Star Wars - Bob Iger confirmed release dates for Episode VIII and Episode IX

The CEO of Disney has confirmed that the new episodes of Star Wars will come to two years away from each other, and has reassured fans on the quality of Episode VII: The awakening of the Force.

Disney has just sent its usual annual report to its shareholders, and the document includes a statement by Bob Iger, CEO of the company, on the Star Wars saga. Iger confirmed that the next chapter will come to two years away from each other, of course, referring to Star Wars - Episode VIII and Episode IX:

As one of the few people who have been granted to visit the set during filming ... and one of the few who have seen most of the shot ... I can assure the millions of Star Wars fans who have spent the last decade in the hope of seeing a new film, the awakening of the Force that is all their expectations. And it is just the beginning of a new era of extraordinary adventures in the world of Star Wars; next year we will distribute our first spin-off based on these characters, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII in 2017, and then we will conclude this trilogy with Episode IX in 2019.

Iger then reassures fans on the commitment of Disney to the Star Wars franchise, of which we will see a movie every year (including spin-off) from Star Wars - Episode VII: The awakening of the Force onwards. Star Wars - Episode VIII will be directed by Rian Johnson, director of Looper.

I remind you that the new teaser will likely be associated with copies of Avengers: Age of Ultron, and perhaps include the first images of the heroes of "classic", Luke, Leia, Han Solo and Chewbacca, 32 years after their last appearance on the big screen.

Star Wars: The awakening of the Force will arrive in theaters December 18, 2015 and January 5, 2016 in Italy, directed by JJ Abrams. Very few official details about the plot: when we have confirmation that the film will be set 30 years after the events of Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.

The cast will find a group of "new faces" (John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong'o), plus some historical characters such as Harrison Ford (Han Solo ), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (D-3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Kenny Baker (C1-P8) and Carrie Fisher (Leia).