Star Wars Episode 8 Filming Begins

LUCASFILM

‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ filming officially underway: Disney CEO - Fear not, impatient “Star Wars” fans: There’s a lightsaber at the end of the tunnel.

Filming for the already eagerly awaited sequel to “The Force Awakens” — the Rian Johnson-directed “Star Wars: Episode VIII” — is officially underway, Disney CEO Bob Iger told investors recently.

“There is no better way to propel this franchise into the future than producing quality products,” Iger said during the quarterly earnings call, according to Entertainment Weekly.

“Filming of Star Wars: Episode VIII, the next chapter of the legendary saga, has just commenced and it will be in theaters December 2017.”

Preliminary shooting had already begun on “Episode VIII,” which will continue the adventures of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Luke (Mark Hamill), only with Johnson (“Looper,” “Breaking Bad”) taking over the writing and directing reins from J. J. Abrams.

Production on 2019’s “Episode IX,” helmed by director Colin Trevorrow (“Jurassic World”), has also begun, Iger added.

And filming for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the standalone film about rebel spies set to be released Dec. 16, is “virtually completed,” said the CEO.