Episode VIII Gets Production Teaser & Full Cast List

Any real Episode VIII information has been few and far between, but now Disney has announced that the next movie is officially in principal photography, along with a full cast list.

We are thrilled to announce that #StarWars: #EpisodeVIII has begun principal photography at Pinewood Studios! https://t.co/4Lu9A6x1rt

— Star Wars (@starwars) February 15, 2016

In a short but sweet trailer, the studio shows off Luke Skywalker, Rey, and one of the final shots from The Force Awakens. The teaser also points to the fact that in Episode VIII will pick up right where VII left off, with the two face-to-face for the first time. In the brief trailer, writer and director Rian Johnson welcome the cast and crew back to the set, to continue the Star Wars saga:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52KIRVufQKw[/embedyt]

Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is written and directed by Rian Johnson and continues the storylines introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, welcomes back cast members 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 will include Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award nominee Laura Dern, and talented newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.

It isn’t too surprising to see everyone’s favorite swashbuckling smuggler absent from the list, but it appears as though almost all other characters will be returning. The new additions will hopefully be as impactful and entertaining as the Force Awakens newcomers were. Seeing another real newcomer in Tran is exciting as well. Personally, I feel like bringing in new or “unknown” actors is exciting and really adds to the continuation and passing of the torch in the Star Wars universe.

After a delay to its release date, more cast and details are sure to be announced. Look for the next story from a galaxy far, far away, to hit theaters December 15, 2017.