Fans rejoice! The Star Wars: The Force Awakens release date has been changed, and some of you will get to see it earlier than previously announced.
As if the fandom wasn’t already excited to see the J.J. Abrams blockbuster, Warner Bros. had wonderful news for eager fans. The massively anticipated film will hit theaters one day earlier — December 17 — in the United Kingdom.
The countdown was already on when news that the Star Wars: The Force Awakens release had changed was posted on the official U.K. Facebook page. In the post, the site said there are only 100 days left until the film comes to theaters in Britain.
https://www.facebook.com/StarWars.UK/videos/1000686526643402/
In case you’re wondering if the admins made a mistake, not to worry. They have already made it clear that, yes, indeed the Star Wars: The Force Awakens release date is December 17 for the U.K. Nothing has been said about the U.S., which still expects the film to land in theaters on December 18. The movie site IMDb hasn’t changed the date, either.
News that the Star Wars: The Force Awakens release date was moved up by one day comes after the massive toy release, dubbed Force Friday, hit stores last week. It is clear Disney’s PR machine is gearing toward one of the most anticipated movies in recent years.
The news also took social media by storm, and everyone has an opinion about the exciting change.
100 days left until ‘STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS’ hits! pic.twitter.com/CS5UZrBusl
— Superhero Feed (@SuperheroFeed) September 8, 2015
SlashFilm is also reporting France will get to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens even earlier than the U.K., on December 16, “because of time zones and staggered release patterns.”
However, as the publication points out, American fans shouldn’t get upset, as major blockbusters don’t premiere at midnight the day of release anymore. The good news is that we may have several screenings on Thursday evening, December 17. Usual times for these are 7 or 8 p.m.
There have also been suggestions that prior to the official Star Wars: The Force Awakens release date, some theaters would hold a Star Wars marathon of the original trilogy — which hasn’t been re-released since 1997 — and prequels. Insiders expect that if this is a plan, Disney would set up something for this fall.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi and will reunite original cast members Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, and Kenny Baker.
[Image via Lucasfilm]
