With production having recently wrapped on the next installment of the
Star Wars saga, Rian Johnson joined the many others at Star Wars Celebration this weekend, and while we didn't get a title reveal for
Episode VIII, Johnson did offer some small tidbits about his time filming the movie.
Star Wars has been well-known for having a time skip in between installments, usually a year at the very least.
Episode VIII, however, will be breaking tradition after the (literal) cliffhanger ending of
The Force Awakens.
“For the first time, this movie is going to start where the last one left off.” said Johnson.
Johnson admitted that his first day on set was quite surreal, given his immense love for the franchise since he was a child.
“It was an incredible experience on many different levels. You come into it with those feelings of deep nostalgia, but then you realize you have to get over that.” Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy also praised Johnson's direction.
“Watching him on set, Rian moves the camera as well as Steven Spielberg.”
When speaking on continuing the main storyline, Johnson referred to
The Force Awakens as
“an incredible explosion of adventure,” while saying that
Episode VIII will instead be more character-driven. Johnson said some of his influences were
Three Outlaw Samurai and
12 O’Clock High. Johnson also shared a few images from the set, including a new snap of Skellig Michael (the set for Ach-To, where Rey finds Luke Skywalker), a visit from
Star Wars: Rebels showrunner Dave Filoni, and a reveal that
Rogue One director Gareth Edwards will have a cameo appearance in the film.
Are you excited for
Episode VIII? Sound off with your comments, and be sure to check out the released photos below, along with a video interview courtesy of Flicks And The City!