"Star Wars: Episode 8" is currently in the middle of production but it was one of the main topics during this year's Star Wars Celebration. During one of the main panels, actress Carrie Fisher, who plays General Leia Organa in the films, let out a small spoiler indicating where the film might be starting.
As reported by the Huffington Post, panel host Warwick Davis asked Fisher about what Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia were doing during the long interval between "Return of the Jedi" and "The Force Awakens," the actress got confused and thought Davis was referring to the interval between "The Force Awakens" and "Episode 8."
Due to her confusion she slipped out the words "Han's funeral" before she realized the mistake and corrected herself, stating "The old one, oh. Han and I have a very, very volatile relationship, obviously, which leads to space divorce as you know. No, I don't think we are divorced - just estranged."
This indicates that the film will start with the main characters holding Han Solo's funeral and that not a lot of time has passed between the two films. It is possible that this means only a few days have passed between "The Force Awakens" and "Episode 8."
It also means that when "Episode 8" begins, Rey (Daisy Ridley) may have just arrived on the lost planet of Ahch-To, which is where she flew to meet Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). If this is true then there would have been no time lapse that would allow Rey to have spent some time to train under Luke's guidance in order to become a Jedi.
No official trailer for "Star Wars Episode 8" has yet been released as the studios are likely prioritizing the marketing for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." The film is currently scheduled for release in theaters on Dec. 17, 2017.
