Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Cast

Other cast members include Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo, both returning to portray Chewbacca, Mike Quinn as Nien Nunb, Timothy M. Rose as Admiral Ackbar, Billie Lourd as Lieutenant Connix, and Simon Pegg as Unkar Plutt, all of whom are reprising their roles. Jimmy Vee will play R2-D2. Tom Hardy and Gary Barlow will make cameo appearances as stormtroopers. Gareth Edwards, director of the Star Wars Anthology film Rogue One, has a cameo in the film. Warwick Davis and Noah Segan have been cast in unspecified roles.

Development

In October 2012, Star Wars creator George Lucas sold his production company Lucasfilm, and with it the Star Wars franchise, to The Walt Disney Company. Disney announced a new trilogy of Star Wars films. J. J. Abrams was named director of the first episode in the trilogy, The Force Awakens, in January 2013. In June 2014, director Rian Johnson was reported to be in talks to write and direct its sequel, dubbed Episode VIII, and to write a treatment for the third film, Episode IX, with Ram Bergman producing both films. Johnson confirmed in August 2014 that he would direct Episode VIII. In September, filmmaker Terry Gilliam asked Johnson about what it felt like to take over something that was made famous by another filmmaker, to which Johnson responded:

I'm just starting into it, but so far, honestly, it's the most fun I've ever had writing. It's just joyous. But also for me personally, I grew up not just watching those movies but playing with those toys, so as a little kid, the first movies I was making in my head were set in this world. A big part of it is that direct connection, almost like an automatic jacking back into childhood in a weird way. But I don't know, ask me again in a few years and we'll be able to talk about that.

According to Johnson, the story begins immediately after the last scene of The Force Awakens. He had his story group watch films such as Twelve O'Clock High, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Gunga Din, Three Outlaw Samurai, Sahara, and Letter Never Sent for inspiration while developing ideas. He felt it was difficult to work on the film while The Force Awakens was being finished. In December 2015, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy admitted that "we haven't mapped out every single detail [of the sequel trilogy] yet". She said that Abrams was collaborating with Johnson and that Johnson would in turn work with Episode IX director Colin Trevorrow to ensure a smooth transition. Abrams is an executive producer along with Jason McGatlin and Tom Karnowski. The film's title, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, was announced by Lucasfilm on January 23, 2017.

Casting

In September 2015, Disney shortlisted the female cast members to Gina Rodriguez, Tatiana Maslany, and Olivia Cooke. Later that month, Benicio del Toro confirmed that he will play the villain in the film, and Mark Hamill was also confirmed. In October 2015, Gugu Mbatha-Raw was rumored to have been cast in the film. In November, Jimmy Vee was cast as R2-D2. In November, Kennedy announced at the London premiere for Star Wars: The Force Awakens that the entire cast would return for Episode VIII, along with "a handful" of new cast members. In February 2016, at the start of filming, it was confirmed that Laura Dern and Kelly Marie Tran had been cast in unspecified roles.

Filming

Second unit photography began during pre-production at Skellig Michael in Ireland on September 14, 2015, due to the difficulties of filming at that location during other seasons. It would have lasted four days, but filming was canceled for the first day due to poor weather and rough conditions. In November 2014, Ivan Dunleavy, chief executive of Pinewood Studios, confirmed that the film would be shot at Pinewood, with filming also occurring in Mexico. In September 2015, del Toro revealed that principal photography would begin in March 2016; however, Kennedy later stated that filming would begin in January 2016. The production began work on the 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios on November 15, 2015. Rick Heinrichs served as production designer.

In January 2016, production of Episode VIII was delayed until February 2016, due to script rewrites. Additionally, filming was potentially in danger of being delayed further due to an upcoming strike between the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television and the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union. On February 10, 2016, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that principal photography had begun, under the working title space Bear. Additional filming took place in Dubrovnik from March 9 to March 16, 2016, as well as in Ireland in May. Malin Head in Donegal County and a mountain headland, Ceann Sibeal in County Kerry, served as additional filming locations. Principal photography wrapped on July 22, 2016, though as of early September 2016, Nyong'o had not filmed her scenes.

Music

In July 2013, Kennedy announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe that John Williams would return to score the Star Wars sequel trilogy. At a Tanglewood concert in August 2016, Williams confirmed he is scheduled to start scoring Episode VIII. Williams said he would begin recording the score "off and on" in December 2016 until March or April 2017. On February 21, 2017, it was confirmed that recording was underway, with Williams conducting, and that instead of having Williams compose over the final product like in most productions, Rian Johnson would instead let him finish the music, and then edit the film based on the score.

Release

In January 2015, Disney CEO Bob Iger stated that Episode VIII would be released in 2017, and in March, Lucasfilm announced a release date of May 26, 2017. In January 2016, The Last Jedi was rescheduled for December 15, 2017 in 3D and IMAX 3D. On January 23, 2017, the film's title was announced as Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Similarly to The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, "Episode VIII" will be included in the film's opening crawl, although not in its official title.

Sequel

Episode IX, the final installment of the sequel trilogy, is scheduled for a 2019 release. It will be directed by Colin Trevorrow, with a story treatment by Johnson. On February 10, 2016, Disney chairman Bob Iger confirmed that pre-production of Episode IX had begun. Cinematographer John Schwartzman is planning on using 65 mm film. Variety reported that prior to her death in December 2016, Carrie Fisher had been expected to appear in Episode IX. In January 2017, Lucasfilm stated that there were no plans to digitally generate Fisher's performance for the film, as they had for Rogue One. Principal photography of Star Wars: Episode IX is set to begin in July 2017.