The Force is even stronger in J.J. Abrams than previously thought.


Abrams and “Empire Strikes Back” screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan have taken over script writing duties for the upcoming “Star Wars: Episode VII,” Lucasfilm announced Thursday.


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Kasdan is responsible for the screenplays for ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’ — and will add another ‘Star Wars’ movie to his resume.

AP/ASSOCIATED PRESS


Kasdan is responsible for the screenplays for ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’ — and will add another ‘Star Wars’ movie to his resume.



Particularly exciting for fans of the biggest sci-fi film franchise in history is the return of Kasdan, who also wrote “Return of the Jedi” — no offense to Michael Arnst who wrote the first draft of the script.


When interviewed by the Daily News back in April, back when the veteran scribe was just a consultant on the film, Abrams gushed, “I can’t believe I get to work with Larry Kasdan now [as a kid who grew up in love with the ‘Star Wars’ franchise.]”


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‘Star Wars’ creator George Lucas and his co-pilot, Lawrence Kasdan, arrive at the 101 Greatest Screenplays gala reception in 2006.

David Livingston/Getty Images


‘Star Wars’ creator George Lucas and his co-pilot, Lawrence Kasdan, arrive at the 101 Greatest Screenplays gala reception in 2006.



"I am very excited about the story we have in place and thrilled to have Larry and J.J. working on the script," Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement on the official Star Wars site.


"There are very few people who fundamentally understand the way a 'Star Wars' story works like Larry, and it is nothing short of incredible to have him even more deeply involved in its return to the big screen.”


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‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ will start filming in the spring with a planned 2015 release date.

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‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ will start filming in the spring with a planned 2015 release date.



Honoring the franchise’s past is a recurring theme for Abrams’ first foray into the “Star War” universe Original trilogy stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are reportedly set to reprise their roles and original composer John Williams will be wielding his baton for the score.


Location scouting and preproduction has begun on “Star Wars: Episode VII” with filming set to begin next spring at London’s Pinewood Studios.


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