14 DAY TRIAL // This December, the “Star Wars” franchise is coming back to the big screen, in a theater near you, with “Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” the first film since Disney acquired the rights over this popular universe from Lucasfilm.
At the time of the acquisition, rumor had it that, once the first film was out, Disney would follow up by releasing one new installment each year. Apparently, that’s exactly what will happen, as Disney boss Bob Iger confirmed at the annual shareholder meeting at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
“Episode VII” isn’t even out yet, but Disney already has all its ducks in a row for “Episode VIII,” which, as reported last summer, will be directed by Rian Johnson. Johnson’s biggest credits to date include the time-traveling action movie “Looper” and the best episode from “Breaking Bad,” the critically acclaimed “Ozymandias.”
Johnson will also handle the script for the film, which will be released on May 26, 2017.
However, before that, fans will also get the premiere of the first of the many “Star Wars” spinoffs Disney has planned: Iger has said it will be called “Rogue One” and will drop one year after “The Force Awakens,” on December 16, 2016.
For this one, J.J. Abrams will maintain only producing responsibilities, as it will be directed by Gareth Edwards, who directed “Godzilla.” It will be based off a script by Chris Weitz (“Cinderella,” “Antz”) and will star Felicity Jones, who was previously seen in last year’s “The Theory of Everything.”