Star Wars: Episode VIII Officially Enters Production

Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII may be arriving later than expected, though Disney CEO Bob Iger recently confirmed that filming for the sci-fi sequel is now underway.

News first came to light earlier today during the company’s investor call, confirming that Episode VIII has set down roots in London to commence principal photography.

Technically speaking, sequences for the next chapter in Disney and Lucasfilm’s rejuvenated franchise have already been captured. Late last year, reports surfaced that Rian Johsnon and Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, plotted course for Skellig Michael – the primordial Irish isle glimpsed during the closing scenes of The Force Awakens – to film what will either be flashback sequences of Luke searching for the all-powerful first Jedi temple, or a continuation of Rey’s first encounter with the wayward Skywalker.

Now that production has officially eased into motion on Star Wars: Episode VIII, Iger released a statement reflecting on the franchise’s ensuring staying power, and that now is as good a time as any to fire up production on the sequel in light of The Force Awakens‘ barnstorming box office success.

“There is no better way to propel this franchise into the future than producing quality products. Filming of Star Wars: Episode VIII, the next chapter of the legendary saga, has just commenced and it will be in theaters December 2017. And production of Episode IX, a 2019 release, has also begun.”

Originally penciled in to arrive in May of next year, Star Wars: Episode VIII will now blast into theaters on December 15, 2017 – causing Avatar 2 and Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One to flee into 2018 in the process.