At the time of the release of The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Lucas said there were seven further Star Wars films he wanted to make. Gary Kurtz, the producer of the first two films, was aware of proposed story elements for Episode VII to Episode IX before 1980. A Time magazine story in March 1978, quoting Lucas, stated there would be ten Star Wars films after The Empire Strikes Back. Lucas suggested that Hamill could have a cameo role in Episode IX, which he imagined filming by 2011. The trilogy grossed over $4.4 billion at the box office worldwide, with each film surpassing $1 billion worldwide.īackground Early development Īccording to Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, Star Wars creator George Lucas told him in 1976 that he planned three or four Star Wars trilogies. The first two films received positive reviews from critics, while the third received mixed reviews. Rey learns the ways of the Force under Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa while searching for her parents (who mysteriously abandoned her as a child), and confronts Kylo Ren-the son of Leia and Han Solo, nephew of Luke, and grandson of Anakin Skywalker-who has fallen to the dark side. The trilogy follows a 19-year-old woman named Rey, and the plight of the Resistance against the First Order, which has risen from the fallen Galactic Empire.

It was directed by Abrams, who co-wrote it with Chris Terrio. The final installment, The Rise of Skywalker, was released on December 20, 2019. The second installment, The Last Jedi, was released on December 15, 2017, with Rian Johnson as screenwriter and director, and most of the cast returning. Original trilogy cast members including Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher reprised their roles, co-starring alongside franchise newcomers Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Oscar Isaac. Abrams who co-wrote the screenplay with Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt. The first installment, The Force Awakens, was released on December 18, 2015. Both the acquisition and plans to produce the trilogy were announced in late 2012. Lucas produced new story treatments, but these were largely discarded. The sequel trilogy concept was revived when the Walt Disney Company entered negotiations to acquire Lucasfilm in 2011. He produced only the first six episodes, and for a time described these as comprising the complete story. Lucas had planned a sequel trilogy as early as 1976, but canceled it by 1981.

The trilogy consists of episodes VII through IX, chronologically following the prequel trilogy ( Episodes I– III 1999–2005) and the original trilogy ( Episodes IV– VI 1977–1983), serving as the final act of the ' Skywalker saga'. and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The Star Wars sequel trilogy is the third trilogy of the main Star Wars franchise, an American space opera created by George Lucas.

Force awakens characters