The release date of the next Star Wars movie has been moved seven months and will now debut Dec. 15, 2017, Disney and Lucasfilm said Wednesday.
Star Wars: Episode VIII was initially set to be released in the summer of 2017. Filmmakers decided to postpone its release following the “extraordinary success” of The Force Awakens, which was the first in the franchise to premiere outside the traditional summer blockbuster window. The movie broke several records, including biggest domestic and global debuts of all time.
Episode VIII is currently in pre-production, officials said. Filming will begin in London next month, with Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams as one of its executive producers.
More Must-Read Stories From TIME
- Here's Where All The Strongest Hurricanes Have Hit the U.S. in the Past 50 Years
- 2022 Time100 NEXT: TIME’s List Of Emerging Leaders Who Are Shaping the Future
- Industrial Farming Causes Climate Change. The ‘Slow Food’ Movement Wants to Stop It
- Here Are the 12 New Books You Should Read in October
- Artist Oliver Jeffers Wants to Paint the World Out of a Corner
- A Vibrant North Korean Community in London Finds Its Days Are Numbered
- COVID-19 Vaccines Can Make Periods Longer, Study Says
- Column: What Happened When My Entire Family Came Out
