Time for the Star Wars: Episode VIII countdown

Yes, I realize it’s been just a couple of months since we all contributed to making Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens the highest grossing domestic film of all time (and counting), but now it’s time to start shifting gears to the next big major event on the Star Wars calendar.

Sorry Rogue One, you’ll be an entertaining little diversion come December, but the next big deal for Hollywood is Star Wars: Episode VIII, which began principal photography at Pinewood Studios in London today.

Predictably details are sparse save this quick summary by Walt Disney Pictures: Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII.

Rian Johnson (Looper) will be handling the next installment as both writer and director, which will see Force Awakens stars Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. They’ll be joined by Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award® nominee Laura Dern and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.

I’m really hoping Del Toro has a more significant role than Max Von Sydow, whose casting had me tremendously excited only for him to have just a minor cameo in Force Awakens.

And this time, no joke, Mark Hamill will actually probably say something this time out too.