Star Wars Episode 7, Episode 8 Release Date News: After 'The Force Awakens', Episode 8 Premiere Date Set for May 2017
With the upcoming release of Star Wars Episode 7: "The Force Awakens" coming on December 2015, which would reunite original Star Wars actors Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Mark Hamil (Luke Skywalker), Star Wars fever further heats up with recent announcements by Disney on plans for Episode 8 and a stand-alone film.
Disney announced that Episode 8 will be coming on May 26, 2017 and the film will be directed by Rian Johnson, the man behind "Looper", "Brick" and 'The Brothers Bloom". No plot details have been released, however.
Disney further announced the release of a stand-alone film on December 26, 2016, entitled "Rogue One", which would star Oscar-nominee Felicity Jones (the first and so far, only cast member to be confirmed), who was nominated for her role as the wife of Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything".
This will be the first of several stand-alone films that will explore the characters and events beyond the core "Star Wars" saga, according to Disney and Lucasfilm, in a statement. "Rogue One" will be directed by Gareth Edwards ("Godzilla" and "Monsters") and screenplay will be written by Oscar-nominee Cris Weitz ("Antz", "About a Boy" and Cinderella"). The film will start shooting this summer in London.
In other Star Wars news, Marvel has revealed a new comic book series called "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire."
Based on the title, the series is aimed at exploring the period between "Return of the Jedi" and "The Force Awakens". No specifics yet on the story was provided, but based on the teaser poster released, as well as the casting for "The Force Awakens", it looks like the series will pick up at the time when the Empire is in disarray after the destruction of the second Death Star and Rebel Alliance is celebrating their victory on Endor.
The series will focus on Luke, Han and Leia and the rest of the gang as they continue to battle the fractured remains of Palpatine's Empire. The Road to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire #1 will be released in September 2015.
Lucasfilm and Disney Worldwide Publishing have announced that there will be at least 20 books and comics released this fall that will explore the 30-year period between "Return of the Jedi" and "The Force Awakens".