Bob Iger on Star Wars: Episode 7 December Release and More.

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Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke with Bloomberg TV and briefly discussed why Star Wars: Episode 7 is being released in December, 2015…


I plan to start with earnings but then you had to release the release date for the new Star Wars film, December 18, 2015. Tell us the back story on how you decided to make that the date for the new film? 

This is obviously one of the most important films we are working on right now. 

One of the things that was very important to us is that we give the creative team, J.J. Abrams and his writing team the time to design, write and produce the film so we can optimize quality, so we can create a great film. 

We consider the summer of 2015, but with the changes we made in the writing team that was going to create a bit of of a rush. 
So Christmas 2015 became the date. 

Happens to be the date which Avatar was released, so we like that and hopefully that brings us good luck even though that was not our film. 

Christmas is a good time for a film like star wars which will have obvious interest for young people and old people alike. 

Some people wondering if Tomorrow land becomes Star Wars land. Anything new you can share on that front? 

What’s the only thing i can share is there is a fair amount of development going on at Disney imagineering right now to expand the Star Wars presence in California and Orlando and eventually other parks around the world.

It’s probably likely that Star Wars will be more than in just our two domestic parks. 


Source: bloomberg

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

34 thoughts on “Bob Iger on Star Wars: Episode 7 December Release and More.

  • November 8, 2013 at 8:43 pm
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    Why is he thinking that Avatar will have done better than Episode VII will do? Whether the new movies are amazing or god-awful, mostly everyone around the world will see it. I don’t think that should really be a worry of their’s. I don’t think Mr. Iger is informed enough on the history of the franchise to be making directive decisions like this. May 2016 would have been a lot better in my opinion.

    • November 9, 2013 at 4:16 am
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      I’m sure he didn’t make the decision by himself. They have a lot riding on this so I doubt it’s something they came to lightly.

      And the Avatar line was probably half-joking. I don’t think he’s really saying it’ll make more money or whatever. People need to relax a little.

  • November 8, 2013 at 8:56 pm
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    Like everybody else I don’t want them to rush Ep7, but we need to keep in mind that people may have other commitments beyond 2015/2016. JJ may be working on other projects, Harrison Ford will on all liklihood be involved with Indy 5, kasdan could be screenwriting one of the “origin” movies and Pinewood Studios could be booked up by other film companies. All these problems could be factored into Disney’s schedule.

    • November 8, 2013 at 9:25 pm
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      I’m fairly certain that Star Wars Episode VII is an extremely high priority to all of the facilitators involved in production.

    • November 11, 2013 at 5:56 am
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      You’d think. But unfortunately, what Disney does is different from what they say. They say Star Wars is top priority, but we all know Marvel is.

    • November 12, 2013 at 5:34 pm
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      They’re very similar in size as far as popularity and merchandizing goes, but I’d say they have much more riding on Star Wars. I mean, this is Disney’s “big surprise” for the next two years and all eyes are on them. It’s not like anything that they could put out under Marvel could be even minorly comparable to the amount of attention episode VII will get. Marvel films have been coming out semi-annually for years. We’ve been waiting for new Star Wars since ’05. Disney knows this and they’ll milk Star Wars for every cent they can and I think that’s all enough for them to make it their top priority. I’m not sure what your logic is, but I disagree.

  • November 8, 2013 at 9:07 pm
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    God this guy seems like a real jerk. Just release it may 2016 god damn it…

    • November 8, 2013 at 9:48 pm
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      Star Wars: The New Avatar?
      Since when? Last time I checked Star Wars GREATLY surpassed Avatar in popularity. It’s been around since the mid-70’s for christ’s sake. Avatar sucked anyway.

    • November 8, 2013 at 9:51 pm
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      I know it made a lot in box office, so what? That just suggests that a whole lot of people saw it in theaters. Its’ fanbase will never come close to that of Star Wars.

    • November 8, 2013 at 9:52 pm
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      No doubt about that, BUT still in terms of grossing Avatar with it’s 3 billion $ is #1 of all time close to ALL Star Wars movies until now. BUT big but SW films were without biggest boost now films has.

    • November 8, 2013 at 9:55 pm
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      Yes, it did make the most money out of every film in history, but with the way movies are advertised now, with the recent increase in sci-fi and fantasy interest in our culture (because everybody has to be a fucking nerd these days) Star Wars will certainly come out on top. No denying.

    • November 8, 2013 at 10:00 pm
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      I AM WITH YOU! I think 2 BILLION $+ is sure bet. Or close to 2 billion$! For example hyped Marvel Avengers gross only 1.3 billion$! SW1 gross 1 billion without 3D china and most of other NEW markets. Only in China Star Wars 7 will be around 200 million $ may be more. I think will be 500 million$+ and in US! Europe is best Star Wars market and i can bet that will be 1 billion+ in Europe. WE REALLY LOVE STAR WARS THE MOST! Sorry US.

  • November 8, 2013 at 9:47 pm
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    If SW7 beat Avatar that means that episode 7 will beat all 6 Star Wars films before that. But they were without 3D boost & bigger and better markets like China, Russia, Japan, Korea, India, and richer Europe.

    • November 8, 2013 at 9:49 pm
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      As a franchise, Star Wars has always been and will always be superior to Avatar.

    • November 8, 2013 at 9:55 pm
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      By the way Abrams not like “franchise” word. As he said Star Wars is film series. I agree with you. But in film industry box office is what count and what say what is success and what not. It is what it is.

    • November 8, 2013 at 10:00 pm
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      Star Wars is just about as much of a franchise as you can get. Yes, it is an incredible, unbeatable film series, but over the years it didn’t staythat way. It branched out to games, TV series, toys, clothing, etc. That would make it a franchise. I don’t care what Abrams says.
      However, it’s a good sign that that’s his approach and overall view of the movies. It suggests that he’ll focus more on the art of the movies rather than the money being made. That was Lucas’ demise, as we all know.

    • November 9, 2013 at 12:48 am
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      dopeyjoe u said it bro…….Star Wars is and always will b the GREATEST sci-fi film franchises!!!!!!!

  • November 8, 2013 at 10:05 pm
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    God this darth malgus guy is annoying as hell. Get a life you moron! Also I agree Joe, Avatar comes no where close to Star Wars.

    • November 8, 2013 at 10:19 pm
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      i am fan and have my own opinion. If not like it not read my opinions.

    • November 9, 2013 at 8:26 pm
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      So you are Mexican?

    • November 9, 2013 at 9:26 pm
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      yes

  • November 8, 2013 at 10:13 pm
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    What’s annoying is you dorks complaining over a fucking release date.

    • November 11, 2013 at 5:52 am
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      You are very slow witted. We’ve been complaining about the release date for almost a year, in case you haven’t noticed.

  • November 8, 2013 at 11:02 pm
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    actually, when adjusted for inflation Avatar is only the 14th most successful movie of all time. Gone With the Wind is #1. Star Wars is #2.

    • November 8, 2013 at 11:48 pm
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      People in the business don’t like such truths.

  • November 9, 2013 at 10:45 am
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    Lots of live coverage on BBC NEWS and SKY NEWS about the first of the open auditions in the UK today

  • November 9, 2013 at 7:35 pm
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    The only reason anyone should care about a release date is if it appears to be rushed. Any other reason is purely asinine… Especially the totally pointless “May, because it’s tradition!” argument. You instantly can not be taken seriously.

    • November 11, 2013 at 5:54 am
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      Why does Hollywood keep churning out Hulk and Frankenstein movies even if they are god awful? Oh that’s right…

      Because of the tradition.

    • November 11, 2013 at 8:36 am
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      Guess you’ll tell us next that all the Hulk & Frankenstein movies were released in the same month but different years…..

      Yeah NOT! Nothing traditional about a date …. for movies that is.

  • November 11, 2013 at 11:55 pm
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    I thought that the original May of 2015 release date sounded like it was about a year too early when they first started talking about Ep. 7 last year. I couldn’t imagine that they would have been able to begin much in the way of pre-production and still have kept the Disney deal secret. And in fact, it seems to have taken quite awhile after the original announcement to get things up to speed. I’m not sure where they are with the script at this point, but it doesn’t sound like they have a shooting script yet.

    IMHO, May 2015 would be cutting it way too close at this point. Honestly, I think they’ll probably end up rushing to even get it done by Christmas of 2015, but at least it’s a good six months of leeway that they wouldn’t have had with a “traditional” May release that year.

    The release date isn’t all that important, as long as the production is given time to make a good movie. I just hope the suits at Disney don’t push this thing out into theaters before it’s ready.

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