Ever since the "Star Wars" franchise came back to life a few years ago, people have poured over every detail about every coming movie. One of the most important details for "Episode 8" was announced on Monday by Lucasfilm, the one everybody has been waiting for since "The Force Awakens" -- the name of the next installment of the franchise.
The name is...
"The Last Jedi" will be hitting theaters on December 15, 2017. The name is particularly prescient because of its referral to the title of the sixth installment of the franchise, "Return of the Jedi." Just two movies later, it seems as if the Jedi of the Star Wars universe are in trouble, which people projected as a potential storyline for "Episode 8" due to the history of the franchise.
In the original Star Wars franchise, which the current trilogy appears to be molded after, things looked pretty bleak for the heroes in the middle installment. In "The Empire Strikes Back," Han Solo was captured, Luke found out about the truth of his past (and lost an arm), and Darth Vader appeared to be pulling all of the strings. The name of "Episode 8" suggests a similar plot could be followed by the latest movie.
Sparse details
Very little is known about the details of "Star Wars Episode 8," including the plot the new name could be referencing. "The Last Jedi" could be Luke, who is a known Jedi and was discovered in his exile at the end of the previous installment in the trilogy. It could also be Rey, who became the hero in "The Force Awakens" and is clearly sensitive to the force, but does not have any knowledge of the Jedi lifestyle yet.
It could even be Kylo Ren, the evil Sith Lord.
What is known is the release date, the casting, and some of the personnel involved in the film. John Williams will be back to score the film, while Rian Johnson ("Looper") will direct "Episode 8" and the following "Star Wars" trilogy installment as well. With the name out in the open, fans can begin to speculate and get excited for what's to come in December.
