Star Wars 9: John Boyega reveals film takes place a year after The Last Jedi

Giving Finn, Rey and Poe just enough time to recruit some new fighters for The Resistance

(Disney/Lucasfilm)

For the first time in three years, there’s no new Star Wars film in December.

Instead, fans will have to wait another year for the next cinematic adventure in a galaxy far, far away – which coincidently happens to be the exact amount of time between Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the upcoming ninth main instalment in the franchise.

Speaking to Empire magazine, John Boyega – who plays Finn in the series – confirmed that “the film takes place one year after the events of The Last Jedi“.

While there’s no official confirmation of the time jump from Lucasfilm or Disney (and there likely will not be one for some time), the move would certainly not be unprecedented for Star Wars.

Other than The Last Jedi – which picks up just moments after The Force Awakens finishes – each instalment has an extended period of time between them.

The move makes sense considering the eighth main-saga film ended with only a few dozen Resistance warriors still alive. Chances are, by the events Episode XI, the heroes will have a few more comrades in the war against the First Order.

Star Wars: Episode XI will be directed by The Force Awakens‘ JJ Abrams, and stars Boyega alongside Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaacs and Mark Hamill. The film reaches cinemas on 20 December 2019.