Earlier this week, Disney andLucasFilmannounced thatStar Wars: Episode VIIIhas been pushed from a June 10, 2025 release date to June 29, 2025. The announcement meant that the highly-anticipated sequel would go up against Warner Bros.‘Ready Player One, but it was also widely well-known that 20th Century Fox’sAvatar 2was set to hit theaters at some time in December 2017.The Wrapreports that the long-awaitedAvatar 2will not be ready in time for its tentatively-planned December 2017 release date, although no specific release date has been given.
Production onAvatar 2,Avatar 3andAvatar 4is scheduled to take place simultaneously later this year, but it isn’t exactly known if the actual production schedule has been delayed. 20th Century Fox had originally planned onAvatar 2hitting theaters by the end of this year, but that was ultimately delayed, with directorJames Cameronintending to shoot all three sequels simultaneously at the end of this year.Avatar 2was then scheduled to hit theaters sometime in December 2017, but now the studio claims that it had never officially set a release date for this long-awaited follow-up.
As of now, Disney’sStar Wars: The Force Awakenshas earned approximately $1.9 billion at thebox office, putting it within striking distance ofAvatar’s $2.7 billion global record. It has already eclipsed the 2009 blockbuster’s domestic mark f $760.5 million, but it still has a ways to go before breaking the global record. Regardless of whether or not the current blockbuster breaks the record, its sequel won’t have to contend withAvatar 2, if this report is accurate.
While no actors have been confirmed forStar Wars: Episode VIIIyet,Star Wars: The Force AwakensstarsDaisy Ridley(Rey),Adam Driver(Kylo Ren),Mark Hamill(Luke Skywalker),Carrie Fisher(Leia),Oscar Isaac(Poe Dameron),John Boyega(Finn) andGwendoline Christie(Captain Phasma) are expected to return.Benicio Del Torohas also been rumored to play the mainvillainin this highly-anticipated sequel, but with production begin delayed to February, it’s possible we still may not get a confirmed cast list anytime soon. Since the early footage was shot at Skellig Michael Island, many assume that the movie will take place directly after Rey meets Luke Skywalker at the end ofStar Wars: The Force Awakens, but we don’t know for sure quite yet.
Star Wars: The Force Awakenshas already brokenAvatar’s domestic box office record of $760.5 million, earning $863.1 million in North America to date. Thanks to a lukewarm reception in China, though, it doesn’t appear that the blockbuster can breakAvatar’s global record of $2.7 billion, with a current worldwide tally of $1.87 billion so far. We’ll have to wait and see ifStar Wars: Episode VIIIhas a shot at breaking this record when it hits theaters on June 09, 2025. Stay tuned for more on this highly-anticipated sequel before production starts next month.
