News from Star Wars Celebration

Sunday’s final panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe revealed a lot of new information about the future of Star Wars, though we still have a long wait for Episode VIII. Highlights included talk with Episode VIII’s director Rian Johnson, behind-the-scenes photos, and the official reveal of young Han Solo.

Rian Johnson received high praises from Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who compared him to Steven Spielberg. Johnson explained that VIII is going to focus more on the characters, and he paid special focus to getting to know both the actors and the characters.

Behind the Scenes of Episode VIII

While the filmmakers were understandably (and frustratingly) tight-lipped about what is going to happen in the next film, we did get a few nuggets of information to help spur rumors and speculation as we wait for the December 15, 2017 release of Episode VIII.

Johnson revealed that he wanted to see what happened right after the end of The Force Awakens – and so that’s exactly what he did. Unlike any other Star Wars film before, Episode VIII will pick up right where TFA left off. Fans will get to witness Han Solo’s funeral, as revealed by Princess Leia herself, Carrie Fisher, at the Princess Diaries panel.

When John Boyega (Finn) appeared on the panel, questions arose as to Finn’s fate. At the end of The Force Awakens, Finn was unconscious. Johnson joked that the idea of cutting to a comatose Finn was batted around, though Boyega assured everyone that Finn is okay.

Alden Ehrenreich was officially announced as young Han Solo at SWCE

Finally, the panel switched gears to the upcoming Han Solo film. Over the past months, rumors over who will step into Harrison Ford’s shoes as the charming smuggler have been flying around. Alden Ehrenreich was finally officially introduced to the world as Han Solo. Though Lucasfilm and Disney did not confirm the casting until Sunday’s panel, several sources reported that Ehrenreich nabbed the part back in April and May.

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller had nothing but excitement about their Han Solo venture. Their talk revealed nothing about plot (sadly), but their insights on the character of Han Solo proved that the film is in good hands.

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