Rather than initially-scheduled Summer 2017 release, the as-yet-untitled Star Wars: Episode VIII will now arrive on December 15 2017.
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Looks like fans will have to wait a bit longer before they can watch the next episode. Rian Johnson is taking the reins from J.J. Abrams, who helmed “The Force Awakens”, to write and direct the upcoming sequel.
The previous May opening might have missed out on the family audience that helped “Force Awakens” make such an impression.
The Star Wars date change has allowed a shift for another major Disney property. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” will be released on May 26, 2017. Granted it’s still showing within the same year, but we can only imagine that the added 7 months delay must be killing fans, but we guess we’d rather have a delayed movie than a rushed one just to meet the deadline, wouldn’t you agree?
Stand alone story, and first spin-off film “Star Wars: Rouge One” is due to land in cinemas this Christmas.
Moving “Episode VIII” also follows the same trajectory of Disney’s “The Force Awakens” which was originally planned for a 2015 summer release, but was moved to December 18.
The next film in the series, Episode VIII, is now in pre-production but the film is expected to start shooting later next month.
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“The Force Awakens”, which was released last month, has become the Star Wars franchise’s biggest hit to date and the highest grossing film in North American box office history, after recently passing the $760.5 million “Avatar” hauled in in 2009.
