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…
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Disney Insiders Concerned About The Mandalorian & Grogu Buzz — But Ryan Gosling’s “Starfighter” Is Getting Strong Early Praise
There’s growing chatter inside Disney about the future of Star Wars on the big screen — and not all of it is centered on The Mandalorian & Grogu. According to new reporting, some Disney staffers are concerned that the film’s unconventional Super Bowl marketing push didn’t generate the level of excitement the studio had hoped for. At the same time, early buzz around Shawn Levy’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter is reportedly much more optimistic, with insiders praising Ryan Gosling’s performance and the film’s tone. Let’s break down what’s happening behind the scenes. Disney Reportedly Concerned About Super Bowl Reaction Disney used the Super Bowl to spotlight The Mandalorian & Grogu, the first Star Wars movie headed to theaters in years. Instead of a traditional trailer, the studio opted for a short, nostalgic-style commercial that leaned into humor and parody. While the creative approach stood out, it may not have delivered…
Steven Soderbergh and Adam Driver “Frustrated” After Disney Scraps The Hunt for Ben Solo
A surprising new chapter in the ongoing Star Wars saga behind the scenes has come to light, and it involves a project many fans didn’t even know existed: The Hunt for Ben Solo. According to recent interviews with director Steven Soderbergh, the unmade film spent years in development before Disney ultimately decided to pull the plug — leaving the creative team disappointed and fans wondering what could have been. Two and a Half Years of Work — For Nothing Speaking during a Brooklyn film series interview, Soderbergh revealed that he, Adam Driver, and writer Rebecca Blunt spent years developing the project, only to see it quietly cancelled. “That was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and Rebecca Blunt…The stated reason [from Disney] was, ‘We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.’ And that was all we were told. And so there’s nothing to do…
Martin Scorsese Officially Joins Star Wars — As an Ardennian in The Mandalorian & Grogu
In a twist nobody saw coming (but everyone secretly loves), legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese is officially stepping into the Star Wars galaxy. The iconic director will voice an Ardennian alien in the upcoming film The Mandalorian & Grogu, marking his first-ever appearance in a Star Wars project — even if it’s behind the mic. Yes, that Martin Scorsese. Taxi Driver. Goodfellas. The man who once famously critiqued superhero movies… now part of a galaxy far, far away. And honestly? This is kind of amazing. From Film Legend to Star Wars Cameo According to reports, Scorsese will lend his voice to an Ardennian — the same multi-armed alien species as Rio Durant from Solo: A Star Wars Story. The role is expected to be a voice cameo, but the significance is huge. Bringing in one of cinema’s most respected directors adds another layer of prestige (and fun crossover energy) to The…
The Mandalorian & Grogu Trailer Arrives Tomorrow — And It Already Looks Cinematic as Hell
Star Wars fans, clear your schedules. The first full trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu officially drops tomorrow, and if the early footage is anything to go by, this might be one of the most cinematic Star Wars projects we’ve seen in years. After dominating Disney+ with three seasons of The Mandalorian, Din Djarin and everyone’s favorite tiny Force user are heading to the big screen. And based on the preview clips floating around online, Jon Favreau and company are aiming big — very big. A True Big-Screen Star Wars Experience The early visuals from the upcoming trailer tease something that feels much closer to a full theatrical Star Wars film than a streaming spinoff. Wide landscape shots, detailed ship interiors, and large-scale action sequences all point toward a production designed specifically for cinema. We’re seeing sweeping planetary environments, cinematic lighting, and detailed close-ups that go well beyond the usual…
The Art of The Mandalorian & Grogu Cover May Confirm a Visit to Nal Hutta
The swamp looks familiar. The newly revealed cover for The Art of The Mandalorian & Grogu appears to feature what looks very much like Nal Hutta — the homeworld of the Hutt species. If that’s accurate, it could quietly confirm that part of The Mandalorian & Grogu takes place on one of the galaxy’s most infamous crime-ridden planets. And that would be a big deal. That Landscape Looks… Hutt-Like The right side of the cover features: That aesthetic lines up almost perfectly with how Nal Hutta has been depicted in previous canon and Legends material. Nal Hutta isn’t just any world. It’s the political and criminal heart of the Hutt Cartel. Why Nal Hutta Would Make Sense If Din Djarin and Grogu are stepping into theatrical territory, upping the scale makes sense. And Nal Hutta offers: It fits Din’s roots as a bounty hunter far more than polished Core World…
Jon Favreau Says Directing The Mandalorian & Grogu Is Like Playing With Star Wars Toys
Jon Favreau isn’t just a director — he’s a storyteller who learned his craft the same way many fans did: by playing with toys. In a new interview, Favreau explained his approach to directing The Mandalorian & Grogu by comparing it to those early imaginative play sessions many of us had with action figures. “That’s how I learned how to tell stories. You take these characters. You’re talking with your friends, and you’re acting things out [with the toys]. My job is not that different from that.” That one sentence says a lot about how Favreau views his work — with creativity rooted in play, imagination, and character interaction. From Toy Box to Director’s Chair Favreau’s comparison isn’t just cute nostalgia — it reveals a storytelling philosophy. Growing up with toys, you didn’t have scripts. You had: It’s the same bones of narrative structure directors use today — only with…
Jon Favreau Calls The Mandalorian & Grogu a “Culmination” of His Star Wars Work
Seven years in the making. In a new interview, Jon Favreau described The Mandalorian & Grogu as a personal milestone — calling it a “culmination” of his time working in the Star Wars galaxy. “I’ve been working on Star Wars now for seven years and to be able to step up to doing it as a film feels like a culmination of what I’m working on.” That’s not casual phrasing. From Streaming Gamble to Theatrical Event When The Mandalorian launched in 2019, it wasn’t just a new Star Wars show — it was the flagship title for Disney+. It introduced: Now, Favreau is taking those characters to the big screen. Calling it a “culmination” suggests this isn’t just a spinoff movie.It’s the payoff of an entire creative era. Seven Years of World-Building Favreau has helped shape: Moving from streaming to theatrical format feels symbolic. It’s the franchise saying:This era matters….
Jon Favreau Confirms Din Djarin Gets the Same Model Razor Crest in The Mandalorian & Grogu
The Razor Crest is back. Well… almost. In a new interview, Jon Favreau confirmed that in The Mandalorian & Grogu, Din Djarin is flying the same model of Razor Crest he originally had in the Disney+ series. “He’s in a Razor Crest now, which is the ship that he originally had. He’s in the same model of ship.” That wording matters. Not The Razor Crest — But the Same Model Fans will remember what happened to Din’s original Razor Crest in Season 2. It was obliterated. What Favreau is clarifying here isn’t a resurrection of the exact same vessel — but a return to the same ship class. In other words: Just not the exact same hull. And that distinction is important for canon consistency. Why Bring Back the Razor Crest Design? After Din briefly piloted the N-1 Starfighter, the aesthetic shift was noticeable. The N-1 was fast. Sleek. Almost…
Jon Favreau: “We Gotta Up Our Game” for The Mandalorian & Grogu — and Grogu Has Leveled Up
The jump from Disney+ to cinema isn’t being treated casually. In a new interview with Screen Rant, Jon Favreau explains that The Mandalorian & Grogu required a fundamental shift in scale and ambition. “We gotta up our game now for the movie theater,” Favreau said. And he meant it literally. Built for IMAX, Not for Pausing Favreau made it clear the film isn’t just a stretched-out TV episode: “We gotta up our game now for the movie theater, and that means taller aspect ratios for IMAX, building sets that take full advantage of…. We want to take you on an adventure, and that adventure has to fill up the screen and has to be something where people at this moment in time when so much is competing for your attention, that you’re gonna stop what you’re doing and you’re gonna go to a movie theater, and you’re gonna sit down…
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Is the Lowest-Budget Star Wars Movie Disney Has Ever Made
Disney’s newest entry in the Star Wars franchise, The Mandalorian and Grogu, has achieved something unexpected: it’s now officially the lowest-budget feature film in Star Wars history under the Disney era. According to production figures, the total production cost for The Mandalorian and Grogu landed at $166.4 million — a remarkably modest sum compared to the blockbuster budgets of previous entries in the galaxy far, far away. A Lean Approach in a Blockbuster Era To put that in context, most modern Star Wars films — especially theatrical releases under the Disney banner — have hovered well above $200 million in production costs, even before marketing. That makes The Mandalorian and Grogu’s $166.4 million figure stand out, not just within the franchise but among big-studio tentpoles in general. This leaner price tag could reflect a number of production decisions: Not a Sacrifice, Just Smart Spending Being the lowest-budget movie in the…
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Returned to Theaters in 3D 14 Years Ago Today
Fourteen years ago today, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace got a second life on the big screen — this time in 3D. Originally released in 1999, the film marked the beginning of the Prequel Trilogy. But in 2012, audiences were invited back to Naboo, Tatooine, and Coruscant for a theatrical re-release that brought podracers, lightsabers, and battle droids into the stereoscopic era. The First (and Only) Prequel 3D Release The 3D version of The Phantom Menace premiered in theaters on February 10, 2012, as part of a larger plan to convert all six live-action Star Wars films into 3D. That plan ultimately never reached completion, making Episode I the only saga film to receive the full theatrical 3D treatment. For fans, it was a chance to revisit iconic sequences in a new format: The added depth gave those already ambitious scenes a slightly different cinematic feel —…
Trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu Set to Debut During the Super Bowl
A new trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu is expected to premiere during Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast, according to industry reporting from Deadline. That puts the first major new look at the next big-screen Star Wars story in one of the most high-profile TV slots of the year — right alongside major studio tentpoles and blockbuster campaigns. For Star Wars fans, that’s not just a trailer drop. That’s a statement. Star Wars Returns to the Biggest Stage in Entertainment The Super Bowl has become as much a movie marketing event as a sports one. Studios use the broadcast to launch: Positioning The Mandalorian and Grogu in that lineup signals Disney sees this film as a flagship theatrical event, not just an extension of streaming storytelling. This is the movie that moves the Mandalorian era from Disney+ to the cinema — and the marketing push is clearly scaling up to match….
Star Wars: Starfighter Aims to Recapture the Joy of the Original Films, Says Screenwriter
Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter is being positioned as both something new and something deeply familiar. According to screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, the film is designed to tap back into the sense of adventure, excitement, and pure cinematic joy that defined the original Star Wars experience for many viewers as kids. “The joy we felt as little kids” Speaking about the project, Tropper described the creative goal behind Starfighter in terms that longtime fans will immediately recognize. He explained that audiences should expect: “Something new and different, but in very much the spirit of the original Star Wars movies. We really wanted adventure, excitement, wish fulfillment and the joy that we felt as little kids seeing those first versions of the movies.” That framing suggests a tonal direction focused less on dense lore and more on emotional immediacy — the kind of storytelling that prioritizes wonder and momentum. Balancing mythology with…
STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER Will Not Feature Any Legacy Characters, Says Screenwriter
Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter movie is shaping up to be a fresh start for the franchise — and that includes no appearances by legacy characters from previous films. According to screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, Starfighter is intentionally distancing itself from familiar faces like Luke Skywalker, Rey, or other established heroes and villains. Instead, Tropper says the story will entirely focus on new characters and a new chapter of the galaxy far, far away. “No legacy characters” means a clean slate In a recent comment addressing rumors ahead of the film’s planned 2027 release, Tropper confirmed the decision directly: “I think it’s known that we have no legacy characters. You’re not going to see any of the characters you’ve seen in the other movies.” That’s a significant creative choice, especially in a franchise that has often tied new projects closely to its past. Why this matters for Starfighter In recent years,…
Rian Johnson Says He Wants New Star Wars Stories Following Kathleen Kennedy’s Exit
Filmmaker Rian Johnson is looking ahead with optimism for the future of Star Wars, expressing excitement about fresh creative voices entering the galaxy far, far away following Kathleen Kennedy’s departure from Lucasfilm leadership. Johnson, who directed Star Wars: The Last Jedi, shared his perspective in a recent interview, focusing on what he sees as the most thrilling possibility in the post-Kennedy era: new storytellers and new stories. “Fresh voices” driving the future of Star Wars “As a Star Wars fan,” Johnson said, “the most exciting thing for me is always seeing when they bring in fresh voices and fresh filmmakers to come in and tell new stories in that world. That’s what I am looking forward to seeing more happen.” His comments emphasize a creative approach that values diversity of perspective over repetition of familiar formulas — a sentiment shared by many within the industry as leadership at Lucasfilm transitions….
Taika Waititi Wants His Star Wars Movie to Feel Fun Again — Like the Originals
For years, Taika Waititi’s Star Wars project has existed in a strange limbo — officially announced, frequently mentioned, but rarely explained. Now, the director has offered one of his clearest statements yet about what he actually wants his film to feel like. And the key word is simple: fun. According to Waititi, the goal isn’t to reinvent Star Wars or push it into darker territory. Instead, he wants to recapture something that’s been easy to overlook in recent years — the playful, adventurous energy that defined the original films. Vis dette opslag på Instagram Et opslag delt af Variety (@variety) “Harness the fun from the original films” Waititi has described his approach as an attempt to reconnect with what made Star Wars click in the first place. Not the lore spreadsheets. Not the timeline debates. But the sense that these movies were, at their core, entertaining space adventures with heart….
The Mandalorian & Grogu Will Be “A Lot Bigger Than the Series,” Says Lateef Crowder
The scale of The Mandalorian & Grogu just got a little clearer. According to Lateef Crowder, the upcoming Star Wars film isn’t simply an extended episode of the Disney+ series — it’s something much bigger. “I want people to be surprised. One thing I will say is there’s a lot of great action, a lot bigger than the series.” Crowder shared the comment during a recent interview, offering a rare on-the-record hint about what fans should expect when Din Djarin and Grogu make the jump from streaming to the big screen. Full video interview: “Bigger Than the Series” Is the Key Phrase Here That specific wording matters. The Mandalorian already delivers cinematic action by TV standards, but Crowder’s comment suggests the film is leaning fully into theatrical-scale storytelling — not just in visuals, but in action design. In other words:this isn’t a “Disney+ movie.” It’s a Star Wars movie. What…
Everything We Know About Dave Filoni’s “Mandoverse” Crossover Movie (So Far)
Dave Filoni’s Star Wars crossover movie has been talked about for years now — and yet it still feels like the most “Schrödinger’s Star Wars project” imaginable. It exists… but it also kind of doesn’t. It was announced as the cinematic event meant to tie together the Disney+ Star Wars era built around The Mandalorian — and it’s still expected to deliver a large-scale crossover featuring multiple shows. So what do we actually know right now? Let’s break it down into: confirmed, reported, and still speculation. What Is the Filoni Movie Supposed to Be? This is the important baseline: ✅ The film is designed as a crossover event for the interconnected Star Wars Disney+ timeline often nicknamed the “Mandoverse.” That includes the era after Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens, where Lucasfilm has built a shared story across multiple series. The original concept has long been described…
New “The Mandalorian & Grogu” Images Arrive — And They Look Very Theatrical
We’re still months away from The Mandalorian & Grogu landing in theaters, but marketing is slowly starting to warm up — and a fresh set of promotional images just surfaced, showing Din Djarin and Grogu in full cinematic mode. Fantha Tracks shared the newly spotted visuals, and even if they’re “just promo,” they already feel like a reminder that this isn’t simply Season 4 with a bigger screen — Lucasfilm clearly wants this to look like a proper Star Wars movie event. One of the standout images (appearing as a Brazil promo) frames Din Djarin in classic Mandalorian hero lighting, with Grogu perched behind him like a tiny green co-pilot who absolutely did not sign up for this level of danger… and yet here we are. The vibe: less TV episode, more movie poster What makes these images interesting isn’t just that they exist — it’s the presentation. This feels…
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…
Dave Filoni’s MandoVerse Movie Is Reportedly on the Backburner — But Thrawn Remains the Big Threat
If Lucasfilm ever needed one single project to prove the “everything connects” Disney+ strategy actually has an endgame… it was always going to be Dave Filoni’s MandoVerse movie. Now, according to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, that crossover film has been placed “on the backburner.” But the interesting part is what comes with that update: which shows are still expected to feed into it — and who the shared villain remains. Because yes: the end boss is still Grand Admiral Thrawn. Why this matters now Star Wars has been in a weird transitional phase. Movies are being announced, paused, revived, reshuffled — sometimes all in the same year. But the Disney+ side has continued to build a clear web of characters and stories across multiple series. This Filoni film has always been the “Avengers-style” culmination of that strategy. So hearing it’s on the backburner raises one obvious question:Is…
Kathleen Kennedy Says Casting Han Solo Was “An Impossible Situation” for Alden Ehrenreich
Kathleen Kennedy has spent years defending Lucasfilm’s big swings — and to be fair, Star Wars requires big swings. But in her latest Deadline exit interview, the outgoing Lucasfilm president offered a rare moment of direct, personal reflection on one of the most debated choices of the Disney era: asking Alden Ehrenreich to replace Harrison Ford as Han Solo. And Kennedy doesn’t sugarcoat it. Why this matters now With Kennedy stepping away from Lucasfilm leadership, these interviews aren’t just PR. They’re the closest thing we’ll get to an official post-mortem on modern Star Wars decision-making. And Solo: A Star Wars Story has always been one of the most interesting case studies: So Kennedy acknowledging regret here isn’t small. It’s a signal that Lucasfilm knows exactly what went wrong conceptually, even if the movie itself has aged better for many viewers. What Kathleen Kennedy said Kennedy praised Ehrenreich directly, but admitted…
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:…