There are a lot of ways to describe Jabba the Hutt’s kid. Slimy heir. Underworld legacy act. The galaxy’s weirdest case of nepotism. But Jon Favreau just reached for a much more unexpected comparison. In a new Empire spotlight on The Mandalorian and Grogu, Favreau compared Rotta the Hutt to Adonis “Donnie” Creed, the Creed franchise boxer who has to build his own identity while carrying the weight of a famous family name. Favreau’s quote gets right to the point: what does it do to a character when he is trying to establish himself while being known first and foremost as Jabba the Hutt’s son? That is actually a pretty smart angle. Rotta Is Not Just Back — He Is Apparently in “Top Form” Favreau’s comments suggest Rotta is not returning as some throwaway easter egg for people who remember The Clone Wars. According to the new details pulled from…
Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon Gets a Behind-the-Scenes Spotlight From Mike Chen and the Game’s Own Voice Cast
Not every Star Wars tie-in gets to feel this connected to the thing it is spinning out from. Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon was already an interesting release because it digs into the past of Jaylen Vrax and ND-5, two characters who left a real impression in Star Wars Outlaws. Now the book is getting a fresh round of attention thanks to a new feature spotlighting author Mike Chen along with Jay Rincon and Eric Johnson, the voices behind ND-5 and Jaylen in the game itself. That alone makes this more than just another “expanded universe” side story. It makes it feel like a proper extension of the Outlaws world. Why Low Red Moon Feels Different There is no shortage of Star Wars books, comics, and side stories floating around the galaxy, but Low Red Moon has something a little more specific going for it. Instead of circling the…
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike (2003) – When Rogue Squadron Went Full Action Movie
By 2003, the Rogue Squadron series had already carved out a very specific reputation: this was the console home of Star Wars starfighter combat. The first game delivered arcade clarity and replayable mission design. The second made the GameCube look like it was running a Star Wars film reel. Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike is the moment Factor 5 tried to turn that formula into something broader—more vehicles, more mission variety, more modes, and a bigger “do everything” Star Wars action package. The result is fascinating, because Rebel Strike is both the most ambitious Rogue Squadron entry and the most divisive. It’s the game that finally says: you don’t just fly the mission… you live it. Sometimes that works brilliantly. Sometimes you can feel the series stretching beyond what it does best. A simple, quotable way to sum it up: Game Information Title: Star Wars Rogue Squadron III:…
George Lucas Is Being Honored With a Major Saturn Awards Lifetime Tribute
George Lucas is adding another big honor to his trophy shelf: he’s set to receive the Dr. Donald A. Reed Founder’s Award at the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards. The Saturn Awards (run by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films) are basically the annual “genre celebration” for sci-fi, fantasy, and horror — which makes Lucas an extremely on-brand recipient. What is the Dr. Donald A. Reed Founder’s Award? It’s one of the Saturn Awards’ special honors, named after the Academy’s founder, and typically reserved for people who’ve had an outsized impact on genre entertainment. This year, that honor goes to Lucas. When are the 53rd Saturn Awards? The 53rd Saturn Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 8, 2026, at Hilton Universal City in Los Angeles, with Joel McHale hosting, and it will livestream on the Saturn Awards’ site. Lucas isn’t the only special honoree Fantha Tracks notes Lucas…
Werner Herzog Says Jon Favreau Personally Invited Him to Play The Client in The Mandalorian
Werner Herzog showing up in The Mandalorian as “The Client” is still one of those wonderfully weird Star Wars casting choices that somehow works perfectly. Now, Herzog has explained how it happened—and it turns out he didn’t audition, compete, or chase the role at all. He was simply invited. “I Never Competed for That Part” In a recent chat (via CinemaBlend), Herzog said Jon Favreau personally asked him to join the series—because Favreau is a genuine fan of Herzog’s films and wanted more people to recognize him on sight: “Well, I never competed for that part. I was invited by Jon Favreau… because he loves my films, and he said people have to see what this man looks like.” That’s such a Favreau move: “I love your work, please come be an Imperial bureaucrat with terrifying vibes.” Herzog Was Also Blown Away by the Tech Herzog also praised how The…
Star Wars: Starfighter Actor Daniel Ings Teases a “Punk” Vibe — and a “Tremendous” Ending
If you’re worried Star Wars: Starfighter is going to be another overly polished, committee-built space opera, actor Daniel Ings just dropped a description that suggests the opposite. In an interview highlighted by ScreenRant, Ings says the upcoming 2027 Star Wars movie has a “punk feel” and that the ending is “tremendous.” That’s… a pretty spicy choice of words for a franchise that usually lives somewhere between mythic fairytale and military sci-fi. What does “punk Star Wars” even mean? “Ings calling it punk” can be read a few ways (and yes, fans are already doing the “define punk” discourse speedrun): And honestly? That vibe would make sense for Starfighter if the movie is truly trying to stand on its own without leaning on legacy characters as a crutch. The “tremendous” ending tease lands in… interesting timing The reason Ings’ comment is turning heads isn’t just the hype — it’s the context….
Jessica Henwick Says Losing Rey Was “For the Best” — And Explains Why She Wouldn’t Have Survived the Instant Fame
Jessica Henwick has opened up again about one of Star Wars’ biggest “almost” casting stories: her audition for Rey in The Force Awakens. In a new interview tied to her upcoming projects (Vladimir and How to Make a Killing), Henwick reflects on the experience with a lot more calm than she had at the time — and says she now believes not landing the role was ultimately the right outcome for her. “I much prefer the slow burn” Henwick confirms she auditioned for Rey before the role went to Daisy Ridley, and admits it hit hard in the moment — but says the hindsight is very different. She explains that she doesn’t think she’s the kind of person who could have handled “that level of exposure that fast,” adding that she prefers building a career more gradually. For Star Wars fans, it’s a fascinating “alternate timeline” moment — especially because…
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Is Bringing Star Wars Back to Theaters — and Filoni Calls It a “Different Era” Than The Force Awakens
It’s been seven years since Star Wars last hit the big screen. The franchise closed the Skywalker Saga in 2019 with The Rise of Skywalker — and since then, the galaxy has lived on streaming. Now, Star Wars is officially pivoting back to cinemas with The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Empire’s new cover story frames it as a very different kind of theatrical comeback. Dave Filoni’s core point: this isn’t another “Episode VII moment.” It’s a film built around characters the audience already knows — and loves. “We’re in a completely different era of Star Wars now.” Filoni compares the theatrical return to The Force Awakens — but says the situation isn’t the same Filoni directly compares the scale of returning to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu to the cultural impact of The Force Awakens, while also stressing that Episode VII carried a unique weight: it was the start…
Hasbro Just Revealed Four New Black Series Figures for Maul: Shadow Lord — and the Lineup Is Pure “Villains and Vibes”
Hasbro is officially going all-in on Maul: Shadow Lord before the animated series even has a chance to hit its first “previously on.” Four brand-new Star Wars: The Black Series 6-inch figures tied to the upcoming show have been revealed, and the selection feels like a mission statement: Maul is back in the center of the board, and everyone around him looks like trouble. The quick headline: the wave includes Maul (Shadow Lord), Rook Kast, Devon Izara, and The Eleventh Brother — with pre-orders opening March 5 at 1:00 PM ET (via Hasbro Pulse and other retail channels depending on region/listing). Quote-worthy takeaway: This is what modern Star Wars collecting looks like now: shows are announced, and your shelf gets the trailer first. The Four Figures Revealed Multiple collector outlets are aligned on the same core list of reveals: ToyArk’s write-up describes the set as a new Black Series assortment…
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (2001) – The GameCube Launch Title That Made Star Wars Look Like a Movie
When people talk about the Nintendo GameCube’s “wow” moment, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader is usually the first name out of the hangar. Released in 2001 as a GameCube launch title in North America, it didn’t just continue Factor 5’s hit formula from the N64 era—it reframed what console Star Wars could look and sound like. If the original Rogue Squadron proved Star Wars dogfighting could work on consoles, Rogue Leader proved it could feel cinematic without apologizing for being a game—tight missions, film-authentic audio, and set pieces that still get referenced anytime someone says “why doesn’t Star Wars do more of this?” And yes, it also delivered a blunt truth that’s still quotable today: Rogue Leader didn’t just recreate Star Wars battles—it taught consoles how to stage them. Game Information Title: Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue LeaderRelease year: 2001Developer: Factor 5Publisher: LucasArtsPlatforms: Nintendo GameCubeGenre: Arcade flight…
SWGOH Game Update (March 4, 2026): IG-90 Goes Farmable, Plus a Big Pile of Fixes
If today’s Galaxy of Heroes update had a theme, it’s this: Capital Games is quietly sanding down the sharp edges. No new shiny toy in the patch notes — just a lot of “this shouldn’t have been happening” getting cleaned up, plus one very real farming win for anyone chasing droids. Most quotable takeaway: This isn’t a hype patch — it’s a stability patch. And those are usually the ones you feel a week later. The Headline: IG-90 Shards Are Now Farmable The one piece of “news” news: IG-90 shards are now farmable from Cantina Battles 8-A. That matters for two reasons: Quote-ready line: The moment a unit becomes Cantina-farmable, it stops being a rumor and starts being a roster plan. Bug Fixes That Actually Affect Real Matches This update is basically a greatest-hits album of weird edge cases — and yes, some of these were absolutely impacting GAC/Conquest runs…
This Call of Duty Zombies Mod Is the Star Wars FPS We’re Still Not Getting
A modder just combined Call of Duty with Star Wars — and it looks like the shooter Lucasfilm will never officially greenlight. Not a concept trailer. Not a “what if.” It’s a real, playable Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies Workshop map called Star wars: HOTH beta — and it’s exactly as unhinged as it sounds. When official Star Wars FPS plans go quiet, modders don’t pitch — they ship. What this actually is The project is Star wars: HOTH beta, created by MoiCestTOM and published on the Steam Workshop as a beta build of an upcoming Hoth-themed custom map. The creator says they released a beta because custom maps take a huge amount of time and real-life issues made it hard to guarantee a full release later — so they wanted players to have something playable now. They also say the plan is to expand the map with…
Temuera Morrison Thought The Book of Boba Fett Would Run for Four Seasons
When The Book of Boba Fett premiered on Disney+ in 2021, it looked like Lucasfilm was building a long-term story around one of the most iconic bounty hunters in the Star Wars galaxy. According to star Temuera Morrison, that was exactly what he expected as well. In a recent interview, the actor revealed that while filming the series he assumed the story would continue for multiple seasons — possibly as many as four. Morrison Expected a Long Run for the Series Speaking about his experience working on the show with co-star Ming-Na Wen, Morrison admitted that he thought the series was just getting started. “When you do a series like Boba Fett and work with Ming-Na [Wen], I started to think, ‘Man, this is it. I’m away. Season 2, 3, 4.’” Instead, The Book of Boba Fett ended after a single seven-episode season, leaving many fans wondering whether the story…
Maul: Shadow Lord — The Complete Guide to the Upcoming Star Wars Series
For more than two decades, Darth Maul has remained one of the most intriguing characters in Star Wars. Introduced as a terrifying Sith assassin in The Phantom Menace, Maul quickly became one of the saga’s most visually iconic villains. What began as a short-lived movie appearance eventually turned into one of the franchise’s most fascinating character arcs across animation, comics, and games. Now that journey is about to enter a new chapter. Maul: Shadow Lord is an upcoming Star Wars animated series that will explore the dark and chaotic years of Maul’s life following the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire. The series promises to dive deeper into Maul’s transformation from Sith apprentice into a shadowy power broker operating within the galaxy’s criminal underworld. This guide collects everything currently known about the show, including production details, trailers, interviews, and lore connections that help place the…
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (1998) – The Game That Defined Star Wars Flight Combat
Few Star Wars games have captured the thrill of piloting an X-wing quite like Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. Released in 1998, the game brought cinematic space battles and atmospheric missions to home consoles at a time when Star Wars gaming was evolving rapidly. Developed by Factor 5 and published by LucasArts, Rogue Squadron placed players directly in the cockpit of the Rebel Alliance’s most elite fighter unit. The game combined fast-paced action, iconic Star Wars locations, and technical innovation that pushed the limits of late-1990s hardware. More than two decades later, the game remains a defining entry in the franchise’s gaming legacy. As many fans and historians often note: “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron proved that Star Wars flight combat could feel just as cinematic and exciting in a video game as it did on the big screen.” Game Information Title: Star Wars: Rogue SquadronRelease Year: 1998 Developer: Factor 5Publisher: LucasArts…
Star Wars Outlaws Just Proved the Modern AAA Comeback Cycle Works
Star Wars Outlaws has quietly become one of the most interesting comeback stories in modern AAA gaming — not just because it relaunched, not because it was remade, but because it found its second life exactly the way modern blockbusters increasingly do: through long-term support and subscription discovery. If you want the most complete running list of every Star Wars game ever released, including timeline, platform, and key details, check out our complete Star Wars games list here. And the numbers in Outlaws’ resurgence back up a narrative shift that’s redefining AAA success. A Game That Didn’t Explode at Launch — But Didn’t Fade Either When Star Wars Outlaws launched in August 2024, expectations were sky-high. Developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft, it marked the first fully open-world Star Wars title in years. But early momentum wasn’t explosive. While many praised its scoundrel fantasy and Kay Vess as…
Ryan Gosling Says Star Wars: Starfighter Is a “Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity”
Ryan Gosling is opening up about what convinced him to step into the Star Wars universe — and it wasn’t just the franchise name. The award-nominated actor, known for roles in Barbie, Blade Runner 2049, and Project Hail Mary, revealed that he had avoided major franchise films for much of his career. That changed when Star Wars: Starfighter came along. In a recent interview, he described the project as something that finally felt right — a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” What Made This Star Wars Role Different Speaking with io9, Gosling said that what ultimately drew him to Starfighter was not simply joining a blockbuster franchise, but the vision, enthusiasm, and script presented by director Shawn Levy. “It was Shawn’s enthusiasm and his vision and the script… and it is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Gosling explained. He also admitted he had intentionally steered clear of long-running franchise fare before, because nothing had…
Complete List of All Star Wars Games Ever Made (1979–Present)
Over more than four decades, over 100 officially licensed Star Wars video games have been released across arcade machines, consoles, PC, handheld devices, and mobile platforms. Since the release of the first officially licensed Star Wars video game in 1982, the franchise has produced dozens of titles across arcades, consoles, PCs, handheld systems, and mobile platforms. These games have ranged from space combat simulators and role-playing epics to strategy games, shooters, and experimental projects that never made it to release. The history of Star Wars gaming is also closely tied to the evolution of the industry itself. The rise of LucasArts in the 1990s helped define the golden age of Star Wars games, producing classics such as X-Wing, Dark Forces, and Knights of the Old Republic. The closure of LucasArts in 2013 marked a major turning point, shifting development to external studios under publishing agreements. In the years since, Star…
Star Wars Games (2019–Present): The End of Exclusivity and the Multi-Publisher Era
If 2012–2018 was defined by centralization, then 2019–present is defined by reopening the gates. Following the consolidation of the EA Exclusive Era — and the controversy, cancellations, and corporate recalibration that defined it — the years after 2019 represent a structural shift back toward diversification. The change did not happen overnight. It began quietly. In November 2019, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order launched. At the time, it looked like a strong single-player title within the existing EA framework. In hindsight, it marked the beginning of something larger. By January 2021, Disney and Lucasfilm formally ended EA’s practical exclusivity. The “Lucasfilm Games” brand returned publicly. New publishers entered the field. Studios outside EA began developing major Star Wars titles for the first time in nearly a decade. For the first time since the early 2000s, the Star Wars gaming landscape widened again. This era is not defined by one publisher. It…
Diego Luna Headed to MegaCon Orlando — Star Wars Fans Rejoice
Star Wars and pop culture fans in Florida are in for a treat this year — Diego Luna has officially been announced as a guest for MegaCon Orlando 2026. The news comes from an official reveal by the event organizers, who confirmed the Rogue One star will be attending one of the largest fan conventions in the United States later this year. This marks a major opportunity for fans to meet one of the franchise’s most beloved actors in person. A Beloved Star Returns to Fan Events Diego Luna is best known in the Star Wars universe for his role as Cassian Andor — the Rebel operative at the heart of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. His performance was widely praised for adding depth and emotion to the franchise’s cinematic canon, helping make Rogue One one of the most acclaimed films of the modern era. Luna’s continued popularity with…
Star Wars Games (2012–2018): The EA Exclusive Era
When we closed the book on 2006–2012, it felt like LucasArts was wobbling. When 2012–2018 began, the wobble turned into a restructuring. And everyone felt it. This wasn’t a loud collapse. It wasn’t dramatic overnight silence. It was something slower and stranger — like watching the galaxy shift ownership while you were still standing in it. In April 2013, Disney shut down internal development at LucasArts.In May 2013, Electronic Arts was announced as the exclusive publisher for core Star Wars console and PC games. And just like that, an era ended. But what followed wasn’t a drought. It was a recalibration. Where This Era Sits in the Timeline If you’re reading this as part of the complete SWTORStrategies Star Wars Games archive, here’s the path so far: Now we enter 2012–2018. This is the EA Exclusive Era. And it is defined by two forces working at the same time: It’s…
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Is Now an Emmy Award-Winning Series
The Star Wars universe just added another major victory to its trophy shelf. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lucasfilm’s coming-of-age space adventure on Disney+, has officially taken home multiple awards at the 2026 Children’s & Family Emmy® Awards — including Outstanding Young Teen Series and top technical honors for visual effects and sound. This marks a huge milestone for the show, cementing it not just as a fan favorite, but as one of the most acclaimed entries in the franchise’s recent television lineup. Here’s everything Skeleton Crew won. 🏆 Skeleton Crew’s Emmy Wins (2026 Children’s & Family Emmys) At the 2026 ceremony, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew earned four wins — a testament to both its storytelling and technical excellence. ⭐ Outstanding Young Teen Series The series took home the top honor in its category, recognizing it as the year’s standout live-action program aimed at young teen audiences. 🎬 Outstanding Editing for…
Star Wars Games (2006–2012): The Fall of LucasArts
The period between 2006 and 2012 marks the most turbulent and uncertain era in the history of Star Wars gaming. Following the experimental beginnings of The First Star Wars Games (1979–1989) and the explosive growth seen in Star Wars Games of the 1990s (1990–1999) — before reaching the creative peak documented in Star Wars Games (2000–2005): The Golden Age of Star Wars Gaming — this era represents a dramatic shift in direction for the franchise. After years of innovation and success, LucasArts entered a period defined by shifting priorities, cancelled projects, and an increasing reliance on safer, more predictable releases. While several major titles still launched during these years — including The Force Unleashed, LEGO Star Wars, and The Old Republic — the broader direction of Star Wars gaming began to fracture. Behind the scenes, ambitious projects were repeatedly started, reworked, and ultimately abandoned. Internal restructuring, technological challenges, and changing…
The Acolyte Showrunner Clarifies Sith Canon, Ki-Adi-Mundi & Script Approval
New insight has emerged from the creative team behind Star Wars: The Acolyte, and showrunner Leslye Headland just dispelled a few of the biggest questions fans have had about the series’ place in Star Wars canon. In a recent interview with The George Lucas Talk Show, Headland addressed everything from the nature of Qimir’s Force identity to the controversial appearance of Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, offering reassurance that the series is fully aligned with Star Wars lore as defined by Lucasfilm. (Source: JediNews, The HoloFiles) Here’s what we learned. Qimir Was “Not a True Sith” One of the biggest points of confusion after The Acolyte’s first season was the true nature of the mysterious antagonist Qimir. Despite early speculation that she was a Sith — potentially the last of an ancient Sith lineage — Headland confirmed she was not a true Sith in the strict canonical sense. This distinction matters in…