Disney CEO confirms Episode VIII and IX release dates; VII ‘worth the wait’

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Over the next few years STAR WARS fans will be treated to a number of new films including the first installment in a new trilogy on December 18th this year, STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS. After that the first STAR WARS SPIN-OFF opens December 16, 2016. Beyond that it's been speculation on what's happening but nothing really confirmed as to when; they also haven’t officially said but it's pretty much certain that confirmed Rian Johnson is directing STAR WARS EPISODE VIII.

The future of STAR WARS has now been discussed by a high authority, Disney CEO, Bob Iger. In a Disney shareholders report, he mentions seeing footage from THE FORCE AWAKENS and confirmed the release years for the next two films in the new trilogy!

Here is his statement from a report via Get Your Geek:

As one of the few people allowed to visit the set during filming….and one of the fewer who’s seen most of the footage…I can assure the millions of Star Wars fans who have spent the last decade hoping for a new movie this one will be worth the wait. And it’s only the beginning of a new era of exceptional Star Wars storytelling; next year we’ll release our first standalone movie based on these characters, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII in 2017, and we’ll finish this trilogy with Episode IX in 2019.

So speculation aside, it’s great to hear some form of confirmation. He understands what fans have been waiting for and tells us it’s going to be “worth the wait”, that might be my favorite part of all this. EPISODE VIII will be out in 2017 and EPISODE XI in 2019 was noted with hints at stories to come after. We are looking at a new STAR WARS moving every year if the second standalone movie for 2018 is still a go, although he didn’t mention it.

What do you think of Bob Iger’s statement?