The new Star Wars film

After Disney bought Lucasfilm - including the Star Wars film franchise - it was no surprise to learn a new movie in the series is planned. It will follow on from the original trilogy and therefore will be episode seven.

There has been plenty of trepidation from online commentators about what Disney might do to the beloved film franchise, and most of it is fearful although also recognising it would be hard for Disney to do a worse job than George Lucas did with the prequels.

As a big fan of the original trilogy I was disappointed by the prequels, so much so that after the first two I gave up and, to this day, have never seen Episode III.

News was released at the weekend the Michael Arndt has been chosen to write the screenplay for the next film. That's encouraging. Arndt wrote the screenplays for Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3, both highly regarded movies.

I strongly feel something good will come about from his involvement and, with Lucas now on the sidelines, we might see the true potential of the magical franchise renewed. Fingers crossed.

Rumours circulating say that original stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Harrison Ford (Han Solo) will reprise their roles as the same characters, although aged - as they have in real life since the first film was released 35 years ago. Even if they are only minor additions to the movie, I welcome the idea.

I have long wondered what it would be like to recreate a famous show or film with the same original youthful cast approaching old age. If I had the studio cash I'd do such a remake of Space 1999, with the old characters back and living their lives on the still wandering Moonbase Alpha. Even at almost 40 years distance, most of the key actors are still around, so the Space 1999 remake is still possible if someone has the ability to make it happen. But with Commander Koenig (Martin Landau) and Dr Russell (Barbara Bain) now in their 80s, time is running out.

Who is going to direct the new Star Wars film has yet to be announced. A few names are being banded about. If Disney are as thoughtful with their selection as they have been with choosing Arndt, then I have high hopes something special will emerge when the film arrives. And if they go easy on the computer generated images (CGIs) then all the better.

Today there was even a report that Darth Vader might return, even though he ended his days in Return of the Jedi in 1983. Now that would be a big ask.

Roll on 2015.