When Bryce Dallas Howard describes a job as “fun, fun and more fun,” Hollywood usually listens politely and moves on. When she adds that directing episodes of Ahsoka Season 2 was “the most fun that I have had in my adult life”—and calls the experience “magical”—that’s a different signal entirely. This isn’t hype. It’s a seasoned filmmaker talking about a creative high point inside one of the most closely watched productions on Disney+. And for Star Wars fans, it offers a revealing look at why Ahsoka continues to feel both confident and playful as it expands its corner of the galaxy. A Director Who Knows This Galaxy Howard isn’t a guest passing through Star Wars. By now, she’s one of the franchise’s most reliable behind-the-camera voices. Her work on The Mandalorian—including fan-favorite episodes like “Sanctuary” and “The Heiress”—earned her a reputation for balancing emotional character beats with clean, readable action….
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Why Star Wars Nostalgia Is Stronger Than Marvel’s
By any reasonable metric, both Star Wars and Marvel sit at the center of modern pop culture. They dominate theaters, streaming platforms, toy aisles, and convention floors. Yet when conversations turn reflective—when people talk about what these franchises meant to them rather than what they earned—one pattern keeps resurfacing: Star Wars nostalgia runs deeper, and it lingers longer. This isn’t about box office totals or online fan debates. It’s about emotional memory. And for readers asking why Star Wars seems to occupy a more permanent place in people’s lives than the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the answer lies in how, when, and why those memories were formed. Generational Memory vs. Moment-Based Fandom One of the clearest differences between Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the way audiences first encountered them. Star Wars was rarely discovered alone. For decades, it was introduced—often deliberately—by parents to children. The Original Trilogy lived…
A Small Droid, a Quiet Tribute — and a Thoughtful Nod to Carl Weathers
Sometimes Star Wars honors its legacy in loud ways. Other times, it does so with restraint. This one falls firmly in the second category. Lucasfilm has confirmed that the copper assistant droid seen alongside Greef Karga in The Mandalorian carries the designation CW-24 — a deliberate tribute to the late Carl Weathers, who portrayed Karga across the series’ run. It’s subtle. Easy to miss. And exactly the kind of gesture that fits both the character and the man behind him. What Lucasfilm Has Done — and Why It Matters Now The naming choice comes as Star Wars continues to reflect on Weathers’ impact following his passing in early 2024. Beyond his on-screen presence, Weathers also directed several standout episodes of The Mandalorian, shaping the show’s visual language in its formative seasons. Rather than a title card or a public dedication, Lucasfilm opted for something woven directly into the universe. CW-24…
A Month of Star Wars Mornings Is Coming to Los Angeles — And the Timing Matters
There’s a quiet, deliberate kind of magic in watching Star Wars on the big screen before the year really gets going. No hype cycles. No spoilers. Just a darkened theater, a familiar score, and a story you already know—but somehow still want to revisit. That’s exactly what’s happening in Los Angeles this winter. Starting Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Ted Mann Theater on Wilshire Boulevard is hosting a steady run of Star Wars theatrical screenings—one film per week, all beginning at 11:00am. It’s a simple idea, executed well, and it lands at a very specific moment in the franchise’s timeline. What’s Screening, and When The program opens with The Empire Strikes Back on Saturday, January 3, followed by Return of the Jedi on January 10. From there, the schedule moves backward and forward across the saga: Every screening starts at 11:00am. No evening rush. No marathon fatigue. Just a consistent…
Tony Gilroy Pushes Back on Claims That Andor Is a Left-Leaning Show
Andor has often been described as one of the most politically grounded Star Wars series ever made. That framing has led some viewers to label it as explicitly left-leaning. According to Tony Gilroy, that interpretation misses the point. In a recent interview, Gilroy addressed the assumption head-on, making it clear that while his own political beliefs lean left, Andor was never designed to argue for a specific political program. Why This Conversation Keeps Coming Up Andor arrived at a moment when audiences are primed to read politics into everything. The show deals with authoritarian power, surveillance, bureaucracy, and rebellion—topics that naturally invite real-world comparisons. But Gilroy’s position is that Andor isn’t interested in policy debates. It’s interested in pressure. That distinction matters, especially as Star Wars storytelling has increasingly been filtered through modern political lenses rather than narrative intent. What Gilroy Actually Said Speaking on a podcast interview, Gilroy explained…
Ben Burtt Becomes Lucasfilm’s First-Ever 50-Year Service Award Recipient
Some people define a franchise with a face.Ben Burtt defined Star Wars with sound. Lucasfilm has honored Burtt with its first-ever 50-year Service Award, marking half a century of work that didn’t just support the galaxy far, far away—but quite literally gave it a voice. This isn’t a ceremonial milestone. It’s a recognition that without Burtt, Star Wars as we know it simply wouldn’t exist. Why This Matters Now As Star Wars approaches its own 50th anniversary, Lucasfilm is quietly shifting focus from characters and eras to the people who built the foundation. Awarding a 50-year Service Award for the first time sends a clear message: legacy isn’t just about stories on screen. It’s about the craft behind them. And no one represents that craft more completely than Ben Burtt. The Sounds That Built a Galaxy Burtt didn’t just design effects. He created a language of sound that modern cinema…
Mark Hamill on AI, Luke Skywalker & the Future of Star Wars
When the topic of AI-generated characters comes up in Hollywood, few voices resonate like that of Mark Hamill — the maIn an interview with Variety, Mark Hamill was asked a question that sits right at the intersection of fandom, technology, and legacy: would he want AI to be used to depict Luke Skywalker in future Star Wars projects? His answer wasn’t a yes. It wasn’t a no. It was something more thoughtful—and far more revealing. “It’s hard to predict the future, but I may have to ask my family if they want me in a Star Wars movie 30 years from now after I’m gone.” That single sentence captures the uncertainty Hollywood is now wrestling with as AI-generated performances move from novelty to inevitability. Why Mark Hamill’s Opinion Matters Hamill isn’t just another actor — he is Luke Skywalker. That role has spanned nearly five decades, from the original 1977…
ILM’s 2025 Holiday Card Is a Subtle Nod to 50 Years of Visual Storytelling
When Industrial Light & Magic released its official 2025 holiday card, it didn’t feel like marketing—or even a celebration in the usual sense. It felt deliberate. Quiet. Confident. At first glance, the card shows a glowing Christmas ornament hanging on a tree. Inside the glass: a bright red “50”, an X-wing silhouette, and tiny sci-fi details embedded in the glow. It’s festive, sure—but it’s also doing something more interesting than just wishing people happy holidays. Why People Are Searching for This Card Most searches around the ILM holiday card come down to a few clear questions: The short answer: this card isn’t about hype. It’s about legacy. What the Design Is Actually Communicating ILM was founded in 1975, making 2025 its 50th year. Instead of spelling that out, the card lets the number speak for itself. The choice of a glass ornament matters. Ornaments are handled carefully, brought out once…
Dave Filoni Honored With Lucasfilm Service Award After 20 Years of Shaping Star Wars
Some milestones don’t need hype. They speak for themselves. Dave Filoni has received a Lucasfilm Service Award, recognizing 20 years with the company and a body of work that has quietly, steadily reshaped how Star Wars tells its stories. It’s a moment that feels overdue—and entirely fitting. Why this matters now Star Wars has changed dramatically over the last two decades. Formats shifted. Audiences broadened. Expectations hardened. Through all of that, Filoni became a constant. Not because he chased trends, but because he understood the connective tissue of the galaxy far, far away—its themes, its rhythms, and its emotional logic. The Service Award isn’t about a single show or character. It’s about continuity. Stewardship. Trust. What the award recognizes The Lucasfilm Service Award is an internal honor, given to individuals whose long-term contributions helped define the company’s creative identity. In Filoni’s case, that contribution spans animation, live-action television, character creation,…
A Sweet Slice of the Galaxy: New Star Wars Minis Holiday Short Arrives
This Christmas season, Star Wars isn’t just about big blockbusters and sprawling sagas — it’s also about playful creativity and holiday cheer. Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic have quietly released a stylized short as part of the Star Wars Minis series, offering fans a whimsical twist on a classic scene from the original saga. Why This Matters Now The holidays are a time for traditions, nostalgia, and rediscovery — and this Star Wars short taps into all three. Rather than launching another high-stakes story or trailer, Lucasfilm has delivered something lighter: a festive reinterpretation of the iconic Death Star trench run, rebuilt entirely out of gingerbread cookies and holiday spirit. It’s a reminder that Star Wars can connect with audiences of all ages in creative, unexpected ways — not just through sprawling epics, but through bite-sized, joyful moments that celebrate the franchise’s place in pop culture. What Was Released…
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Was Released 6 Years Ago Today
Six years ago today, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrived in theaters carrying more weight than almost any film in the franchise’s history. It wasn’t just the final chapter of a trilogy. It was positioned as the conclusion of the entire Skywalker saga — nine films, four decades, and generations of expectations converging into a single release. Whether you loved it, questioned it, or are still debating it, the film’s place in Star Wars history is undeniable. The moment it landed When The Rise of Skywalker premiered, it closed a sequel trilogy that had already sparked intense discussion about tone, legacy, and direction. The film brought back familiar faces, re-centered the conflict around the Sith, and aimed for a sense of finality that the saga had never attempted before. It was fast, emotional, and unapologetically big — clearly designed to feel like an ending. For Lucasfilm, it marked the…
Maul – Shadow Lord Gets an Official Plot Description — and It’s Exactly as Dark as It Sounds
Darth Maul has never really fit into neat boxes. Sith apprentice, crime lord, survivor, symbol of unfinished business. Now, Star Wars is finally putting a clear frame around his next chapter — and it lands in one of the franchise’s most volatile eras. An official plot description for Maul – Shadow Lord has been revealed, and it confirms a story rooted firmly in chaos, power struggles, and the moral vacuum left behind after the fall of the Republic. What’s been revealed The new official description reads: “Maul – Shadow Lord explores Maul’s quest for power in the gritty and merciless underworld following the aftermath of The Clone Wars and Order 66.” That’s it. No character list. No timeline specifics beyond the obvious. And that restraint matters. This isn’t about spectacle or legacy cameos. It’s about positioning Maul exactly where he thrives: in the shadows, fighting for relevance in a galaxy…
James Cameron Says Star Wars Is the Reason He Became a Filmmaker
James Cameron didn’t just watch Star Wars.He saw his own imagination projected onto a movie screen. And that realization, he says, is what pushed him toward becoming a filmmaker. A moment of recognition, not imitation In a recent interview with CBS, Cameron reflected on the first time he experienced George Lucas’ 1977 space opera—and how unsettlingly familiar it felt. As a teenager, Cameron would listen to fast electronic music on headphones, imagining elaborate space battles filled with energy weapons and complex maneuvers. Then Star Wars arrived. “I would’ve thought, ‘They took that from my brain,’” Cameron said, before laughing at the idea. His actual conclusion was far more practical—and far more important. If the images in his head matched what audiences were lining up to see in the biggest movie in the world, then maybe his imagination had value. Maybe it was something people would actually pay to experience. That…
Bobby Moynihan Is Bringing His Voice to Star Wars: Beyond Victory — and That’s the Point
Star Wars has no shortage of epic heroes, but right now, it’s the side characters who are doing something interesting. In a new interview with Industrial Light & Magic, Bobby Moynihan talks about his role in Star Wars: Beyond Victory, ILM Immersive’s upcoming mixed-reality experience — and why this project feels different from traditional Star Wars storytelling. Not louder. Not bigger. Just more personal. What Beyond Victory actually is Star Wars: Beyond Victory is an immersive Star Wars experience being developed by ILM Immersive, the same team behind Vader Immortal and Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge. It’s designed for mixed reality, blending the physical space around the player with Star Wars environments and characters. Rather than placing players in the middle of galaxy-spanning events, the story focuses on a more grounded corner of the universe, with podracing culture playing a central role. Moynihan voices a key character in that world…
Star Wars Fans Take the Fight to NYC to Save The Hunt for Ben Solo
This isn’t a hashtag. It’s a billboard. Star Wars fans have taken their campaign to the streets of New York City, launching a public, real-world effort to revive a shelved project called The Hunt for Ben Solo. And by choosing Times Square and other high-visibility spots, they’re making sure the message is impossible to ignore. What happened — and why now Over the past few weeks, fans have organized a coordinated campaign in NYC calling on Disney and Lucasfilm to reconsider The Hunt for Ben Solo, a proposed standalone Star Wars film centered on Kylo Ren after The Rise of Skywalker. The campaign includes a Times Square billboard, physical posters styled like missing-person notices, and in-person fan meetups. It’s not tied to a convention or a release window. The timing is intentional: the effort follows renewed attention around the project after Adam Driver publicly confirmed that a Ben Solo film…
The Classiest Clapback in Star Wars History: Ron Howard Defends 9-Year-Old Jake Lloyd
Before The Phantom Menace even hit theaters in 1999, the Star Wars discourse machine was already warming up its hyperdrives—and somehow decided that a nine-year-old child was a perfectly acceptable target. Yes, really. Long before social media outrage cycles, YouTube essayists, and algorithm-fueled pile-ons, Newsweek published a piece criticizing Jake Lloyd’s performance as young Anakin Skywalker… before the film was even released. And that’s when Ron Howard stepped in—with a letter so calm, measured, and devastatingly polite that it still reads like a masterclass in public decency. A Letter That Aged Better Than Most Hot Takes Dated January 14, 1999, the letter came directly from Ron Howard, co-CEO of Imagine Entertainment and someone who, conveniently, actually knew what it meant to be a child actor under public scrutiny. Howard didn’t yell. He didn’t grandstand. He didn’t threaten.He simply dismantled the article with quiet precision. He called the critique of Jake…
John Cena’s Final WWE Moment Had an Obi-Wan Kenobi Energy — And That Wasn’t an Accident
When John Cena tapped out in his final WWE match, the moment felt different. Quieter. More deliberate. Less like a loss — and more like a decision. Now, Cena has implied that the choice was intentional, drawing inspiration from an unexpected place: Obi-Wan Kenobi. For fans watching in real time, it suddenly makes sense why that ending landed the way it did. A Choice, Not a Collapse In Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi doesn’t lose to Darth Vader because he’s overpowered. He chooses to stop fighting. He understands that his role has changed — that the future no longer depends on him winning, but on him stepping aside. Cena has suggested that his final WWE match followed a similar philosophy. Instead of going out on top, or dragging out one last heroic victory, he tapped out. A rare move for a performer whose entire legacy was built on endurance, strength, and…
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic Announced — A New RPG Led by Casey Hudson
The Old Republic is officially back in the spotlight. A brand-new Star Wars game titled Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic has been announced, and it’s already turning heads for one very big reason: Casey Hudson is leading the project at Arcanaut Studios. Yes—that Casey Hudson. The creative force behind Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect trilogy. For longtime Star Wars gaming fans, this announcement feels less like news and more like destiny. A Return to the Old Republic Era Fate of the Old Republic is set thousands of years before the Skywalker saga, in an era defined by powerful Force users, rising Sith empires, and galaxy-shaping choices. This isn’t a side story or a nostalgic cameo—it’s a full-scale return to one of the most beloved periods in Star Wars lore. The Old Republic setting allows the game to explore Star Wars without being boxed in…
A New Record: Tom Jung’s Original Star Wars Painting Sells for $3.875 Million
The Force is strong… with the art market.A new record has officially been set for the most expensive Star Wars item ever sold, and it didn’t come from a prop vault, a film set, or George Lucas’s personal closet. Instead, the crown now belongs to an original 1977 poster painting by legendary illustrator Tom Jung — the very same artwork that helped introduce Star Wars to the world. The hammer price?A jaw-dropping $3.875 million. That’s right. A single painting has now out-sold every lightsaber, helmet, model, costume, script, or production relic ever brought to auction. The Painting That Launched a Galaxy If you’re a Star Wars fan, you know this artwork — even if you don’t know the name behind it. Tom Jung’s painting became the iconic “Style A” poster for Star Wars (1977). It’s the one with: This wasn’t just marketing.It was myth-making. Jung’s work set the tone for…
Columbia Drops New Endor-Inspired Star Wars Collection — Outdoor Gear for Your Inner Rebel
If you’ve ever watched Return of the Jedi and thought, “Honestly, I’d wear that Endor gear in real life,” Columbia Sportswear has just made your oddly specific dream come true. The brand has teamed up with Star Wars again — but this time, they’ve gone all-in on the forest moon aesthetic. This isn’t one of those loud, logo-plastered collabs that screams I bought this on May the 4th. No, Columbia’s Endor Collection is what happens when a real outdoor gear company sits down and asks:What if Rebel soldiers actually needed functional clothing? Spoiler: they’d look pretty cool. A Functional, Forest-Ready Tribute to Endor Columbia isn’t new to Star Wars crossovers, but the Endor lineup might be their most ambitious drop yet. Instead of simply recreating movie costumes, the designers translated the Endor vibe into real outdoor wear — the kind you can actually hike in without looking like you escaped…
McDonald’s Celebrates Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary With 70 Toys — Including 9 Star Wars Collectibles
McDonald’s is celebrating 70 years of the Disneyland Resort in the only appropriate way:by dropping a massive set of 70 different Happy Meal toys, each one themed to a moment, character, or attraction from across Disneyland’s history. Yes — 70 toys.Yes — collectors everywhere just felt a disturbance in the Force. But the biggest headline for us galaxy-far-far-away people? McDonald’s included nine Star Wars toys in the lineup. Between Disneyland history, Star Tours nostalgia, and Galaxy’s Edge hype, this crossover practically writes itself — and it’s already shaping up to be one of McDonald’s biggest collectible promotions in years. Celebrating 70 Years of Disneyland Magic Disneyland opened in 1955, and since then, the resort has evolved into a multi-generation dream machine full of classic attractions, land expansions, and big IP crossovers. McDonald’s is tapping into that legacy by releasing: This isn’t just a kids’ meal promotion — it’s a full-scale…
Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Lands on ITVX – A New Home for a Galaxy Divided
The Star Wars sequel trilogy has officially hyperspaced its way to a new streaming home: ITVX.The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) have now joined the platform, giving UK viewers an easy place to revisit (or re-debate) one of the most divisive eras in Star Wars history. Source And honestly—few trilogies deserve the word “divisive” quite as much as this one. A Galaxy Reborn… Then Argued About After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, the studio launched a brand-new sequel trilogy set decades after Return of the Jedi. The nostalgia was real: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill all returned as Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker. At the same time, a new generation took the spotlight: Together, they find themselves locked in a war against Supreme Leader Snoke and his apprentice Kylo Ren — better known as Ben Solo, son of…
The End of the Line for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser — Demolition and Reconfiguration Officially Underway
A Galactic Farewell The era of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is drawing to a definitive close. Permits recently filed by The Walt Disney Company mark the beginning of a major transformation at the property — demolition and reconfiguration of the former two-night immersive hotel into offices for Walt Disney Imagineering. Originally launched in March 2022 at Walt Disney World, the Galactic Starcruiser offered guests a unique adventure aboard the Halcyon starship, complete with themed rooms, interactive missions, and seamless integration with the Galaxy’s Edge lands. What the Permits Reveal The permit documents reveal several key details: In short: the space will remain, but the immersive hotel concept will not. Why Did It Come to This? Though the Starcruiser was ambitious and technically impressive, it struggled to find a sustainable business model. The high cost of the experience combined with its niche appeal led to its closure for guest bookings in late 2023….
The R2‑D2 Jet Has Made Its Final Jump to Hyperspace—ANA Says Goodbye to a Star Wars Legend
After nearly a decade of cruising across the skies like a metallic legend, Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has officially grounded its iconic R2‑D2 Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner. If you’ve ever looked up and spotted that shiny blue astromech droid flying overhead, savor the memory—because the galaxy just got a little less fun. Let’s break down what this farewell flight means, and why this isn’t just the end of a paint job—it’s the end of an era. One Last Flight for the Droid That Could The R2‑D2 Dreamliner made its final mission on August 6, 2025, flying from Tokyo Haneda to Washington Dulles and back. It was part of a larger Star Wars fleet ANA launched nearly ten years ago—and it’s safe to say no other aircraft has captured nerdy hearts quite like this one. This aircraft wasn’t just transportation. It was a full-blown tribute to Star Wars: a flying nod…