Star Wars: Episode 8: Everything We Know So Far

Alongside returning players Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher and the rest of the main, surviving Episode 7 cast, Episode 8 also touts several franchise newcomers, including Oscar-winner Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern and blockbuster newbie Kelly Marie Tran.

And while we don't yet fully know the nature of their roles, several unconfirmed bits of information have dropped since they were cast, which give us a couple of helpful clues.

Benicio Del Toro is rumoured to be playing a classic 'man in black' - some sort of villain-type character who is considered dangerous. It seems like a perfect fit for Del Toro, too; he's at his best when taking on darker roles, so having him play a character of this nature should produce good results.

Laura Dern was initially rumoured to be playing Rey's mother, but more recent reports indicate that she'll be an aristocrat-type, with her look said to resemble a cross between Star Wars and The Hunger Games, which should bring an interesting new visual flavour to the long-running franchise.

Regardless of how each role pans out, it's fantastic to see Star Wars introducing a new generation of actors to its universe, and after the death of Han, it looks like Episode 8 will continue to transition us from older characters to series newcomers.