Instead of being filmed in a galaxy far far away, the next Star Wars movie could be shot at Elstree Studios.

It was confirmed this week that the seventh science fiction film would be filmed in the UK - and film buffs hope this means it will return to its original home in the Shenley Road studios.

Director George Lucas started filming the original Star Wars on July 16, 1976 at Stage Eight.

Borehamwood film historian Paul Welsh said: “It has a nostalgic link to Elstree and it would be wonderful for the village if Star Wars was to return.

“It would be good fun. It’s now a matter of keeping our fingers crossed about it.

“It certainly put Elstree on the map back in the day. It was a hugely successful film, but the only thing is they need to make sure they have the right amount of set space in Elstree.”

Up until the first movie was made, many thought science fiction was dead after the original Star Trek television series ended - but Mr Lucas helped revive the genre and Star Wars quickly became a blockbuster.

The films tell the story about the struggle between Darth Vader's evil empire and rebel hero Luke Skywalker.

In 2005, Rick McAllum, the producer of Star Wars Epsiode III: Revenge of the Sith spent two weeks shooting the film and two other prequels at the studios.

At the time, he told the Elstree & Borehamwood Times: “We could have shot anywhere in the world, but Elstree is our home.

“Usually we come back two or three times. We like it. We like being in Elstree, we like shooting there and we have a lot of friends here.”

Officials are set to confirm whether the film will be making a return to Elstree in the next week.