My guesses about Episode VII-VIII:

Luke is viewed by most of the galaxy as a terrorist. He killed their leader and the remnants of the empire have taught a whole new generation that Luke is evil.

The mastermind behind this is Andy Serkis' motion capture character 'Supreme Leader Snoke'.

Snoke, we'll find out in either this movie or the next is actually 'Darth Plagueis' (Palpatine's master)

In one of the prequels, Palpatine tells Anakin that his master had acquired the ability to cheat death and also reveals that he murdered his master in his sleep. (which doesn't make sense if he could cheat death...so..) (palpatine never learned the secret...used a crude substitute of machinery to save Anakin)

Plagueis' way of 'cheating death' involves the cloning operation on Kamino. (where Jango Fett was cloned to make the first stormtroopers.....kinda important...a whole planet out there just popping out thousands of clones but never mentioned again after episode II)

When Plagueis was killed by Palpatine, he transferred his mind into a fresh clone of himself. (this type of story was in the comic series 'Dark Empire', in which the emperor came back as a young clone.)
Being basically immortal, he just sat back and let Palpatine 'think' he was in charge and let him do most of the dirty work.

After Palpatine fell, he stepped in and took control, re-writing history by spreading the lies about Luke and the rebellion while also founding the 'Knights of Ren', who worship their fallen leader who had mystical powers like a god while searching the galaxy for the evil, murderous Luke.

He is using Kylo Ren, who is basically just a fanatic, to find Luke...his true goal is that he wants Luke as his apprentice.

There are also pretty solid rumors that Hayden Christiansen will be in Episode VIII.

I'm not thinking 'Force Ghost', but that Darth Plagueis will basically resurrect Anakin/Darth via the same way he stays alive...a clone. Father might fight son again in episode 8, but the son will be the old one this go round.

anyhoo...yes, yes I'm a nerd.