With anticipation for Star Wars: The Force Awakens beginning to reach fever-pitch, Disney has detailed the international release plans for J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi sequel – and they hold good news for fans in France in the United Kingdom.
First and foremost, it is the former country that will receive the company’s blockbuster heavyweight first, due to a law that explicitly states all new films must be released on Wednesdays. That means The Force Awakens will make its bow in France on December 16, a full 48 hours earlier than its debut in North America. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, will get Abrams’ space opera the following day on December 17.
[zerg]Lucasfilm took to the Star Wars UK Twitter to formally announced the news yesterday, kicking off a 100-day countdown until its anticipated arrival.
The Force Awakens will be released in the UK on December 17th. The hundred day countdown starts today! pic.twitter.com/GRlWtZfWMl
— Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) September 7, 2015
Speculation has been rife regarding Star Wars: The Force Awakens and its opening weekend numbers. According to expert analysts, the galactic adventure could make anywhere up to $615 million during opening weekend, before going on to surpass the $2 billion mark at the global box office – a feat that has only been accomplished by James Cameron’s Titanic and Avatar.
2015’s box office has already been off the charts, with Jurassic World, Age of Ultron and Furious 7 all surpassing monumental milestones with relative ease. In fact, Jurassic World recently broke past the coveted $1 billion mark internationally, and it is Colin Trevorrow’s sequel that holds the crown for the largest opening weekend in history with $512 million worldwide. Can Abrams’ film muster another record-breaker come December?
Star Wars: The Force Awakens will make its bow in France on December 16, then the UK on December 17, before making the jump across the pond – and to other territories around the world – on December 18.