"40 Years of Star Wars" Recap

As we said earlier Star Wars Celebration kicked off today in Orlando with 40 Years of Star Wars. Brilliantly hosted by Star Wars alumni, Warwick Davis first out was Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy who after a few words & thanks, introduces "her Yoda", George Lucas. He takes the stage for the rest of the 40th panel for a trip down memory lane. Starting with Dave Filoni, Star Wars Rebels creator, as he talks with George about being a padwan of sorts throughout the course of Star Wars Clone Wars & how social media has connected us all. As he leaves the sage are attention goes to the screen to welcome Qui-Gon Jinn, Liam Neeson with a special "announcement" involving Jar-Jar Binks, everyone's favorite Gungan. After the video Warwick & George are joined by Anakin Skywalker, Hayden Christensen & his Emperor Palpatine, Ian McDiarmid for a darkside reunion. I was waiting for this & was not disappointed at all. A very entertaining back & forth over their experiences throughout their Star Wars careers. Mace Windu, Samuel L. Jackson appeared on screen following their departure letting us know that he feels Mace is still alive. Next on stage was Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, & Billy Dee Williams. Anthony Daniels talked some droid memories & the design of C3PO with George. Peter Mayhew was next, discussing his similarities with the mighty Chewbacca & Princess Leia. The final of the three, Billy Dee Williams, too cool to be interviewed as usual, talked about working with George & gave some insight on Lando Calrissian. Then to join our host & all four men currently on stage was Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill. After a sincere thanks to the fans, George was asked why Mark? What follows was a conversation to make every Star Wars fans dream. As if that wasn't enough, making his first appearance at a Star Wars Celebration, Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford. Ford steals the show as he tends to do. He & George explain the early years of their film relationship going back to American Graffiti. Afterwards, to cap it all off, Kathleen Kennedy & George Lucas remember Princess Leia, & introduce Carrie Fisher's daughter Billie Lord. She has some touching words about her mother followed by an amazing remembrance video. The Orlando Symphonic Orchestra bring us home with Leia's Theme followed by just about every other Star Wars theme with the only conductor they could possibly have, the great John Williams.   

Mark Hamill & Daisy Ridley Make Major Announcement for Star Wars: Force for Change

With a pretty entertaining back and forth Luke Skywalker and Rey (Skywalker? Solo? Kenobi? Palpatine?) announced an awesome way to benefit Starlight Children's Foundation and UNICEF. Go to www.omaze.com/starwars to enter to win a chance to win:

  • Appear in the upcoming Han Solo film
  • Attend the premier of Star Wars: The Last Jedi
  • Spend a night at Skywalker Ranch

Wowzers! To even ask me which one I'd prefer would be like asking me to cut off one of my arms. Which I might even consider for all three. Anyway, what are you waiting for? Share with your friends, go enter, then come back and watch the video and like.

Carrie Fisher Will Appear in Star Wars Episode IX

It's been no secret that Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia was to have a really big part in the finale to the current Star Wars Trilogy that started with The Force Awakens. In the wake of her unfortunate and untimely death however, there's been many questions as to how that hole would be filled. We now have an answer. New York Daily News is reporting that Carrie's brother, Todd Fisher and daughter Billie Lourd have granted the Disney Studio rights to use recent footage for the finale with the understanding that no CGI will be used to recreate Leia. Todd Fisher said, "She's as much a part of it as anything and I think her presence now is even more powerful than it was, like Obi-Wan, when the saber cuts him down he becomes more powerful. I feel like that's what happened with Carrie. I think the Legacy should continue." He went on to say, "You don't mess with this legacy. It would be like rewriting the Bible. To me, Star Wars is the holy grail of storytelling and lore and you can't mess with it." This might be the most exciting thing I've heard all week, as I was really worried as to how these sad events would affect the outcome of the final film. I'm so glad Leia gets to have a part in this. I just feel for everything Carrie Fisher poured into this iconic part she would hate to see it disappear instead of end.

Lego & Disney Do Star Wars in These 2 Amazing Videos

Disney has paired with The LEGO Group to put up these two awesome videos. The first one of which is a retelling of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story told in the form of Legos. This one's great. Just the effects and detail put into it amazes me. Mainly because there's no telling how long this thing actually took to put together. So a major pat on the back to those involved. This is awesome.

The second of the videos brings true creativity from two different directions as it is a Lego Rube Goldberg machine designed to destroy the Death Star. This was on another level as I've love Rube Goldberg machines since I was a kid. They just fascinate me. I played mouse trap lord knows how many times just to watch it work. So, taking the innovation that goes into one of these machines, bind it with how much it's no secret that I love Star Wars, & this video was just a small slice of greatness for me.

Hayden Christensen Talking Star Wars

Yes. Hayden Christensen, Anakin Skywalker himself will be returning to the Star Wars world... kinda. StarWars.com has announced that Hayden Christensen will be joing fellow alumni: Mark Hamill, Kathleen Kennedy, Ian McDiarmid, Dave Filoni, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, & Billy Dee Williams for a panel Thursday, April 13, at Star Wars Celebration Orlando. "40 Years of Star Wars", a panel celebrating the 40 year anniversary of the story that started once upon a time in a gakaxy far, far away. Wish we could be there, but the stars aren't aligning this year. We'll be there in spirit yhough & share anything of significanc. May the Force be with you all.

Rey Uses a Lightsaber in Last Jedi

"Comicbook" is in Nevada at Cinemacon this year reporting they have the Star Wars footage we're looking for. Not really though, saying the footage was super short. It featured Rey training with Luke's lightsaber. I'm honestly hoping someone screams spoiler 'bout this. Especially considering if you didn't think Rey was going to be training in the force, with Luke's lightsaber, I'd be forced to ask you if you had even seen "The Force Awakens". Dave Hollister, Disney exec, added a little info though saying, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" will pick up right with "The Force Awakens" left off." Also, adding, "Virtually all of our cast are back." There you go. Though, if you didn't know Rey was going to use lightsaber your insight does not serve you. What do you think is this significant? Or should they also release that Stormtroopers will be involved in this Star Wars this go around? Comment below, & don't forget to like & share.

Last Jedi to Have Assault Gorillas?

Just a forewarning cuz I know how people get when it comes to Star Wars. This contains spoilers for the new Star Wars film "The Last Jedi". Nothing major, but if you're one of those people who don't want to know anything about anything Star Wars then you do not want to read this article. Okay so for those who made it further, Jason Ward, the editor-in-chief over at "Making Star Wars", was talking about how he briefly got to see the new AT-AT style walkers from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi". They're going to be called "First Order Heavy Assault Walkers. He describes it as having reinforced legs and it kind of sits with its back lower than its front making it from head-on look kind of light a broad gorilla. He noted that these were actually called "Gorilla Walkers" informally by some of the crew during the production of the movie. The classic AT-AT only comes up to the belly of the new walker which is not only taller, but wider than it's predecessor. He goes on to describe it looks "like a generation 1 Transformer was mixed up with a AT-AT and a gorilla." Looks basically like we're just going to keep on the trend of the First Order doing things bigger and better than the Empire of old.  As we've seen with the new Tie Fighters and the Stormtroopers with flamethrowers from "Force Awakens". He said there will be a big sequence containing a lot of these metal beasts so I can't wait. I think that's one of the things that I've been most attracted to when it comes to these new additions to Star Wars is watching how how the actual mythical technology advances. Anyway what do you think, bigger better, giant, gorilla looking AT-ATs? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to like and share.

Boy Band Singer Confirms Unknown Last Jedi Role

THR confirms that Gary Barlow, frontman of "Take That" and host of BBC talent show "Let It Shine" is going to have a cameo in the upcoming "Star Wars: The Last Jedi". He says, "I'm not a stormtrooper, but I am in it", speaking to UK Channel ITV's chat show "Lorraine". He also went on to say, "I think the Star Wars people are so strict about what information is out there. So me saying that I probably just done myself out of a roll." It's funny to think how much of that was just joking around and how much was actually serious. As we all know they don't play when it comes to Star Wars spoilers. Anyway, I have no frame of reference for Gary Barlow as I know nothing about "Take That" or the talent show "Let It Shine". So I don't really have a ground to stand on, but hey I didn't know who Daisy Ridley was either and look how that worked out.

Trip To Get Coffee Inspires Rogue One

Maybe Starbucks will be able to start justifying the price of their coffee. CNN had an interview with Rogue one director Gareth Edwards. In this interview Edwards goes over the decision to 86 all the main characters in the end, and the difficulty of using CGI to cross the uncanny valley. The most curious of things he talked about though was how the planet of "Scarif" came from a mistake involving a trip to Starbucks. When the Barista asked him his name he said he must have said, "It's Gareth" but in that they must've heard "Scarif" so that's what they wrote on the cup. He was being tasked with coming up with the final planet's name to no avail. So, when he got his drink he thought man, Scarif, that sounds pretty Star Wars, and lo and behold history was once again shaped by mistake. I love little stories like these it's funny to see how many of our classic moments come from what would normally just be thrown away as a mistake. Goes to show there truly is magic everywhere.

Bob Iger Drops Some Star Wars Knowledge

Knowledge, or spoilers, however you look at it. That being said only you can decide to read further. According to THR Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, just teased a little of all things Star Wars. First, regarding the untimely death of Carrie Fisher, he stated that they will not be changing episode VIII and that her performance will remain as is. He mentioned how in Rogue one they used a digital character and went on to let us know that they will not be doing that this time around. He didn't stop there though as he also let us know that they're looking at what could be another decade-and-a-half of Star Wars films and while not enlighting us on any more details of this he also made point to let us know that the untitled Han Solo film will span from Hans life 18 to 24. We'll also get to see him first meet his co-pilot Chewbacca and we'll find out how he was able to find the infamous Millennium Falcon. Hopefully, also involving some sort of Sabaac game but he didn't want to give us anything on that.

Woody Harrelson Name Drops His Character Name

Even more news from my favorite ex-bartender. Setting down with the "Tonight Show", Woody Harrelson stated that while not a "fanatic" that when it comes to Star Wars "it's nice to be part of". He also just casually throws in, "I play a guy named Beckett who's kind of a criminal & mentor to Han. Not sure if he was fully aware this was the first time we heard his character's name for the upcoming untitled Han Solo film. Star Wars fans are notorious for calling any small amount of info spoilers. For me, this is just a name. Could've been Dave & it would still be just the same. What do y'all think? Spoiler/Non-Spoiler? Change any views or guesses, or could care less? Let us know in the comments. 

Captain Phasma May Do Something!?!

So I like everyone else was pumped about this awesome chrome stormtrooper being featured everywhere in the lead-up to "The Force Awakens". Then I found out this chrome stormtrooper was a girl. This piqued my curiosity even more as the Empire had a bias against women in authority. Then the movie was released & we all know Captain Phasma was maybe in it for 5 minutes total. On top of that her part was much ado about nothing, as she did, well, nothing really. However, now "Making Star Wars" has quoted a source saying, "You are going to love Captain Phasma's spear in "The Last Jedi". She looks killer." Does this mean the shiny bucket-head will finally be the presence we were looking for in her debut?  I'm hoping so, because so far the Captain Phasma in Hollywood Studios has more lines than the one in the movie. What are your expectations on Captain Phasma & is this too much, too little, too late?

Han Solo to be Best Star Wars Movie Ever?

Yes. In an interview with Collider, Woody Harrelson was asked what it was like to work with co-directors Phil Lord & Chris Miller on the untitled Han Solo film. To which he replied, "They're great. You know, any movie's only as good as the director or in this case directors, and so I have a suspicion, because if you look at the whole, all the movies, the backlog of every one of these movies, there's a lot of great stuff, but one might not be as good with the writing in this or the acting in that or the directing in that. This has great actors, great directors, great script, and I really feel like we're going to make the best one."

There you go. Straight out of the mouth of the man who used to bar-back for Sam Malone at Cheers. Han Solo will be the best Star Wars movie. Normally, I would argue, but who's to go against on of the best actors alive today? Especially when he's speaking about an all-star cast & the two directors who, A, brought a old TV show to the big screen & succeeded, but who B, made LEGO, a toy about building things with little blocks, into an amazingly funny animated movie. What do you think? Can Han Solo be the best Star Wars movie ever?

Star Wars 8 & 9 on Familiar Ground?

Wochit Entertainment is saying sources in Lucasfilm have told them that Tattoine, Mustafar, & Endor will pop up each in 1 or both of the upcoming Star Wars sequels completing this new trilogy started with "The Force Awakens". We all know how Skywalkers feel about sand, & I know y'all can't wait for another dose of cuddly warrior bears. Mustafar seems risky though knowing how much everyone just adores the prequels & everything associated with them... However, the Force is strong with the folks over at Lucasfilm right now. They pulled off "Rouge One", & most people already knew the ending going in just to deductive reasoning. Most intriguing though, is wondering what these places look like 20+ or more years later?

Star Wars Moving Away From it's Legacies

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" screenwriter Gary Whitter sat down with "SuperHeroHype".  In this he states, "One of the things we really want to do at Lucasfilm is create a universe & not keep relying on old legacy characters." He goes on to say, "Whatever kind of Star Wars films they're making 10 or 20 years from now, I don't think they're going to be relying on the same legacy story elements as we have in the past." With at least a couple more doses of Skywalker coming, as well as a Han Solo solo film we at least don't have to worry about the near future. These words do however seem to sound like we might want to get real use to Finn, Rey, Kylo Ren for our long term Star Wars futures.