'Star Wars' News: Five Films of the Series and Spin-Offs Get Release Dates

By Juvy Garcia, Christian Post Contributor Friday, January 01, 2016

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is just the beginning of a series of "Star Wars" films and spin-offs that are slated to release in the next five years. Yes, Lucasfilm plans to release a new "Star Wars" movie each year from 2016 to 2020.

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"

The movie is the first installment in Lucasfilm's new stand-alone "Star Wars" stories series that is scheduled for a Dec. 16, 2016 release date. The events in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" are set before "Star Wars: A New Hope" and revolve around the plan of resistance fighters to steal the plans of the Death Star.

It is directed by Gareth Edwards of "Godzilla" fame and produced by Kathleen Kennedy. The movie's cast includes Felicity Jones ("The Theory of Everything"), Diego Luna ("Elysium"), Ben Mendelsohn ("Bloodline"), Donnie Yen ("Blade II"), Jiang Wen ("Let the Bullets Fly"), Forest Whitaker ("Lee Daniels' The Butler"), Mads Mikkelsen ("Casino Royale"), Alan Tudyk ("Rogue One"), and Riz Ahmed ("Nightcrawler").

"Star Wars: Episode VIII"

"Star Wars: Episode VIII" has been confirmed to release on May 26, 2017, two years after "The Force Awakens" and four decades after the release of "Star Wars: A New Hope." Rian Johnson ("Breaking Bad") will be writing and directing the film. Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman will be producing it, while J.J. Abrams will serve as the executive producer. The film is reportedly going to star Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac.

"Star Wars Anthology: Han Solo" (working title)

To be directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, the duo behind "The Lego Movie" and "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," "Star Wars Anthology: Han Solo" (working title) will tell the tale of how a smuggler named Han Solo turned into a hero and a pop culture icon.

The movie's screenplay will be done by father and son tandem Lawrence and Jon Kasdan ("Dawson's Creek"). Lawrence has co-written screenplays for other "Star Wars" films, including the recently released "The Force Awakens," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi."

Kathleen Kennedy will produce and Will Allegra will co-produce the film that is confirmed to release on May 25, 2018.

"Star Wars: Episode IX"

"Star Wars: Episode IX" is the third and final part of the third trilogy that started with "The Force Awakens." The movie has Colin Trevorrow ("Jurassic Park") as its director. It will release sometime in 2019.

"Star Wars Anthology: Boba Fett"

This will be the second installment of "Star Wars Anthology." It is coming in 2020, according to Entertainment Weekly. No other details have been announced or confirmed as of this time.