Ryan Gosling has confirmed that Star Wars: Starfighter will feature practical puppets, dropping one of the most reassuringly Star Wars details fans could have hoped to hear this early in the film’s rollout. The comment came during press for Project Hail Mary, when Gosling was asked whether the upcoming Lucasfilm movie would include practical puppets. His answer was brief, slightly cautious, and very on-brand: “Yes… I think I can say that.” That may sound like a tiny production note, but in Star Wars terms, it is not. Puppets, animatronics, suits, and tactile creature work are part of the series’ visual DNA, from the Mos Eisley cantina to Yoda, Jabba, the porgs, Neel in Skeleton Crew, and just about every weird little alien that makes the galaxy feel lived-in. Star Wars has a long history of blending practical creature effects with digital work, and Lucasfilm has continued highlighting that mix in…
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Star Wars: Dark Forces Trilogy Author William C. Dietz Has Died
William C. Dietz, the science fiction author best known in Star Wars circles for writing the Dark Forces novella trilogy, has died at the age of 80. A memorial published this week states that Dietz passed away on March 15, 2026. For a lot of Star Wars readers, Dietz was not just another tie-in writer. He was the author who helped give Kyle Katarn a life on the page through Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire, Dark Forces: Rebel Agent, and Dark Forces: Jedi Knight—three books that adapted and expanded the story of one of the most beloved Legends-era characters. Wookieepedia’s record of his Star Wars bibliography lists those three Dark Forces books as his core contributions to the franchise. A Name Star Wars Readers Remember Dietz built a much bigger career beyond Star Wars. His official biography says he published more than sixty novels, with work translated into multiple…
Mark Hamill Is Heading to FAN EXPO Anaheim for a Rare Live Appearance
Mark Hamill is officially heading to FAN EXPO Anaheim: Special Edition, giving Star Wars fans a rare chance to see Luke Skywalker himself at one of the summer’s biggest convention events. FAN EXPO’s official site confirms Hamill as a featured guest for the June 26–28 show at the Anaheim Convention Center. This Is Being Framed as a Rare Appearance That word matters here. FAN EXPO is explicitly calling this a rare appearance, and Official Pix has also promoted it that way in its announcement. For longtime Star Wars fans, that immediately makes this more than just another convention guest update. Mark Hamill Live Is Part of the Event There is also a dedicated Mark Hamill Live special event scheduled for Friday, June 26. FAN EXPO’s official event page lists multiple ticket tiers for that session, including Gold Ticket ($99.99), Silver Ticket ($29.99), and General Admission (free), while noting that general…
J.J. Abrams Says He Wishes General Hux Had a Bigger Role in the Sequel Trilogy
General Hux may be one of the sequel trilogy’s clearest missed opportunities. That conversation is back after J.J. Abrams praised Domhnall Gleeson at the Oscar Wilde Awards and said, “I wish he had a larger role in what we did.” Abrams presented Gleeson at the 20th Oscar Wilde Awards in Hollywood this week. A Quote Star Wars Fans Will Immediately Understand It is a small quote, but it says a lot. Hux was introduced in The Force Awakens as a major First Order figure, with clear tension opposite Kylo Ren and enough presence to feel like a long-term villain. But by the time The Rise of Skywalker arrived, the character’s arc had narrowed sharply. Why Hux Still Gets Talked About Part of the reason fans still bring up Hux is simple: the setup was stronger than the payoff. Back in 2020, Domhnall Gleeson said he wished General Hux had “stuck…
Mercedes Varnado Says Koska Reeves Wasn’t Originally in The Mandalorian Script
Some Star Wars characters arrive with years of canon behind them. Koska Reeves did not. According to a recently resurfaced behind-the-scenes comment from Mercedes Varnado, her The Mandalorian character was not originally in the script. She said Jon Favreau did not initially have a role for her, but later found a way to create one. Koska Reeves Was Created for the Series That detail makes Koska Reeves more interesting than ever, because she was not pulled from older Star Wars canon. When she debuted in Chapter 11, “The Heiress,” she was introduced as a brand-new Mandalorian character made for The Mandalorian, not an existing figure from The Clone Wars or Rebels. Why the Character Worked So Well What makes this reveal stand out is how natural Koska felt on screen. She showed up as part of Bo-Katan’s crew and immediately looked like she belonged in that world. There was no…
Matthew Willig Says He’s in The Mandalorian and Grogu, and That Is a Fun Little Casting Update for Mando Fans
Sometimes a Star Wars casting update does not arrive with a glossy Lucasfilm press release or a dramatic trade headline. Sometimes it just shows up because the actor is understandably excited and decides to say, more or less, “yeah, I’m in the movie.” That is basically what happened with Matthew Willig, who posted that he will be making an appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu and thanked Lucasfilm for helping him fulfill “a kid’s dream.” This Looks Like More Than a Rumor at This Point The reason this one feels solid is that it is not just floating around as recycled fan chatter. Willig said it himself on social media, and Jedi News followed that up with a report tied to his upcoming Rebel Scum Con III appearance, stating that he is playing an as-yet unnamed Iktotchi character in the film. That takes this from “internet speculation” to something a…
The Clone Wars Cast Is Heading to MCM London 2026, and Honestly, That Is a Pretty Great Excuse to Be There
MCM London Comic Con has landed a genuinely strong Star Wars animation lineup for its May 2026 show, with a full group of The Clone Wars voice actors now confirmed for the weekend. The event will run from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24 at ExCeL London, and all three days will feature Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor, Nika Futterman, Catherine Taber, Dee Bradley Baker, and Ashley Eckstein. That is not just one nice guest announcement. That is basically MCM looking at Clone Wars fans and saying, “Yeah, this one’s for you.” This Is a Proper Clone Wars Reunion, Not Just a Random Guest Add-On That lineup covers a lot of the core emotional wiring of The Clone Wars. You have Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker, James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano, Dee Bradley Baker as the clone army and Captain Rex, Nika Futterman…
Ryan Gosling Says Star Wars: Starfighter Has Its Own Great Story — and That Is Exactly What Fans Need to Hear
There is a very specific kind of Star Wars quote that instantly makes people nervous. It usually sounds like someone involved in a new project saying, “Trust us, it’s special,” which is Hollywood code for “we are not telling you anything useful yet.” Ryan Gosling’s new comments about Star Wars: Starfighter land a little better than that, mostly because they hit the exact concern a lot of fans already have. Speaking to Collider, Gosling said the film has “such a great story on its own,” that the characters are amazing, and that Shawn Levy has the tone locked in. That may not be a plot reveal, but it is a smart reassurance for a movie that really does need to prove it can stand on its own two feet. The “On Its Own” Part Is the Real Headline That is the phrase that matters most here. Not just that Gosling…
Sigourney Weaver Says Colonel Ward Goes Way Back With Leia — and That Suddenly Makes The Mandalorian and Grogu More Interesting
For a while, Colonel Ward felt like one of those Star Wars movie characters who exists mostly as a name, a uniform, and a lot of fan speculation. Sigourney Weaver was in, the trailers showed her looking important, and everyone more or less assumed she would be the serious New Republic authority figure who sends Din Djarin off to deal with a mess. Which, to be fair, still sounds true. But Empire’s new coverage adds one much better detail: Ward apparently has history with Princess Leia. And just like that, she stops feeling like generic “new character in a control room” material and starts feeling like someone with real roots in this era of Star Wars. Colonel Ward Is Not Just Some Random New Republic Officer According to the new Empire details relayed by Jedi News, Weaver says Colonel Ward and Leia “go way back.” That is the kind of…
Katee Sackhoff Won’t Confirm Bo-Katan for The Mandalorian and Grogu — But She Says Fans Haven’t Seen the Last of Her
You can always count on Star Wars red carpet interviews to give you the most carefully engineered non-answer in the galaxy. That is exactly what happened when Katee Sackhoff was asked about Bo-Katan Kryze and whether she shows up in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Sackhoff did not confirm it. She did not deny it either. Instead, she pulled the classic “can’t confirm or deny” move — which, in Star Wars terms, is basically the franchise equivalent of waving a beskar key in front of the fandom and then sprinting away. But here is the part that actually matters: she also said fans have not seen the last of Bo-Katan. And honestly? That is the real story here. Bo-Katan Is Not Exactly a Side Character Anymore At this point, Bo-Katan is way past being some deep-cut Clone Wars favorite that only animation nerds argued about online. She is one of the…
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic Adds a Studio Art Director — Pascal Blanché Joins Casey Hudson’s Team
If you’re tracking Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic like it’s a mystery box (because it kind of is), here’s a real, tangible development: Pascal Blanché has joined Arcanaut Studios as Studio Art Director, working alongside Casey Hudson on the upcoming Star Wars RPG. Blanché shared the news himself, saying he’s “joined forces (pun intended)” with Hudson and Arcanaut’s team to work on what he calls the next “epic” chapter for the project. Why this hire matters (even if you don’t care about job titles) “Studio Art Director” isn’t just a fancy credit. It usually means the project is locking in a visual identity: the look of the era, the tone of environments, character silhouettes, color language, UI direction, and the “what does this Star Wars corner feel like?” bible that everything else builds on. In other words: this is a sign the creative machine is turning, not just…
Andor Sweeps the Star Wars Corner of the Saturn Awards (Plus a Big Lucas Moment)
Star Wars didn’t just show up at the 53rd Saturn Awards — it walked out with the kind of wins that make genre fans feel vindicated. The ceremony took place March 8, 2026, and the Star Wars side of the scoreboard was led by one very specific takeaway: Andor isn’t “good for Star Wars.” It’s just award-winning sci-fi. The big wins ANDOR won Best Science Fiction Television Series.That’s a meaningful label at the Saturn Awards, because this is a genre-first show — sci-fi competing against sci-fi, not getting lost in a general TV pile. Stellan Skarsgård won Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series for Luthen Rael (Andor).It’s hard to think of a more “Saturn Awards” performance than Luthen: the kind of character who turns a Star Wars series into a political thriller with monologues people still quote months later. Ravi Cabot-Conyers won Best Young Performer in a Television Series…
Kathleen Kennedy Is Picking Up Another Major Industry Honor — and Whatever You Think of Modern Star Wars, That Part Is Not Debatable
Kathleen Kennedy is adding another major industry honor to a résumé that was already ridiculous. At the 73rd Annual Golden Reel Awards on March 8, 2026, Kennedy is set to receive the MPSE Filmmaker Award, one of the honorary awards handed out by the Motion Picture Sound Editors. The event listing from MPSE names Kennedy as the Filmmaker Honoree, with sound editor Mark Mangini receiving the Career Achievement honor. That is the dry version. The more interesting version is this: whatever arguments people want to keep having about modern Star Wars, Kennedy’s status inside the film industry is still massive. Variety reported the honor back in December, noting that the MPSE Filmmaker Award goes to someone outside the sound community whose work has had a meaningful impact on the art of sound in film. That makes the award less about fandom discourse and more about the size of Kennedy’s overall…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Harrison Ford Thanks George Lucas in Emotional SAG Lifetime Achievement Speech
Legendary actor Harrison Ford used his moment in the spotlight to honor one of the people who helped define his career — Star Wars creator George Lucas. Ford, known to generations as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, was presented with the Screen Actors Guild – SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on March 1, 2026. During a heartfelt and frequently humorous acceptance speech, the 83-year-old film icon took time to publicly thank Lucas for giving him his first breakthrough role. A Career in Film Honors Its Roots Introduced by longtime friend Woody Harrelson, Harrison Ford reflected on a prolific decades-long career and the unlikely journey that brought him to Hollywood’s highest honors. Ford joked that receiving a lifetime achievement award “at the half-point of my career” felt unusual because he still considers himself a working actor. But even in his self-deprecating moments, he didn’t forget the…
Ryan Gosling Explains Why He Finally Said Yes to Star Wars After Avoiding Big Franchises for Years
Ryan Gosling has spent most of his career doing something unusual for an A-list Hollywood star: avoiding major film franchises. No Marvel. No DC. No long-running cinematic universes. So when it was revealed he would lead a brand-new Star Wars movie, fans immediately had one question: why now? According to Gosling himself, the answer comes down to one person — and one script. “It Was Shawn’s Vision” In a new interview discussing his upcoming Star Wars film Star Wars: Starfighter, Gosling opened up about why this was the franchise that finally convinced him to step into blockbuster territory. “It was Shawn’s enthusiasm and his vision and the script,” Gosling explained. “I just avoided these things because they never felt right… and I’m glad I did because it was worth waiting for. It is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” That’s a pretty strong endorsement — especially from an actor known for being…
Hayden Christensen, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Ming-Na Wen Heading to Emerald City Comic Con
Star Wars fans attending Emerald City Comic Con this year are in for a serious treat. A stacked lineup of galaxy-far-far-away talent is set to appear, including Hayden Christensen, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Ming-Na Wen — three names that carry serious weight across Star Wars film and television. According to event listings and convention coverage, the trio will be among the major guests appearing at Emerald City Comic Con, joining a broader lineup of film, TV, and comic legends scheduled to attend the popular Seattle-area convention. With each actor representing a different era of Star Wars storytelling, their presence makes this year’s ECCC particularly appealing for fans across generations. Anakin Skywalker Returns to the Convention Stage Few Star Wars actors generate the same level of excitement as Hayden Christensen. Best known for portraying Anakin Skywalker in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Christensen has experienced a major…
Sam Witwer Reveals New Insights Into Maul: Shadow Lord — Filoni’s Mandate, Maul’s Motivations, and Savage Opress’ Role
Fans of Star Wars are getting a deeper look at one of the franchise’s most complex villains. Sam Witwer, the voice and live-action performer associated with Darth Maul for years, has opened up in a new interview about the upcoming Maul: Shadow Lord series — and what makes this version of Maul so different. In an expansive interview with Star Wars: Insider, Witwer went into detail on everything from Dave Filoni’s mandate for the show to Maul’s evolving motivations, his experience filming live-action scenes, and the role his brother Savage Opress will play. Here’s what we learned. “Filoni’s Mandate Was Clear” When asked what Dave Filoni’s mandate was for Maul: Shadow Lord, Witwer didn’t hold back. “Filoni’s thing was always centering Maul in his own story but in a way that feels earned and connected to the larger mythology.” Unlike earlier appearances where Maul was a secondary antagonist or a…
Katee Sackhoff Jokes About “Job Security Forever” as Bo-Katan in Star Wars
Bo-Katan Kryze might not be going anywhere anytime soon—at least if Katee Sackhoff has anything to say about it. In a recent interview, the Star Wars actress shared a humorous but telling insight about her Mandalorian character’s future, joking that she’s confident she’ll keep returning to the role for years to come. Why? Because Bo-Katan is closely tied to Star Wars creative chief Dave Filoni in a very personal way. “I Have Job Security Forever” Speaking about her future in the galaxy far, far away, Sackhoff joked that she feels secure continuing as Bo-Katan because the character is loosely inspired by someone very important to Filoni—his wife. “So I have job security forever,” Sackhoff said with a laugh when discussing Bo-Katan’s long-term future. The comment was delivered in good humor, but it highlights just how deeply rooted the character is within modern Star Wars storytelling and Filoni’s creative world. Bo-Katan’s…