It’s been a big week in the world of Walt Disney Pictures and ‘Star Wars’ firstly with the announcement of the release date for upcoming ‘Star Wars Episode VIII’ but also with the grand unveiling of the first in a series of previously announced spin off films.
First up is ‘Star Wars Episode VIII’ which now has an official release date of 26th March 2017. Eager ‘Star Wars’ fans will know this date is forty years on from the release of ‘Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope’ in 1977. The sequel to J.J. Abrams ‘Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens’ is confirmed to be written and directed by Rian Johnson (‘Brick’ & ‘Looper’).
Next up comes news that all ‘Star Wars’ fans have been waiting for: the title of the first spin-off movie is officially confirmed as ‘Star Wars: Rogue One’. The film will be directed by Brit Gareth Edwards (‘Godzilla’) and will star Felicity Jones (‘The Theory of Everything’). The film is due for release on 6th December 2016. Very little else is known regarding the film at this stage.
‘Episode VIII’ and ‘Rogue One’ join a growing ‘Star Wars’ universe, also this week came the release of initial details on several tie-in novels via Blastr (click here for original article). Here’s a few juicy tidbits from the announcement:
Star Wars: Lost Stars written by Claudia Gray: This thrilling Young Adult novel gives readers a macro view of some of the most important events in the Star Wars universe, from the rise of the Rebellion to the fall of the Empire. Readers will experience these major moments through the eyes of two childhood friends–Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell–who have grown up to become an Imperial officer and a Rebel pilot. Now on opposite sides of the war, will these two star-crossed lovers reunite, or will duty tear them–and the galaxy–apart.
The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure: Luke Skywalker returns for an all-new adventure in this thrilling upper middle grade novel. Set between Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the story finds Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and R2-D2 stranded on a mysterious planet, and explores Luke’s first-ever duel with a lightsaber.
Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo Adventure: Han Solo and Chewbacca the Wookiee team-up for an all-new adventure in this thrilling upper middle grade novel. Set between Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the story follows everyone’s favorite pair of smugglers as they fly the Millennium Falcon on a top-secret mission for the Rebellion.
Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure: Princess Leia returns for an all-new adventure in this thrilling upper middle grade novel. Set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, the story follows the warrior princess as she leads a ragtag group of rebels on a dangerous mission against the evil Galactic Empire.
Just in case you missed it here’s the trailer for the upcoming ‘The Force Awakens’:
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