Star Wars Episode IX now coming out December 20, 2019

Absolutely, and both next summer and 2019's also have big PIXAR films (Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4) on the way, as well as a slew of other Disney properties. Disney knows more than any of us that the episodic films require space to perform optimally at the box office, which is exactly the reason that we saw VIII delayed to December.

Given the mess that Han Solo has been in, and how Rogue One performed, a $700 - $850 million performance wouldn't get in the way too much of other properties whilst, as the first live-action summer Star Wars film in 13 years it has pretty much been condemned to a sub-$1 billion haul which could still prove to be impressive.

 

Yeah Han Solo is two things. Rogue One did fine with a massive overhaul so they are willing to roll the dice. The other is Disney doesn't have time or space to shift their slate to move Han Solo back over 6 months. They are hopping Ron Howard can do enough to get it into the 700-800 range. IX is simply to big to risk like that and they have time to realign their slate to compensate. Plus as we both noted its original position is simply stupid.

 

Im fine with it. I enjoy the holiday release. Gives another reason to look forward to the holidays and something to see numerous times when you may have time off. For me, its been a new Star Wars Christmas Eve afternoon holiday special for the past two years.

 

I don't want Solo to move to December

 

Another December, great news, so glad we can get another years journey will begin once again.

 

I personally doubt it will.

I'm sure Disney would rather send it out in May a few weeks after Infinity War to a mild reception of $700m - $850m rather than being very closely inspected and ripped apart in December with only $800m - $900m (if Disney were to move Mary Poppins 2, that is). If Han Solo is at best "okay" and critically reviewed worse than both The Force Awakens and Rogue One, if released in May, it will be quickly glanced over and forgiven (due to directorial changes, etc.) because of the sheer quantity of potentially great blockbusters next summer, whereas I think eyes will be much more prying if any delay were to happen and the film were in more-or-less the same state as it would have been otherwise in May.

 

Love it