Here’s when the next 3 Star Wars films will be released

Now that the very first Star Wars standalone film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has debuted worldwide in theaters, all eyes are looking to the next Star Wars film up. Here’s when the next three Star Wars films will be released….

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story had a massive opening weekend, making over $155 million domestically. And, as the Christmas holidays continue, the film’s box office take, both domestically and globally, grows larger every day. Since, by now, we hope you’ve all seen Rogue One — and we hope you’ll support Star Wars films by seeing it again — it’s time to look to the very near future and see when the next three Star Wars films will be released.

The next Star Wars film up to bat is Star Wars: Episode VIII, the highly anticipated sequel to 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Image Credit: Dork Side Library

Star Wars: Episode VIII

Episode VIII is written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper, Brick).
The film has a returning cast of Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Daisy Ridley (Rey), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), John Boyega (Finn), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Carrie Fisher (General Leia).
Episode VIII also has some new actors joining the cast: Laura Dern, Benicio Del Toro, and Kelly Marie Tran, all in unnamed roles, for the nonce.
The theatrical release date for Episode VIII is December 15, 2017.
Entertainment Weekly breaks down what little information about the film has been revealed:

"Boyega claimed the script was “darker” than the first, while Johnson has said the movie starts “zooming in on the characters and getting to the heart of them, challenging them, and pushing them deeper,” and Isaac has said “Rian is definitely going to places and investigating things that haven’t really been done in the Star Wars universe.”"

Image Credit: Lucasfilm via alterations by Dork Side photo library

Han Solo: A Star Wars Story

The film will be directed by the team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and written by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan
Han Solo will be portrayed by Alden Ehrenreich.
Lando Calrissian Donald Glover.
Emilia Clarke (Danaerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones) has been cast in an unnamed role.
The film will be released in theaters on May 25, 2018.
EW breaks down the synopsis:

"“How young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley.” Lawrence Kasdan has said, “you have to imagine [Solo] 10 years earlier [than in the first film] in his early 20s. What was he like before he hardened up? Before he had some setbacks? Before he put on this cynical coat? What got him there?”"

Image Credit: Dork Side photo library

Star Wars: Episode IX

Episode IX will be directed by Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World).
The film is being writen by the director of Episode VIII, Rian Johnson.
While we can’t be sure all the stars of Episode VIII will be back for Episode IX, it’s a safe assumption to say that at least some of the main cast will return.
Episode IX has a release date of 2019 (most likely Christmas, following the trajectory of previous Star Wars films like The Force Awakens and Rogue One).
Here’s EW’s breakdown:

"Trevorrow has said, “We want to channel the invention and just the raw creativity and the boldness that George [Lucas] brought to these films and not being afraid that we’re going to embarrass ourselves by doing something that might be crazy… I just want to embrace that kind of invention and creativity that he brought to it.” The director also reportedly wanted to shoot some footage in actual outer space."

According to EW, the rumored Boba Fett standalone film has been put on hold to allow Disney/Lucasfilm to gague audience reactions and reception to Rogue One.

More from Dork Side of the Force

We want to hear from you: Are you excited for this slate of upcoming Star Wars films? Which one are you looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments below and on social media.