The release of the next Star Wars film has been pushed back until the end of 2017, Disney has announced.

Episode VIII was due to be released in May 2017 but will now hit the screens in the following December.

The Force Awakens has become the biggest-grossing film in US history - earning $1.87bn globally in the five weeks since its release.

Disney did not say why the film had been delayed but there are rumours that the script is being rewritten.

Filming is set to begin in London next month.