You Think Video Game Schedules Are Tough? New Info On Star Wars Films

New information has emerged about the upcoming Star Wars film trilogy helmed by J.J. Abrams. Get ready for a new Star Wars movie every year.

The news comes by way of Variety’s Marc Graser reporting from the publication’s Dealmakers Breakfast where Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn was speaking.

According to Graser, Disney is expecting a script for the next Star Wars film in January. No budget is currently set, but Graser suggests that it could be as much as $200 million (up from $115 for Episode II: Attack of the Clones, which has been the highest so far).

Additionally, Horn says that Disney is expecting a new Star Wars movie every year, inclusive of spin-offs. Recently, EA revealed that its licensing agreement with Disney to make Star Wars games includes an important provision. The publisher is not required to make movie tie-in games.

[Source: @MarcGraser (1), (2), Box Office Mojo via TheForce.net]

Our Take
EA dodged a bullet with it’s “no movie tie-in” agreement. Games based on films are typically rushed to meet deadlines. In this case, it would have meant scrambling every year.

The returns likely wouldn’t have been worth it, and the games could have further damaged EA’s reputation. I’m a bit skeptical about even getting a new Star Wars movie every year. Annualization hasn’t been flawless in the video game industry, and I wonder how the movie-going crowd will react.