While news about reshoots continue to hang over Rogue One: A Star Wars Story like a dark cloud, it looks like Star Wars Episode 8 production will wrap up by the end of the month. Star Mark Hamill was quick to take the news to Twitter and shared the final day of shooting:
It wraps on Friday July 22nd 2016 #LooseLipsSinkStarships #W8ForVIII #DontBeAHomer #PatienceMyPadawans #Rogue1Sooner https://t.co/92syo6m36d
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) July 2, 2016
Star Wars Episode VIII principle photography only began back in February and Director Rian Johnson has taken the cast and crew to sets in Croatia, England and Ireland to tell the story of Rey's under the apprenticeship of the legendary Luke Skywalker. Given Episode 8's release date in December 2017, Hamill's announcement tells us that the movie is well, well ahead of schedule.
That said, this doesn't mean that Star Wars Episode 8 is immediately ready for theaters by July 22 – reshoots and pickups will no doubt take place during post-production to give Episode 8 that final polish.
But should we expect a new Star Wars Episode 8 teaser trailer coming soon? I certainly do. Johnson is expected to appear in the "Future Filmmakers' panel at Star Wars Celebration 2016, which will take place in London from July 15 to July 17. Given the timing, we hope to see something to hold us.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters on Dec. 16. Star Wars Episode 8 is expected to arrive Dec. 15, 2017. A new standalone Han Solo Star Wars movie is planned for 2018 and Star Wars Episode 9 is slated for 2019. Finally, Disney is shooting for a third Star Wars anthology movie in 2020.
