Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi

"Rian [Johnson] is definitely going to places and investigating things that haven't really been done in the 'Star Wars' universe. For me, it's so fun getting to explore different things that I wouldn't have expected in this universe. In some ways it feels like we're making an independent film. Certain things we get to play with – this kind of intimacy that we get to find – it's special. It's been really fun."

- Oscar Isaac

Star Wars: Episode VIII is the upcoming eighth film in the Star Wars saga. It is the second film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and the ninth live-action installment in the franchise overall. The film, which is currently in production, is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. The film sees the return of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. New cast members include Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and Kelly Marie Tran.

The film will pick up right where Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens left off. It is currently in production at Pinewood Studios, scheduled to be released in theaters on December 15, 2017.

Development
Unofficial reports claimed in November 2012 that Lawrence Kasdan&mdash;who originally wrote the screenplays for both Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi&mdash;and Simon Kinberg would divide writing responsibilities for Star Wars Episodes VIII and IX, and both would co-produce all three films of the upcoming sequel trilogy, alongside Kathleen Kennedy. However, in February 2013, Disney confirmed that Kasdan and Kinberg were working on standalone films, not main saga films. On June 20, 2014, a spokesperson for director Rian Johnson confirmed that he would write and direct Episode VIII, as well as pen a story treatment for Star Wars: Episode IX. Ram Bergman, Johnson's frequent collaborator, was also confirmed to be brought onto the project as a producer, working alongside Kathleen Kennedy. To prepare for Episode VIII, Johnson and crew screened select classic films such as Twelve O'Clock High and Letter Never Sent. While writing the script, Johnson had meetings with The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams, who showed him dailies as well as an edit of the unfinished film. Acording to Abrams' friend Greg Grunberg, Abrams was so impressed by the script that he regretted not directing it. John Boyega also claimed that the script was "darker" than the one for The Force Awakens.

On August 7, 2014, it was reported that actress Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey in The Force Awakens, may reprise her role in both Episodes VIII and IX. On October 16, 2014, at the opening of the new Industrial Light & Magic facility in London, ILM President Lynwen Brennan confirmed that Star Wars: Episode VIII would be filmed in London. On March 12, 2015, Disney chairman Bob Iger originally announced the release date for Episode VIII of May 26, 2017, forty years and one day after the release of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, but the release date was later pushed back to December 15, 2017.

Production
Preliminary filming took place in September 2015 on Skellig Michael, an island off the coast of mainland Ireland that was first used for The Force Awakens in 2014. Before leaving, the crew donated €10,000 to the ferry service that had transported them to-and-from the island. Production officially began in England in February 2016, under the working title of "Space Bear". From March 9-16, production took place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, followed by a return to Ireland for twelve weeks in County Cork. Many of the same propmakers from Episode VII returned to work on the next film in the saga.

Music
During a concert with the Young Musician's Foundation Debut Orchestra on February 9, 2013 composer John Williams stated that he was hoping to get the chance to write the musical scores for the entire new trilogy. It was implied in Star Wars Insider 144 that he would score the entire "new Star Wars trilogy," but Lucasfilm clarified that he has only been confirmed for Episode VII.