'Star Wars 7' News, Cast Revealed in August?: Disney's 2013 'D23 Expo' to Focus Heavily on 2015's 'Episode VII,' No Comic-Con Panel

Although there will not be any special panels at this year's Comic-Con for Star Wars: Episode VII, the bi-annual Disney convention, D23 Expo, will be debuting Star Wars to the Disney world. Running from August 9 - 11, D23 Expo will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in California and will introduce the J.J. Abrams-directed project as a main attraction for the convention. Though most fans are disappointed that there won't be any panels at Comic-Con, this specialized Expo might serve as the unveiling of cast members and plot details for the highly anticipated movie!

Here is the press release announcement from Disney and Lucasfilm:

"Star Wars at D23 Expo! - For the first time at the D23 Expo, Star Wars fans can have access to experiences created for them by Lucasfilm and Disney. Darth Vader: The Evolution of a Villain, located in the DCP pavilion, showcases the development of the iconic villain from early concepts to striking realization. Crash Course in the Force: Star Wars Saga 101, presented by Lucasfilm's resident authority Pablo Hidalgo in Stage 23, will give Star Wars newbies and experts alike a thorough grounding in all matters of the Force and the Star Wars legacy."

Considering this is a Disney-centric event, the D23 Expo is perhaps a better convention to debut any information for the upcoming film. If there were to be any big announcements, which plenty of insiders are claiming there will be, Disney and Lucasfilm would feel more comfortable doing it at their own event.

Of course, there have been no confirmed characters, plot details or actors for Episode VII, so whoever shows up will definitely be a surprise. Original trilogy actors Carrie Fisher, Mark Hammil and Harrison Ford are already rumored to be cast in the new sequel, so they might be at the expo in August. Fans will definitely enjoy the old characters returning, but interest is sure to be focused on the new characters.

Do you have any predictions for the Star Wars panel at this year's D23 Expo?