Disney announces dates for multiple films including 'Star Wars: Episode IX' and 'Indiana Jones 5'

Image from Walt Disney Studios

By Darian Scalamoni

            As we just reported a few days ago, studios have been planning dates for their future films with 20^th Century Fox striking first. Now, Disney has followed suit announcing dates for their big-time franchises.

            Some of the prestigious releases include Star Wars: Episode IX directed by Colin Trevorrow which will release on May 24^th, 2019. The movie will complete the revived episodic trilogy format and follow JJ Abrams’ The Force Awakens and the upcoming, The Last Jedi directed by Rian Johnson. Also, another Lucasfilm movie, the next Anthology flick, the currently untitled Han Solo movie that stars Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson and Michael Kenneth Williams will be released on May 25^th, 2018.

            Disney will also release their highly-anticipated sequel, Frozen 2 on November 27^th, 2019. The original film was a monumental hit winning two Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Let It Go”. The crew will remain intact with Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck returning along with stars Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel.

            With the rise of the live-action films coming off of the massive success of Beauty and the Beast remake as well, The Lion King has quickly become one of the biggest releases upcoming for Disney. They now have a date in place as it’ll arrive on July 19^th, 2019. Donald Glover is set to star as Simba and James Earl Jones is returning as Mufasa. The studio also just announced yesterday that Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen will play the lovable duo of Timon and Pumbaa as well while Beyonce is being courted to play Nala. The live-action remake of Mulan has also been scheduled as it’ll release later next year on November 2^nd, 2018.

            Finally, the studio has also pushed some releases with Indiana Jones 5 getting pushed back a whole year to July 10^th, 2020 to make room for Spielberg to film two movies before helming the fifth installment. Also, Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet has been dated for November 21^st, 2018. Ava DuVernay’s long-awaited follow-up to Selma hits theaters on March 9^th, 2018 with her adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time.