have the right person for the job.

Daisy Ridley during the audition for The Force Awakens, photo Disney

The role of Rey was demanding on many levels, but perhaps the most challenging part was tied to fans’ expectations. All the new characters to emerge from The Force Awakens needed to continue the tradition of the original trilogy while at the same time introducing some fresh elements into the Star Wars universe. With Daisy Ridley as Rey, the director J.J. Abrams got exactly that and more. Ridley managed to tick all the boxes playing Rey, making the character appear fragile and likeable, but also tough and aggressive when needed. All the while she perfectly sold the idea Rey is in over her head, but compelled to push onwards… as if she was destined to do so.

During the filming of Star Wars Episode VIII in Dubrovnik, we were hoping to see Daisy Ridley on the streets of our fair city, but unfortunately, it was not to be. However, as you may recall, we reported on her stunt double, Chloe Bruce, heading to Dubrovnik at the time of the filming, resurrecting our hopes one of the new favourite Star Wars characters will be seen on Dubrovnik sets in the final product.

Directing Rey, photo Disney

Interesting rumours are coming out regarding the type of sets we are going to see in Star Wars Episode VIII. Ever since the stage was set in Dubrovnik we couldn’t help but wonder what role the city will play in the final product. Even though there were plenty of leaked pictures from the actual set, we are now no closer to answering this question.

Luckily for us MakingStarWars came out with some interesting information (link 1, link 2) about the potential development. Apparently there is a casino scene in planning and the production is to use Pinewood Studios’ James Bond sets to film these. If this turns out to be true, speculations are these scenes could be the interior shots for Dubrovnik filming. In other words, Dubrovnik could represent some sort of Star Wars Vegas in the upcoming Episode VIII. Judging by actors’ apparel on set, this would certainly explain a lot.

Costumes from Dubrovnik filming are quite intriguing, photo DailyMail

Costumes can be described as formal or elegant evening wear, photo Daily Mail

Costumes can be described as formal or elegant evening wear, photo Daily Mail

Still, I don’t really know if I want to see Luke Skywalker gambling.

Filming for Star Wars Episode VIII in Dubrovnik was a gruelling task. The filming itself took around 8 days, but is spanned 6 different locations within the city and was prepared for 3-4 weeks prior to filming and took more than a week to clean it all out after that shooting was over.

Production teams responsible were from both Croatian and international companies along with plenty of outside contractors, extras, and representatives of city services. After the job was successfully completed, some of the hard working men and women most frequently seen on the sets, regardless of the time of day or night, took a well-deserved group photo around one of the rare statues in Dubrovnik’s Old City Centre (one of Marin Drzic – famous local 16th century writer). The group is seen holding toy light sabres on a photo published by local news portal DubrovnikNet.

Hard working team that made Dubrovnik filming possible, photo DubrovnikNet

Congratulations on a job well done!

Easter is widely celebrated in Dubrovnik and this year was no exception. To make matter more fun, it’s a lovely sunny day in Dubrovnik, with plenty foreign guests walking the streets their favourite movie franchise shot on just a few weeks before.

To all those who celebrate it, we wish you a very happy Easter!

Even though the filming of Star Wars Episode VIII in Dubrovnik is over, we are pretty much all still buzzing about the movie and the series in general. My daily SW online fix today came in the form of a short documentary I managed to miss so far (I know, shame on me). Thankfully, it’s available on Mad Digger YouTube Channel. The following clip is over 20 minutes long, but it is absolutely fascinating. It explores the making of Star Wars light sabre duels and the incredible influences, from Japanese Samurai to Errol Flynn’s Robin Hood, which helped George Lucas create THE most iconic sci-fi weapon and style of fighting. Must see for all true Star Wars fans.

Should the veteran actors in Star Wars The Force Awakens have been paid less? Yes, I know, I’m a bad fan for even suggesting it, but when you take into account the difference in salaries between the new lead characters of Daisy Ridley’s Rey and John Boyega’s Finn on one side and veteran stars like Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, it’s hard not to ask if the huge difference is fair. This is the question posed by MoviePilot’s Chris Moore in a text that discusses a very interesting point.

Apparently (spoilers for The Force Awakens until the end of paragraph), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) was paid over $1million for his 30 seconds appearance in Episode VII. This seems like a ridiculous amount of money, but the truth is, the entire story of the movie revolved around his character. He is, after all, the leading protagonist of the original story and perhaps the most important character of the saga. To put this into perspective, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega earned between $100,000 and $300,000 for their roles in The Force Awakens.

Luke Skywalker, photo Lucasfilm

On the other hand, the old guns are the one’s all the hype was about before the movie was released and they are the ones generating a lot of sales for DVDs and various other merchandise. Still, new characters have garnered much sympathy from the fans and it is very likely their price is going to rise for the foreseeable future as well. But yeah… over a million for 30 seconds and no lines, way to go Mr. Hamill.

Mark Hamill, Photo Wikipedia

It’s a cruel game played by Disney and Lucasfilm. It’s been so long since Star Wars The Force Awakens was released to the movie theatres and the film is still not out on Blu Ray and DVD. Not only that, but the fans are being tortured by brand new mouth-watering announcements of things to come. Latest in the line is the Deleted Scenes video, to be out on 1st April for Digital HD and 5th of April for Blu-ray. You can get a sneak peak in the video below, published just now by Star Wars YouTube channel.

If this is not exciting enough for you, let us remind you of the teaser for The Force Awakens “making of” documentary, which is due on the same dates on the same media as the Deleted Scenes film.

Plenty of Star Wars excitement in April! We can’t wait…

Among a myriad of videos related to filming of Star Wars Episode VIII in Dubrovnik still being published on all online video services, we’ve found one that pretty nicely summarizes the material published by the media and fans related to the filming, but also offers some insights and theories tied to the development of the storyline.

Video was published on YouTube Channel Geek Squad and it deserves to be seen by the fans. Nice one!

We are still receiving your e-mails with stories and photographs of your Dubrovnik Star Wars filming experiences. While we can’t publish them all, some are just too cool not to share…   like the story of a Hungarian fan – Gabor Konczol – and his Dubrovnik experience.

He travelled by car to Dubrovnik and got to hang around the sets for 3-4 days during which he saw plenty of action and even met actor Warwick Davis known for his roles in Harry Potter movies and Star Wars Return of the Jedi (Wicket the Ewok), The Phantom Menace (Weazel and Wald), and The Force Awakens (Wollivan). He was seen admiring Dubrovnik’s Old City Centre during the filming as reported by Daily Mail . Gabor said the actor was very cool and even stopped for a photograph with the fan.

Warwick Davis and Hungarian fan, photo Gábor Könczöl

Here are some photo impressions of this fan’s trip to Dubrovnik and below you can find a link to his Facebook Page with plenty more of great shots and a complete Dubrovnik trip story.

Comparation of Dubrovnik location with old concept art, photo Gábor Könczöl

Great Onofrio’s Fountain, photo Gábor Könczöl

Dubrovnik’s Main Street set, photo Gábor Könczöl

Dubrovnik’s Main Street set, photo Gábor Könczöl

Futuristic door portals, photo Gábor Könczöl

Futuristic door portals, photo Gábor Könczöl

City Walls set, photo Gábor Könczöl

In front of Dominican Monastery complex, photo Gábor Könczöl

In front of Dominican Monastery complex, photo Gábor Könczöl

Gabor’s Facebook Page

Thank you Gabor! Be back soon.

Going through Star Wars related YouTube videos today, I came across one of them with a list of 10 things Episode VIII needs to have. Published by Viral Funnies YouTube channel, the author describes 10 things he wants to see in Episode VIII with regards to the plot and/or characters. I’ve seen plenty of similar clips and texts, but this is the one I wholeheartedly agree with. In fact, with the exception of No 7 on the list, I would like to see all the things mentioned from Episode VIII. Please note, the video is full of The Force Awakens spoilers!

What would you like to see?