The newest Star Wars films have been comfortably released around mid-December, a change from the franchise’s usual May placement, and it looks like the studio is keen on continuing that trend. Just as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story have blown up in the wintery month, so too will this year’s Star Wars: Episode VIII and — if a new rumor is to be believed — next year’s untitled young Han Solo spinoff will become exceptionally profitable at that time of the year as well.
That’s because Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s upcoming prequel is now expected to arrive during the last month of 2018. Though slated for a May release date since first announced, it doesn’t seem like a stretch to believe that Disney wants to put all their eggs in one basket. Granted, a new Star Wars film will be successful whether it’s released on January 1 or December 31 or anywhere in-between, but if the studio has a proven track record, they might as well pick the safest, most predictably profitable option possible.
The new rumored date, according to Making Star Wars, is Thursday, December 13th, 2018, as stated by unnamed “sources in the theater industry.” While it’s not officially confirmed by Disney or any representatives from Lucasfilm, press releases from the studio these days note the upcoming film is “set for release in 2018,” opposed to its original May release date, which seems to give these rumors a little more validity. After all, if it happened with Star Wars: Episode VIII, it could most certainly happen here.
It would make sense, too, as if given a year instead of half a year between releases, it’d allow Disney to market and promote their Han Solo movie more effectively after Star Wars: Episode VIII. Additionally, it gets it out of the tight summer window, which should only help the film stand out even more. It honestly seems like a win-win for the studio at this point but of course, audiences will be showing up either way, so it doesn’t really matter when they release it, right?
