Star Wars 7: Han Solo has 'gigantic role', Harrison Ford spotted in London

Sequel will shoot at nearby Pinewood Studios

Harrison Ford is expected to play an older Han Solo (Peter Mayhew/Twitter)

It seems the Star Wars Episode 7 cast is finally on the verge of being revealed, with JJ Abrams hosting a script read in London tomorrow as Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill are spotted in town.

Ford 'has a gigantic role in the first of the next three films', according to Deadline, though Disney has not confirmed this.

The actor was spotted by numerous people in London over the weekend (including my brother-in-law, who texted me noting that he was clean shaven à la Han Solo) as was Mark Hamill, while Carrie Fisher recently revealed she was heading there soon for filming at the nearby Pinewood Studios.

With the original trio's involvement looking all but certain, rumours of new cast members are coming thick and fast.

Deadline claims Inside Llewyn Davis lead Oscar Isaac is in line for a major role and Attack The Block's John Boyega is also in the frame for a part.

Girls' Adam Driver is the strongest rumour so far, expected to play a Darth Vader-like antagonist.

Right now the only character we definitely know will feature is R2-D2, with Disney confirming this along with Star Wars 7's time setting of 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi.

Read more: Stars Wars 7 timeline suggests Luke will be in his 50s, Han and Leia's children may feature

Expect floods of casting news on the sequel later in the week.