Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in October 2012. This acquisition marked a seismic shift in the franchise's history and led to the creation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Principal photography began in Abu Dhabi on the 16th of May 2014 and ended on the 3rd of November 2014. Filming also took place at Pinewood Studios, Skellig Michael off the coast of County Kerry Ireland, and the Lake District in northwest England during this period.
Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill returned as early as March 2013 but confirmation came over a year later. These three actors reprised their roles from the original trilogy while new cast members like Daisy Ridley and John Boyega were added by February 2014.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens grossed $936.7 million in United States and Canada plus $1.132 billion elsewhere for total of $2.07 billion. It became the fastest film to surpass $1 billion worldwide doing so in 12 days and made highest-grossing film of 2015.
George Lucas criticized the retro feel because he worked hard to make his films completely different with new planets and spaceships. He stated that Disney was not keen to involve him and that if he got involved, he would just cause trouble because they would not do what he wanted.