Star Wars VIII Director Rian Johnson applauds the film crew at the end of the first day of filming on Skellig Michael last September

Rumour has it Luke Skywalker and friends are planning a return to the south-west of the country to film the next Star Wars movie.

Disney Lucasfilm has reportedly selected Ceann Sibéal at the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula as a location for the next Star Wars movie.

A photo which emerged online today shows a metal road which is being built on the side of the hill. The 1.5km metal roadway is understood to be under construction to transport film gear and crew to the summit for the filming of Star Wars: Episode VIII.

Heavy security is expected for filming in May and Independent.ie understands locals in the area will have the chance to work as part of the security team.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is directed by Rian Johnson and will see the return of Domhnall Gleeson to the screen alongside The Force Awakens co-stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega.

It is understood filming will take place over two weeks in May.

RTE reports that local landowners have entered into access agreements with the film company and a number of hotels have already been booked for the period in question.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht confirmed to the national broadcaster on Thursday that a film permit has been issued for Ceann Sibéal and that it "has approved a proposal for a limited amount of filming by a film production company on Ceann Sibéal on the Dingle Peninsula later this year".

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

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