On the heels of news that STAR WARS: EPISODE VII may not be hitting theaters until Christmas 2015 comes the story that production will be starting very early in 2014. To this point we knew the latest chapter in the George Lucas saga would have to start filming next year, but if Latino Review's source is to be believed, that date will in fact be January 21, 2014.

Why is this important? Well, if production begins in January, that means that J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm have just four months to have the principal cast in place to begin shooting in the U.K. at the start of the year. That is good news for us because we should begin hearing who will star in the new trilogy sooner rather than later. This would also mean there is a good chance that there could be footage or a teaser for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII in time for next year's Comic Con or even attached to THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON on May 1st.

Before we get too ahead of ourselves, this could also mean a Summer 2015 release is not out of reach for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII. It is still incredibly unlikely that Disney would pit their two biggest franchises against each other, a production starting in January would have plenty of time for post-production to hit the following Summer.

Either way it goes, STAR WARS: EPISODE VII is getting closer and closer.