It’s official. We now know where we’ll all be on December 18, 2015: in the theater, watching Star Wars: Episode VII.
With pre-production in full-swing, a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015, has been set for Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII.
“We’re very excited to share the official 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII, where it will not only anchor the popular holiday filmgoing season but also ensure our extraordinary filmmaking team has the time needed to deliver a sensational picture,” said Alan Horn, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.
Star Wars: Episode VII will be directed by J. J. Abrams (Super 8, Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek) and is being scripted by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi). Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Jack Ryan, Star Trek Into Darkness) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds) serving as executive producers. John Williams is returning to score Star Wars: Episode VII.
Shooting is scheduled to begin spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios.
This news is significant for several reasons. One is that this will be the first Star Wars movie ever to premiere in any month other than May. Second is that this date pushes it to the very end of the year, well beyond any of the other blockbuster releases like Avengers 2 and Batman vs. Superman. That’ll make our choices easier: I would imagine having to choose between these three movies in a single weekend, and wake up screaming.
But the biggest reason this is news is that it means the studio compromised. Director J.J. Abrams and producer Kathleen Kennedy were trying to get Ep VII pushed to 2015 to give them more time for preproduction. Rumors are that the script isn’t even close to being ready, and they’re scheduled to start shooting in 2014. Disney CEO Bob Iger refused to move the date, because the studio apparently has a whole thing mapped out relying on the 2015 date. This late release date pretty much says, “Okay, fine. You get until the very, very end of 2015. But no later.”
But when the director and producer are both worried they can’t release a quality picture in this short turnaround time, and Disney more interested in its merchandising plans than the film itself? Yes, Star Wars fans, I’m now officially nervous.
[Via StarWars.com]
Are you looking forward to SWVII? Do you think this date is a good thing or a bad thing?
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<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="36711 ">14 Comments
I was going to say that December is an odd time but then again Avatar, Titanic, and the LOTR movies all premiered in December and did pretty well. Still it seems like face saving for Disney as it's still technically in 2015 just 8 months after they would have released it in 2015.
I can't wait for this movie!
http://www.modernworld4.blogspot.com
I must be the only one, but I've never seen a Star Wars movie from beginning to end. I've only seen clips.
looking at imdb i see george lucas is listed as "creative consultant" and for some reason i draw a sigh of relief. i think the memory of the crystal skull still lingers in my head, and i find myself feeling more worried about his involvement in this than disneys. i then find myself very disturbed by this realization… he created star wars! he would not let any harm come to the franchise. yet again … the crystal skull…
I read that last night. Least it gave them a little more time.
And Medeia, my mother has never even seen the clips!
"This late release date pretty much says, "Okay, fine. You get until the very, very end of 2014. But no later.""
You mean "the very, very end of 2015", right?
Either way, I am glad SW7 has been separated fro the pack.
I really need to sit and watch Star Wars. I've never watched the files. 🙂 Looks interesting though.
fans are doing to strike out… that it isn't the traditional May month… okay everyone upset, throw your mint carded Boba Fett's… and watch for the exciting flairs, jj style!
is it wrong that i giggled a little?
George Lucas always had the movies come out on the weekend of his birthday and three years apart for each trilogy. It's sad that it's not keeping with tradition, but as long as the movie is good, that doesn't matter. I do wish they'd get rid of the "I've got a bad feeling about this" tradition. It seems forced on several movies like "I'll be back" is for Terminator.
YES! I wish I was in the theater, watching Star Wars: Episode VII right now.
*looks desperately for TARDIS, Sadly can't find it*
Good, Good let the Giggle flow through YOU!
Oops, you're right
Hmmm? News not what I like to hear, it is.