Canadian Netflix subscribers are in luck; they’ll be able to stream Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2016, a perk limited only to those in the Great White North.
According to Variety, Netflix has secured streaming rights for the much-anticipated film, thanks to fortuitous timing in its digital distribution rights deal with Disney that will likely see the new Star Wars film released on Canadian Netflix roughly eight months after the movie’s Dec. 18 theatrical release.
In recent years, Netflix has focused more on producing original programming in addition to acquiring worldwide rights to films and television series. Securing the rights to one of the most anticipated films this decade (albeit only in Canada) is a tremendous coup for the ever-growing streaming service, which is also expected to expand to over 200 countries by the end of 2016.
To help pay the cost of obtaining digital distribution rights and in funding original programming, Netflix recently announced a $1 price hike on its monthly subscription service, although the extra charge will not come into effect until next year.
Although Star Wars: The Force Awakens will not hit the Netflix queue for some time, older films in the popular mega-franchise could soon become available for stream.