Given the critical and commercial response to Star Wars: The Force Awakens (more than $2 billion worldwide at last count), Disney could be forgiven for leaving the film in cinemas until a week before Rogue One arrives to capitalise on its success. But the movie has to hit home entertainment at some point and now both the date and features have been announced.
In standard fashion for big movies these days, the latest Star Wars has two releases planned: an HD digital release on platforms such iTunes and Disney Movies Anywhere on April 1 followed by the Bu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on April 5. Annoyingly, it appears the UK has to wait until April 11 for the digital and April 18 for Blu-ray/DVD. Is this some retaliation for our earlier cinema release? It was one day, people!
And we're promised a proper look behind the scenes of a film that was largely wrapped in secrecy until close to its release. Features include Secrets Of The Force Awakens, a documentary about the making of the movie that runs almost as long the film itself, a variety of deleted scenes (will poor Constable Zuvio gets his due?), The Story Awakens: The Table Read, with the cast reflecting on the memorable first day they were in a room together, Crafting Creatures (self explanatory, really), Building BB-8 (ditto), and pieces on John Williams' return to score duties, a deep dive on the battle between Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren in the snow, the ILM effects team and the charity events around the movie.
So if you were waiting for the moment you could pause every scene and do a detailed breakdown of which Stormtrooper is which celebrity, your time is nearly here...