Category Archives: Reports

StarWars.com

Witchy Woman

Here’s the latest from: StarWars.Com

Get the inside scoop about the fan favorite Dathomirian apprentice and assassin, straight from the voice of Ventress, Nika Futterman

By Brandon Wainerdi

Dooku’s dark disciple is back and, of course, she’s bringing her iconic voice actor along with her.

Ever since 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie, Asajj Ventress has been brought to life by the incredible Nika Futterman. Futterman, who has voiced many characters in the galaxy, including Shaeeah Lawquane and Sy Snootles, has always felt especially connected to the Sith apprentice, as she relates to StarWars.com: “I feel like I have become her. We are one.”

But since the end of The Clone Wars, Ventress did not appear again in the animated shows for many years. “I was under the covers for ten years, crying, saying, ‘Why did it end! We didn’t even finish my story!’” Futterman says.

One of the ways that fans experienced some “closure” for her character’s story was in the acclaimed Star Wars: Dark Disciple, a canon novel written by Christie Golden and based on eight, never released Clone Wars episodes. The book traced the relationship of Ventress and Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos, and ended with Ventress sacrificing herself for the greater good. But now she’s back… and Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld will help explain how…

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

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Andor Explained: Episodes 4-6

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Delve into the latest three episodes of Andor Season 2, as the rebels and the Empire turn their eyes to the Ghorman front 3 years before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

By Kristin Baver

In Andor, Cassian Andor continues the path toward his heroic rebel destiny. With the first six episodes now streaming on Disney+, join us as StarWars.com digs into the making of a leader and a burgeoning rebellion poised to take down the Empire.

Spoiler warning: This article discusses story details and plot points from key Season 2 episodes of Andor, “Ever Been to Ghorman?”, “I Have Friends Everywhere”, and “What a Festive Evening” as well as previous episodes of the series.

Time marches on, bringing Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and the rebels closer to declaring all-out-war against the Empire on Scarif.

In the latest three-episode installment of Andor Season 2, set in BBY 3, the crisis on Ghorman begins to heat up as Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) sends both Cassian and trusted agents Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay) and Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu) to assess the brewing rebellion on the frontlines. And while Wilmon Paak (Muhannad Bhaier) learns what it takes to survive in the trenches from none other than Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) continues to fight through diplomacy, facing Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) with as much decorum as she can muster…

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Christensen Reflects on 20 Years of Revenge of the Sith

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The actor recently sat down to celebrate the film’s anniversary and return to theaters!

By Jade Fabello

When Hayden Christensen received the call that he had first been cast as the pivotal Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, he walked into his living room with a look of disbelief. His roommate, who knew that he was waiting on the call, could tell by his smile that he had good news. Christensen proceeded to light up an imaginary lightsaber while his roommate put on the soundtrack to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and the pair clashed their invisible swords, traipsing around the room with childlike joy.

While he can’t say for certain to what extent, Christensen knew from the jump that something as big as Star Wars would follow him for a long time no matter what. He recalls the shared hope of everyone involved in creating something that would last in the culture for a long time. Now, as Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith marks its 20th anniversary and returns to theaters for a limited time — proving the film’s lasting appeal with one of the biggest re-release opening weekends in history with an estimated $42.2 million in ticket sales worldwide — Christensen looks back fondly on his many memories playing the character…

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

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Diego Luna Reflects on Cassian’s Journey

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The actor talks about the importance of family, how Andor copes with loss, and why the Empire makes the galaxy’s most uncomfortable outfits.

By Kelly Knox

Diego Luna is a fan of your Andor headcanon.

Season 2 of Andor jumps through time, kicking off with a story that begins one year after the explosive events on Ferrix. While we might not know everything that happened during those months, Andor creator and executive producer Tony Gilroy leaves it to the audience to fill in the blanks. And Cassian Andor himself agrees the story belongs as much to the fans as the storytellers.

“There’s a lot of mystery involved that makes it more interesting for viewers, because you can almost start creating your own backstory,” Luna says. “Now you know these characters, and you can imagine what happened there. These time jumps are a beautiful way to approach storytelling, where this story belongs to you as much as it belongs to us.”

Now that the first arc of Andor’s second season is on Disney+, Luna talks to StarWars.com about where Cassian Andor’s journey has taken him so far, the losses he’s endured, and why he still has a long way to go…

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

The Costumes of Andor Season 2

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Costume designer Michael Wilkinson returns to the Star Wars galaxy with insights on dressing Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma, and more.

By Jade Fabello

The second season of Andor, which premiered this week on Disney+, continues to tell deeply human stories with gripping portrayals of the political clash between the growing rebellion and the Imperial regime. With such rich and intense subject matter, each aspect of the show had to be intricately crafted, with deep world-building and thematic storytelling, right down to each stitch sewn in the costume department.

According to Oscar-nominated costume designer Michael Wilkinson, the aim for Season 1 was to create a language for Star Wars that was grounded, visceral, and immediate. Rather than an action-oriented approach, the team working behind the scenes on production focused on creating a high-quality drama for adult audiences. Buoyed by the incredible reception for the show’s first season, the crew has gone even further in Season 2, using costuming details to help create nuanced and three-dimensional characters.

“We applied our thinking from Season 1 to Season 2, which was that everything had to look the way that it did for a reason. Not just ’cause it looked cool or it was Star Wars-y,” Wilkinson tells StarWars.com. “It had to really resonate and be authentic to the characters where they were at in the story. [Showrunner] Tony Gilroy is such an incredible storyteller. His sense of creating a rich and elaborate story involving many different characters is inspiring. When I read all the scripts for Season 2, there was so much costume gold in there.”

Season 2 brings a wealth of new planets, cultures, and aesthetics to the world of Andor. As the season unfolds, we’ll take a look at the incredible care and effort that went into the costumes that Wilkinson and the team brought to the screen….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Andor Explained: Episodes 1-3

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Delve into the three-episode premiere of Andor Season 2, catching up with Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma, and the rest of the rebels 4 years before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

By Kristin Baver

In Andor, Cassian Andor continues the path toward his heroic rebel destiny. With the first three episodes now streaming on Disney+, join us as StarWars.com digs into the making of a leader and a burgeoning rebellion poised to take down the Empire.

Spoiler warning: This article discusses story details and plot points from the three-episode premiere of Andor — “One Year Later,” “Sagrona Teema,” and “Harvest,” — as well as Season 1 of the series.

A year has passed since Maarva Andor was laid to rest, her posthumous words — “Fight the Empire!” — inciting a riot on Ferrix in the finale of Andor Season 1. Who has her son, Cassian, become in her absence?…

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Secrets from the Set of Andor Season 2: Week 1 Trivia

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Learn about the creation of the rebel game Five Hands and other fascinating behind-the-scenes facts from the making of the Star Wars series, with the first three episodes now streaming on Disney+.

By StarWars.com Team

If Five Hands — the game the Maya Pei Brigade plays to solve their internal disputes deep in the jungle — looks familiar, that’s because Sam Gilroy created it based on the playground staple Rock Paper Scissors.

The actor behind Gerdis this season and actor Benjamin Norris, who plays his rival Bardi, initially inspired their characters at a family dinner, his father and creator and executive producer Tony Gilroy tells StarWars.com.

“I went out for dinner with my family. It was a big, long dinner table and I was at the end of the table with my son and Ben Norris,” he recalls. “It was a big, rowdy, drunken dinner.” Their antics gave Gilroy an idea for the series, adding a bit of levity and allowing a new take on the burgeoning rebellion. “So I went back and I started writing Heckle and Jeckle in the woods.”

As the character grew, Sam Gilroy crafted the Star Wars spin on the hand game by not only introducing alternative gestures, but also adding several layers of complexity. In Five Hands, there are 15 animal gestures, including rancor, snork, and snoozbird, which are displayed by two players in three rounds overseen by a referee.

You can see a shortened version, the so-called Roski Rules, playing out this week in the three-episode premiere of Andor. Read on for more fun facts and trivia from the first arc this season….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Taking Andor from Concept to Screen

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Get a closer look at some memorable moments from Season 1 — and a preview of Season 2! — from concept art to production to final shot.

By StarWars.com Team

Andor creator and executive producer Tony Gilroy brought together production designer Luke Hull and a legion of concept artists to help bring his vision for Season 1 to life. In a brief series of concept art pieces and final frames from the critically-acclaimed series, — ahead of new episodes arriving on Disney+ starting April 22, 2025, — explore the evolution of worlds like Ferrix, Aldhani, and Narkina 5, as seen through the illustrations of Lucasfilm concept artists and their final incarnation on screen….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Who Is Mon Mothma?

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Revisiting the iconic character’s evolution from senator to rebel leader and beyond.

By Dustin Diehl

“Many Bothans died to bring us this information.”

No one could have guessed this line from 1983’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, uttered with such solemnity, would become so memorable — or that the character who delivered it, Mon Mothma, would become one of the most complex and enduring characters in the Star Wars saga.

But what led her to that briefing room on Home One?

In Andor — with new episodes arriving on Disney+ as Season 2 premieres later this month, — we get our best look yet at the fires that forged this unforgettable leader. In anticipation of Mon’s return to the screen, let’s revisit her journey so far….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

6 Things We Learned from the Andor Live Stream

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The showrunner joined cast members to share favorite memories and a glimpse at Season 2

By Lucas Seastrom

The premiere of Andor Season 2 on Disney+ is a month away, and that means it’s time to rewatch Season 1. Creator and executive producer Tony Gilroy recently got in on the fun during a live stream with host Ash Crossan, and they brought some members of the Andor cast along with them.

There was plenty to explore about the critically-acclaimed first season, with a few hints about what’s to come. Here are six new insights from the discussion….

1. Tony Gilroy’s favorite scene from Season 1 might surprise you.

It’s a quiet moment on Morlana One at Corporate Security headquarters, but the meeting between Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) and Chief Hyne (Rupert Vansittart) is Tony Gilroy’s favorite scene from Season 1. His reasons are those of a storyteller eagerly watching an audience respond to his work on the screen….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Andor Revisited: Small Acts of Rebellion

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By Kelly Knox

There’s more than one way to be a rebel.

While Andor is the story of Cassian Andor and how he became the person we met in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, his rebel origin story isn’t the only one unfolding in the captivating series. Whether it’s the unforgettable breakout from Narkina 5, or the small acts of rebellion by Maarva Andor, Brasso, and even humble fishermen, their stories are just as vital in shaping Cassian into the rebel hero he ultimately becomes.

In “Daughter of Ferrix” and “Rix Road,” directed by Benjamin Caron and written by Tony Gilroy, the final two episodes of the groundbreaking first season of Andor, we follow Cassian after his escape on Narkina 5 back to his home on Ferrix. As the season concludes this chapter in Cassian’s life, we see the citizens of Ferrix rise up, proving that if people stand up for what’s right in even the smallest of ways, those moments matter – and can reverberate across an entire galaxy….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

Dispatches, Rancho Obi-Wan, Reports

Star Wars Collector’s Action Stand

Here’s the latest from Rancho Obi-Wan

This is an item that fans of vintage Star Wars Kenner action figures will immediately recognize: it’s the original art for the Star Wars Collector’s Action Stand (or Action Collector’s Stand, or Action Display Stand, depending on where you saw it). It was painted by an unknown artist, probably in the last quarter of 1977 or the early weeks of 1978.

When we acquired the painting in 2001, it had been stored away in darkness for a few decades, so the colors remained vivid, and the board that it’s painted on remained dry and flat. Unfortunately, when it was created, it was almost certainly thought of as an ephemeral object, intended to be photographed and then likely forgotten, so the materials and techniques that were used to craft it would have been selected for efficiency rather than longevity. As a result, some of the paint in one area—the Death Star—was literally falling off in flakes. We needed to act quickly to stabilize it. We called the Seattle Art Museum for advice, and they connected us with a professional art conservation expert who we then contracted to restore the painting and help us preserve it for the future…

…Rancho Obi-Wan

StarWars.com

Andor Revisited: One Way Out

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By Amy Richau

At the start of Andor’s third story arc, most of the main characters are approaching precarious turning points. The Empire is cracking down on citizens throughout the galaxy for the smallest infractions as their Imperial Security Bureau is determined to close in on the rebels responsible for the heist at Aldhani. In the “Narkina 5,” “Nobody’s Listening!,” and “One Way Out,” all directed by Toby Haynes, the production design and dialogue from writers Beau Willimon and Tony Gilroy take center stage as many characters are literally or figuratively trapped by the Empire.

Narkina 5

Cassian, still using the pseudonym Keef Girgo, is shipped out to the Imperial prison Narkina 5. Notably, one of the first things the prisoners are required to do while in transit is remove their shoes. The prison is a sea of white hallways, bunks, and work rooms where inmates are required to quickly work together to build pieces of equipment for the Empire. Order is maintained by electric floors that send shocks through barefoot prisoner’s bodies if they break a rule or work too slowly. Andor soon settles into life in captivity, but always keeps an eye towards a possible escape….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Plan Ahead with the Star Wars Celebration Japan

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Plus, tune in to Star Wars Celebration LIVE! each day to stream select panels, catch exclusive interviews, and other unforgettable and unscripted moments live from the show floor.

By StarWars.com Team

Just like on Mustafar, Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 is bringing the heat.

The countdown is on, and Starwars.com is pleased to announce the official schedule for the three main stages at Star Wars Celebration Japan. The Celebration, Galaxy, and Twin Suns stages will be home to a plethora of panels, discussions, surprises, and more. Our list of all the biggest panels is here to help guarantee that you and your crew secure the high ground throughout your Celebration Weekend. (To keep up with the latest information regarding all things Celebration Japan, including the Fan, Holonet News, and other stages, check out StarWarsCelebration.com.)…

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Andor Revisited: The Making of a Rebel

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In anticipation of Season 2 of Andor, premiering on Disney+ April 22, 2025, rewatch Diego Luna as Cassian in “Aldhani,” “The Axe Forgets,” “The Eye,” and “Announcement.”

By Lucas Seastrom

Now 20 years after we first watched Luke’s father, Anakin Skywalker, become Darth Vader in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005), a long-awaited answer to one of the saga’s defining questions of how the Sith Lord came to be, Cassian’s journey raises a new question. Andor (2022-25) is not about how Cassian will meet his fate, but how he will become the man willing to make such a heroic sacrifice. As Luthen tells Cassian with poignant frankness, “I imagine your hate. I imagine that no matter what you tell me or you tell yourself, you’ll ultimately die fighting these bastards.”

Andor’s creator and executive producer Tony Gilroy once told StarWars.com, “If the title hadn’t been used before, you could almost call the show The Winds of War.” The story told across the second arc of Andor’s first season — including “Aldhani,” “The Axe Forgets,” and “The Eye,” all directed by Susannah White and written by Dan Gilroy; and “Announcement,” directed by Benjamin Caron and written by Stephen Schiff — takes those “winds of war” to a hurricane-level….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Andor Revisited: Meet Cassian Andor

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In anticipation of Season 2 of Andor, premiering on Disney+ April 22, 2025, rewatch the first 12 episodes of Andor and read on as we analyze our favorite moments, characters, and themes in all four arcs.

By Brandon Wainerdi

Watch Andor Season 1 with Tony Gilroy live on March 13 at noon PT, and catch the first three episodes from Season 1 on the Disney+ YouTube channel or enjoy the entire first season now streaming on Hulu for a limited time.

Cassian Andor isn’t the hero we know when we meet him in the first arc of Andor Season 1. Obsessed with the past, self-serving and brash, he is incredibly far from the legendary Rebel Alliance leader he will become. Instead of spending his days on Yavin prepping for his mission to Scarif in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, this younger Cassian is searching for answers about his past, leading him to a brothel on the rainy world of Morlana One. And, with flashing lights and pulsating music, the cold open of that very first episode immediately plunges us into the seedy underbelly of the galaxy we know. It is a brand new kind of Star Wars story…

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

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Five Films that Inspired Star Wars Storytellers

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StarWars.com recommends the Akira Kurosawa films to watch before Star Wars Celebration Japan.

By Amy Richau

No filmmakers’ work has had more of an impact on Star Wars creators than Akira Kurosawa. Whether you’re heading to Tokyo or following Star Wars Celebration Japan news from home, watching some of Kurosawa’s filmography that inspired George Lucas and countless other creators will give you a better appreciation for the galaxy far, far away.

Lucas first became aware of Kurosawa’s work while he was in film school at USC. In an interview with the Criterion Collection, he talked about the filmmaker’s impact. “It’s hard to really appreciate the true genius of Kurosawa until you’ve seen a few of the films and then you’ve been able to see other films at the same time and be able to realize his visual style,” said Lucas. “I think he comes from a generation of filmmakers that were still influenced by silent films. The visual graphics and the framing, just the quality of the images, go a long way to telling the story and setting the mood. You’re not going to find a lot of filmmakers that have the facile quality with the medium that Kurosawa had.”

Here are five Kurosawa films that inspired Lucas and the modern generation of Star Wars creators….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Revenge of the Sith Returns to Theaters

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Episode III will play in select cinemas for a limited time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film’s debut.

By StarWars.com Team

Anakin Skywalker is about to bring peace, freedom, justice, and security to his new Empire on the big screen.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, the final film in the prequel trilogy, Episode III will be re-released in theaters on April 25, 2025, running in select U.S. theaters and international territories for one week only. Screenings will be available in several formats, including, for the first time, 4DX. From the exhilarating battles over the planet of Coruscant to the fiery volcanic high grounds of Mustafar, relive this pivotal chapter in the Skywalker saga; the 4DX experience features high-tech motion chairs that sync with over 21 effects, all designed to complement the narrative of the film.

Once again, renowned graphic artist Matt Ferguson created new poster art for the re-release event, his most complicated work to date. Featuring the looming mask of Darth Vader enveloping Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) on his march to execute Order 66, the sprawling piece also includes Ferguson’s artistic illustration of the life-changing lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin and the Coruscant skyline featuring warships over the burning Jedi Temple….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

 

Dispatches, Reports, SWNN

Kennedy To Exit as Lucasfilm President At the End of the Year?

Here’s the latest from Star Wars News Net

A late-night shocker from Matt Belloni’s Puck newsletter — Kathleen Kennedy will step down as President of Lucasfilm by the end of the year, after more than 10 years at the top of the company.

According to the report, Kennedy had planned to step down by the end of 2024 (when her contract was also up), and had even set up an exit interview with a reporter, but eventually decided to stay for one more year. Three sources are telling Belloni that she has already informed Disney, as well as friends and associates. Both Disney and Kennedy’s personal publicist declined comment to Belloni. We have reached out to Lucasfilm, but will probably not hear back given the hour.

There is no information on succession as of yet. The official confirmation will probably wait, but other Hollywood trades might pick it up in the coming hours….

...Read the Full Article @ Star Wars News Net

Also reported at The Hollywood Reporter

StarWars.com

Andor A Star Wars Story Poster Revealed

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Creator Tony Gilroy weighs in on Season 2 of the series starring Diego Luna amid the journey to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

By StarWars.com Team

The first trailer for Andor Season 2 exploded onto the scene today, with a glimpse at the birth of the Rebel Alliance as we know it. Ahead of the long-awaited season premiere on April 22, 2025, the trailer reunites us with Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona), Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), and Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) from the critically-acclaimed and Emmy-nominated first season of the Disney+ series, as well as key characters from the fan-favorite standalone film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, like K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), and Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn)….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

Dispatches, Rancho Obi-Wan, Reports

Got Blue Milk?

Here’s the latest from Rancho Obi-Wan

For May the 4th in 2024, the Dairy Farmers of America brands did a nationwide milk promotion in the US. The most prominent item offered was “Blue Milk” under the TruMoo brand which was sold across most of the country, like the blue milk seen in the original Star Wars in 1977. For the completist collector, there is nothing more nerve-wracking than a regional promotion. It’s hard enough to track down international items, but finding variations within a country are a whole other level of madness.

The promotion went far beyond one national brand with Star Wars-themed 1% lowfat, 2% reduced fat, fat free, and whole milk across 22 regional brands with labels featuring Chewbacca, Yoda, Leia, and Luke, respectively. There were also some size variations, the blue milk appeared on some regional brands, and there was even a nuanced 1.5% Fat Milk for those milk connoisseurs who need that precise balance between lowfat and reduced fat milk! Some of these brands were in only available in one or two states such as Alta Dena in California, Cass Clay in North Dakota, Country Fresh in Illinois and Michigan, Creamland in New Mexico, Gandy’s in Texas, Hygenia, in Texas, Oak Farms in Louisiana and Texas, Oakhurst in Maine and New Hampshire, Price’s in New Mexico and Texas, and Tuscan in New Jersey and New York….

…Rancho Obi-Wan

StarWars.com

Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 Art Show

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There’s something for every Star Wars fan here, with prints available exclusively on the show floor.

By Amy Richau

Fans of the Stranger, Ahsoka Tano, Boba Fett, and Padmé Amidala – report in!

The Art Show is a highlight of every Star Wars Celebration, StarWars.com is excited to announce the entries for Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, where artists display and sell prints of artwork chosen by Lucasfilm. The art work in this year’s group represents illustrations created from a variety of styles and includes artists from around the world. Selections celebrate characters and locations from a variety of Star Wars tales including Star Wars: Return of Jedi, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett. There are also pieces sure to please fans of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which are both celebrating anniversaries this year. Read on for your first look at the full selection and hear directly from the artists as they share details about the inspiration and creation of each piece….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

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StarWars.com

The Bad Batch is Back in Star Wars: Sanctuary

Here’s the latest from: StarWars.Com

Reunite with Clone Force 99 — including Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, and Omega — in a new novel set before the events of the final season.

By StarWars.com Team

We never got over losing Clone Force 99 when we said goodbye with the series finale of Star Wars: The Bad Batch last year, but no one’s ever really gone. And today StarWars.com is pleased to announce that soon the Batch will be back in action in Star Wars: Sanctuary — A Bad Batch Novel, a new book from Lamar Giles, with an exclusive first look at the book’s cover art by Marie Bergeron!

The story of Star Wars: Sanctuary, set during the events of Season 2 of the Disney+ series, centers on Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, and Omega as they work with treasure hunter Phee Genoa on a plan to help rebuild their island refuge after the devastating tsunami seen in the episode “Pabu.” Giles, whose young adult novels include Fake ID, SPIN, and Not So Pure and Simple among others is delighted by the chance to write his first Star Wars novel, having previously contributed the short story “Twenty and Out” to the From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi anthology….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

Dispatches, Rancho Obi-Wan, Reports

The X-wing fighter Design Object at Imperial Archives

Here’s the latest from Rancho Obi-Wan

In museum design, there is a concept known as the Design Object. This is the largest object in your collection that cannot readily be broken down into smaller objects. Since you need to be able to move your Design Object into and through your building, its dimensions drive things like the width of dock roll-up doors, the capacity of freight elevators, hallway sizing (widths and turn radiuses) and gallery entrance dimensions. This 6-foot-long, 6-foot wide X-wing fighter—roughly one-sixth scale—is the Design Object at the Imperial Archives.

(It is not the Design Object for The Saga Museum—that’s a 15-foot by 8-foot painting at Rancho Obi-Wan. We’re also not counting the two large permanent installations at the Archives—the theater designed by Doug Chiang and the nearly full-size replica of the cantina from A New Hope that many of you saw while it was installed at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in 2015.)…

…Read the Full Article @ Rancho Obi-Wan

StarWars.com

Fuel Your Fandom

Here’s the latest from: StarWars.Com

Get your first look at a new LEGO Star Wars AT-AT Driver helmet and more details on the just-announced campaign filled with new releases, announcements, and reveals!

By StarWars.com Team

Imagination. Creativity. Adventure. These words not only capture some of the magic of Star Wars and its multigenerational fans, it also describes this year’s Power the Force consumer products campaign.

It’s a big year for Star Wars, with highlights including Star Wars Celebration Japan, the release of Andor A Star Wars Story Season 2, the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, and the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. To celebrate, Power the Force is a yearlong campaign showcasing some of the saga’s iconic ships, favorite characters, memorable droids and, of course, lightsabers….

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Skeleton Crew’s Monkey Island-Inspired Poster Art

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Steve Purcell, the Eisner Award-winning artist, talks about creating an illustrated homage to the Star Wars series that connects back to two other key moments in his career.

By StarWars.com Team

Since its earliest iterations, the story of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has been tied to another Lucasfilm pirate adventure: the Monkey Island games from LucasArts.

Series creators Jon Watts and Chris Ford count The Secret of Monkey Island from 1990 among their childhood inspirations for the story of Captain Silvo and his brigand crew, and among their own behind-the-scenes crew, Skywalker Sound’s Matt Wood and David W. Collins worked on the beloved gaming franchise. “Monkey Island was a huge thing for me as a kid,” Watts tells StarWars.com. “I loved Monkey Island, and still do, and so getting to do space pirates was something that allowed me to check back in.”

“During the press junket, Monkey Island came up a lot,” adds Ford, “and we talked about how much we loved the artwork from that era of LucasArts.” That gave the team an idea for promoting their series in a way that would bring their inspiration full circle. “I think it was Jon who actually thought ‘Hey, maybe we could ask someone at Lucasfilm if they actually know [Monkey Island cover artist] Steve Purcell and maybe he could do some art for Skeleton Crew?’” Ford recalls…

…Read the Full Article @ StarWars.com

StarWars.com

Meet the Filmmakers of Skeleton Crew

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The episodic directors take you behind the scenes of the latest live-action series.

By Paige Lyman

For Jon Watts, dreaming of big adventures is nothing new. “As a kid, I grew up in Colorado in the middle of nowhere, and we’d just go for walks out in these fields with nothing around,” he says. He’d pass the time imagining exploits for himself that stretched beyond his home state — not unlike the adventure he and series co-creator Chris Ford created together in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Now with all episodes streaming on Disney+, StarWars.com is shining a spotlight on the directors of all eight episodes to learn more about their own Star Wars journeys and the unique storytelling each one brought to their Skeleton Crew chapter….

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Skeleton Crew Explained | Episode 8

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In the finale, the children must convince their parents to fight back against the pirate threat.

By StarWars.com Team

At Attin may look the same as when Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) left it, but it certainly feels different after their adventure. Although they are finally back home and reunited with their families, Jod (Jude Law) and his pirate crew threaten all they have fought so hard to return to.

The great and powerful Supervisor we’ve heard so much about has granted an audience with Jod, Fern, and Fara. And he is…not what we expected. A massive droid with one unblinking receptor eye, the Supervisor has been watching over the people of At Attin for many years.

The Supervisor has shepherded his people, providing safety and security. But with the stab of a well-placed lightsaber, the Supervisor, his legion of Safety droids, and the entire power grid are all deactivated, leaving the planet defenseless against Jod and his invading crew….

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Skeleton Crew Explained | Episode 7

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In the penultimate episode, the pirates and the children brave a maelstrom on their quest for At Attin.

By StarWars.com Team

The ship is the key.

The Onyx Cinder is no ordinary ship. First mistaken for a Jedi temple, then revealed to be a pirate vessel, the crew has now learned the ship is from their home world of At Attin, and the key to getting them safely through the Barrier surrounding their planet. But with Jod and the pirates closing in, this isn’t exactly the homecoming our heroes expected…

Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel’s (Robert Timothy Smith) parents execute their plan to send a message beyond At Attin’s Barrier in the hopes of helping their children return safely home….

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Matte Paintings and Models

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Visual effects supervisor John Knoll and model supervisor John Goodson dive into their masterful merging of practical and digital techniques.

By Brandon Wainerdi

New show, old tricks. For decades now, both John Knoll and John Goodson have been quietly pioneering visual effects for some of your favorite movies.

Knoll is a familiar name for many fans, whether for his contributions to Star Wars as one of the visual effects “supes” for the prequel trilogy, as well as a writer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or other cutting-edge technology (Knoll co-created Adobe Photoshop alongside his brother). Meanwhile, Goodson has handcrafted the models for many of the iconic ships of the saga, including the podracers and Republic Cruiser in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, eventually making the jump to the digital realm….

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