'Star Wars: Episode 8' movie news: Rian Johnson talks about plot theme, tone in new interview

Film director Rian Johnson finally dropped more details about "Star Wars: Episode 8."

In an interview with USA Today, Johnson revealed that the upcoming film will have a lighter tone compared to some of the past "Star Wars" installments like the "Empire Strikes Back." According to the filmmaker, he wants to make the upcoming film to be light and fun just like the original "Star Wars" trilogy as well as the previously released "The Force Awakens."

Johnson also claimed that he wants to introduce the new protagonists of the franchise by having them face several new challenges instead of featuring their backstories. "I wanted to know more about each of them, and that doesn't just mean information or backstory," the film director stated. "Figure out what's the most difficult thing each of them could be challenged with now — let's throw that at them and dig into what really makes them tick by seeing how they handle that."

He also revealed that the plot of "Star Wars: Episode 8" will offer more details about the mentor-protégé relationship between Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). There could be a huge chance to learn more details about Rey's parents, since the film will feature a "deepening of familial themes."

The film director also teased that "Star Wars: Episode 8" already knows the title as soon as he finished writing the first draft of the film two years ago. However, Johnson is not yet ready to share the secret. He revealed that he would just reveal the title for the upcoming film in due time.

Aside from Ridley and Hamill, "Star Wars: Episode 8" will also star John Boyega as Finn, Adam Driver as Supreme Leader Snoke's loyal servant Kylo Ren, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Oscar Isaac as Resistance X-wing fighter pilot Poe Dameron, Gwendoline Christie as Stormtrooper commander Captain Phasma, Lupita Nyong'O as the pirate Maz Kanata, Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke, and the late Carrie Fisher who managed to finished filming for her iconic role as Leia Organa before her sudden death on December 27, 2016 due to heart attack.

The film is slated to debut in theaters on Dec. 15, 2017.