Star Wars 9: BAD NEWS for LucasFilm? Box office could be dented by THIS announcement

The movie is likely to log huge numbers at the box office, hot on the heels of 2015’s The Force Awakens and 2017’s The Last Jedi.

And while it’s likely that nothing will stop it from being a general success, some news has been announced that could weaken its potential slightly.

In 2017, it was speculated that The Last Jedi’s longtail gross was perhaps negatively affected by the unexpected success of Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, which gave it a run for its money for family audiences over the holiday period.

Both movies were ultimately winners: Star Wars‘ hit became one of the top-grossing movies of all time, while Jumanji made its way to around $1 billion worldwide and was duly awarded a sequel – and that’s where things get interesting.

The sequel – tentatively referred to as Jumanji 3 (if Welcome To The Jungle is itself treated as a sequel to the 1995 original) – is out on December 13, 2019.

That will be one weekend before Star Wars returns with Episode 9 – and it’s the weekend Wonder Woman 1989 has already vacated, seemingly to avoid this same clash.

Given how much of a sleeper hit the last Jumanji movie became, it’s fair to assume that a great deal of hype will be built around the follow-up: bosses will know they have a hit on their hands, and the marketing will likely be huge.

With Star Wars 9 due out the next week – on December 20 – will some of its thunder be taken?

The chances are that both movies will do big business and neither Sony nor Disney will need to worry about tanking.

But Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle was the movie that ultimately dethroned The Last Jedi from No1 at the box office – which was no mean feat considering it had been out for five weeks before it took the throne.

Dwayne Johnson announced the sequel’s release date on his Instagram profile, and it’s safe to say he seems excited.

“Officially planting our JUMANJI flag,” he declared. On DECEMBER 13th, 2019 – the game is not over.

“I hold JUMANJI very close to my heart and I’m beyond grateful you made our movie into the global juggernaut ($1BILLION+) it became.

“Can’t wait for you to see what our new adventure & new characters have in store as Christmas comes early.

“And once again, I get to slap @kevinhart4real’s lip’s into next week. The world is happy.”