EPISODE VIII: THE END FOR BEN SOLO?

Jedi Master Luke Skywalker has identified a terrifying new Dark Side threat to the order, and its from none other than his own sister's child; the powerful but vulnerable Ben Solo, who is almost, momentarily, eradicated by his Uncle's lightsaber within their own temple residence. The fearful Solo soon retaliates with all his power against Luke, in a scene of danger and drama from The Last Jedi. 

EPISODE VIII: CRASH DOWN!

They say any crashlanding you make that you can walk away from is a good one, so well done Finn for surviving this and the Battle of Crait, as seen in this great conceptual art by Nick Ainsworth for The Last Jedi.

EPISODE VIII: ENEMY AT THE GATES!

The Battle of Crait has finished and there has been no real victory for any combative side, as the First Order Stormtroopers now break through into the remnants of the former Rebel base there and discover it once more abandoned, in a terrific image from The Last Jedi.

EPISODE VIII: MAINTAINING THE LIGHT!

Having only just escape the threat of the First Order fleet thanks to the brave but doomed Admiral Holdo, General Leia Organa recognises the potential leadership skills of her friend and Resistance comrade Poe Dameron, in this great posed image from The Last Jedi.

EPISODE VIII: FATHIER FAMILIARITY!

Having escaped the rotten core that is the Canto Bight casino realm, Rose Tico gets a memorable goodbye and thank you from one of the liberated Fathier creatures, a moment clearly enjoyed by Kelly Marie Tran too, during a fun day's filming for The Last Jedi. 

EPISODE VIII: A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH!

Hip-deep in battle from within her cockpit splinter, Resistance heroine Paige Tico keeps fighting the shock wave of enemy TIE fighters rapidly destroying her bombing squadron comrades, of which she herself will soon prove our heroes only hope in another of their desperate hours.

A memorable scene of bravery and sacrifice, enhanced by another fine John Williams score, marking the beginning to The Last Jedi.

Veronica Ngo as Paige Tico.

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 VIII: 'DON'T JOIN!'

He's successfully sold out young Resistance fighters Finn and Rose Tico to the First Order with the failure of their Star Destroyer infiltration, now the enigmatic rogue known as the DJ is preparing to take away and enjoy his excessive loot for his traitorous actions, in a tense scene from The Last Jedi.

We know that the DJ survived the 'Holdo Manuever' attack and fled across the galaxy. Perhaps the character, as played with creepy modern-day significance by Benecio Del Toro, will return for another Star Wars film or Andor-style TV project?  

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