The name for the next instalment in the Star Wars film franchise has been revealed as The Last Jedi.
The news was announced to fans in a tweet from the official Star Wars account, which read: “It’s official. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is the next chapter of the Skywalker saga. This December.#TheLastJedi”
It's official. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is the next chapter of the Skywalker saga. This December. #TheLastJedi https://t.co/ySkVwQcMTP pic.twitter.com/eHrPgbsRJq
— Star Wars (@starwars) January 23, 2017
The eighth Star Wars film, otherwise known as Star Wars: Episode VIII, follows 2015's successful The Force Awakens, the first of a new sequel trilogy.
The film will see previous Star Wars actors, including Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong'o, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, reprising their roles.
Carrie Fisher, who died in December aged 60, will also appear in The Last Jedi, in what has been promised as her last outing as General Leia Organa.
Star Wars makers Lucasfilm said there were no plans to digitally recreate Fisher - who rose to fame in the first Star Wars film in 1977 as Princess Leia - to appear in future episodes of the movie saga, although she had finished filming her scenes in Star Wars eight before her death.
The film company said in a statement: "There is a rumour 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."
The Last Jedi has been written and directed by Rian Johnson, while The Force Awakens's director J.J. Abrams took on the role of executive producer, along with Jason McGatlin and Tom Karnowski.
The closing scene of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the most recent release in the series, was shot on Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry.
Star Wars producers returned to Ireland for The Last Jedi and shot scenes along the western seaboard.
The chief executive of the Irish Film Board, James Hickey, said it was “delighted to welcome the production of Star Wars: Episode VIII to some of our most spectacular locations along the Wild Atlantic Way”.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is slated for release on December 15 2017.
