Star Wars announced two new books revolving around the hit video game series Star Wars Jedi, which is comprised of the previous hit release, Fallen Order, and the upcoming sequel, Survivor.
The first of the books, published by Del Ray and written by Sam Madds, is titled Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars. It will be a sequel story centered on Cal Kestis and his crew on the Mantis as they are set on an adventure between the first and second games. The written tale will hit stores on March 7, 2023….
So much new info about George Lucas’s legendary special effects company has been revealed via new documentary series like “Light and Magic” and “Icons Unearthed: Star Wars”. In 1978, George moved ILM from Southern California up north to San Rafael into a facility on Kerner Blvd, where it stayed until 2005. Thanks to veteran filmmaker Sean House, RFR was recently allowed access to this former home of ILM and important location of film history. This is the place where STAR WARS special effects from EMPIRE to REVENGE OF THE SITH were created, not to mention RAIDERS, E.T., Jurassic Park and so many more groundbreaking films. It’s still in use today as 32Ten Studios and still creating amazing effects. Effects wiz Sean House joins us to talk about his career, his history with ILM and shares behind-the-scenes stories you’ve never heard before about working with George Lucas and Rick McCallum. Thanks to the help of loyal RFR listeners, Jason has solved his problem with Star Wars action figures falling down. We also talk about newer action figure releases from Black Series to Retro Vintage and more.
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Sony sent the Star Wars fandom into a frenzy with its Fall 2021 PlayStation Showcase as it revealed a remake of the beloved Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The legendary remake was confirmed to be coming from Aspyr Media as a PS5 console launch exclusive, but no release date was announced.
The Star Wars RPG debuted in 2003 as players took control of their own Jedi to adventure the galaxy in pursuit of Darth Malak. Players had the ability to choose between three classes and earn both Light and Dark Side points to determine which side of the force they align with, all while taking on round-based waves of combat against enemies.
Bloomberg recently offered a disappointing update on the project in July as Aspyr delayed the game indefinitely, firing its art director and design director. The release timeframe was reportedly up in the air even within the studio as Aspyr initially targeted a 2022 release, while many developers believed the remake wouldn’t be complete until at least 2025.
Now, in the wake of last month’s unfortunate news regarding the remake, a new report may have offered a more optimistic turn on events….
Here are over sixty fun facts, easter eggs, and references to other Star Wars stories I found in the newest Star Wars novel, The Princess and the Scoundrel!
The comics in the Star Wars canon often fly under the radar due to the higher profile of the films and shows. However, some of the biggest developments in the franchise have come through Marvel’s illustrated stories, including unaired episodes of The Clone Wars and a look at how Kylo Ren came to be. With the ongoing runs currently set after The Empire Strikes Back, an unforeseen resurgence of Crimson Dawn has overtaken the era.
At the forefront of the action is Qi’ra, the Emilia Clarke-portrayed lieutenant who made her shocking return in the War of the Bounty Hunters. Having stolen the frozen Han Solo as means of getting her crime syndicate back into the galactic fold, the femme fatale takes on Darth Vader and establishes a shaky alliance with Leia. As readers have come to learn, she has her hands all across the board, boasting Crimson Dawn loyalists within both the Empire and Rebellion.
War of the Bounty Hunters and Crimson Reign serve as the first two parts in Charles Soule’s trilogy of miniseries following Qi’ra. Having trained under Maul following the events of Solo, the outlaw is one of a few who knows that Emperor Palpatine is actually Darth Sidious. Her hatred for the Sith runs deep, and every move made in the previous series has been done to get Qi’ra one step closer to fulfilling her ultimate goal: destroying the Emperor….
Total Film Magazine has released a brand-new image from the upcoming StarWars series Andor that features Kyle Soller as Syril Karn and Kathryn Hunter (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) as Syril’s mother, Eedy Karn. Syril is an officer of the Imperial Security Bureau who has a “possessive” obsession with Cassian Andor, as Soller recently told SFX Magazine.
In addition to debuting the new image, Total Film also had a brief interview with the actor, who clarified the relationship between his character and his mother:
“He doesn’t have a father. He was raised by his mother, who is sort of the stage mother from hell. He has an extreme sense of need to impress, and fill a hole in himself. And so that really is about ascending to the top of whatever field he’s in. The field he’s chosen is one of restriction and complete control, and one of domination. I think we’ve been able to thread that through with the scenes that Syril has with his mother.”…
The Rise of Skywalker is a touchy subject for many. The conclusion to the Skywalker Saga has been one of the biggest disappointments for fans in pop culture in quite some time. Many audiences across the entire world were underwhelmed, and that feeling came across in the various online conversations, which were going at full speed upon release.
In a different timeline, however, fans got another version of the film, one directed by Jurassic World‘s Colin Trevorrow. While all the details aren’t fully known, bits and pieces of storylines that could’ve been have made their way online over the last few years. Things like the alternate version of the story visiting Coruscant again, to an intense battle between Kylo and Rey in a unique-looking throne room, to a far more prominent spotlight on Finn’s character—from what fans do have, it sure seems like a completely different beast.
That version of the story sadly never saw the light of day due to Lucasfilm letting Trevorrow go from the project, instead opting to bring in J.J. Abrams. But, if the Jurassic World director was given the opportunity, would he ever visit the galaxy far, far away again?…
Mon Mothma is about to become a household Star Wars name thanks to Andor! To prepare for the series, I recommend watching some of the deleted scenes from Revenge of the Sith that give a sense of some of the political intrigue we might see in the near future. How did Mon Mothma become the head of the Rebel Alliance? Her story begins in these must-watch scenes!
Total Film Magazine had the chance to talk briefly with Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy about the plans for season 2, and with Diego Luna, who is over the moon about the show. In addition, the magazine also released two new images from the first season, which will debut its first three episodes September 21st on Disney Plus.
First, Gilroy reiterated what he said at Star Wars Celebration about the overall structure of the show. Andor will be two seasons, the first season covering the year 5 BBY, that is, five years before the events of Rogue One, and the second season covering the 4 years in between season 1 and the movie. As Gilroy told Total Film, the second season will be structured in blocks of three episodes, each one covering each of those four years:
“We have four blocks of three [episodes] coming up [for season 2]. And each block will move you one year closer to Rogue One. And because it’s a year [each time], we can do something really fascinating narratively that you would never have the chance to do in a film. It’s exciting.”…
Last year, Star Wars Visions decided to take the galaxy far, far away into the realm of anime, but the next volume of shorts will be bringing in talent from around the world. Series executive producer James Waugh reveals why the series is now taking a more varied approach, and delves into how the series will still retain an emphasis on Japanese animation.
At Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022, it was officially confirmed that Star Wars Visions would be going forward with a new set of shorts developed by animators from not just Japan, but also the United States, Chile, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, South Africa, India, and South Korea. When talking to Deadline about the future of the Visions brand, Waugh explained that he sees it as an all-encompassing label to allow creators from around the world to express what Star Wars means to their style….
Whose Jedi Council seat did Obi-Wan take in Revenge of the Sith? After the Battle of Geonosis, a seat was left vacant by Coleman Trebor, the Jedi Master who was shot by Jango Fett while attempting to kill Count Dooku. Several Jedi Masters rotated through Trebor’s seat, but it was Obi-Wan who was granted a permanent assignment to the Jedi Council after his successful investigation into a mysterious bombing on the neutral planet Cato Neimoidia.
In talking with Entertainment Weekly at Star Wars Celebration in May, Dave Filoni addressed potential concern about recent Star Wars projects being more of the same, saying, “you look at Obi-Wan, you look at Mando, you look at Boba. They all do have a different feeling, a different tone:”
“We love seeing the development of all these series and how from the new show we’re doing with Jon Watts, Skeleton Crew, and… but when you look at Andor and you look at Obi-Wan, you look at Mando, you look at Boba. They all do have a different feeling, a different tone, and I think that’s remarkable, and really speaks to the serialized nature of Star Wars, and how it can be a very flexible galaxy. I mean, it is a galaxy, so there’s so many stories to tell that it’s exciting. But I don’t know yet. I’m waiting to see a little more as I put together what that tone becomes, because it’s evolving right now. It’s evolving.”
Star Wars is certainly evolving and expanding. In 2022 alone, Lucasfilm released the conclusion of The Book of Boba Fett, followed by Obi-Wan Kenobi, and with Andor on the way….
Throughout Star Wars’ history on Disney+, the franchise has largely been faithful to the more familiar eras of the Star Wars Timeline. For instance, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett occur between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, while both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor take place between Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. However, that’s all about to change with the High Republic-era Disney+ series The Acolyte which was reportedly built around actress, Amandla Stenberg.
Stenberg is no stranger to blockbuster franchises. Her first breakout role was in 2012’s The Hunger Games as the young, 12-year-old tribute Rue.
In the years that followed, Stenberg has starred in The Hate U Give, Dear Evan Hansen, and most recently, Bodies Bodies Bodies, while also generating both negative and positive attention for outspokenness and activism on social media.
On the heels of the release of Bodies Bodies Bodies and ahead of The Acolyte, Stenberg has opened up about her experiences with cancel culture and how she doesn’t expect it to end anytime soon….
During Star Wars Celebration, Entertainment Weekly had the chance to sit down with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, and the outlet recently released the video from that discussion. They talked about how the work they are doing on Disney Plus is extending the legacy of Star Wars and what George Lucas created, and how Filoni has become Lucas’ heir at the company, essentially growing into a Jedi master himself.
Filoni started by saying how the entire lineup of Star Wars shows for Disney Plus is so different in tone, and how that speaks volumes to how malleable the Star Wars franchise is while its core values are still kept intact:
“We love seeing the development of all these series, you know? From the new show we are doing with Jon Watts, Skeleton Crew, but when you look at Andor, you look at Obi-Wan, you look at Mando, you look at Boba… They all do have a different feeling and a different tone, and I think that’s remarkable and really speaks to the serialized nature of Star Wars and how it can be a very flexible galaxy. I mean, it is a galaxy, so there are so many stories to tell and it’s exciting for that.”…
While Lucasfilm’s next Star Wars project, Andor, is right around the corner, fans are still wrapping their heads around the last one. Obi-Wan Kenobi featured the return of Ewan McGregor, one of the fanbase’s favorite actors in the entire franchise. After over a decade, audiences were able to get six new television episodes featuring the iconic Jedi.
To make it all even better, the series also featured Hayden Christensen returning to his role of Anakin Skywalker—or more accurately, Darth Vader. Seeing those two actors interact once again was all but a religious experience for many.
Then, to top it all off, there was another massive return before the show was said and done: Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn, the former Master of Obi-Wan himself. The character hasn’t been seen in live-action since The Phantom Menace, so his brief return was a big deal, to say the least.
At a recent convention, Ewan McGregor appeared and finally broke his silence regarding the return of his former co-star….
Ming-Na Wen is hopeful for another season of The Book of Boba Fett, although she does not appear to have heard anything about one being in development.
At Fan Expo Boston, the actress was asked about her long career, from voice-over work in 1998’s Mulan to a leading role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., before the conversation naturally shifted over to her work in the realm of Star Wars. Wen appeared to be optimistic about her Star Wars future, responding enthusiastically about where fans will see her next:
“Second season of The Book of Boba Fett, I hope! …I never count my chickens before they hatch, because in this business, you just never know. But, knock on wood, they’ll be announcing that soon.”
The wording on that seems ambiguous, as the statement implies that she does not know if more The Book of Boba Fett is on the horizon, though some might interpret it as a sign that they could announce another season….
Christopher Lloyd is keeping his mouth shut about whether or not he will be appearing in the third season of Star Wars: The Mandalorian, despite prior reports suggesting that he is involved in the third season of the hit Disney Plus series.
Back in March, it was indicated by The Hollywood Reporter that Lloyd would appear in some kind of guest role for the third outing of the popular Star Wars show, albeit with no indication of what kind of character he might be playing. A fan recently brought up this question at Fanboy Expo Knoxville two Saturdays ago, to which he gave a pretty blunt reply saying that he can’t say anything and that he also doesn’t know anything:
“We were all sworn to secrecy… So, I don’t know!”…
Will Star Wars deliver this time on Disney Plus Day? We discuss the promotional day, which arrives just ahead of D23. We also give our takes on all the latest Star Wars news including Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Oscar Isaac possibly changing his tune about returning to the franchise?
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We’re a little over a month out before Andor drops on Disney Plus! We have a great trailer breakdown for the show from our friends The Resistance Broadcast this week.
We also explore the discussion around an Obi-Wan Kenobi season 2 (with Ewan McGregor offering his two cents), hype for The Mandalorian season 3, news surrounding The Acolyte casting, and more.
With many shows on the horizon, it’s tough to keep up-to-date on all of the news and info hitting us at lightspeed. That’s why we create this weekly guide to help you stay connected.
Will we see any connections to Star Wars Rebels in Andor? Will we see Emperor Palpatine in the Imperial Senate? These questions and more answered in this week’s Q&A!
Lucasfilm released earlier this month their production briefing on Andor, a 29-page document available to the press where they detail the most relevant aspects of everything and everyone involved with the upcoming Star Wars series on Disney Plus. In the document, the company confirmed that three-time Oscar nominee Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, Succession) is composing the music for the show.
Gilroy first explained how integral the music is to Star Wars, and how that carried over to Andor, though in new and unexpected ways
Reports on Britell joining Andor began circulating earlier this year, but it looks like he’s been attached for a long time. In the document, it is said that Britell and Gilroy have been working on the score for two years, long before it was time to get into the recording booth and, from the sound of things, even before filming started. However, as Gilroy explains, it looks like they needed the extra time
Andor will have a central theme, Gilroy said, though it will be slightly different from episode to episode…
We’ve known for a while now that Andor will be a spy drama set in the Star Wars galaxy, but showrunner, writer and director Tony Gilroy has opened up about what the series has in common with past work of his, such as The Bourne Identity.
In an interview with Total Film, Gilroy talked about the process behind making The Bourne Identity and how that was similar to Andor.
I had been trying to get people to make an acoustic action movie, because action movies had gotten so bombastic in the ’80s, they were just enormous. So when Bourne came along, we went way down to nothing….
In just a matter of weeks, Star Wars fans will finally get to sink their teeth into Andor on Disney+. The series serves as a direct prequel to Star Wars: Rogue One, following Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor who was introduced in the 2016 big-screen epic.
Andor will carry on the dark tone from Rogue One, with the “hard edges” of the Star Wars universe being a focus of showrunner Tony Gilroy. Taking place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the streaming series will seemingly fill in some blanks left in the Star Wars story.
But as one would expect, this is a delicate dance in moving around different elements of an ever-expanding intergalactic narrative. And Gilroy has spoken out on Andor‘s place in the timeline and how hard it was to not step on too many toes of other titles in the galaxy far, far away….
Oscar Isaac has enjoyed quite the resurgence in 2022 thanks to his trio of thrilling roles in Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight on Disney+. But on top of that, he’s already built up a history with Disney in a different fan-favorite universe, having played the role of Poe Dameron in all three movies of Star Wars’ sequel trilogy from 2015 to 2019.
In the galaxy far, far away, Isaac was last seen in 2019’s Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, helping the Resistance defeat the revived Emperor Palpatine as he teamed up with Rey and Finn. With the franchise having moved more towards Disney+ storytelling with shows like The Mandalorian, the Skywalker Saga has been left in the rearview mirror, although that story could still come back into play at some point.
In past interviews, Isaac has discussed the idea of returning to his role, although it would partly be contingent on John Boyega and Daisy Ridley returning as Finn and Rey as well. Now, he’s revisited that topic as he looks at what it would truly take to bring him back to this expansive universe….
Disney has released the official release dates for every episode of its upcoming Star Wars series Andor on Twitter. After the first three episodes premiere on Wednesday, September 21, there will be one episode per week over the following nine weeks.
It’s time for one last adventure aboard the Halcyon with the fifth and final issue of the Halcyon Legacy arc. The galaxy’s premiere luxury star liner has gone through some harrowing ordeals in its time. Ranging from being boarded by the Nihil to a Maz Kanata-led heist, each issue has left its unique mark. The present-day storyline takes mostly a backseat to the adventures of the past, but each story serves its purpose. The previous issue was my favorite of the bunch, and I was left excited to see what might be done for the conclusion piece. While this issue has its moments, overall, I was left disappointed. This felt more like a giant Disney marketing plug than any of the previous issues and was hastily introduced to new characters. Because of the jarring introduction, the payoff of the issue didn’t feel entirely earned. Bossk graces the cover of the issue, and I was excited to see him have a strong presence, but he was gone in the blink of an eye. While being a bit of a mess it’s still a fun read. It may not be an issue to return to time and time again, but that doesn’t it is not worth your time.
Giancarlo Esposito recently made an appearance at Thomas J. Henry’s Superhero Car Show & Comic Con in San Antonio, Texas, where he was asked about the future of Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian. In a moment captured in a TikTok video included below, Esposito said that the chances of Gideon returning in a future season of The Mandalorian are very high, adding the following:
“I got to tell you, just to share something with you without spoiling anything. Season 3 of The Mandalorian is off the chain! You’ll be amazed!”
Disney Plus has teased on social media that this year’s Disney Plus Day, taking place on September 8, will be filled with “epic events, premieres, surprises, and so much more”. The event will happen the day before D23 Expo kicks off in Anaheim, California, where Lucasfilm will co-host a panel with Marvel Studios on Saturday, September 10, at 10 am PT.
1 🗣 MORE 🗣 MONTH until #DisneyPlusDay!
Prepare for a day filled with epic events, premieres, surprises, and so much more. pic.twitter.com/hJLaeN5VeE
— Star Wars | Andor Premieres Sept 21 on Disney+ (@starwars) August 8, 2022
This will be the second Disney Plus Day, following last year’s event that took place on November 12. In the previous edition, Disney Plus premiered multiple projects on the platform, in addition to teasing a lot of the upcoming projects on a Twitter thread. Star Wars was barely mentioned, with Lucasfilm only showcasing a featurette on Obi-WanKenobi that had already been shown to investors 11 months before. Meanwhile, Marvel Studios announced multiple new projects and premiered quick teases for the three shows they planned to release in 2022….
The floodgates are about to open when it comes to Star Wars video games. As the EA exclusivity deal for the license expires next year, studios from around the world can pitch their own game in the galaxy far, far Away. However, EA will get one last Star Wars epic out there before the tides change, in Respawn Entertainment’s recently revealed Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Jedi: Survivor serves as a direct follow-up to 2019’s Jedi: Fallen Order, taking place five years after the events of the first game. Protagonist Cal Kestis has quickly become a favorite amongst fans, with both Disney and actor Cameron Monaghan expressing “interest” in having the character make the jump into live-action.
But before that can happen, Jedi: Survivor has to come out, and gamers have just gotten their first taste of where the game’s main character is at this point in the story….
