Just as hype for The Force Awakens seemed to finally settle down, more news from the Star Wars front has everyone talking about the galaxy far, far away once again. Star Wars: Episode VIII has officially been pushed back by Disney, from May 2017 to December later that year. It’s not a huge blow per se, but it certainly is disappointing for major Star Wars fans who are eager to devour the next chapter as soon as possible.
Amidst rumors that director Rian Johnson is scrambling to do last minute rewrites, a fog of uncertainty has clouded the Star Wars franchise. For one, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - the next movie to come out - is pretty much a complete mystery. No one really knows what to expect from the “anthology” spinoff film, though it’s not detracting from Star Wars hype regardless. But what about Episode VIII? Is there trouble on the set? Production delays and mid-filming rewrites are classic signs of disaster to come, but surely Star Wars couldn’t revert back to prequel settings following the smashing success of The Force Awakens.
Word on the street is that Johnson’s rewrites aren’t indicators of a weak plot, but rather, strong characters. The director intends to place less emphasis on two new figures and focus on allotting more screen time for Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron, who have become incredibly popular after Star Wars 7. I suppose the previous Episode VIII script didn’t anticipate how beloved our new heroes would become, so now Johnson is drafting a new screenplay to ensure that audiences aren’t disappointed by their absence.
But that’s not the only reason why pushing back the Star Wars 8 release date is forgivable, if not preferred. The truth is that it comes down to a simple factor - and a sentimental one at that. The premiere of Star Wars: Episode VIII during the holiday season is one of the best gifts you can give families and friends. Star Wars has so much universal appeal, that it makes perfect sense to provide an outlet for everyone to unite with over the holidays. Of course, Disney is probably looking at it for selfish, financial reasons, but the result is all the same. Star Wars is the ultimate cinematic event for people to experience… together.
With that being said, sit tight and wait patiently - Star Wars: Episode VIII arrives in theaters on Dec. 15, 2017.
