It’s been no secret that Disney CEO Bob Iger isn’t expecting Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to have the same opening numbers that Star Wars: The Force Awakens had. Still, from an optimistic point of view, it could have stellar numbers because it is a part of the Star Wars franchise and the first of the many spinoffs we will get throughout the coming years.

Now box office projection numbers are coming in, and it puts Rogue One‘s opening numbers pretty high. According to reports, they could be as high as $130 million. More on the story below.

The report comes to us from The Hollywood Reporter, who says that not only could Rogue One open at $130 million but it could be higher than that. Some say it could be as high as $150 million. The Star Wars Saga films have proven to be a very lucrative franchise, however, this will be the first spinoff for the franchise. This is untested waters for Disney and Lucasfilm. While Iger was correct to say that it probably wouldn’t have the same opening as The Force Awakens, the spinoff’s projected performance could put it behind The Force Awakens‘ $248 million opening weekend. Not bad for a film that many are very anxious about.

It should be interesting to see how Disney and Lucasfilm approach their future spinoffs following Rogue One‘s performance at the box office. With the untitled young Han Solo standalone film currently in the pre-production phase, the two will, no doubt, be keeping an eye on December 16. If it can exceed expectations, the thing the studio will be looking out for is if the spinoff has any legs. Sing, Passengers, and Assassin’s Creed will hit theaters the following week. All three are among the film’s biggest competition in terms of tentpole blockbusters. Also being released the weekend after but in limited and select theaters are A Monster Calls, Patriot’s Day, Live By Night, Fences, Hidden Figures, and 20th Century Women.

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, with Jiang Wen and Forest Whitaker. It opens in theaters on December 16, 2016.

[Source: THR]

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