'Star Wars Episode 8' release date, spoilers news 2016: Luke Skywalker to defeat Knights of Ren in battle
The developers of the "Star Wars" franchise are keeping their lips sealed about the forthcoming installment. However, Adam Driver, who portrays Kylo Ren in the franchise, teased that episode 8 is somewhat similar to "The Empire Strikes Back."
The creators have a way of making history rhyme. In "Star Wars Episode 7," Ren and his father Han Solo (Harrison Ford) shared a brief moment that reminded everyone of the Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Darth Vader (David Prowse; voiced by James Earl Jones) confrontation.
"It's great. It's similar to how The Empire Strikes Back has a different tone. For that, people always go "oooh, it's dark" but I don't know that it necessarily is. It's just different in tone in a way that I think is great and necessary but also very clear. He trusts [that] his audience is ready for nuance and ambiguity. He's not dumbing anything down for someone and that's really fun to play," Driver revealed to Collider.
Sources also said that Rey (Daisy Ridley) will have Force flashbacks in the next episode. The flashbacks will be similar to the ones fans have seen at the basement of Maz Kanata's (Lupita Nyong'o) castle.
Leaked production photos of Episode 8 reportedly revealed that a battle is underway. The photos show Kylo battling with Ren. Meanwhile, Luke was taking on the Knights of Ren, and as expected, the jedi will be tearing them apart. Luke pushes a knight off the cliff. He didn't even need to brandish his lightsaber in doing so. Seeing how Luke easily overpowered the knights, Ren will reportedly flee from the battle.
"Star Wars Episode 8" will hit theaters on Dec. 15, 2017. On the other hand, the "Star Wars" spinoff "Rogue One" will be available this December. The first of the three prequels will feature Felicity Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Diego Luna, and Riz Ahmed.
