It's starting to feel real now; we get the first glimpse of what to expect from 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' and the Han Solo film according to the creators during Star Wars Celebration Europe in London yesterday (July 17th 2016). Of course, details remain scarce as we have a long time to wait yet.

Alden EhrenreichAlden Ehrenreich is Han Solo

'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' is well on the way to cinemas, but it's 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' and the upcoming as-yet-untitled stand-alone Han Solo film that everyone is most excited about. Filming for the former is well under way but the only information we have for Han Solo is who is playing him (Alden Ehrenreich) and who's directing it (Phil Lord and Chris Miller).

Lord and Miller are currently in London working on the screenplay with 'Star Wars' veterans Lawrence and Jon Kasdan, and they have another six months to whip the story into shape before filming. At least we have the most important news though; Alden Ehrenreich will takeover Harrison Ford as the young titular hero, having been the first of 3000 auditions. 

More: Watch the trailer for 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'

'When it first came along I knew everybody would be going out for it', Ehrenreich revealed on the panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe. 'I read the sides and loved them and thought, 'Who knows, but let me give it a shot.'' Miller added that he thought that character in particular had 'the biggest boots to fill'.

As for 'Star Wars: Episode VIII', it's being directed by Rian Johnson, who star John Boyega describes as 'doing an indie movie within a franchise'. And while there's not much else in the way of information, we have discovered that it will begin where 'The Force Awakens' ended - with Luke Skywalker's appearance upon Rey's return from a battle with Ren. 'It was a surreal way to start things out', Johnson admitted. 'I didn't even really think about the notion that we were going to break a long-standing Star Wars tradition.'

'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' is set to be released on December 16th 2016.