Tag: star wars news

  • ‘The Acolyte’ Provides the First Look at the High Republic Era

    ‘The Acolyte’ Provides the First Look at the High Republic Era

    As Obi-Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker, before the formation of the Empire, the Jedi Knights served as the “guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic” for “over a thousand generations.” While the order ultimately fell apart, they had a great run but fans of the galaxy far, far away have never seen them at their peak.

    While the prequels at least showed the order intact and in action, their hubris has already cemented their downfall. What’s been seen onscreen so far, in both films and series, is an order far removed from the glory days of the Jedi, which is why there’s been some serious excitement brewing around Lucasfilm’s latest D+ streaming series, The Acolyte. For the first time, fans will see the order outside of the Skywalker Saga timeline, providing some interesting opportunities to compare and contrast.

    Set in the High Republic era 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, The Acolyte will center around an investigation into a shocking crime spree which pits a respected Jedi Master against a dangerous warrior from his past. As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems.

    Disney revealed the first look at the new series today, providing the first ever live-action glimpse at the shape of the galaxy during the High Republic.

    Created by Leslye Headland, The Acolyte stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss. The series is set to debut on Disney Plus with two-episoses streaming on June 4th.

  • Release Schedule & Episode Titles for ‘The Bad Batch’ Season 3

    Release Schedule & Episode Titles for ‘The Bad Batch’ Season 3

    Lucasfilm’s first 2024 streaming series will be the third and final season of the Star Wars animated series, The Bad Batch. Announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2024, Season 3 of The Bad Batch will see what’s left of Clone Force 99 go on one last mission in an effort to rescue Omega. Disney recently revealed that the series will debut with three episodes on February 21st and now they’ve shared the full release schedule along with the titles of all 15 episodes.

    In addition to the three-episode premiere, Season 3 of The Bad Batch will also drop multiple episodes on March 13th and April 3rd, which means the series finale will stream on May 1st, just ahead of Star Wars Day 2024.

    In addition to the release dates, Executive Producer and Head Writer Jennifer Corbett revealed the titles for each of the 15 episodes.

    Of note, the title of the series finale, “The Cavalry Has Arrived”, are the words said by Wrecker when Clone Force 99 was introduced in the first episode of Season 7 of The Clone Wars when the Batch arrived on Anaxes. A pair of episodes, “The Return” and “Identity Crisis”, stand out as potential ones to watch for the return of fan-favorite Asajj Ventress, who is seemingly back from the dead for the new season.

    About The Bad Batch Season 3

    In the epic final season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, the Batch will have their limits tested in the fight to reunite with Omega as she faces challenges of her own inside a remote Imperial science lab. With the group fractured and facing threats from all directions, they will have to seek out unexpected allies, embark on dangerous missions, and muster everything they have learned to free themselves from the Empire.

    Star Wars: The Bad Batch showcases a talented voice cast, including Dee Bradley
    Baker
    (American Dad!), Michelle Ang (Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), Jimmi Simpson (Westworld), Noshir Dalal (It’s Pony) and Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws).

    Star Wars: The Bad Batch is executive produced by Dave Filoni (Ahsoka, The
    Mandalorian), Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Brad
    Rau (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Resistance), Jennifer Corbett (Star
    Wars Resistance, NCIS) and Carrie Beck (Ahsoka, The Mandalorian), with Josh
    Rimes (Star Wars Resistance, Star Wars: Visions) as co-executive producer and Alex
    Spotswood (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) as senior producer. Rau
    is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer.

  • Star Wars Reveals Premiere Date for the Third and Final Season of ‘The Bad Batch’

    Star Wars Reveals Premiere Date for the Third and Final Season of ‘The Bad Batch’

    Even before Lucasfilm officially announced a third and final season of the animated series, the emotional two-part finale of the second season of The Bad Batch made it all but a sure thing. After trying so hard to leave the merc life behind them and settle down as a family, Clone Force 99 saw everything they worked for shattered. There’s work to do and hell to pay and now we know when we can expect to see their last mission get underway.

    In a thrilling first trailer for the final season of The Bad Batch, Lucasfilm revealed that the first 3 episodes of Season 3 will stream on Disney Plus on February 21st.

    If the announcement of the debut date wasn’t exciting enough for you, the trailer also revealed that fan-favorite Asajj Ventress has somehow returned from the grave. Throughout the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the 2015 novel The Dark Disciple, Ventress embarked on a fascinating journey that ultimately led to her redeeming herself, finding her way to the light side of the Force and sacrificing herself to save Quinlan Vos. It will be incredibly interesting to see how Dave Filoni retcons her death but if her appearance is a hint of what’s to come in the final season, fans are in for something special.

  • Daisy Ridley’s Star Wars Film Still Looks to Be on Track for 2026 Release

    Daisy Ridley’s Star Wars Film Still Looks to Be on Track for 2026 Release

    During Star Wars Celebration 2023, a new film starring Daisy Ridley and directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was announced. Set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, the film is set to be the first project set in The New Jedi Order era of the Star Wars timeline. Originally developed by Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight took the reigns on the project in March 2023. While there was originally some discussion about the film hitting theaters in 2025, recent shifts to Disney’s theatrical slate removed the December 2025 date from the calendar. Still, there was some belief that Lucasfilm wanted the new Rey-centric film to be the first Star Wars film in theaters since 2019.

    I know the storyline for one film. That’s not to say that that’s all it is, but that’s what I was told about. And I imagine it will be the next film, I think. I mean, again, I don’t know, post strikes and everything, how quickly everything will start up again. But yes, so far, I know the story of one film and I think people will be very excited.

    -Daisy Ridley on the Rey-centric New Jedi Order era film

    Those hopes were dashed when Lucasfilm announced that the Jon Favreau-directed The Mandalorian and Grogu would be the studio’s next theatrical release. It seems that bit of news set some folks on a path to believe some apparent disinformation that began to be spread which culminated in a rumor that the Rey film was in trouble and that Knight had walked away from the project. Now, two sources have independently reported that the rumors are unfounded and given some positive updates on the film.

    io9’s Germain Lussier first reported that a source at Lucasfilm denied the rumors and stated that Knight was currently working on a new draft of the project. Later, Jeff “The Insneider” Sneider stated that not only was the film doing fine but that he expected it to be Lucasfilm’s 2nd 2026 film, hitting theaters on December 18th.

    Ridley has always been a popular target for misogynistic fans so it’s no surprise that any and all negative, unsupported rumors would circulate quickly online. With nearly 3 years until the potential release of the New Jedi Order film, there’s plenty of time for the project to come together and be the first chapter of stories on an all-new part of the Star Wars timeline.

    Sources: io9, X

  • Lucasfilm Confirms Season 2 of ‘Ahsoka’ Is in the Works

    Lucasfilm Confirms Season 2 of ‘Ahsoka’ Is in the Works

    Lucasfilm’s Star Wars streaming series Ahsoka was one of the 10 most streamed series in 2023 and left fans wanting more. Now, in an official press release via StarWars.com, confirmation has come that a second season of the Rosario Dawson-led series in in the works.

    The Season 1 finale saw Ahsoka and Sabine Wren stranded on Peridea while Grand Admiral Thrawn returned from his exile to ascend as the Heir to the Empire; however, stowaway Ezra Bridger was reunited with Hera Syndulla, providing some hope that the New Republic might find a way to fend off Thrawn and the Shadow Council.

    A second season of Ahsoka has been believed to be in the works for some time, though the WGA strike certainly delayed the official announcement.

    Source: Star Wars

  • Star Wars Will Return to Theaters with a Mandalorian Film

    Star Wars Will Return to Theaters with a Mandalorian Film

    Lucasfilm has been working to find a way to get Star Wars back into theaters; now they’ve revealed that their next film will feature two of the studio’s most popular characters. Via an official release on their website, it’s been revealed that the next Star Wars film will be directed by Jon Favreau and titled The Mandalorian & Grogu.

    Through 3 seasons of the streaming series The Mandalorian, Favreau has proven that Star Wars is still a top-tier property with plenty of gas left in the tank. Now, he’s taking Din Djarin and his foundling, Grogu, to the big screen. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” said Favreau. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.” The project is set to begin production in 2024 which should see it ready for theaters by the May 22, 2026 release date already set aside by Disney for a Star Wars film.

    For some time, rumors have swirled that Lucasfilm was considering presenting the next chapter of The Mandalorian in a film and now it looks as though that is the case. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.”

    Updating…

    Source: Star Wars

  • Damon Lindelof’s Secret ‘Star Wars’ Movie May Bring Back Sequel Characters; Hires New Co-Writer

    Damon Lindelof’s Secret ‘Star Wars’ Movie May Bring Back Sequel Characters; Hires New Co-Writer

    Here’s a fun, massive surprise for Star Wars fans: Damon Lindelof’s (previously) secret movie is reportedly set to take place after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and may even bring back some of the sequel trilogy’s beloved characters. The Hollywood Reporter has dropped a new article confirming that the mysterious film, which was only just quietly revealed a few days ago with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on board as director, is gaining steam with a new co-writer and collaborative creative team. According to the outlet, development on the Lindelof-led movie began shortly after this year’s Star Wars Celebration, with a roundtable of talent convening in July to break the story.

    Names present at the meeting were Patrick Somerville, a previous Lindelof creative partner on projects like The Leftovers; Rayna McClendon, a former consulting producer on Lucasfilm’s own Obi-Wan KenobiAndy Greenwald, the creator of 2019’s Briarpatch; and, possibly, even Dave Filoni, the Lucasfilm mainstay shepherding the large majority of their television projects. Justin Britt-Gibson, who worked with Guillermo del Toro on his vampire drama The Strainhas since been hired to co-write the new film with Lindelof, and the duo are reportedly working on the final script as this news breaks.

    Although there is currently no information on a release date or any potential plot details, sources have stated to THR that the project is intended as a stand-alone. Lucasfilm is apparently switching gears away from its previous trilogy-based plans, though sequels to Lindelof’s untitled movie are apparently possible if the initial film succeeds. The closest announced release date for a Star Wars film is 2025, so it’s likely this is the soonest fans see whatever Lindelof has planned come to life.

    Source: THR