Oscar Isaac has been chatting about Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII, where he plays our space boyfriend Poe Dameron.

The next installment of the Star Wars saga is only one of Oscar Isaac’s many upcoming projects, yet the Guatemalan actor seems genuinely invested in the blockbuster epic.

Directed by Rian Johnson, Episode VIII will continue the story of Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as they (presumably) prepare to take down the New Order. Leia (Carrie Fisher) is still leading the Resistance, of which Poe Dameron is a part — and Finn (John Boyega) will likely be joining them as well.

Speaking to The LA Times, Oscar Isaac hints that the latest Star Wars chapter will be very different from what we’ve seen so far.

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“Rian [Johnson] is definitely going to places and investigating things that haven’t really been done in the Star Wars universe,” says Isaac. “For me, it’s so fun getting to explore different things that I wouldn’t have expected in this universe.”

We have no idea what he might be referring to (though we have high hopes), but it’s great to hear that Isaac has faith in Johnson! And even better, his comments indicate that Poe Dameron will have a somewhat pivotal role in the story.

Considering Poe was originally meant to be killed off in The Force Awakens, you never know how much room there was for him in the sequels.

The actor goes on to add, “In some ways it feels like we’re making an independent film. Certain things we get to play with – this kind of intimacy that we get to find – it’s special. It’s been really fun.”

We can’t wait to find out more about Star Wars: Episode VIII, which opens on December 15, 2017.