Star Wars: Episode 8

Terrible news to confirm today, as a beloved icon and Star Wars star’s condition has taken a turn for the worse. Carrie Fisher, actress behind both Princess and General Leia, has passed away at age 60. The revered actress and comedic presence had earlier suffered a heart attack en-route from London to Los Angeles.

Okay, before you get too excited, you should know that while these are most definitely new photos from the set of Star Wars: Episode 8, they don’t reveal anything mind-blowing. They’re just a couple of great photos shared by Rian Johnson, featuring a familiar piece of aircraft, a console and a mysterious First Order operative. The director released the photos to celebrate the halfway point in production, which means we’re that much closer to learning more about the upcoming sequel.

J.J. Abrams revved up the engine on the ol’ Star Wars ship, launching the series on a new journey with The Force Awakens, but declining to return for the subsequent sequels. Instead, Rian Johnson (Looper) and Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) will be steering the franchise from here on out, directing Episodes 8 and 9, respectively. Johnson is in production on Episode 8 right now, and according to The Force Awakens star Daisy Ridley, the script is “very good.” How good? Abrams regrets turning down the chance to direct it.