Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Lucasfilm

  • ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Synopsis Clarifies Canonicity of the Animated Adventure

    ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Synopsis Clarifies Canonicity of the Animated Adventure

    As part of Star Wars Day 2023, Lucasfilm rolled out new a seven-episode animated series set in the High Republic Era, Young Jedi Adventures. Though it’s aimed at younger audiences, the question of whether or not the events in the series are considered canon has been raised as the series introduces new characters–and even a brand new species–during an era that’s yet to be explored outside of publication. In a press release, Lucasfilm has addressed the issue of the canonicity of the new series.

    Set 200 years before “The Phantom Menace,” during the High Republic era, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Junior, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” is executive produced by Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes. Michael Olson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is showrunner and executive producer; Elliot M. Bour (“Elena of Avalor”) is supervising director and co-producer; Jeannine Hodson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is producer; and Lamont Magee (“Black Lightning”) is consulting producer. “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda. 

    The reference to the events of The Phantom Menace would certainly seem to cement the series as canon in the Star Wars universe despite the show not really targeting the type of audience who cares about such things. As executive producer and Lucasfilm Senior Vice President Franchise Content & Strategy James Waugh explained “Star Wars transcends generations; fans of all ages deeply connect with its imaginative worlds, mythic stories, and unique characters.”

    Fans of the Marvel animated series, Spidey and His Amazing Friends, will find it shares a lot in common with Young Jedi Adventures. Not only does the new Star Wars series share the animated style of the Spidey show, it’s also similarly formatted and each pair of episodes is packed with opportunities for young viewers to learn core values through brand new characters. “When developing Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, the first Star Wars series created for preschoolers, the creative team never stopped thinking about how this show may be a “youngling’s” first step into a larger world and their first time experiencing the limitless potential of the Star Wars galaxy,” explained Waugh. “The show’s characters, tone, and the life lessons woven throughout each episode were written just for them, and our talented team was committed to honoring the cinematic legacy while staying true to the expectations of parents for the youngest of audiences.“

    You can read our full review of the new animated series right here before checking out the series which is now streaming on Disney Plus.

    Updating…

  • Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Movie May Hit Theaters Sooner Than Expected

    Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Movie May Hit Theaters Sooner Than Expected

    As part of Star Wars Celebration 2023, Lucasfilm announced three new Star Wars films that would usher the galaxy far, far away back into theaters. According to recent reports, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy hopes to have director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy‘s untitled New Jedi Order Era film ready to hit theaters in December 2025 but after that, it’s a bit murky. The timing of Dave Filoni‘s “Heir to the Empire” film is entirely dependent on the New Republic Era stories that are being told on Disney Plus and James Mangold‘s untitled Dawn of the Jedi Era project seems like a massive undertaking that could be several years off. But now, a previously announced project that only got a brief mention at Celebration is back in the news and may be ready for theaters sooner than expected.

    According to Deadline, Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi is not only still very much on board to direct his Star Wars project but might be ready to do so next year. The trade reports that while Waititi’s next project is likely to be his adaptation of the New York Times best-seller Klara and the Sun, his sights are still set on getting started on his untitled Star Wars film in 2024.

    Taika is still working away. He’s writing the script himself. He doesn’t really want to bring others into that process and I don’t blame him. He has a very, very unique voice. So we want to protect that and that’s what he’s doing. But we’re going to make that one day.

    Kathleen Kennedy on Taika Waititi’s Star Wars film, Star Wars Celebration 2023

    Waititi’s Star Wars project is still cloaked in mystery and has been pushed around on the schedule a few times already. Once upon a time, the film was expected to hit theaters in 2023. With Waititi needing more time on the script, production on the film was delayed to an expected 2023 start which, obviously, won’t happen with the director tackling Klara and the Sun. The good news is that Waititi likely won’t get pulled away from his Star Wars film by Marvel Studios for Thor 5 so it’s likely that he’ll make good on Kennedy’s promise that the film will get made “one day.” Even if production on the film does start in 2024, it’s highly unlikely it would hit theaters in 2025 with Obaid-Chinoy‘s film certainly the priority. However, it’s possible Lucasfilm could add a 2026 date to Disney’s theatrical slate should the film be ready for release by then.

    Source: Deadline

  • Andy Serkis Reveals the Fate of His ‘Andor’ Character

    Andy Serkis Reveals the Fate of His ‘Andor’ Character

    Season 1 of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars streaming series Andor took a deep dive into some uncomfortable corners of the galaxy far, far away. One of those corners included the moon known as Narkina 5, which was the location of an Imperial Prison Complex where Cassian Andor found himself sent following his arrest on Niamos. There, Andor met one of the series’ most talked about new characters: Andy Serkis‘ Kino Loy.

    The floor manager of Unit-Five-Two-D, Loy evolved from a no-nonsense ball buster to one of the organizers of the wonderful “One Way Out!” breakout from Narkina.

    When he was incarcerated, he then almost sheds any desire to look out for other people apart from himself. Just do his time and get out. To try and get out and just survive the sentence, the torture, the desensitization. I think it was that desensitization that made me perhaps have that slightly lost but kind of hardened and toughened shell.

    Andy Serkis on Kino Loy

    That breakout, as you might remember, led to the prisoners having to jump into the water surrounding the prison and the revelation that, after having led the prisoners to freedom, Loy couldn’t join them in their escape because he couldn’t swim. The last we saw of him, Loy was left behind in the prison to face an uncertain fate: did he make the jump or choose to remain in prison and face the consequences? In an interview with ET, series creator Tony Gilroy and Serkis recently revealed Loy’s choice.

    “Well, he didn’t die,” revealed Gilroy, adding “I don’t know what happened, but he didn’t die. We never see him die.” According to Serkis, that means Loy stayed behind at the prison because he certainly didn’t jump. “If he jumped, that would be the end of him and he would be out of the picture,” explained Serkis. “But no, he’s alive and [Kino’s] working out his next move.”

    Does that mean Loy might turn up in Season 2? While neither Gilroy nor Serkis gave any indication, the short answer is most likely “no.” While fans responded well to Serkis‘ character and there might be a time and place for him to return, Season 2 of Andor looks set to move at breakneck speed covering 4 years of time in 12 episodes. The Narkina 5 arc was beautifully designed and shot and had a major impact on the audience and Andor and with the fact that the prisoners there were making components for the Death Star already revealed, it might be best to let that part of the story remain complete.

    Andor Season 2 is expected to hit Disney Plus in 2024.

    Sources: ET Online, Collider

  • Major Animated Character Confirms ‘Andor’ Season 2 Role

    Major Animated Character Confirms ‘Andor’ Season 2 Role

    One of the most interesting aspects of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars streaming series Andor was how it tied into not only the live-action film Rogue One but also the beloved animated streaming series. One character who tied into both eras is Saw Gerrera, played by Forrest Whitaker, and it seems that the character is destined for another go around in Andor Season 2.

    Locations for Season 2 of Andor have indicated that the streaming series would find a way to incorporate not only major characters from the animated series but also the transitional live-action series as well. Despite the bad news facing them and according to Whitaker, Gerrara is set to appear in Season 2 of Andor.

    As for what Whitaker’s Gerrera might be up to ahead of Andor Season 2, it is absolutely tied to the events of Rogue One. The first season of the show deals a significant amount of growth for Diego Luna‘s Cassian Andor. At some point soon, Andor will be faced with the totality of his actions and we all will be left to judge its success!

    Source: comic books are dangerously!

  • Lucasfilm’s New Jedi Order Movie Rumored to Be Searching for a New Lead

    Lucasfilm’s New Jedi Order Movie Rumored to Be Searching for a New Lead

    What began as a “top secret” Star Wars sequel-era project being written by Damon Lindelof has now become known as the first project in an all-new era of Star Wars stories know as the New Jedi Order era. That film, which looks to be on track for a 2025 release, is set to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and will see Daisy Ridley–and possibly John Boyega–return to the franchise. Though it looks like production will be able.to get underway sometime next year, it hasn’t necessarily been a smooth ride.

    After delivering a script co-authored by Justin Britt-Gibson, Lindelof left the project but was quickly replaced by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. The announcement of Ridley’s return as Rey stirred up both positive and negative buzz, though it was recently rumored she was not intended to be the film’s protagonist. That role was expected to go to Aquaman and Watchmen star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who is already on board for a major Disney project in Marvel Studios streaming series Wonder Man. Now, a new rumor from the same source that initially reported Abdul-Mateen‘s involvement indicates the star has left the project.

    During a recent segment on The Hot Mic Podcast, the show’s co-hosts seemed to confirm that the film’s “original lead”, who was “from Watchmen“, had departed the project. It seems the timing of Abdul-Mateen‘s departure coincided with Lindelof’s decision to move on, though no further details about that connection were given.

    Despite all that, it’s full speed ahead on the New Jedi Order project. Casting is expected to be ongoing throughout the Summer with principal photography to follow in either late-2023 or early-2024. Though it has been made official by Lucasfilm, the project is expected to be in theaters on December 19, 2025.

    Source: The Hot Mic Podcast

  • Lucasfilm Rumored to Be Negotiating with Another Sequel Trilogy Star to Return for the New Jedi Order Film

    Lucasfilm Rumored to Be Negotiating with Another Sequel Trilogy Star to Return for the New Jedi Order Film

    As part of a series of announcements at Star Wars Celebration 2023, it was revealed that director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy‘s film, which began as writer Damon Lindelof‘s “top secret project”, will feature the return of Daisy Ridley‘s Rey. Set 15 years after the events of 2019’s Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, the untitled film will be set in an all-new era of Star Wars stories known as the New Jedi Order era and has always been rumored to see the return of sequel characters such as Rey. Now a new rumor suggests she’s not the only headliner returning.

    According to the Hot Mic Podcast, Lucasfilm is negotiating a return of sequel star John Boyega. If true, it’s especially noteworthy given that Boyega had relatively recently made it clear that he had no plans to return to the franchise.

    At this point I’m cool off it. I’m good off it. I think Finn is at a good confirmation point where you can just enjoy him in other things, the games, the animation. But I feel like ‘[Episode] VII’ to ‘[Episode] IX’ was good for me.

    John Boyega on Tell Me Everything

    While the only known details about the film indicate it will focus on Rey and tell “the story of rebuilding the New Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down” the Hot Mic Podcast co-hosts also suggested that Rey will not be the film’s lead but rather fill the sort of mentor role that Luke Skywalker did in the sequel trilogy. Those rumors seem to fall in line with a previous rumor that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had joined the project in a lead role. It’s unknown just how big of a role Boyega‘s Finn would have in the film should he agree to return.

    With Lucasfilm looking to use the New Jedi Order film to launch the return of Star Wars to theaters, casting for the project is likely to continue over the next several months. Though the project doesn’t have a release date yet, it is believed that Lucasfilm would like for it be ready for December 2025.

    Source: HMP, Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang

  • Every Episode of Season 3 of ‘The Mandalorian’ Ranked

    Every Episode of Season 3 of ‘The Mandalorian’ Ranked

    With Chapter 24 of The Mandalorian now streaming, Season 3 of the series is now in the books! Though the finale made good on several season-long arcs, made some major moves and significantly changed the status quo of the New Republic era, it probably won’t erase some of the hard feelings fans felt towards some of the other episodes along the way. Now that all eight episodes have been etched in beskar, we take a look back and the best and the worst of Season 3.

    Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore

    One of the best episodes of the entire series, The Mines of Mandalore was the highlight of Season 3. This chapter saw Din Djarin, Grogu and still reluctant Bo-Katan Kryze take the first step in restoring Mandalore to its former glory. The episode’s exploration of the mythology and culture of Mandalorians was something hardcore fans loved and are still buzzing about even after the finale.

    Chapter 21: The Pirate

    Scene from Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    Kicking off the second half of the season, The Pirate was a remarkably well-made episode that firmly grounded the events of the series in the larger universe of the New Republic and set in motion the march to the finale. While it started off as the story of Grogu and Din Djarin, The Mandalorian has grown into something much bigger as has its central cast of characters. Just as everything seemed to be trending up for everyone, The Pirate reminded everyone it’s not always so easy to put the past behind you.

    Chapter 23: The Spies

    The Shadow Council. The revelation that Gideon had set up shop deep within Mandalore. Din Djarin’s impassioned speech to Bo-Katan. The sacrifice of Paz Viszla. The Spies was about as good of a penultimate episode as we could have hoped for and was the perfect bridge between Chapter 22’s feel-good story and Chapter 24’s finale.

    Chapter 20: The Foundling

    Grogu in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    Before Chapter 20 streamed, fans had spent the better part of a week bemoaning its short run time. And then the episode spent almost every second of that runtime with its ears pinned back and having a helluva lot of fun. A huge episode for Bo-Katan’s redemption; an incredible action sequence with some crazy birds of prey; more of Grogu’s story complete with the live-action introduction of Jedi Master Kelleran Beq. Just a great all-around Star Wars story.

    Chapter 24: The Return

    While it lacked the big cameo appearance of the Season 2 finale, The Return gave fans everything they’d been asking for in Season 3 and somehow still made them unhappy. The Mandalorian Renaissance has officially begun with the destruction of the Darksaber symbolically ushering in a new era free of the prejudices of the past. Mando and Grogu kicked ass together and left to begin their journey anew in Season 4. Big action and big heart came together for a fun and fulfilling Season 3 finale.

    Chapter 17: The Apostate

    (L-R): Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    Though it felt like a sluggish start to Season 3, in hindsight, The Apostate laid the foundation for a great season of The Mandalorian. Not only did it remind us of just how big the galaxy in which this story is told is, it subtly set us up to see what had previously been a story with a pretty small scope expand into one that has major consequences for the New Republic era of storytelling.

    Chapter 19: The Convert

    Notable for establishing the hypocrisy of the New Republic and establishing it as anything but safe, The Convert took the focus off of Din and Grogu in lieu of some time with Doctor Pershing and Elia Kane. If the characters of The Mandalorian were ever going to start impacting the galaxy on a larger scale (spoiler, they were) then making sure the audience has a good grasp on the goings on of that galaxy matter. So while this episode seemed pretty humdrum, not every episode can be action-packed.

    Chapter 22: Guns for Hire

    (L-R): Plazir-15 Security Detail, the Duchess of Plazir-15 (Lizzo) and Captain Bombardier (Jack Black) in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    Memorable for is wild cameos and the hatred they inspired online, Chapter 22 actually had quite a bit to say for anyone paying attention to the story rather than than the players. From beginning to end, Guns for Hire actually served as a reminder of just how big of a mess the galaxy is and how hard it is for the wounds of war to heal. Unfortunately, the episode relied too heavily on fans being both savvy and pretty deeply immersed in Star Wars lore to be able to read between the lines of the over the top cameos of Jack Black and Lizzo and will probably continue to be used as an example of “Disney Star Wars bad” for years.

  • Gooble Gobble: The Season 3 Finale of ‘The Mandalorian’ Cements Moff Gideon as One of Us

    Gooble Gobble: The Season 3 Finale of ‘The Mandalorian’ Cements Moff Gideon as One of Us

    For the better part of three seasons of The Mandalorian, Giancarlo Esposito‘s Moff Gideon was the thorn in the side of Din Djarin, Grogu and Bo-Katan before seemingly meeting his ultimate fate in Chapter 24, The Return. While Gideon put up a good fight against the trio of heroes in the Season 3 finale, his part in their story looks to have come to an end but not before his true nature was revealed, not only to the heroes but also to the audience. As threatening as he may be, Gideon was really just a big nerd obsessed with all the cool stuff in the Star Wars galaxy. Behind all his deception, treachery and posturing, it turns out Moff Gideon is just an 80’s kid.

    While most fans guessed it some time ago, The Return confirmed that Gideon had hoped to use Grogu’s blood to infuse himself with The Force. More accurately, Gideon had hoped to infused himselves with The Force as the season finale revealed that Gideon and Doctor Pershing were not working with Shadow Council member Brendol Hux on Project Necromancer but rather putting the finishing touches on what he viewed as his ultimate form. But as it turns out, his ultimate form is essentially an 80’s Stars Wars kid’s fantasy come to life.

    (Center): Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) with Imperial armored commandos in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    For all of Esposito’s talk about how Gideon was the galaxy’s “top warden” looking to restore order to the galaxy after the fall of the Empire, the character’s true nature turned out to be much more selfish and his goals seemingly much smaller in scope. Gideon, like me and many of you, is a collector. While we collect action figures and memorabilia from the fictional Star Wars universe, Gideon was doing the same thing inside the Star Wars universe. His obsession with the Sith, Jedi and Mandalorian cultures–all the cool tricks, toys and trinkets that come along with them–is no different than ours. At some point, alone in his room at the ISB, Gideon definitely tried to summon something to his hand using The Force; while holding a broomstick in a mirror, he absolutely “bzzzzzzd” up a lightsaber and took a few swings; and he most definitely wondered how cool it would be to be screeching across the sky wearing a jet pack and suited up in Mandalorian armor.

    The difference, of course, is that Gideon lived within that world and had the means and willpower to make those fantasies real. For Gideon, that meant being a Force-wielding, beskar-wearing bad guy: the best of all worlds! While the rest of the Shadow Council waited for the return of Thrawn or for Project Necromancer to be completed, Gideon used his considerable resources to set up shop on Mandalore and put together the coolest damn cosplay costume he could imagine in his very own bad guy lair. While it’s unclear exactly what was left undone, it’s clear his plan didn’t come to completion. Perhaps Project Necromancer’s work was necessary to transfer his consciousness into his clones? A bunch of Gideons without his memories wouldn’t be of much use, after all. It seems like we’ll never know exactly what his grand plan for the galaxy was (although…you never know) but as he went down in a blaze of glory, he did it in style and I, for one, am extremely jealous of his collection.

  • REVIEW: The Season Finale of ‘The Mandalorian’ Shifts the Status Quo of the New Republic Era

    REVIEW: The Season Finale of ‘The Mandalorian’ Shifts the Status Quo of the New Republic Era

    Led quite intentionally astray by some aspects of Chapter 23, The Spies, and comments by the cast and crew of the series, fans had put together some pretty wild theories about what to expect in the Season 3 finale of The Mandalorian. Suffice it to say, by the time the title of the episode (The Return) was revealed just a touch over five minutes in, it was pretty clear where the episode was headed and that no betrayals or heart-wrenching deaths were coming; instead, Chapter 24 was a spectacle-filled finale that significantly changed the status quo of the New Republic era of the galaxy far, far away and a promise of a return to a more episodic adventure in Season 4.

    For much of the most recent season, The Mandalorian has been criticized for spending too much time on characters other than Din Djarin and Grogu. In some ways, the finale served as a very direct response to that criticism, bringing the duo back into the spotlight with an action-packed escape followed immediately by a battle with the galaxy’s biggest fanboy, Moff Gideon, and his Praetorian Guard. While many fans waited much of the season for Bo-Katan Kryze to betray Din Djarin, her well-timed intervention Din’s fight with Gideon allowed her to try to exact her revenge on the Moff while allowing for Din and Grogu to work side-by-side taking down the guard. The relationship between Bo-Katan and Din–which was developed on screen over several episodes while fans all threw their hands up and complained that nothing was happening–bore fruit when Din and Grogu joined Bo-Katan in holding off Gideon long enough for Axe Woves’ kamikaze mission to take him out. Teamwork makes the dream work.

    Mandalorians are stronger together.

    Bo-Katan Kryze

    That sentiment, shared by Bo-Katan while Din and Grogu joined her against Gideon, should have resonated strongly with the audience as a measure of the incredible growth made by the character since she first showed up in Season 3. Sitting alone in her throne room, Bo-Katan had given up on…pretty much everything. The weight of her past failures had become an anchor preventing her from moving forward and, having lost everything, she was content to pout in her big chair. Now, Bo-Katan has relit the Great Forge of Mandalore and stands ready to lead her newly reunited people into a new age of Mandalorian glory. In summation, it’s almost as if every minute of her journey over the course of Season 3 helped shape her into exactly the type of leader her people needed her to be.

    Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    With Mandalore’s future in the best of hands, The Return also promised a return of what made fans fall in love with the series in the first place: the adventures of Din Djarin and Din Grogu. After quickly convincing Carson Teva to let them take care of some of the New Republic’s dirty work, the Dins get a storybook ending to Chapter 24. What does that mean for Season 4, which is already in pre-production with cameras slated to roll this Fall? With Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew set to bear some of the world-building weight of the New Republic era and help move things toward Dave Filoni‘s “Heir to the Empire” film, the next season of The Mandalorian might look a whole lot more like Seasons 1 and 2, with several chapters devoted to taking the Dins on new adventures each week, allowing for Grogu to continue learning and evolving as a Mandalorian.

    The Return certainly moved fast, packing a spectacular aerial battle of Mandos vs. Dark Troopers, the presumed death of Gideon and the retaking of Mandalore into 42 minutes but make no mistake, those 42 minutes changed the status quo of the New Republic era of stories. With Gideon, who was revealed only to be serving his own interests rather than that of the Shadow Council, now dispatched, there’s room for a new threat to emerge. With Bo-Katan and crew reconstructing Mandalore, a new and powerful force will continue to emerge on the other side of that threat. As far as a season finale goes, The Return seemed to deliver on just about every level: big action, resolution and the promise of what comes next. It may not have been what fans theorized but it seems to have delivered what they’ve all ben asking for all season.

  • Untitled New Jedi Order Movie

    Untitled New Jedi Order Movie

    Premiere: TBD

    One of three new films announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, the untitled New Jedi Order movie will feature Daisy Ridley’s return to the Star Wars universe as Rey. Set 15 years after the events of Episode IX-The Rise of Skywalker, the project will tell “the story of rebuilding the New Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down.”

    The project was originally developed by Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson, both of whom left the project shortly before it was officially announced. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will helm the film working from a script by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, who took on writing duties in March 2023.

    Cast

    • Daisy Ridley as Rey