Rumor: Where Exactly is Star Wars: Episode VIII Going to Film in Croatia?

Knin FortressOne of our Croatian readers shared with us what’s the latest talk and rumors in the country following the news that Episode VIII will be filming in Dubrovnik.

 

Keep in mind that for now these are just rumors and nothing is confirmed.

 

The first thing is that filming is expected to take place in Croatia in March. Also there is a talk among the locals that they might use an old fortress that is near Dubrovnik as a possible filming location. And when you see how the fortress looks, you immediately understand why the rumors started.

Knin 2

This is the Knin Fortress (title photo and photo above) – a partially ruined fortress located just above the city of Knin, Croatia. The similarities with the buildings located on Skellig Michael (which represented Ahch-To in The Force Awakens) are apparent. Still the city of Knin is good 370 km away from Dubrovnik, so one could wonder if these rumors are actually a wishful thinking.

 

Another interesting location is Lokrum island that is very near Dubrovnik. Again this island could serve as a stand in for Skellig Michael for Ahch-To.

Lokrum

Of course Rian Johnson and the team could film in a totally different place which is a completely new location in Episode VIII.

 

It’s also worth mentioning that George Lucas visited Dubrovnik in 2009 during his vacation along the Croatian coast and enjoyed the city during a private walking tour. (via starwarsdubrovnik.com)

LucasOf course The Maker is not involved with the new movies, but perhaps he had mentioned something to Kathleen Kennedy about this specific location? Highly unlikely, but who knows.

 

So what do you think? Which of the above locations fit the most with the Star Wars universe? Knin fortress, Lokrum island or Dubrovnik itself? Tell us in the comments below.

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

30 thoughts on “Rumor: Where Exactly is Star Wars: Episode VIII Going to Film in Croatia?

  • February 1, 2016 at 9:12 pm
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    george was probably thinking how much more beautiful the place would look if it was rendered in a computer. 😉

    • February 1, 2016 at 10:07 pm
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      With CGI womp rats and some animal’s ass blocking up the frame.

    • February 2, 2016 at 1:53 am
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      This is why Star wars community is mostly stupid, always whines and speaks against George’s vision, go and make something yourself!…

      • February 2, 2016 at 2:10 am
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        i can feel your anger…

    • February 2, 2016 at 2:01 am
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      THAT’S NOT NICE!

      • February 2, 2016 at 2:01 am
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        funny but not nice. lol

        • February 2, 2016 at 8:00 am
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          No worries, I reported his comments to the admins.

          • February 2, 2016 at 10:33 am
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            Are… Are you kidding? I really can’t tell. The comment about Lucas loving CGI more than real life is realistic and funny, soooooo

          • February 2, 2016 at 2:31 pm
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            They’re not gonna do anything about it. It’s a funny, joking comment. It’s best not to get butthurt about it.

  • February 1, 2016 at 9:51 pm
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    Dubrovnik looks very similar to some concept art for Ep 7 that was in the art book, of a mediteranian esqe sea space port

    • February 1, 2016 at 9:56 pm
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      I just looked at that and you are right. Good catch that was some of my favorite pieces in the book.

  • February 2, 2016 at 12:01 am
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    Its kind of how I imagined Vader’s fortress that Luke was being the hermit in, at the start of Heir to The Empire

    • February 2, 2016 at 1:15 am
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      Dark empire?

      • February 2, 2016 at 1:22 am
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        Wherever Luke was at the start of the Thrawn Trilogy.

        • February 2, 2016 at 1:38 am
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          i think luke was on coruscant at the start of heir to the empire. but if you’re thinking of the vader fortress he rebuilt, i think that was in the dark empire series.

          • February 2, 2016 at 2:44 am
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            Vader had a fortress retreat in the northern hemisphere of Coruscant. Thats where Luke was in the opening chapters of Heir to The Empire.

            Looking fondly back on the series, I might re-read it now

  • February 2, 2016 at 1:00 am
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    I don’t know about that, i don’t want Star Wars to look too much like Game of Thrones

    • February 2, 2016 at 1:14 am
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      Episode VIII Return of the Dragons. 😉

      • February 2, 2016 at 2:15 am
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        The battle of Hoth woke the White Walkers.

        • February 4, 2016 at 7:39 pm
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          Snoke is the Wampa back for revenge!!!!!!!!!!

      • February 2, 2016 at 7:02 am
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        A Song of Ice and Fire, Starkiller Base and Jakku 😉

        • February 2, 2016 at 7:08 am
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          starkiller could qualify on its own. 🙂

    • February 2, 2016 at 4:20 am
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      Well, actually people is comparing…
      Jon Snow as Poe Dameron,
      Ramsay Snow is Kylo Ren,
      Daenerys Targaryen as Rey,
      Sorry for Luke, he is Tyrion Lanister,
      And Darth Vader fits really well in Lord Tywin Lannister.
      … it could be continued, although GOT has much more characters then SW because it comes from books/series.

  • February 2, 2016 at 4:11 am
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    Dalmatian coast has many islands, and all of them really nice.
    Also probably it is half price of Ireland and probably they are more open to filming, although I am not sure that prices are a problem for Disney.
    Dubroknik is a city, so as the article is pointing, probably they are more interested in smaller islands and fortress to reproduce landscapes of the archipelago planet.

    There are more fortress than Dubroknik, in the Rennaisance it was near the border to Ottomans and Venetians (who ruled there in that time) called Spanish Engineers (best in those time) to build fortresses in the islands, like Hvar.
    The Ottomans were defeated in Lepanto in 1571 by Spanish, Catholic and Venetian Navy, it was a kind of Midway Battle or Battle of Normandy size, it is not totally well known in films because it is out of Anglo-Saxon world, but it was pretty important for Europe and Mediterranean Sea.
    Cervantes lost his hand in that battle and he was made prisoner for years, the hand is actually regarding Luke Skywalker.

    • February 2, 2016 at 6:59 am
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      Looks great!

    • February 2, 2016 at 8:51 am
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      I’ve actually seen that in a movie before. Can’t remember it for the life of me… but I know I have!

  • February 2, 2016 at 4:59 pm
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    What a fantastic location ! Surely enhance the expectation for Episode 8.

  • February 2, 2016 at 6:41 pm
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    Dubrovnik is amazing. Great news!

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