It's surprising to think that EPISODE VII is already two years old, with EPISODE VIII: THE LAST JEDI just months away from release. Even more surprising is we've had no real trailers or posters or anything up to this point.
However, at the Scale – Future of Tech and Entertainment conference, Disney CEO Bob Iger had a few things to say about the mysterious film:
I’ve seen [Episode VIII] and VIII is quite good…It picks up where VII left off. We’re really excited about it. I can’t disclose much about because that’s not what we do…[Also Leia]appears throughout VIII. And what I can say about that is, we’re not changing VIII to deal with her passing…So her performance, which we’re really pleased with, remains as it was in VIII…In Rogue One we created digitally a few characters. One had been an actor who actually passed away and was in an earlier Star Wars film….We’re not doing that with Carrie.”
So…still not much. However, I guess it is a relief Fisher won't be getting the CGI puppet routine (though I thought Tarkin was done well in ROGUE ONE.)
He also had some extra deetz on the new YOUNG HAN SOLO film:
That picks up Han Solo when he was 18 years old and takes him through when he was 24…There were a few things that happened [that were] significant in Han Solo’s life, like acquiring a certain vehicle and meeting a certain Wookiee, that will happen in this film. But you’ll also discover how he got his name.
How he got his name? Ugh. Does everything need an origin story now?
Iger also revealed that they have a plan for STAR WARS after EPISODE IX that could go on for "another decade and a half". I don't know, I keep having that saying "too much of a good thing" running through my head. No idea why…
Either way, EPISODE VIII: THE LAST JEDI will do sweet lightsaber tricks in theaters December 15th, 2017, while YOUNG HAN SOLO will smuggle into theaters May 25th, 2018