Not every acting role is destined to be witnessed by millions of joyous fans around the globe, just like not every role has the power to transport an actor back to their youth. However, The Mandalorian and Grogu co-star Jonny Coyne was able to enjoy both of those distinctions as Star Wars antagonist Janu Coin. The English actor talked to CinemaBlend about being so "very excited, very humbled" to be in a big-screen Star Wars movie (one that's crushing in the box office) nearly 50 years after seeing A New Hope in theaters.

First appearing in The Mandalorian's third season as a hologram, Janu had a more direct impact on Din Djarin and Grogu's well-beings in the 2026 movie release, but we won't get into spoilers for those who haven't yet watched. To that end, Coyne also had to keep details close to the villainous vest when I asked whether he knew when signing on for the role that he'd have more appearances down the line. He told me:

If I'm lucky enough to live to be 100, and Jon Favreau's grandson asks me to play a tree (sans makeup) in Star Wars: The First Ewok or whatever, I'd do it in a heartbeat. An erratic, questionable heartbeat. So I certainly get where Coyne is coming from on that front, and I'm not even an actor by trade, or by anything else.

When I asked if he was a fan of the franchise overall, the Blacklist vet confirmed that he was definitely part of the targeted audience for George Lucas' Episode IV: A New Hope when it came out in 1977. Just maybe not the youngest demographic within that targeted span. In his words:

Though the franchise can often be geared for younger viewers, readers and gamers, that's certainly not the case for all corners of the galaxy, nor for all upcoming Star Wars projects. When A New Hope introduced the world to Luke Skywalker and his loyal droids, Hollywood wasn't yet in that mindset, and so there were definitely older teens and grown-a-s adults filling those theater seats in 1977 and beyond.

I can't imagine anyone at the time could have predicted Star Wars would become a billion-dollar industry unto itself, not even Jonny Coyne. (No offense, J.C.) But succeed it did, to the point where, nearly 50 years later, the actor was walking on sets, learning official jargon, and mixing it up with Grogu behind the scenes.

When I asked about the scale of Mandalorian and Grogu's sets, practical and otherwise, Coyne seemed to conjure up some of that wistful magic when he answered, saying:

To Coyne's point, a lot of TV and movie sets will inevitably feel like TV and movie sets, regardless of how well-designed they are, usually due to cameras (or the spaces required to fit cameras) helping break the illusion. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Star Wars movie sets can go above and beyond in that respect, to the point where a more full sense of immersion can sink in before reality rears its head again.

Outside of the actual acting experience, Jonny Coyne also voiced how excited he was to extend the Star Wars fandom down to younger generations within his own family, as The Mandalorian and Grogu makes for a big milestone for his grandchildren. Here's how he described it.

I can only (new) hope that Lord Janu Coin wasn't too scary for his grandchildren, and that they don't hold grudges against him for holding Grogu captive for a while. Those kinds of grudges can stick.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now, and with more than enough adorable Baby Yoda moments to inspire return viewings. And don't even get me started on Babu Frik and his li'l buddies!

Star Wars Day may have already passed, but The Force is still strong with the fandom as they prepare for the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu on the 2026 movie calendar. Pedro Pascal reprises his role as Din Djarin, as he and Grogu take their adventures to the big screen. First reactions to the upcoming Star Wars movie are hitting social media, and while there is plenty of positive feedback, I’m actually shocked at some of the criticism it’s getting.

The movie — written and directed by Jon Favreau — is set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, where Djarin and his apprentice are tasked with rescuing Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) in exchange for information on a target. CinemaBlend’s Corey Chichizola caught an early screening, writing on X that the new flick is a “blast.”

He was far from the only moviegoer to comment on that adorable little scene-stealer. Critic Courtney Howard echoed those thoughts as she expressed surprise at how much fun she had. Her post reads:

Simon Thompson is also “pleasantly and genuinely shocked” by how good the Star Wars movie is, writing:

Erik Davis says the franchise doesn’t worry too much about “canon homework” in this one, cutting loose for an enjoyable, pulpy flick made for a Saturday matinee. The critic says:

Other critics remained complimentary while still getting real about some of their hangups with the sci-fi film, including Perri Nemiroff, who says she wasn’t sold on Jeremy Allen White’s Rotta the Hutt:

Wendy Lee Szany also fell prey to the charms of Grogu, but not so much that she could overlook issues of pacing and runtime. In the critic’s words:

Then, there are the critics who were not at all hyped about The Mandalorian and Grogu, with Jonathan Sim calling it “one of the weakest Star Wars movies.” He continues:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo agrees it just felt like a longer version of what we’ve gotten from the series (available to stream with a Disney+ subscription), and not in a good way. His post reads:

Bill Bria of SlashFilm goes so far as to say he despised the Pedro Pascal-led movie, calling it “terminally dull.” The critic’s first reaction reads:

It does seem like The Mandalorian and Grogu has some redeeming qualities, with Grogu being a consistent bright spot amongst early audiences. Only time will tell if this will be a franchise win or a failure for Disney at the box office. The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on Friday, May 22.

It's a new era at the House of Mouse. Today, Josh D'Amaro officially takes the reins of The Walt Disney Company as Bob Iger ends his second term in the position. Dana Walden has also become Disney's first-ever Chief Creative Officer alongside her new role as President.

D'Amaro will start his tenure on a big stage at the Walt Disney Company's Annual Shareholders Meeting. There will undoubtedly be a lot of eyes on D'Amaro, both from Wall Street analysts and Disney fans who want to get a sense of what the future of Disney will be like under him. We can expect updates on all the things that will make both groups happy, like upcoming movies, theme park attractions, Disney Cruise Line details, and more.

Last year's Shareholders Meeting only gave us one significant announcement, in the form of the news that Coco 2 was in development. Since a lot of people are going to want to get an idea of what Josh D'Amaro will be like as CEO, I would expect that we'll be getting more than just updates on projects that Bob Iger started this year, but time will tell.

In just a few minutes, the Shareholders Meeting will be getting underway. The first question of interest is how much of Bob Iger we'll see. He is staying with Disney through the end of the year, and technically, this meeting is about the prior year's performance, so he may still be a big part of it, but since this is essentially the coming-out party for Josh D'Amaro and Dana Walden, I expect they'll be the main focus.

As such, I'd expect a bit more in the way of "new" announcements as it will get Disney fans excited and hopefully signal to Wall Street, the people this event is really about, that Disney will continue to make money going forward.

Disney's Shareholders Meeting gets under way with a sizzle reel showing many of the company's biggest hits on screen and in theme parks. Everything from Hoppers to Avatar and small pieces of stuff to come like Toy Story 5. Ill tell you, stuff like this makes it really exciting to be a Disney fan. They are so good at this.

Chairman of the Board James Gorman opens the meeting in a pre-recorded message. He was the man who led the CEO hunt. He calls out D'Amaro as the new CEO and Walden as President. He also thanks Bob Iger for his time as CEO.

We're now getting a second sizzle reel that is basically a thank you to Bob Iger, showing off all his achievements. And to be fair, there are a lot. He transformed Disney in a big way. The addition of Pixar, marvel, Lucasfilm, and Fox, changed entertainment.

We're getting a pre-recorded message from Iger saying goodbye. Clearly, we won't be seeing Bob again during this meeting, otherwise, they'd probably leave this goodbye for later. It's Josh D'Amaro's company now.

Iger says "leaders don't create the magic" and he thanks those he worked with for making it. He ays he "believes" in Josh D'Amaro as the new CEO. Calls Dana Walden's area "critical."

Goodbye Bob, thanks for everything.

And Josh D'Amaro was just "welcomed" as the Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company. The new era has begun.

D'Amaro's main message is that Disney is in a class by itself in the industry. There's a lot of use of the word "one" already today. D'Amaro released a memo earlier where he referred to the different parts of the company as One Disney. Expect that to be a major branding concept going forward.

The first IP gets dropped when D'Amaro starts talking about Toy Story. We're getting a look at a scene where Jesse confronts Lilypad.

D'Amaro runs through the 2026 and 2027 movie slates. Then we got release dates for live-action Lilo & Stitch 2, May 26, 2028, and Incredibles 3, June 16, 2028. That's really fast work for Stitch.

On Experiences, D'Amaro calls out World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris and the expansion of Avengers Campus. I was hoping for a bit of new theme park info, but it doesn't look like anybody is ready for that yet.

D'Amaro does announce the name of the ninth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Believe

That wraps D'Amaro's portion of the meeting, which means we're now shifting to the actual voting portion of the meeting. The 2028 release dates for Lilo & Stitch and Incredibles are certainly going to be important. Those are two blockbuster franchises that will almost guarantee that 2028 will be a solid year for Disney at the global box office.

The first three votes for the Shareholders meeting are standard: re-electing the board of directors, affirming the company's accountants, and confirming the executive compensation package. They will pass without issues.

The other three proposals are from shareholders. These are usually pet causes from individuals with an ax to grind. Shareholder proposals almost always fail, but not always. These proposals are about Disney's charitable giving policies, changing the method for board member elections, and reviewing Disney Parks' disability policies. This last one might succeed.

Unsurprisingly, the three proposals from Disney were approved, and the three shareholder proposals were not. We now shift to the Q&A

D'Amaro is on hand, and the first question is about changing out the Pixar films in the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. D'Amaro says there are "no plans to bring new shorts" to the theater, which was not at all the question. Something new needs to be done with that theater.

The second question is about the decision-making process behind making original movies versus sequels. D'Amaro talks about Disney's ability to build on stories between the different aspects of the company. D'Amaro says there will be more new and existing stories.

The next question is about where to find information about the backgrounds of the Board of Directors, which is a somewhat surprising question for this sort of meeting.

Question four is about how D'Amaro is incorporating the principles of Walt Disney into the company.

It's honestly amazing how often this sort of question is asked. Nobody asks David Zazlav how he incorporates the principles of Jack Warner at Warner Bros. D'Amaro focuses on Walt's embrace of technology and his ability to look to the future.

The next question is about Disney's use of AI. D'Amaro talks about the efficiency that AI can bring, but insists that AI will be used to "empower creativity, not replace it."

An Experiences question about balancing theme park revenue with making the experience great for everybody. D'Amaro says he looks at experience ratings and "intent to return" to be sure guests are having the great experience they want. D'Amaro mentions the kids' ticket offer at Disneyland as a way that the parks try to make it affordable.

D'Amaro says he's "looking at the landscape," but doesn't indicate any plans for new mergers.

A question about changing the disability access at Disney Parks. D'Amaro says the current approach was come to by working with experts and professionals. Doesn't indicate any plan to revisit.

A question about the amount of legacy content that Disney has access to, and how the company decides what to put on Disney+, since a lot of that content isn't there. D'Amaro doesn't really answer or indicate that any more legacy content will be going up anytime soon.

Question about the differences between Lighting Lane offerings at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. D'Amaro says that guest experience at each resort is very different, so Lighting Lane is handled differently to best match the way people use the parks.

The last question is about Figment. Could there be a movie or other Figment content? D'Amaro laughs and mentions the recent Disney+ animation short that included Figment. D'Amaro says there's nothing new to announce, but indicates that Disney is always exploring new ways to use characters. There is certainly a hint that there may be a future for Figment, who was voiced by Neil Patrick Harris in the short.

That ends the meeting. It was certainly interesting hearing Josh D'Amaro answer all the Q&A questions. It's a new voice and a pretty new approach. A couple of major release date updates was nice, but I was hoping for a little more. Still, with D23 coming up this summer, we'll get plenty of news on upcoming movies, series, and theme park attractions. The Josh D'Amaro era hasn't started with a bang, but it has begun. It will be exciting to see what happens next.

Kathleen Kennedy’s departure from Lucasfilm had been predicted so many times over the last several years that it was probably a forgone conclusion that it would come to pass. That day happened in January when it was confirmed that Kennedy was stepping down, with Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan replacing her as co-presidents. While transitions at the top can cause some amount of upheaval within an organization, Kennedy says the transition has been “seamless,” and she explained why.

While Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan may have only recently taken the reins at Lucasfilm, Kennedy tells Variety she’s been working with both of them and mentoring them for years. Based on her comments, It sounds like she’s been preparing both co-presidents to take on these roles for quite some time. Kennedy said…

What's particularly interesting is that Kennedy says she’s the one who's pushed Filoni specifically to move into live-action work. That's in great part due to his knowledge and love of Star Wars.

It will take time to see what Lucasfilm looks like under Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan's leadership, and it likely won’t be a carbon copy of the Kennedy years. Despite that, it's easy to imagine that working so closely with Kennedy for so many years taught both of the new co-presidents a great deal about how to lead the organization.

In the past, Filoni has talked about how much he's learned from Kennedy. George Lucas handpicked Kennedy to run Lucasfilm after his departure (and he also forged a strong bond with Filoni as they crafted Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Kennedy’s track record as a producer is unparalleled. In this case, she believes she’s produced two people perfectly capable of taking over.

The decision to bring in two people as co-presidents shows that replacing Kathleen Kennedy is no small task. It would appear that the powers that be felt that the responsibilities involved were diverse enough that one person wouldn’t be able to do the job justice alone. Lucasfilm’s parent company, Disney, recently found itself in a similar situation. While Josh D’Amaro was named CEO, Disney Studios co-head Dana Walden was also promoted to President and the newly created position of Chief Creative Officer.

Many took issue with Kathleen Kennedy’s tenure at Lucasfilm and celebrated her departure. If the production company does “improve” under the new leads, that will certainly be a good thing, but those happy fans may still need to thank Kennedy, at least a little.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is set to grace the 2026 TV schedule this spring, and I couldn’t be more excited. Created by Lucasfilm veteran Dave Filoni, the series is set to track Darth Maul’s exploits following the fall of the Republic and during the reign of the Galactic Empire. Alongside the former Sith warrior will be a host of new characters, but I’m also hoping to see one specific familiar face pop up at some point. And, anyone who thinks I'm talking about Maul’s rival, Ob-Wan Kenobi, is mistaken.

An Imposing Star Wars Character Should Return For Maul – Shadow Lord

Considering the period in the SW timeline we’re dealing with, there are plenty of notable players from this franchise that could appear on Maul’s show. Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader would be obvious choices, but there are also the likes of Cad Bane and Fennec Shand. However, the person I’d most like to see is a powerful individual who’s had quite a journey within the galaxy far, far away – Asajj Ventress.

Originally introduced via 2003’s Clone Wars (which is no longer considered canon), Ventress became a key character during those five seasons. The Dathomir native began as a student of Count Dooku, who later sought to have her killed on Darth Sidius’ orders. Ventress ultimately survives and, between Seasons 3 and 5, she finds herself in positions that see her evading Sidius’ forces and even reluctantly aiding the Jedi. She most notably even teams up with Obi-Wan and duels both Maul and his brother, Savage Opress.

The Bad Batch confirmed that Ventress survived the events of the novel Dark Disciple, where she died at the hands of Dooku. Fans received an explanation for her resurrection in Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, which attributes her rebirth to the spirit of her fellow Nightsisters. With that, Asajj is around during the time of the Empire, and she’s in a perfect position to cross paths with Maul.

Why It Would Make Sense For Asajj To Appear On Maul – Shadow Lord

Aside from the fact that Ventress popping up on Maul’s show works from a timeline perspective, there are a few other reasons as to why it makes sense. One of the obvious reasons is the fact that they both hail from Dathomir. Additionally, the two characters occupy the same kind of space within the galaxy at this point. They both operate within the criminal underworld, so it would make too much sense for them to cross paths for one reason or another. Imagine Ventress – who’s a bounty hunter at this point – being contracted to hunt down and kill Maul.

The other major reason as to why Asajj should appear on the show is that she and Maul have had similar journeys. Both know what it’s like to have served under the Sith and been cast aside without a second thought. I’d love to see a conversation between the two characters in which they relate their shared experiences to one another. Of course, I wouldn’t expect such a chat to make them friends but, at least, it could spark a sense of mutual respect between the two of them.

Ventress is nowhere to be seen in the Shadow Lord trailer, but I’m hopeful that Dave Filoni and co. will bring her back. Plus, Ventress voice actress Nika Futterman previously told CinemaBlend she thinks it makes sense for her character to be on the show given the characters' personal histories. We’ll just have to wait and see if it comes to pass.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord premieres on April 6 and will be streamable with a Disney+ subscription. In the meantime, check out his and Ventress’ past appearances within the franchise.

A massive changing of the Star Wars guard kicked the year off, with Kathleen Kennedy stepping down and Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan taking over as Co-Presidents of Lucasfilm. As such, they'll now be in control of what's on the way for upcoming Star Wars projects, and while I think many fans are behind the decision, one might wonder how Andor's showrunner feels about the path ahead for the sci-fi franchise.

The topic came up when Tony Gilroy spoke to THR, with the outlet noting that Kennedy's greenlight of shows like Andor and The Acolyte showed a strategy in which the franchise was unafraid to take risks and challenge what the mainstream traditionally viewed as Star Wars. It was then noted that the company's strategy seems to be that it will embrace "safer" projects, and that Andor may one day go down as an outlier amongst the rest of works for its tone and storytelling.

Gilroy made it clear it wouldn't bother him, and shared how he'd like to think he'd respond if he were in charge, saying:

That sounds like the response of someone giving their honest view of how they'd approach things, whilst also trying to be diplomatic. Gilroy has made it clear he doesn't feel compelled to return to Star Wars anytime soon, so I believe him when he says it doesn't matter to him whether or not Andor is an outlier or not.

Tony Gilroy added that it's also really easy for him to say he'd take a lot of risks with Star Wars when he doesn't have anything to lose in doing so. The Andor showrunner noted that if he were actually put in the position where he was responsible for the financial success of the franchise as a whole, the stakes might feel different:

He makes a great point, as while Game of Thrones has successfully found a way to go lower budget with A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, it's harder for a franchise like Star Wars to accomplish. Whether leaning on practical effects or CGI, a lot of work goes into bringing the galaxy to life, and with so many major projects under its belt, fans may react a sudden way if they watch The Mandalorian and Grogu trailer and it looks cheap.

The good news is that Lucasfilm has Dave Filoni running the show, and he's displayed a solid track record throughout his career as someone who not only knows Star Wars but also what people seem to like about it. Sure, maybe he won't prioritize anything as daring as Andor in the new future, but let's not forget that he managed to get a good number of adults invested in shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels that were initially made for children.

We'll see how Star Wars looks under its new leadership as the first few years pass, and continue to track all the movies and shows that come out along the way. I'm hype for The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release schedule, and hoping we get more news on other projects before the year is up.

This has been a big week for the Star Wars franchise, to say the least. Days ago, Kathleen Kennedy announced she would step down as president of Lucasfilm and hand the reins over to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. As a new chapter for the production company begins, Kennedy is speaking about her experiences. With that, she made some comments about Rian Johnson’s stint working within the galaxy far, far away, and he's has since responded.

Kathleen Kennedy Makes Claims About Why Rian Johnson Only Made One Star Wars Movie

Let’s start with Kennedy’s comments. The producer, who became president of Lucasfilm since 2012 after George Lucas sold the company to Walt Disney Studios, recently reflected on her time in the position. She discussed the highs and lows of the job while speaking with Deadline. When specifically asked about the films Rian Johnson was reportedly set to helm following 2017's The Last Jedi, Kennedy said the following:

Kennedy responded by suggesting that one reason Johnson didn't return to helm his other films was due to him being "spooked" by the negative reactions that The Last Jedi received by people online. Upon its release, the film (which made $1.3 million at the worldwide box office, as noted by Deadline) received positive reviews from critics, though there were fans who were dissatisfied with it for a myriad of reasons. Even today, there are those who continue to express their grievances.

That's not the only reason Kennedy attributes to Johnson not directing further SW films either. She also points out that another factor was the writer/director's desire to focus his energy towards the Knives Out movies starting in 2018.

How Rian Johnson Responded To Kennedy’s Comments

Rian Johnson eventually caught wind of Kathleen Kennedy’s comments. With that, he took to X, where he reposted an article covering Kennedy's quotes and shared his take. In his words (which have had punctuation added to them):

Well, there you have it, two conflicting sets thoughts here on why there’s only Rian Johnson-helmed Star Wars movie thus far. Although Johnson's response is brief, it seems he doesn't agree with the notion that it was negative fan energy that turned him away from the massive IP. The question still remains, though: would Johnson direct another one of those films?

In the summer of 2025, Johnson was asked about whether he’d return to Star Wars. He admitted that he’d kicked around ideas with Kathleen Kennedy after The Last Jedi but that he'd ultimately been “busy making murder mysteries” since his 2017 sci-fi film. Still, Johnson also shared that he “would be thrilled” to do something else Star Wars “down the line” should the opportunity present itself, but he’s currently rather happy doing his “own stuff.”

Fear not, though, fans, as there are upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows are on the way. The Mandalorian & Grogu will mark the franchise's first big-screen release since 2019’s Rise Of Skywalker. Also, the Ryan Gosling-led film Star Wars: Starfighter is set to be released in the summer of 2027. It goes without saying that this is a busy time for Lucasfilm and, with projects in the works and a new leadership team in place, only time will tell if Rian Johnson ends up returning to the fold!

It’s been rumored for some time that Kathleen Kennedy was on the verge of leaving as the President of Lucasfilm, and this week that rumor became a reality when Kennedy's retirement was officially announced. Despite the occasional controversy, it’s hard to say she doesn’t leave her post a resounding success, with movies that have grossed over $5 billion at the global box office, plus launching the franchise’s first live-action television shows.

It’s a job so impressive that, apparently, the feeling was that no single person could take it over. Instead of a single new President, the decision was made to promote co-presidents, with Dave Filoni also continuing as the company’s Chief Creative Officer, and Lynwen Brennan handling the business side of things as Co-President. It’s a model that has worked well so far for DC Films, and it’s one I hope the Disney committee currently undertaking a search for a new CEO takes note of.

Lucasfilm Went With Two New Leaders, And So Should Disney

Bob Iger is set to step down as CEO of The Walt Disney Company (again) at the end of 2026. We’ve been promised his replacement will be named early this year, which is to say, literally any time now. While the studio has reportedly been looking both inside and outside of the company for a replacement, two names have risen to the top. Disney Experiences chief Josh D’Amaro and Disney Studios co-head Dana Walden.

By all reports, it is a two-person race between these two. Walden has the creative relationships in Hollywood, an area that Disney’s last attempt at a new CEO, Bob Chapek, was found lacking. D’Amaro runs the side of the business that, between theme parks and consumer products, basically prints money. Each candidate has strengths, and each has weaknesses.

So, here’s a (not entirely) radical idea: as the meme says, why not both? There’s nothing saying Disney can’t have co-CEOs. While it’s uncommon, some companies have done it. Barring that, elevating one of the pair to CEO and the other to another executive title, like President, would put the two working together, each playing to their strengths, putting Disney on the best path forward.

It would work, and the reason I know it would work at Disney is that it’s happened before.

Disney’s Most Successful Times Came When Two People Were In Charge

While Disney has never had two CEOs before, it has had two people at the top of the company, and that was the case at the very beginning. Before it was The Walt Disney Company, the company was founded as the Disney Bros. Studio, and there were two Disneys, Walt and his brother Roy.

Walt was the creative genius who spearheaded crazy ideas like the first cel animated feature film and even crazier ideas like Disneyland. Roy figured out how in the world to pay for them all. There’s no argument that the style worked. Disney became a force in the entertainment industry.

It happened again in the mid-1980s when Disney brought in its first, and thus far only, CEO from outside the company, Michael Eisner. At the same time, it hired Frank Wells as President. The duo was often compared to Walt and Roy, with Eisner the creative mind and Wells the more business-focused executive.

Wells tragically passed away in 1994 at age 62, and he was never adequately replaced. One has to wonder if some of the decisions that Disney made in the late ’90s and early 2000s that didn’t work out would have happened quite the same way if there had been somebody working alongside Eisner.

D'Amaro and Walden are both great talents, and the company needs to keep them both. It's not uncommon for anybody passed over in a CEO hunt to go looking for greener pastures. Disney needs to prevent that here. Promoting both of them is how to make sure you don't lose one of them.

Either Josh D’Amaro or Dana Walden would likely make for great CEOs, but neither one of them is going to be great at everything. Together, however, they may be able to truly do it all. If one studio inside Disney realizes that two heads are better than one, then surely the company founded by two brothers will realize that too, right?

When George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, longtime Hollywood producer Kathleen Kennedy took over running the studio. From there, she guided the franchise set in a galaxy far, far away into new territory under the Mouse House’s umbrella, delivering both new movies and expanding Star Wars’ TV reach with both animated and live-action programming, among other media projects. Now it’s been officially announced that Kennedy is stepping down from Lucasfilm after 14 years, and her position will be filled by two people, one of whom is quite familiar to hardcore Star Wars fans.

Coming straight from Disney and Lucasfilm, Dave Filoni, who’s been a key figure in the Star Wars franchise stretching back to The Clone Wars, has been tapped to serve as Lucasfilm’s President and Chief Creative Officer, while Lynwen Brennan will serve as Co-President. As the official announcement states, Filoni’s duties will see him “take on creative leadership of the company,” leaving Brennan to handle the more business-y aspects. And while she’s no longer running Lucasfilm. Meanwhile, Kennedy will move back to being a full-time producer, which includes being involved on the upcoming Star Wars movies The Mandalorian & Grogu and Starfighter.

There have been rumors about Kathleen Kennedy’s retirement for years, but now it’s a done deal. Dave Filoni’s promotion should come as no surprise to anyone who’s familiar with his work. He’s played been an integral role in shaping the Star Wars mythology for two decades, particularly on the TV side of things. This ranges from creating Ahsoka Tano for The Clones Wars to writing, directing and executive producing The Mandalorian, Ahsoka and The Book of Boba Fett. He’s also cameoed in several episodes of The Mandalorian as New Republic pilot Trapper Wolf.

Lynwen Brennan has also been part of Lucasfilm for a long time, as she started working for Industrial Light & Magic in 1999, the year The Phantom Menace came out. 10 years later, she was tapped to run ILM, and from there, she became the General Manager of Lucasfilm in 2015, then its President & General Manager in 2024. In Variety’s writeup of today’s news, the articles muses that having Filoni and Brennan run Lucasfilm together “suggests that Disney felt the need to pair a strong filmmaking force with someone with a firm sense of budgets and balance sheets.”

This move echoes how James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired to lead DC Studios together a few years ago for similar reasoning. As stated in the headline, this is a major shakeup for Lucasfilm, and it’ll be interesting to see how Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan guide the Star Wars franchise and if it any way starts heavily deviating from what was being done during Kathleen Kennedy’s tenure. For now, we can look forward to The Mandalorian & Grogu arriving to the 2026 movies schedule on May 22, and Ahsoka Season 2 will also premiere sometime this year.

There are popular film franchises and then there's the Star Wars movies. Generations were brought up on the galaxy far far away, which continues to expand thanks to projects streaming on Disney+ subscription. There are some exciting upcoming Star Wars movies coming down the line, chief of them being Shawn Levy's Starfighter. The filmmaker recently shared the advice he's gotten from the studio, and I have to agree.

Star Wars: Starfighter started filming back in August, and fans are curious about what the Deadpool & Wolverine director will bring to the beloved property. While appearing on The Business podcast, Levy spoke about the note that he got from the powers that be at Disney and Lucasfilm. In his words:

Honestly, this is a thrilling update about Starfighter. Because rather than trying to shoehorn connections to the Skywalker Saga or other setting up the developing new Star Wars trilogy, he's being asked to bring something totally new to the franchise. And in my opinion that's exactly what the future of George Lucas' galaxy needs.

Standalone movies were a new experiment for Star Wars when Rogue One and Solo hit theaters. Unfortunately the franchise stopped producing these after the latter failed to perform at the box office. But Starfighter will bring back this concept, and Levy is being actively encouraged to try new things with the long-running franchise.

Star Wars has been noticeably missing from theaters since The Rise of Skywalker's ending, with the franchise instead growing with live-action shows on Disney+. But that'll change shortly, as both The Mandalorian and Grogu and Starfighter are on the way, and are bringing stories that aren't connected to a larger trilogy.

Not much is known about what Shawn Levy has up his sleeve for his debut Star Wars movie, but the stellar cast is helping to buoy excitement. Ryan Gosling leads the ensemble, which also includes familiar faces like Amy Adams, Mia Goth, and Matt Smith. Exactly what they'll be doing in the project remains to be seen, but this mysterious title has a lot going for it.

Shawn Levy has plenty of genre work under his belt, including his time directing Stranger Things and the record-breaking success of Deadpool & Wolverine. There's plenty of good will among fans, who are curious about his spin on Star Wars.

All will be revealed when Star Wars: Starfighter hits theaters on May 28th, 2027. But first up is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will arrive on May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Over four years after her firing from The Mandalorian — and the wrongful termination lawsuit against Disney that followed — Gina Carano is headed back to TV. Many are thrilled about this news, and that includes some of Carano’s former co-stars and other celebrities, as people including Meghan McCain and Deadpool actress Brianna Hildebrand took to social media to show their excitement and support for the actress.

Gina Carano will star in the Las Vegas-set Logan Reign, in which her character is a legal assistant by day, vigilante crime fighter by night. She seems excited for the opportunity to return to the small screen, saying she’s “bringing every ounce of who I am as an actress” to the project, and it sounds like others are just as pumped. Carano shared the casting announcement to Instagram, on which Meghan McCain commented:

The former co-host of The View wasn’t the only one excited to see Gina Carano’s next TV role following her portrayal of Cara Dune on the Star Wars series The Mandalorian (available to stream with a Disney+ subscription). Orange Is the New Black’s Taryn Manning also weighed in, writing:

Ming-Na Wen, who recurred on the first two seasons of the Pedro Pascal-led Star Wars series as Fennec Shand, added three applause emojis and a heart, while Gina Carano also received love from fellow Deadpool actress Brianna Hildebrand, who wrote:

There aren’t too many details available about Logan Reign yet, including which network or streaming service will house it, but don't expect it to make its premiere on the 2025 TV schedule. The series is being developed by Straightwire Entertainment Group, in a partnership with Get Out producers Yvette Yates Redick and Shaun Redick.

Gina Carano was fired from Disney and Lucasfilm in 2021 after social media activity that included claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, questioning COVID-19 protocols and comparing the political climate to Nazi Germany. The actress argued in her wrongful termination and discrimination lawsuit that her co-star Pedro Pascal did not face such consequences for his own political posts.

Disney and Lucasfilm settled the lawsuit with Gina Carano last month. Details of the agreement weren’t revealed, but it sounds like the door might be open for the actress to return in an upcoming Star Wars shows and movie, as a Disney spokesperson said in a statement afterward that they “look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”

While Gina Carano was able to land a couple of movie roles after her 2021 firing, she has been open about struggling to find work, saying it was like she was “sitting here in a desert” all alone. We’ll have to see if she ever reprises her role as Cara Dune or finds another role within the House of Mouse. Until then, though, we’ll definitely have our eyes on The Mandalorian and Grogu movie that’s set for release on the 2026 movie calendar.

Gina Carano was once one of the biggest new names in the galaxy far, far away, becoming a popular addition to the Star Wars franchise as part of The Mandalorian’s excellent first season(available streaming with a Disney+ subscription). She was written out after the end of Season 2, however, when she was cut from the franchise by Lucasfiilm in response to controversial social media posts. Now, more than four years later and in the wake of her lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm being resolved, she’s coming back to TV.

Gina Carano’s Lawsuit

In 2024, Carano filed a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm that claimed wrongful termination and discrimination, alleging that she was unfairly cut from The Mandalorian. At the time, she was looking for punitive damages as well as for Lucasfilm to bring her back as Cara Dune, with Elon Musk helping the actress bring her case.

The lawsuit was settled by Disney and Carano back in August of 2025 ahead of what would have been the trial date in September. Details about the settlement weren’t revealed, but a statement from a Disney spokesperson (via Deadline) said that Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company were “pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Gina Carano to resolve the issues in her pending lawsuit against the companies,” adding “we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”

Only time will tell if that last comment results in Gina Carano reprising her role as Cara Dune, but her new TV role isn’t one that takes her back to the galaxy far, far away.

Gina Carano’s New TV Role

Carano is set to star in a new series set in Las Vegas called Logan Reign, according to Deadline. She’ll play a vigilante crime fighter, who has the comparatively innocuous job of a legal assistant in Vegas during the day. The project is being developed by the film and television production company Straightwire Entertainment Group, in a partnership with Get Out producers Yvette Yates Redick and Shaun Redick as Logan Reign producers.

At the time of writing, there doesn’t seem to be a network or a streaming platform attached to Logan Reign, but Carano told Deadline that she’s been “craving to bring to life” Logan Reign, then went on:

Logan Reign isn’t Carano’s first gig since the end of her time on The Mandalorian, as she starred in the film Western called Terror on the Prairie in 2022 and then My Son Hunter later that year. It remains to be seen what the timeline will be for Logan Reign or where it will end up if it does get off the ground. As for whether Carano will return to a Disney project, Star Wars fans will have to wait and see. She has not been announced as part of any of the thus-far upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows at the time of writing.

Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, it’s fair to say the company has given fans a lot more from the galaxy far, far away, and there’s a lot more upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows where that came from. Most would agree the Disney Star Wars era has been a mixed bag, but more and more over the years, fans continue to praise Rogue One: Star Wars Story as one of the greats. But what does director Gareth Edwards think about this?

While the love for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story went from a simmer to a hard boil over the years, especially since Andor Season 2 gave us some top tier Star Wars television, here’s what the movie’s director recently said when Business Insider pointed out his movie frequently being called the best Star Wars movie Disney has put out:

Gareth Edwards didn’t share what he thinks the best Disney Star Wars movie is outside his own, but he did share some interesting thoughts about how he handles the discourse around his movies. As he continued:

Now this is a great way to handle being a major filmmaker. When a movie is coming out, there are so many factors that can make it seem like a failure despite the quality of something. At the end of the day, there have been tons of classics that were either box office failures or critically panned at the time of their release.

Rogue One wasn’t either of those things. It earned $1.06 billion worldwide following its December 2016 release, and earned a very positive 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Edwards’ 2023 followup, an original science fiction film called The Creator, bombed at the box office with a $104 million worldwide haul and mixed reviews. He also said this:

Regarding Star Wars, Gareth Edwards also said he’s “very happy to move on and do my own thing” outside the franchise, even though he’ll “never stop loving that trilogy.” As his comments continued:

Rogue One is approaching its 10-year anniversary next year, and it appears it’ll be in good shape. Gareth Edwards’ latest movie is the new Jurassic World movie Rebirth starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali. He’s called the movie a return to the Jurassic Park roots. You can see it in theaters on July 2.

There are plenty of upcoming Star Wars series headed our way, but one of the most highly anticipated is, without a doubt, Andor Season 2. The upcoming 12 episodes will cover the remaining four years before Cassian Andor’s appearance in Rogue One, which means the series is ending after this season. Some lucky critics have already had the chance to screen episodes before it hits the 2025 TV calendar on April 22, and their first reactions are pretty exciting.

CinemaBlend has been bringing you all the latest from the Star Wars Celebration in Japan, including coverage from the Andor Season 2 panel, but let’s take a look at some of the overwhelmingly positive first reactions from those who have seen the new episodes. That would include critic Darren Mooney, who says he can’t stop thinking about the “beautiful, incredible, transcendental” second and final season. Mooney writes on X (Twitter):

Critic Zach Pope says this installment is “1000 percent” better than Season 1, and like the critic above, this Star Wars fan hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it, and he predicts that won’t change anytime soon, writing on X:

Jordan King also gives Andor Season 2 — which will be available to stream with a Disney+ subscription — a vote for best TV show of the year, saying:

The trailer gave fans plenty of reasons to get excited, and it sounds like fans won’t be disappointed. Germain Lussier of Gizmodo is positively gushing over this “miracle” of a season, writing:

Nick Iarriccio writes that this isn’t just a good series in regards to a galaxy far, far away; it’s great television overall, from the writing to the acting. Prepare to be emotionally devastated. In the critic’s words:

Justin Lawrence of Geekcentric also uses the word “masterclass” to describe the upcoming series. Although some parts of Season 2 are “uneven,” the story is ultimately both ambitious and powerful. The critic writes:

While many of the first reactions are centered around the writing and the plot that — if you’re watching the Star Wars movies in order — will lead us into Rogue One, Anthony Gagliardi of The Movie Podcast praises the performances, specifically of those portraying Cassian Andor and Mon Mothma — who Tony Gilroy says is in for a “hellacious Season 2.” Gagliardi says:

It sounds like there’s plenty for Star Wars fans to be excited about, and thankfully you don’t have to wait long to get the first dose of Andor Season 2. The first three episodes premiere on Disney+ on Tuesday, April 22, with the streamer releasing three episodes each Tuesday thereafter.

Our reporting on Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan on its first day on Friday, April 18 continues with live reporting on the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows from the event. Following an incredible panel for upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu movie earlier today where we saw Ryan Gosling officially announce his Star Wars movie, Starfighter, we've moved on to give you the latest on Lucasfilm Animation panel with Dave Filoni.

Going in, we knew that the panel will celebrate 20 years of Lucasfilm Animation and include "a sneak peek at what’s to come". Let's get into the highlights.

It's almost 3:30 p.m. here in Tokyo at the Celebration Stage at Star Wars Celebration, and the house is just about packed with fans excited to experience the Lucasfilm Animation panel. Stay tuned with us here as it soon gets started, and may the Force be with you.

The panel has opened with a touching video paying tribute to Lucasfilm Animation over the past two decades so far. From George Lucas' beginnings with the medium that led to the founding of the division to Dave Filoni's huge influence over the years from directing Clone Wars to continuing to create a ton of series in the division currently.

Now the VP of Lucasfilm Animation Athena Portillo and Dave Filoni have taken to the stage to get things cracking. Filoni and Portillo are swapping stories about working with George Lucas over the years. When it comes to pushing the boundaries in the division of Lucasfilm, Portillo says that she doesn't believe there's limits to storytelling and dealing with technical challenges – it's "let's see what we can do."

Now, here's a sweet little treat for fans. Filoni is introducing they'll be showing a "rough" clip from a Clone Wars that never made the cut. It's an action scene with Boba Fett from an arc they didn't end up using. It features Anakin on a cruiser chasing Boba Fett, who is jetting through the sky away from him. They both end up getting knocked down eventually far down. It launches into a short fight between the pair before Boba gets away and Anakin notifies Mace Windu about him. How cool of a match up.

Filoni is now reflecting about Rebels, and how he likes using the character of Ahsoka to explore the "odd ends of the galaxy" such as the World Between Worlds, and the "fringe" of Star Wars not explored in the movies.

The panel is also highlighting all the love of The Bad Batch is getting as of late – including through the Celebration as well. Filoni pointed out that one of reasons why they did The Bad Batch was because it was an original idea George Lucas had had. Honoring Lucas continues to be very important to Filoni.

The panel is moving to talking about Tales of the Underworld, which we saw a first trailer for just weeks ago along with word it was coming to those with a Disney+ subscription on May 4 a.k.a Star Wars Day. Filoni has just announced we'll be watching a whole episode of the upcoming Star Wars Original shorts series...

Wow, that was gorgeous. It introduces the bounty hunter named Asajj Ventress, who puts her neck out to save a young boy in the first episode while trying to stay hidden. The end of the episode one, which will be one of six episodes, ends with Asajj telling the boy that she used to be the lead assassin for Count Dooku (which Clone Wars fans will already know) as they go on the run.

What especially stuck out to me was the emotional score, and sharp dialogue. This wasn't really on my radar before, but now I can't wait.

After they talked past and present, it's time to talk the future of the studio. A DARTH MAUL animated series was just announced. It's called Maul: Shadow Lord, and that just send the stage into a bigger rousing applause than I've seen all day. Sam Witwer is once again voicing the role, too. Here's the logo:

We saw a trailer that shows Darth Maul taking on a female apprentice to realize her "potential" with the force. Y'all it looks absolutely amazing. We really haven't seen shows from the dark side perspective, so that makes it even more exciting. Oh, and the animation is unlike anything we've seen from Lucasfilm. What a way to celebrate the division by actually outdoing themselves with a new show on the horizon.

It's coming out in 2026!

Back in 2021, Gina Carano was fired from Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company after sharing tweets that garnered backlash. The actress, who played Cara Dune on the Star Wars show The Mandalorian, subsequently called out her former employers for what she believed to be a double standard. Carano eventually took legal action in February 2024 by filing suit against Disney for alleged wrongful termination and sex discrimination. As the suit continues to play out, Carano has notched a victory.

As part of her filing, the Deadpool alum has been in pursuit of specific information from Disney. While she hasn’t received everything she’s been asking for, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California is now requiring the House of Mouse to hand over documents. As the actress’ attorney, Gene Schaerr, shared on X, the entertainment conglomerate must submit details regarding how other members of the Star Wars franchise have been compensated across the IP’s various shows.

The partial approval of this “motion to compel” encompasses payment records for The Mandalorian’s lead actor, Pedro Pascal, Ahsoka’s Rosario Dawson and even the cast of the upcoming Mandalorian & Grogu film. Said information is to reportedly be submitted in the form of “verified spreadsheets” as Gene Schaerr explained. Schaerr went on to say that while he and his client didn’t receive everything they’ve been after, this development marks a step in the right direction for their case:

Gina Carano’s dismissal from Lucasfilm was preceded by instances in which she took to social media to question COVID-19 protocols and make claims of voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election. Those aside, she truly drew backlash after sharing a post that seemingly compared being a conservative in the current political landscape to the oppression present during the Holocaust. It was after that post that Carano was fired, and she later argued that her co-star, Pedro Pascal did not receive similar treatment for his own political posts.

Elon Musk eventually offered to fund the lawsuit for the former Star Wars actress, who’s reportedly seeking $75,000 worth of punitive damages. Disney eventually responded to the suit in April 2024, arguing that it had "a constitutional right to dissociate its own artistic message from Carano's outspoken 'political beliefs.'" By June, the studio attempted to have the case dismissed, though a U.S. District judge ultimately prevented that from happening.

All the while, Gina Carano has been candid about her lawsuit being analyzed by the public, calling it “embarrassing.” She also said that in regard to trying to find work, she feels as though she’s “sitting her in the desert.” It was also alleged around May 2024 that Carano actually wanted to rejoin Disney, yet she shot down that notion while blasting the media for its coverage.

While this latest legal update does mark a significant victory for the MMA fighter-turned-actress, it’s hard to say whether she’ll ultimately win her case. Of course, we’ll also have to wait and see if The Walt Disney Company does submit those spreadsheets within the specific time period.

Earlier this week, it was rumored that Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy would leave the production company by the end of the year. Well, Kennedy, who succeeded George Lucas as head of the company following the Disney acquisition in 2012, has now responded directly to these retirement rumors. While it’s great to have clarification on this matter, I’m frankly more pleased about the updates she provided on some of the upcoming Star Wars movies.

Kathleen Kennedy’s Response To The Retirement Rumors

In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Kennedy set the record straight by saying that retirement is in no way on the horizon for her. In her words:

Ok, at least that’s been cleared up. Kathleen Kennedy, who scored her first film credit as a producer on E.T., will not be leaving the world of filmmaking. However, she did say that she’s been talking with Disney CEO Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, about a succession plan for Lucasfilm down the line. As she put it:

This makes sense, as eventually there will come a time when new leadership is required and someone will replace Kennedy. For now though, she’s staying firmly entrenched in the world of Star Wars, adding:

Once that business was out of the way, Kathleen Kennedy also shared some updates on some of the Star Wars movies in the works, and it’s most welcome to learn how their progress is coming along.

Where Things Stand On The Star Wars Movies Front

As Kathleen Kennedy mentioned, next up on the Star Wars movies in order front is The Mandalorian & Grogu’s May 2026 release, which will be a theatrical movie rather than a Disney+ subscription exclusive like The Mandalorian series. During the interview though, Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr. first inquired about the trilogy of Star Wars movies that Simon Kinberg is writing and producing. Here’s what Kennedy had to say about that:

The executive added this trilogy will be “the next iteration, the new saga that moves us into the future.” Then, as mentioned by Kennedy earlier, there’s Shawn Levy’s mysterious Star Wars movie, which will reportedly star Ryan Gosling and come out after The Mandalorian & Grogu. She stated that Levy’s movie will also be set post-The Rise of Skywalker, “maybe five or six years out.”

Finally, there’s James Mangold’s Star Wars movie that’s set roughly 25,000 years before the events of A New Hope and explore the origins of the Force. When Kathleen Kennedy asked if that project is still happening, she answered:

Of course, these are just a few of the Star Wars movies in development. Among the others are Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy-directed movie bringing back Daisy Ridley’s Rey, Dave Filoni’s New Republic movie and Taika Waititi’s untitled movie (Kathleen Kennedy admitted that the Thor: Ragnarok filmmaker’s been busy lately and still hasn’t turned in a script). Whether all those will get made remains to be seen, but per Kennedy, there’s enough cinematic entertainment set in a galaxy far, far away that’s progressing nicely.

The Mandalorian & Grogu will break the Star Wars movies dry spell when it’s released on May 26, 2026. But arriving much sooner than that is Andor Season 2, which premieres April 22 on Disney+.

It’s difficult to argue that the Star Wars franchise under Disney has had something of a difficult road. The sequel trilogy was met with mixed reviews, but it was an unqualified box office hit, with each movie making over a billion dollars at the global box office. The Force Awakens is still the highest-grossing domestic movie ever, ahead of even Avengers: Endgame.

But, since the release of those films, the franchise has had a tough time. As the head of the studio, Kathleen Kennedy has been the one to get the brunt of the criticism. While all indications have been that Disney has had no problems with her performance, many fans have. Now, those fans are about to be very happy if a new Lucasfilm rumor is true.

Kathleen Kennedy May Be Leaving Lucasfilm

A new report from Puck claims that Kathleen Kennedy has told people within her inner circle that she plans to leave Lucasfilm at the end of this year. No public statement has been made, so this is officially still a rumor, but Puck claims to have multiple sources confirming the departure.

It’s difficult to argue that the George Lucas-birthed IP hasn’t had its struggles. Multiple Star Wars movies that have been announced over the last several years have failed to materialize. As a result, fans haven't seen a film entry from the franchise hit movie theaters in six years, which is clearly not part of some grand intentional design. There have absolutely been some problems at the Disney-owned company.

As the head of Lucasfilm, Kennedy is ultimately responsible for the franchise, the good and the bad. For those fans who have been actively calling for her to step down, and actively harassing any women involved in Star Wars, for years, this will certainly be seen as good news. But I just can't get that excited.

Kathleen Kennedy Leaving Lucasfilm May Make Star Wars Far More Boring

With Kennedy allegedly stepping down, the big question will become who will replace her. The most obvious choice is Dave Filoni, who already has a chief creative role at Lucasfilm. He’s also very popular with the SW fanbase, and about the most boring choice that could be made.

While I’ve enjoyed Filoni’s contributions to Star Wars too, they have mostly seemed to rely on fan service. Easter eggs are fun, but they’re not enough to sustain a franchise. Yet, they are the things that get fans excited, so that stuff has only continued to grow. Making this new chapter in the franchise exciting by referencing older, better movies isn't a long-term solution.

The two most recent additions to the world of Star Wars, The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew, were projects I found far more interesting than Ahsoka or the recent seasons of The Mandalorian . That's because the shows (which are streamable with a Disney+ subscription) expanded the concept of what Star Wars as a franchise was.

Losing Kathleen Kennedy doesn’t mean that fans won’t see more interesting and creative ideas, but retreating back to the safe ground and just pumping out movies and series full of references to earlier trilogies is just not interesting. It is, however, what Disney does when it's out of ideas.

Kathleen Kennedy is one of the most accomplished producers in the history of Hollywood. With Star Wars and more, she’s shown how good she is and she’s certainly earned her retirement. If she is leaving, I wish her the best. As for whoever takes over, I hope they'll learn a few things from her.

Does it feel like Star Wars fandom is always in some form of disarray? Looking back over the past few years of Star Wars projects, there have been precious few that have united the fanbase in collective excitement. Everyone seemed to be on board during the run up to JJ Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And there have been waves of popularity for culture-shifting projects like The Mandalorian (during its early seasons, at least), and Andor. Both rank high on our list of Star Wars shows, ranked. When a Star Wars show whiffs, however, the fanbase turns. It gets ugly. And I fear that LucasFilm reacts too quickly to fan blowback, putting future Star Wars shows in an uncomfortable position.

Star Wars fans learned recently that The Acolyte would not be back for Season 2, leaving so many of the tantalizing plot threads dangling. The finale of The Acolyte included brief shots of Yoda (who would be thriving during the time of the High Republic) and the tease of Darth Plagueis. Also, the twins storyline between Mae and Osha (both played by Amandla Stenberg) led to a role reversal. Seriously, watch the first – and now only – season of The Acolyte. It’s worth your time.

Deadline claims that The Acolyte was cancelled. More accurately, it just wasn’t renewed. The same fate befell The Book of Boba Fett, and that series wasn’t labeled as cancelled. Fans still call for the continuation of that story online.

The blame for The Acolyte seems to fall on fan interest, or a lack thereof. “Ratings” don’t really exist for a streaming service, though the trade notes that The Acolyte made its debut in the Nielsen Top 10, dropped out of that Top 10 after week 3, and didn’t return until the release of the finale. Deadline reports that the series finale of The Acolyte logged 335 million minutes, the lowest for a Star Wars series finale.

Here’s where that Star Wars divide comes into play. Segments of the Star Wars fanbase have vocally called for the demise of The Acolyte, theoretically pushing back against lead characters of color, and a “woke” agenda.

Other fans push back against this criticism, and beg for Star Wars stories that go in a different direction from the films and shows of The Skywalker Saga. By setting its story in the High Republic, The Acolyte showed us live-action interpretations of Star Wars elements that previously had been limited to books, comics, video games and fringe lore. The fans who wanted different embraced The Acolyte, and fought back against the online trolling the show and its creatives received.

Even if the reason for the cancellation was purely numbers driven, the optics look bad. Believe me, The Acolyte simply joins a laundry list of shows that should not have been axed after one season, including My So-Called Life, Freaks and Geeks, and Willow (also you, LucasFilm). This happens to shows all of the time, be they Star Wars shows or not.

But failing to renew a show like The Acolyte, that so clearly set itself up for more storytelling with teases for continuing narratives sends the message to future Star Wars shows like Skeleton Crew that they are on a short leash. Succeed right out of the gate, or your future is in jeopardy. Creators don’t appear to have the full support of LucasFilm, a company that notoriously broke ties with several filmmakers as they toiled away on projects, or delivered something as divisive as Star Wars: The Last Jedi. How’s that Rian Johnson trilogy coming along?

I’m not saying LucasFilm needs to throw money at a show that isn’t attracting an audience. But the way that LucasFilm keeps shifting the creative goalposts without any clear indication on the type of storytelling it wants to pursue means that genuine apathy is going to set in with a fanbase that used to want to crawl over broken glass to defend the studio’s right to tell stories. And once that’s gone, winning those fans back becomes as difficult as placing a torpedo inside an exhaust port. Not impossible. But nearly.

It’s been over three years since Lucasfilm cut ties with Gina Carano due to controversial social media posts shared by the MMA fighter-turned-actress. After discussing her experiences with the Disney-owned company over the next several years, Carano filed suit against the House of Mouse in February 2024. The legal entanglement is ongoing, with both sides sharing arguments for their specific cases. Now, it would appear that the situation could take a significant turn ahead of the trial scheduled for next year. That’s because the possibility of Carano’s ex-co-star Pedro Pascal and other notable individuals testifying now seems to be on the table.

Both Gina Carano and Lucasfilm recently filed legal documents, which name a host of major players from Disney as potential witnesses who could testify in court. On the Star Wars side of this, Din Djarin actor Pedro Pascal, series creator Jon Favreau, LF president Kathleeen and publicity chief Lynnne Hale were all named. Per THR, other notable individuals on that list include former Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek and TV personality Bear Gryllis, who hosted Carano for an episode of his reality series, Running Wild.

Each of the individuals mentioned in the filings had some kind of professional and/or personal connection to the ex-Cara Dune actress. Jon Favreau and Kathleen Kennedy were her employers while she starred on The Mandalorian (which has been a hit with Disney+ subscription holders). And, of course, she and the previously Djarin portrayer collaborated during the show’s first two seasons. Finally, Bob Chapek was overseeing the House of Mouse at the time of the Fast & Furious 6 alum’s dismissal.

The trade also reports that the legal documents share details regarding the points of contention in the case. One of them is whether Gina Carano was technically under contract when she was let go from the job in February 2021. There’s also the matter of whether Carano received equal treatment compared to her male co-stars when it came to her social media activities. (Carano herself once opened up about her polarizing presence on the Internet.)

As it stands, Ms. Carano is suing Disney and Lucasfilm for alleged discrimination and wrongful termination. On top of that, she’s seeking $75,000 in punitive damages and wants a court order that would force her former employers to recast her on the Star Wars show. Carano’s lawsuit is being helped along by businessman Elon Musk, who’s funding it with the help of X’s chief of business operations, Joe Benarroch. The plaintiff is arguing that she was fired for “voicing right-wing opinions on social media.” She appears to view that as a double standard due to Pascal and some of her other peers sharing left-leaning views online.

Disney fired back at the suit after it was filed, arguing that it was in the corporation’s First Amendment rights to “dissociate its own artistic message from Carano's outspoken 'political beliefs.'” Legal documents also seemed to suggest that the company felt compelled to finally cut ties with Carano after she shared a post that appeared to compare being rebuked for one’s political leanings to the persecution of Jewish people during the Holocaust.

Gina Carano has opened up about the suit since it was filed and has been real about how “embarrassing” it is to be going through such a public matter with her ex-colleagues. Additionally, Carano called out the media following reports that she wanted to rejoin The Mandalorian amid the lawsuit. Whether or not any of that will come to pass remains to be seen. All that can be said right now is that Carano is currently set to receive her day in court on September 25, 2025 and, ahead of that date, it’ll be known if Pedro Pascal and others will indeed be called to testify.

The Mandalorian’s Gina Carano was fired from Disney and Lucasfilm back in 2021 over controversial social media posts she shared around that time. In the aftermath, she seemingly sought to distance herself from the company and take on new gigs. This year, however, Carano filed suit against the House of Mouse, decreeing discrimination and wrongful termination in regard to her ousting. It was then reported this weekend that she was open to returning to the franchise amid the lawsuit. Since then, Carano has taken to the web to call out the media. 

Gina Carano was one of several stars who appeared at FAN EXPO Philadelphia over the weekend, and she participated in a panel discussion. It was reported by several news outlets that Carano was purportedly open to rejoining Star Wars. Additionally, it was said that the MMA fighter-turned-actress held no ill will towards her former employers at The Walt Disney Company. Sometime on Sunday evening, though, the star took to X (formerly Twitter) to share some thoughts. She didn’t specifically mention the claims that she voiced interest in reteaming with the entertainment conglomerate but didn’t mince words when voicing her disdain for “journalists”: 

As of this writing, the actress hasn’t provided further clarity on the matter. That includes what was specifically said during the event in Philadelphia.

The Deadpool alum’s firing over three years ago came after she shared several polarizing sentiments on social media. Among them was a post that seemingly compared the contemporary political climate to that of Nazi Germany. She also stirred up controversy after questioning health protocols during the COVID pandemic and making claims related to voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Additionally, she garnered backlash for making jokes about pronoun usage on social media. 

It was reported in February that Gina Carano had taken steps to sue for her firing. Per the suit, which is funded by Elon Musk, the former Cara Dune actress is seeking $75,000 in punitive damages, and she’s since expressed optimism over her chances of winning the case. By April, Disney issued a response, noting in legal documents that the brand “had a constitutional right to dissociate its own artistic message from Carano's outspoken 'political beliefs.'” The legal team also argued that “because these claims aim to 'require [Disney] to modify the content of [its] expression,' they cannot proceed.” 

Since being let go by the company, Gina Carano has been candid when sharing her feelings about Disney and her current professional standing. She previously claimed she was “bullied” by the company and felt as though she was being “head-hunted.” When talking about the lawsuit, Carano said it’s “embarrassing” to have such a legal situation play out, and in the public eye at that. As for her career, she feels like she’s been “sitting here in the desert” since cutting ties with both the House of Mouse and The Daily Wire.

Whether speculation continues to surround the actress' relationship with Lucasfilm and co. remains to be seen at this point. However, her recent post about the media may indicate that she’s not planning to join any upcoming Star Wars movies or TV shows in the near future.

The Walt Disney Company is seen by many as the strongest company in the entertainment industry, but that hasn’t stopped Gina Carano from taking it on. The actress who had previously been part of the Star Wars series The Mandalorian is suing the company over her firing, and she’s not mincing words when discussing the situation. While she admits to some embarrassment over the lawsuit, she has strong words for Disney CEO Bob Iger and says Disney instructs people how to apologize during situations like hers.

On the same day that Disney publicly responded to Gina Carano’s lawsuit, an interview with the former Mandalorian actor on the Sage Steele podcast went live. When speaking about the lawsuit, Carano admitted that she is a little embarrassed by the fact that it exists, because in her mind her issues could have been resolved another way, and the lawsuit was a last resort. She said…

In February 2021 Lucasfilm cut tiles with Gina Carano following a series of controversial social media posts from the actress. Carano was accused of making transphobic statements as well as denigrating Jews and making light of the Holocaust in a variety of posts on social media. Carano has denied that her posts were meant to be taken that way. 

The actress clearly feels that she has been wronged. Her lawsuit asks that the court force Lucasfilm to rehire her The Mandalorian, a somewhat surprising ask considering the clear animus she holds toward the company. The lawsuit is being funded by Elon Musk’s X, as the owner of the former Twitter site has offered to fund lawsuits to defend people that believe they were punished for statements made on Twitter. 

Carano really seems to feel that, if she could only speak with the right people, this whole issue could be dealt with. She claims her specific case is unique, and seems to feel Disney is not handling it appropriately. The Deadpool actress continued...

Carano has previously claimed Disney has bullied her and says here that the company is trying to “crush” her for “asking the right questions.” Though she doesn’t state exactly what those questions are. She feels Disney is making the wrong business decision by treating her this way, saying…

While Carano feels she’s being treated unfairly by Disney, Disney doesn’t seem to feel the same way. The company has filed a motion to dismiss Carano’s lawsuit, claiming the company was perfectly within its rights to dismiss her for her public posts. We also know that Disney had previously asked Carano to simply apologize for the posts, even giving her a statement to post as her apology. Carano reiterates here that she was told how to apologize, but she did not do so, saying…

Carano has admitted it's been difficult to find work since her public firing. How things may change following this lawsuit remains to be seen.

Gina Carano is currently engaged in a legal battle with her former employers – The Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm. Back in February, the MMA fighter-turned-actress sued both entities over her 2021 firing from the show. Carano’s lawsuit lists alleged discrimination and wrongful termination as the reasons for which she’s taking legal action. Up to this point, Disney has not publicly commented on the situation. Now, however, its legal team has issued a response, which includes an argument against the filing.

Lawyers for the entertainment conglomerate filed a motion this past week, according to Variety. Legal documents obtained by the trade show that the company is arguing that it has “a constitutional right not to associate its artistic expression with Carano’s speech.” With this argument of a supposed First Amendment right, Disney is looking to have the suit tossed out entirely. When it comes to the argument at the center of this motion, one section of the filing reads as follow:

Gina Carano came under fire in 2020 after sharing controversial social media posts on multiple occasions, which garnered backlash from fans. During the COVID lockdown that year, she questioned some of the health protocols that had been put in place. Additionally, she poked fun at pronoun usage on social media accounts and shared content that apparently questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Finally, another polarizing post from Carano compared the treatment of contemporary conservatives to that of Jews in Nazi Germany. Per Disney’s suit, that was “the final straw” that led to her ousting.

After it was revealed that she was no longer employed with Lucasfilm, the Fast & Furious alum has been candid about the alleged experiences she had while working for it. She claimed that she was “bullied” and “head-hunted” due to her personal beliefs. Through her suit, Gina Carano laid out measures that were taken to help smooth out the backlash against her viral comments. That apparently included a Zoom meeting with GLAAD to discuss ways to move forward. Carano explained earlier this month that she’s had a difficult time finding work since being let go. As she put it, she feels like she’s been “sitting here in the desert.”

Business magnate Elon Musk is providing financial support for the lawsuit “a sign of X Corp’s commitment to free speech.” The social media platform’s head of business operations, Joe Benarroch, explained that by doing so, the corporation is “empowering” the Deadpool alum to “seek vindication of her free speech rights on X and the ability to work without bullying, harassment, or discrimination.”

As of this writing, neither Gina Carano nor her legal counsel have yet to issue a response. It can’t be said for sure how a decision on this lawsuit will ultimately look. What can be said, though, is that both Disney and Carano seem to believe that they both hold compelling arguments in support of their desired outcomes.

Ahsoka Tano is a well-known character within the sprawling Star Wars franchise today. She’s greatly loved for her determination, cleverness, humor and heart. Of course, fans also appreciate the powerful Jedi’s skills with a lightsaber. Considering how beloved she is now, it’s somewhat hard to believe that there was a time at which she was unpopular. That’s right, plenty surely remember her introduction well over a decade ago, which was met with harsh critiques. Her rise from franchise pariah to pop culture icon is very interesting – so much so that amid Women’s History Month, I feel compelled to discuss her evolution. 

When Was Ahsoka Created For The Star Wars Universe And When Did She Make Her Debut?

There are two people who we can attribute the creation of Tano to, and they’re George Lucas and Dave Filoni, as they conceived of her while creating the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It’s been said that Lucas felt compelled to create the young heroine as someone for his (then-young) daughters and other girls to look up to. Filoni, who initially believed his Lucasfilm hiring was a prank, would eventually play a particularly keen role in developing the character. Someone who would, in time, prove to be vital to the character as well would be actress Ashley Eckstein, who was tapped to voice her.

Tano ultimately made her debut in the 2008 film Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which was birthed from George Lucas’ excitement over the early footage from its TV show counterpart. Ahsoka was established as the newly minted padawan of one Anakin Skywalker, who was surprised Master Yoda had assigned the adolescent Togruta to him. But this would mark the start of an endearing surrogate father-daughter relationship. Today, the relationship between “Snips” and “SkyGuy” is beloved, and there’s even been artwork that’s paid tribute to Anakin and Ahsoka’s bond.

I can still remember being 14 years old when the film and TV series were released and, in the lead-up to both, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Tano. As a fan, I had no preconceived notions about her, just an ample amount of curiosity. I couldn’t have imagined that she would one day end up being one of the franchise’s most revered protagonists. Additionally, I also didn’t expect such intense backlash once the public got its first taste of her.

How Fans Responded After Ahsoka Tano Was Formally Introduced

Back in the late 2000s, I didn’t surf the Internet quite as often as I do now, though I do remember stumbling across some chat rooms and message boards. Needless to say, a number of franchise devotees weren’t too impressed with Ahsoka. At the time, many seemed to find her to be impatient, cocky and an unnecessary addition to the canon. Aside from fans, some critics weren’t taken with her right away. While reviewing the Clone Wars film, even the late, great Roger Ebert expressed less-than-positive sentiments about her introduction: 

It would be an understatement to say that fans and pundits alike didn’t mince words when voicing their displeasure for the young Jedi learner. And the people at Lucasfilm were well aware of the reception. While speaking at the 2023 C2E2 convention (via Popverse) Ashley Eckstein recalled the vitriol and, as you can imagine, she was deeply affected by it after the movie’s release and amid the series' early episodes: 

Fictional characters aren’t always perfect upon their debuts and, in fairness, Tano did need to be refined a bit. Still, the amount of blunt thoughts shared about her at the time was downright wild, if I’m being real. Ever in line with the spirit of the Star Wars franchise though, the creative team didn’t lose hope in its creation. As the actress mentioned, they were already working on Season 2 by the time the film came out, and they were confident that fans would eventually become interested in her journey. And they were right.

How Ahsoka Became A Fan-Favorite And Established Power Player Within The Franchise

Dave Filoni and co. did indeed have a plan for the character. Over the course of The Clone Wars’ five seasons that aired from 2008 to 2013, she evolved from an impetuous, young Jedi in training to a cerebral Force-user. And not only did her mind become sharper, but her skills with a lightsaber. (The New York Post’s Linda Stasi actually noted her skills as a swordsman as a bright spot in her negative review of the 2008 feature.) Tano was involved in some of the best storyline the Cartoon Network series had to offer, including the “Mortis” arc and the “Ahsoka the Fugitive” story. Her journey on CW culminated in the “Siege of Mandalore” story, which brought the entire show to a fitting end in 2020.

Of course, that series wouldn’t be the only place that fans would get to enjoy the character’s exploits. In 2015, she returned in Star Wars Rebels and, though she appeared in a supporting capacity, the writers expanded on her characterization and gave her cool actions sequences. Defining moments from the heroine’s life were also explored on Tales of the Jedi. And, of course, in 2023, she received her own self-titled, live-action series, with Rosario Dawson taking on the role. The show was well received and, as a result, fans can now look forward to Ahsoka Season 2, which we know a little about.

I’ve watched as fans’ opinions of Tano have shifted over the years, and it’s been wonderful to behold. Based on my observations, many seem to appreciate her journey and what she brings to the lore. Dave Filoni and the writers have shaped her evolution well, allowing her to grow in very dynamic ways. If anything, those who are invested find her journey to be relatively satisfying at this point. Which is ironic, considering that, in hindsight, one of the reasons why it’s so rewarding is because of the former padawan’s rocky beginnings. The creative team at Disney seems pleased by her impact as well. When Ashley Eckstein shared some words of wisdom about her character with CinemaBlend, she reflected on the influence her alter ego has had: 

In short, the character is now an icon – one that fans across all genders, ages, ethnicities and more admire. When taking into account just where she started, that's truly remarkable. What’s even more amazing to consider, even though she’s existed for nearly two decades now, is that there’s still so much of her story that can be told as time goes on.

What I’m Hoping When It Comes To Ahsoka’s Future

With her popularity now at a serious high, I’d imagine that Lucasfilm is going to make sure that more stories revolving around Ahsoka Tano will be told. Such a notion would neither surprise nor upset me. In fact, as time goes on, it’s my sincerest hope that the Jedi will remain a fixture within the franchise, whether that be through TV shows, movies, literature and more. More importantly though, one would hope that she continues to inspire viewers to be brave, intelligent, resilient and kind.

It’s not all that often that a character has such a tremendous glow-up like Ahsoka’s. To be honest, I’m still amazed by the trajectory she’s had. The early hate that she received may seem like a distant memory to some now, but it’s also a stark reminder that fandom shouldn’t write off a character right away. As CinemaBlend celebrates Women’s History Month, I can’t think of a better protagonist to pay tribute to. Tano deserves all the flowers and, at this point in her existence, the sky is truly the limit for one of the Star Wars franchise’s greatest icons.

You can check out Ahsoka Tano’s greatest moments by streaming The Clone Wars, Rebels and the character’s eponymous show using a Disney+ subscription. Also, keep your eyes peeled for details on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV series so you’ll know when she returns.

It’s been over three years since The Mandalorian alum Gina Carano was fired by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company. The MMA fighter-turned-actress was let go by the entertainment conglomerate after sharing social media posts that stirred up controversy. In the aftermath, the star hasn’t minced words when sharing her feelings about her former employees and, just weeks ago, it was revealed that Carano is suing Disney over her ousting. As she moves forward with the legal proceedings, Carano is now getting real about what it’s been like trying to find work since she was dropped. 

Before landing the role of mercenary and New Republic official Cara Dune on The Mandalorian, Gina Carano had a number of other film and TV credits under her belt. Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool and Almost Human are just some of them. She recently caught up with The Post Millennial to discuss her current professional prospects and, as she explains, it’s been tough for her to find work. She believes her Disney firing is now “stuck” on her and used an alleged scenario involving a potential new agent to illustrate her point: 

Lucasfilm announced the actress’ firing in early 2021, specifying that there were no plans to use her in upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows. Among the posts she shared a message that compared today’s political climate to Nazi Germany. She was also chastised for making comments about trans-friendly pronoun usage, which were viewed as derogatory. She also notably made comments in regard to supposed voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election as well as masking and health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Fight Girls alum has scored some gigs since being written out of The Mandalorian as, shortly after, she announced a partnership with The Daily Wire. Gina Carano’s first project with the brand was a thriller film called Terror on The Prairie, and she also starred in the political movie My Son Hunter. As she explained during this recent interview though, she and the conservative entertainment company are no longer partners. With that, she says she now finds herself alone on a “desert”:

Since her firing, Gina Carano has claimed she was “bullied” by the House of Mouse and added that she felt “head-hunted” as well. Though she’s been critical of the brand itself, she shared loving words for former co-star Pedro Pascal in the aftermath. Now, via her lawsuit, Carano is suing Disney and Lucasfilm on the grounds of discrimination and wrongful termination, and Elon Musk is helping to fund the suit. She’s seeking at least $75,000 in punitive damages. As she conveyed in this recent interview, she seems content with how the proceedings are going and is optimistic about her career moving forward:

As of this writing, Disney and Lucasfilm have not spoken publicly on Gina Carano’s lawsuit. It remains to be seen whether her efforts to sue her former employers will be successful and whether it’ll become easier for her to find work as time goes on.

Just because 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker concluded Star Wars’ Skywalker Saga doesn’t mean we’re done spending time with characters from the Sequel Trilogy. Last year, it was announced that Daisy Ridley will reprise Rey in a movie taking place 15 years after Episode IX. Earlier this week, some rumored titles for this upcoming Star Wars movie made the rounds online, and Lucasfilm has now allegedly issues a response about them.

Jordan Maison, editor of Cinelinx, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he reached out to Lucasfilm and was told that the Rey movie being titled Star Wars Episode X: A New Beginning is “categorically incorrect.” Additionally, although the project is using New Jedi Order as its working title, “no other titles have been/are being used at this time.” So as far as the public is concerned, this Rey movie is still untitled, and it’s hard to say when the official title will be unveiled considering this project doesn’t have a release date.

To be honest, I never expected Episode X: A New Beginning to seriously be in contention because, as mentioned earlier, the Skywalker Saga is over. It’d be weird for Disney and Lucasfilm to make such a big deal about ending this era of the Star Wars movies in order, only to return to including Episode in a title. And frankly, A New Beginning sounds a bit too similar to A New Hope for my liking, so I’m thankful Lucasfilm has allegedly put the kibosh on it being the real deal.

While New Jedi Order sounds like a more plausible title, the fact that it’s being used as this project’s working title suggest it’s also out of the running, though perhaps that’s not a 100% done deal. In any case, for now, we’ll just have to keep referring to this as the Rey movie. While this will mark Ridley’s fourth cinematic appearance as the character, she also portrayed who we now know as Rey Skywalker in several episodes of Star Wars Forces of Destiny; the video games Disney Infinity 3.0, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars Battlefront II (the 2017 version); and the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance theme park attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

When we reunite with Rey in this movie, she’ll be constructing a new Jedi Order, a task she’ll hopefully be more successful with compared to her master, Luke Skywalker. However, it hasn’t been clarified yet if Rey will once again be the main protagonist or instead play a supporting role. Behind the scenes, Ms. Marvel’s Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is directing the feature, and Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight is writing the script.

As we keep our eyes and ears peeled for more news about Daisy Ridley’s Rey movie, including what the official title ends up being, remember that there’s no shortage of other onscreen Star Wars content on the way. Most of that will be headed to Disney+ subscribers, but there’s also The Mandalorian & Grogu lined up for a theatrical release sometime in 2026.

For much of Star Wars’ history, George Lucas oversaw the direction of the sprawling franchise he created decades ago. The veteran filmmaker hasn’t been quite as involved with it in recent years, however, especially since he sold Lucasfilm film to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Since then, other figureheads like Kathleen Kennedy and Jon Favreau have helped steer the (star)ship, so to speak. A person who’s been particularly impactful on that front is Dave Filoni, who has a firm understanding of Lucas’ mythology. He’s been quite successful since joining the company in the 2000s, and there’s a funny story about his hiring, which includes a moment Filoni thought was a prank. 

Dave Filoni’s work within the galaxy far, far away began in earnest with the animated series The Clone Wars, which is now revered in some circles. The writer’s work in the animation corner of the franchise also includes Rebels, The Bad Batch and more. The past few years have also seen Filoni try his hand at penning and directing live-action projects, including The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. His most recent endeavor is Ahsoka, and it’s received favorable reviews from critics and fans alike. Unsurprisingly, Filoni is also busy with upcoming Star Wars shows and movies. He’s accomplished so much, which makes the story behind his hiring all the more ironic and chuckle worthy. 

Dave Filoni Had A Lot Of Creative Experience Under His Belt Prior To Being Hired By Lucasfilm 

Before he was tasked with handling the journeys of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano and more, the now-49-year-old producer was a busy animator. He spent years working on a variety of TV shows for different networks. There are adult-oriented credits on his resume, such as King of the Hill and The Oblongs. But he also cut his teeth on kid-centric fare, including Kim Possible, Fillmore! and American Dragon: Jake Long. (Coincidentally, those three shows and a few others he worked on were also produced by Disney.) 

Yet the show that really allowed Dave Filoni to experiment with serialized storytelling and complex action sequences was Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. During an episode of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription), Filoni briefly mentioned his time working on the beloved series. He seemed to relish the experience, particularly because he has a “love” for anime and action. Considering the scope and tone of Airbender, Filoni seemed like a perfect fit for Star Wars, which he was already a massive fan of. He, however, didn’t believe anyone, let alone George Lucas, would reach out with an opportunity, though. 

The Animator Received A Phone Call From Lucasfilm That He Believed Was A Prank

Dave Filoni was working on Avatar at Nick during the early 2000s and, while at the studio, his co-workers became well aware of his love for Star Wars. As he explained, his fandom led his colleagues to lightly poke fun at him once in a while. It’s for that reason Filoni was skeptical when he received a phone call from someone claiming to represent the animation branch of Lucasfilm. When explaining why he thought his recruitment was a joke, the writer/director said the following: 

Honestly, given the circumstances, you really can’t blame him for being somewhat untrustworthy at that moment. The inquiry would’ve felt a bit too perfect to me, if I’d been in the Dave the Barbarian alum’s shoes. There were also a few other key reasons he didn’t believe an animated Clone Wars series was in the works at that point. He continued:

But he did indeed buy in (and SW fans are definitely better for him having done it). You can’t help but laugh when you consider his storied tenure at Lucasfilm began with that humorously awkward phone call. Before he could officially land the job though, there was another key step in the hiring process. He had to meet with the enigmatic Mr. Lucas.

What Went Down When Dave Filoni And George Lucas Met For The First Time?

We all know what it’s like to apply for a job, right? You receive communication from a prospective employer, and then you have to go through interviews. That process was no different for Dave Filoni when it came to him joining the Lucasfilm family. He further explained that he had to go through two rounds of meetings before actually sitting down with George Lucas, who had Filoni’s portfolio in front of him during their eventual meet-up. The animator admitted to being nervous during the sit-down, which sounds like it was both intimidating and enlightening: 

At the same time, the Avatar vet found major “validation” due to the fact that he and the filmmaker shared many of the same thoughts on the sci-fi series’ lore. The relatively quick interview eventually ended, of course, and, as it would turn out, the animation vet would get confirmation of his hiring in no time: 

And the rest is, as they say, history. From there, Dave Filoni began working on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, starting with the feature film of the same name (a.k.a. the series’ pilot), which he directed. While he’s mostly entrenched in the TV side of the franchise, Filoni is now set to direct a movie (that’ll utilize cutting-edge technology), and it’ll conclude the overarching story that runs through the TV shows. Not much has been shared about the project, but Filoni did name-drop Revenge of the Sith as a major source of inspiration. Ironically, that’s the same movie he was hyped about around the time Lucasfilm hired him. It’s funny how things work out, and I’m glad Filoni landed where he’s meant to be.

You can check out much of the producer’s contributions to the Star Wars franchise on Disney+.

Loyal followers of all the happenings in a galaxy far, far away have had plenty to sink their teeth into, thanks to multiple animated and live-action series for those with a Disney+ subscription. However, many fans have been looking forward to seeing Rosario Dawson embark on her solo adventure as the fan favorite Ahsoka Tano since The Mandalorian spinoff was announced back in 2020. The time has finally come, with Ahsoka set to premiere on the streamer August 23, and critics have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the first two episodes.

In addition to Rosario Dawson in the title role, Ahsoka’s cast is expected to include the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka’s Jedi teacher. Many characters from the animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels will be brought to life for the first time, including Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). So how does the former Jedi padawan’s story translate to live action? Let’s see what the critics have to say. 

Justin Lawrence of Geekcentric says the first two episodes of Ahsoka perfectly set up this next chapter, with mystery and intrigue that makes the critic excited to see what the rest of the series holds. Lawrence tweets:  

John Nguyen seems to agree, calling the premiere some of the best live-action fare the longtime franchise has ever offered. The critic also praises Rosario Dawson as “perfect casting,” saying: 

Rosario Dawson’s isn’t the only performance that’s caught the eyes of the critics, however, with Josh Martin-Jones highlighting the introductions of Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Ray Stevenson to the Star Wars universe: 

Klein Felt is also “blown away” so far by Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s portrayal of Sabine Wren and says the first two episodes of Ahsoka are pure bliss for fans of Star Wars Rebels:

In the Star Wars timeline, Ahsoka serves as a sequel to Rebels, and Jorgie of POC Culture posts that the two-episode premiere captures the animated feel of that and The Clone Wars in live action. He tweets: 

Ren Vieira of Mama’s Geeky concurs with that opinion, calling Ahsoka “brilliant” in its scope and character development: 

It seems safe to say that fans of Rebels are going to enjoy seeing these characters come to life. Laila of Agents of Fandom tweeted that she got chills from Kevin Kiner’s score and that the action is everything Star Wars fans are hoping for. In her words: 

Speaking of action, a couple of those who were lucky enough to access early screenings of the two-episode premiere have mentioned the lightsaber battles, and Molly Edwards of GamesRadar thinks fans are in for a treat with this “epic” series. She tweets: 

None of this would be possible, however, without Dave Filoni, who developed the series with Jon Favreau and wrote all eight episodes. Mark Pacis of Nerd Reactor thanks Filoni for his contribution to modern-day Star Wars, writing: 

It’s also noted by several who have seen Ahsoka’s first two episodes that prior viewership of Rebels and The Clone Wars aren’t needed to enjoy the Rosario Dawson-led series, though knowledge of previously established relationships between the characters does pay off for those who have watched them in full. 

If you haven't seen those animated series but can’t wait to catch Ahsoka when its first two episodes drop on Disney+ on August 23, CinemaBlend has got you covered with everything you need to know about Ahsoka Tano. You can also stay up to date on all of the upcoming Star Wars series and everything that’s new and coming in August to Disney+. 

It’s been three weeks since Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was finally released onto the 2023 movies calendar, with this marking the final time that Harrison Ford will wear the fedora and wield the whip. The fifth Indiana Jones movie has had a harder go theatrically compared to its predecessors, underwhelming at the box office and earning mixed critical reception. Now Lucasfilm, the production company behind Indiana Jones 5, has been hit with a lawsuit over the movie, and it’s for a weird reason.

As shared by THR, Frost River, a clothing company, has sued Lucasfilm for allegedly using its backpacks in The Dial of Destiny without permission, and then passing them off as coming from one of their competitors, Filson, for the marketing campaign by removing identifying marks. Indy specifically uses, as described in the article, “a bag with a knapsack design featuring a drawstring-topped main compartment with a flap cover.” The complaint  claims that Lucasfilm and Filson are “two corporate juggernauts” that are “exploiting the hard work and intellectual property of Frost River, a small American company.” Devin McRae, a lawyer for Frost River, also wrote:

The complaints alleges that Frost River masquerading that bag as a Filson product is in violation of a federal trademark law called the Lanham Act. Neither Lucasfilm nor Filson immediately responded to THR’s request for comment, so now we’ll just have to wait and see what comes next for this lawsuit. Still, for a backpack of all things to be the reason why Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is at the center of a lawsuit is odd, though this is something that certainly warrants investigation if Frost River’s grievances have merit.

Still, regardless of where it comes from, an adventuring archaeologist like Indiana Jones needs a backpack in order to properly do his job. Those tools he uses to find ancient artifacts need to be stored somewhere, although the prizes around which his five film appearances revolve around obviously require more than his usual arsenal. For The Dial of Destiny, Indy and his goddaughter Helena, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, embarks to piece together the Antikythera, a mechanism created by Archimedes that, as they later learn, is capable of opening a portal to the past, albeit only one specific time period. You can learn more about that in our Dial of Destiny ending breakdown.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’s theatrical run continues, but just like its four predecessors did earlier this year, it will likely become available to stream with a Disney+ subscription. Although this is Harrison Ford’s last Indiana Jones movie, he won’t be venturing away from Disney, as he’s next playing Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, with both these both upcoming Marvel movies arriving next year.

From a movie point of view, Star Wars has been in a form of limbo. J.J. Abrams’s Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker was the latest film to reach theaters, making it your final watch – for now – if you’d like to screen the Star Wars movies in order. But Star Wars fans have found plenty to celebrate in long-form television, available with your Disney+ subscription. There have been enjoyable shows like Andor and The Mandalorian, or course. And there are exciting upcoming Star Wars TV shows on the horizon, as well. But will any of the directors who are hard at work on the various Star Wars television shows get the chance to make the leap to feature films? 

Right now, there is a deep pool of directing talent working on The Mandalorian, Andor, and the upcoming Ahsoka, due in theaters later this year. Rick Famuyiwa did an incredible job on the two-part finale of The Mandalorian Season 3, and has a long history of developing movies (he was supposed to direct The Flash long before Andy Muschietti got the gig). However, when Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy took the stage at Star Wars Celebration outside of London, she announced three upcoming Star Wars movies, but the attached directors – outside of Dave Filoni – had no connection to the stories being told on the television side. Which seemed odd. 

When we got the opportunity to speak with Kathleen Kennedy on the press line for Star Wars Celebration, we asked her if and when Star Wars director like Rick Famuyiwa and Bryce Dallas Howard might get the chance to helm a feature film. Watch what she had to tell CinemaBlend:

So that’s encouraging. Especially when you hear the cast of Andor praising their directors because of the passion that they bring to Star Wars, having grown up on the universe and being excited about putting their spin on it. Also, the skillset that is necessary to create eight episodes of a Star Wars show seems even more complicated than a two-hour feature. Which might be part of the reason why so many Star Wars movies have been pitched, then dropped over the years. Stability would be appreciated on that side of the equation. 

It sounds like it’s coming, with Dave Filoni, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and James Mangold leading the charge with three new Star Wars movies. But while they workshop those ideas, let’s leave that door open for the TV directors, who are crushing it and deserve more opportunities. 

A Star Wars feature took a major step forward last fall, as it was reported that Damon Lindelof had boarded it. The writer/producer, who's best known for creating Lost, The Leftovers and Watchmen, was originally tapped to pen the script for said project. However, the SW production hit a setback when Lindelof exited and his script was scrapped. Fans have been looking for clarification on the matter since and, now, the acclaimed TV showrunner is sharing his feelings on the decision to discard his screenplay. 

Damon Lindelof recently attended the premiere of his latest streaming project, Mrs. Davis, which is set to debut on Peacock. While he spent most of his time answering questions about the offbeat, twisted series in question, he also spoke to Variety  about the Star Wars film he was originally a part of. He didn't say too much about it, though what he did offer up was quite civil:

This is a very classy response in the face of a potentially awkward situation. After his exit, a replacement was found in the form of Steven Knight, who is best known for creating Peaky Blinders. As mentioned, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is still attached to direct. The Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker is the recipient of two Academy Awards for her documentary work. She's also known for directing episodes of Disney+'s acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe-set series Ms. Marvel.  

Damon Lindelof wrote his original script alongside fellow TV veteran Justin Britt-Gibson. Rumors pointed to the movie being tied to the sequel trilogy, and that was confirmed during Star Wars Celebration, where it was announced that Daisy Ridley's Rey would be the lead character.

The future of the Star Wars film franchise has been hazy as of late with films from Kevin Feige and Patty Jenkins now off the docket. A flick that's in limbo is that of The Last Jedi's Rian Johnson, who's spoken about his plans possibly falling through. However, Lucasfilm did recently provide fans with some hope by announcing the exciting movie plans were revealed at the previously mentioned fan gathering. Titles from James Mangold, Dave Filoni and Taika Waititi are all in different stages of development.

While Damon Lindelof’s involvement with George Lucas' cosmic IP has come to an end (for now), his latest project, Mrs. Davis, is getting a lot of buzz. The science fiction series takes a dystopian look at a technological world in conflict with how religion operates within society. These are large, complex, abstract ideas that are grounded by an action-packed, bonkers storytelling style. Critics who have seen the series have given it positive reviews, and it stars GLOW’s Betty Gilpin and Limitless’s Jake McDorman in leading roles. Though it's great that Lindelof is excited for what's to come and is currently busy, let's hope he gets another chance to craft a story in the beloved science fiction saga.

Meanwhile, know that you can stream Star Wars shows and movies using a Disney+ subscription. Mrs. Davis will also be available for Peacock subscribers to stream starting on April 20. 

Of all the attractions that populate the various theme park locations under Disney Parks’ purview, Star Tours is easily one of the most iconic. The original ride amazed park attendees for decades, and visitors of all ages are still thrilled by the ride’s successor, The Adventures Continue (which even Chewbaccca can’t resist). Considering this enduring popularity, it’s only natural that the company would continue to make alterations to it, and that’s exactly what’s about to happen. It was confirmed during this year’s Star Wars Celebration that it’s getting a sweet update, and it seemingly proves that Disney is all-in on where the franchise is headed. 

What Is Disney Parks Planning For Star Tours?

Walt Disney Imagineering took to the stage at Star Wars Celebration in London, where it confirmed that new planets will be added to the ride in 2024, per LaughingPlace.com. That’s exciting enough, but said locations are also said to be places that have yet to be featured in any production the franchise has released thus far. And if you’re hoping the creatives dropped a hint or two on that front, then you're out of luck. You can, however, still take comfort in knowing that the changes will be applied to the venues present at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. 

Those who’ve been on the attraction before surely know that a major reason why it’s so re-rideable is because it provides folks with one of multiple experiences. On one occasion, fans can explore the jungles of Kashyyyk while, on another, they can pay a visit to the ice planet of Hoth. This wouldn’t mark the first time that a change has been made to Star Tours in the past several years. Back in 2017, around the release of The Last Jedi, the ride added an adventure set on the salt-covered planet of Crait. 

It’s fair to assume that fans are going to be doing some heavy speculation when it comes to the new planets being thrown into the mix. On that note, we may be able to make a good guess as to where they could come into play. But more immediately, we need to discuss how this is a major move on Disney’s part.

Disney Is Apparently Getting Ahead Of The Game By Not Letting Pre-Released Content Dictate Its Moves

To put it frankly, Disney is incredibly masterful when it comes to drawing attention to its IPs, specifically by way of merchandising. But usually, when it comes to this area of business the company likes to test out a property’s popularity before releasing a plethora of products. And this is definitely true when it comes to the Star Wars brand. Sometimes there can be special factors that affect strategies - like in-story spoilers. (Many probably remember that merch surrounding Grogu/Baby Yoda didn’t drop right away for that reason.)

The fact that Disney Parks has already opted to use planets that the public is unfamiliar with at the moment is a testament to just how confident it is in these newest creations from the galaxy far, far away. This shrewd move also means that the powers that be are less likely to move away from the plan, considering that everything’s currently in motion already. It’s a ballsy choice  as well as a refreshing one amid a long stretch of time that’s seen Star Wars movies get axed after they’re reported to be in development. 

As for these new planets, if they’re to appear before the Star Tours update, it’s possible that they’ll make their respective debuts on TV shows like The Mandalorian, Ahsoka or The Acolyte (which are or will be streamable with a Disney+ subscription). None of the franchise’s new movies, after all, are slated to be released before the ride shares its changes with the public. All in all, this is an incredibly exciting turn of events and may serve as an indication of how Lucasfilm and Disney as a whole might operate from a marketing/merchandising standpoint moving forward.

At present, the future of Star Wars movies is unclear. The last blockbuster from the sci-fi franchise, J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, was released in December 2019, and while the canon has continued to expand thanks to other mediums (most notably with multiple shows on Disney+), we have not learned firm details about projects destined for the big screen. As it turns out, the reason for this may be the fact that two of the features that have been in the development pipeline for a while now are apparently no longer moving forward.

According to a story from The Hollywood Reporter, Lucasfilm is presently not actively developing Rogue Squadron, the project that was set to be made by Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins. Additionally, it looks like the studio is also not moving forward with the Star Wars movie set to be produced by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. The report doesn't include firm details about what's happening with Rian Johnson's planned trilogy (which has been in the works for a few years now), but adds that the filmmaker's plate is rather full at the moment thanks to the Benoit Blanc movies and Poker Face on Peacock.

This is obviously a big shake-up, but sources also tell the trade that one project that seems to be safe for now is the movie that is in the works from writer/director Taika Waititi. Little is known about what the film is, but the report does mention that the filmmaker "would most likely have a part in it as well" as an actor.

Another feature that is still turning gears in development is a Star Wars film made by Oscar-winning documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. She has some Disney experience under her belt already, having directed two episodes of the Marvel Studios Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, but she is now said to be contributing to the beloved franchise set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. She is said to be collaborating with screenwriters Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson.

Fans will remember that Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie was first announced back in December 2020 during the virtual Disney Investor call event, but it has hit some turbulence since then. While the movie was given a December 2023 release date, the project was put on indefinite hold in November 2021 and it was taken off the calendar. There were signs of life for the blockbuster in an update from Jenkins last December, but now it may be dead.

We first learned about Kevin Feige's mystery Star Wars project back in September 2019, but it too has dealt with rockiness in the development process. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness screenwriter Michael Waldron was brought aboard to write a script, but in May of last year, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said that there wasn't anything "specifically" planned. According to the new trade report, Feige's focus is staying on the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the foreseeable future – including collaborating with Waldron on the script for Avengers: Secret Wars.

For now, Star Wars devotees can enjoy the franchise's original programming on Disney+ – including The Mandalorian, which just began its third season last week. As for what the future will hold, one can make a safe bet that there are going to be a lot of eyes on this year's Star Wars Celebration, which is scheduled to take place in London on April 7-10.

It feels like it's taken an eternity for The Mandalorian Season 3 to arrive even though in reality, it's only been three years (and only a little over a year since fans saw Din Djarin and Grogu on The Book of Boba Fett). What's more is that it can be a bit disorienting to keep up with this expansive mythology, which is also known to throw surprises our way. On that note, we've just been hit with another curveball. Jon Favreau casually dropped a shocking Grogu reveal regarding the exact length of his time with Din and others over the course of the franchise. And I can't quite believe it myself.

Jon Favreau and others participated in a roundtable discussion for The Mandalorian Season 3, and he just happened to drop a wild reveal about how many "years" Grogu has spent with the titular bounty hunter and remained in training with Luke Skywalker. Take a look at this bit of Favreau's response to a question about the diminutive character's connection to both Mandalorians and the Jedi (via Skytalkers): 

According to the EP, Grogu spent "many years" traveling with Din Djarin during Seasons 1 and 2 and was then away for two years with Luke Skywalker before returning to Din in The Book of Boba Fett. Am I the only one blindsided by this reveal? Because I feel like Mandalorian and its spinoff have not made this passage of time evident in the slightest. 

I won't doubt Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni on the timeline, especially given Filoni's extensive knowledge of Star Wars, but I don't think I would've ever come to this conclusion without hearing it directly from Favreau. For instance, Boba Fett killed Bib Fortuna and became the majordomo of Jabba's former domain in a scene shown at the end of Season 2. I guess it's feasible that the scene took place a while after Fett teamed up with everyone to bring Moff Gideon to justice and Luke left with Grogu. 

At the same time, the bit about Grogu traveling "many years" with Din throughout Seasons 1 and 2 feels a bit murkier. The idea of Din gradually warming up to Grogu as they evaded bounty hunters and remnants of the Empire is somewhat weakened if several months passed between each episode. I thought maybe Season 1 transpired over the span of six months -- maybe a year at the max. The passage of multiple years throughout the first two seasons feels like a stretch, but I suppose this is canon now. 

I'm also wondering what Grogu's age was at the start of The Mandalorian. The "many years" part of Jon Favreau's quote doesn't give us a clear answer, but we at least know it's been two years plus an undisclosed figure that's seemingly greater than two. That could be anywhere between five years and a decade in my mind, and I'm dying to know what that exact number is.

This all becomes even more interesting when you consider Din, Bo-Katan, Moff Gideon, and other humanoid characters haven't seemed to age all that much. Now, I'm expecting everyone to start having gray hair and wrinkles but, again, there's no true marker in the show to point out how much time has passed. 

The upside to this news, however, is that with two years of training, Grogu should be much stronger in the Force than when we last saw him and possibly that much closer to being a major player in the Star Wars universe. After all, it only took Luke a month on Dagobah to up his game, so imagine what Grogu can do after two years! 

Even if I'm still unsure of exactly how the time passed in prior seasons and spinoffs, I'm still amped to tune into The Mandalorian's third season, which debuts on March 1 and can be streamed using a Disney+ subscription. And before you tune in, read up on the things you'll want to know ahead of Season 3.

During the ‘90s and early ‘00s, Freddie Prinze Jr. made a name for himself in Hollywood via rom-coms and YA horror flicks but, in recent years, he’s gained notoriety through other roles. One of those is that of Jedi Kanan Jarrus, who Prinze voiced on all four seasons of Star Wars Rebels. The actor’s performance was praised by fans and, at this point, it’s hard to imagine anyone else voicing the hero. But as it turns out, that could’ve been the case, as Prince revealed that he nearly quit the show at one point. He explained the reason for that and how it led to him standing up to the big brass at Disney. 

The She’s All That icon recently engaged in a discussion about wrestlers and what they must do in order to obtain contracts as well as cash that they’re owed. Freddie Prinze Jr. likened the processes to those in the Hollywood realm, making note of how certain actors are treated within the industry. After putting specific emphasis on performers who do mostly animated productions, he began to discuss his own experiences on Star Wars Rebels and revealed that monetary concerns caused him to come into conflict with the Disney-owned Lucasfilm: 

It sounds like the star was eager to make some lasting change when approaching the execs. Based on the story he shared during the episode of his Wrestling with Freddie podcast, they were not keen on losing their stars. And thank goodness that didn’t come to pass. The veteran actor’s comments point to a bigger, long-standing discussion regarding voiceover artists and their wages, which can reportedly vary by person. It’s a complex topic and one that’s often brought up when it comes to companies such as Disney that own major IPs like Star Wars.

To that point, Rebels became relatively popular following its debut in 2014. The former Disney XD offering was lauded for its animation, writing and voice acting and has since become an important part of the franchise’s canon. Some would argue that it’s must-see content for Clone Wars fans or those who just generally enjoy the galaxy far, far away. Freddie Prinze Jr., for his part, forged a connection with his character and was eventually instrumental in determining Kanan’s fate in Season 4. Though creator Dave Filoni said another season isn’t in the cards, the show’s legacy lives on, as some of its characters will appear on the live-action series Ahsoka.

Freddie Prinze Jr. reprised his role via an off-screen, vocal cameo in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker and voiced the character again in The Bad Batch in 2021. There’s no telling whether he’ll voice the character again at some point, but anything can certainly happen. And if he does play Kanan again, it’s likely that he’ll be paid a wage that he deems appropriate, given what the actor says transpired years ago. 

You can stream all four seasons of Star Wars Rebels using a Disney+ subscription. Also, be on the lookout for connected shows like The Bad Batch and Ahsoka which are on the 2023 TV schedule.

There are beloved movie franchises, and then there's Star Wars. Generations of moviegoers were brought up on the galaxy far, far away, so the fandom is large, powerful, and (above else) vocal. And those fans recently freaked out about the idea of Daisy Ridley returning as Rey, thanks to the actress' posts from Lucasfilm. And the chatter got so loud that she had to respond, thanks to accidenally breaking the internet.

Daisy Ridley went viral among Star Wars fans thanks to recent posts on her Instagram Story. The 30 year-old recently went to Lucasfilm, offering a glimpse at her experience with a statue of Yoda. This quickly got fans into a frenzy, as folks theorized whether she might be back as Rey in a movie, TV show, or even video game. Check out the post below:

This simple image got Star Wars fans very excited, many of whom sounded off online. Rumors about how Daisy Ridley might reprise her signature role began rolling around, as folks are eager to see Rey back on the screen. Luckily for us, those who visit Disney parks are treated to additional content in the form of Galaxy's Edge attractions like Rise of the Resistance. Still, some fans are already eager to see the sequel trilogy characters return in one way or another. 

Eventually Daisy Ridley seemingly was alerted to the fan reaction that she accidentally inspired online. And as such, she eventually set the record straight, revealing that she was merely visiting Lucasfilm for lunch. She used a throwback with the cast of The Rise of Skywalker, while offering her explanation. Check it out below,

Well, there you have it. While some Star Wars fans were getting hyped about seeing Rey back on the screen, there doesn't seem to actually be any plans for this. Daisy Ridley promises nothing "saucy" was happening at her recent visit to Lucasfilm, despite any online chatter. Do you hear that sound? It's various fans letting out a sigh of disappointment.

The above post from Daisy Ridley's Instagram Story helped to set the record straight on her rumored return as Rey in the Star Wars universe. The Rise of Skywalker only hit theaters back in 2019, so that would have been a surprisingly quick return for the Murder on the Orient Express actress. But despite this, folks starting sharing excitement online. Case in point, the following Twitter post:

While there are plenty of fans who want to see more from the sequel trilogy characters, it's unclear if/when we'll ever seen the likes of Rey, Finn, and Poe. The trio of actors made it seem like they needed a break after the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which is understandable considering the quick pace of their three movies. It's also unclear when the franchise will return to theaters, as a number of projects have been announced but no major steps forward have taken place. And as such, actors like Daisy Ridley might be getting that much-needed break for the foreseeable future.

While it's a mystery as to when another Star Wars movie is hitting theaters, the franchise continues to expand with live-action shows on Disney+. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year. Unfortunately there's no titles from the galaxy far, far away.

Formed in 1975, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a division of the production company Lucasfilm, has been a major player in the realm of visual effects. From what was shown off in the first three Star Wars movies to the game-changing work done on Jurassic Park, if you’ve watched an effects-heavy blockbuster from the last several decades, there’s a decent chance that ILM worked on it in some form or fashion. For Lynwen Brennan, executive vice president and general manager of Lucasfilm, she sees the George Clooney-led The Perfect Storm as a movie that wasn’t just important for the company, but VFX history overall.

I had the opportunity to speak with Lynwen Brennan as part of the press event for the docuseries Light & Magic, which explores ILM’s origins and its impact on the film industry., and can be watched in its entirety with a Disney+ subscription now. During our chat, I asked Brennan what she considered to be ILM’s greatest technical achievement, whether that be a character, creature, ship or simply a general effect. She started off by saying the following:

If you’re unfamiliar with The Perfect Storm, the movie (which some might consider to be one of George Clooney’s best) was based off of the real-life story of the Andrea Gail, a commercial fishing ship that was lost at sea during the 1991 Perfect Storm. Naturally since one can’t recreate such conditions in real life, it was up to the minds at Lucasfilm to convincingly bring to life that violent water in a digital setting, and make it work with the footage shot by director Wolfgang Peterson and his team.Along with George Clooney, The Perfect Storm’s ensemble cast included Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Dian Lane and William Fichtner, The Perfect Storm was one of six movies released in 2000 that ILM worked on, the others being Mission to Mars, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Space Cowboys, Pollock And Pay It Forward.

More than two decades after The Perfect Storm’s release Lynwen Brennan is still impressed with how well the digital water turned out in the movie, but that isn’t all she had to say about the ILM achievements that stick in her head. She continued:

StageCraft is the on-set virtual production technology comprised of video walls that was initially developed for the Star Wars series The Mandalorian, and has since been used on productions not only set in a galaxy far, far away, but also Marvel movies like Thor: Love and Thunder and the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and DC movies like The Batman and the upcoming Black Adam. These facilities, a.k.a. “volumes,” have already made waves (to borrow from The Perfect Storm) in the visual effects industry, and even known how StageCraft came together, Lynwen Brennan continues to be astounded by just what this technology can do. 

The next Lucasfilm production coming up is the Star Wars series Andor, and upcoming 2022 movies that feature ILM’s work include Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avatar: The Way for Water. For all the latest on film and TV happenings, keep your eyes peeled on CinemaBlend.

If you’ve been following the Hollywood rumor mill, you might have heard a big one that's been circulating a while that Chris Pratt might reboot Indiana Jones after Harrison Ford originated the character and will have played him for over 40 years when Indiana Jones 5 is released. This past week, Pratt was asked about that rumor, which he refuted, citing his fear of being “haunted” by Ford from the grave. Following this, Indiana Jones fans are weighing in. 

From the looks of it, many fans of the legendary adventure franchise from Lucasfilm and helmed for most of its run by Steven Spielberg would not have been on board with Chris Pratt taking on the role anyway. As Twitter user @KLSomniate quipped at the news: 

Yikes! Chris Pratt began in comedy, memorably in the mockumentary comedy Parks and Recreation, before transforming into an action hero for the Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World movies. He's also contributed to the genre in other projects like The Tomorrow War and most recently in Amazon Prime’s series The Terminal List. @_Don_Rodrigo_ wasn’t on board with Pratt as Indy either, saying: 

While promoting his Amazon Prime series, Chris Pratt went on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he was asked about the Indiana Jones rumors. Pratt responded by referencing a 2019 Ford quote where the Indy actor told TODAY, "When I’m gone, he’s gone." Cut back to the present, Pratt shared his fear he'd awaken the ghost of the actor if he took over the role after he died. Twitter user @girldrawsghosts joked about the topic, saying this: 

Now not everyone would hate to see Chris Pratt play the role. There was even a deep fake made of the actor as Indiana Jones back in 2020, and many of the comments were stoked to see Pratt theoretically in the role. With two years between then and now, it’s possible that more people are becoming less interested in seeing the actor play so many action roles. Also, there’s the issue of Indiana Jones being so iconic that if anyone ever replaced him, they’d suffer an uphill battle no matter who they are. As @A_MysticalOne shared: 

Harrison Ford is set to play Indiana Jones one last time in a fifth film set to be among 2023’s movie releases. The plot for Indiana Jones 5 is still under wraps, but the franchise’s longtime producer Frank Marshall has has said it will deliver what “everybody wants” from the film. You can check out the first look of Ford in Indiana Jones 5 and get ready for its release on June 30, 2023. 

For years we’ve been anticipating Harrison Ford’s return to his iconic fedora and whip-smart character for Indiana Jones 5 and that time is finally getting closer. During Star Wars Celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center, the Lucasfilm property invaded a panel of announcements to share the first official image from the James Mangold-directed upcoming movie. 

The first Indiana Jones 5 image is here and it features Harrison Ford back in his classic outfit in a beautiful silhouette image. Check out Indy back in action, via Twitter: 

The image sees Harrison Ford walking on a bridge as a beam of yellow-tinted light comes from above him, highlighting his memorable profile. It is reminiscent of Spielberg often playing with light and shadows when the character enters a scene in previous Indiana Jones films. 

Harrison Ford took the stage at Star Wars celebration on Thursday to the audience’s surprise, alongside John Williams, who was conducting a full orchestra and playing his beloved Indiana Jones theme music, which he will once again compose for the fifth film. CinemaBlend was in attendance. Ford said he was “really proud” of Indiana Jones 5 amidst the first image being shown amidst Star Wars announcements like the first Andor trailer, Jude Law joining Star Wars and another off-topic announcement with the Willow series trailer.

Director James Mangold, who previously helmed movies including Logan, Walk the Line and Ford v Ferrari, takes over Steven Speilberg’s mantle for the first time in the franchise’s history. Speilberg remains an executive producer on Indiana Jones 5 alongside producers Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel. 

The fifth Indiana Jones movie has been in active development since 2016, with an initial release date back in 2019, but a number of shake ups delayed the film. Original screenwriter David Koepp was replaced by Jonathan Kasdan, who was then replaced by Dan Fogelman. After Speilberg stepped down as director and James Mangold stepped in, he wrote a new screenplay alongside his Ford v Ferrari collaborators Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. 

Indiana Jones 5 began filming in June 2021 and wrapped in February. The movie starring Harrison Ford has a stacked cast including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas, Toby Jones and Boyd Holbrook. The plot for the film has been kept under wraps, but it is expected to be Ford’s final outing as Indiana Jones. 

The upcoming Indiana Jones movie is expected to hit theaters on June 30, 2023, just a week after the DCEU’s long-awaited The Flash movie and a week before the release of Marvel Spider-Verse spinoff film Madame Web, starring Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney. 

Indiana Jones 5 comes fifteen years after the last Indy film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull disappointed and divided many fans. Here’s to Harrison Ford’s final time as the action hero hopefully ending the franchise on a high note. 

Star Wars has introduced a plethora of fan-favorite characters over the years, from the noble Jedi master Luke Skywalker to the stoic Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin. Former Sith warrior Darth Maul would also fall under that category, as audiences have been entranced by him since his debut in 1999’s The Phantom Menace. In the years that have followed, the mostly silent warrior has morphed into a strategic syndicate leader. Though fans have technically seen the moment the character meets his demise, a new report suggests that Lucasfilm is now looking to do more with him. 

As most probably know, the Disney-owned studio is hard at work on various small-screen productions like Ahsoka and The Book of Boba Fett. There are also animated projects in the works and, if a new report is to be believed, a Darth Maul-centric series could be one of them. According to Cinelinx, the alleged project would fill in blanks when it comes to Maul establishing the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate. The site also adds another piece of information that would seemingly confirm such a project. 

Another source claims that three well-known Star Wars voice actors are currently recording for a project. Two of the franchise veterans in question are Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker of The Clone Wars) and Dee Bradley Baker (the various clones of Clone Wars and The Bad Batch). And the third star mentioned is Sam Witwer, who has voiced Darth Maul for nearly a decade now. Still, as the site points out, the group (should they actually be working) could be recording for Bad Batch, which is likely in production on its second season right now. 

Of course, all of this should absolutely be taken with a grain of salt, yet the idea of Lucasfilm developing such a show isn’t too far-fetched. As mentioned, the character has amassed a serious following, so it would be wise for the powers that be to capitalize on it. It’s also difficult to deny the ripe storytelling opportunities the project would allow for. I’d personally be interested to learn when the lead character first crossed paths with Solo: A Star Wars Story’s Qi’ra.

It should also be noted that Sam Witwer has consistently expressed his joy in being able to voice the character. The veteran actor was excited about voicing him again in 2018’s Solo and later reprised the role for the seventh and final season of Clone Wars. He’s truly refined his approach to the character, and I’d imagine he certainly wouldn’t mind the chance to expand on him.

Darth Maul originally resurfaced in 2012 on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which depicted him as a shell of his former self following his run-in with Obi-Wan Kenobi years earlier. Eventually, his mind was restored, and he later sought revenge against his former opponent. The character would subsequently make more appearances on the show as well as Rebels (which took place decades later). It was through the latter series that viewers would learn Maul died by Ben Kenobi’s hand but was at peace when he passed on.

Though this project is far from a sure thing, I’d love for it to be true. And if it is, there’s a chance Lucasfilm could officially announce it during Disney+ Day on November 12. We here at CinemaBlend will be keeping our eyes peeled to see if it happens.

In the meantime, you can relive some of Darth Maul’s greatest moments by streaming Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels on Disney+ now.

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While Star Wars has been a pop culture sensation for decades, there’s no denying that the franchise is bigger than ever. Along with movies still coming down the pipeline, the galaxy far, far away is continually expanding through various TV series (both live-action and animated), video games, novels, comic books, etc. But have we reached a point where Lucasfilm is concerned about over-saturating the public with Star Wars content? For now, not yet, but it is something that the company keeps in mind.

Star Wars: Visions executive producer James Waugh, who’s also the Vice President, Franchise Content and Strategy at Lucasfilm, said as much while speaking with The Direct about Visions, the anime anthology series that’s now available to watch on Disney+. The streaming service has become especially integral to telling new stories in the Star Wars universe, but here’s what Waugh specifically had to say on the topic of potential exhaustion with this franchise:

Star Wars: Visions certainly is one of the more unique offerings from the Star Wars franchise, with six Japanese animation studios having made nine shorts that provide a “new, diverse perspective on Star Wars,” as the anthology series as a whole was once described. But beyond Visions, it sounds like James Waugh and the other leading minds at Lucasfilm are keeping vigilant about making sure that Star Wars feels special in a landscape where it’s easier than ever to deliver content to peoples’ eyeballs. That’s not to say a segment of the fanbase might not already feel there’s an overabundance of Star Wars projects right now, but in Lucasfilm’s eyes, the output is at a reasonable level.

As far as Star Wars movies go, not only is Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron is the next one on deck, it’s also the only one that’s been publicly titled. There are other movies in the works, such as one that’s be directed and co-written by Thor: Ragnarok’s Taika Waititi, and another that’s being produced by Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige and written by Loki’s Michael Waldron, but no specific plot details have been revealed for any of these other projects.

Meanwhile in the Star Wars television realm, along with Star Wars: Visions having premiered, Star Wars: The Bad Batch recently concluded its first season and was greenlit for Season 2, and The Book of Boba Fett is slated to premiere sometime in December. Along with The Mandalorian Season 3 now being in production, other forthcoming Star Wars TV shows include Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, Lando, The Acolyte and Rangers of the New Republic. So if you’re subscribed to Disney+ (and if you’re not, you can change that with this link), you’ll be well supplied with small screen tales set in this space opera landscape in the coming years.

As always, keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more news about Star Wars movies and TV shows. Those of you looking forward to Rogue Squadron will be able to see it in theaters on December 22, 2023.

If there’s one area where Star Wars massively succeeds, it’s the world of animation. The past decade has seen Lucasfilm Animation deliver some truly compelling content, and the studio is showing no signs of slowing down. And the franchise is now looking to expand with some more unexpected projects, like the animated LEGO specials. Well, now, fans can look forward to another special in the form of A Droid Story. The Star Wars TV special, which will air on Disney+, gives fans the opportunity to reunite with two of the franchise’s most beloved characters for a brand-new adventure. Unfortunately, very few details have been released thus far, which leaves us with a number of questions.

When it comes to Lucasfilm’s slate of Star Wars movies and TV shows, A Droid Story is definitely one of the projects we know the least about. Studio president Kathleen Kennedy announced it during Disney’s Investor Day livestream last year and confirmed that it would center on droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, as they help guide a new character. It may not seem like a lot to go on, but it’s certainly enough to get us wondering about a few things. So let’s dive into the questions we have right now:

What Is A Droid Story’s Disney+ Release Date?

Having a large slate means Lucasfilm has to be diligent when it comes to scheduling certain projects. In the grand scheme of things, Star Wars: A Droid Story is honestly one of the more low-profile productions, compared to the likes of The Book of Boba Fett or Ahsoka. A 2021 release date seems unlikely at this point, as we likely would’ve gotten an announcement of some kind at this point. If anything, 2022 seems like the more likely place for it to land. History also tells us that Lucasfilm likes to release specials near the end of a calendar year so, more specifically, it could fall somewhere in the late 2022 window. Of course, the company could always surprise us and drop it sooner.

What Kind Of Animation Style Will Star Wars: A Droid Story Have?

Over the years, Lucasfilm has dabbled in different forms of animation, when it comes to its projects. Star Wars: The Clone Wars arguably helped make CGI the standard for the studio, though recent shorts like the Forces of Destiny series have been 2D. Later this year, we’ll also see Visions, which will meld the world of Star Wars with anime. What’s interesting about A Droid Story is that it will feature significant behind-the-scenes contributions from visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). With that in mind, there’s reason to believe the special will also be computer animated. Then again, if this production is as unique as it sounds, it could also feature a combination of both CGI and 2D animation.

How Long Will The Star Wars Special Actually Be?

The actual length of a TV special can be hard to predict. Some fit firmly into that half-hour time slot, while others can run closer to an hour. When it comes to Star Wars: A Droid Story, it’s best to look to the LEGO specials when forming a time estimate. Some of the specials have been around 30 minutes, yet the more recent Lego Star Wars Holiday Special was around 48 minutes. Considering that Lucasfilm is promoting A Droid Story as a groundbreaking event that represents “the intersection of animation and visual effects,” the studio could be looking to do something longer here.

How Does A Droid Story Fit Into The Star Wars Timeline?

Determining A Droid Story’s place in the greater Star Wars timeline actually isn’t as easy as you might think. The reason for this is that unlike most of the franchise’s characters, R2-D2 and C-3PO have been around for every trilogy. As a result, their latest outing could take place within pretty much any subsection of the prequel, original or sequel trilogy. However, since the two are said to be starring alongside a new character, it is possible the special could take place sometime after the events of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Placing it in this part of the timeline would make sense, especially since it’s a period of time that’s ripe for storytelling.

Will Anthony Daniels Return To Voice C-3PO?

As previously mentioned, C-3PO is a Star Wars icon, and this is due in large part to the A+ work by the actor behind the droid, Anthony Daniels. Since 1977, Daniels has appeared in every live-action Star Wars movie, the only franchise star to have done so. So with his famous character getting the spotlight once more, what are the chances of the 75-year-old actor reprising the role again? Well, they’re actually pretty solid. Daniels has also voiced 3PO in a myriad of animated projects, with his most recent project being last year’s LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. So while it’s yet to be confirmed, Daniels seems like a shoo-in for A Droid Story.

Will A Droid Story’s New Character Be A Jedi?

The biggest mystery surrounding A Droid Story arguably relates to the new character that’s going to be introduced. Since R2-D2 and C-3PO are going to be serving as guides for the character, it may be fair to assume they’ll be on the younger side. But you can’t help but wonder if this is a person who will wield a blaster or a lightsaber. Making this newcomer a prospective Jedi would be interesting, but it would honestly be the obvious choice. The two faithful droids have assisted many people in their time, including Jedi, senators and rebels. But regardless of what this character turns out to be, they’re sure to be a force for good in the galaxy moving forward.

Will Other Veteran Star Wars Characters Appear?

Of course, when you’re dealing with a Star Wars project, there’s always the potential for familiar faces to show up. This has happened quite often in The Mandalorian, but animated shows like Rebels and The Bad Batch have also featured massive cameos. This could very well mean that A Droid Story will follow suit. Because we’ve yet to learn when the Disney+ special takes place, we can’t say for sure who may show up. Still, C-3PO and R2-D2 have ties to plenty of people in the galaxy, meaning the cameo possibilities are just about endless.

The prospect of another animated Star Wars project is exciting, especially one that’s set to utilize cutting-edge technology from a company like ILM. Let’s hope Lucasfilm drops more information on A Droid Story soon. In the meantime, you can read up on all of the other Disney+ productions that have been announced and check out our 2021 fall TV schedule to see what’s coming to the small screen before the end of the year.

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The Internet has given us a number of gifts over the years, such as iconic memes and A+ gifs. It’s also provided us with deepfakes, online videos that put an image or video of a person onto another’s likeness. It may sound wild to some, but the results are typically impeccable. Those who create these honestly deserve a lot of credit for their efforts, and some within the entertainment industry are even taking notice of their work. For instance, one creator, known for creating a deepfake involving Mark Hamill’s The Mandalorian cameo, was actually tapped by Lucasfilm.

Shamook is a popular YouTuber who’s been posting deepfakes on YouTube for nearly two years now. The VFX whiz has done deepfakes based on a number of notable movies, ranging from Avengers: Endgame and The Dark Knight to Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings. But it was his Mark Hamill-centric video that really caught the Internet by surprise. The YouTuber manages to improve upon the VFX used for Luke Skywalker’s cameo in The Mandalorian’s Season 2 finale. Check it out for down below:

The video currently has well over two million views, but not many might’ve expected that Lucasfilm was actually keeping its eye on it as well. Shamook posted the video back in December but only recently confirmed (via the comments of a recent video) that he’d landed a job with Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light and Magic:

Viewers sent their congratulations and expressed their excitement in the comments upon learning of the news. And honestly, how can you not be excited for the YouTuber earning such a massive opportunity? IndieWire later confirmed Shamook’s hiring and, in a statement shared with the outlet, Lucasfilm discussed its latest addition:

The Luke Skywalker scene was a massive moment for Star Wars fans and even Mark Hamill himself. Though it’s hard to deny that the de-aging effects did seem a bit unnatural at times. So it’s cool that Lucasfilm could appreciate the tweaks Shamook made to the scene. You can check out the original moment by streaming The Mandalorian on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

From here, Shamook should have a number of cool adventures ahead of him in the galaxy far, far away. And who knows, he could also find himself working on some other productions. I mean, there's always the chance the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 has plans to de-age Harrison Ford.

Megan Fox has been promoting her new horror action film Till Death and, as you would expect, the former Transformers star has been asked about a number of topics, including her feelings toward big blockbusters, which is mostly due to her experience with them. Transformers turned Fox, who had been acting prior to joining the film series, into a household name but gave her an image that was hard to shake during her career. Of course, there are still plenty of other blockbuster franchises out there, including the Star Wars saga, but would Fox be willing to enter the galaxy far, far away?

Actors can have varying feelings about blockbusters. Some prefer the intensity that comes with making massive movies, while others prefer to work within smaller indie films. So with so many blockbuster credits under her belt, how does Megan Fox feel about the big-budget films? Here's what she had to say to Yahoo Entertainment:

So Megan Fox says she actually prefers making blockbusters as opposed to some of the smaller films she's made the past several years. Fox even went as far as to say the big blockbuster movies make her feel at home while she's working on them. But considering Fox's body of work consists of massive properties like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it honestly makes sense that the actress feels a level of comfort with those kinds of projects. During the same interview, Fox went into detail on mulling parts in other massive franchises, including Star Wars:

Megan Fox explains that she is a fan of big movies like The Hobbit and would consider starring in films like that but that it would ruin her experience as a fan when watching because it ruins the magic. And based on her comments, the same is also true for a franchise like Star Wars. While some might be confused by Fox's conflicted thoughts on the subject of blockbusters, her logic does make sense. Being a fan of a franchise and actually starring in said franchise are two very different things and, whether your experience is positive or negative, your view of said franchise will be changed.

Megan Fox has been linked to different blockbuster characters for years now, including DC Comics icon Wonder Woman. Still, those rumors never materialized and, as of right now, though she did still join the DC Comics family through her role in 2010's Jonah Hex. Hopefully, we'll see Fox, who is currently experience a sort of renaissance, in another big-budget blockbuster sooner rather than later.

Megan Fox’s Till Death is about a wife stuck in a marriage who finds herself waking up one morning at a lake house, where she is shackled to her husband’s corpse. The premise is intriguing, and the film seems like a good time for horror fans. Check it out in theaters now and, for more on movies coming out in 2021, check out our movie release schedule.

Indiana Jones 5 is officially in production and, despite reports confirming it earlier this month, the situation didn’t truly become real for fans until the first set photos began to leak. Aside from a few recent complaints, production had been going smoothly, but we’ve now learned of an incident involving legendary actor Harrison Ford. The actor was reportedly injured on the set and, now, Disney has released a statement regarding the situation.

Harrison Ford reportedly injured his shoulder while rehearsing a fight scene for Indiana Jones 5. According to Deadline, the extent of the injury is unclear at this point in time. In Disney’s statement to the trade, the studio clarified how production will progress for James Mangold’s highly anticipated sequel:

Although it’s good to hear that production is still going, many are likely to be concerned about the well-being of Harrison Ford. Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time the actor has suffered an injury on set within the past several years. While filming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Ford injured his ankle, thanks to a malfunctioning hydraulic door on the Millennium Falcon. Thankfully, the star was able to get back on his feet relatively soon.

Keep in mind, though, that while Harrison Ford is 78, but he appears to take good care of himself and continues to live his life vigorously. I don’t know about any of you but, even now, I wouldn’t want to take Ford on in a fist fight. Still, it appears that precautions have been taken to ensure that his stunt work isn’t too strenuous on the set of Indiana Jones 5.

When it comes to the plot, not much is known about Indiana Jones 5 at this point. Some are even still questioning the film’s actual time period. Set photos have revealed that the film will bring back some familiar villains this time around, which honestly makes things even more confusing.

If anything, what we can focus on now is wishing the best for Harrison Ford as he begins the recovery process. With this being the final installment in the Indiana Jones series, it’s only fitting that he gets to finish out the franchise on his own terms. We’ll keep you updated on the situation as more news arrives.

So it would seem that James Mangold and his crew will push on with filming and will shoot around Harrison Ford for the time being. And as expected, the movie’s filming schedule will have to be altered to accommodate the situation.

Indiana Jones 5 is set to open in theaters on July 29, 2022.

The prospect of Indiana Jones 5 is steadily becoming more real, as filming is currently underway on the final installment of the storied franchise. The movie kicked off principal photography earlier this month, and it didn’t take long for set photos to leak. Overall, fans seem excited about seeing Harrison Ford return to one of his most famous roles. The Lucasfilm production hasn’t been so exciting for everyone, though. The film has been shooting on a street in East London, and the set’s neighbors aren’t quite thrilled with how things are going.

Apparently, Indiana Jones 5 paid an East London homeowner for the privilege of shooting in their home. According to The Sun, the production paid the homeowner a total of £50,000 (nearly $70,000) to make it happen, and the owner reportedly left the house for a week. Although this deal seems to have worked out pretty well for the owner of the house, his neighbors say the experience amounted to “24/7 hell.”

Residents of the Hackney street apparently came together in a What’sApp group to air their feelings on their neighbor’s decision to rent out his house for Indiana Jones 5. The group reportedly has a problem with the homeowner accepting a payment and heading out, only to “leave everyone else to suffer.” One resident has some honest thoughts on the presence of the film crew, telling The Sun:

A single homeowner has made a mint and the rest of us are left facing the disturbance. It’s a joke. They closed the road so it caused a lot of disruption. Some people were outside arguing over spaces. I could hear angry voices and lots of cars driving around. People should at least be compensated.

Of course, the presence of a massive crew isn’t the only thing that comes with James Mangold’s upcoming film. Indiana Jones 5, like its predecessors, is a period piece, which means vintage cars are needed. But when you have cars, there’s a need for parking spots, and it would seem the production has taken up a number of spaces on the street. The same woman who spoke with The Sun claims this has caused difficult situations for the residents, with one neighbor allegedly having to park “15 minutes away.” Another resident even claimed to have gotten a parking ticket due to the lack of parking.

Up until now, production on Indiana Jones 5 has been relatively conflict-free, aside from some criticism online, which James Mangold has addressed. So far, early set photos haven’t revealed much, but we have learned a few things. For starters, it would appear that the film is bringing back some familiar villains, and Mangold seems to be going to great lengths to pull off Harrison Ford’s stunts.

It remains to be seen when Indiana Jones 5 will wrap but, with filming having just started this month, production likely still has a ways to go. Hopefully, things will go a lot smoother than this experience in East London.

Indiana Jones 5 is set to be released on July 29, 2022.

Oftentimes when an actor in a major franchise is asked what it was like to work with another character, especially if they are green, they may not have an answer. These days, so many major productions about science fiction or fantasy worlds have the talent leave their surroundings and scene partners up to their own imaginations. But when it comes to the Star Wars movies, there’s a lot more practical movie magic at work. Ewan McGregor got to experience it firsthand when he first played Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episode I: The Phantom Menace opposite Yoda himself!

Not many people can say they got to work with Yoda, but Ewan McGregor had the pleasure. When the Obi-Wan Kenobi actor recently spoke with The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal about their Star Wars stories, he shared what it was really like working opposite the Yoda puppet:

I mean, can you imagine working with someone, and every so often they spontaneously fall to the floor? It sounds like it would be an odd experience, and that’s how Ewan McGregor describes his experience working with the Yoda puppet. He described sharing a scene with him when Yoda walked alongside him in Phantom Menace as an unbelievable experience and a bit ‘disturbing’ how his behavior would change between scenes.

Ewan McGregor is currently back as Obi-Wan Kenobi for the upcoming Disney+ series that reunites him with Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker. When swapping Star Wars experiences with Pedro Pascal to Variety, he shared how the Prequel Trilogy’s decision to make Yoda CGI made him miss his puppet scene partner:

Twenty years later, the big Star Wars star is obviously Baby Yoda (known officially as Grogu), who is once again a puppet. Ewan McGregor was pleased to hear Star Wars went back to using more practical effects for the Disney+ series, including the Obi-Wan show, where the actor said he gets to play against palpable sets.

Ewan McGregor has been open about some challenges he found when working against green screens in past Star Wars films. This time around though, he is pleased to be working alongside the groundbreaking technology Jon Favreau and The Mandalorian crew paved the way for the Disney+ series.

Is Yoda back for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series? Hey, we’ll see! The Disney+ show is among a vast lineup of upcoming Star Wars projects coming soon to streaming.

Star Wars' comeback beginning in 2015 has ushered in a number of new faces into a galaxy far, far away, but there are some characters we'll welcome back with open arms. Take Darth Vader; he's one of the iconic villains of all time (cue the Imperial March) and he had an unforgettable appearance in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Specifically during the movie’s grand finale, Vader is incredibly showcased in an insane and relentless battle led by his red lightsaber and Force powers.

Now five years removed from Rogue One and entering a new era of Star Wars, CinemaBlend spoke to one of the film’s editors, Kevin Hickman, about the jaw-dropping final sequence. Between the sacrifice Jyn and Cassian make on Scarif and Princess Leia’s hopeful cameo, Hickman revealed that Darth Vader wasn’t always going to have such a huge scene in Rogue One. As he told us:

After so many of us walked out of the theaters in 2016 being beautifully haunted by Rogue One’s big moment with Darth Vader, which would lead into the events of A New Hope, it’s crazy to imagine the sequence almost wasn’t in the movie itself. It goes to show how important and helpful additional photography can be on a movie such as this Star Wars spinoff. Kevin Hickman explained further about his role in Rogue One:

Kevin Hickman was a major part of the team that was put together to finish the film with the reshoots that took place following its initial shoot in summer 2015. Some of the major shifts that were made during Rogue One’s reshoots included the molding of the film’s third act right before before the film’s release. As the editor recalled, one of the key moments in the entire film was shot in London and edited in Pinewood Studios just a few months before it hit theaters that December.

The story of Rogue One will now continue with Andor, the Disney+ spinoff show starring Diego Luna, about Cassian’s adventures prior to his sacrifice for the Death Star plans. And Hayden Christensen will suit up again as Darth Vader for the Obi Wan TV series. Check out what other Star Wars movies and TV shows are coming up here on CinemaBlend.

Disney and Lucasfilm are currently crafting the next era of Star Wars following a grand finale to the Skywalker Saga in late 2019 with The Rise of Skywalker. Although the studios seem to have closed the book on the main characters from the Sequel Trilogy, including Daisy Ridley’s Rey, Oscar Isaac’s Poe and John Boyega’s Finn, we can’t exactly be convinced of complete finality forever. Han Solo, Luke and Leia certainly came back over 30 years after Return of the Jedi, so who’s to say the same couldn't happen with these newer leads?

There’s still clearly interest in the continuation of the storylines established in The Rise of Skywalker over a year after its conclusion. A clip of John Boyega sharing his thoughts on returning to Finn one day recently made its rounds online from a 2020 interview with none other than CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend co-host Jake Hamilton. Here’s what Boyega said about going back to play Finn at the time:

John Boyega and Jake Hamilton caught up just in time for Star Wars Day 2020 at the height of quarantine. During the interview, Hamilton asked the actor if he’d be interested in continuing his role in Star Wars thirty years down the line following starring in the recent trilogy. Boyega shared how much he “loved” the experience despite feeling some disappointment he has been public about, along with saying this:

One major criticism that has been part of the conversation following The Rise of Skywalker is the weaving storyline of its characters and rumored retcon of storylines between J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson’s own visions in their movies. John Boyega’s own experience became cloudy when his character was left with an open-ended conclusion. We never learned on screen what Finn needed to tell Rey, and the actor became vocal about being yet another sidelined BIPOC character.

Sure, J.J. Abrams clarified following the release of The Rise of Skywalker that it was indeed about his connections to the Force, but it’s kind of a bummer that John Boyega’s character did not get a complete arc in the trilogy itself. For the moment, Boyega and his cast-mates are stepping away from the franchise to play different characters, such as Boyega's coming return to Attack the Block, but years from now. we could him returning to flesh out the loose ends for a continuation of some sort.

Until then, there’s a lot to look forward to in terms of a galaxy far, far away. Check out what Star Wars movies and TV shows are coming in the near future here on CinemaBlend.

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Star Wars fans have a lot to be excited about over the next few years, as numerous TV shows are in various stages of development. One of those is Obi-Wan Kenobi, which will finally see Ewan McGregor return to the franchise to play the iconic Jedi Master and Tatooine hermit. The actor is happy to be back in the galaxy far, far away for a number of reasons, one of which is the cutting-edge technology being used. However, McGregor recently revealed that there is one aspect of returning to the role that did prove to be somewhat “annoying.”

Although Obi-Wan Kenobi was officially announced in 2019 and has just entered production, the project has been in the works for years. The project was kept under wraps, though, and McGregor was sworn to secrecy. Unfortunately, his inability to say anything about the role became a bit irritating:

Over the years, Star Wars fans likely grew tired of hearing Ewan McGregor give that same answer to Obi-Wan questions, so it’s interesting to learn that answering that way was just as hard on him. During his interview with CBS Sunday Morning, McGregor spoke more on the repetitive nature of the interviews and how he tried not to be totally dishonest with his answers:

Franchises like Star Wars typically involve a massive amount of secrecy, so it’s no surprise this has also been the case for Obi-Wan Kenobi. For instance, former Mandalorian star Gina Carano once explained the extreme measures taken to keep things hidden on set. The first two seasons of that show are currently available to stream on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

Ewan McGregor must feel some major relief at the fact that he can now confirm his involvement in Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, you still shouldn’t expect him to say too much about the series, aside from a few questionable teases. With so much anticipation surrounding the upcoming Star Wars show, let’s hope McGregor’s return is well worth the wait.