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…
Author: Matt "ObiWaN" Hansen
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,…
Hayden Christensen Reveals He Wore Wigs While Playing Anakin in Revenge of the Sith
Every Star Wars era has its behind-the-scenes secrets. Some are massive lore decisions. Some are wild production challenges. And some are… hair. At a recent appearance, Hayden Christensen revealed that he wore wigs while portraying Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith — and he even kept one of them. “I kept one of the wigs from Episode III,” Christensen said, before adding: “Full disclosure, that’s not my real hair.” That’s the kind of Star Wars fact that’s both hilarious and completely believable. Why this matters now Hayden Christensen has been having a major Star Wars renaissance in recent years. Between his return as Anakin and his growing presence at fan events, there’s been a noticeable shift: he’s not just revisiting the role — he’s owning it. And moments like this are part of why. Fans don’t just love new story content. They love the human details — the kind…
Hasbro Star Wars Fanstream Reveals New Black Series and Vintage Collection Figures (Scar Squadron Returns)
Hasbro is back with another Star Wars Fanstream, and if you’re a collector, you already know what that means: A few minutes of excitement… followed by a lot of “okay but do I really need this?” budgeting. In the latest stream (posted to YouTube), Hasbro revealed a fresh lineup of upcoming releases for both The Black Series (6-inch) and The Vintage Collection (3.75-inch) — including some seriously collector-friendly picks like Scar Squadron returning in Black Series form. The big theme of this Fanstream: collector-focused packs This wasn’t just a “here’s another repaint” kind of show. Hasbro leaned into what collectors actually react to right now: Basically: you can feel the strategy. The Vintage Collection reveals (3.75-inch) The Vintage Collection segment delivered exactly what you’d expect from a Hasbro stream that wants to keep OT collectors happy. Highlights include: It’s a really solid mix:You get the “classic shelf” upgrade pieces (Veers,…
Hayden Christensen Says Robert De Niro Visited the Revenge of the Sith Set During the Mustafar Duel
Some Star Wars behind-the-scenes stories sound like the kind of rumor that would normally live forever in the “no way that happened” category. And then Hayden Christensen casually drops one that’s so specific it becomes instantly believable. According to Fan Expo New Orleans (FANEXPONOLA), Christensen recently shared that Robert De Niro once visited the set of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith — and it happened during one of the most iconic filming moments in the entire prequel trilogy: Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar. “Is that Robert De Niro?” — Hayden remembers the moment clearly Hayden told the story like it was just another normal day on set… except it wasn’t. He says: The idea of De Niro watching lightsabers swing in front of lava is already wild. But then the story gets even better. The push-up moment that made Hayden’s day Hayden also shared…
Lucasfilm Games Relaunched 5 Years Ago Today — and It Quietly Changed Star Wars Gaming Forever
Five years ago today, Lucasfilm did something that didn’t look dramatic at the time… but ended up reshaping the entire Star Wars gaming landscape. They relaunched Lucasfilm Games as their dedicated licensing brand — a modern banner for Star Wars games (and other Lucasfilm properties) moving forward. And honestly? In hindsight, it was one of the smartest moves the company has made in the post-Disney era. Not because it guaranteed instant masterpieces — but because it signaled something fans had been begging for: more variety, more studios, and more freedom. Why this matters right now Star Wars games used to feel like they were on one highway. Same publisher. Same pipeline. Same release rhythm. Since Lucasfilm Games returned, Star Wars gaming has felt much more like a living ecosystem — with multiple teams, multiple genres, and multiple bets happening at once. Even when not every project hits, the direction has…
Farewell to Michael Henbury, the Ewok Who Helped Bring Return of the Jedi to Life
Some Star Wars roles are loud. Some are legendary. And some are the kind you only fully appreciate when you grow up — when you realize how much of the original trilogy’s magic was built by real people in costumes, on real sets, doing real physical work to make the galaxy feel alive. Today, Star Wars fans are saying goodbye to one of those people. Michael Henbury — best known to Star Wars fans as Ewok Taboo in Return of the Jedi — has passed away at the age of 67. Vis dette opslag på Instagram Et opslag delt af Star Booking Management (@starbookingmgmt) Why this matters right now It’s easy to focus on the “big names” when we talk about Star Wars history. But Star Wars has always been bigger than its headliners. The original trilogy wasn’t built only by stars, directors, or composers — it was built by…
Two New Key Operations Just Dropped for Star Wars: Shatterpoint — and They’re Not “Just More Objectives”
Atomic Mass Games just quietly made Star Wars: Shatterpoint a lot more interesting. Not with a new squad box.Not with a flashy trailer. But with two brand-new Key Operations — scenario-style missions that don’t just tweak scoring, but genuinely change how matches feel on the table. They’re called: And if you’ve ever thought Shatterpoint’s objective play can start to “solve itself” after enough games, this update is exactly the kind of shake-up the game needed. Why this matters right now Key Operations are where Shatterpoint becomes more than a skirmish game. They’re the part of the system that makes fights feel like scenes from Star Wars — chases, sabotage, hidden knowledge, last-second reversals, and objectives that aren’t just “stand here and score.” So when Atomic Mass Games drops two new operations at once, it’s not a minor rules PDF. It’s basically two new “game modes.” Quick context: what is a…
ANA’s C-3PO Star Wars Plane Has Been Officially Retired — End of a Flying Fan Favorite
Some Star Wars memorabilia sits behind glass. Some gets sealed in plastic. And then there was ANA’s C-3PO jet — a full-sized passenger plane that spent years turning airports into accidental Star Wars photo ops. Now it’s officially over. The C-3PO themed ANA aircraft has been retired and will no longer be used in service, marking the end of one of the most recognizable real-world Star Wars collaborations ever put into the sky. Why this matters now The Star Wars franchise has collaborated with everything from sneakers to luxury brands. But very few partnerships have been as public — and as weirdly iconic — as ANA’s Star Wars jets. Because this wasn’t a limited-edition collectible. It was something you could actually see at the gate. And with the C-3PO aircraft now retired, the era of Star Wars-themed ANA jets is effectively closing in a way fans can actually feel. What…
Star Wars: Beggar’s Canyon Is the Luke Skywalker Story Fans Have Been Waiting For
Every now and then, a Star Wars fan film shows up on YouTube that doesn’t just look like Star Wars — it feels like Star Wars. STAR WARS: Beggar’s Canyon | A Luke Skywalker Fan Film (Between ESB & ROTJ) is one of those rare projects. It’s not trying to out-shout Lucasfilm. It’s not trying to be edgy for the sake of it. It’s doing something much harder: It aims straight at the emotional gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi — and asks, what happens to Luke after Bespin, before he becomes “Jedi Knight” Luke? And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of story this era begs for. A Fan Film Set in the Most Interesting Time Window This film is set between ESB and ROTJ, which is arguably the most dramatic transition in Luke Skywalker’s entire arc. On Bespin, Luke loses: He survives. But he…
Kathleen Kennedy Pushes Back on the Shawn Levy Narrative
For a franchise that lives under a microscope, who gets hired can matter almost as much as what ends up on screen. That’s why Kathleen Kennedy’s recent comments about Shawn Levy landed with more weight than they might first appear. Levy, now attached to direct an upcoming Star Wars film, has faced familiar criticism: that his background in family-friendly and crowd-pleasing movies somehow makes him a “lightweight” choice. Kennedy doesn’t buy that framing—at all. What Kennedy actually said Speaking to The New York Times, Kennedy addressed the criticism head-on. She noted that Levy’s work in family comedies has been routinely misinterpreted, saying it’s “completely unfair” to treat that genre as creatively shallow. Her reasoning was blunt and revealing: making films that work for broad audiences is hard. Not technically flashy hard, but emotionally precise hard—balancing tone, pacing, humor, and sincerity without losing the audience along the way. That skill, she…
The Las Vegas Sphere Is Becoming a LEGO Death Star — and You Can Fly the Trench Run
For years, Star Wars fans have joked about wanting to step inside the Death Star. Now, that idea is being taken seriously—at a scale that feels almost excessive in the best possible way. The Sphere is set to be transformed into a massive LEGO Death Star, as part of a new interactive experience developed by LEGO in collaboration with Lucasfilm. The concept allows visitors not just to look at the superweapon—but to climb inside it and take on the trench run themselves. And yes, that’s exactly as wild as it sounds. What’s actually happening The project reimagines the Sphere’s exterior and interior as a fully realized LEGO version of the Death Star, using the venue’s wraparound LED technology to create an interactive environment rather than a passive display. Inside, visitors will be able to move through sections of the station and participate in a trench run–style game experience. Instead of…
Tom Cruise Visited a Star Wars Set — and Helped Film a Lightsaber Duel
When Tom Cruise shows up on a film set, people assume he’s there to act. That’s not what happened on the set of Star Wars: Starfighter. Cruise visited the production and filmed one of the movie’s lightsaber duels. He did not appear on screen, did not portray a character, and was not acting in the scene. According to The New York Times, his involvement was behind the camera, not in front of it. That distinction matters—and it makes the story more interesting, not less. What actually happened Cruise was present on set during production and took part in filming a lightsaber duel sequence. The reporting is specific: he filmed the scene. There has been no indication of a cameo, a secret role, or any on-screen appearance. Lightsaber duels are among the most technically demanding sequences in a Star Wars production. Camera movement, timing, choreography, and spatial awareness are tightly synchronized….
Shawn Levy Recalls How a Stranger Things Scene Led to His First Contact With Lucasfilm
Careers don’t always intersect with major franchises through formal pitches or long-planned meetings. Sometimes, they cross paths because of a single creative question that needs an answer. For Shawn Levy, that moment came during the making of Season 1 of Stranger Things, years before he became attached to a new Star Wars project. The scene that raised a problem While developing the first season of Stranger Things, the creative team planned a scene in which Eleven uses her telekinetic powers to levitate the Millennium Falcon. It was meant as a brief but recognizable pop-culture reference. That idea immediately ran into a legal and rights issue. Levy explained that Netflix informed the production they would need permission to reference the Millennium Falcon. The response came back quickly—and decisively. The answer was no. The show would need to replace the object with something else. Reaching out directly At that point, Levy had…
Marvel Is Releasing Star Wars Legends: The Newspaper Strips Omnibus — A 1,096-Page Time Capsule From the Early Years
Marvel Comics is digging deep into Star Wars history this summer with the release of Star Wars Legends: The Newspaper Strips Omnibus, a massive 1,096-page hardcover collecting classic Star Wars newspaper strips and related comic material originally published between 1979 and 1984. For longtime fans, this isn’t just another reprint. It’s a preservation project—one that captures a formative era when Star Wars storytelling expanded week by week in newspaper comic sections long before the franchise became a multimedia juggernaut. A Forgotten Corner of Star Wars History In the years following A New Hope, Star Wars storytelling didn’t live only in theaters or paperback novels. It also appeared in daily and Sunday newspaper strips, reaching readers who might never have picked up a comic book. These strips explored new planets, side missions, and character moments featuring Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and others—often filling in the gaps…