Tag Archives: StarWars.Com

SDCC 2023: 10 Reveals from the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel

21st July 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

Get your first look at covers from Phase III of Star Wars: The High Republic books and comics, and other announcements and reveals from San Diego Comic-Con!

Judging by the latest cover reveals for Phase III, the Jedi of Star Wars: The High Republic are bringing the fight to the Nihil when the new books and comics arrive later this year.

Today, Lucasfilm’s Michael Siglain, publishing creative director, hosted a panel of all-star authors Delilah S. Dawson, Justina Ireland, E.K. Johnston, George Mann, Cavan Scott, Charles Soule, and narrator and voice actor Marc Thompson at San Diego Comic-Con 2023. During the hour-long discussion, we got new insights into the next phase of storytelling in the era of the High Republic, an early glimpse inside the pages of comics including Marvel’s Dark Droids and Dark Horse’s Tales from the Death Star, and got our first look at other covers and spreads from forthcoming books and comics. Here are 10 things that were revealed…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Star Wars: Inquisitor Secrets by Delilah S. Dawson

17th July 2023 Max

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By Delilah S. Dawson

The author of the upcoming novel discusses her inspirations, personal connection to Padawan Iskat Akaris, and more.

Star Wars: Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade, a new novel arriving July 18, follows the journey of Iskat Akaris from Padawan to Inquisitor following the events of Order 66. In a special guest article in advance of the book’s release, author Delilah S. Dawson takes readers inside the making of her tragic tale with 5 behind-the-pages secrets.

1. The original question behind the novel was, “What would make a Jedi actively choose to become an Inquisitor?”

We know that every Inquisitor was once a Jedi, and we’ve seen Jedi from Ahsoka Tano to Luke Skywalker to Rey actively fighting the dark side. But what would it take to make a good-hearted Jedi fall? What would make someone actively choose to become an Inquisitor?..

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Shop Star Wars Exclusives at SDCC 2023

14th July 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

New action figures, clothes, and collectibles await Star Wars fans at San Diego Comic-Con.

The original pop culture fan convention is back in San Diego! If you’re heading to San Diego Comic-Con next week, the Lucasfilm Pavilion will once again be home to screen-used costumes, props, and other pieces, this year from the forthcoming Ahsoka series. And in addition to the panels and other surprises at the show, chances are good that you’re looking forward to picking up some convention exclusives. Here are some of our favorite galactic selections to help you prepare a shopping list…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

SHAG and Geeki Tikis Celebrate Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

13th July 2023 Max

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By Brandon Wainerdi

StarWars.com speaks with artist SHAG and Beeline Creative’s Brandon Giraldez about their new Episode IV-themed set, on sale exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con 2023.

In the wide world of tiki, there is one name that stands out above all the rest: “SHAG,” the moniker of artist Josh Agle. Based in Southern California, SHAG’s chic art has transported the tiki mindset across the globe, as well as across pop culture, with designs inspired by properties like Spider-Man, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, and Planet of the Apes.

In 2020, SHAG joined up with another preeminent force in the tiki world, Brandon Giraldez, the president and founder of Beeline Creative. Fans will know Beeline best for their incredible Geeki Tikis line, which has included tiki takes on a multitude of Star Wars characters, ranging from Jar Jar Binks to Bo-Katan Kryze.

For their first collaboration, three years ago, they transformed the iconic visages of Yoda, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett into gorgeously sculpted tiki mugs…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Lucasfilm and Star Wars Receive a Combined 23 Emmy Nominations

13th July 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

Several series were honored across multiple categories, including Outstanding Drama Series for Andor and Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Mandalorian, and Light & Magic have been honored with 23 nominations in 21 different categories at the 75th Primetime Emmy® Awards. Among the top honors, Andor was nominated in the Outstanding Drama Series category with a total of 8 nominations, Obi-Wan Kenobi nabbed a nomination in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category and a total of 5 nominations, and The Mandalorian was nominated for a total of 9 nominations. Read the full list of Star Wars nominations below…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

New Ahsoka Trailer Details & Art Released

12th July 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

The trailer opens with a startling act bys Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), a red lightsaber-wielding antagonist whose ultimate intentions are yet unknown. “We are no Jedi,” he says coldly. We also get our first full look at a visually arresting Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), who Ahsoka believes is planning to return as “heir to the Empire,” as well as Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) via recorded message. The trailer features more of General Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), both in the cockpit of the Ghost and addressing New Republic leadership, including Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), in an impassioned plea. Finally, we come to understand more about the strained master and apprentice relationship between Ahsoka and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). “Anakin never got to finish my training,” Ahsoka says. “I walked away from him just like I walked away from Sabine.” It all ends with a look more exciting teases of what’s to come in the epic series.

In addition, Lucasfilm also released official key art for Ahsoka. Check it out below, along with a new behind-the-scenes featurette about Dawson’s journey to the series, the creation of Ahsoka Tano, and more insights into the show’s story…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Meet the Visionaries: Hyeong Geun Park

10th July 2023 Max

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By Paige Lyman

The director of Studio Mir’s Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 short discusses the themes and lessons learned by the story’s starring odd couple.

South Korea-based Studio Mir, well known for its work on projects like The Legend of Korra, The Boondocks, and Voltron: Legendary Defender, takes us on a new exploration of the dichotomy between light and dark in “Journey to the Dark Head.” The story follows Ara and Toul: a pilot raised among a group who serve as record keepers for prophetic visions on Dolgarak, and a Jedi who’s facing unresolved rage and grief connected to his past, respectively.

The two find themselves paired together when Ara approaches the Jedi Council to warn them about a vision about the Sith’s growing power. Ara and Toul both face their own brand of disillusionment and individual fears as they set off together back to Ara’s planet. Ultimately, their shared journey brings them both the chance to face those fears. And for episode director Hyeong Geun Park, that shared journey sprung from some very familiar stories within Star Wars…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Quiz: Who Said the Quote from The Mandalorian?

7th July 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

How well do you know The Mandalorian? Take this StarWars.com quiz to test your knowledge.

It’s time to put your love of The Mandalorian to the test. With Ahsoka Tano returning in her own series, Ahsoka, next month and Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian Season 3 recently released, it’s the perfect time to revisit the series that first brought Ahsoka into live action. Can you match the quote with the character from The Mandalorian? Take the latest StarWars.com for the ultimate test. This is the Way…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

And I got 9/15! Hangs head in shame

Meet the Visionaries: Julien Chheng

6th July 2023 Max

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By Jade Fabello

With a story rooted in real-world history and classic Star Wars themes, Studio La Cachette’s new short strikes a universal chord.

On a rainy night, gleeful stormtroopers pile into an extravagant performance hall. The staff seems to welcome them with warm smiles. But backstage, Loi’e, a dancer from a horned alien race, prepares a set of tracking devices. She and her team gather before the show begins. “To the ones we’ve lost,” they say as the curtain rises. This is the setup of Studio La Cachette’s “The Spy Dancer,” a stunningly animated French entry from the world-spanning anthology Star Wars: Visions Volume 2. The short was directed, designed, and co-written by experienced animator Julien Chheng.

You may recognize Studio La Cachette as the animation house behind the Emmy-award-winning series Primal and the Love Death + Robots episode “Sucker of Souls.” Across projects, its animation and storytelling sensibilities consistently blend exhilaration, charm, and awe. “We share a strong love for 2D animation and the energy and emotion you can convey with a simple line stroke,” Chheng, who also co-founded the studio, tells Starwars.com…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Beat the Tatooine Heat: A Star Wars Summer Viewing Guide

1st July 2023 Max

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By Paige Lyman

Looking for some Star Wars to watch this summer? Check out StarWars.com’s guide to movies, specials, and episodes perfect for the season.

Summer is here and the heat is starting to kick in! And while the hot weather makes for perfect outside time, you’ll also want to escape the sun eventually, and there’s no better way to chill out than with some new and old entries in Star Wars. But with the ever-expanding world of Star Wars movies and shows, you might be a little unsure of what to watch this summer — especially before Ahsoka releases on August 23. That’s where we come in! StarWars.com has pulled together a few summer-tastic recommendations to watch at the end of a long day, most with a summer or warm-weather theme…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Meet the Visionaries: Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke

27th June 2023 Max

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By Brandon Wainerdi

The Triggerfish directors talk through the process of creating Aau’s patchwork world, and what inspired it.

Co-directors Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke had never even talked to each other before, but now they were making a Star Wars film together.

“The first time we actually met, we decided to go to this dark hidden café,” Darries remembers. “We nervously both sat in the corner, and just started talking. We spoke about what we individually liked about animation and what we thought was important in the original, open-ended pitch for the film.” From this first meeting came “Aau’s Song,” the beautiful final installment of Star Wars: Visions Volume 2.

“It just clicked,” continues Darries. “We had similar influences and liked similar things.” Clarke agrees, and the two made a lasting connection…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Comes to an End

26th June 2023 Max

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By Dan Brooks

Get a first look at the final issues of Dark Horse’s all-ages comic, and hear reflections from writer Daniel José Older.

Sav Malagán has been on an adventure to remember. The restless Padawan star of Dark Horse’s all-ages comic, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, did what almost any teenager would, given the chance: join a motley crew of pirates (including Maz Kanata) for some planet-hopping action. As a result, she’s tussled with pirate gangs, traveled the stars, and had to explain it all to her master. The delightful series wraps up this week with issues 6, 7, and 8 all arriving on Wednesday, June 28; to mark the occasion, StarWars.com caught up with writer Daniel José Older to talk about crafting The High Republic Adventures, and is excited to offer a first look at its final installments…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Celebration Europe 2023 Online Store Now Open to Ticket Holders

23rd June 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

Convention-exclusive items are now available to attendees.

Missed out on some galactic treasures at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023? Now’s your chance to add them to your collection.

StarWars.com is pleased to report that the official Star Wars Celebration Online Store is now open to all Ticket Holders, featuring exclusive merchandise made just for the big event. That includes a Dave Filoni-designed Ahsoka shirt, Star Wars: Revenge of the Jedi (that’s right, Revenge!) tees, Max Rebo Band plushies, and more items not available anywhere else…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Uncover the Dark Droids Crossover Event

22nd June 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

In a six-comic tie-in, Star Wars: Dark Droids reunites us with D-Squad, General Grievous attacks the Bounty Hunters, and Doctor Aphra and Darth Vader battle the Scourge.

Droids across the galaxy are in danger as the Scourge unleashes a plan for total domination over all mechanical intelligence. And this fall, the battle will be fought from Jabba’s palace on Tatooine to Darth Vader’s Super Star Destroyer in the Star Wars: Dark Droids crossover event.

Plus, get your first look below at the fourth issue of Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2, the first issue in the new Obi-Wan Kenobi adaptation, and other Marvel Star Wars titles coming in September 2023 — including covers and solicits for the flagship Star Wars series, new installments in Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra, and more…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Obi-Wan Kenobi Coming to Comics

20th June 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

Check out the covers of issue #1 and meet the creative team

Disney+’s hit series Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series saw the legendary Jedi Master emerging after years of hiding to rescue a young Princess Leia while being hunted by Reva, the mysterious Third Sister Inquisitor, and ultimately embarking on a journey to face his Padawan, Anakin Skywalker turned Darth Vader. And we’ll get to experience it again in a brand-new way.

StarWars.com is excited to announce that Marvel will adapt the show — set between the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: A New Hope — with Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, kicking off in September. A 6-issue miniseries written by Jody Houser with pencils from Salvador Larocca, every installment will tell the story of an episode from the TV series. You can check out the main cover by Phil Noto, along with variants by Lee Garbett and Taurin Clarke, below…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Behind the Scenes of The Bad Batch

16th June 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

In an excerpt from issue #219, learn more about the creation of the Season 2 episode, “The Solitary Clone.”

For two seasons, Star Wars: The Bad Batch has followed the journey of the elite squad known as Clone Force 99. But during the story conference for the second season in the series, executive producer Dave Filoni suggested another clone step into the spotlight with three simple words: “What about Cody?” In StarWars.com’s exclusive excerpt from the Star Wars Insider #219 story “The Anatomy of Animation, Part One,” contributing writer Amy Richau follows the creative journey of the “The Solitary Clone.”…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Meet the Visionaries: Paul Young

13th June 2023 Max

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By Paige Lyman

The director speaks with StarWars.com about the cultural and personal underpinnings of Cartoon Saloon’s haunting short.

Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 has opened the door to explore the galaxy far, far away through unique cultural lenses, and experiment with tone. Created by Cartoon Saloon, an award-winning studio based in Ireland known for films such as The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, “Screecher’s Reach” brings a fresh dose of horror into the Star Wars library as we follow the story of Daal and her friends. They venture from a harsh and bleak Imperial factory out into the wilds of their planet, on the hunt for a ghost of which they’ve heard tales. In classic ghost story fashion, the group comes face to face with the terrifying specter of Screecher’s Reach and its blood curdling screams. But all is not as it seems for the ghost.

“It was a very, very happy collaboration with the team at Lucasfilm,” says Cartoon Saloon CEO and co-founder Paul Young, who served as director on the short. “Jacqui [Lopez], Flannery [Huntley], James [Waugh], and Josh [Rimes] are exceptional producers and great creative collaborators. It made all the difference when setting forth on a project like this. They had a very clear vision themselves for what the series should be and allowed us to bring what we do best to the screen.”…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Star Wars Outlaws Revealed

12th June 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

See the trailer and key art for the upcoming game.

Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft, and Lucasfilm Games pulled back the curtain today on the first-ever open world Star Wars game, Star Wars Outlaws, releasing in 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Set between the events of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, players will step into the role of Kay Vess, a clever scoundrel in the galactic underworld. In Star Wars Outlaws, Kay is looking to attempt one of the biggest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen, all in an effort to start a new life. You can check out the official key art — featuring Kay and her companion Nix (perched atop her shoulder), along with a trench coat-wearing BX-commando droid, and other mysterious details — to the right, and the announcement trailer below…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Visions Revisited: 5 Highlights from Aau’s Song

9th June 2023 Max

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By Dan Brooks

On the kyber-rich planet of Korba, the young Aau embraces her gifts.

It takes time and bravery to find one’s voice.

Triggerfish’s “Aau’s Song,” a new short created for Star Wars: Visions Volume 2, follows Aau, a young girl whose singing voice seemingly activates the planet’s corrupted kyber crystals (much to her loving but overprotective father’s chagrin). But despite Aau’s devotion to her father, she cannot deny her destiny. Directed by Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke, “Aau’s Song” tells a beautiful tale, thematically and visually, of personal discovery and acceptance — with a Star Wars touch. Here are five highlights from “Aau’s Song,” now streaming on Disney+…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Ahsoka Premiere Date Revealed

8th June 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

Find out when you can see the upcoming live-action series on Disney+

Ahsoka Tano’s next adventure is about to begin.

Lucasfilm announced today that Ahsoka will premiere Wednesday, August 23, 2023, only on Disney+. Subsequent episodes of the highly-anticipated live-action series will arrive weekly on Wednesdays.

Set after the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka will follow the former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.

The series stars Rosario Dawson as the titular former Jedi, Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger, David Tennant as Huyang, and Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Ahsoka is written by Dave Filoni, who also serves as executive producer alongside Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, and Carrie Beck. Karen Gilchrist is co-executive producer. The series’ directors include Filoni, Steph Green, Peter Ramsey, Jennifer Getzinger, Geeta Vasant Patel and Rick Famuyiwa. Kevin Kiner is the series composer.

Check out a new TV spot and stills below…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Visions Revisited: 5 Highlights from The Pit

6th June 2023 Max

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By Kristin Baver

Lucasfilm and D’ART Shtajio join forces for a thought-provoking look inside the Empire’s cruelty.

As the voice of Crux, Daveed Diggs leads a rallying cry for unity in Lucasfilm and D’ART Shtajio’s installment in Visions Volume 2. Written and co-directed by Lucasfilm’s own LeAndre Thomas, alongside Lucasfilm Animation alum Justin Ridge serving as co-director, the short is an intimate exploration of class divisions. Focused on a forced labor camp literally digging themselves into a hole to supply a nearby city with resources, the story unflinchingly examines the price of the Empire’s prosperity. But even in the darkest days, when the Empire declares the work complete and walks away from the people who remain at the bottom of the quarry, hope prevails. Here are five highlights from “The Pit,” now streaming on Disney+…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Visions Revisited: 5 Highlights from The Bandits of Golak

5th June 2023 Max

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By Dan Brooks

A brother and sister are on the run from the Empire in this tale from 88 Pictures.

Saying goodbye is often the hardest part of any adventure.

In 88 Pictures’ “The Bandits of Golak,” siblings Charuk and Rani seek a new home following the Empire’s decimation of their village. Rani, however, is strong with the Force, a fact that complicates matters during their journey. Directed by Ishan Shukla, “The Bandits of Golak” effortlessly mixes classic Star Wars themes of family with Indian culture and imagery, resulting in something very fresh and new. Here are five highlights from “The Bandits of Golak,” now streaming on Disney+…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Wheel of Fortune Spins to the Galaxy Far, Far Away

1st June 2023 Max

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By Dan Brooks

Executive producer Bellamie Blackstone takes StarWars.com inside the galactic game show event.

For fans of the galaxy far, far away and an iconic game show, this will be a week long remembered.

The combined strength of Star Wars and Wheel of Fortune has been realized for Galactic Celebration, an unlikely yet super fun crossover between the two beloved entertainment franchises, airing this week. “It’s clearly such a fun fit,” Bellamie Blackstone, executive producer of Wheel of Fortune, tells StarWars.com, “and we loved the opportunity to celebrate the fans of both Star Wars and Wheel of Fortune.”…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Star Wars Father’s Day Gift Guide 2023

1st June 2023 Max

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By StarWars.com Team

Find the perfect galactic gift for the Star Wars Dads in your life.

Father’s Day is in range! The day to celebrate dads and father figures in our galaxy arrives Sunday, June 18, and if yours happen to love Star Wars, then you’ve come to the right place. Check out StarWars.com’s guide to some of the year’s best Star Wars Father’s Day gifts, including clothes, gear, and much more. Happy “I Am Your Father’s Day” 2023!…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Visions Revisited: 5 Highlights from “Journey to the Dark Head”

28th May 2023 Max

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By Dan Brooks

Balance can come in many forms.

For Star Wars: Visions Volume 2, Studio Mir has created “Journey to the Dark Head,” an unpredictable tale of a two unlikely partners: a haunted young Jedi named Toul, and Ara, a mechanic determined to end the war between the Jedi and the Sith. Ara believes that by cutting off the head of a giant “dark” statue, she can accomplish her goal; Toul is ordered to join her, and the experience brings both a greater understanding of the world around them and themselves. Here are five highlights from director Hyeong Geun Park’s “Journey to the Dark Head,” now streaming on Disney+…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Crafting Ewokese, Jabba’s Voice, and the Rancor’s Roar

26th May 2023 Max

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By Brandon Wainerdi

StarWars.com speaks with two Skywalker Sound greats about their Oscar-nominated work on Episode VI.

Ben Burtt and Randy Thom are two legends in the world of sound. Burtt is, of course, known for his early work in shaping the Star Wars galaxy, from the hum of the lightsaber to the beeps of R2-D2. Thom began his journey at Skywalker Sound (then known as Sprocket Systems) on Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and is still working at the company, with his most recent project as sound designer for this year’s megahit, The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Burtt (as sound designer) and Thom (as re-recording mixer) worked together on Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which, at the time, was the most sonically ambitious Star Wars project ever, earning them both an Academy Award nomination. The crafting of the Ewok dialect, the Sarlacc’s squeal, and the Emperor’s Force lightning all presented unique challenges for the young sound team.

To mark the film’s 40th anniversary, StarWars.com caught up with these two friends, who reminisced about their groundbreaking work from four decades ago, as well as their favorite sounds and memories from Return of the Jedi…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Jedi at 40 | Into the Rancor Pit

25th May 2023 Max

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By Kristin Baver

The longtime friends and colleagues, who worked for Industrial Light & Magic on the film, discuss collaborating on the rancor sequence and beyond.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi arrived in theaters on May 25, 1983, bringing an end to the original trilogy in memorable fashion. Marking its 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Jedi at 40,” a series of articles celebrating the film that brought us Jabba’s palace, Ewoks, Luke Skywalker’s final confrontation with the Emperor and Darth Vader, and so much more.

The rancor looms large for a creature whose appearance on screen in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi lasts for a mere three minutes. In a scene that brings suspense, terror, and action into the dimly lit dungeon beneath Jabba the Hutt’s dais, the ravenous beast lumbers into view, crunching through a Gamorrean guard before turning its formidable and fearsome visage toward Luke Skywalker.

Roaring fully into camera with a snarling maw of jagged teeth, the rancor reaches its grimy talons toward Luke and the audience, ready for its next meal. Then with not a second to lose, Skywalker desperately grabs a skull and lobs it at the control panel that sends the door crashing down upon the beast, ending the heart-pumping battle. Jabba is outraged. The rancor keeper is in tears. And Luke Skywalker lives to fight another day.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Return of the Jedi’s debut, recently StarWars.com sat down separately with Dennis Muren and Phil Tippett, one of the VFX supervisors on the film and the head of the monster shop, respectively, to talk about their collaboration on the rancor pit, their enduring friendship, and the legacy of Star Wars…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Jedi at 40 | ILM Legend Thomas G. Smith

25th May 2023 Max

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By Dan Brooks

General manager of ILM in the early to mid-‘80s, Smith reflects on the rancor, working with George Lucas, and the fate of a memorable Easter egg.

It may be hard to believe, but some good actually came from the Empire’s second Death Star.

For Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Industrial Light & Magic had built a huge model of the new technological terror’s surface — “two times larger than a tennis court,” legendary ILM general manager Thomas G. Smith tells StarWars.com — and it was too large to be stored after filming. On the orders of George Lucas himself, who usually saved and preserved every model from the Star Wars films, it was to be trashed. So, Smith and some other ILMers took the model apart, rented some trucks, and drove the pieces to a nearby garbage dump. But someone actually wanted to save the Death Star.

“My son was working at summer employment there, and he saw all these pieces going into the dump and he thought, ‘No, no, no,’” Smith says. “‘Some of that stuff looks good!’” Smith’s son saved a box of pieces for himself and held onto it for years — ultimately putting it to ironically good use…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Jedi at 40 | Fashion & Best Moments

25th May 2023 Max

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By Pete Vilmur

Fashion Illustrator Marilee Heyer on Her Stunning Leia Concepts

Star Wars artwork aficionados who browse the pages of 1983’s The Art of Return of the Jedi are often inspired by the illustrations of pioneering Star Wars artists Ralph McQuarrie, Joe Johnston, and Nilo Rodis-Jamero, among others. Readers might be struck, though, by a pair of stunning profile illustrations of Princess Leia on page 49 that appear unlike any other artists’ work seen in the book. The portrait illustrations, which depict Leia’s iconic hairdo while aboard Jabba the Hutt’s sail barge, appear to be done by a talented fashion artist with an eye for elegance and detail. While the book illustrations were initially credited to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi hairdresser Paul LeBlanc, they were actually composed and finished by artist Marilee Heyer, whose attribution was missed through an unfortunate oversight in the first 1983 edition (but restored in the 1997 reprint)…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

By Brandon Wainerdi and Dan Brooks

From a Certain Point of View: What’s the Best Moment in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi?

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi arrived in theaters on May 25, 1983, bringing an end to the original trilogy in memorable fashion. Marking its 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Jedi at 40,” a series of articles celebrating the film that brought us Jabba’s palace, Ewoks, Luke Skywalker’s final confrontation with the Emperor and Darth Vader, and so much more.

One of the great things about Star Wars is that it inspires endless debates and opinions on a wide array of topics. Best bounty hunter? Most powerful Jedi? Does Salacious B. Crumb have the best haircut in the saga? In that spirit, StarWars.com presents From a Certain Point of View: a series of point-counterpoints on some of the biggest — and most fun — Star Wars issues. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, streaming on Disney+, two StarWars.com writers argue in favor of what they see as the best moment in the final film of the original trilogy…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

Jedi at 40 Great Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Quotes

24th May 2023 Max

Here’s the latest from: StarWars.Com

By Jade Fabello

It’s not a trap! Revisit some of the best lines from Episode VI.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi arrived in theaters on May 25, 1983, bringing an end to the original trilogy in memorable fashion. Marking its 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Jedi at 40,” a series of articles celebrating the film that brought us Jabba’s palace, Ewoks, Luke Skywalker’s final confrontation with the Emperor and Darth Vader, and so much more.

Great quotes and Star Wars go hand in hand, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is filled with wonderful lines that are as entertaining as they are profound. It’s hard not to feel a swell of emotion hearing Luke’s resolve to save his father. We also can’t keep ourselves from smiling as Han, Leia, and Lando snark their way into saving the galaxy. Then, of course, there are the Emperor’s fantastically menacing taunts. To paraphrase Yoda, “When 40 years old most other movies reach, be this quotable they will not.” Here are 40 of the most memorable Return of the Jedi quotes…

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