'Star Wars: Episode VIII' casting news, updates: Filming has started; Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern join ensemble

Filming of "Star Wars: Episode VIII" already started on Monday, Feb. 15, at Pinewood Studios in London.

The Walt Disney Company also announced on the same day that Oscar award-winner Benicio Del Torro of "Traffic" will play the villain for the upcoming installment in the "Star Wars" saga, along with actress Laura Dern of "Jurassic Park," according to Chicago Tribune. In addition, newcomer Kelly Marie Tran of the TV series "CollegeHumor Originals" will be joining the ensemble.

Del Toro and Dern are Hollywood elite names who are joining the "Episode VIII" cast, while newcomer Tran has yet to showcase her talents in the saga. She has appeared in a few TV series in the likes of "About a Boy," "Ladies Like Us," and "Currently Cool."

Acclaimed director of "Looper" and "The Brothers Bloom" Rian Johnson is contracted to write and direct "Episode VIII" following the box-office hit "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" helmed by J.J. Abrams.

Returning cast members of "Force Awakens" include Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, and Lupita Nyong'o, among others, as confirmed by the Star Wars official website. The return of old cast members from "Episode VII" hints at the survival of those characters and the introduction of some of their background. 

Disney also announced in January that it has moved the preimiere date of "Episode VIII" at least six months earlier than the earlier proposed release date, which was May 26, 2017. The new installment in the saga will now be released on Dec.15, 2017, according to Star Wars official website.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has reached a mind-blowing $2 billion mark in the worldwide box office before Valentine's weekend and currently holds third place in the highest-grossing movie of all time following "Avatar" and "Titanic."