Let the speculation begin. Disney released the first production trailer for “Star Wars: Episode VIII” on Monday and announced that filming is underway at Pinewood Studios outside London.
The video doesn’t give away any obvious clues, but it focuses on Rey’s meeting with Luke Skywalker at the end of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” A post on the “Star Wars” Facebook page officially welcomes new members to the cast.
“We are thrilled to announce Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern and Kelly Marie Tran will join Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill and director Rian Johnson for Star Wars: Episode VIII, which begins shooting at London’s Pinewood Studio today. May the Force be with you, always,” the post said.
Mark Hamill joked that Luke Skywalker still doesn’t have any lines in the clip.
An adventure just beginning…. #StillNoDialogue #RianHasMoreLinesThanMe #Wait4VIII #StarWars #StarWarsEpVIII https://t.co/rdQ9cxFApe
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) February 15, 2016
Boyega’s Finn doesn’t make an appearance in the clip, so the BAFTA-winning star offered a teaser of his own.
First day on Star Wars 8 complete ! We must face them! Fight them!
— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) February 15, 2016
Fans instantly started trying to guess where the new faces will fit in the “Star Wars” universe, and many speculated that Del Toro would be a Sith villain.
@lastoneloses @ShugZ I like Star Wars, I llike Rian Johnson, I like Laura Dern so this must be great news. Maybe Dern will play a Wookie?
— Amouseduh (@vampexplosion) February 15, 2016
I really hope Benicio Del Toro is a Sith. That'd be sick.
— Dominick Rabrun (@CountBlackula) February 15, 2016
…And Del Toro was born to be a #StarWars villain.
— Tom Warwick (@tombmwarwick) February 15, 2016
We won’t get any real answers for a while. “Star Wars” producers are notoriously tight-lipped and the movie won’t hit theaters until December 2017.
There may also be some hints in the “Star Wars” spinoff film “Rogue One,” which opens this year on December 16.
