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Filming for Star Wars: Episode VIII has officially started.
Fans were treated to a production teaser on Monday afternoon which showed new director Rian Johnson behind the camera.
The 30 second clip appears to indicate that the next instalment will follow immediately on from where The Force Awakens left off as Rey (Daisy Ridley) can be seen handing a lightsaber to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) on the edge of a cliff.
After wrapping up the scene Johnson says “Cut. Beautiful,” before adding: “Ladies and gentleman welcome to Episode VIII.”
Johnson has taken over the reins from JJ Abrams whose film broke box office records on release last December.
John Boyega - who made his Star Wars debut as Finn in Episode VII - told fans at the BAFTAs that he had an early start on Monday morning for filming. "I start tomorrow," he said. "I've got a 6am pickup tomorrow!" The actor was awarded the EE Rising Star award at the annual ceremony on Sunday night for his role in the franchise.
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The video follows the news that Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro will join the cast alongside newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.
A new studio announcement read: “Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII, which began principal photography at Pinewood Studios in London on February 15, 2016."
Star Wars: Episode VIII hits UK theatres December 15, 2017.