‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ will reportedly shoot scenes on Skellig Michael in Kerry. Online speculation suggests that the World Heritage Site will possibly act as the location for Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy. Skellig Michael, or Great Skellig, is the larger of the two Skellig islands off the coast of County Kerry.
The Office of Public Works told IFTN that “Skellig Michael is being made available for a film production shoot which is happening in late July 2014 on the Island. OPW will be providing onsite support through our staff who are present on the Island throughout the summer, as normal.
“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.”
According to some reports, the island will be closed to visitors for three days at the end of August to facilitate filming with local boatman in Portmagee having reached an agreement to ferry equipment and crew across to the island.
Pinewood Studios in London and the deserts of Abu Dhabi are so far the only confirmed locations for Star Wars: Episode VII's ongoing shoot. The highly anticipated action-adventure feature is being directed by J.J. Abrams (‘Star Trek’) and stars Andy Serkis, Harrison Ford, Gwendoline Christie, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Lupita Nyong’o and Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson among many other stars.