‘Star Wars’ Episode 7: First Plot Details from New Film Leak?

With a writer already confirmed for "Star Wars: Episode VII" there are more rumors circulating around the Internet regarding the new films than half-priced Jar Jar Binks dolls at a George Lucas yard sale. Which is, to say, a lot. We've heard everything from potential casting and directing rumors to the possibility of even more "Star Wars" movies beyond the upcoming trilogy. But today a new wrinkle appears in the narrative: possible plot details for "Episode VII" may have been leaked.

Buried deep within a Reuters story about the ancient Mayan city of Tikal in the Guatemala rainforest - which George Lucas used for the location of the rebel base in 1977's "Star Wars " - is an intriguing bit of detail that may tip off the plot of "Episode VII."

"Yavin 4 and the rebel base return to the Star Wars plot in the forthcoming Episode VII, announced in October by the Walt Disney Co, in which Skywalker comes back to the planet to build a Jedi knight academy," says Reuters.

Disney has yet to confirm the new story line for "Episode VII."

Now, as The Guardian notes, "Reuters may have confused the storyline for 'Episode VII' with Yavin 4's involvement in the 'expanded' 'Star Wars' universe as depicted in dozens of books released in the wake of the original trilogy that hit cinemas between 1977 and 1983."

But there's also the possibility that Reuters was dead on.

"Toy Story 3" writer Michael Arndt, who Disney has confirmed is writing "Episode VII," is currently completing a treatment for the film that "will bring the saga of the Skywalkers, the Force-imbued family comprising Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and twins Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, to a close in a new trilogy," said The Hollywood Reporter.

Arndt's story is said to focus on a new generation of heroes and would feature appearances by Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in older incarnations of their beloved characters from the original Star Wars trilogy. And according to The Hollywood Reporter, "Sources have said not to discount the possibility that a number of characters from previous 'Star Wars' films could reappear - even the dead Jedis, who have a habit of showing up in spirit form."

With original cast members like Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Billy Dee Williams all reportedly interested in reprising their roles, there may be more to this "rumor" than it seems; we've been surprised before.

Sci-Fi author Timothy Zahn popularized the so-called "Expanded Universe" of "Star Wars" with The Thrawn Trilogy back in 1991, a series of novels about Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia set five years after the end of "Return of the Jedi." The books became surprising bestsellers, and ushered in a new generation of fans for the epic saga.

According to Zahn, he was "briefed" on Lucas' plans for sequels years ago and how the Thrawn books would fit in. "The original idea as I understood it- and Lucas changes his mind off and on, so it may not be what he's thinking right now - but it was going to be three generations," said Zahn to Entertainment Weekly.

"You'd have the original trilogy, then go back to Luke's father and find out what happened to him [in the prequels], and if there was another 7th, 8th, or 9th film, it would be Luke's children. The Thrawn Trilogy really would have fit into the gap," the author said.