What should we expect from Star Wars Episode VIII. Our predictions for what's to come

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The pressure is on! J. J. Abrams has done an amazing job with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This can only mean one thing, the bar has been set high. Fans are going to expect the same quality for the upcoming episodes and spin off films. On the one hand, the characters have already been established for this new trilogy and people love them. On the other hand, the story needs to get more interesting and different from the original trilogy. Playing it safe with the inclusion of similar scenes and a similar story won't work for Episode VIII. So, whats next? Read below to get an idea of what to expect from the next installment of Star Wars. Warning, this article include spoilers from The Force Awakens.

#1 The Resistance will be on the run
​By the end of The Force Awakens, the New Republic fleet has been destroyed. Half of the Resistance fleet was lost during the battle at the Starkiller base and although the First Order lost the battle, they now know the location of the Resistance's base. This means that, just like with the Rebellion at the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back, the Resistance is going to be on the run. After all, as General Hux said, they don't have the Republic to protect them anymore.

#2 Rey's parents
Maz Kanata make it seem like Rey's parents aren't important to the plot. But, just like Anakin Skywalker had to go back to his mother, the questions about her parents are going to haunt Rey. Will she go looking for them? Are they actually important to the plot? Are they important characters from the original trilogy? Will Luke be able to help her find peace of mind with the idea that they are not coming back? Or maybe the thoughts about her parents will take her to a path dangerously close to the dark side?

#3 R2-D2 has been reactivated
The reactivation of R2-D2 is a big question. Is it just a coincidence that he reactivated himself at the end of the movie so Rey could find Luke? Or maybe Luke gave R2 instructions to reactivate when Rey appears. Jedis can see the future, so maybe Luke was waiting for her arrival. Or maybe Luke knew about her existence and that, one way or another, she would find her way to Han and Leia.

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#4 The real leaders will have a more protagonistic role
Supreme Leader Snoke just appeared as a hologram (a creepy one) in this movie, but he is the real leader behind the First Order and Kylo Ren. He has recalled Kylo Ren to "complete his training." This means he has a plan and he is taking a more active role to implement it. And let's not forget, he is after Luke. His back story will be revealed, probably with a tie in novel before the release of the movie, but it will still be mentioned in Episode VIII.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have the good guys, the Jedi master and his new padawan (or is it apprentice?). Rey needs to be trained, and Luke needs to come out of the shadows. The galaxy is in turmoil and needs hope. Dark side power needs to be answered with light. Will there be a confrontation between Snoke and Luke? I think that is something they are going to leave for Episode IX.

#5 Kylo ren will become more powerful
He is not only completing his training, he passed his last test to completely open his mind to the dark side. He killed his dad, now it is his uncles turn. Snoke will send him after Luke, and this time he will be ready for Rey. He might be able to focus his anger and instead of tantrums, he will be able to use more advanced dark side powers (like lightning maybe). Will he try to kill his master? After all, his real role model is Darth Vader and not Snoke.

#6 Speaking of the dark side, how many Sith wannabes are out there?
Disney created the Inquisitors for the TV show Rebels. Both the TV show and the movie share the same universe, so it is safe to assume that, one way or another, the Inquisitors still exist. If not them, the book "Aftermath" makes reference to a group called "Acolites of the beyond" who seek to acquire Darth Vader's lightsaber. It is possible that they make an appeaance in the next movie. Or maybe those acolites and the Inquisitors are one and the same.

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#7 Finn will be a resistance leader
Just like Han wanted to leave at the end of A New Hope, Finn wanted to leave it all behind too, but he wasn't able to and ended up being a hero. In the next movie he will have a leadership position. But just like Rey, he will have that burning need to find out who his birth family are. Will he be looking for them? Is that even possible? We saw that the First Order has a detailed record on all the Stormtroopers, does that record include their origins?

#8 Rey will become a Jedi
If they were to make this trilogy just like the original one, Rey would become a Jedi by the third movie. I really don't think that's the path this trilogy will follow. Rey will become a Jedi in Episode VIII. She will pass her final test and will be ready to take down the First Order in Episode IX. 

​#9 More beloved (or hated characters) will die
It's time to say goodbye to the original cast. We had our chance to say good bye to them with The Force awakens. Now the passing of the torch will be complete. By Episode IX all the original cast will be gone.

#10 someone is going to loose a hand, or a leg, or both.
It wouldn't be Star Wars without a lightsaber battle in which someone looses a limb. will it be Rey? Kylo Ren? ​​

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