It looks like we’re starting to get more concrete information coming in about the status of one of the most anticipated films this decade: Star Wars Episode 7. 
George Lucas with Steven Spielberg
Kathleen Kennedy [who was recently named one of Total Film’s greatest movie people of 2012], the president of Lucasfilm, spoke about the film to ABC News Radio. She said that the script is being worked on right now and that the film would tentatively begin pre-production in the spring of 2013. She also added that she couldn’t really say anything else at this moment - "I have no immediate update, but hopefully in January I'll have something that I can say."
What is this January announcement that Kennedy is referring to? If the script is underway right now, it is likely that it will be nearing completion of its first draft by January. This means that the studio will likely select a director in January, especially if they are planning to go into pre-production by Spring.
Ewan McGregor in a still from The Phantom Menace
In the interview, Kennedy also spoke about ‘Lincoln’, of which she is one of the producers. She says the Golden Globe recognition for the film is important, saying, "It's important to movies like this that are difficult to get made and you're looking for an audience. And from a business model, you're trying to find ways in which more people can become aware of the film and go see the film."
Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas talk about Star Wars
