Star Wars is arguably the biggest film franchise on the planet, and that eternal love affair with audiences is about to get another spark in 2015 with the release of the highly anticipated Episode VII – The Force Awakens. Here we look at some of the earth locations that stand in for that galaxy far, far away... Put the lightsaber down (for now) and get ready to travel the world.

Death Valley. Photo Wikimedia Commons: Roger469

We are yet to see for sure which destinations will make the final cut in Episode VII, but rumours of locations including Abu Dhabi, New Mexico, and Scotland have been doing the rounds. More specifically the Irish island of Skellig Michael, Iceland’s Myvatn geothermal area, and Greenham Common – the former RAF air base in Berkshire – have been linked with production.

Filming at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire is of course a dead cert, but sadly due to the busy schedule and privacy required for all the film shoots, it is not somewhere people can turn up for a guided tour.

Globetrotting production is not unique to J.J. Abrams and his Episode VII team – the previous Star Wars installments have been made in a variety of locations.

In the original 1977 movie, some Tattooine scenes were filmed in California’s Death Valley National Park, while another National Park – Tikal in Guatemala - served as the Fourth moon of Yavin. The state of Oregon saw a lot of action in The Empire Strikes Back, and in the same movie, the Hardangerjokulen Glacier in Norway provided a unique backdrop. Return of the Jedi, meanwhile, was split pretty much between America’s west and England.

Jumping forward to 1999 and The Phantom Menace, one of the key locations for the original Star Wars, made a triumphant return. Many fans still flock to the desserts of Tunisia to see a number of familiar Tatooine locations. Italy also made its Star Wars debut in The Phantom Menace, with the Royal Palace in Caserta appearing as Naboo Royal Palace.

Desert Rocket, original Star Wars set. Wikimedia Commons: Eugenijus Radlinskas

Both Tunisia and Italy were used again for 2002’s Attack of the Clones and this time Spain joined the list, with Seville’s Plaza de Espana portraying Naboo. Production even reached as far as Australia, with some work taking place at Fox Studios in Sydney.

Tunisia’s filming renaissance continued with Revenge of the Sith in 2005 and Fox Studios, as well as England’s Borehamwood and Shepperton, hosted some action for that film. To complete an eclectic mix of locations, second units were also sent to capture imagery in Thailand, China, Sicily, and Switzerland.

Wherever your travels take you in years to come, the chances are you won’t be too far from a Star Wars filming location.

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