Star Wars Episode 9 filming update: Star confirms THIS character starts filming TODAY

Franchise star Brian Herring has confirmed on social media he’s back on set with JJ Abrams today (August 7) – as the puppeteer and lead performer of one very popular droid.

Yes: BB-8 is reporting for work.

Herring tweeted: “1st shooting day for the little guy! So excited to be ‘rolling’ once again with @jjabrams and all the gang far, far away!

“Here’s to a fantastic shoot. #StarWars #IX #BB8 #puppeteer.”

Herring’s name wasn’t mentioned in the casting announcement a couple of weeks ago, but nobody would have expected BB-8 to be written out.

He joins the likes of Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Lupita Nyong’o, with Mark Hamill reprising Luke Skywalker one final time.

Billy Dee Williams is returning as Lando Calrissian for the first time in the new trilogy, and the late Carrie Fisher will be seen again thanks to unused footage from 2015’s The Force Awakens and 2017’s The Last Jedi.

Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant and Keri Russell are among the newcomers.

Missing from the list are the characters who appeared to meet a demise in Episode 8: namely Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo and Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke.

Episode 9 began filming last week, with Abrams sharing the first photo from behind-the-scenes.

“Bittersweet starting this next chapter without Carrie, but thanks to an extraordinary cast and crew, we are ready to go,” he wrote.

“Grateful for @rianjohnson and special thanks to George Lucas for creating this incredible world and beginning a story of which we are lucky to be a part. #IX.”

Abrams had previously helmed The Force Awakens, and was drafted in to take charge of Episode 9 after the departure of Colin Trevorrow.

Star Wars: Episode 9 is out in December 2019.