Director Rian Johnson wants everyone to feel the Force thrumming from a galaxy far far away, announcing on Feb. 15 that production for "Star Wars: Episode VIII" has officially begun. The best part is that the announcement came with a short video which picks up where "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" left off, on the island where Rey and Luke Skywalker find themselves face-to-face.
The second installment in the newest "Star Wars" trilogy will see the return of Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill from the original trilogy and John Boyega, Gwendoline Christie, Anthony Daniels, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Daisy Ridley and Andy Serkis from Director J.J. Abrams' "The Force Awakens."
The official "Star Wars" website also announced that "Episode VIII" is welcoming new cast members Benicio del Toro and Laura Dern, as well as newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. There were no confirmed information as to which side of the Force the three new characters will take, however, there were some speculations that del Toro had been offered the top villain role. If that is the case, then we all might just see Kylo Ren reporting to him soon.
"Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII," the announcement said.
Watch the short but Force-heavy production announcement video below:
We all already know that Harrison Ford's Han Solo was killed by Kylo Ren in "The Force Awakens" but it seems, with the released list of returning cast members, he will not be making even a short ghostly appearance in "Episode VIII." Then again, filming has just begun. We will all just have to wait until the end of 2017 before we know for sure.
"Star Wars: Episode VIII" will be unleashed in cinemas on Dec. 15, 2017.
