A galaxy far, far away just took a bold step towards inclusivity! In the latest addition to the Star Wars universe, a transgender clone trooper has been introduced, sparking conversations about representation, diversity, and inclusivity within one of the world’s most beloved franchises. This new character, a clone trooper known as “Sister,” marks a significant moment not only for the Star Wars lore but also for fans and advocates pushing for more diversity in media. Who Is “Sister”? “Sister” is the codename given to this new clone trooper, who identifies as female, in a story set during the Clone Wars era. Like her fellow clones, she was created from the DNA of Jango Fett. However, unlike the other clones, Sister’s gender identity and journey stand out, providing a different perspective on what it means to be part of the clone army. This unique character challenges the traditional portrayal of clones…
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Remembering Shawna Trpcic: The Visionary Behind Iconic Star Wars Costumes
The Star Wars community mourns the loss of Shawna Trpcic, the Emmy-nominated costume designer whose creative genius brought to life some of the most iconic costumes from series like “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett,” and “Ahsoka.” Lucasfilm expressed deep sorrow over her passing, acknowledging the indelible mark she left on the Star Wars universe. Read also: SHAWNA TRPCIC: Designing Dreams Across Galaxies, The Legacy of an Emmy-Nominated Costume Visionary, Her Rise to Fame, Cause of death and all you need to know (1967-2023) Kindle Edition A Storied Career Born in Artesia, California, Shawna Trpcic’s journey in the world of costume design began in 1990. Over the years, she contributed to numerous productions, both big and small, before joining Lucasfilm productions in 2019, starting with the second season of “The Mandalorian.” Trpcic was not just a designer but also an ardent Star Wars historian. She delved deep into the making…
The Future of Elstree Studios: A £150m Investment Needed
Elstree Studios, the historic film complex that served as the filming location for iconic productions such as Star Wars and The Crown, is in dire need of at least £150m for necessary renovations, according to a council report. The report, issued by Hertsmere Borough Council, the owner of the studios, highlighted the urgent need for funds to replace “life-expired buildings” and address safety issues, including the presence of asbestos. The council report revealed that some of the studio’s infrastructure is “at least 100 years old and past its useful life. It also noted that some walls were not expected to last more than 10 to 15 years. During asbestos remediation efforts, contractors discovered that the roofs over stages seven, eight, and nine were in a “dangerous state”. Despite the evident need for investment, the council stated that it could not “afford to continually invest” in the Borehamwood film complex. This…
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Confirmed to Span Eight Episodes on Disney+
The Star Wars universe continues to expand and evolve, with the latest installment, “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” slated to make its debut on Disney+. Recently, the upcoming series caught the attention of fans worldwide when it was revealed that its first season would consist of eight episodes. An Eight-Episode Adventure in the Galaxy Far, Far Away Following in the footsteps of other Star Wars television series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ahsoka,” and “The High Republic” series “The Acolyte,” “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” joins the eight-episode club. This consistency in episode count demonstrates Disney+’s commitment to a format that provides ample screen time to develop characters, narratives, and the rich universe that Star Wars fans have come to love. The Journey Ahead with Skeleton Crew “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” promises an intriguing premise – a ragtag group of lost children attempting to find their way home. The series will feature Jude Law…
Ray Stevenson, Noted ‘Thor’ and ‘Star Wars’ Actor, Passes Away at 58
The entertainment industry mourns the loss of a great talent today, as British actor Ray Stevenson, known for his roles in Marvel’s ‘Thor’ and the ‘Star Wars’ franchise, has passed away at the age of 58. Born in Northern Ireland and raised in England, Stevenson made a name for himself with his robust performances and indomitable on-screen presence. Best known for his role as Volstagg in the ‘Thor’ franchise, Stevenson’s charismatic performances left an indelible impact on audiences worldwide. His portrayal of the jovial yet mighty warrior in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was met with widespread acclaim. Stevenson’s contributions to the ‘Star Wars’ universe were equally significant. He lent his voice to Gar Saxon in ‘Star Wars Rebels’ and ‘The Mandalorian,’ bringing the character to life with an intensity and depth that perfectly captured the essence of the ‘Star Wars’ universe. His performances across these two franchises highlight his…
Natalie Portman Open to Reprising Role as Padmé Amidala in Star Wars
In a recent development that has excited Star Wars fans worldwide, Natalie Portman, who played Queen Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, has expressed her openness to return to the iconic role. This comes despite her character’s death in “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” which marked a pivotal moment in the series, pushing Anakin Skywalker to abandon the Jedi path and succumb to the dark side of the Force. The Disney+ Star Wars shows have revisited earlier timelines in the Star Wars universe, with actors like Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen reprising their roles as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin/Darth Vader respectively. However, Padmé Amidala has not yet made an appearance. While the character of Padmé was not necessary for the narrative of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and it’s hard to envision a new spin-off or prequel focusing on her, Natalie Portman has shown interest in returning if…
The Closing of Disney World’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
In a surprising turn of events, Disney World’s highly anticipated immersive experience, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, will be closing its doors. The announcement, reported by CNBC on May 18th, 2023, comes as a major disappointment to Star Wars fans worldwide. The Galactic Starcruiser was a unique, immersive experience that promised guests a two-night adventure aboard a luxury spaceship filled with characters and stories from the Star Wars universe. Although the exact reasons for the closure have not been fully disclosed, it appears the decision has come about as a result of several converging factors. From the outset, the Galactic Starcruiser experience was pitched as a high-end offering, with prices reflecting this exclusivity. However, the hefty price tag led to criticisms from guests who felt the cost was not reflective of the value offered by the experience. Despite its unique concept and the incredible attention to detail that went into creating…
Embrace the Force with Fanatical’s 80% Off Star Wars Game Bundle
Star Wars Celebration brought an incredible amount of excitement to fans last weekend, with the highly anticipated sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor set to release on April 28th. Fans can continue to immerse themselves in the galaxy far, far away with a 14-game Star Wars bundle on Fanatical, available at a massive 80% discount for a limited time. The Star Wars Collection, typically priced at £76/$100, is now available for just £16/$21. With this purchase, you’ll receive 14 Steam codes to redeem these thrilling games. However, don’t wait too long, as this deal ends on April 16th. Below is an overview of the 14 Star Wars games included in the bundle, showcasing the incredible variety of genres available, ensuring there’s something for every Star Wars fan. Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is a classic role-playing game (RPG) developed by BioWare. Set 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire, players assume…
How to Watch Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 at Home
Can’t make it to London for Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023? Don’t worry, you can still be a part of the galaxy far, far away from the comfort of your own home. The event, taking place from April 7-10, will provide fans with a range of ways to stay updated and engaged. Here’s how you can participate and enjoy the event from home. Live Streaming: Lucasfilm’s official live stream, Star Wars Celebration LIVE!, will be your gateway to the event. Tune in on the StarWars.com homepage or YouTube.com/StarWars at the following times: The live stream will feature select panels, celebrity guests on the LIVE! stage, exclusive interviews, and much more. News and Features: For the latest news, features, and updates from Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, be sure to visit the StarWars.com homepage and the News + Features section. This will keep you informed of all the breaking news and…
Redemption Arc for Jar Jar Binks’ Actor in Star Wars
Ahmed Best, the actor who once portrayed the much-maligned Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels, is set to make a triumphant return to the franchise in a new Mandalorian spinoff series. Best will step into the role of Jedi Knight Beq, a character who has already won fans over in the Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge series. Ahmed Best first became a household name with his portrayal of Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. The character, however, proved to be divisive among fans, with many criticizing the Gungan’s antics and comic relief role as detracting from the overall tone of the films. Despite the backlash, Best has remained an active participant in the Star Wars community and has embraced his part in the series’ history. His new role as Jedi Beq in the upcoming Mandalorian spinoff presents a chance for Best to showcase his talents…
Wookieepedia Takes a Step Forward in Inclusivity with Latest Update
Wookieepedia, the go-to online encyclopedia for all things Star Wars, has taken a significant step forward in promoting inclusivity in the Star Wars community. In its latest update, the site has added the option for users to specify their preferred pronouns. The feature, which allows users to add their preferred pronouns to their profiles, is a small but important change that demonstrates Wookieepedia’s commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all Star Wars fans. The move is part of a growing trend among online communities to provide users with more control over their personal information and how they are represented. By including the option to specify preferred pronouns, Wookieepedia is sending a message of acceptance and support to those who identify as non-binary, gender non-conforming, or transgender. It’s a recognition of the fact that gender is a complex and personal aspect of identity, and that everyone deserves to…
Ewok paploo also known as Gary Friedkin dead at 70 after long battle with COVID-19
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Gary Friedkin, best known for his role as the Ewok Paploo in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Friedkin, who was 70 years old, passed away after a battle with COVID-19. Friedkin was born in Los Angeles in 1950 and began his acting career in the early 1970s with appearances on popular TV shows such as Happy Days and The Six Million Dollar Man. He also had small roles in films such as The Blues Brothers and The Blues Brothers 2000. However, it was his role as Paploo in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi that solidified his place in pop culture history. Paploo was a member of the Ewok tribe on the forest moon of Endor and played a crucial role in the Rebel Alliance’s victory over the Galactic Empire. In an interview with StarWars.com in 2018, Friedkin…
SWTOR: Veteran Mode for Flashpoint: Elom now on PTS
The Public test servres for Star Wars: The old Republic has been updated wieht new goodies. Players can now test and give initial feedback on the Veteran Mode for the Elom Flashpoint. As a reminder, the following content is available on PTS for players to experience. Combat Styles: Guardian Sentinel Sniper Operative Assassin Sorcerer Mercenary Powertech Juggernaut Marauder Sage Scoundrel Vanguard Other: Level 80 Game Scaling Legendary Items For more details on what is currently available on PTS, check out our Legacy of the Sith Status Update forum post: LEVEL 1. Content is complete and shippable N/A LEVEL 2. Playable/functional. May have known issues and bugs. N/A LEVEL 3. Partially available. Likely to see WIP markers or placeholder UI where applicable, etc… Sage Scoundrel Vanguard Guardian Sentinel Sniper Operative Sorcerer Assassin Powertech Mercenary Juggernaut Marauder Ability tree for all the above Legendary Items Boost package/PTS boosts updated to bring you to…
May the 4th Be With You!
It’s that time of year again, folks – my favorite day of the year: May the 4th. This is a day for Star Wars geeks or all ages to get their Star Wars fun on. How will you celebrate? It’s a great day for a movie marathon. Some people like to cosplay or host St Wars themed parties where they can dress up as their favorite characters from the franchises. I did a great Geek Pride Day 5K in honor of May the 4th today: It’s also a really great day to get awesome deals of cool Star Wars merchandise. You can find deals everywhere, but my favorite place to shop is Amazon – especially if you have Prime because you don’t have to wait forever to get your goods. Another favorite “geeky” store of mine is BoxLunch.com. They have a deal for 30% off all Star Wars stuff right now,…
SWTOR: Winter/Spring 2018 Roadmap Update
Keith Kanneg just updated the SWTOR comunnity on BioWares SWTOR plans for the rest of this winter and the start of spring. Check it out: Winter/Spring 2018 Roadmap Update | 02.15.2018, 05:35 PM Hey everyone, I think for all of us, this Roadmap process we started last year could stand a bit of improvement. Instead of providing information every 90 days or so, it’s taking a lot longer to get you any information about what we’re planning, and honestly, that needs to change. I’m still reticent about communicating details beyond 90 days, but I do want you to be comfortable with our direction and where we are headed. With this in-mind, we’ve decided to use the Forums as the means to get you the information about the next couple months versus waiting for a Roadmap. This will allow us to be more responsive to your questions, address your concerns, and maintain a…
SWTOR Game Update 5.1 – Coming January 24, 2017
The SWTOR team over at BioWare just posted a small update regarding what to expect with game update 5.1. Most of this is already known, but there is some new info regarding a new cartel pack comming with the patch. Check it out: Bolster your defenses with the galaxy’s newest gear, including never-before-seen armor, vehicles, weapons, and more! Lead a covert strike wearing the new Silent Warden Jedi robes, channel your inner fighter pilot with the Resourceful Engineer’s Armor, or roll into battle atop the Dread Behemoth tank. Check out the new pack in the in-game Cartel Market! The other stuff about 5.1 were things we already know – 5 new uprisings, Master mode chapters.
Star Wars: Battlefront Death Star to Launch “Very Soon”
While we still do not have an actual release date for Star Wars: Battlefront’s Death Star DLC, it’s safe to assume at this point that the add-on will be released very soon indeed. According to the latest reports, lighting artist Oscar Carlen is already working on the game. When asked when he would get around to working on the expansion, he tweeted out that he was already working overtime on it, to “make the Emperor happy”. Apparently, lighting work is among the last finishing touches, so if work has indeed progressed that far, it’s safe to assume that the release itself is close by. The speculation is based on what Battlefront lead designer Dennis Brannwall stated during his Outer Rim live stream way back in March. According to Brannwall, lighting artists are always the ones who come in latest to the level which has to be all finished by that…
More Battlefront Death Star Details Revealed
As the release of Star Wars Battlefront’s Death Star expansion draws near, more and more exciting details surface about the coming content. While we have known about what Death Star will deliver by and large for about a month now, few specifics were available. For instance, we knew about the coming of Chewbacca and Bossk as the hero-villain pair of the expansion, but thus far we knew little about how they would be wreaking havoc on their opponents. Chewbacca will apparently carry a supercharged bowcaster, and he will also be able to just smash those unfortunate enough to get near him. He also has an additional ability: the wookie’s roar will disorient nearby enemies. Bossk on the other hand will be able to drop grenades close to himself without taking damage and his blaster is equipped with infrared sights. Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader will square off in the expansion…
Next Star Wars: Battlefront DLC to Include Chewbacca
For a true Star Wars fan, the inclusion of heroes like Nien Nunb and Greedo before the iconic Chewbacca never made much sense, unless his delay was purposely meant to increase anticipation – which was probably the case indeed. With Battlefront’s upcoming DLC called Death Star, Chewie will finally take his rightful place as Han Solo’s trusted partner in the game. Exactly what sort of firepower the wookie will bring isn’t yet clear, as the only confirmation of his upcoming introduction is currently nothing but a flimsy screenshot posted by EA a few days ago. Currently, there isn’t an actual trailer out for Death Star, but it is indeed a bit early for that: the DLC is only due out in September, and until then we’re bound to see more of Chewbacca in action. The other hero delivered by the Death Star DLC will be Bossk, another bounty-hunter for the…
Chicago Star Wars Museum Cancelled
In what would have given us another good reason to visit Chicago, we now have news that George Lucas has cancelled the plans to build a Star Wars museum. The Chicago Tribune recently reported that Lucas has halted his Windy City plans to build The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. It would seem that Lucas has spent the past two years arguing with the city of Chicago over the land the museum was to be built on. The story says that back in 2014, a group called Friends of the Parks filed a lawsuit that sought to stop the museum from being built on the Chicago lakefront. they say that anything build on the lakefront has to specifically benefit the citizens of Chicago since this land belongs to them. The Star Wars museum proposed by Lucas would not, in their opinion, specifically benefit the people of Chicago. It doesn’t make a lot of…
SWTOR DARK vs. LIGHT EVENT
A new event is coming to SWTOR so get ready! Starting on June 28, there will be a Dark vs. Light event. You will need to start brand new characters for this event. Previous characters and their milestones or achievements will not count for this event. There will be rewards based on each reward level you can reach: Heroic Legacy Valiant Champion Eternal Legendary The event ends this fall and you do not have to keep the character to achieve the requirements. Once you have completed the objective by receiving the achievement, that character no longer needs to be active. So you could level to 50 on a character, and then delete it. This may work for people who just want to win the awards for the event but don’t have 8 free character slots on their primary legacy server. Some other options are: Complete the objectives on a different server…
Some Points to Ponder About Bespin, Battlefront’s Upcoming DLC
In January, EA DICE have set up a roadmap for their Star Wars: Battlefront DLC strategy, a roadmap through which they aimed to deliver new and exciting content to the game oft-criticized for its shallowness, in a way that would keep existing players engaged while hopefully drawing in new crowds. The first DLC, Outer Rim, has already landed, and if the way it was delivered is any indication – and it most probably should be – the second DLC, Bespin, will see a two-stage release as well. Outer Rim landed for season pass holders on March 22, while everyone else could pick it up on April 5. Now then, with Bespin, we do not yet know of any specific release date(s), but there’s plenty of speculation out there, and the devs have dropped a number of clues in this respect too. Season pass holders will obviously get a fortnight of…
No Weapon Tuning for Vibroswords in Near Future
There won’t be any weapon tuning to Vibroswords in the near future due to technical limitations in SWTOR. Which weapons would you like to see Weapon Tuning slots on? | 06.03.2016, 03:40 PM Hey folks, One of the items we saw a lot of requests for in this thread are various Vibroswords. As we continue forward we will be adding Weapon Tuning Slots on to more and more weapons. However, we wanted to let you know that in the current plan, Vibroswords will not be receiving a tuning slot. We agree with you that they would be an awesome addition to Vibroswords, but the team has to work through some unique limitations for those weapons first. It is something we would like to do at some point, just not in the near term. If anything changes on that front I will be sure to pass it on. Thanks for understanding.
SWTOR Addressing Weapon Tuning issues
BioWares Eric Musco took on the forums to address the weapon tuning issues the swtor community have been talking about. Check it out: Hey folks, I wanted to stop in to this thread and address some of the questions/concerns that have arisen since we introduced Weapon Tunings yesterday. First off, please keep the feedback coming. We have seen a lot of feedback relating to things like drop rates, adding the tuning to Collections, etc. The team is actively looking at all of your feedback and considering what future changes, if any, need to occur. Here are a few of the common questions we have seen: Is the Weapon Tuning more rare than other rare items? The Weapon Tuning’s drop rate is on par with most other rare items found in a pack. At times there are rare items which are exceedingly rare, such as the Unstable Lightsaber, but the Weapon Tuning…