Mark Hamill, the American who will reprise his role as Luke Skywalker in JJ Abrams Star Wars: Episode 7, has spoken of his approval of the new cast-members, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Domhnall Gleeson, Max Von Sydow and Andy Serkis. The new cast-members were revealed in a photograph from the script-read through at Pinewood Studios this week, with Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Hamill also attending the session.

Star Wars episode 7 cast reading

Afterwards, the 62-year-old tweeted:

"UK table read - I was knocked out by the diverse and extraordinarily talented new cast members," he tweeted.

"WOW they're good! The saga is in superb hands," he added.

Director JJ 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."

More: Meet the Star Wars episode 7 cast

Star Wars: Episode VII is due to begin filming in the UK in the coming weeks and will be released in December 2015. 

Gleeson is the son of Irish actor Brendan Gleeson and is probably best known as Bill Weasley from the Harry Potter movies. Ridley is a British actress who will appear in the second Inbetweeners movie next year - she's also appeared in Casualty, Mr Selfridge and Silent Witness. Boyega rose to fame in the sci-fi flick Attack the Block, while Isaac and Driver recently appeared in the Coen brothers' drama Inside Llewyn Davis. 

More: Who will Max Von Sydow play in Star Wars Episode VII?