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Want to be in the new ‘Star Wars’ movie? J.J. Abrams auctioning off ‘Episode VII’ role for charity

Want to be in the new ‘Star Wars’ movie? J.J. Abrams auctioning off ‘Episode VII’ role for charity

Getting to spend a little time in a galaxy far, far away is the dream of every “Star Wars” fan.

Sadly, the fact that the “Star Wars” saga is a work of fiction makes an actual visit to Tatooine, Cloud City, or Alderaan all but impossible. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have the next best thing - like a walk-on role in the upcoming “Star Wars Episode VII.”

In a brief video shot on the Abu Dhabi set of "Episode VII," director J. J. Abrams announced that Disney, Lucasfilm and Bad Robot are teaming with United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) for Star Wars: Force for Change, a crowdfunding campaign that aims to raise money and awareness for the organization.

Disney has already pledged $1 million in support of Force for Change and, here’s the kicker: for every $10 fan contribution made by fans, participants will be entered for a chance to win a background role in the next “Star Wars” movie. “Wars” fans with deeper pockets can spring for larger donations and earn some impressive rewards like concept art, replica lightsabers, signed "Episode VII" scripts, and even a private early screening of the movie.

In addition to plugging the Force for Change campaign, the video offered a first real glimpse of the “Episode VII” location shoot. Abrams appeared to be standing in a settlement on the desert planet of Tatooine, possibly the wretched hive of Mos Eisley or Mos Espa. And unless Harrison Ford is looking a lot older than we realized, the vid also showed off some of the practical alien effects being used in the movie (a strange creature briefly mugged for the camera behind Abrams). It's a definite departure from the mostly computer generated creatures seen in the prequels. The whole thing looked decidedly like the rough and tumble “used universe” seen in the original trilogy.

Disney has obviously recognized that the public appetite for “Star Wars” updates. Fans are eager to see what Abrams has cooking up for his mostly-George Lucas-free vision of a galaxy far, far away. Here’s hoping the director can find time for some in-depth production diaries like “Hobbit” director Peter Jackson produced while shooting of those movies.

“Star Wars Episode VII” is set for release on December 18, 2015.