Film crews are busy shooting scenes for a new Star Wars movie on the Mýrdalssandur beach in Southern Iceland. According to media accounts a tight veil of secrecy has surrounded the shooting.
Film crews working in secret on Mýrdalssandur beach
The local news site visir.is reports the crew has been on Mýrdalssandur beach for some time now, shooting by the mountains Hjörleifshöfði and Hafursey, east of the village of Vík. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service interviewed the landowner, who was only willing to confirm that a film crew was working in the area, but claimed he didn‘t know what film they were shooting. He was, however, willing to confirm that great secrecy surrounded the shooting, and that all roads and paths into the area, where the crew was working, had been closed.
According to the sources of RÚV the movie in question is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Among the stars in the film is Mads Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen told the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet scenes in the movie would be shot in Iceland.
Not the first Star Wars movie shot in Iceland
This is not the first time a Star Wars movie is shot in Iceland. Scenes in Episode VII, which premiers this December, were shot in Iceland at Eyjafjallajökull glacier. The black sands of Mýrdalssandur beach, from which the mountains Hjörleifshöfði and Hafursey rise, could hardly be more different from the scenery atop the glacier.
Read more: Star Wars film-crew is reportedly heading back to Iceland
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the first of a planned series of stand-alone movies which take place in the Star Wars universe. Set to take place between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, the movie will follow the emergence of the rebel alliance and the mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. Rogue One is scheduled to be released in 2016.
Episode IV: A New Hope begins with a Rebel alliance blockade runner Tantive IV with Princess Leia Organa being chased by an Imperial Star destroyer Devastator led by Darth Vader. Before being captured Princess Leia hides the plans in the droid R2-D2 who, who then escapes to Tatooine with his companion C-3PO. The two eventually find their way into the care of Luke Skywalker, who is later revealed to be Leia’s brother, who discovers the hidden plans and ultimately destroys the Death Star. It now seems the story of how the plans eventually found their way to the desert planet Tatooine involves the black sands of Southern Iceland.
Related: Reykjavík names a street after Darth Vader from Star Wars
UPDATE: Mads Mikkelsen in Iceland
The local news site visir.is now reports that Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen is in Iceland to shoot scenes for the film. Mikkelsen reportedly ate at the restaurant Snaps in Reykjavík over the weekend
Film crews are busy shooting scenes for a new Star Wars movie on the Mýrdalssandur beach in Southern Iceland. According to media accounts a tight veil of secrecy has surrounded the shooting.
Film crews working in secret on Mýrdalssandur beach
The local news site visir.is reports the crew has been on Mýrdalssandur beach for some time now, shooting by the mountains Hjörleifshöfði and Hafursey, east of the village of Vík. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service interviewed the landowner, who was only willing to confirm that a film crew was working in the area, but claimed he didn‘t know what film they were shooting. He was, however, willing to confirm that great secrecy surrounded the shooting, and that all roads and paths into the area, where the crew was working, had been closed.
According to the sources of RÚV the movie in question is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Among the stars in the film is Mads Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen told the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet scenes in the movie would be shot in Iceland.
Not the first Star Wars movie shot in Iceland
This is not the first time a Star Wars movie is shot in Iceland. Scenes in Episode VII, which premiers this December, were shot in Iceland at Eyjafjallajökull glacier. The black sands of Mýrdalssandur beach, from which the mountains Hjörleifshöfði and Hafursey rise, could hardly be more different from the scenery atop the glacier.
Read more: Star Wars film-crew is reportedly heading back to Iceland
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the first of a planned series of stand-alone movies which take place in the Star Wars universe. Set to take place between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, the movie will follow the emergence of the rebel alliance and the mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. Rogue One is scheduled to be released in 2016.
Episode IV: A New Hope begins with a Rebel alliance blockade runner Tantive IV with Princess Leia Organa being chased by an Imperial Star destroyer Devastator led by Darth Vader. Before being captured Princess Leia hides the plans in the droid R2-D2 who, who then escapes to Tatooine with his companion C-3PO. The two eventually find their way into the care of Luke Skywalker, who is later revealed to be Leia’s brother, who discovers the hidden plans and ultimately destroys the Death Star. It now seems the story of how the plans eventually found their way to the desert planet Tatooine involves the black sands of Southern Iceland.
Related: Reykjavík names a street after Darth Vader from Star Wars
UPDATE: Mads Mikkelsen in Iceland
The local news site visir.is now reports that Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen is in Iceland to shoot scenes for the film. Mikkelsen reportedly ate at the restaurant Snaps in Reykjavík over the weekend
