Star Wars spin-off to be filmed in England

Los Angeles - The first Star Wars spin-off film will be made in England.

The movie - which will be helmed by Godzilla director Gareth Edwards - will be filmed at the Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire next year, it's been confirmed.

The British Conservative Party Chancellor, George Osborne, made the announcement during a visit to the studio, where the long awaited Star Wars: Episode VII is currently in production.

Writing on Twitter, he said:

On set of Episode VII tonight, can announce another #StarWars film will be made in UK. A #LongTermEconomicPlan in a galaxy far far away

— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) June 10, 2014

The project will be the first of "at least three" planned spin-offs, each of which will focus on an individual character from the popular franchise, and will be released on December 16, 2016.

It is so far unknown, however, whether the second of the planned spin-offs, which will be helmed by The Fantastic Four director Josh Trank, will also be filmed at Pinewood.

Original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, along with rising stars Lupita Nyong'o and Oscar Isaac, are currently working under the direction of J.J. Abrams on Star Wars: Episode VII, which is scheduled for release in December 2015.