Well, we now have an official confirmation from Disney that STAR WARS: EPISODE VII will be hitting theaters on December 18, 2015. That means that, as predicted, Disney will completely monopolize the entire schedule that year with AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, ANT-MAN, and STAR WARS: EPISODE VII amongst their normal slate of animated films.
J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm lobbied for a delay to 2016 to provide more time for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII to be developed. Disney CEO Bob Iger was set on releasing the movie in 2015 and apparently December is the perfect compromise to appease everyone. Now Abrams gets time to develop the film further as he scripts with Lawrence Kasdan and Iger and the suits are still getting their new tentpole right in time for the holiday season.
Disney chair Alan Horn issued the following statement via Star Wars.com:
“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,”
STAR WARS: EPISODE VII officially hits theaters everywhere on December 18, 2015.