Thirty years after the Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII has begun filming in Abu Dhabi. The news was made public through a Twitter photo posted by Bad Robot Productions with hashtag "#dayone".

As filming gets started in Abu Dhabi, director JJ Abrams also reportedly sent a personal message of gratitude to both original and new members of the cast and crew.

Original cast members like Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew are returning to reprise their roles together with other new cast members like Adam Driver, John Boyega, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow and Daisy Ridley.

Details about the roles they play are being kept completely secret so far, and in a promotional tour for Expendables 3, Harrison Ford refused to answer questions from the press about his specific involvement in the film.

"I'm just delighted to be involved. We haven't started filming yet but we have a great script and a wonderful cast. JJ Abrams is a director at the top of his game and I'm looking forward to it. It'll be great fun," said Ford.

Meet the casts of Star Wars: Episode VII, which is expected to premiere on December 18, 2015.