Following the announcement earlier today that J.J. Abrams will be stepping in to direct the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, Lucasfilm has revealed that the final chapter in the new trilogy has officially been delayed.
Previously set for a May 24, 2019 release date, the film will now arrive on December 20, 2019, with the live-action Aladdin taking Episode IX‘s original date of May 24. Episode IX is now scheduled to open up against the long in-development Wicked movie from Universal Pictures, and just one week after the upcoming Wonder Woman sequel.
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Abrams will direct the film and co-write the script with Chris Terrio (Justice League, Argo). Star Wars: Episode IX will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Abrams, Bad Robot, and Lucasfilm.
The characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Episode IX can next be seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, opening in theaters on December 15. Written and directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper), the film continues the storylines introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, welcoming back cast members Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Domhnall Gleeson as Hux, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, and Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke. New cast members will include Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award nominee Laura Dern, and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran as Rose.
