John Williams to score new Star Wars film

John Williams is returning to the Star Wars universe, with the acclaimed composer to score the upcoming instalment of the famed space saga.

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Williams, who crafted the memorable score for the six earlier Star Wars films, will reprise the role for the upcoming seventh movie, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed at a fan event in Germany on the weekend.

"I've loved doing the Star Wars films, with all the fanfares and flourish. The galaxy far, far awayI actually feel like I'm still in it. I've never left it," Williams says in video footage released by the official Star Wars website.

"I haven't seen the script. The story is still unknown to me, the new story. But I can't imagine that there will not be some references to the existing stories that we know that would necessitate, and make appropriate, the use of some of the earlier themes."

The award-winning composer is one of the film industry's most celebrated figures. Aside from Star Wars, he created the instantly recognizable musical scores to films such as Jaws, Superman, Jurassic Park, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the first three Harry Potter films, the Indiana Jones series and Saving Private Ryan. More recent credits include War Horse and Lincoln.

Director J.J. Abrams, who is helming the upcoming Star Wars film, had hinted this spring that he was seeking Williams to score the new project, but admitted that that negotiations were in "early days." Original series stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Fordhave been rumoured for a return to the projectas well.

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Star Wars Episode VII is slated for theatrical release in 2015, eventually followed by Episode VIII and IX.Spin-off films set elsewhere in the Star Wars universeare also planned for release.