The cast of Star Wars: Episode VII is already impressive. The fact that they have added Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie shows just how diverse the film will be. But it doesn’t look like J.J. Abrams is done with the casting phase, as is usually the case with all films that are this early in the production stages.

According to reports, Simon Pegg was spotted on set in Abu Dhabi. Because of this, some think he might have a secret role in the film, albeit a very small one. But considering that this is a rumor, we should take this report with a grain of salt. Hit the jump to read more about the story.

Yesterday, TMZ released photos of the famed Millennium Falcon starship of Star Wars fame under construction at a secret location in the UK where set pieces, props, and creatures are reportedly being constructed for the highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII.

Today, Episode VII’s director J.J. Abrams took to Twitter and posted a most intriguing photo with a message that pleads with fans to stop leaking photos from the film and making “ridiculous claims” that the starship will be in the movie. Some people think he’s being serious, but the note in the photo sits atop what looks like the Millennium Falcon’s hologame table. That’s the table where the wookiee Chewbecca and the droid R2-D2 played the chess-like game Dejarik in Star Wars: A New Hope in a round that ends with C-3PO suggesting a new strategy to fellow metal counterpart — let the wookiee win.

The Star Wars: Episode VII set has been a super secret location, and understandably so. But someone has been busy snapping pictures of the behind the curtain goings on, and TMZ has gotten their hands on the images.

If you’d like to be surprised when the first official images and trailers come along for Episode VII it’s probably best to avoid these. But for everyone else, and especially for those who have been extra skeptical of the movie, the pics are a must-see.

A pair of actresses have joined the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII, the next installment in the franchise being directed by J.J. Abrams.

The first actress is Lupita Nyong’o, who recently took a big step into the spotlight by winning an Oscar for her supporting role in 12 Years a Slave. The second actress is Gwendoline Christie, who is best known for her role as Brienne of Tarth on HBO’s Game of Thrones.

The first video from the set of Star Wars: Episode VII has been released, but not for the purposes of showing off the movie. The video is to announce an exciting new contest in which one lucky fan will win a trip to London where they’ll be a VIP guest of director J.J. Abrams, meet the cast, see the movie being filmed, and even get the full makeup and costume treatment before filming an actual scene for the movie. That’s right, you could be in a Star Wars movie. Better yet, the contest is to benefit a good cause.

But since all but one person and their friend of choice will get to experience this, the rest of us have to look for something else to be excited about in the video. Enter random alien cameo appearance! Some kind of elderly creature—likely to be one of the many going about their business during a scene in the movie—shows up while Abrams is talking. And while cool, the most exciting part is that it’s a real practical effects creation, hopefully a subtle hint at restrained use of digital effects in Episode VII.

Continue below to check out the video and find out where to enter the contest.