It’s unclear as to whether this was always Disney’s plan, or its release to the streaming platform has been accelerated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the final installment of the Skywalker saga, Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, is set to arrive on Disney+ from 4 May, 2020. Yes, Star Wars Day, May the Fourth is finally coinciding with a major release.
Disney+ has been a boon for fans of the Star Wars Universe, with the other eight episodes of the Skywalker saga already available there, along with Rogue One, Solo, a new season of the Clone Wars animated series and the brilliant debut season of The Mandalorian. The arrival of The Rise of Skywalker is icing on the cake, however, as it brings together all nine episodes in a convenient format in most global territories.
Now, even if most of us remain stuck in isolation as protection from a real-world threat to civilization, we have an excuse to take a mental break from the doom-and-gloom and to embrace the escape to an incomparable creative universe.
While you wait, the launch announcement video from Disney is available below, to help set the scene. Or, of course, you can start your movie marathon right now, so that you complete The Last Jedi by May the Third, in anticipation of what is to come. May the force be with you… always.