The new date sets up a potential but unlikely head-to-head between “Star Wars” and “Avatar”. The most recent Star Wars film was such a box office success with its December release, and Disney is hoping to replicate the success by releasing the next film in the same month. This is no bueno. “Including biggest domestic and global debuts of all time as well as the biggest domestic second and third weekends, en route to becoming the highest grossing domestic release of all time”. Disney is obviously seeing $/£ signs here.
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Fans will expect delay as Star Wars: Episode VIII will not be released until December 15, 2017, a seven-month setback from the previously announced release date of May 26.
Star Wars: Episode VIII’s original release date would’ve come out 3 weeks after the release of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, another Disney property.
Rian Johnson is set to take over directing duties from J.J. Abrams when production begins in London next month (Feb16).
Star Wars: Episode VIII had been due to open on May 26, 2017 but will now arrive in cinemas on December 15, 2017.
Though the company did not cite a specific reason for the delayed release date, the Hollywood Reporter says that Disney insiders have chose to make the change because of the bumper box office figures recently enjoyed by The Force Awakens over the festive period.
Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman will produce “Episode VIII”. If you have been following along, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” broke quite a few box-office records this year – hitting the largest domestic and global debuts in film history. While Fox, the studio releasing the film, declined to comment, the site reports that their sources had confirmed this news.
It is expected to continue the tale of new characters Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and the villainous Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
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According to Disney, the fifth installment of the popular franchise will see the return of the characters Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom).
