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Episode VIII In The 'Star Wars' Saga Begins Filming

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – On a Walt Disney Company quarterly earnings call, CEO Bob Iger has announced filming for the 8th episode of the Star Wars saga has begun. Director Rian Johnson started principal photography after it was announced that the release date being pushed back from May to December 2017.

BB-8 & Rey in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
BB-8 & Rey in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (credit: Disney•Lucasfilm)

"Filming of Star Wars: Episode VIII, the next chapter of the legendary saga, has just commenced and it will be in theaters December 2017. And production of Episode IX, a 2019 release, has also begun." Iger said.

Iger went on to give an update on "The Force Awakens" $2 Billion global box office success and $3 Billion in consumer products, according to Entertainment Weekly. "There is no better way to propel this franchise into the future than producing quality products," he said.

San Francisco-based Lucasfilm is on their way to completing the next Star Wars related film "Rogue One" and Disney is more than thrilled at what they have seen so far. "Rogue one" is "sort-of" prequeal to "ANew Hope." About how the Rebels steal the plans to the first Death Star and eventually wind up in the hands of Princess Leia.

Lastly, Iger announced groundbreaking on "Star Wars Land" at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and Walt Disney World in Florida will happen later this year.

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