Here are my early speculations/predictions for Ep. VIII
Takes place 6 months after the events of TFA.
Rey will still be untrained, she will be living at the Jedi Temple, but Luke will refuse to train her initially out of fear that she will succumb to the Dark Side like the other Skywalkers have.
Finn's injuries will be significant, possibly have some robotic parts because of it.
The New Republic will be more prominent in this film, I'm thinking del Toro's role is one of a Senator or Chancellor. He and Leia will clash.
Kylo will be commanded to hunt down and face Luke by Snoke. I think he will sense that Han was right and Snoke is indeed using him.
Either Luke or Leia will die.
There will be other Dark Side users in Ep. VIII.
If I might use some of your extrapolations for my own:
- I think we'll see the New Republic trying to recover from the First Order's attack; the FO still has its main fleet, even if it is almost certainly undersized, so they should be able to be able to project more concentrated force than the Republic for awhile. Poe's look of astonishment when he's taken aboard the Finalizer also implies that the Resistance is outsized by the FO, so it may not be able to form the core of the resurgent republic fleet.
-Going off that point, I think we'll see this film as more the "strategic maneuvers" film. The FO may blitzkrieg it's way over key worlds and resources, places like Kamino (for clones to help build up the Stormtrooper Corps.) or ship yards like Kuat. It may also be shown courting some of the "legitimate" Imperial Remnant planets to it side (I believe the Visual Guide implied that segments of the Empire still exist, just de-weaponized). Similarly, I think we'll see the New Republic marshaling irregular forces to oppose the FO, with the goal being more to contain the FO for now so they can meet them head on later.
- I think we'll see Poe and Finn United destroy some fools, perhaps with Finn's defiance being seen in other Stormtroopers; maybe he even ends up helping some groups raised like him defect (New Republic Stormtroopers in Clone-Style personalized armor would be awesome!) I think Poe may play a mentor role similar to Luke's, albeit without the Force and a bit more just helping Finn grow up and fight against the FO.
- I really expect the Knights of Ren to step up big time here. We've got at least 6 dark side users who aren't the main villains, so these guys may very well be deployed like the Jedi were in the Clone Wars, as field commanders. And having some dark siders walking around means that we've got elite cannon fodder; let's see Rey take on one or two, or have Luke own two or three and show him successfully converting one to the light-side in a reversal of the Vader duel from ESB, or have Finn and Poe take one down. I feel there should be more Knights of Ren fight scenes than Kylo Ren fight scenes, particularly if they're the Inquisitor-level force wielders I think they are; nowhere near a true Sith's levels, and also held back by Snoke to make sure try don't threaten him.
- As for Kylo himself, I really want to see his dark side powers start to stabilize, alongside his personality, alongside some introspection that foils with Rey's growth. Like you, I want to see him realize Snoke's using him, but I want him to also figure out that Snoke was intentionally holding him back; I mean he's called a Master for the Knights of Ren, but he's still clearly undertrained relative to his potential with the possible exception of his interrogation skills. I want him to see Snoke as a full on Broken pedestal, and to at least kill and replace a superior among the Knights of Ren if not Snoke himself.
- And finally, for Rey and Luke. I want them to start addressing any possible Skywalker heritage she has head on; they don't have to have him immediately acknowledge her lineage, but I want that theme in our heads from the word "go." I want to see Luke go through a "How Skywlaker got his groove back" story, facing his fears and issues with his training and getting involved in Galactic Affairs; I want to see a modern Jedi Master going full on Tron-Legacy-Flynn on a battle, turning an entire conflict just by showing up. And I want to see Rey show how much stronger she is with training, maybe face some dark side temptation, and have an awesome reunion with Finn. And maybe, if she is Luke's daughter, finding out some of her Mother's identity.
