Oscar Isaac Says Darker Star Wars: Episode VIII Tests the Heroes

Not a ton is known about Star Wars: Episode VIII, the follow-up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a movie that broke over thirty box office records. Stars and writer/director Rian Johnson have gotten to talk a little about it, though, especially when compared to how tight-lipped everyone was about Disney's first film in the universe.

Oscar Isaac has the cover story of this week's Rolling Stone, and the actor did offer up a bit of a tease for Episode VIII. His character, Poe Dameron, has "a lot more to do," Isaac promised. In Force Awakens, the character certainly had pivotal moments, but he also had a substantial period - about an act of the film - where his character was completely off screen and assumed dead.

"What happens now is the heroes get tested. All three of them," Isaac continued. That means Poe Dameron, Rey, and Finn all have considerable adventures ahead of them in this film. "[They] get tested immensely."

Oh, and yes, BB-8 fans, the diminutive droid will also get his moment in the sun.

"BB-8's doing all right," Isaac said. "BB-8 gets tested too! Everybody gets tested! It's the dark second chapter, but not really dark."

Isaac said he knows he's locked into Star Wars until 2020, but sounds prepared to continue Poe's story.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is currently in principal photography, shooting for a December 15, 2017 release. The next film in the Star Wars universe to hit theaters will be the unrelated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which takes place shortly before the events of the first film in the series.