If you were playing Star Wars Battlefront II back in its glory days, you probably remember exactly where you were when this happened: The Darth Tyranus Update released 7 years ago today. And it wasn’t just another patch — it was one of those updates that instantly changed the feel of the game, mainly because it finally brought in one of the most requested prequel-era villains. Yes… Count Dooku arrived. Count Dooku (Serenno’s Sith) Entered the Battlefield The update was headlined by Serenno’s Count Dooku, aka Darth Tyranus — smooth, brutal, and absolutely built for people who enjoy deleting enemies with elegant lightsaber swings and zero mercy. Dooku didn’t just feel like “another hero.” He felt like a statement:Battlefront II was going all-in on the Clone Wars era. And honestly? That era is where the game truly started to shine. Geonosis Expanded Into More Modes The update also brought Geonosis…
Author: Matt "ObiWaN" Hansen
98th Academy Award Nominations: ILM, Skywalker Sound, and Star Wars Alumni Show Up All Over the List
The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards are in — and once again, Star Wars is all over the technical side of the industry… even when Star Wars itself isn’t the movie being nominated. Because when the Oscars get to categories like Visual Effects and Sound, two names keep showing up behind the scenes: In other words: Star Wars craftsmanship, still quietly carrying half of Hollywood on its back. ILM’s Presence at the Oscars Is Basically a Tradition Now Even when there isn’t a Star Wars film in the race, ILM is usually involved in multiple projects getting Academy recognition — and the 98th Oscars are no different. The Academy’s process for Visual Effects typically includes a shortlist/bake-off stage before final nominees are locked in, and ILM talent is involved across a wide range of major titles competing in the category. If you’ve ever watched a modern blockbuster and thought…
MAUL – SHADOW LORD Release Schedule: Full Disney+ Episode Dates (April–May)
If you’re planning your Sundays like a proper Sith loyalist, here’s the one thing you need: ✅ The full Disney+ release schedule for MAUL – SHADOW LORD. Lucasfilm is dropping the series in double-episode batches, meaning you’re getting two episodes at a time — every week — all the way through early May. MAUL – SHADOW LORD Release Schedule (Disney+) 📅 April 6 Episodes 1 & 2 📅 April 13 Episodes 3 & 4 📅 April 20 Episodes 5 & 6 📅 April 27 Episodes 7 & 8 📅 May 4 Episodes 9 & 10 How Many Episodes Are in MAUL – SHADOW LORD? Based on the schedule, MAUL – SHADOW LORD is a 10-episode season, released over five weeks. So yes: you’ll be done by May 4. Which feels extremely intentional, because Star Wars doesn’t miss an opportunity to make May the 4th feel like a big moment. Why…
MAUL – SHADOW LORD Trailer Drops (And the Disney+ Premiere Date Is Set)
It’s official: the first trailer for MAUL – SHADOW LORD is here. Lucasfilm just released the very first look at the upcoming animated series, and it’s already clear what kind of ride this is going to be: darker tone, sharper edge, and Maul doing what Maul does best — building power through pure menace. Even better: the trailer also confirms the premiere date. ✅ MAUL – SHADOW LORD premieres on Disney+ on April 6. Trailer: The First Trailer Is Out — And It Looks Like “Dangerous Star Wars” This isn’t a cute side-story. The trailer sells MAUL – SHADOW LORD as a series that lives deep in the post-Clone Wars chaos — the era where the galaxy is reorganizing under the Empire, and the people in the shadows are making their moves. Which, let’s be honest… is where Maul always shines. April 6 Premiere Date Confirmed The big headline for…
Brad Rau Will Supervise MAUL – SHADOW LORD (And That’s Actually Huge)
If you needed one more reason to take MAUL – SHADOW LORD seriously, here it is: Brad Rau is officially the supervising director of the series. And if that name rings a bell, it’s because Rau was also the supervising director of Star Wars: The Bad Batch. That’s not just a nice trivia fact — it’s a real creative signal about what kind of show Lucasfilm Animation is building here. Brad Rau Is One of Lucasfilm Animation’s “Trust This Person” Names Brad Rau isn’t new to Star Wars. He’s been one of the steady hands behind the modern animated era, with credits across multiple Lucasfilm Animation projects — but The Bad Batch is the big one, and the one that matters most here. If you watched The Bad Batch, you know the vibe: That’s exactly the kind of storytelling DNA you’d want in a Maul-focused series. Maul’s Timing Matters (And…
LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition at Melbourne Museum Is Closing Soon — Last Chance to Visit
If you’ve been meaning to check out LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition at Melbourne Museum… this is your final warning from the galaxy. The massive brick-built Star Wars experience is now in its final days, with the exhibition scheduled to close on January 26, 2026. So if you’re in Melbourne (or even thinking about making the trip), this is officially the “go now or regret it forever” moment. What Is LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition? This isn’t a regular “some LEGO in glass cases” museum display. LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition is an immersive, large-scale experience featuring: It’s a full-on Star Wars celebration — just made out of bricks instead of beskar. The exhibition was created using over 8 million LEGO bricks, built in Melbourne by Ryan “Brickman” McNaught and team, and took more than 25,000 hours to complete. When Does It Close? According to Melbourne Museum’s official listing, LEGO®…
Oga’s Cantina at Disneyland Is Closing Temporarily for an Original Trilogy-Themed Refurb
If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge anytime soon, here’s a heads-up Star Wars fans actually need to know: Oga’s Cantina is set to temporarily close for a refurbishment — and the theme is reportedly shifting toward the Original Trilogy era. So yes… your favorite place to sip a weird green drink while DJ R-3X does his thing is about to get a little makeover. And if the rumors are true, it’s going to lean more into the classic Star Wars vibe. Oga’s Cantina: Still One of Galaxy’s Edge’s Best Experiences Oga’s Cantina is one of the most “Star Wars” places you can visit without stepping onto a movie set. It’s loud, chaotic, packed, and borderline illegal-feeling — which is exactly what a real cantina should be. For years, the setting has been locked into the sequel trilogy era, consistent with the original Galaxy’s Edge concept: But lately,…
Everything We Know About Dave Filoni’s “Mandoverse” Crossover Movie (So Far)
Dave Filoni’s Star Wars crossover movie has been talked about for years now — and yet it still feels like the most “Schrödinger’s Star Wars project” imaginable. It exists… but it also kind of doesn’t. It was announced as the cinematic event meant to tie together the Disney+ Star Wars era built around The Mandalorian — and it’s still expected to deliver a large-scale crossover featuring multiple shows. So what do we actually know right now? Let’s break it down into: confirmed, reported, and still speculation. What Is the Filoni Movie Supposed to Be? This is the important baseline: ✅ The film is designed as a crossover event for the interconnected Star Wars Disney+ timeline often nicknamed the “Mandoverse.” That includes the era after Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens, where Lucasfilm has built a shared story across multiple series. The original concept has long been described…
Genndy Tartakovsky Turned Down a Lucasfilm Leadership Role in 2005 — and That’s How Dave Filoni Got His Shot
Star Wars history is full of “what if?” moments. But this one might be one of the biggest, because it quietly shaped everything that came next — from The Clone Wars to Ahsoka to the entire Disney+ era. According to an explainer from The Wrap, Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of the 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars) was offered a leadership role at Lucasfilm in 2005 — and he turned it down. That decision reportedly led George Lucas to bring in someone else instead. That person? Dave Filoni. And yeah… the rest is basically Star Wars TV history. The Clone Wars Before Filoni: Genndy’s 2003 Series Was the Prototype Before The Clone Wars became a full CG series with seasons, arcs, and a fanbase that fights like Mandalorians in comment sections… There was Genndy Tartakovsky’s 2D animated microseries, Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003–2005). It was fast, stylish, and aggressively iconic — and…
Rick Famuyiwa Had a Star Wars Disney+ Series in Development — Now It’s Reportedly “In Limbo”
Star Wars is never short on projects. But it is short on projects that actually make it out alive. According to The Wrap, Rick Famuyiwa was developing a Star Wars series for Disney+ — and it’s now reportedly “in limbo.” And if that name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, it should. Famuyiwa isn’t some random new hire. He’s been a quiet but consistent force in modern Star Wars, directing: So if a Famuyiwa-led Star Wars series is stuck in limbo, that’s not just a trivia detail. That’s a real “what happened here?” moment. Why Famuyiwa Matters to Modern Star Wars Famuyiwa has become one of the most trusted directors in the current Lucasfilm TV era. And The Believer isn’t just a fan favorite — it’s the kind of episode that proved Star Wars could still do something rare: character-driven tension without relying on lightsabers and nostalgia buttons. So when a…
Dave Filoni Says He Doesn’t Lead Star Wars With a “Rule Book” — He Wants Artists to Surprise Us
Dave Filoni has become one of the most talked-about names in Star Wars over the past few years — not just as a writer/director, but as someone increasingly seen as the franchise’s creative compass. And according to Filoni himself, that job doesn’t look like what people assume. In a recent quote shared by ScreenRant, Filoni explained that creators sometimes expect to meet him and get handed some kind of canon compliance checklist. But that’s not how he works. “People get worried that they talk to me and I’m gonna have some Star Wars rule book. I know a lot of things about how things have been done, but I’m always curious about… what have you got? What do you want to do?… The biggest thing you want is to get artists to be expressive and express themselves in this time in ways that surprise us. Even if we’re using franchises…
George Lucas Showed Up at a Broncos Game Wearing a Boba Fett Shirt
George Lucas doesn’t do a lot of public “spotlight” moments these days. He’s not out there doing press tours. He’s not on every red carpet. And he definitely isn’t posting fit pics on Instagram like the rest of the galaxy. So when Lucas randomly shows up at a Broncos game this weekend… and he’s casually wearing a Boba Fett shirt under his jacket? Yeah. That counts as news. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned about George Lucas over the decades, it’s this: He may have sold Lucasfilm, but he never truly left Star Wars. Boba Fett: Always a Flex Boba Fett isn’t just “a character.” He’s a full-on Star Wars icon — the kind of design that has survived every era: original trilogy nostalgia, prequels, Disney+, modern merchandising, memes, cosplay… everything. So Lucas wearing a Boba Fett tee isn’t just a random choice. It’s a reminder that Star Wars…
Who Is Lynwen Brennan? The Lucasfilm Co-President Fans Are Suddenly Googling Like Crazy
If you’ve been online in Star Wars fandom lately, you’ve probably noticed the same thing I have: People are not just talking about Dave Filoni anymore. They’re also Googling Lynwen Brennan like she’s a brand new character that just walked into the season finale and changed the whole power balance. And honestly? It makes sense. Because Brennan isn’t just “some executive.” She’s one of the two people now leading Lucasfilm at the very top — and she’s been quietly steering the ship for years. So who is she really? Let’s do a proper portrait: background, career, family (only what’s public), age, and the thing everyone always searches for… net worth. TL;DR (Quick Take) Lynwen Brennan’s Age (Yes, People Keep Asking) Lynwen Brennan was born in June 1967, which makes her 58 years old (as of 2026). And yes — “Lynwen Brennan age” is basically the #1 search query right now….
Ian Doescher Announces William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian of Nevarro (Part the First)
If you ever read Ian Doescher’s William Shakespeare’s Star Wars books and thought, “Okay… but what if Din Djarin spoke in iambic pentameter?” — congratulations. You’re about to be rewarded. Because yes: Ian Doescher has officially announced a new entry in the series, and this time we’re going full theater-kid in a beskar helmet. The next book is called: William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian of Nevarro — Part the First…and it’s scheduled to arrive April 7, 2026. The Bard Returns — This Time With Grogu The William Shakespeare’s Star Wars series has already done the full Skywalker Saga: Original Trilogy, Prequels, Sequels — all transformed into dramatic stage plays with monologues, stage directions, and a suspicious amount of “verily.” But now, we’re stepping into Disney+ territory. This new release retells The Mandalorian, specifically “Part the First,” meaning: yes, they’re treating Mando like an epic Shakespearean drama broken into acts…
Disney’s Star Wars Box Office Era: What the Numbers Actually Say
Star Wars under Disney has been called a lot of things over the last decade: a comeback story, a franchise machine, a fandom battleground. But in box office terms? It’s something much simpler — and much more measurable. Because between The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi, Solo, and The Rise of Skywalker, Lucasfilm didn’t just reboot a franchise. It ran a full theatrical experiment in real time. And the global box office results show a pattern that’s more interesting than the usual “hit vs flop” debate. Why this matters now Star Wars is moving back into theatrical mode again. A new movie slate is taking shape, and Lucasfilm is still trying to solve the same modern blockbuster puzzle: how to make Star Wars feel like an event without burning out the audience. That’s why looking at the Disney-era numbers matters. Not as a scorecard for fan arguments —…
Hollywood Reporter Says a “Sequel-Sequel Trilogy” Feels Inevitable — and Honestly, They Might Be Right
For years, Lucasfilm has treated the post-Rise of Skywalker future like an awkward family dinner conversation. Everyone knows it’s going to come up. Nobody wants to be the first to bring it up. But now The Hollywood Reporter is doing something the Star Wars industry press rarely does: saying the quiet part out loud. A “sequel-sequel trilogy” — basically Episodes X, XI and XII — doesn’t just feel possible. It feels inevitable. And while that idea isn’t confirmed by Lucasfilm, it’s suddenly the kind of “obvious next step” that’s getting harder to ignore. Why this matters now Star Wars is entering a strange new phase. Not because there’s a shortage of projects — but because there’s a shortage of certainty. Some movies are reportedly on hold. Some are being reworked. The Disney+ side continues to expand, but theatrical Star Wars still lacks what Marvel has always had: A clear flagship…
Kathleen Kennedy Looks Back on The Last Jedi Nine Years Later: “One of the Best Star Wars Movies”
Nine years after The Last Jedi hit theaters and permanently split the Star Wars fandom into factions, Kathleen Kennedy isn’t backing away from it. In a new Deadline exit interview, the outgoing Lucasfilm president not only praises Rian Johnson’s film — she calls it one of the best Star Wars movies — but also suggests the online backlash left a lasting impact on Johnson’s future in the franchise. Why this matters now This isn’t just “old Star Wars drama” being rehashed. Kennedy is stepping away from Lucasfilm leadership, and these interviews are essentially her final on-the-record reflections on the modern Star Wars era — including the moments that shaped it, and the projects that changed the studio’s relationship with fans. And no movie defines that tension more than The Last Jedi. What Kathleen Kennedy said about The Last Jedi Kennedy didn’t hedge her opinion. She directly praised Rian Johnson’s work:…
Kathleen Kennedy Gives Major Updates on Star Wars Movies — Including Mangold “On Hold” and Kinberg’s “New Trilogy”
Star Wars isn’t short on announced projects — it’s short on clarity. But Kathleen Kennedy just delivered one of the most direct “here’s what’s actually happening” updates we’ve had in a while, giving status checks on multiple major in-development films. Some projects are alive. Some are stalled. And at least one is being framed as the next real centerpiece of Star Wars on the big screen. Why this matters now With Kennedy stepping away from Lucasfilm leadership and the studio shifting into a new structure (Filoni on creative direction, Brennan on business), fans are asking a simple question: Which Star Wars movies are real — and which ones are just names on a whiteboard? Kennedy’s answers don’t confirm release dates across the board, but they do confirm what’s moving forward, what’s paused, and what’s still possible. The big update: Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi is “on hold” Kennedy confirmed that…
Kathleen Kennedy Addresses Sexism in Star Wars Fandom: “They Unfairly Get Targeted”
Kathleen Kennedy’s exit interview tour isn’t just about movies, shows, and leadership structure. It’s also about something Star Wars has wrestled with for years — and too often refuses to talk about directly: the harassment and sexism aimed at women in the franchise, both on-screen and behind the camera. In her new Deadline interview, Kennedy speaks candidly about what female Star Wars actors and filmmakers face, and why she doesn’t sugarcoat it when new women enter the franchise. Why this matters now Lucasfilm is in the middle of a major transition — Kennedy stepping down, a new leadership structure forming, and Star Wars preparing for its next big era. But as that next era arrives, one thing hasn’t changed: women who become visible in Star Wars projects are still disproportionately targeted online. Kennedy putting that reality into words matters, because it’s not a fan theory or a vague PR statement….
Kathleen Kennedy Releases Statement on Leaving Lucasfilm: “A True Privilege”
Lucasfilm’s leadership transition just became a lot more personal. After Disney CEO Bob Iger offered an official corporate tribute, Kathleen Kennedy has now released her own statement regarding her exit from Lucasfilm — and it reads like exactly what it is: a goodbye letter to a studio she helped define for more than a decade. It’s reflective, grateful, and quietly forward-looking. Why this matters now Kennedy stepping away isn’t just a behind-the-scenes reshuffle. It’s the closing of a chapter that shaped modern Star Wars — from the sequel trilogy to Disney+ to Lucasfilm’s biggest recent creative pivot: television. That’s why her own words matter. This isn’t press speculation or a quote filtered through Disney PR. It’s Kennedy directly framing her legacy — and setting the tone for what she intends to do next. What Kathleen Kennedy said Kennedy confirmed the personal weight behind the moment by pointing straight back to…
Bob Iger Breaks Silence on Kathleen Kennedy Leaving Lucasfilm: “Deeply Grateful”
If you’re looking for the official Disney tone on Kathleen Kennedy’s exit from Lucasfilm, it’s here — and it’s exactly the kind of statement that carries more meaning than it seems at first glance. Disney CEO Bob Iger has now commented publicly on Kennedy’s departure, offering a glowing, carefully-worded tribute that positions her tenure as both historic and foundational to Lucasfilm’s modern era. Why this matters now Leadership changes at Lucasfilm always trigger speculation — not just about what happened behind closed doors, but about where Star Wars goes next. That’s why Iger stepping in matters. When Disney’s CEO addresses this kind of transition directly, it signals that Kennedy’s departure isn’t being framed internally as damage control or controversy. It’s being framed as a respected, planned shift — and Disney wants the public narrative to match that. What Bob Iger said In his statement, Iger emphasized two key points: Here’s…
Andor Quietly Dominates the Awards Conversation Again — This Time for VFX and Sound
If you needed proof that Andor isn’t just “a great Star Wars show” but one of the most technically respected series in modern TV… award season is basically spelling it out in capital letters. This week brought another wave of industry recognition for Andor Season 2 — and it’s coming from the people who actually build the magic: visual effects artists, sound editors, and guild-level professionals. Not clickbait awards. The serious ones. What happened (and why it matters now) Andor Season 2 has picked up fresh nominations in multiple major technical award bodies — including the Visual Effects Society (VES) and Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Golden Reel Awards. In short: the show is being singled out for the two things it arguably does better than any other live-action Star Wars project: Vis dette opslag på Instagram Et opslag delt af Industrial Light & Magic (@ilmvfx) The key details (facts…
Disneyland Is Quietly Rewriting Galaxy’s Edge — Sequel Era Timeline Shelved Starting April 29
For years, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been Disney’s boldest Star Wars swing. Not because it had the most characters. But because it tried something far more ambitious: an in-universe Star Wars land where you were the main character — not a visitor waiting in line for a photo with Darth Vader. Now Disneyland is changing course. According to the Los Angeles Times, Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland will no longer be primarily set in the sequel trilogy era, and starting April 29, the land will shift toward a more “classic” Star Wars lineup — including Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia. And yes: that means Kylo Ren is being shelved as a walk-around character in the land. Why this matters now This is one of the biggest philosophical changes Disneyland has made to Galaxy’s Edge since it opened. The land’s original identity was built on a very…
Star Wars Outlaws Is Now on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
If you’ve been curious about Star Wars Outlaws but didn’t feel like dropping full price just to see if the galaxy’s first open-world(ish) scoundrel adventure is your thing… This is your moment. Star Wars Outlaws is now available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, meaning subscribers can jump in right away across console, PC, and cloud. And yes — it also supports cross-save, letting you continue your progress on other platforms if you want to bounce between systems. Why this matters right now Game Pass drops aren’t just “nice to have.” They’re effectively a second launch. A game going to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass means: For Outlaws specifically, this matters because the game thrives when people talk about: More players = more momentum. What’s included with Game Pass Here’s the important part: you’re not limited to one device. With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate,…