I'm not saying there's anything inherently bad with that (if it is the case). Episodes 1 to 7 are all 2 hours (give or take a few minutes and without ending credits). I'm not sure how the movie making procedure and/or hierarchy (I think that's the right word to use) works, but have all past episodes and will episodes 8 and 9 have to fit within that 2 hours runtime? If they go over 2, then adjustments/cuts have to be made to the script? The article below is about how episode 8 may have to be re-written to reduce the role of 2 new characters so that more development and screen time can be given to characters introduced in TFA. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Why-Star-Wars-Episode-8-May-Undergoing-Rewrite-106667.html Has any seen or read any confirmation that episodes 8 or 9 will be more than 2 hours if necessary? A 2.5 to 3 hours Star Wars movie would be nice...if pulled off correctly; no superfluous and extraneous scenes that mess up pacing, etc.
GL has always kept the runtime at around two hours because that's how long the audience will stay focused, generally speaking. When you approach three hours, people get tired and minds will start drifting. After seven movies with a 2h+ runtime, you could definitely say its become a tradition.
