Star Wars: The Last Jedi (SPOILERS)

[Diddly]

I guess it's already time for a thread for Episode VIII since things are already rolling along for it.

Rian Johnson to write, direct Episode VIII

[Jesse James]

Who?

[Greg]

Who?

Director of Looper and a handful Breaking Bad episodes. Not a lengthy resume but I enjoyed Looper, so I look forward to seeing what he does with Star Wars.

[Rob]

I really love Brick, and Brothers Bloom was really great too, but I'm not sold on the idea of Rian Johnson being the guy to take over Star Wars unless JJ Abrams is still going to be heavily involved.

[Pete_Fett]

I really love Brick, and Brothers Bloom was really great too, but I'm not sold on the idea of Rian Johnson being the guy to take over Star Wars unless JJ Abrams is still going to be heavily involved.

Agreed re: taking over for JJ Abrams.

The only thing that this news report has me concerned about is that maybe Disney execs aren't happy with what JJ is doing and have plans on him being a one-and-done director.

Almost seems like they should be looking over to their corporate-cousins at Marvel and take what that team is doing RIGHT and put a Kevin Feige-type person in charge of the whole thing.

[Rob]

I doubt Disney is unhappy.  Even if Johnson does end up taking over, I'd bet my left arm that Abrams stays on as executive producer.

[Muftak]

I liked Looper quite a bit more than I expected to. I am ok with this so far.

This will give the ST a chance to have a different feel from episode to episode. That is good, it gives us another chance at a really wowing experience like ESB turned out to be. Not to make too many undue comparisons, but the two Trek movies were very similar, and the second couldn have used a fresh approach IMHO.

[Jeff]

Episode 8 Update:

"Iger confirmed that Rian Johnson will write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII. The film, which continues the saga after the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is set for release on May 26, 2017 — forty years and a day after the release of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. Johnson is widely considered one of cinema’s most gifted young filmmakers, having directed the modern sci-fi classic, Looper, as well as Brick and The Brothers Bloom. He was also behind the camera for three episodes of the critically-acclaimed TV series Breaking Bad, including “Ozymandias,” which series creator Vince Gilligan named as the best installment of the show. Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman, producer of Looper, Don Jon, Brick, and The Brothers Bloom, are on board to produce."

[P-Siddy]

Hopefully, Disney and Hasbro are smart enough to have a movie line for episode 8 and one for the 40th anniversary of A New Hope.

[Jesse James]

Hmmm, tough to do two lines at once like that though, I'm afraid. 

I dig the timing though, and I think that kind of movie release date, for Star Wars, just makes more sense than December.  I hope they stick to it, ultimately.  I've not been wild about the December release.

All the story leaks and spoiler crap that is going to be flying around, with a movie every year, is going to be ridiculous I think.

[Matt_Fury]

Going to be a busy month with whatever Marvel movie is coming out at the beginning of the month.

[Jeff]

It'll be a busy start to 2017 for sure - Disney has 3 big sequels in a six week span...

05-05-2017 - Guardians of the Galaxy 2
05-26-2017 - Episode 8
06-16-2017 - Toy Story 4

[Diddly]

‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ Eyes Benicio Del Toro to Play Villain

[Rob]

It'll be a busy start to 2017 for sure - Disney has 3 big sequels in a six week span...

05-05-2017 - Guardians of the Galaxy 2
05-26-2017 - Episode 8
06-16-2017 - Toy Story 4

That doesn't seem smart to me, but what do I know.  Wouldn't you want to stagger that a bit more?

[Nicklab]

Benicio del Toro sounds like he is confirmed to be in Episode VIII.  And principal photography commences in March of 2016.