Star Wars: Episode IX Production Date Revealed

Come December, the Star Wars fandom will finally get to dive into the sci-fi series’ newest episode. Lucasfilm is slated to release the eighth piece of the Skywalker Saga later this year and reintroduce fans to heroes like Rey and Luke. Fans have kept their sights on the upcoming films, but Lucasfilm is working double-duty behind the scenes. Planning is already underway for Star Wars: Episode IX, and it looks like the studio wants to get working on the project much sooner than some may have expected.

According to a new report by Vanity Fair, Episode IX will begin production in January 2018. Currently, that means the film is expected to get cameras rolling in about eight months. The expected production schedule puts filming for Episode IX just a month after The Last Jedi hits theaters, so the cast of Star Wars can expect to have a busy holiday in their future.

For those of you wondering when Episode IX is slated to hit theaters, Lucasfilm released its anticipated release date not long ago. Colin Trevorrow’s feature is expected to hit theaters in May 2019.

At this time, there is very little information circulating about Episode IX, but rumors will surely begin to bubble up soon enough. Trevorrow turned in the final script for the feature last month, and the head of Lucasfilm has said some alterations have been made to the story. Following the tragic passing of Carrie Fisher, the studio held a closed meeting with creative executives about how to proceed with Star Wars. Kathleen Kennedy has said Episode IX was originally meant to feature General Leia front-and-center, but those plans were changed after Fisher passed. The studio has since confirmed the actress’ final take on Leia would appear in The Last Jedi, leaving Episode IX to suffer the character’s absence.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the second film in the new Star Wars sequel trilogy that began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. The film will deal with Luke training Rey to become a, and possibly the last, Jedi. Meanwhile, the Resistance, including Poe Dameron and First Order defector Finn, continues to fight against the First Order, led by General Hux, while Supreme Leader Snoke and his Dark Side follower Kylo Ren continue their mysterious plot.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and Kelly Marie Tran.

MORE STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI NEWS: New Last Jedi Characters Revealed / Mark Hamill Describes His New Diet / How Mark Hamill Would Have Changed Han Solo’s Death / Rumor: Luke Skywalker’s Last Jedi Gear Could Be Important