Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a film.
Star Wars : The Force Awakens ( also known as Star Wars : Episode VII -- The Force Awakens ) is a 2015 American epic space opera film directed , co-produced , and co-written by J. J. Abrams . Two sequels , The Last Jedi and Episode IX , are scheduled for release in 2017 and 2019 , respectively . Star Wars: The Last Jedi . It is the second film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy , following Star Wars : The Force Awakens ( 2015 ) .