The first 'Star Wars' spin-off film will be made in England.
The movie - which will be helmed by 'Godzilla' director Gareth Edwards - will be filmed at the Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire next year, it has been confirmed.
The British Conservative Party Chancellor George Osborne made the announcement during a visit to the studio, where the long awaited 'Star Wars: Episode VII' is currently in production.
With #StarWars director J.J Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathy Kennedy, talking to a key cast member.. pic.twitter.com/12sRtBbf8E
— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) June 10, 2014
The project will be the first of "at least three" planned spin-offs, each of which will focus on an individual character from the popular franchise, and will be released on December 16, 2016.
It is so far unknown, however, whether the second of the planned spin-offs, which will be helmed by 'The Fantastic Four' director Josh Trank, will also be filmed at Pinewood.
Original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, along with rising stars Lupita Nyong'o and Oscar Isaac, are currently working under the direction of J.J. Abrams on 'Star Wars: Episode VII', which is scheduled for release in December 2015.