The Walt Disney Company, which owns the rights to the “Star Wars” film franchise*, recently announced that a “Star Wars” spinoff* movie will be released on December 16, 2016.

    “Godzilla” (2014) director Gareth Edwards will direct the spinoff movie.

    “Ever since I saw ‘Star Wars’ I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life — join the Rebel Alliance.

    “I could not be more excited and honored to go on this mission with Lucasfilm,” said Edwards in a media statement.

    The spinoff will be written by “Book of Eli” screenwriter Gary Whitta.

    It will be separate from the new “Star Wars” film trilogy, which will be directed by U.S. filmmaker J.J. Abrams.

    The first of the new “Star Wars” films, “Star Wars: Episode VII,” is expected to hit cinemas on December 18 next year.(SD-Agencies)