'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' revealed as Episode VII title

Disney revealed the title of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in a tweet with this image on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014. (@Disney/ Twitter)

An unassuming tweet is reverberating through the "Star Wars" universe, after revealing the title of the next instalment in the epic science fiction series.

Walt Disney Pictures sent the tweet Thursday afternoon, announcing the highly-anticipated title with little fanfare.

"The Force Awakens has completed principal photography," it said in a message accompanied by a picture in classic "Star Wars" style.

The film, slated for a Dec. 2015 release, began filming in May, and is now reported to be shifting to the post-production phase.

Many stars of original films released between 1977 and 1983 will feature in the upcoming 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, alongside relative newcomers Adam Driver and Lupita Nyong'o.

"Star Wars" creator George Lucas has endured staunch criticism for his handling of the franchise, dating back to 1997, when he released a special edition of the original movie with a new version of a key scene involving Ford's Han Solo and the alien Greedo.

The upset grew to widespread outrage with the release of three prequels that began with "Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace" in 1999.

Director J.J. Abrams is leading the production of Episode VII, and has promised that the upcoming instalment will honour, but not "revere" the series' past.

Here's the tweet @Disney sent Thursday: