The Force Awakens Episode VII release date thread

[MistaBinks]

Somewhat separate from SW, why would Disney move Ant-Man so close to Avengers2 when most think A2 is too close Ep7 as is?

 

[Solidus]

Because they did not want it to go against Bond.

Disney has lots coming out, there will be some cannibalism, but I think they are fine with that this year. Because no matter what they are making tons of money. They have Avengers, SW7 (possibly) Inside Out (Pixar's June film) and Ant-Man coming out. August is pretty clear though.

 

[Bim]

Somewhat separate from SW, why would Disney move Ant-Man so close to Avengers2 when most think A2 is too close Ep7 as is?

Maybe there's gonna be a tease for Ant-Man at the end of TA2 and they hope Ant-Man feeds off from it? I dunno, it's still risky pushing it so close to the Sups/Bats movie imo. But SW could be placed between TA2 and Ant-Man... i dunno, lol Disney sure is shuffling things though, and SW is likely the reason.

 

[MistaBinks]

Maybe there's gonna be a tease for Ant-Man at the end of TA2 and they hope Ant-Man feeds off from it? I dunno, it's still risky pushing it so close to the Sups/Bats movie imo. But SW could be placed between TA2 and Ant-Man... i dunno, lol Disney sure is shuffling things though, and SW is likely the reason.

In a Marvel POV only, it's new/odd that Ant-Man is so close to A2.

 

[Mr.M]

If you open Star Wars in December, then it is not consistent. Episode 8 would be December 2018 and that will overlap with Avatar 4. I don't think you want to go to summer at that point, because then you contend with Avengers 3 and other big budget sequels from 2015, like Justice League. So then 2018 you have the same problem of Avengers overlap. Star Wars needs to maintain that three year gap for consistency. Not that Disney is thinking that far ahead with all their properties, but Marvel is and has a schedule that I don't think Disney wants to deviate from since its proven.

May 2016 is a slam dunk. Marvel just needs to take a back seat that year. They don't have a huge property like Iron Man or Hulk in that first weekend. ASM3 is stepping aside to June for good reason. 2nd week of May is fine.

 

[Hyde]

It's already been said a few times that unlike the previous three-year gaps, Disney intends to have two-year gaps for the ST and inbetween them will be a spin-off. So it shouldn't be a major issue. Release dates aren't the biggest thing we have to worry about for these movies anyway

 

[Octoberist]

Has anyone noticed now that while Avengers 2 is opening on May 1st, but the rest of May is empty? Very curious.

 

[Neo_3]

If you open Star Wars in December, then it is not consistent. Episode 8 would be December 2018 and that will overlap with Avatar 4. I don't think you want to go to summer at that point, because then you contend with Avengers 3 and other big budget sequels from 2015, like Justice League. So then 2018 you have the same problem of Avengers overlap. Star Wars needs to maintain that three year gap for consistency. Not that Disney is thinking that far ahead with all their properties, but Marvel is and has a schedule that I don't think Disney wants to deviate from since its proven.

May 2016 is a slam dunk. Marvel just needs to take a back seat that year. They don't have a huge property like Iron Man or Hulk in that first weekend. ASM3 is stepping aside to June for good reason. 2nd week of May is fine.

Marvel has the May opener that year, which could be IM4 or Thor 3.

 

[Mr.M]

You can still do Memorial Day. What's due out that weekend? I think Disney will drop the bombshell pretty soon. Three weeks after Avengers, Episode 7 in full swing. Complete domination for the Mouse.

 

[Solidus]

Has anyone noticed now that while Avengers 2 is opening on May 1st, but the rest of May is empty? Very curious.

Ya to me that seems pretty clear that it is May. Because no other company is wanting to release anything in mid May. And they are all in the "know" So it seems that is when it will drop.

 

[Octoberist]

Hmmm..strange isn't it?

 

[Hordakfan]

I think a Christmas or Thanksgiving season release is perfect which would be refreshing for Star Wars you know rather than Summer as Disney has Avengers 2.

 

[psylockolussus]

July 2015 would be a perfect release date for this movie!

 

[lozzy.94]

July 2015 would be a perfect release date for this movie!

July 2015 is already way too packed! Given that we haven't heard a whole lot about this film I think it would be best to hold this off until summer 2016. I can wait another year if it means we don't get a rushed production.

 

[Solidus]

It's not rushed production. They have been working on this (Disney) Since spring of 2012. It's on the same schedule that Avengers has. It's not rushed. It will be 2015. They reiterated that in the latest pieces of news.

And notice Memorial Day 2015 no one has booked anything (which is a huge weekend). To me it seems pretty clear that that's being saved for Episode VII.

 

[Hordakfan]

Give the Christmas thing a chance, originally ANH was suppose to come out Christmas 1976 but instead got pushed to May 1977 instead.

So i think it could be a great Xmas gift for us SW fans as Avengers will dominate May 2015 since Disney owns that property too

 

[Spider-Vader]

I'm fine with the December release. But May being empty while June/July are so crowded is a bit suspicious. Avengers: AoU will be huge, I even think it could take Avatar down & become the highest grossing movie ever. But there has to be another reason why someone hasn't taken more spots in May.

Avengers: AoU & Star Wars: Episode VII would make that May the best month ever.

 

[mclay18]

Has anyone noticed now that while Avengers 2 is opening on May 1st, but the rest of May is empty? Very curious.

I thought that Episode VII would take that Memorial Day 2015 spot, but I just think it's going to cannibalize earnings on both films. (And Disney knows that.) If the studio is still planning on a May 2015 date, they need to stake it out soon. Each day that goes by without a firm 2015 date means the chances are better of it being summer 2016 instead.

Not to mention that Universal and Legendary have already taken that Avatar/LOTR/Hobbit spot in December. So unless Disney plans on a Christmas Day release, I think it's going to stay a summer film. It's more likely to hit May 2016 though.

Even though studios like sticking to tradition and what weekends work for them in the past, this movie is a big enough deal that Disney can release it during the off-season period and it'd do amazing numbers. (Summers and winter holidays are safer bets, but the rivals like stacking their movies on the same weekends -- and that isn't a good thing.)

However, like I said a few pages ago, Star Wars: Episode VII opening in a slower month like February, March, April or October would absolutely dominate. (That scenario ain't going to happen unless Kathleen Kennedy and JJ Abrams want it, so the summer is far more likely.)

 

[Solidus]

No it will be 2015. 3 week is all most films need anyways. TA2 is going to be front loaded like most popular sequels are. Iger again reiterated a few days ago at the Japanese D23 that it is Summer 2015. They would not keep saying that so far into it especially for investors. It is actually most likely it will hit around May 20th 2015. It's on an even earlier production schedule then that of TA2. Memorial Day weekend has not been booked for one reason, the studios (all the other studios) know its where Disney is probably dropping Episode VII.

 

[Bim]

Yeah, it's looking like summer indeed, check this out: http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/56346/star-wars-release-patterns/

 

[Solidus]

Ya further official"ness" of it.

 

[Bim]

Ha!, too slow Solidus. If we were in a western movie, u would be dead by now

 

[Solidus]

Ha!, too slow Solidus. If we were in a western movie, u would be dead by now

But I had to spend that time putting that image on imageshack so the people could see! lol

 

[MrMaooz]

Awesome! Thanks, Solidus.

 

[Neo_3]

Why not AoU in July, move MOS2 to May 1 and have SW Memorial weekend. Then 2 major Disney movies would not overlap and move Ant-Man to the first week of August. If you could get more perfect have Minions move to July 17 and put AoU in the July 10th spot (DMC spot 9 years earlier) and look how that turned out.