Star Wars: Episode VIII Has Officially Begun Filming

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Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed Wednesday morning that Star Wars: Episode VIII has commenced principal photography in London. The announcement comes a few weeks after Disney said the movie’s release will be pushed back from May to December of 2017.

During Disney’s quarterly earnings call, Entertainment Weekly reports, Iger also reinforced the company’s intention to continue capitalizing on Star Wars merchandise—which has already raked in more than $3 billion—saying, “There is no better way to propel this franchise into the future than producing quality products.”

Star Wars: Episode VII continues to make box office history, crossing the $2 billion mark worldwide last weekend. Meanwhile, filming of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the first in a series of planned stand-alone stories, is nearly completed; the film will be out Dec. 16, 2016. Three additional Star Wars movies are set for release, one each in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com