Star Wars: Episode VII to recreate Tatooine in Abu Dhabi desert

There are more signs that a Star Wars: Episode VII shoot will begin somewhere in the Abu Dhabi desert in the coming weeks.
Sources have told The National the production has begun hiring local crew members for the shoot, which would see the recreation of Tatooine, Luke and Anakin Skywalker's home planet and last for four weeks beginning in mid-May.
Local media companies, including the most obvious local partner, twofour54, have had no comment.
This week The Hollywood Reporter also quoted sources in reporting the emirate would play host to the fictional land.
Such a shoot would mark the first time Tatooine has not been housed in Tunisia, with sources telling the publication Disney deemed the North African country is too unstable to host such a large production this time around. The remnants of the first Tatooine set lie in the Tunisian Sahara desert, north-west of the city of Tozeur. The old Star Wars set was built in 1976 by George Lucas and remains intact as per the direction of the Tunisian government. Thousands of tourists visit each year. Lucas took the name for his Jedi planet from another Tunisian town, Tataouine, in the south.
The film is due in theatres December 2015.
artslife@thenational.ae