‘Star Wars Episode VIII’ Release Date Announced; Spinoff Film will be Titled ‘Rogue One’

By Cheri Cheng - 12 Mar '15 15:56PM

Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced the release date for "Star Wars Episode VIII" Thursday at a Disney annual meeting held in San Francisco, California.

The highly anticipated film, which will be written and directed by Rian Johnson ("Looper"), is scheduled to hit theaters on May 26, 2017

Iger also revealed that the 2016 spinoff movie, directed by Gareth Edwards ("Godzilla"), starring Oscar-nominated actress, Felicity Jones, will be titled "Rogue One."

This movie will start filming in London this summer and will be released on Dec. 16. The plot details for the movie are currently unknown. The movie was written by Chris Weitz ("Cinderella") with Kathleen Kennedy producing alongside John Knoll, Tony To and John Schwartz. "Rogue One" is one of two known "Star Wars" spinoff movies. It is not clear whether or not the films will be related to the 2017 movie.

Aside from the "Star Wars" update, Iger gave the attendees previews of the upcoming Star Wars motion picture as well as upcoming Marvel and Pixar films. Iger also announced that Disney will introduce the first ever Latina in the Disney Princess line next year.

Iger also expressed his excitement over the live-action movie, "Cinderella," which will hit theaters this weekend. "Cinderella" stars Lily James, Richard Madden and Cate Blanchett. The movie is on tract to open at $60 million in the box office according to Variety.

"We absolutely love this movie," Iger said.

Iger addressed other Disney movies as well. He talked about how Big Hero 6 has become the third highest-grossing animated film in Disney's history, after Frozen and The Lion King.

During the meeting, the chief creative officer of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, John Lasseter, gave the attendees a private screening of the short film, Frozen Fever. Lasseter also confirmed that there will be a Frozen 2 feature film.

Aside from the movies, Iger displayed the new Mickey Mouse Apple Watch, which will hit the market soon.