Star Wars sequel delayed by seven months

Star Wars: The Force Awakens fans will have wait an extra seven months to discover the fate of Daisy Ridley's Rey character after Disney bosses postponed the sequel's release until the end of 2017.

Star Wars: Episode VIII was scheduled to hit movie theaters in May, 2017, but it has since been pushed back to December, 2017 - exactly two years after the launch of its record-breaking predecessor.

Disney executives have brought forward the release of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales to fill the release slot left by the Star Wars sequel.

Rian Johnson is set to take over directing duties from J.J. Abrams when production begins in London next month (Feb16).

In the meantime, devotees will be able to enjoy franchise spin-off movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is slated to open in December (16).

The Force Awakens, which was released last month (Dec15), has become the Star Wars franchise's biggest hit to date and the highest grossing film in North American box office history, after recently passing the $760.5 million Avatar hauled in in 2009.

Its total global gross currently stands at $1.8 billion, making it the third biggest movie of all time, behind Titanic at two, and Avatar.