"Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" is not going to be shown until December, but Disney just had to make the loyal geeks and buffs of the legendary franchise go over their excitement limit by revealing its plans for not one but two more follow-up films for the frantically anticipated flick.
Disney CEO Bob Iger was in a summit with shareholders when he laid down the news that "Episode VIII" and "Episode IX" are well on the cards. Iger revealed that the sequel to "The Force Awakens" is scheduled to be released in the year 2017. In 2019, "Episode IX" will, as the chief executive put it, serve as "the end of the trilogy."
A trailer for the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" had many thinking that the Internet will break. It was the biggest news "Star Wars" fans heard in years. Knowing that it was just part of a longer string of goodies, faithfuls must be in great rapture. Certainly, Iger is very well aware of that fact.
"As one of the few people allowed to visit the set during filming and one of the fewer who has 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," Iger said in a statement as laid out by Get Your Geek On.
"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," the Disney chief went on to say.
According to Metro UK, Disney also has plans for spinoffs with Boba Fett and Han Solo at the forefront.
"Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow and many others. The forthcoming film is directed by J.J. Abrams and it is set to hit the big screen on Dec. 18.
