Star Wars VII  has already started shooting, according to Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn, as reported by Hollywood Reporter.  It was originally scheduled to start shooting next month (‘Star Wars:  Episode VII’ Starts Filming in May”), but with a release date next year on December 18, 2015, there’s not a lot of time to spare. 

Horn also told THR that casting is almost complete, although only one cast member for a major role has been announced to date (Adam Driver, see “First ‘Star Wars VII’ Casting”).  "We have a lot of them," Horn said of the cast.  "We're just not completely done yet."

The screenplay, by Lawrence Kasdan and J.J. Abrams (see “Kasdan, Abrams Take over ‘Star Wars’ VII Writing”), is also set, according to Horn, who told THR “It actually is now,” when asked if the screenplay was where it needed to be.