Lucasfilm has finally confirmed that 'Star Wars Episode VIII' will begin shooting in Ireland for a few sequences of the highly anticipated film. The production company has clarified the rumors that 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' will be regrouping for re-shoots in the country.
The government of Ireland has granted the American company permission to go back to the lovely island of Skellig Michael which is a protected Unesco World Heritage Site.
Earlier, rumors state that the 7th episode of the Star Wars movie series, which is set 30 years before the events during the 'Return of Jedi', is returning to the island for additional photography. But the company has now clarified the reports.
The director of the 2017 sequel Episode VIII Rian Johnson will be supervising the shooting in the country. The staffs and ecologists at the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Monuments Service will also be present during the filming to monitor their activities for the protection of the wildlife habitats and archaeological sites.
The Arts Minister of the Irish country Heather Humphreys says that they will do everything to protect the lovely island which has caught the attention of many tourists and film makers.
"Skellig Michael is one of our most dramatic and beautiful islands and it is very easy to understand why its stunning scenery has caught the attention of the makers of one of the world's biggest film franchises," says Humphreys.
The Lucasfilm production has also agreed with the terms and conditions of the country regarding the preservation of the island. The company has vowed to honor the government's strict guidelines.
Humphreys admitted that the coming of the Star Wars team in the country is an opportunity for Ireland. The Irish film industry will benefit from it including the economy of the region.
The "Star Wars Episode VIII" will be released on May 26, 2017 starring Benicio Del Toro and Oscar Isaac.
