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Walt Disney Co announced the plans on Sunday, just ahead of
May the Fourth, an unofficial holiday known among fans as Star
Wars Day.
Demand for "Star Wars" merchandise is expected to jump with the
Dec. 18 release of "The Force Awakens," the first movie in 10
years from the celebrated sci-fi franchise, Wall Street analysts
say.
At the Sept. 4 event, Disney stores and other retailers will
open at 12:01 a.m. to sell products ranging from toys, books,
and collectibles to comics, e-books, apps, apparel and lifestyle
accessories, Disney said in a statement. New products will also
be sold online at Disneystore.com.
The company urged fans to document their Sept. 4 shopping
experiences on social media with hashtags #ForceFriday and #MidnightMadness.
It also unveiled new product packaging that features Kylo Ren, a
masked villain from "The Force Awakens."
Disney bought "Star Wars" producer Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion
in 2012.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Paul Tait)
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