EPISODE VIII: A LINE DRAWN...

She'd been warned by Luke on Ahch-To of the dangers of going to Kylo Ren, and of thinking he could be turned back to the light. Now, as Rey prepares to leave Crait in the Falcon, she is aware of Ren's true ambitious presence, turning her back on him and his offer to rule the universe together once and for all.

The future of the Force, the galaxy, awaits their eventual and surely final meeting in EPISODE IX...

Rian Johnson on Rey and Ren:
http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/why-last-jedis-rian-johnson-doesnt-really-think-you-can-let-the-past-die?__source=Blastr_True_Anthem_Blastr_Twitter&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5a5e25079ebbef0007b3fba1&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

EPISODE VIII: A LAST BID FOR SURVIVAL!

Deep in one of the hangar bays of the Raddus, the last surviving members of the Resistance prepare for swift evacuation to Crait within cramped transport shuttles, hopefully under the protection of cloaking devices, in a busy scene from The Last Jedi.

Find out more about these all-new vehicles to the saga with the latest must-have Incredible Cross-Sections book from DK- specifically dedicated to The Last Jedi, definitively written by Jason Fry and always blessed with stunning artistry from Kemp Remillard.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-JediTM-Incredible-Cross-Sections/dp/0241281075?pd_rd_wg=WX2Uj&pd_rd_r=ced79bb8-4729-46bc-bc0b-b3eba759e372&pd_rd_w=WBzha&ref_=pd_gw_simh&pf_rd_r=8TW3WSGTPDQQZ0RQZEE7&pf_rd_p=deaa5746-571c-5b3b-8d1e-7cd67d79768f

EPISODE VIII: D FOR DELETED...

Rey rushes across the Ahch-To shoreline on a mission to rescue the Caretaker community supposedly from attacking sea bandits, in a scene filmed but cut from The Last Jedi that looks set to surface on the upcoming Blu-ray deleted scenes. Though ultimately only two hours of Special Features for the release? C'mon Disney, that is very disappointing!

Rey's 'Force running' in a scene briefly shown in the first TLJ teaser trailer.

http://www.gamesradar.com/a-massive-luke-skywalker-scene-and-4-other-star-wars-the-last-jedi-deleted-scenes-coming-soon-to-the-home-release/

https://movieweb.com/last-jedi-deleted-scene-rey-third-lesson-luke-skywalker/

www.indiewire.com/2017/12/star-wars-last-jedi-deleted-scene-luke-rey-jedi-training-1201910208/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkDG8HfkeGI&feature=youtu.be

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/star-wars-last-jedi-luke-skywalker-character-change?mbid=nl_CH_5a3c12ddf23f9530d4dbaff4&CNDID=36338303&spMailingID=12621131&spUserID=MTMzMTgyNzc3MDM4S0&spJobID=1302069314&spReportId=MTMwMjA2OTMxNAS2

Here's a few other shots below that might be linked to deleted scenes...

Finn in fighter pilot costume. Perhaps a costume test or a deleted scene?

Chewbacca filmed a scene on the Raddus, likely after delivering Rey to the enemy.

A lighting test for Kelly Marie Tran? We never saw Rose by the Falcon.

A key online marketing image. A lighting test perhaps?

EPISODE VIII: SEARCH AND RESCUE!

Having taken out the en masse pursuant TIE fighters, the Millennium Falcon now skims the surface of Crait looking for Resistance survivors, in this lovely visual from The Last Jedi.

EPISODE VIII: LIVING THE DREAM!

Image by Rian Johnson.

I don't think there's a die-hard fan out there who wouldn't like a cameo in a STAR WARS movie - imagine the fun of playing a Stormtooper, or a quirky alien, or, even better, one of those brave battle-hardened fighters pilots of the Rebellion or Resistance. For this lucky group of UK extras filming The Last Jedi in 2016 at Pinewood, photographed on set by writer/director Rian Johnson, their dreams came true big time...

To find out more about the onscreen Resistance heroes of VIII- its key and diverse human and alien members, pilots and technicians, as well as their ships, fighters and key tech, head over to the all-new Star Wars: The Last Jedi - The Visual Dictionary, published by DK, out now in book stores and online.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-JediTM-Visual-Dictionary/dp/0241281091?pd_rd_wg=NeOQD&pd_rd_r=75feb3e0-b958-49ee-a716-ef27d0c577cd&pd_rd_w=CyxTH&ref_=pd_gw_simh&pf_rd_r=TGNJKHPRT5F31H0X5N2A&pf_rd_p=14f91171-0541-58ad-938b-3aec945f4cb7

EPISODE VIII: WHAT HAPPENED NEXT...

SPOILERS! On Skellig Island in late 2015, before The Force Awakens had even been released, its original finale scene between Rey and Luke Skywalker, previously handled by J.J. Abrams, would be partially reshot to create continuity with the start of VIII. Interestingly, a specific prior moment in the VII script with Luke and Rey was removed, at Rian Johnson's request, because it clashed with his upcoming work on VIII, and linked to Luke's Jedi powers. Additionally, Abrams version had BB-8 go to Ahch-To instead of R2, the latter replacing the former via ILM wizadry. This also was changed in request by Johnson- definitely the right creative/character move.

As Rey keenly hold his father's lightsaber out to him, The Force Awakens ends with Luke's face clearly trepidatious, or moved, or at least aware of something. Yet, The Last Jedi doesn't continue from that. In fact, many worldwide die-hard SW fans felt understandably shocked and betrayed when Luke throws the lightsaber so casually over his shoulder-actions which they felt were greatly out of character for the Classic Trilogy hero created by Lucas and brought to life by Hamill...

On location at Skellig Island.

It's also never explained in VIII why Luke is wearing his "Sunday Best" Jedi robes at the end of VII when the island's harsh living conditions went against this in VIII. Unless, speculation-wise, he knew that company linked to the Force, or at least Han or Leia, were coming to visit him...

More on the Luke/Rey scenes for The Last Jedi:

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/star-wars-news-daisy-ridley-reveals-her-issues-with-the-last-jedi-script/123191.htm

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/star-wars-the-last-jedi-mark-hamill-luke-skywalker-rian-johnson-a8129596.html

https://www.geek.com/movies/mark-hamill-rian-johnson-talk-skywalker-differences-more-star-wars-news-1727359/

http://www.jedinews.co.uk/film-music-tv/articles/mark-hamill-reveals-original-force-awakens-ending/

More on the two-day Skellig shoot for The Last Jedi, and other filming in Ireland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=pa1VP5uE5cU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdYD-dNzjdI

EPISODE VIII: (HYPER)SPACE COLLISION!

SPOILERS! Way back in 1977, Han Solo warned Luke Skywalker about the potential dangers of travelling through Hyperspace, now writer/director Rian Johnson shows us such a happening, and in a most spectacular (and silently effective) way during The Last Jedi. And ultimately for a worthy cause of good against evil- Amilyn Holdo's self-sacrifice with the Raddus against the First Order's formidable flagship, the Supremacy, as well as taking down some of its smaller vessels...

Find out more about Snoke's mega-huge Star Destroyer, the Supremacy, and its unique abilities, via a very special and informative four-page gate-fold stunningly rendered by Kemp Remillard, for the all-new Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Incredible Cross-Sections book, also featuring many of the great vehicles and craft seen across the film, compiled by Jason Fry and out now from DK BOOKS.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-JediTM-Incredible-Cross-Sections/dp/0241281075?pd_rd_wg=NeOQD&pd_rd_r=75feb3e0-b958-49ee-a716-ef27d0c577cd&pd_rd_w=CyxTH&ref_=pd_gw_simh&pf_rd_r=TGNJKHPRT5F31H0X5N2A&pf_rd_p=14f91171-0541-58ad-938b-3aec945f4cb7

EPISODE VIII: GOING EYE-TO-EYE!

Our lovable Resistance droid BB-8 squares up to his First Order counterpart in BB-9E, for a great toy marketing image. Though we had seen Astro Droids fight in The Clone Wars animated series first season of 2008, the chance for a big screen, live-action conflict between this unique duo for The Last Jedi was, surprisingly, an option not taken by the film's production team. A shame, as it would surely have been a crowd-pleasing extra moment...

At least there was some special footage for this Verizon ad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHDNS8TFW8o

EPISODE VIII: THE PRICE OF FAILURE!

No place, no matter how far away in time and space, is safe if you fail in your orders for Supreme Leader Snoke, as General Hux soon finds out to physical cost during an eerie and powerful character moment from The Last Jedi that effectively establishing the power and danger of the First Order's villainous leader.

The lack of information on Snoke's origins, and how he became linked to both the Solo family and the New Republic, was a big disappointment for many fans of the new movie. Here's hoping one day that someone like James Luceno will do an official book to fill-in the historical gaps.

Explaining Snoke in The Last Jedi:
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1829709/rian-johnson-further-explains-his-decision-not-to-reveal-more-about-snoke

EPISODE VIII: THE RETURN OF BLAST 'EM LEIA!

Inside the Resistance base on Crait, soon under enemy attack, General Leia Organa may have looked more senatorial, ready for a conflict of words, than a formidable warrior during much of The Last Jedi, but her long-time skill handling a blaster proved as proficient as ever!

Find out more about the work of General Leia Organa and her goals for the future against the First Order, whilst also shaping a new team of heroes with her eventual passing the torch, within the photo and info-packed, all-new Star Wars: The Last Jedi - The Visual Dictionary, out now from DK BOOKS:

Leia and her allies are strongly placed in the all-new The Visual Dictionary.

Get it here: 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-JediTM-Visual-Dictionary/dp/0241281091?pd_rd_wg=fUz6z&pd_rd_r=219b1d49-eaa0-4eb5-bc80-0d4275549b4e&pd_rd_w=QVVWt&ref_=pd_gw_simh&pf_rd_r=GZ7TGBNGHMBNPM3JY2Q0&pf_rd_p=14f91171-0541-58ad-938b-3aec945f4cb7