Mark Hamill Confirms Star Wars Episode VIII Wrap Date

Star Wars: Episode VIII will wrap production on Friday, July 22, according to franchise star Mark Hamill.

He revealed the nugget of information on Twitter, when a fan asked him about Episode VIII spoilers, along with a number of hashtags, including one encouraging fans to focus on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which will be in theaters before Episode VIII.

It wraps on Friday July 22nd 2016 #LooseLipsSinkStarships #W8ForVIII #DontBeAHomer #PatienceMyPadawans #Rogue1Sooner https://t.co/92syo6m36d

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) July 2, 2016

The move all but ensures that none of the principal cast will appear at Comic Con International in San Diego, since the annual celebration of fandom takes place on July 21-24 this year. It's likely Rogue One will have a significant Comic Con presence.

Some fans had hoped that Hamill would appear at Comic Con, in part because he's starring as The Joker in the animated feature film Batman: The Killing Joke, which will make its debut there. He said back at the start of June that was unlikely.

"It doesn't look like I'm gonna be able to make it this year, because of the shooting schedule here," he said at the time. "I don't get back until the third week in July. I wanted to go, because that's where they're gonna premiere The Killing Joke, and [Batman voice] Kevin Conroy is gonna be there. I'd love to see it with an audience. But it doesn't look like my schedule's gonna allow it this year. My major obligation right now, obviously, is to Episode VIII."

Hamill will also be attending Star Wars Celebration Europe in London this July, just one week before Comic-Con, so his schedule will be fairly tight this summer.

Cast members Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and more return for Star Wars's as-yet-untitled eighth episode. The film is to be directed by Rian Johnson.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is shooting now in England for a December 15, 2017 release.