Those Imperial Walkers sure must’ve confused the camels in Abu Dhabi! Scenes from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” were shot in the UAE city. But those lanky Walkers and the special effects were added in later using computer-generated imaging. (Disney Pictures photo)
Story by Guillermo Serrano
Vacay.ca Writer
We’re not exactly sure what these real earthly locations will become in the universe that is Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But we do know that each of these locales will play a role in the movie. Look closely when the much-anticipated epic opens on December 18 and see if you can spot these travel destinations as the backdrop of galaxies and planets where rebel warriors and storm troopers live, plot and fight battles.
Mývatn, Krafla Volcano, Iceland
We know that Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was filmed in Iceland because True North Film Production cites Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams in their client list. But where exactly did the shooting take place? The volcano locale was listed in IMDB and rumours circulated that the next Star Wars installment was being filmed there last September. For The Force Awakens scenes, Iceland was apparently used for shots with stormtroopers and the Nordic country served as the setting for the planet Sullust for both the video game and the movie.
Skellig Michael looks alien enough, which is no doubt one reason it was selected to play a starring role in the new Star Wars epic. (Flickr photo)
Skellig Michael, County Kerry, Ireland
Not exactly a galaxy far, far away, but Skellig Michael off the coast of County Kerry became the far, far away home more than 1,400 years ago for a group of men seeking religious solitude and isolation. They succeeded. It’s one of the most lonely spots in western Europe and when the men arrived, they built a monastery at the edge of a cliff almost 200 metres above the waves. The structure of terraces and walls of stone survives intact to this day. Visitors can get the Skellig Experience by going to a purpose-built visitor centre that opened in 1992. Designed to be rugged in feeling and finishes, the centre reflects the experience that will be undertaken by visitors. The use of concrete vaults with grass topping is designed to echo the wild quality of the southwest of Ireland and to blend in with the surrounding hills.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Leaked footage last August showed scenes from The Force Awakens shot in Abu Dhabi. We now know that the location is the landscape for Jakku, which is described as a “frontier desert world” that is populated by “thieves, outlaws and scavengers.” It is also supposedly the site of a major battle between the New Republic and Imperialists holdouts. One still image that has been released depicts a fallen X-wing being used as a cover in the desert firefight between rebels and Imperial troops.
Is this the land of an Oscar winner? It could be. Rumour has it that the character played by Lupito Nyong’o in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” resides in a fictional land set in or around the Trossachs region of Scotland. (Wikipedia photo)
Scotland
Our bet is that Scotland — which has lots of castles — may be the setting for the home of Maz Kanata, played by Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o. All we know so far about Maz Kanata is she’s a thousand-year-old space pirate who has a castle in the forests. Scotland has lots of dramatic architecture, plenty of green space. Other rumours are the remote Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands were used as filming locations. We’ll soon find out.
Greenham Common, England
This site where the former Royal Air Force base has been situated for decades has a long history. It has been used as a staging post for military activity since the Roman invasion and the Napoleonic Wars. Last year, an aerial pilot for Airbourne Aviation flying over the site saw what later turned out to be overhead views of the Millennium Falcon. The location is now both a wildlife haven and a business park.
