Star Wars Episode VII Given December 18, 2015 Release Date

Star Wars

In a move that some might find surprising, the next movie in the Star Wars saga will be coming out during the holiday season in 2015:

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 8Mission: Impossible IIIStar Trek) and is being scripted by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost ArkThe Empire Strikes BackReturn of the Jedi). Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, with Tommy Harper (Mission: Impossible – Ghost ProtocolJack RyanStar 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 is a big change from all six preceding Star Wars films, which were released in the summer, generally on or before Memorial Day weekend, so it’s interesting that Disney has made the decision to go with the holiday season here instead. No doubt, this is also a big period for movie releases, and in some sense one in which whatever other big blockbuster movies may be coming out in 2015 or 2016 won’t be on the screens. However, it’s going to make the camping out before the movie opens part a lot more interesting for people in the East and Midwest.  Obviously, this date could change depending on whether or not shooting issues impact production, but I doubt they’d make this announcement if they didn’t think they could make the date.

On another note, this will hopefully be much, much better than the last Star Wars holiday offering.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. JWH says:

    Star Wars: Episode VII: Life Day, Part I

  2. john personna says:

    Han shot first, Star Wars is dead to me.

  3. al-Ameda says:

    Darn, yet another Star Wars movie that I will not see.

  4. Maybe this will be the final nail in the coffin…

    AND WHERE’S THE BLU-RAY RELEASE OF THE UNBUTCHERED ORIGINAL TRILOGY?!

  5. john personna says:

    The reinvented Star Trek has been much better Space Opera, for me personally. Of course I always liked Kirk’s peculiar combination of hubris and compassion.

  6. michael reynolds says:

    Despite the fact that I find myself on Lucas Valley Road almost daily, I find myself indifferent. I’ll see it on a plane or a hotel room.

  7. Dave Schuler says:

    Can’t we eliminate the middle man and just pay them not to make another movie?

  8. Boyd says:

    In an odd coincidence, only once before in my life have I heard of a movie release date two years down the road, and it was also for December 18, 2015: Warcraft.

  9. Pinky says:

    @john personna: I just saw Star Trek Into Darkness a few days ago. Abrams has his own rythym. I’m not sure if it’ll work for Star Wars, but then again, you know it won’t be the worst movie in the series. Abrams could put a “Star Wars VII” sticker on a Korean War-era VD movie and it’d be the fourth best in the series. Maybe even second best.

  10. Pinky says:

    @Dave Schuler:

    Can’t we eliminate the middle man and just pay them not to make another movie?

    Considering overseas sales and product tie-ins, we’d have to collect $1.5 billion.

  11. Dave Schuler says:

    @Pinky:

    That’s only $5 per person. I’m ready to throw in my fin.

  12. Vast Variety says:

    @Pinky: Abrams rhythm doesn’t work for Star Trek and I suspect the Star Wars movies will just end up being lens flare filled crap with lots of action and cgi and enough story to fill about half a sheet of paper.

    Sad thing is even that would be an improvement over the Star Wars Prequels.

  13. James in Silverdale, WA says:

    I’ve set up a tent and some lawn chairs in line for the theater. Can someone bring us a keg of something?