We are still about two and a half years away from the release ofStar Wars Episode IX(assuming Disney sticks to their current release date), so we don’t know much about it at this point. There are still three otherStar Wars moviesthat need to come out before then, includingStar Wars Episode VIIIand the upcomingRogue One: A Star Wars Story. But we do know that the movie is going to look sharp, because it is going to be shot on 65mm film.
The Playlistis reporting that Kodak has now added the ability to process 65mm film at their facility in the U.K. In the report, it also notes that one of the projects listed by Kodak to use their 65mm film is indeedStar Wars Episode IX. So it looks like Disney and Lucasfilm want to send the newStar Warstrilogy out with a glitzy bang and will shoot the entire movie in 65mm. In a movie world that is moving more and more towards digital, this is a big step in keeping film alive.Steven Overman, Chief Marketing Officer and President of the Consumer and Film Division at Kodak had this to say about adding the processing of 65mm film to their U.K. Facility.
“The film comeback is accelerating and the epic, big screen experience is well and truly back. The creative and aesthetic distinctiveness of 65mm film is still well beyond the capability of digital capture, so when discerning filmmakers want to a create work of memorable grandeur and lasting visual quality, they know that only real film delivers.”
Those of us who aren’t filmmakers may not understand why shooting on 65mm film is a big deal. So what is 65mm film? The name itself refers to the width of the actual film cell, and shooting on 65mm film allows for the capture of a much larger frame with significantly higher quality. Images that might otherwise look grainy or less clear on 35mm will look crystal clear in 65mm. That is what makes shooting on 65mm so desirable for filmmakers and why it is good news forStar Warsfans that directorColin Trevorrowwill be shootingStar Wars Episode IXthis way.
J.J. Abramsdecided to shootStar Wars: The Force Awakenson 35mm film andRian Johnsondid the same forStar Wars 9, soshooting on filmis a trend for the new DisneyStar Warsmovies. That said, 65mm film will be a huge upgrade onceStar Wars Episode IXrolls around. The report also listed several other movies that plan to utilize 65mm, which includeKenneth Branagh’sMurder On The Orient Expressand Disney’sThe Nutcracker And The Four Realms.Christopher NolanandQuentin Tarantinoare partially to thank for helping to re-popularize the format.Nolanshot his WWII epicDunkirkalmost entirely in 65mm andTarantinoutilized it forThe Hateful Eightlast year.
Ironically enough,George Lucaswas a pioneer in digital cinema, asStar Wars: Attack of the Cloneswas said to be the first movie ever shot entirely in digital. Despite that, this new trilogy is very much harkening back to the original trilogy as opposed to what was done with the prequels. As it stands, Disney and Lucasfilm haveRogue One: A Star Wars Storycoming out on December 16. That will be followed byStar Wars: Episode IXonDecember 15, 2017. After that, the untitledHan Solomovie will come out and is currently slated for a June 30, 2025, release withStar Wars Episode IXset to hit theaters on July 30, 2025.
