Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill are set to return in the new Star Wars instalment alongside a host of newcomers, it has been announced.

Hotly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII, is due to begin filming in the UK next month.

And months of speculation about one of the most successful film franchises of all time has ended with the cast for the new film being announced.

Harrison (Han Solo), Carrie (Princess Leia), and Mark (Luke Skywalker) will return to the movie after months of rumours about their casting.

Other original stars will include Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) in the new film.

Newcomers include British actor John Boyega, who starred in sci-fi London gang film Attack The Block, and Inside Llewyn Davis co-stars Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac.

The cast will also include little-known Brit Daisy Ridley, whose credits include a role in TV drama Mr Selfridge, rising Irish star Domhnall Gleeson, who appeared in Harry Potter, and veteran Minority Report actor Max von Sydow.

Andy Serkis will be joining one global franchise from another, having captivated audiences in the role of Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings.

Director JJ Abrams said: "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.

"It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again.

"We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

The news was announced on StarWars.com, and featured a photograph of the first read-through.

The droid R2-D2 was the first confirmed character returning to the story when filming begins at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, famously the home of James Bond films for many years.

The new film is set to be released in December of next year.

The first Star Wars film was released in 1977 and featured Harrison as Han Solo and Carrie as Princess Leia.