The title for Star Wars: Episode VIII has been locked in since the first draft

Director Rian Johnson has had the title for Star Wars: Episode VIII locked in since his first draft of the film a couple of years ago…

Star Wars: Episode VIII is the most anticipated film of 2017, and despite there being only 10 days in this new year, the hype and fan excitement for the film is at an all time high. Recently, USA Today had the honor of talking to Star Wars: Episode VIII director, Rian Johnson, and learned that the film will greatly focus on Luke Skywalker’s decision to go into exile before The Force Awakens.

More news has come out of the USA Today interview with Johnson, and it would appear as if the director has known what the title for Star Wars: Episode VIII would be, ever since he completed the first draft of the film.

"The director knows it. In fact, he’s had it locked in his mind ever since he started working on Episode VIII a couple of years ago. “It was in the very first draft I wrote,” Johnson says. So how bad does he want to get that big secret off his chest? “I’ll just blurt it out right now!” he jokes. “All in good time, my friend.”"

That’s very exciting news, as Star Wars fans have been trying to theorize what the title of the Episode VIII would be, for almost a year now. This isn’t the only piece of new that Johnson revealed to USA Today, as we also learned that the film’s tone will emphasize fun.

Image Credit: Lucasfilm

"“I want it to be a blast and to be funny and to be a ride the way The Force Awakens and the original Star Wars movies were.”"

Star Wars fans will also learn more about the heroes of The Force Awakens, and that means we will get more than a quick backstory.

"“I wanted to know more about each of them, and that doesn’t just mean information or backstory. Figure out what’s the most difficult thing each of them could be challenged with now — let’s throw that at them and dig into what really makes them tick by seeing how they handle that.”"

Image Credit: Lucasfilm

Rey (Daisy Ridley) will develop a strong connection to Luke Skywalker. I guess it’s time to dust off those theories about Rey being Luke’s daughter. Johnson even uses the word “familial,” when referencing the character of Rey, and how he approached her and Luke’s relationship in Star Wars: Episode VIII.

"“Both not knowing what’s going to happen and also having a lot of expectations in her head about how this is going to go, it very much feels like what we all go through in adolescence, the dawning of this new chapter of our lives.”"

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This all sounds very exciting, and to be quite honest, I did not expect Johnson to be so forthcoming with information regarding Episode VIII, this early on. With the 2017 Star Wars Celebration happening in April, and with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy’s comments regarding seeing the first trailer for the film in the Spring, I would hazard a guess that we will be getting a trailer and title confirmation in early April, in Orlando. Star Wars: Episode VIII is set to hit theaters worldwide on December 15, this year.

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