Lucasfilm has announced a new release date for Star Wars: Episode IX. Previously scheduled to come out in May 2019, the film will now release on December 20, 2019, just in time for Christmas.

The announcement isn't a surprise. It comes a week after Lucasfilm fired Colin Trevorrow as director and hours after Lucasfilm announced that he will be replaced by JJ Abrams, director of the 2015 film Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens.

There have also been rumors this year that the film needed to be re-written. One reason for that was the death of Carrie Fisher, who played Princess and then General Leia, last December. She was slated to play a significant role in Episode IX, and she may still appear in the film using pre-shot footage. But her character will obviously play a less significant role as a result of her death.

Disney paid $4 billion for the rights to the Star Wars franchise five years ago. Episode IX is supposed to be the last movie in the nine-part Star Wars saga, but a strong showing is likely to lay the groundwork for other spinoff projects, not to mention merchandising opportunities for years to come.