Bob Iger: Star Wars – Rogue One is Nearly Done, Episode VIII is Filming, and More.

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Disney’s report on their first quarter of their fiscal year has just hit the internet, and Bob Iger is reporting that sales are at an all-time high for the company thanks to Star Wars. While we currently have an article about the financial details of the report in the pipeline, right now it’s more important to focus on the four things that Iger revealed in the discussion: that Rogue One is almost finished with its production, that Episode VIII has begun filming, that the Han Solo movie is in pre-production and is still targeting a May 2018 release date (as opposed to being delayed for another December release), and that production on Episode IX has also started.

 

From the official The Walt Disney Company website (transcript here):

Over the last 10 years, we’ve built an enviable collection of vibrant, valued and admired brands. We’ve also created, acquired or re-envisioned several of the world’s most valuable franchises and we’re fully leveraging these assets across our portfolio of businesses and around the globe. Of course, nothing reflects the impact of this strategy better than the phenomenal resurgence of the Star Wars franchise. And there is no better way to propel this franchise into the future than producing quality products. It’s been absolutely thrilling to see the reaction to our first Star Wars feature film, The Force Awakens. Audiences and critics alike really love this movie. It’s the only film in history to ever reach $900 million in domestic box office; and as you may have heard, it crossed $2 billion in global box office over the weekend, more than doubling the worldwide box office for the last Star Wars release a decade ago.

Breaking records at the box office is only the beginning. Global retail sales for Star Wars merchandise in the first quarter exceeded $3 billion, more than triple the global retail for this franchise in Q1 of last year. Star Wars is also driving unprecedented growth for our mobile games and EA’s launch of Star Wars Battlefront was the biggest video game release in Star Wars history, with more than 13 million units sold. Filming of Star Wars: Episode 8, the next chapter of the legendary saga, has just commenced and it will be in theaters December, 2017. And production of Episode 9, a 2019 release, has also begun.

Episode VIII

In the meantime, we will keep fans engaged in the Star Wars universe and further expand the franchise with the release of Rogue One this coming December. It’s a compelling and original stand-alone story about a band of rebels attempting to steal the plans for the Death Star, set just prior to the events in the first Star Wars movie, Episode 4: A New Hope. Filming of Rogue One is virtually completed and we absolutely love what we’ve seen so far. This is the first of a set of planned stand-alone stories and we’re already in preproduction on our next one, for release in May of 2018. And on the Parks front, later this year we will break ground on spectacular new Star Wars theme lands in Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Clearly, Q1 saw the impact of our extremely successful relaunch of the Star Wars franchise, as well as its enormous potential to drive value across our entire Company for the foreseeable future. Given our unparalleled mix of some of the world’s best IP and strongest brands, we’re well positioned for continued growth over the long term, regardless of changing dynamics in the media landscape.

One must wonder – if production for Episode IX has begun, does that mean that it will also be targeting a Summer 2019 release (or possibly even earlier than that)? And as for Episode VIII, does this mean that an update on who is being cast for the film will come sometime soon? These are answers that raise more questions. In any case, we’ll keep you covered. Stay on target with Star Wars News Net – your Force for news about the latest and greatest stories about the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

 

(Thanks to obi-fede and MagnarTheGreat for the tip on The Cantina!)

 

 

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Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

60 thoughts on “Bob Iger: Star Wars – Rogue One is Nearly Done, Episode VIII is Filming, and More.

  • February 10, 2016 at 5:10 pm
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    Once again, I can’t see a situation in which they’re logistically able to promote 2 Star Wars movies that open within 5 months of each other. Episode VIII in Dec 2017, Han Solo spin-off just 5 months later. Not happening. For some reason they’re still seeing it on paper, but it isn’t happening.

    • February 10, 2016 at 5:16 pm
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      i’m also certain that han solo will get pushed back to december.

      • February 10, 2016 at 5:38 pm
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        I wouldn’t be surprised if they all push them all back to December of each year. I’m fine with that, they need to take the time they need.

    • February 10, 2016 at 9:53 pm
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      at some point i think they will start doing it. marvel has it down to a science these days so why not lucasfilm too?

  • February 10, 2016 at 5:22 pm
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    I like the idea that production on Episode IX has also started. If it’s true of course. They have plenty of time to do things well and give us a good conclusion.

  • February 10, 2016 at 5:37 pm
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    I just have to say, this is the best time in history to be a geek in general. So happy to be part of this time in history, to witness it first hand. Just think, 5 years ago we thought we’d never see another Star Wars movie again. This is all so overwhelming!

    • February 10, 2016 at 8:21 pm
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      Star Wars movies are becoming a privelege for each individual generation. It is absolutely wonderful. Telling my children about these times in the future will be heartwarming. This is our generation of Star Wars.

  • February 10, 2016 at 5:54 pm
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    Sounds to me the Rogue One marketing bandwagon is imminent. Teaser to drop this month or next.

    • February 10, 2016 at 6:19 pm
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      One would hope so. I’m sure there has to be a strategy involved where they feel they need to wait to announce with a teaser so as to not oversaturate the market (too late, but I love it!). Lots of people don’t even know what it is.

    • February 10, 2016 at 6:51 pm
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      No. they won’t release teaser until Celebration. They’re still marketing The Force Awakens in some markets. They’ll start with Rogue One closer to when TFA will be released in blu-ray.

      • February 10, 2016 at 7:38 pm
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        The Blu-Ray release is only 2 months away

        • February 10, 2016 at 8:43 pm
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          Pre-ordered mine on Amazon!

        • February 11, 2016 at 5:18 am
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          Supposedly. *X-Files theme plays*

      • February 10, 2016 at 8:11 pm
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        Celebration is mid-July. Can’t see Disney holding back till then.

      • February 10, 2016 at 10:17 pm
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        that’s too late. I see them randomly putting a teaser online at some point instead

  • February 10, 2016 at 6:35 pm
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    Just cancel that Han Solo movie and start pre production on a Kenobi spin off instead.

    • February 10, 2016 at 6:49 pm
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      Yes please! Young Han Solo sounds like something a lot better suited for a novel or comic

      • February 10, 2016 at 7:22 pm
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        Yep, agreed. Especially if Anthony Ingruber has anything to do with it. Not a fan of his, nor his impressions, but I digress. I love Han Solo as much as the next Star Wars fan, but there are tons of other medium to include him in.

        • February 10, 2016 at 7:24 pm
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          Fortunately, he’s not even on the short list. He just can’t act, and that is more important than some silly impersonation…which truth be told, would be horrible to see on the big screen.

    • February 10, 2016 at 6:52 pm
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      This ^.

    • February 10, 2016 at 6:58 pm
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      THIS

    • February 10, 2016 at 7:53 pm
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      Or they could, ya know, think of some new characters to populate this galaxy…

      • February 11, 2016 at 5:17 am
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        This too TBH.

    • February 10, 2016 at 8:14 pm
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      I’m personally more interested in a Boba Fett spin-off. Everyone loves an Anti-Hero.
      And if this were to come to fruition, scrap Lucas’ backstory and go with the Book on Bounty Hunters that suggests Boba was a Rouge Stormtrooper – (Jaster Mureel)
      A much more compelling background.

      • February 10, 2016 at 11:53 pm
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        Not happening. It’s been confirmed that they’re not messing with any continuity that was already established by Lucas in the 1st 6 episodic SW movies and TCW (so any chance of retcons and whatnot are nil at this point).

        That said, there’s room for a post-ROTJ Fett story as the story poisibilies are endless at that point forward (also many story poisibilties between ROTJ & ANH as long as it doesn’t contradict nor retcon anything already established).

    • February 10, 2016 at 8:26 pm
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      A Kenobi film yes but I do think a KOTOR trilogy is also needed.

      • February 11, 2016 at 5:16 am
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        Definitely.

    • February 10, 2016 at 9:00 pm
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      Amen.

    • February 11, 2016 at 5:33 pm
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      Hear hear

  • February 10, 2016 at 6:43 pm
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    Okay, so how about a Trailer?

    • February 10, 2016 at 6:50 pm
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      My guess, SW Celebration in London. No earlier than that.

      • February 10, 2016 at 7:09 pm
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        Middle of July is a long way away, but let’s face it: we’re willing to wait. If it wasn’t for the fact that it completely sold out back in the fall, I would have been going 🙁

  • February 10, 2016 at 7:48 pm
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    Rogue One trailer probably arrives around Civil War

  • February 10, 2016 at 8:37 pm
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    Is there an article here covering the passing of actress Alethea McGrath? She played Jocasta Nu, the Jedi librarian, in Episode II. She was 96. R.I.P.

    • February 11, 2016 at 5:15 am
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      RIP Madame Jocasta.

  • February 10, 2016 at 8:50 pm
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    Saw this filming location sign posted on the way into work today in Claremont, CA. Tons of trucks and equipment in an old parking lot across the street. ‘TK421’. Any possibility this is related to one of the new Star Wars films?

  • February 10, 2016 at 8:59 pm
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    “Production….has begun” is actually pretty meaningless in my mind. Have a meeting or writing ideas is technically production.

    • February 10, 2016 at 9:05 pm
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      And I quote “Filming of Star Wars: Episode 8, the
      next chapter of the legendary saga, has just commenced and it will be in
      theaters December, 2017.”

      Have a read of the article, it’s pretty good.

      • February 11, 2016 at 12:19 am
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        I suspect Myka Lgum was referring to this, also in the article: “And production of Episode 9, a 2019 release, has also begun.”

        • February 11, 2016 at 5:19 am
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          Ahhhh. I see. My bad.

  • February 10, 2016 at 9:37 pm
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    they better pray EA dont make another crappy battlefront game, they need to get back to what made battlefront great to begin with. this was too stripped down and the online sucked. great graphics though smh

  • February 10, 2016 at 9:57 pm
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    it would almost seem likely that they would consider filming VIII and IX back to back since rian johnson is writing both… unless they want wait and see again if we still love the new cast after viii. 😉

  • February 10, 2016 at 10:00 pm
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    Did you know that there are die hard fans that know absolutely nothing about this movie? Yesterday at work I was talking to a fellow employee who I thought was a die hard fan cause he’s always talking about Star Wars and all the movies. When I brought up that Rogue One will be appearing this Christmas, he was like, Whaaaa???? He knew nada about it. His lack of knowledge kinda really surprised me. I showed him a few things on the internet and he was like damn, now I’m going to have to search the internet everyday for a trailer. Which I told him there is none yet. There still is no trailer for this movie which is coming out in 10 months and people don’t even know about it. What’s the deal?

    • February 10, 2016 at 10:54 pm
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      I think they won’t do any marketing for Rogue One until TFA will be on dvd/blu-ray 😉
      but after the first teasr-trailer the knoledge will spread around the world 😀

    • February 11, 2016 at 12:34 am
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      Well he really isn’t a die hard fan then… if you even google the words star wars you will see plenty of stuff…

    • February 11, 2016 at 5:14 am
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      It was a bit like this when VII was coming out. The second that the Rogue One trailer plays in front of Monday Night Football, everyone will know about it.

    • February 11, 2016 at 9:16 pm
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      I can relate to this allso. I know fans who love Starwars but are not internet savvy.one who has a force awakens keychain who know little to nothing about rouge one they are just waiting for episode 8. The term spin off dosent bode well as older fans remember the ewocks films.
      So I realy feel Disney are dropping the ball with this one

      • February 21, 2016 at 8:10 am
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        And remembering most movies wouldn’t get a trailer or teaser until 6 months or less before the movie. TFA is different. Its an episodic title in the biggest film franchise*** of all time. R1 isn’t an event film like TFA was. Settle, and enjoy the teaser when it comes. I’m sure the marketing guys at Disney who are the some of the best in the world at what they do know what they’re doing. 🙂

  • February 10, 2016 at 10:16 pm
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    now I really want a 1:30 teaser like the episode VII one. That amount of footage will be enough for me, for the next months

  • February 10, 2016 at 10:38 pm
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    When he says that production on Episode 9 has also begun, does he mean pre-production? I assume he does, but maybe they are filming background plates, etc.

    • February 11, 2016 at 12:12 am
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      Yes, I suspect he is using the term generically, just meaning they’ve started work on it, rather than specifically meaning they are past the pre-production phase.

  • February 11, 2016 at 12:01 am
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    Since Marvel usually releases early summer/May, I doubt Disney will double-double-back on Star Wars being released in December. that way they have all the seasons locked with different Disney Subsidiary releases.

  • February 11, 2016 at 1:37 am
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    Han could be the first bona fide SW bomb if they cast someone like Eastwood or Teller as Solo. I don’t know anyone eager to see it and even I’m on the fence about it myself with my enthusiasim based on who’s cast.

    • February 11, 2016 at 5:13 am
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      It definitely won’t bomb, but it could definitely be shitty.

      • February 12, 2016 at 7:38 am
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        The problem is that it deals with a major character and we all saw what happened the last time they did that with Anakin’s backstory or even Boba Fett’s.

        • February 12, 2016 at 10:49 pm
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          Yep. That’s why its chances of being crap are even higher. It’s more forgivable if they just create a bad character, but if they fuck up Han Solo, the fans will have their heads on a stick.

          • February 13, 2016 at 4:58 pm
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            Chewbacca and Jabba too possibly, It’s a perfuckt storm.

    • February 11, 2016 at 5:34 am
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      I honestly thnk that in the case of this Han Solo film the producers should listen to us fans. It could mean the difference between a lot of money and a shit load of money.

      • February 12, 2016 at 7:37 am
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        Yeah, Another AOTC really could kill the franchise and most fans are totally against this.

  • February 11, 2016 at 9:29 am
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    Wow

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