StarWarsDubrovnik

Chloe Bruce, stunt double for Daisy Ridley has arrived to Dubrovnik and judging by her twitter page is delighted by the city. Chloe wrote the city is stunning and posted a few photographs taken within Dubrovnik’s historical district. There is no official confirmation Ms. Bruce is here to work on the filming of Star Wars Episode VIII, but it would come as a bit of a surprise her visit is motivated by anything else.

This place is stunning! pic.twitter.com/6A0H4vQJJg

— Chloe Bruce (@ChloeDBruce) March 11, 2016

Whatever the case may be, we wish her a pleasant stay in our fair city.

Local news portal DuList published several photographs today where some of the costumes of the actors were visible. They added a few more photos recently with what appear to be some sort of ceremonial costumes to be used in filming. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Star Wars costumes, photo DuList

Star Wars costumes, photo DuList

Ladies and gentlemen, the filming of Star Wars Episode VIII in Dubrovnik is upon us. As cameras get ready to record all the action on Dubrovnik streets, there are more and more photos and videos clogging up our internet channels, bringing new insights into what exactly is happening on all the sets.
Instagram user ana_baban from Dubrovnik published a grainy clip of a stunt being performed in front of the Dominican Monastery entrance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC0EjcVMKGD/

On another location, above Banje Beach, DuList photographer managed to capture some photos of actors in costumes getting ready for filming. On the second shot, the source is speculating the actor on the left without a helmet looks suspiciously like Mark Hammil, but it would be very hard to confirm this with only this photo. Photos also show as what seems to be an aquatic vessel

Actors in costumes, Photo DuList

Actors in costumes, Photo DuList

Star Wars vehicle, photo DuList

Star Wars vehicle, photo DuList

We were also at the same location and managed to get these pictures of Banje Beach with a hole being dug out, roughly the size of the said vessel, so this one might end up washed away on the beach.

As DubrovackiDnevnik reports, filming or a final rehearsal before filming has been going on today on board an event ship in Dubrovnik.

Supposed film crew of board a ship just off the coast of Dubrovnik, photo Dubrovacki Dnevnik

Supposed film crew of board a ship just off the coast of Dubrovnik, photo Dubrovacki Dnevnik

DuList also reported the film crew was spotted on said ship and there was certainly plenty of activity to be observed.

Ship leaving Dubrovnik’s Old City Harbour, photo DuList

Tomorrow the filming is said to start at 4:00pm, and the Main Street will be closed for the duration of the filming which will last all through the night.

As StarWarsNewsNet reports, quoting from a Twitter feed of Chloe Bruce – a stunt double for Daisy Ridley – she is on her way to Dubrovnik just in time for the beginning of filming for Star Wars Episode VIII.

While there is no official confirmation Ms. Bruce will be working on the filming of Episode VIII, it would still be quite a coincidence if she would find herself in Dubrovnik at the same time on an unrelated business.

As we already reported, Daisy Ridley herself denied she will be on set in Dubrovnik, but it wouldn’t be the first time for a production like this to decide to shoot the main actor in the studio for the close-ups and do the action and stunts on location using a stunt double.

Below is a clip showcasing some of the incredibly skills of Chloe Bruce.

Ever since Star Wars Episode VIII filming in Dubrovnik was confirmed, we were left guessing what location the city will play. There are numerous fan theories and alleged information leaks, but there are no confirmations or even a prevailing opinions among fans about where within Star Wars universe will Dubrovnik find its place.

Good people at StarWarsNewsNet have brought forth a theory that offers the most plausible explanation so far. According to them Dubrovnik is most likely to play a new location, never before seen in Star Wars movies, but the look of which is to be based on the concept art for an “exotic city” that ended up being Takodana in The Force Awakens, but with a completely different look. Still, original concept is quite amazing and the feel of the locations depicted within is similar to what can be accomplished in Dubrovnik. See for yourself.

Early concept art for “Exotic City”, image StarWarsNewsNet

Early concept art for “Exotic City”, image StarWarsNewsNet

Early concept art for “Exotic City”, image StarWarsNewsNet

StarWarsNewsNet people go on to say it is a common practise for an unused concept art to be recycled in movie productions if it can be, and there’s no doubt it would be a shame to waste locations described here.

If you visit Dubrovnik’s Old City Centre now, you will find the Main Street is closed for the last rehearsals for Star Wars Episode VIII filming. As scheduled, tonight and tomorrow will see final set ups and rehearsals and the actual filming is due to start on Friday.

Sets in Dubrovnik are closed for last rehearsals and prep work

Sets in Dubrovnik are closed for last rehearsals and prep work

We are in for an exciting week!

Taking a stroll around the Old City Centre of Dubrovnik today one could see all the crew working double time on getting everything ready for closing the set and start of the filming for Episode VIII. After a few miserable days of rain today the sun was shining bright. Contrary to announcements, the streets of Dubrovnik’s historical district were open for pedestrians. Aside from some additions to the Main Street part of the set like painted columns…

…and some more industrial wall fixtures,

The big news was the part of the set in the St. Dominic’s Street at the entrance to Dominican Monastery complex where a monumental gate or entrance to a temple seems to have been put up, suggesting a very intriguing location.

What part of Star Wars universe does this remind you of? Could this possibly be a Jedi Temple?

Tall railing construction opposite the entrance gives plenty of possibilities for interesting shots or additional parts of the set to be put up.

We are probably safe to assume some very exciting shots are to be made on this location.

Today we also saw (finally) the maps with pedestrian routes for locals and visitors to use while the main street set is closed for the public.

As you can see, the text still says the sets will be closed from 9th to 17th, but there is no mention of whether they will open the Main Street for public at any point during that time, so we are still left in the dark about that piece of information so many of our readers are anxious to find out.

There’s palpable tension in the air in Dubrovnik as we hold our breath waiting to hear who arrived to the city for the filming of Star Wars Episode VIII. DubrovackiDnevnik.hr reported earlier how the film crew arrived today midday on a charter flight from London.

In the meantime, Net.hr came in possession of a hidden cam shot of a landspeeder prop vehicle we already reported on which will be involved in the filming.

Supposed landspeeder on Dubrovnik set, photo Grgo Jelavic/PIXSELL

Supposed landspeeder on Dubrovnik set, photo Grgo Jelavic/PIXSELL

Supposed landspeeder on Dubrovnik set, photo Grgo Jelavic/PIXSELL

The same Croatian news portal also reported the preparation work on the set today included taking down all the antennas on the properties which are likely to be in the shot meaning a lot of the actual Dubrovnik scenery might be included in the end footage released on the film. We certainly hope so.

Local media in Dubrovnik have already mentioned the rumour about Star Wars production renting out a ship or boat to use for filming. It is today that we hear stories about one of the vessels in Dubrovnik harbour being fitted with unusual looking add-ons on one of its decks that resemble parts of the set seen in other areas of the city. Also, a big screen seems to have been put up and that one may be used to hold the green screen made for facilitating CGI. DuList published the story with photos below.

Ship in Dubrovnik Harbour, photo DuList

Big screen being fitted on the deck, photo DuList

Big screen being fitted on the deck, photo DuList

Some parts look like sets seen in other areas of Dubrovnik, photo DuList

Some parts look like sets seen in other areas of Dubrovnik, photo DuList

There are no confirmations a ship will be used in the filming or that this is the one in question, but these photographs do suggest this could very well be more than a rumour. If this is so, what are the scenes to be shot on a ship? Will we get to see large aquatic vessels appearing in Episode VIII? The few we’ve had so far were less than impressive, this would be a perfect opportunity to try and improve on those.