Star Wars: Episode VIII will blast into cinemas on May 26 2017, Disney has announced.

Rian Johnson, known for the innovative time travel film Looper, is confirmed as writer and director of the film.

Episode VIII will take place after the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opens in American cinemas on December 18.

Disney chairman and chief executive Bob Iger announced at a shareholder meeting today that the first in a series of big-screen Star Wars stand-alone films is titled Rogue One.

Gareth Edwards, of Godzilla, will direct off a script from Chris Weitz, who wrote the screenplay for About A Boy.

Felicity Jones, who earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in The Theory Of Everything, is set to star in Rogue One, which will be filmed in London this summer for a release on December 16 next year.

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