During a preview piece looking ahead to 2017’s big releases, USA Today caught up with Star Wars: Episode VIII director Rian Johnson, who offered a few brief words on December’s hotly-anticipated Saga film.

Johnson confirmed that the middle chapter of the Sequel Trilogy will pick up right where Star Wars: The Force Awakens ended as Rey (Daisy Ridley) meets Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), stating that: “I don’t want to skip ahead two years. I want to see the very next moment of what happens.”

I guess that means the opening crawl will be a Force Awakens recap (followed by an ‘I am your father’ reveal?)…

The director also revealed that the relationship between Rey and Luke will be “a large part of the movie” as the Jedi Master helps his new padawan come to grips with her Force abilities.

“Part of what’s she’s dealing with is the realization that she has this power and this gift,” he continued. “She’s taking her first step to coming to terms with this thing inside her that she never knew was there and is just starting to reveal its potential.”

SEE ALSO: Adam Driver talks Star Wars: Episode VIII and exploring Kylo Ren’s humanity

Star Wars: Episode VIII is set for release on December 15th 2017 and sees returning cast members Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb), Simon Pegg (Unkar Plutt), and Warwick Davis joined by new additions Benicio Del Toro (Guardians of the Galaxy), Laura Dern (Jurassic Park), Kelly Marie Tran (Ladies Like Us) and Jimmy Vee (Pan) as R2-D2.