Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace effort after a 22-year hiatus following "Star Wars" in 1977. "The Phantom Menace" was released in theaters on May 19, 1999, almost 16 years after the premiere of the previous "Star Wars" film, "Return of the Jedi". The film's premiere was extensively covered by media and was greatly anticipated because of the large cultural following the "Star Wars" saga had cultivated. It received mixed reviews; critics praised the visuals, action sequences, John Williams' musical score and some of the performances, but criticized the screenplay, characterization, and Ahmed Best and Jake Lloyd's performances (as Jar Jar Binks and Anakin Skywalker respectively).
Star Wars: Episode IX BB-8. Principal photography began on August 1, 2018, at Pinewood Studios in London, England. Oscar Isaac stated that Abrams is allowing more improvised acting than in the previous two films. Filming was also done in Wadi Rum in Jordan. Filming is expected to be completed by February 2019. On January 10, 2018, it was reported that John Williams, who composed the music for the eight previous saga films, will return to compose and conduct "Episode IX". The next month, Williams announced that "Episode IX" will be the last "Star Wars" film for which he will compose music. "Star Wars: Episode