Good News And Bad News From The 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Set

As with all things, there cannot be a light side without a dark – and, as such, it's not all nerdgasms and man-sobbing on the set of J. J. Abrams' much-anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII.

Indeed, it was only a matter of time before some bad news emerged to balance the good – the eagerly awaited sequel will take a two-week shooting hiatus in August to allow long-time franchise star Harrison Ford the chance to recover properly from a leg injury he sustained on-set recently.

However, the studio says that the delay shouldn't impact the film's existing projected schedule. “Harrison is doing well and is looking forward to returning to the set soon,” the producers expressed in a statement. “Shooting remains on track to wrap in the fall with the film scheduled for release on December 18, 2015.”

The Star Wars: Episode VII cast, too, continues to take shape, with Lucasfilm and Disney announcing overnight that aspiring US-bred, UK-based actress Crystal Clarke and British actor Pip Andersen had both come on board.

Clarke has experience with both stage and screen, and will be seen in her debut feature-length film, The Moon And The Sun, next year. Andersen, meanwhile, is a renowned practitioner of parkour, a skill that saw him utilised by Sony for a Spider-Man advertisement.

“The Star Wars universe has always been about discovering and nurturing young talent and in casting Episode VII we wanted to remain absolutely faithful to this tradition,” Lucasfilm president and producer Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement.

“We are delighted that so many travelled to see us at the open casting calls and that we have been able to make Crystal and Pip a part of the film.”

The film wrapped its on-location shoot in Abu Dhabi in May; principal photography continues at Pinewood Studios in London.