The Latest: ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ shifts release date

FILE - In this March 2, 2017 file photo, director-producer J.J. Abrams poses for a portrait to promote "The Play That Goes Wrong" at the Lyceum Theatre in New York. Abrams is returning to “Star Wars,” and will replace Colin Trevorrow as writer and director of “Episode IX.” Disney announced Abrams return on Tuesday, Sept. 12. (Photo by Christopher Smith/Invision/AP, File) FILE - In this March 2, 2017 file photo, director-producer J.J. Abrams poses for a portrait to promote "The Play That Goes Wrong" at the Lyceum Theatre in New York. Abrams is returning to “Star Wars,” and will replace Colin Trevorrow as writer and director of “Episode IX.” Disney announced Abrams return on Tuesday, Sept. 12. (Photo by Christopher Smith/Invision/AP, File)

By Associated Press September 12, 2017 2 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Latest on Disney’s announcement that J.J. Abrams will direct the ninth film in its core “Star Wars” franchise (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

Disney is delaying the release of “Star Wars: Episode IX” by seven months to December 2019.

The change was announced Tuesday hours after the studio said it had tapped J.J. Abrams to direct and co-write the ninth film in its core “Star Wars” franchise.

As the director of “The Force Awakens,” Abrams relaunched “Star Wars” to largely glowing reviews from fans and more than $2 billion in box office. Abrams had said that would be his only film for the franchise, but he’s now been pulled back in.