MOVIES: Star Wars: The Last Jedi - News Roundup *Updated 10th December 2017*

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10th December 2017 - First Reactions

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is everything. Intense, funny, emotional, exciting. It’s jam-packed with absolutely jaw dropping moments and I loved it so, so much. I’m still shaking. pic.twitter.com/fHddWjo201

— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) December 10, 2017

Luke was right: "This is not going to go the way you think." #TheLastJedi will shatter you - and then make you whole again. pic.twitter.com/PJyYpH5loP

— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) December 10, 2017

#TheLastJedi is absolutely fantastic - gripping, touching, funny and powerful w/ gorgeous shots and the most badass battles. When it gets going, holy crap does it get going. Hands down the best #StarWars movie since Empire pic.twitter.com/nWWAhlNMJo

— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) December 10, 2017

There’s a scene in #StarWars #TheLastJedi that I keep playing over and over in my head, that is so stunning and unexpected that I don’t want to forget how I felt seeing it for the first time. This movie feels unlike any other Star Wars movie in all the ways I hoped. pic.twitter.com/zlDW4yOjp2

— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) December 10, 2017

Guys. @rianjohnson has made the most epic, emotionally powerful @starwars film ever. Hands down. My strong advice is to be very wary of spoilers. The less you know about #TheLastJedi, the better. Bravo, bravo, bravo.

— Clayton Sandell (@Clayton_Sandell) December 10, 2017

#TheLastJedi is incredibly satisfying and hands down Mark Hamill's best performance as Luke Skywalker

— Aaron Couch (@AaronCouch) December 10, 2017

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9th December 2017 - New Featurette - Worlds of The Last Jedi

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6th December 2017 - New Featurette - Droid School

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4th December 2017 - Chinese Trailer

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2nd December 2017 - Promotional Posters

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1st December 2017 - New Featurette - Training

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29th November 2017 - Empire Magazine Covers

Darkness and light feature on @empiremagazine's covers for #TheLastJedi. Which do you prefer? pic.twitter.com/HrOd0VG903

— Star Wars (@starwars) November 30, 2017

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23rd November 2017 - New TV Spot - Back

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22nd November 2017 - New Featurette - Evolution of the Crystal Fox

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21st November 2017 - New TV Spot - Tempt

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19th November 2017 - EW Covers

💥The Last Jedi: Venture into the @starwars galaxy with four new @EW covers: https://t.co/RKCRvEMe9v pic.twitter.com/kV9X9sDoXw

— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) November 19, 2017

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18th November 2017 - New TV Spot - Heroes

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18th November 2017 - New TV Spot - Failed

Thanks to Ivan for the heads up.

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16th November 2017 - New TV Spot - Fight

Thanks to Ivan for the heads up.

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15th November 2017 - New TV Spot - Darkness Rise

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12th November 2017 - New TV Spot

Thanks to Ivan for the heads up.

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1st November 2017 - New TV Spot - Awake

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New Featurette - Directing The Last Jedi
Thanks to Ivan for the heads up.

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9th October 2017 - Trailer & New Poster

Check out the brand new poster for Star Wars: #TheLastJedi and watch the trailer tonight. pic.twitter.com/A4UGpYqoeW

— Star Wars (@starwars) October 10, 2017

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19th September 2017 - New Trailer Release Date Potentially Revealed by Mark Hamill
The tweet, now deleted, seems to imply the trailer release date.

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30th August 2017 - Hungarian Magazine Cover

Végül! Magyarországon fedőfiú vagyok! #TheLastJedi #CantWaitForVIII #HungarianHamster pic.twitter.com/rtJKZL7Vz2

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) August 30, 2017

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10th August 2017 - New Details on Benicio Del Toro's Character + Info on Poe Dameron & Leia

All we know for sure is that Del Toro plays a man who goes by the name “DJ.” And his shabby appearance suggests someone familiar with the underbelly of the galaxy.

We also know that DJ is part of the mission that John Boyega’s Finn and Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose undertake to the wealthy, gambling resort city of Canto Bight. But … do they bring him there? Do they capture him there? Do they free him there?

That’s something the film itself will have to reveal. But as part of our cover story, we also got a closer look at the structure Lucasfilm identities as the exterior of the central casino we’ve seen in other images.

“We just need a codebreaker and he’s the best in the galaxy. Unfortunately, he’s very dodgy and only in it for financial gain. He doesn’t fight for any side,” Boyega says.

Source:

Read More on EW

Although she won’t complete the saga (Lucasfilm says Episode IX is being rewritten out of respect for her passing), Leia’s impact will continue to reverberate.

Despite the hardship, Leia always finds the hope in any given situation. This time, her story is entwined with Poe Dameron, the hotshot X-wing pilot played by Oscar Isaac. Their relationship is not just general and warrior.

“Poe is in some ways a surrogate son for Leia,” Isaac tells EW. “But also I think she sees in him the potential for a truly great leader of the Resistance and beyond.”

“Poe’s arc is one of evolving from a heroic soldier to a seasoned leader, to see beyond the single-mindedness of winning the battle to the larger picture of the future of the galaxy,” Isaac says. “I think Leia knows she won’t be around forever and she, with tough love, wants to push Poe to be more than the badass pilot, to temper his heroic impulses with wisdom and clarity.”

Source:

Read More on EW

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9th August 2017 - New Promotional Photos

Exclusive: New images from #TheLastJedi have arrived: https://t.co/c8Z4jOCY1O #StarWars pic.twitter.com/S64OdCge55

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) August 9, 2017

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9th August 2017 - EW Covers

The force is strong, #StarWars fans! Grab your lightsabers and get exclusive intel on #TheLastJedi: https://t.co/vGt4Dm9pCA pic.twitter.com/TUvk9GMeSV

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) August 9, 2017

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2nd August 2017 - Carrie Fisher Sent Off In an Amazing Way

Leia will get a sendoff fit for a princess in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, John Boyega reassures fans in a new interview.

Speaking with ABC News, the star of the upcoming film Detroit said his fellow Star Wars castmate and late friend, Carrie Fisher, will appear onscreen for the final time in perfect manner.

"This movie, it sends her off in an amazing, amazing way," Boyega told ABC News. "And she is still kept alive in this franchise. That's the beauty of it: She lives forever in a sense."

He also said Leia and Finn have multiple scenes together in director Rian Johnson's Star Wars installment. "We worked together closely on this," he said.

Source:

The Hollywood Reporter

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15th July 2017 - Posters

pic.twitter.com/Xj1L2fvYxQ

— Star Wars (@starwars) July 15, 2017

Finally, Kylo Ren's #TheLastJedi teaser poster is here. In UK cinemas December 14 pic.twitter.com/eV7f7u2ug7

— Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) July 15, 2017

Which word do you find more provocative: "Jedi" or... "Last"? #TheLastJedi #StarWars pic.twitter.com/5VnYB3dXSz

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) July 15, 2017

It's that time of the year pic.twitter.com/ly9GwDDxWh

— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) July 15, 2017

The General. #TheLastJedi pic.twitter.com/rCvQPT8kog

— Star Wars (@starwars) July 15, 2017

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15th July 2017 - BTS Featurette

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24th May 2017 - First Look Photos
Thanks to BowlfullofAwesome for the heads up.

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14th April 2017 - Teaser Trailer + Poster

#TheLastJedi poster has been revealed. #SWCO pic.twitter.com/fqnf1bQtPu

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 14, 2017

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23rd January 2017 - Lucasfilm has announced that the film's title is Star Wars: The Last Jedi

THE OFFICIAL TITLE FOR STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII REVEALED ANNOUNCING THE NAME OF THE NEXT FILM IN THE SKYWALKER SAGA.

We have the greatest fans in this or any other galaxy. In appreciation of the fans, we wanted them to be the first to know the title of the next chapter in the Skywalker saga: STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI.

THE LAST JEDI is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is scheduled for release December 15, 2017.

StarWars.com. All Star Wars, all the time.

Source:

StarWars.com

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13th January 2017 - Lucasfilm Assures Fans They Have No Plans to Digitally Recreate Carrie Fisher's Performance

We don’t normally respond to fan or press speculation, but there is a rumor circulating that we would like to address. We want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess or General Leia Organa.

Carrie Fisher was, is, and always will be a part of the Lucasfilm family. She was our princess, our general, and more importantly, our friend. We are still hurting from her loss. We cherish her memory and legacy as Princess Leia, and will always strive to honor everything she gave to Star Wars.

Source:

Star Wars

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6th January 2017 - Star Wars Team Sets Meeting to Plot Leia's Life After Carrie Fisher's Death

Carrie Fisher's Dec. 27 death has left a disturbance in the Force. Her iconic Princess Leia is set to appear in the next two Star Wars films, and insiders tell The Hollywood Reporter that at least two key scenes are planned for Episode VIII (Dec. 15) and Episode IX (2019): a Leia reunion with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and a confrontation with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), her son who killed Harrison Ford's Han Solo in 2015's The Force Awakens.

Details of where those scenes fit into the movies remain unclear, but insiders say Leia was to have been a bigger part of Episode IX than VIII. Episode VIII director Rian Johnson has finished shooting, but Episode IX doesn't have a start date; both Force Awakens and Episode VIII began production at the beginning of a year so it is very likely that Episode IX will begin shooting in early 2018 for a December 2019 release. And the status of its script, being written by Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly, is unknown. (Disney won't comment.)

Source:

Full Article on THR with More Info

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  1st May - New Set Photos
  
  
  
  You can see more photos here.
  
  
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  14th March 2016 - Photos from the Set
  
  Star wars episode 8 photos
  This dude enjoying himself on set + landspeeder #starwars #StarWarsEpisodeVIII pic.twitter.com/XMSbBuK6C5

  — Mr.Wonderful (@mr1derful1) March 14, 2016

  
  

  Star Wars: Episode VIII Set Pics pic.twitter.com/l8VY0w6dOT

  — TALK TO DA HAND (@CHRISTPRIEZ) March 14, 2016

  
  

  New Star Wars: Episode VIII Aliens, Characters & Creatures Revealedhttps://t.co/kaKupyeTL8 pic.twitter.com/9wDNSpIbS5

  — Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) March 14, 2016

  
  
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  1st March 2016 - Set Photos
  
  
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  15th February - Announcement Press Release
  
  Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII, which began principal photography at Pinewood Studios in London on February 15, 2016.
  
  Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is written and directed by Rian Johnson and continues the storylines introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, welcomes back cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. New cast members will include Academy Award® winner Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award® nominee Laura Dern, and talented newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.
  
  Star Wars: Episode VIII is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin and Tom Karnowski. Joining the production crew will be some of the industry's top talent, including Steve Yedlin (Director of Photography), Bob Ducsay (Editor), Rick Heinrichs (Production Designer), Peter Swords King (Hair and Make-Up Designer), and Mary Vernieu (US Casting Director). They will be joining returning crew members Pippa Anderson (Co-Producer, VP Post Production), Neal Scanlan (Creature & Droid FX Creative Supervisor), Michael Kaplan (Costume Designer), Jamie Wilkinson (Prop Master), Chris Corbould (SFX Supervisor), Rob Inch (Stunt Coordinator), Ben Morris (VFX Supervisor), and Nina Gold (UK Casting Director).
  
  Star Wars: Episode VIII is scheduled for release December 15, 2017.
  
15th February - 2016 - Production Begins - Announcement Video
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  20th January 2016 - Release Date Delayed Until End of 2017
  
  Today, Disney & Lucasfilm announced that #StarWars: Episode VIII will debut on 12/15/17. Stay tuned for updates! https://t.co/GBTCAA0Ibd

  — Star Wars (@starwars) January 20, 2016

  
  
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  10th January 2016 - Rumor - Bel Powley - In the Running For Lead Female Role
  
  Thanks to DarthLocke4 for the heads up.
  
  

  Star Wars: The Force Awakens is already the #1 highest grossing film on the domestic box office charts. And with a release in China this weekend, Disney and Lucasfilm are certainly hoping it has the legs to take the top spot on the international box office charts as well. In the meantime, fans are already eagerly anticipating Star Wars: Episode VIII, to continue the story that began in The Force Awakens. Little is known about the film as of now, but a new rumor has named another potential star for the sequel.
  
  While we previously heard that Beyond the Lights and Jupiter Ascending star Gugu Mbatha-Raw had landed a pivotal role in Episode 8, a new rumor pegs Bel Powley, the breakout star of the Sundance selected Diary of a Teenage Girl, as being in the running for the same role.
  
  Keep in mind that this isn’t a full trade scoop or anything like that. But back in December, Variety reporter Justin Kroll mentioned on Twitter to The Wrap reporter Jeff Sneider that Mbatha-Raw was no longer on board for Episode VIII, despite director Rian Johnson wanting her for the role. And now, nearly a month later, Sneider has taken to the latest episode of Meet the Movie Press to deliver the rumor that Powley is now in the mix for the role.
  
  Let’s not forget that other names such as Orphan Black‘s Tatiana Maslany, Jane the Virgin‘s Gina Rodriguez, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl‘s Olivia Cooke were previously on a shortlist for this mystery role in Star Wars: Episode VIII. Bel Powley in Star Wars Episode VIII is just the latest name rumored for the role. Anything can still happen.
  

  Source:

  SlashFilm
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  2nd October 2015 - Casting Rumor
  
  Thanks to Darthlocke4 for the heads up.
  

  First revealed a few weeks ago, the lead actress shortlist for Star Wars: Episode 8 includes Tatiana Maslany, Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’s Olivia Cooke. That’s a pretty solid list, but a new rumor suggests that another name has been added to it: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, star of last year’s incredibly powerful music drama Beyond the Lights.
  
  Latino Review reports that Mbatha-Raw has joined the shortlist for Star Wars: Episode 8 and goes one further by suggesting that the talented actress has already auditioned for a part. Mbatha-Raw’s addition makes this an even more exciting and diverse shortlist. There are reportedly not one, but two leading roles for women in Episode 8, and both parts are sharing the same list of contenders, which means two of the four women may very well join the cast.
  

  Source:

  Read More on ScreenCrush
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  16th September 2015 - Mark Hamill Reportedly Back on Set
  
  Thanks to Darthlocke4 for the heads up.
  

  Luke Skywalker is reportedly back in action for Star Wars: Episode VIII, according to reports from Ireland.
  
  The Irish Examiner says cast and crew members are gathering in County Kerry to film scenes off the coast on the rocky isle of Skellig Michael, which also served as a location on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Unfortunately, bad weather conditions have reportedly impacted the shoot there.
  
  "A crew of around 100 people and cast members, including Mark Hamill who will reprise his Luke Skywalker role, are expected to be on the boats due to leave Portmagee today at 7am," reports the Examiner, which included a photo of Hamill's son Nathan checking into his local hotel.
  

  Source:

  IGN
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  3rd September 2015 - Benicio del Toro Confirms Villain Role
  
  Thanks to DarthLocke4 for the heads up
  
  

  Speaking with a Spanish outlet at Rac1.org, del Toro was asked what he has coming up on his schedule, and he again confirmed that he has a role in the movie, but added a bit of new information:
  
  “Star Wars is coming up, we will see how that turns out. I think we start shooting in March.”
  
  The reporter followed up by asking what his role would be, hoping for something juicy, but instead del Toro merely said:
  
  “Ehhh, the thing is, they don’t let me talk too much about it. I’m like the villain. But we’ll see.”
  
  StarWars7News notes that the reader who pointed to this interview and translated it to English notes that del Toro’s language indicates uncertainty about his role as the villain. The phrase he uses in the interview is “es como el villano” which translates to ““he is like the villain.” So what does that mean?
  
  Well, it could mean that del Toro is playing a bad guy, but maybe not the primary antagonist. Or perhaps he’s playing somebody who creates some trouble for our heroes in Episode 8, but his allegiance isn’t with The First Order, like a bounty hire who is only doing what he is being paid to do. Less likely is that he’s playing the villain who isn’t really a villain, because there’s no way that del Toro would be authorized to give that away so nonchalantly and so far in advance.
  

  Source:

  SpoilerTV
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  1st September 2015 - Shortlist Includes Gina Rodriguez, Tatiana Maslany, Olivia Cooke for the Female Lead
  
  Rian Johnson is directing the sci-fi sequel, which Disney and Lucasfilm will release on May 26, 2017
  Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”), Golden Globe nominee Tatiana Maslany(“Orphan Black”) and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” star Olivia Cooke are considered the top contenders for the new female lead in Rian Johnson‘s “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” multiple individuals familiar with the casting situation told TheWrap.
  
  Insiders insist it’s early in the casting process and that Johnson is still auditioning actresses, with several rising stars yet to read for him. Others suggest that Johnson is narrowing down the field and that Rodriguez, Maslany and Cooke will be among a group of girls slated to chemistry-read with “The Force Awakens” star John Boyega before the end of the month.
  
  A representative for Disney declined to comment. The studio will release the sci-fi sequel on May 26, 2017. Ram Bergman is producing the film with Lucasfilm’s Kathy Kennedy, and production is expected to start early next year.
  

  Source:

  The Wrap
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  21st July 2015 - Benicio Del Toro Offered Villain Role
  
  Casting for Disney and Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: Episode VIII” is already in motion, as Benicio Del Toro has been offered the role of the villain in the upcoming sequel, sources tell Variety.
  
  Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac, who will first be seen in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” bowing this Christmas, are all expected to return, with Rian Johnson helming the pic.
  
  A deal is still far away from coming together and who exactly Del Toro will be playing is unknown, but insiders say the studio was going after A-list talent for the role, also meeting Joaquin Phoenix for the part.
  
  The movie will bow on May 26, 2017. Ram Bergman is producing the film with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy.
  

  Source:

  Variety
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  7th July 2015 - Donnie Yen Reportedly Cast
  
  Ip Man and Hero star Donnie Yen has reportedly signed on to appear in Star Wars: Episode VIII.
  
  According to Twitch Film (via Apple Daily), the Hong Kong star is flying off to London in August to start shooting Star Wars: Episode VIII. The report states that Yen will be sharing the screen with Han Solo actor Harrison Ford, though Oscar Isaac is the only confirmed cast member returning for the sequel so far.
  

  Source:

  IGN

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