EPISODE IX: PAST AND PRESENT AS ONE!

With one of the Resistance's only Blockade Runners in the background, hidden at their base on Ajan Kloss, young Rey discovers the truth about Luke Skywalker's investigations into the Dark Side of the Force, in this terrific photo showcasing the great set design from The Rise of Skywalker.  

EPISODE IX: THE LAST JEDI CONFER...

The emotionally troubled Rey's uncertainty as a Jedi in the light of the recent revelations of her parentage, and of her Grandfather, sees a return to the legendary world of Ahch-To, where she is soon helped back on her path to good and light by the spirit of her former mentor, Luke Skywalker, in a nice, and most welcome, moment between the two characters during The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE VIII: A PARTY?!

She's been rushing at Force speed to the local shoreline thinking that the decayed Jedi Temple's ongoing servitors, the Caretakers, are in danger from hostile sea pirates, but Rey soon makes an unlikely discovery! A fun deleted moment from The Last Jedi.

EPISODE VII: WHO'S PILOTING THIS SHIP?!

He's finally found his beloved, prior stolen Millennium Falcon, now legendary star pilot Han Solo has to get used to the two interlopers who have been stowed aboard with his discovery in Rey and Finn, and get used to the fact that he has a second mate in the cockpit who isn't currently Chewie, in a fun scene between Daisy Ridley and Harrison Ford from The Force Awakens.

EPISODE IX: REUNITED JEDI!

It's a time of darkness and emotional trauma for Rey, having now discovered the truth about her shocking bloodline from Kylo Ren. She looks ready to give it all up on the far off world of Ahch-To. Fortunately, a friend and teacher from the past returns to guide her back on the right path against the oncoming firestorm that is the Dark Side, and the return of Palpatine.

A memorable scene from The Rise of Skywalker.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: DESTINATION: JEDI!

The mythical Luke Skywalker revealed.

Having resided in isolation and contemplation on the mysterious Ach-To, home to the first unique Jedi Temple, after a terrible experience with his former disciple Kylo Ren that has now left the galaxy in pieces and open to attack and invasion with the arrival of the dreaded First Order, Luke Skywalker has finally been found by the Resistance, of which Jedi-to-be Rey has boldly gone to the mostly water world to recruit his help back in the fight against good and evil..

But will he accept both the return of his father's lightsaber, previously thought lost forever, and newcomer Rey's request for help?  

It's both a story, and a momentous decision, that will be continued in another film...

Great posed shots of Mark Hamill taken at Skellig Island.

Will Luke accept the return of his lightsaber and call to help from Rey and the Resistance?

J.J. Abrams and company film Luke's finale reveal.

Filming the earlier flashback of Luke's sorrow at the destruction of his new Jedi Order.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: THE DUEL!

The Force is fully awakened in Rey as she duels Kylo Ren.

Their friend Han Solo has been murdered before their shocked eyes, and now his slayer, Kylo Ren, has come looking for Rey and Finn in revenge for their heroism against both him and the First Order, whilst Starkiller Base begins its dramatic death throes all around them thanks to Resistance attacks. Amidst the eerie snowfall surroundings, Finn regrettably falls to Ren's superior lightsaber swordplay, but Rey is soon on hand to display her further astonishing skills in the Force and boldly challenges the fallen angel, of which she'll ultimately find the strength and courage to memorably defeat him...

A first for the saga, an atmospheric lightsaber duel in the snow, and a standout scene of drama, action and crowd-pleasing emotion from The Force Awakens.

Finn begins his bold if undisciplined attack on Ren.

Rey continues the fight and shows how the Force has equally awakened within her.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: BETRAYING A BIRTHRIGHT!

A birthright to evil, as personified by Kylo Ren, General Hux and Captain Plasma, striking new villains for the sequel universe's first adventure.

Manipulated during a time of emotional weakness and instability during his early Jedi training by Supreme Leader Snoke, ruler of the eventual scourge that is the First Order, young and impressionable Ben Solo, saddled with prior feelings of abandonment by his parents Leia Organa and Han Solo, has now become the bitter and twisted, all-power in the Force craving figure of the masked murderer Kylo Ren, determined to wipe out the Jedi, and his former master Luke Skywalker, at all costs, as played with ferocity, anger and twisted villainy within The Force Awakens by the well-cast Adam Driver, an acclaimed actor who has now pretty much worked with all the great Hollywood and international directors out there, and accumulating a fine and diverse body of work beyond his great contribution to the sequel Star Wars franchise, playing a character indelibly linked to the slaying of his onscreen father, Han Solo.. 

Promotional merchandise art poster by Joe Corroney showcasing Kylo Ren and the First Order for Episode VII.

Ren is determined to follow in the dark and powerful footsteps of his late grandfather, Darth Vader, within the Force. Art by Brian Rood,

With the discovery of the Force-latent powers of the mysterious Rey, Ren is determined to use her in finding Luke Skywalker. But her power in the Force is growing...

Behind the scenes on the memorable moment.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: "CHEWIE, WE'RE HOME!"

A great posed publicity image of Ford as Solo (with Joonas Suotamo as Chewie) on the Falcon set during his first memorable day of filming, prior to unfortunate injuries sustained, at Pinewood Studios.

Unhappy with his character of Han Solo's ultimate contribution to the conclusion of the middle Star Wars saga with Return of the Jedi, I, and I'm sure millions of other fans worldwide back in 1983, were surely convinced that Harrison Ford's involvement with the franchise would be over for good, and that he no longer needed the character of the iconic smuggler to further his already successful career. So what an incredible and joyous surprise it was in 2014 that Ford would return one last time to play Han Solo for The Force Awakens, helping to launch a new trio of saga heroes, and brought back in part due to his prior association with the new film's director J. J. Abrams (the energetic talent who had written his popular 90's drama Regarding Henry) and the intriguing but no less upsetting idea of killing Solo off (which Lucas refused to do back in 1982), slain by his own son, and ultimately bringing-in character closure for the actor. And, of course there was the huge paycheck that would keep Ford in enthused aeroplane flying and fuelling for a good few years to come...

Conferring on an ultimately deleted scene with J.J. Abrams.

Who can ever forget seeing the second trailer for The Force Awakens and hearing the resounding, booming fan cheers when the first footage of Solo and Chewbacca together was shown for the first time... "Chewie.... we're home!" 

Han is soon impressed with the skills of the young Rey.

Han and Chewie on Takodana.

Finn helps his new friends load bombs as they ready to journey to Starkiller Base.

With new friends Rey and Finn on a mission at the dreaded Starkiller Base.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: DROID LOVE!

It was love at first sight for Daisy Ridley and the charming droid BB-8 during location filming in Abu Dhabi in 2014 for The Force Awakens. And audiences were soon smitten with the pair of them onscreen - the lost droid with secret info vitally needed by the Resistance, and Rey, the lost young girl carving out a meagre existence, dreaming of a life beyond, on the far away junk world of Jakku... 

J.J. Abrams watches the filming of Rey adjusting BB-8's antenna.

EPISODE VIII: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE LENS OF RIAN JOHNSON!

A tease of the main title for The Last Jedi. All images: Rian Johnson.

Six years on from his work on the love it or hate it The Last Jedi, uber-talented writer/director Rian Johnson is busier than ever in his career, making films large and small to suit his tastes. As we all know, Johnson is also a talented photographer, as seen with his many released images linked to the behind the scenes filming of EPISODE VIII. With a hoped-for book of his work on the film unlikely to be on the publishing horizon anytime soon, we can at least saviour what he has released online, of which Aficionado has pulled together as many as possible for your perusal and enjoyment.

Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill at a Pinewood villa go through the script and the relationship between Rey and Luke that needs to be developed for the screen.

Out from the shadows, the older and more vulnerable Luke as played by Mark Hamill.

Kelly Marie Tran and John Boyega receive vital information on their acquired ship from Canto Bight.

Getting close-up with Maz Kanata and a test performer.

Cleaning a Resistance fighter cockpit window.

Wiping a set panel for a First Order technician ready to wrought chaos and destruction.

Rian Johnson relaxes in his tram om the way to the studio!

Ready for war! Rian Johnson and Veronica Ngo in the Resistance bomber interior.

A Mon Calamari extra gets some welcome air pumped into his mask on the Resistance cruiser bridge set.

Anthony Daniels on the cruiser bridge prior to suiting up as Threepio.

Getting ready to film the Jedi Temple apocalypse with Hamill and a remote controlled Artoo.

Preparing to film Luke in his cave on Ahch-To.

Animated series veteran Dave Filoni comes to the UK to see the filming of sequences that may be relevant to his own future SW productions.

The immense studio lights inside one of the Pinewood studio cave sets.

Amanda Lawrence and Billie Lourd in between drama filming.

An atmospheric shot of an unmasked Anthony Daniels on the Crait base set.

Atop the Millennium Falcon cockpit scaffold.

Fighter battling is thirsty work for Oscar Isaac.

The full size Falcon prop on the Pinewood backlot.

Filming with the newly built Yoda puppet in exterior filming at Pinewood.

Daisy Ridley prepares to film the rainy duel with Luke.

Frank Oz reunited with Yoda and Mark Hamill.

Resistance clowning on the Crait cavern set at Pinewood.

Resistance pilots assemble.

First Order Stormtroopers gather.

John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran pose with young newcomer Temirlan Blaev at the Canto Bight stables set. 

Busy in and out of the Resistance transport shuttle.

Noted cinematographer Steve Yedlin inside the Falcon gun tunnel.

Carrie Fisher enjoys the rehearsals around her.

A tender moment between Carrie Fisher and her beloved health support dog, Gary, on the cruiser bridge.

Brian Herring co-puppeteers a lively Porg inside the Falcon cockpit.

On the striking 'Red Room' set.

Happy times for Snoke and Andy Serkis. But not for long...

Daisy Ridley witnesses the carnage of the dead Snoke.

Cleaning up the mess after the Snoke massacre.

Andy Serkis clearly misses Snoke!

Gwendoline Christie and John Boyega hang around on the First Order set.

Capturing the distinct Phasma helmet!

Cleaning up the hangar massacre.

Preparing to film the fateful duel between Finn and Phasma.

Directing evil with Adam Driver.

The Forces of light and dark in showdown.

Stalwart icons Artoo and Threepio reunited in the Falcon hold.

UPDATE 1/2024: It looks like the photo book is on the cards now, after all, for release in late 2025.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Director's Album: Amazon.co.uk: Johnson, Rian: 9781419756542: Books