Earlier this month, LucasFilm and Disney confirmed that Star Wars: Episode VII will be released on December 18, 2015, making it the first Star Wars movie that won't be released in the month of May.

Director J.J. Abrams reveals that the new date has put the project in a much better situation, creatively.

"I will say that it is an infinitely better situation now than when they were saying they wanted it in the summer. Before I even came onto the project, before I was brought on, they were talking about 2015 and they made this announcement very early on. Which I understand, and I understand why they'd want that, but it didn't necessarily have anything to do with the reality of where anyone was creatively. So I think that it's a hugely important thing that that comes first, and that a release date is great, but you have to release something great. So to me, the new release date is a huge improvement."

The director also commented on R2D2, who was confirmed to return last week.

"How do you do Star Wars without R2D2?"

However, when asked if C3PO is coming back as well, the director would only say the androids have different representatives.

"They have different agents."

Production is scheduled to begin early next year at Pinewood Studios in London.