Fans will be getting their Star Wars fixes a lot faster with Disney's announcement of the official release date of the new "Star Wars: Epoisode VIII" on May 26, 2017. The plot of the trilogy's second instalment will follow on from the events of Star Wars: Episode VII "The Force Awakens", which will open on December 18.
CNet reported that "The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams will stand aside for "Episode VIII," handing the galactic reins off to Rian Johnson, who will take over as both writer and director." Johnson is the director of science fiction film "Looper" in 2012.
Disney's CEO Bob Iger announced an official release date for the follow-up "Star Wars: Episode VIII."
In the previous Star Wars trilogy, fans have to wait for three years before the next episode. Star Wars was r eleased on May 25, 1977. This was followed by two sequels, The Empire Strikes Back, released on May 21, 1980, and Return of the Jedi on May 25, 1982.
Disney also announced the "Rogue One", the first in a series of Star Wars stand-alone films will be released on December 16 next year. Oscar nominee Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) will star in Rogue One. Godzilla director Gareth Edwards will stand behind the camera while Chris Weitz will do the screenplay.
Cinemablend said Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be set over 30 years post the events of the last film - Return of the Jedi. To connect the two films, Disney will collaborate with Worldwide Publishing and Disney subsidiary Lucasfilm Press by releasing at least 20 new Star Wars books onto the market this fall, according to Entertainment Weekly.
"The books-which range in target age from children to adults-will be loaded with foreshadowing about the upcoming movie, including new starships, planets, characters, and clues about what happened with Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo in the months following the Return of the Jedi."
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