Warning: The following contains possible spoilers for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "Star Wars: Episode VIII."
J.J. Abrams' upcoming "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will return to prominence three of the most popular movie characters of all time in Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia and Harrison Ford's Han Solo. Despite rampant rumors and speculation, we don't know for sure what roles these three will play in the upcoming film. However, we do know that at least one of them will return for Rian Johnson's "Star Wars: Episode VIII" in 2017.
A handful of central scenes in "The Force Awakens" were filmed on the Irish isle of Skellig Michael. Recently, production returned there but not for reshoots on Abrams' film. Instead, a new team was there for "Episode VIII," and the Irish Examiner reports that Hamill and his son Nathan were present.
This development adds further credence to many of the rumors surrounding "The Force Awakens." One popular plot point that has emerged is that Luke Skywalker is not present for much of "The Force Awakens" due to self-imposed exile. How long he's been missing is unknown, but it's been suggested that he is guarding an Ancient Sith tomb, which is why our new generation of heroes (and Kylo Ren) are searching for him.
As the rumors go, Luke is found near the end of "The Force Awakens" (at a location filmed on Skellig Michael) and will take on a larger role in "Episode VIII." What type of role that is remains to be seen, but we'll keep you posted if any more spoilers leak out.
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will be released on Dec. 18, and "Star Wars: Episode VIII" hits theaters on May 26, 2017.
