Even though Star Wars Episode 7 hasn’t even his theatres yet, Star Wars Episode 8 is set to start production later this month.
Episode 8 will start filming at an Irish location that was also a setting for the seventh installment of the franchise. The small island of Sceilg Mhichíl was used by director JJ Abrams for Episode 7, and Episode 8 director Rian Johnson will start production of his film in the same location. The news was originally announced by Irish news channel RTE.
There have been some concerns over the environmental toll at Sceilg Mhichíl with a large film crew spending time at the island. Irish Arts Minister Heather Humphreys defended her decision to allow Lucasfilm to return to the island by saying, “Specialist staff from my department have been in discussions with Lucasfilm since March of this year in relation to a limited amount of filming, expected to last two to four days. Based on the scientific evidence available to me, I am satisfied with what is being proposed by Lucasfilm will not adversely impact the integrity of the Special Protection Area on Sceilg Mhichíl”.
Star Wars Episode 7 is set to come to theatres on December 18th, 2015.