After months -- actually, years -- of speculation, rumors, and updates, the shooting of Star Wars Episode 7 is finally upon us, and despite his promises that he will be more "forthcoming" with the news, director JJ Abrams is remaining frustratingly tight-lipped about the much-anticipated project, which is scheduled for release in December 2015. 

With that in mind, then, here's what we know so far about the film (most of our information comes from here, and here, for the record):

  • The budget that Disney is working with is in the $200 million range; it's safe to say that they will earn this back and then some.
  • There's no confirmed "subtitle" yet for Episode 7 (though early rumors suggested it would be "A New Dawn," making it sound like a -- puke -- Twilight ripoff; this writer likes "Shadows of the Empire," for the record)
  • It's set to take place 35 years after the events of Return of the Jedi.
  • When Michael Arndt wrote the screenplay, the focus was going to be on the Skywalker and Solo children (taking more than a few pages from Timothy Zahn, the so-called "Godfather of the Extended Universe"); now that Empire script-doctor Lawrence Kasdan re-worked the script in conjunction with JJ Abrams, the focus will be back on our favorite heroes, though the Skywalker and Solo spawn will factor heavily into the film
  • Although Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa Solo), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Harrison Ford (Han Solo) aren't "officially official" (though it's all-but-confirmed, given their shooting and travel schedules, Carrie's comments to the media and James Blunt (of all people), Billy Dee's Star Wars dance when he was on Dancing with the Stars, and the statement confirming "a few familiar faces"), a few familiar "faces" are indeed confirmed: Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels). 
  • John Williams will be providing the score, as he did for the previous six Star Wars films
  • Girls star Adam Driver was confirmed by JJ Abrams to be playing one of the main villains.
  • Due to his playing of Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman vs. Batman film, Jesse Eisenberg isn't going to be in Episode 7.
  • Lupita Nyong'o, Michael Fassbender, Hugo Weaving, John Boyega, Jesse Plemons, Ed Speelers, Matthew James Thomas, and Ray Fisher have all been approached to play roles; of them all, the interesting casting choice of Nyong'o would have her playing the child of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Weaving would be all-too-perfect as an Imperial general.
  • It's almost a surefire bet to find both Gary Oldman and Benedict Cumberbatch in roles; originally, they were up for the same part, but Abrams liked them both so much that he retooled the script slightly so they could both be in the film.

What else do you know about Episode 7?