'Star Wars: Episode VIII' update: Filming starts, new cast members added

The "Star Wars" saga continues.

Disney confirmed with a video that filming for "Star Wars: Episode VIII"  has started on Feb. 15 at Pinewood Studios in London. The video doesn't show much detail, only a scene from the end of the previous film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," but it's enough to keep "Star Wars" fans excited. The very short clip shows Rey (Daisy Ridley) meeting Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and handing him his lighsaber.

In the previous film, Rey had a quest to find the legendary Jedi Master. She came across BB-8, who bore the information she needed to locate him. In her journey, she encountered Han Solo (Harrison Ford), who brought her to Takodana where she found Skywalker's lightsaber. She continued her journey, and after overcoming the forces she encountered along the way, she boarded the Millennium Falcon and flew to Ahch-To, the place where Skywalker disappeared. She climbed a cliff and found the Jedi Master. When she found Luke, she handed the lightsaber to him. Based on teaser, "Episode VIII" will pick up from where this scene left off.

The script was written by Rian Johnson, who is also directing the film. Although J.J. Abrams, the director of "The Force Awakens," is not helming this installment, some of the actors from that film are returning for the upcoming one. Apart from Hamill and Ridley, the list includes Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis.

Hamill posted an update on his Twitter account, sayying, "An adventure just beginning," with a funny series of hashtags: #StillNoDialogue #RianHasMoreLinesThanMe #Wait4VIII #StarWars #StarWarsEpVIII.

Adding to the cast are Benicio Del Toro, LauraDern and a newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. Del Toro is an Academy Award winner, while Dern is an Academy Award nominee. Del Toro's recent films are "Sicario," Inherent Vice, " and "Guardians of the Galaxy." Tran, from San Diego, is a graduate from UCLA and a veteran of the Upright Citizens Brigade. She has appeared in TV shows such as "About a Boy," "Comedy Bang! Bang!" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." The roles of the new cast members are still not disclosed.

Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman are producing "Star Wars: Episode VIII," while Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski are the executive producers.

Now that the film has started production, it is targeted to be released on Dec. 15, 2017.