Disney to Pit ‘Star Wars’ Against Fox’s ‘Avatar’ in 2017

L.A. Biz: “Star Wars: Episode VIII” has been pushed back seven months. The follow-up to the smash success of “The Force Awakens” will now open on Dec. 15, 2017, rather than May 26. Currently, James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel to “Avatar,” the biggest movie of all time, is slated for Dec. 25, 2017, setting up a blockbuster bout between the two franchises — unless Disney knows something we don’t about Fox’s release plans.