Lucasfilm later announced that the film would be an original story not beholden to the continuity of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, adult cosplay costumes which was rebranded as the non-canon Star Wars Legends. The acquisition was finalized on October 30, mikucosplay 2012. Disney and Lucasfilm officially announced Episode VII and the sequel trilogy the same day. The Force Awakens was released on December 17, 2015 in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Latin America, and Asian countries; December 18, 2015 in North America; and January 9, 2016 in China.