Meanwhile, the upcoming “Star Wars” trilogy consisting of Episode VII, Episode VIII, and Episode IX was announced as early as October 2012. J.J. Abrams, who also directed “Star Trek” and “Star Trek: Into the Darkness” directed “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” which will hit cinemas on December 18.
The “Looper” director Rian Johnson was earlier confirmed to be in charge of “Stars Wars 8.” Just like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” filming for Episode 8 will take place at Pinewood Studios in London. Filming is set to begin next year and is slated for a May 2017 release with major characters in Episode VII returning.
“Star Wars The Force Awakens,” the first movie in the planned new trilogy, does not come out until the end of this year, but Disney and Lucasfilm are already underway with the continuation of the epic space opera with the next two films. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” comes 10 years after the last “Star Wars” movie came out, which was “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.”
The upcoming “Star Wars” film stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis and Max von Sydow. Also returning to the franchise are Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker. The events of the latest film will occur 30 years after 1983’s “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.”