Whether you like it or not, Star Wars: Episode VII is happening. 

Yesterday, the official cast list was announced. Though we don’t know which characters most of the cast will be playing, it looks to be a pretty solid and diverse lineup of actors and actresses. 

For those of you who don’t know, the film is supposedly taking place 30 years after Return of the Jedi, and rumor has it that the film will follow the children of the characters from the original trilogy. 

This means that Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Peter Mayhew (Chebacca), and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) will all be returning in, what I predict to be, a final send off for all of the beloved characters, which will then allow for episodes VIII and IX to focus on the new cast of characters played by: 

Adam Driver (TV’s Girls, Inside Llewyn Davis) 

Andy Serkis (Smeagol/Gollum in LOTR’s and The Hobbit) 

Daisy Ridley (Newcomer to Hollywood) 

Domhnall Gleeson (About Time and Bill Weasley in Harry Potter) check out my review of About Time where I praise his performance. 

Max von Sydow (Shutter Island and The Seventh Seal)

Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis and Drive) check out my review for Inside Llewyn Davis where I predicted he would be rising to stardom. 

John Boyega (also sort of a newcomer) 

Now, I am very excited about the prospects of a new Star Wars film and am trying to be as optimistic as possible. That being said, I am a far bigger fan of Star Wars than Star Trek, and since J.J. Abrams has already caused a stir among die-hards with the latter, I may end up being let down. 

I honestly think people are just still bitter about the prequel trilogy and how many hopes were shattered. I will say that Phantom Menace was decent and Revenge of the Sith was pretty great, with Attack of the Clones being the weakest, but I don’t think people should still be this upset about it. It’s happening. Deal with it. 

Star Wars: Episode VII is slated for release in December 2015.