"Star Wars: Episode VII" has an official release date: Dec. 18, 2015.
"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," Alan Horn, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, said in a press release announcing the date. "Star Wars: Episode VII" was initially expected to arrive sometime during that previous summer. (All six previous "Star Wars" films were released during the month of May.)
In a separate press release from Disney regarding the move, it was also revealed that "Episode VII" will screen in 3D.
This news is far from surprising for fans of the beloved sci-fi franchise. Back in August, Badass Digest editor Devin Faraci revealed that "multiple sources" had told him "Episode VII" would shift from a summer date to sometime during December of 2015.
Just last week, The Hollywood Reporter passed along word that there were some tensions within the "Star Wars" camp about when the film would come out, with Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy reportedly hoping for a 2016 calendar slot to give the creative team more time to perfect their vision. (Director J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan recently took over script writing duties from Michael Arndt, who was hired last year to write "Episode VII.")
Current films slated for release on Dec. 18, 2015 include the adaptation of Dan Brown's "Inferno" with Tom Hanks returning as Robert Langdon, and an adaptation of the video game "World of Warcraft." In announcing the "Star Wars" release date, Disney also revealed that "Tommorrowland," with George Clooney in a lead role, would shift from Dec. 12, 2014 to May 22, 2015.
