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Scenes from the first in a new Star Wars trilogy is set to be shot in a glen not too far, far away in Scotland.

Fans of the legendary sci-fi franchise will see a new set of heroes do battle in locations like Argyll and northern parts of the country as filming is scheduled to begin in June 2018.

The historic pass Rest and Be Thankful has been labelled as a potential site for the £1billion film in the first of a new stand-alone trilogy from The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson.

It is reported the trilogy be the only one to depart from the Luke Skywalker storyline and will follow different characters across the galaxy.

A source revealed the information to the Sunday Mail in December.

A source said: “As is now customary with any Star Wars production, the movie is shrouded in secrecy but they want to shoot scenes around the Rest and Be Thankful. Further filming has been pencilled in for elsewhere in the country.”

Writer-director Johnson has spoken of his excitement about the project.

He said: “I’m in the very beginning phases of coming up with it so right now the sky is kind of the limit.

“The appeal of it to me is to do a new story told over three movies, to have that kind of canvas, to be in the Star Wars world and to have the feel of a Star Wars film.

“My entire pitch to Kathleen Kennedy [Lucasfilm president] and Disney was, ‘Let’s tell a new Star Wars story. Let’s tell one story over three movies, where we go to new places and meet new people. It’s a brand new story that feels like a great Star Wars story’.

“That was the extent of it. I didn’t pitch an idea or a time or anything like that. It was just bright blue sky to tell a new story in and they were so excited about it. I’m starting to form clusters of ideas for the trilogy but the most exciting thing right now is the potential of it.”

(Image: REUTERS)

However, this is not Darth Vader and co's first links with Scotland.

Although no live character filming was carried out here, X-wing fighters soared over the highlands in The Force Awakens.

And in the first ever 1977 movie, Scots star Denis Lawson played rebel pilot Wedge Antilles.

Carnoustie-born actor Ian McDiarmid's performance as the evil Emperor Palpatine went down in Star Wars cult history in Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Trainspotting lead Ewan McGregor played the iconic Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy after his uncle appeared in the role in the original films.

The Oscar-winning actor has also expressed his interest in reprising the role for a spin-off tale surrounding the legendary Jedi master.

Glasgow-born Ray Park played horn-headed bad guy Darth Maul in the Phantom Menace which also featured Lewis MacLeod, from Torrance, Dunbartonshire, as the voice of pod-racing alien Sebulba.

Disney released The Last Jedi in 2017 after acquiring the franchise from Lucasfilm.

It raked in over $1.3billion at the box office after hitting the big screen across the world.

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead hopes filming of the new Star Wars movie in Scotland can spark a tourism boost.

He said: “Scotland is a familiar sight on the big screen with recent major productions such as Transformers: The Last Knight, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and the soon-to-be released Avengers: Infinity War all taking advantage of our wonderful landscape and rich heritage.

“Set-jetting – where people visit locations and other destinations associated with movies – is a growing trend, with 40 per cent of all UK visitors inspired to come here after seeing it on film or television.

(Image: SWNS.com)

"A further major production, such as Star Wars – one of the biggest cinematic franchises in the world – coming to Scotland would be a huge benefit to tourism and the economy, and a blockbusting addition to the discerning film fan’s set-jetting itinerary.”

Scottish Labour’s culture spokeswoman Claire Baker MSP said: “The fact such a successful and popular worldwide franchise will be filmed in Scotland will excite fans and also provide a welcome boost to the economy.

“I hope the producers take advantage of the skills people in Scotland have to offer, so as many local people as possible can find work and Scotland’s fantastic creative and digital community can take full advantage.”

But the new film is not the first movie mega-series to be filmed in Scotland in recent memory.

The new £400million Avengers: Infinity War shot scenes in Edinburgh last year ahead of its hotly anticipated release last month.

(Image: PA)

Netflix's upcoming big-budget film Outlaw King, featuring Hollywood star Chris Pine, was shot in the country in 2017.

Oscar-nominated and The Wolf of Wall Street actress Margot Robbie also graced our shores while making a £40million biopic about Mary Queen of Scots.

Disney's latest Star Wars offering follows the path of a young Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story and is due to appear in cinemas in the UK on May 25.