'Star Wars: Episode 8' news, spoilers: Director says film will pick up right where 'Episode 7' left off, teases cameos

"Star Wars: Episode VIII" director Rian Johnson, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and Han Solo spinoff directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord shared some details about the upcoming films in the "Star Wars" franchise at a Star Wars Celebration Europe panel on Sunday, July 17, in London.

While the panelists did not reveal the title for "Episode VIII," as fans expected, Johnson did drop some major details about the upcoming film.

As many "Star War" fans had guessed, "Episode VIII" will reportedly pick up right after the events in "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" (2015), specifically at Ahch-To, where Rey (Daisy Ridley) found Luke (Mark Hamill).

"This movie is going to start right were the last one left off," Johnson said. "That final scene in 'VII,' I want to see what happens next."

"Episode VIII" will be the first "Star Wars" film in the franchise to not have a time gap between it and its predecessor.

"Skellig Michael is an incredibly mystical place," Johnson added. "To be there and have that be the first thing we were shooting was an appropriately surreal way to start everything off."

Johnson also said that "the second film is where we start zooming in on the characters and getting to the heart of them, challenging them, and pushing them deeper."

He also revealed the three war movies that inspired "Episode VIII": "Letter Never Sent" (1959), "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949), and "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957).

The "Episode VIII" director also shared some interesting casting news. According to him, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" (2016) director Gareth Edwards appears in a cameo in "Episode VIII" alongside Miller and Lord.

Johnson, in turn, will appear alongside an "Episode VIII" crew member in "Rogue One." The two play Death Star operators.

"Star Wars: Episode VIII" is set to hit theaters Dec. 15, 2017.