'Star Wars: Episode 8' Release Date & Plot: Cast of 'The Force Awakens' All Returning For Sequel With 'Handful' of New Actors

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"Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" has just arrived in cinemas a few days ago, but it seems that whole "Star Wars" team is not slowing down and will have a short break before filming its next installment of the highly anticipated trilogy, "Star Wars: Episode VIII," directed by Rian Johnson.

"Star Wars" producer Kathleen Kennedy, during the film's premiere in London, confirmed that everyone is returning for Episode VIII. I repeat, everyone. And for those who have seen "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens," this news may be puzzling.

“There will be a handful of new cast members in Episode VIII but also all the cast members you see here tonight will be in it as well," the president of Lucasfilm revealed to Bang Showbiz as quoted by Evening Standard. Kennedy also said that old cast members, as well as new ones like John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, will be back for "Star Wars: Episode VIII."

Movie Pilot was shocked at this announcement because that may mean that (spoiler alert) "somebody may come back from the dead" or make an appearance in a flashback scene. Almost all of the cast members present in the London premiere during Kennedy's announcement has survived, except one, who you will find out when you watch "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."

Meanwhile, Kennedy also revealed that the cast members will not have a longer rest period before filming the next installment as she revealed that they will begin shooting for "Star Wars: Episode VIII" in the New Year. She said, “We're excited to get back together. We start shooting Episode VIII in January, we've been prepping the movie for the last year and (writer-and-director) Rian Johnson has been doing an amazing job."

Talking to Variety, Ridley, one the new members of the "Star Wars" team, praised the script for the second installment of the trilogy, saying, "It’s very good; very good. Let’s see 'VII' first and then we’ll talk about 'VIII.'"

According to Screen Rant, this praise from Ridley even during the early stages of production is a good sign that "Star Wars: Episode VIII" will not disappoint fans and may deliver the same thrill as "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens." The publication notes that the second installment will be "darker" as it will be the bridge, sandwiched between the first and third sequel in the trilogy.

With regards to the massive success of "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens," Kennedy reveals per Evening Standard, “Now the movie opening here (in the UK) and then in the United States on Friday, I'm just about to have that sigh of relief.”