‘Star Wars: Episode 8’ Reportedly Begins Production In Ireland, Expected To Film In May

As we eagerly wait for the DVD and Blu-Ray release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” fans are already looking ahead to the next installment in the trilogy. Despite its release date being more than a year away, “Star Wars: Episode VIII” has already began some long-term film preparations in Ireland, the country that played home to many iconic moments from “The Force Awakens.”

According to Irish entertainment news site RTÉ, Disney and Lucasfilm have already been cleared to film on the Ceann Sibéal at the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula. According to the outlet, contractors have started setting up a temporary metal roadway that will help shuttle crew and equipment to the summit for filming, which reportedly doesn’t begin in full until May. Although the Irish Film Board wasn’t able to directly comment on the film’s production, the outlet reports that locals have been told that filming will take place over the course of two weeks, with more than enough time to spare before the Dec. 15, 2017 release date of the film.

Not much is known about the next installment in the trilogy as the studio is keeping all details under a tight lock and key. In fact, the movie is such a mystery at this point that it doesn’t even have an official title. However, CinemaBlend believes it has uncovered two possible titles for the film, including “Tale of the Jedi Temple” and “The Order of the Dark Side.” Sadly, the outlet reports all rumors indicate the official title won't be revealed until the unofficial fan celebration date of May 4, 2016 (May the fourth be with you).

At this point, only the most important members of the production are privy to information on what the movie is about. Speaking to Variety in December, Rey actress Daisy Ridley revealed only that she’d read the script and thought it was good. She stopped short of giving any details as to what will happen in the movie. However, given the teaser at the very end of “The Force Awakens,” fans have a pretty good idea.

Unfortunately, the production in Ireland doesn’t yield too many clues as to what to expect from the upcoming movie. Although the country was featured in “The Force Awakens,” the new movie won’t be filming in the exact same location, meaning it’s impossible to tell if director Rian Johnson has plans to bring the characters back to a previously seen location or not.

Fans will simply have to wait until “Star Wars: Episode VIII” gets closer to its release date for more information on the film. However, there’s still the anthology film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” debuting before the next installment in the trilogy. So fans have a lot of “Star Wars” coming between now and 2017.