Sky Movies Scores Star Wars Library

LONDON: Sky Movies has secured the rights for all six films in the Star Wars saga, planning a 48-hour marathon to launch the collection.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi will sit alongside the two animated Star Wars series, Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as a number of Lucasfilm specials and featurettes. Sky Movies will celebrate with a 48-hour Star Wars marathon, for May 4 and 5, when customers will be able to watch them in episodic order, as well as release order on both days.

This marks the first time this Star Wars content will be broadcast all in one place.

“I am delighted that we can offer the Star Wars saga to our customers,” said Ian Lewis, the 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. No one will do Star Wars like Sky Movies.”

Dayna Donaldson, the general manager of media distribution at Disney UK and Ireland, added: “The Star Wars saga is universally loved by fans for its rich storytelling and compelling characters and we’re thrilled that Sky Movies customers will be able to enjoy it in the run up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens theatrical release at the end of the year. This will be without doubt this year’s unmissable TV marathon.”

“We are thrilled to be part of this remarkable opportunity which will give consumers access to the original Star Wars,” said Gina Brogi, the executive VP of worldwide pay television and SVOD at Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution.