Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Mark Hamill Explains Why He Loves the Title

No other franchise can make a title announcement that capture the attention of the world and feul the imagination of its fanbase quite like Star Wars can. And earlier today, after a year's worth of speculation, Disney and Lucasfilm officially announced that The Last Jedi will be the title of Star Wars: Episode VIII.

Mark Hamill heard about the annoucement while driving to an interview, but it wasn't a surprise to him. Director Rian Johnson had informed the Star Wars icon what the title would be months ago while making the film—which was a burden he didn't want to shoulder.

"He told me that when we were making the movie and I said, 'Don't tell me these things. I talk in my sleep,'" Hamill told the AP (video above). "They have us so jacked up with paranoia over leaks. But that's the way of the world. It's funny 'cause back when we were making the original nobody cared."

So, what does he think of the title itself? "It's got a real samurai [feel]," he offered. "It's straightforward and minimalist, and I like that."

Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII.

Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is written and directed by Rian Johnson and continues the storylines introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, welcomes back cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. New cast members will include Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award nominee Laura Dern, and talented newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.

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Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi is scheduled for release December 15, 2017.