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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Mark Sweney

Sky subscribers to feel the force of 48-hour Star Wars marathon

Sky is to air all the Star Wars movies over 48 hours including Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Sky is to air all the Star Wars movies over 48 hours including Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. Photograph: Allstar/Lucasfilm/Sportsphoto

The force will be with Sky subscribers next week after the broadcaster struck a deal with Disney and Fox to bring the complete series of Star Wars films to viewers.

The satellite broadcaster has secured the rights to all six films in the series and intends to air them in a 48-hour Star Wars marathon screening on the 4-5 May.

Under the terms of the deal with the two US studios Sky will also broadcast additional programming including both series of the animated Star Wars Rebels and all six series and feature film of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

There will also be a number of specials and featurettes including Empire of Dreams: the Story of the Star Wars Trilogy and Star Wars: the Legacy Revealed.

Sky said that it has chosen 4 May to air all the films in both episodic order – as well as release order – because it is international Star Wars day.

I am delighted that we can offer the Star Wars saga to our customers,” said Ian Lewis, director of Sky Movies. “As a huge fan of the saga, it gives me great personal pleasure to be able to offer my fellow fans a unique Star Wars experience.”

Sky did a similar deal in 2012 for the James Bond back catalogue of films for which it launched a dedicated channel, Sky Movies 007.

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