Star Wars' Adam Driver reveals that highly anticipated Episode VIII is 'similar' to '80s epic The Empire Strikes Back 

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As has always been the chase throughout the history of the entire franchise, few details have been released about the anticipated Star Wars: Episode VIII.

But Adam Driver, who joined the cast as Kylo Ren for 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, says the script's tone will be hugely different to last year's installment.

In an interview with Collider, the 33-year-old Girls star has revealed that the upcoming film is reminiscent of 1980 classic The Empire Strikes Back.

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Nugget of information: Adam Driver has revealed details of the script for Star Wars: Episode VIII in a new interview with Collider

And Adam has expressed his joy that writer-and-director Rian Johnson isn't 'dumbing down' the script for audiences.

Asked what the script is like, he told the website: 'It's great. It's similar to how The Empire Strikes Back has a different tone.

'For that people always go, "Oooh, it's dark", but I don't know that it necessarily is. It's just different in tone in a way that I think is great and necessary but also very clear.

Similar: The actor has compared the upcoming film to 1980 epic The Empire Strikes Back

'He trusts [that] his audience is ready for nuance and ambiguity. He's not dumbing anything down for someone and that's really fun to play.'

Adam also praised the new helmsman for the ease in which he has taken over from J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan in writing for his character.

He said: 'Rian is coming into something that we kind of set up and he just took it to the next level in a really great way.

Telling it like it is: Adam has praised the new script for not pandering to audiences

'He wrote it, too, and Rian's writing is so clear. I learned a lot of things about my character through his writing.

'To understand what J.J. was doing and take ownership from there is kind of a remarkable thing.' 

In June, several leaks for the highly anticipated space opera were shared by YouTube user Mike Zeroh.

Awakening: Adam, in black, first appeared as Kylo Ren in 2015's The Force Awakens

Can it be true? A fan revealed several leaks on Episode VIII in June, which include the advanced Jedi powers of Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, pictured here at the end of The Force Awakens

The fan claimed that he received an email from a source - who he says accurately gave him information on Episode VII before its release - about a new scene where Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) spectacularly dismantles a lightsaber in front of Rey's (Daisy Ridley) eyes. 

The email read: 'Luke takes his arm out and uses the force and pulls the lightsaber from Rey gently, her lightsaber floats through the air in between them, slowly going to Luke's hand as he grabs it.

'The next sequence is of Luke Skywalker taking out his other hand and his lightsaber floats out of his belt, at this point Luke has two hands semi raised up with two lightsabers, green on the left and blue on the right.

New reveal: According to a source, Luke dismantles a lightsaber in front of Rey, played by Daisy Ridley

'From what has been described, Luke closes his eyes and dismantles both lightsabers, all metal and components removed into pieces, all the building blocks of both lightsabers are separated into tiny bits and pieces, leaving only two crystals, one in each hand (green over left and blue over right hand) and informs her about the importance of the Crystals.'

Meanwhile, a previously leaked script appeared to share details about Rey's background.

In the scene, Luke tells Rey about the origins of the Jedi, which started with a boy and a girl living on a planet with their parents.

Like magic: The email read: 'Luke takes his arm out and uses the force and pulls the lightsaber from Rey gently, her lightsaber floats through the air in between them, slowly going to Luke's hand as he grabs it

The children manage to secure weird powers before the boy tries to kill the girl.

Thinking he has got rid of his sister, he joins the Dark Side but she actually survives and becomes the founder of the Jedi order.

Episode VIII will be the tenth installment in the Star Wars film series, and the second in the Star Wars sequel trilogy following Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The film, produced by Lucasfilm and distributed worldwide by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis and Benicio del Toro, among others. 

The last one was a good set up: At the end of Force Awakens, Luke comes into contact with Rey and it's made clear he will be her new teacher just as Yoda once was to him

Some scenes, which required shooting at Skellig Michael in Ireland, took place during pre-production in September 2015, while principal photography began at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom in February 2016.

Principal photography begun on February 10, 2016. Filming took place in Dubrovnik from March 9 to March 16. Shooting ended in the summer.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is scheduled for release on December 15, 2017.

Episode IX, the final installment of the sequel trilogy, is scheduled for release on May 24, 2019, and will be directed by Colin Trevorrow with Rian Johnson writing a story treatment for the film.

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