Cameras have officially started to roll on Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is being written and directed by Rian Johnson. Disney and Lucasfilm confirmed the exciting news today and added new actors to the cast.
Today’s announcement comes just after Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that filming was getting started. However, the statement on StarWars.com said tht production didn’t start until today at Pinewood Studios in London. Perhaps Iger was just getting ahead of himself.
Mark Hamill, Carrie fisher, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, Anthony Daniels, Domhnall Gleeson and Andy Serkis will all be back. Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie will also be back, in case you were worried about their characters’ fates.
A trio of new faces are joining the Star Wars saga. Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro, who confirmed in August 2015 that he is joining Star Wars, has finally been confirmed. Oscar nominee Laura Dern and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran are also joining the saga.
Lucasfilm also released a 34-second video that showed Johnson and his crew behind a camera, filming a scene that picks up right where The Force Awakens ended. There’s also a new shot of Hamill as a bearded Luke Skywalker.
While J.J. Abrams is not directing, he will be involved as an executive producer with Jason McGatlin and Tom Karnowski. The film will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman.
Episode VIII hits theaters on Dec. 15, 2017.