x3rxes said:

I'd be elated to find out that they'll be relying almost entirely on practical special effects, muppets, etc.

This is the news I would be waiting for. But it would be starting from scratch like the hippie fxguys in 76 who wasted months of time just getting workable motion computers and puppets and etc. ILM destroyed its practical effects department.

The massive optical printer that could do a dozen strips of film compositing all at once- all gone. Last shot was done in 1992, guy who knew the machine best is dead, machine is gone. All replaced by computers.

They would have to rebuild the practical effects department from scratch and that would represent a very brave and radical departure from the current movie industry- could result in ridicule among peers. Seeing as how these new SW movies are set to come out every 2 years instead of 3 I see them using cg like the prequels which is too bad but maybe itll be good cg like jurassic park.