The Force Awakens crushed it in 2015, giving Disney a record-breaking $2.9 billion for the final quarter of the year. As such, one could easily expect Disney to want to begin shooting on the second film in this new trilogy underway as soon as possible.

Episode VIII (official name unconfirmed) also has a new director, as JJ Abrams stepped aside for Rian Johnson (Looper). Johnson was initially scheduled to get filming underway last month, but for unknown reasons, it had to be pushed back a full month. Now, it has been confirmed via a recent investor call that principle photography has begun in Pinewood Studios in London, the same studio where parts of The Force Awakens were filmed. At the moment, Episode VIII's release date still remains 15 December 2017.

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, divulged the news in the aforementioned investor call, while also providing an update for the upcoming Rogue One film. Iger noted that production is almost complete on the Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) helmed movie. There was also good news for Han Solo fans, as Iger said the spin-off film about our favourite intergalactic smuggler will be released in May 2018.