Here's Your First Bit Of Footage From "Star Wars: Episode VIII", Which Literally Started Filming Yesterday

It seems that Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a big enough hit that Disney has agreed to make a sequel. Phew!

Production on Episode VIII kicked off yesterday in London, with director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper) taking over for J.J. Abrams.

Production was announced with the below teaser, featuring our first bit of footage from the new film (which is basically just the last scene of The Force Awakens from a slightly different angle). Spoiler alert?

Note that we are yet to see even a sliver of film from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the spin-off flick due out this Christmas, so take what you can get.

The announcement also revealed the cast list for Episode VIII, including returning favourites Mark Hamill (for real this time), Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie and Andy Serkis.

Benicio Del Toro, who was long-rumoured to be taking a villainous part, was for the first time officially named as a new cast-member, alongside incoming additions Laura Dern and “talented newcomer” Kelly Marie Tran.

Episode VIII: The One Without A Subtitle Right Now, arrives in cinemas December 15, 2017.

Photo: Supplied.