Walt Disney Co delayed the release of the ninth instalment of the "Star Wars" saga to Dec. 20, 2019 after announcing on Tuesday the return of filmmaker J.J. Abrams to the franchise to write and direct the movie.
Disney pushed back "Star Wars: Episode IX" from its initial May 2019 release date after Abrams replaced filmmaker Colin Trevorrow, who parted ways with Disney last week citing differing creative visions with the studio.
Abrams launched Disney's reboot of the "Star Wars" franchise with 2015's box office hit "The Force Awakens," which reunited original 1977 stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill and introduced a new generation of characters. The film made more than $2 billion at the global box office.
"With The Force Awakens, J.J. delivered everything we could have possibly hoped for, and I am so excited that he is coming back to close out this trilogy," Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement.
"Episode IX" faced creative challenges after the sudden death of Fisher, who plays the franchise's Princess Leia, last year. Her character, now called General Leia Organa, has a central role in the upcoming December film "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," the eighth instalment in the saga written and directed by Rian Johnson.
"Episode IX" was the second "Star Wars" project to lose a director this year. Disney said in June that filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller had left the upcoming Han Solo "Star Wars" spin-off movie due to creative differences. They were replaced by Hollywood veteran Ron Howard, the Oscar-winning director of "A Beautiful Mind."
"Star Wars: Episode IX" is part of Disney's expanding slate of "Star Wars" films that continue George Lucas' Skywalker saga as well as introducing standalone spin-off films set within the galaxy far, far away.
Reuters
Wed Sep 13 2017
FILE PHOTO: J.J. Abrams poses for pictures during a red carpet fan event for his upcoming movie "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in Tokyo, Japan, December 10, 2015. - REUTERS/Yuya Shino
Tahun kelima kempen 'We Care for Society’ Hada Labo terus bantu golongan terpinggir
RM50,000 disumbangkan dengan kerjasama Watsons Malaysia kepada Women of Will (WOW) dan Perstuan Kechara Soup Kitchen untuk salur bantuan kepada golongan memerlukan.
Ringgit susut berbanding dolar AS pada sesi awal
Pada 9 pagi, ringgit merosot kepada 4.7770/7825 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7745/7775 pada Khamis.
MAQIS tahan dua ekor anjing dari China, identiti mengelirukan
Pemeriksaan mendapati nombor mikrocip yang diimbas pada badan anjing tidak sepadan dengan nombor mikrocip yang diikrar dalam permit import.
Panggilan Google Meet kini boleh dipindahkan antara peranti tanpa henti
Pengguna kini boleh memindahkan panggilan Google Meet antara telefon pintar dan pelayar web tanpa henti.
Niaga SPOTLIGHT: Sustainability & palm supply chains
Kerentanan Android TV menyebabkan akaun Gmail boleh dirampas
Sebuah kerentanan yang agak serius wujud membolehkan sesiapa sahaja mengakses akaun Gmail yang di log masuk ke TV.
Rumah terbuka Selangor di Kuala Kubu Bharu Sabtu ini langgar akta - Bersih
Bersih persoal lokasi dan masa penganjuran rumah terbuka ini kerana majlis ini dianjurkan di kawasan dan ketika PRK Kuala Kubu Bharu.
AWANI Ringkas: Kedutaan AS sangkal dakwaan Prof Gilley
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
EPL: Manchester City himpit Arsenal
Gawang The Seagulls robek lagi kali ini menerusi bintang meningkat naik Phil Foden dengan gol pada minit ke-26 dan 34.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Gerakan turun padang, sokong PN
Gerakan berkata, parti itu akan bersama-sama memastikan untuk merampas kerusi DAP pada pilihan raya kecil kali ini.