Disney sets date for new 'Star Wars' film, delays 'Avatar' sequels

Walt Disney has announced that a new "Star Wars" film will reach theatres in 2026 but said it would postpone the release of the next three installments in James Cameron's blockbuster "Avatar" series.

The studio also pushed back the scheduled release dates for Thunderbolts and Blade, two Marvel films that have been disrupted by the ongoing strike by Hollywood writers.

"Avatar" producer Jon Landau wrote on Twitter that the filmmakers needed more time to complete the third, fourth and fifth installments in the science-fiction series set on the fictional moon of Pandora.

Avatar 3, originally scheduled to debut in December 2024, is now set for release in December 2025. Avatar 4 is slated for December 2029 and Avatar 5 for December 2031.

"Each Avatar film is an exciting but epic undertaking that takes time to bring to the quality level we as filmmakers strive for and audiences have come to expect," Landau wrote. "The team is hard at work and can’t wait to bring audiences back to Pandora in December 2025."

A new "Star Wars" movie was scheduled for December 2026, one of two in the space saga that will be released that year.

Blade starring Mahershala Ali was postponed by five months to February 2025. Thunderbolts, previously set for July 2024, was moved to December 2024.

One Marvel movie, a "Deadpool" sequel starring Ryan Reynolds, will be released sooner than expected. It will reach theatres in May 2024, rather than November 2024.