March 03--REPORTING FROM CHICAGO -- After a successful run at the box office, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has set its sights on your home theater. The movie now has DVD, Blu-ray and digital release dates.
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will be available for digital download on April 1 and DVD on April 5, the Walt Disney Co. announced at its annual shareholders meeting Thursday morning.
Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Iger shared the news of the home entertainment release but did not screen any new footage from future "Star Wars" films.
Burbank-based Disney's first film in the series, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," was released Dec. 17 and has gone on to gross more than $2 billion worldwide. The company has announced plans for two other "Star Wars" films and two additional spinoffs.
At last year's annual meeting, Iger announced the first in the series of spinoffs in the franchise would be titled "Rogue One." That film will be released Dec. 16.
Iger also said at last year's meeting that "Star Wars: Episode VIII" would be released May 26, 2017. The release date for the film, to be directed by Rian Johnson, was later changed to Dec. 15, 2017.
Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the production company behind "Star Wars," for about $4 billion in 2012.
Disney's annual meeting is being held at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Shareholders will be asked to elect 11 members of its board of directors and consider two shareholder proposals.
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