It might have been almost 50 years since the original Star Wars movie was released in theaters, but fans are still sharing the love for one of its most iconic scenes.

On Reddit, one fan shared their appreciation for the binary sunset scene, in which Luke Skywalker stares into the Tatooine twin-sunset as John Williams's score rises. "This will always be one of my favorite Star Wars scenes," they wrote.

The comments are full of more fans admiring the classic moment. "That music is INCREDIBLE," says one fan, with another adding: "Agreed! If you can ever see the movie with a live symphony, do it! Just amazing"

"It captures the human condition. For one brief moment, we are all Luke, yearning for something more," says someone else.

"John Williams' finest moment," praises someone else. Another person says: "Binary sunset always hits me in the feels."

"Something that sometimes gets lost when you talk about the entire sprawling franchise is that Star Wars began with one movie… and that it was a really fucking good movie," says another fan.

"So iconic. It tells so much with this quiet scene. A young man looking towards the future, thinking about what else is out there and what his destiny holds," is another person's thoughts.

"Always. The greatest scene and music. Especially the look on Luke's face…. unseen possibilities, hope…" is another person's take.

"This scene was always so moving, that call to the future and adventure. It moves me as much now as it did when I was a kid," says one person, while another says: "It really works because we've all emotionally been where Luke is in that scene. We've all felt stuck, lost, and yearned for a better future"

"Yes... Such a simple idea but one that really created the feeling of a totally alien but totally believable world," thinks another person.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which arrives on Disney Plus on January 20. It will feature the return of Admiral Ackbar, Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker, and the Mortis gods.

While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Star Wars has introduced a new way of referring to the Force, and it's connected to Kylo Ren.

The new terminology comes from the Fall of Kylo Ren comic series by Charles Soule and Will Sliney. Per ScreenRant, after it was earlier revealed that the Knights of Ren call the dark side "The Shadow," it turns out that the light side is called "The Shine." That's revealed by Tava Ren, the woman who led the Knights of Ren after Kylo Ren allied with the First Order.

Plus, the latest issue, #3, sees Tava Ren referring to someone as potentially "radiant," possibly meaning Force-sensitive.

It remains to be seen how this new way of describing the Force might affect the broader Star Wars lore, but, for now, they're interesting details that make the galaxy feel much bigger and more lived-in.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which also looks set to develop our understanding of the Force thanks to the inclusion of the Mortis gods and the World Between Worlds.

"It's definitely a thing," Dave Filoni has previously said of the gods factoring into Ahsoka season 2.

"It was so surprising when George [Lucas] created these archetype god characters," he also explained. "What were we examining there in Clone Wars? What was the metaphor? A lot of it is about power, and what you do with power, and how you wield power. For a Jedi, I think it's a natural story path to get into these questions."

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on January 20. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's on the way.

Star Wars: Starfighter will be flying onto screens in 2027 and Disney has reportedly invested heavily in the movie. According to a new report, the film has a budget of $226.5 million, which is more than The Force Awakens.

Per Forbes, Disney revealed this sum was reached by the conclusion of filming, before marketing has started. This is slightly beyond The Force Awakens, which had a budget at this point of $226 million.

However, as some commentators have pointed out, these figures may change significantly. Starfighter filmed in the UK and landed a significant tax break as a result. This reportedly reached $51.5 million, taking the production budget down to $175 million.

Starfighter is directed by Shawn Levy, starring Ryan Gosling in the lead role as Kade Auberon, a pilot who has found himself on the wrong side of the New Jedi Order. The film is set five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.

The first footage was shown behind closed doors at D23 earlier this year. GamesRadar+ was in the room, sharing that it starts with Flynn Gray's as-yet-unnamed character revealing a starfighter that's the fastest that's ever been built.

Currently, the movie is the only Star Wars film on the calendar. However, recent reports suggest that Jon Watts has been hired by Lucasfilm to direct the first outing in a new trilogy of movies that would continue the Skywalker saga.

On the TV side, we'll soon be returning to the galaxy far, far away in Ahsoka season 2, which releases in January 2027. Check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else that's been announced.

Over six years after the project entered development, Taika Waititi's long-gestating Star Wars movie written by Tony McNamara has been put on hold.

"I hate to break this to you, but we're going to actually put it on ice, and we're working on a different thing together," said Waititi to Inverse. "It's very iced. I've got about four other movies I'm trying to do."

Waititi didn't reveal which project he and Poor Things screenwriter McNamara are now working on in place of the sci-fi flick, but the filmmaker has a bunch of titles already in the works, including a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie and the What We Do In The Shadows sequel. However, Waititi isn't saying goodbye to Star Wars for good, as he added, "Ice ages do come to an end. Who knows?"

The untitled Star Wars movie was announced way back in 2020 with Waititi and 1917 scribe Krysty Wilson-Cairns attached. In 2022, then Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy told Total Film that the film was headed for a "late 2023" release. But that never came to fruition. Then at Star Wars Celebration 2025, it was announced that McNamara had joined on as the new writer. Waititi never shared an official synopsis, but the filmmaker had hinted that the movie would expand the Star Wars universe.

As of right now, the only Star Wars movie to have a solid release date is Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy. The Ryan Gosling starrer has finished filming and is heading to cinemas on May 28, 2027. Beyond that, not including Waititi's project, seven other upcoming Star Wars movies have been announced but are all still waiting for release dates and production status updates.

Over on the small screen, there are four shows currently in the works in the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Ahsoka season 2 is next up and is targeting a January 20, 2027 release on Disney Plus. Maul: Shadow Lord has also been reviewed for a second season. Many Star Wars projects have been scrapped over the past few years, including The Hunt for Ben Solo and Marvel boss Kevin Feige's mysterious project.

For more, check out our ranking of the best Star Wars movies and keep up with the Star Wars timeline with our deep dive on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

If someone asks me about the best Star Wars collectibles, I always point them toward Hasbro's Black Series range. No matter whether it's absurdly detailed action figures, or lightsaber replicas, I've got no problem with singing their praises. However, I think the Black Series helmets are some of the best merch from a galaxy far, far away - period.

Besides looking like the spitting image of their on-screen counterpart, these props are incredibly well made. Actually, they look as though they've been stolen from a movie set or the Lucasfilm archive. These Star Wars collectibles don't have a collector's edition price, though... especially not with Prime Day throwing around discounts like blaster fire.

The sales event has slashed the cost of many Star Wars Black Series helmets, and while not all of the savings are worthwhile, plenty took me aback. That's why I've gathered up the best and most eye-catching offers here.

In the mood for more sci-fi? A terrifying campaign version of our favorite horror board game got fully funded in just 54 seconds.

• See all of today's Black Series helmet deals at Amazon

Kathleen Kennedy has reflected on stepping down as Lucasfilm president early this year after 14 years in the role, saying that she felt a lot of relief not having to live up to Star Wars creator George Lucas' legacy anymore.

When asked if she felt "bittersweet" about leaving Lucasfilm during Bloomberg’s annual Screentime event (H/T THR), Kennedy said no. "I suppose there's a bit of relief. These jobs are not easy and stepping into something like that that George [Lucas] had created was an incredible challenge."

Kennedy took over Lucasfilm in 2012, just before Disney bought the company for $4.05 billion, which added a lot of pressure to deliver the goods. Though Kennedy's tenure saw a lot of wins with movies like the sequel trilogy and series Ahsoka, the franchise also saw fans react negatively to some projects like The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew.

But Kennedy says this is the "challenge" that comes with taking over such a beloved franchise with die-hard fans. "You've got people where this means a lot to them. But at the same time, the challenge is to try to create something new, something original. So finding that balance is really the toughest thing." Kennedy said her proudest accomplishments were relaunching the film franchise starting with 2015's The Force Awakens and rolling out Andor and The Mandalorian.

Before leading the Star Wars franchise, Kennedy was a longtime collaborator of Steven Spielberg's, working as a producer on his projects such as Jurassic Park and Lincoln, and other classics like Back to the Future and Gremlins. But when she took over as Lucasfilm president, Kennedy recalls asking Lucas if he had any advice for her on direction on storytelling. "He said, 'No, no, it's all here,'" Kennedy explained, pointing to her head. "I said, 'Okay, well that's going to be interesting to try and mine that.'"

Longtime Star Wars filmmaker Dave Filoni took over as president of Lucasfilm earlier this year. But Kennedy is still involved with the Star Wars world and is producing Shawn Levy's upcoming movie Star Wars: Starfighter, which releases on May 28, 2027

For more, check out our guides to the Star Wars timeline and how to watch Star Wars in order, and keep up with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows on the way.

A Star Wars fan has come up with a pretty interesting theory about Star Wars: Starfighter – and it says Ryan Gosling is actually playing Luke Skywalker's son.

Gosling is playing a character named Kade Auberon in the upcoming Starfighter, and fans of the old Legends continuity might notice a similarity with one Cade Skywalker.

"Wouldn't shock me if Starfighter turns out to be a soft launch for the new trilogy and Ryan Gosling is playing Cade Skywalker from Legends, now retrofitted to be Luke's son," predicts the fan.

Cade Skywalker is a descendant of Luke's in Legends – existing in continuity around 100 years later – and he's a bounty hunter and former Jedi Padawan. Gosling's Kade, meanwhile, is still a pretty mysterious character, though footage revealed at D23 shows him in possession of the fastest starfighter in the galaxy, which is a decommissioned Imperial model.

A new Star Wars trilogy is indeed in the works, with the first film to be helmed by Spider-Man director and Skeleton Crew co-creator Jon Watts. It's set to feature Rey "in some capacity," according to The Hollywood Reporter, and it also looks set to continue the Skywalker Saga.

While it does seem very unlikely that Gosling's character is actually Luke Skywalker's son – after all, nothing we've seen of Luke since Return of the Jedi suggests he has a secret family – it wouldn't be a stretch to think Starfighter might set up the new trilogy in some way. We'll just have to wait and see.

Starfighter arrives on May 28, 2027. In the meantime, keep up to date with everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Following a years-long break between movies, Star Wars is officially back in its cinematic flow. Following The Mandalorian and Grogu hitting screens this year, and with Shawn Levvy's Star Wars: Starfighter on the way, LucasFilm is moving forward with yet another feature, and it has already found its director.

Jon Watts has been tapped to direct the first movie out of a new trilogy that will next chapter of the Skywalker Saga. The mystery trilogy is penned by Simon Kinberg, who has been working on the three films since late 2024. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project has not yet been greenlit by Disney. However, the feature is the furthest along the development track after Starfighter.

Watt is already part of the Star Wars family due to co-creating, writing, and directing a fair chunk of the 2024 Disney Plus show Skeleton Crew. The filmmaker also has a lot of experience with big franchises like Marvel, directing the first three MCU Spider-Man movies starring Tom Holland, successfully relaunching the web-slinging hero

Though details are being kept tightly under wraps, the project will seemingly act as Episode 10, continuing the Skywalker Saga, which runs from Episode 1: The Phantom Menace right up to Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker. The trilogy will also welcome back Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker in some capacity. However, Ridley's involvement has us wondering if Watts' Episode 10 is set to replace the previously revealed Rey movie.

Announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, the Rey movie was said to be set after Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker, following Rey as she rebuilds the Jedi Order. But if Watts' project follows on from Episode 9 and features Rey, will there be any need for the Rey movie after that? The Rey movie has suffered a series of delays, lost several writers, and has failed to leave early developmental hell. We haven't heard any promising updates on the project in a while, so we wonder if this is really the end.

Next up for Star Wars, though, is the Ryan Gosling starrer Starfighter, which is set to tell a new story away from the Skywalker Saga, taking place five years after The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars: Starfighter releases on May 28, 2027

For more, check out our guides to the Star Wars timeline and how to watch Star Wars in order, and keep up with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows on the way.

George Lucas says he went back and edited the original Star Wars trilogy (with minor tweaks to the prequels) because they simply "weren't finished."

"Most movies aren't finished; they're simply yanked out of your hands and put in the theaters," Lucas said via IGN. "So you're always saying 'oh, I wish I could have just finished that one piece of thing.' But it's not that way. You have a deadline; you've got to make the deadline."

"But then I went back, after Star Wars, and redid all the movies, in terms of finishing them," the filmmaker continued. "So that they're actually finished. And of course, a lot of people got upset about that, because they said, 'you're not allowed to do that.' I said, 'Fans are doing that. They're making alternate versions and all kinds of stuff.'"

As a fan, the two changes from Star Wars: A New Hope that frequently keep me up at night are 'Han shot first' and 'Maclunkey!' In the original 1977 cut, Greedo threatens to kill Han Solo, and Han promptly shoots him in response, his gun having already been drawn and ready underneath the table. In the 1997 Special Edition, Lucas added a scene that shows Greedo firing first at Han, making the subsequent murder a justified one. Did we need this? Nope. Not everyone in the Star Wars universe who isn't a Sith needs to be a good guy (and Andor does a great job at showcasing this).

However, this scene was further edited in 2012, though it didn't hit Disney Plus until 2019, to include Greedo yelling out something nonsensical before being shot and killed. That nonsensical phrase has been roughly translated as "Maclunkey!" and was pulled from the film's archive of unused audio. Lucas has never outwardly explained the reason behind the addition, save for specifying that the phrase is "Huttese."

Star Wars: A New Hope will return in all of its unedited glory in February 2027. Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which arrives on Disney Plus on January 20. Until then, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's in the works.

One Star Wars fan might have figured out a way the Emperor's return in The Rise of Skywalker actually makes total sense with Return of the Jedi – though, not everyone seems convinced.

"Do you think Palpatine was on the Death Star ready to 'die' since he was sure he could be brought back on Exegol? He wanted Luke to kill him and turn to the dark side?" they question on Reddit.

"Ok so, do you think Palpatine wasn't really worried about dying? Because he had clones on Exegol. Means when he's wanted Luke to kill him, he means it? Even if Vader didn't stop Luke, Palpatine makes no effort to move or dodge. Making me think he really did want to turn Luke to the dark. It also puts Vader's action in a new light. Instead of protecting Palaptine, he's saving his son from falling to the dark…"

In The Rise of Skywalker, it's revealed that Palpatine had a backup plan in the case of his death, involving returning in a clone of himself. So, it would make total sense for him to be okay with the idea of dying in Return of the Jedi.

However, other fans aren't really convinced. "No, I think they didn't think this through when they brought him back. Whether it's Canon or Legends," says one. "That scream he lets out when he falls to his death doesn't sound like the scream of someone where everything goes as planned."

"No. He wanted a new apprentice and was working to turn Luke to the dark side to replace Vader," says someone else.

"I don't believe he thought he was going to die. I think Luke's line to him is the reality here. 'Your overconfidence is your weakness,'" says another person. "Palpatine thought he had already won, that Luke was going to turn, he could finally replace Vader, and the Rebellion was going to be crushed. In his mind, his victory was a foregone conclusion. Sure, he had his backup plans like Exegol, but I think he was just being a cocky bastard here."

"No. He just wanted to pit father against son and take the victor as his apprentice," agrees another fan.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which arrives on Disney Plus on January 20. Until then, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's in the works.

George Lucas has talked about his decision to retire to work on his recently opened museum.

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has freshly opened its doors in California, showcasing a seriously impressive collection that, naturally, includes plenty of Star Wars memorabilia.

As Lucas has explained in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, though, when he made the decision to step away from moviemaking to concentrate on the museum, he still had a lot on his plate.

"Well, I'm 82, so there is a limit," he shared. "When I did this, I decided to retire from making movies, which was a big deal because I had three more Star Wars to make. But, I realized that I was running out of time, and I did want to make this museum. And I'd spent a lot of time developing digital technology for the movie business. You know, all art depends on technology."

Lucas had plans for a sequel trilogy of his own that would have involved Darth Maul as a crime syndicate boss. But, he sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, and Disney's sequel trilogy – 2015's The Force Awakens, 2017's The Last Jedi, and 2019's The Rise of Skywalker – went down a different path.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which arrives on Disney Plus on January 20. "It was so surprising when George [Lucas] created these archetype god characters," Dave Filoni said recently of the Mortis gods, which will be part of season 2. "What were we examining there in Clone Wars? What was the metaphor? A lot of it is about power, and what you do with power, and how you wield power. For a Jedi, I think it's a natural story path to get into these questions."

You can check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Whispers of a Darth Vader movie don't seem to be going away anytime soon, but Anakin Skywalker actor Hayden Christensen is keen for us to know that, for now, there's nothing concrete in the works.

When pressed by E News on talk of a Darth Vader movie, Christensen replied, "I think those are just rumors."

He added, "I would be thrilled to get to do that. But right now, those are just rumors."

With that answer, the Force grip a prospective standalone Vader movie has on our hearts and minds has grown a little weaker, but that doesn't mean Christensen is distancing himself from all things in a galaxy far, far away – far from it, in fact.

That's because Christensen is set to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker alongside his old protege 'Snips', AKA Ahsoka Tano, in Ahsoka season 2. The series hits Disney Plus on January 20, 2027.

On his recent experience with Lucasfilm, Christensen had nothing but praise for new co-president Dave Filoni.

"Dave Filoni, I think, understands this character in some ways even better than I do," Christensen told IMDb. "And so when I read the scripts, I'm just elated with what I get to do and say. That said, he's still very collaborative, and if I have an idea, I'll share it, and if it works, then we'll do it. And so, we're not too precious about things and we get to explore a little bit. But I try to honor the words that he's written, and I don't need to deviate much."

Alongside Ahsoka season 2, Star Wars: Starfighter – starring Ryan Gosling – is also releasing next year.

For more, check out the upcoming Star Wars movies currently in the works.

Tom Hiddleston is just about one of the most charming talents in Hollywood, even when it comes to being thrown a curveball on the red carpet that quickly caught him off guard. In a recent interview, the man who has given us Loki for over a decade was asked how the other mega sci-fi franchise, Star Wars, has inspired who he is today. Pausing for thought, the newly appointed God of Stories gave a brilliant answer that sums up precisely what the franchise from far, far away is all about.

"I love those films," he told Nick Busters. "I loved them as a child. I suppose if I’m honest, it’s a very early introduction to moral clarity and the balance of goodness and love in the universe. I guess that's what the force is all about."

With such an interesting and well-thought-out response about Star Wars and its impact, it's a wonder why Hiddleston has never made the jump to hyperspace and taken up a role somewhere in the franchise. The new era brought everyone from Oscar Isaac to Max von Sydow, and even made time for Tom Hardy and Daniel Craig to wear Stormtrooper suits.

Could Hiddleston take on a role in the franchise if he were offered a gig somewhere in the world of Rey (Daisy Ridley) and company? It's a hypothetical that has been thrown at the star before, and he had nothing but excitement about the idea.

"Goodness, I hadn’t thought of that. I mean, yeah, sure," Hiddleston told Digital Spy back in 2017. "I’m a huge fan, especially of the first three, because I grew up watching Star Wars: A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. So, absolutely, yeah. It would depend on the story and the character and things."

As it stands, Star Wars: Starfighter, from director Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, is the only big project from that world on the way, and we haven't seen any sign of Hiddleston turning up in it. For now, we’ll just have to settle for him making an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, where he'll be potentially facing off against Doctors of Doom as opposed to Dark Lords of the Sith. For more info on Star Wars, check out our guide to every upcoming Star Wars movie and television show on the way.

21 years after the release of Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars fans have spotted an emotional parallel with Return of the Jedi.

One viewer took to Reddit to point out a similarity between Padmé Amidala and her son Luke Skywalker, specifically in conversations Obi-Wan Kenobi has with both characters.

"I just know this whole exchange must have strongly reminded Obi-Wan of Padmé and Luke's resemblance to her," the fan wrote.

In the first conversation with Padmé, Obi-Wan is trying to find Anakin Skywalker's whereabouts after he has turned to the dark side. Padmé, knowing Obi-Wan will kill her husband, can't bring herself to tell him. In the conversation in Return of the Jedi, Luke says he can't kill his own father, and insists there is "still good in him" – unknowingly echoing Padmé at the end of Revenge of the Sith.

"Interesting symmetry, I hadn't realized this one," says one fan. "Alec Guinness was such a good actor that he was calling back to things that hadn't happened yet," says someone else.

"I've always thought that Luke was far more like Padme than he was like his father. He was a strong Jedi, true, but he was much more in tune with his emotions than Anakin was, and had an unwavering conviction in his ideals, like Padme did," is another person's analysis. "Both Padme and Luke appealed to Anakin's heart the same way; reminding him of the good he was capable of and pulling him back from the darkness. Leia on the other hand was much more like Anakin, despite being a politician like her mother. She was often headstrong and stubborn, finding unconventional solutions in a wartime environment, like Anakin as a general in the Clone Wars"

"For me, it's more sad that Obi-Wan just completely gave up on Anakin, just accepted that he was evil and that was it," is another fan's take. "I understand it, of course, but it's just sad considering he basically raised him"

"There is a reason it is Luke that Obi-Wan was holding as Padme told him 'there is good in him,' because Luke is the one who keeps his mother’s belief that Anakin can be saved. George [Lucas] knew what he was doing," says another fan.

"And both of them [Luke and Padme] were ultimately right. Not that Obi-Wan could have actually drawn Anakin from the darkness however, so it wasn’t really an option for him sadly," says someone else.

Hayden Christensen's Anakin will soon return in Ahsoka season 2, which arrives on Disney Plus next January 30.

In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's on the way.

Alden Ehrenreich doesn't seem too interested in reprising his iconic Star Wars role. The actor played Han Solo in the prequel movie Solo: A Star Wars Story, which didn't have the best reactions from fans of the galaxy far, far away.

While critics agreed it was a fun story, the general consensus was that it was pretty forgettable. Currently ranked at 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, it didn't set the fandom alight. As a result, there have been no follow-up movies, even though star Ehrenreich was contracted for a trilogy.

In a new interview with IndieWire, his future in the role was brought up by the interviewer. When they told him "In your life, you will play Han Solo again," Ehrenreich simply replied: "No idea."

The journalist went on to compare his trajectory to Andrew Garfield returning as Spider-Man in No Way Home. The actor continued: "Oh, interesting. We'll see." We've got to admit, he didn't sound particularly enthusiastic about the possibility of returning to the role.

The only current project that he could slip into is the Lando Calrissian movie, which was due to star Donald Glover in a spin-off. However, development on that has seemingly stalled with no recent updates.

In fact only one Star Wars movie is definitely happening at the moment: Star Wars: Starfighter. Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, filming has wrapped on the project with a trailer shown behind closed doors.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2. For more adventures across the galaxy, check out our guide to upcoming Star Wars movies and shows in development.

Star Wars fans are worried that another project is being left behind at Lucasfilm. It's been three years since a new solo movie starring Daisy Ridley as Rey was announced at Star Wars Celebration.

A director and writer were initially attached, as we heard some details on what the film would follow. Due to be set some 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, it was going to see Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order.

However, since 2024, there has been very little news on the development of the project. The latest update from Ridley came in 2025 when she promised that "the wait will be worth it" as she spoke about the hurdles that films have to overcome to get made.

Despite that positive update, the Star Wars community is growing more certain that this movie won't ever make it off the page. Posting on Reddit, one wrote: "It's been over three years since Daisy Ridley was brought out at Celebration to announce the Rey movie and there isn't even a script written yet. Will this eventually come out? When can we expect to see Rey onscreen again?"

The response from other fans was pretty unanimous: this isn't a movie that's going to get made. "My rule for Star Wars content is that it doesn’t exist until there is a trailer AND release date," wrote one, while another added: "Probably never. Changing leadership can sideline projects."

They weren't alone either, with a third commenting: "Agree 100%. Daisy Ridley has been absolutely done dirty." Another simply put it: "This right here is probably the biggest issue with Star Wars. Announcements. Don't tell us you're making it, just make it."

Several Star Wars projects have been announced but not made it out of the development phase. Star Wars Rebels co-creator Simon Kinberg was due to make a Star Wars trilogy, Indiana Jones 5 director James Mangold was announced to be making a film set thousands of years before the Jedi, and Taika Waititi has long been linked to making his own movie set in a galaxy far, far away. Who knows if any of them will one day happen.

Currently, there are only two projects on the horizon for Star Wars that are definitely happening: Ahsoka season 2 has been filmed and arrives in January 20, 2027, and Ryan Gosling's Starfighter is set for a May 28, 2027 release date.

For all the announced Star Wars movies and shows on the horizon, here's our guide to new Star Wars.

Don't miss out on The Mandalorian Lego special. The delightful animated short has arrived on Disney Plus (alongside its live-action big sibling, The Mandalorian and Grogu), and, while it might not be canon, it is a laugh-out-loud, joyful 45 minutes every Star Wars fan needs to tune in for.

The special has an adorable premise: Din Djarin's pals have thrown him a party – and it's not even his birthday! – which he begrudgingly attends with baby Grogu. While the duo are there in their party hats, a gang of their closest friends retell their story so far, all the way up to the events of the new movie.

The result is an irreverent, self-referential blast – exactly what you'd expect from a Lego special – that's also pretty much a perfect way to recap the Disney Plus show. What more could you ask for?

Getting the band back together

Probably the biggest selling point of any Lego special is just how damn hilarious they are, and The Mandalorian's is no different. The 45-minute runtime is packed with jokes that poke gentle fun at The Mandalorian and Star Wars as a whole, including Mando and Grogu's reunion taking place in a different series, IG-11's tendency to go straight for self-destruct mode, and Luke Skywalker having no luck with his Jedi students. I got to watch the special at this year's D23 in a crowd of Star Wars fans that laughed at every gag, and it only enhanced the experience.

The wacky premise doesn't just allow for laughs, too: it also gets the whole Mando gang back together again. There are cameos aplenty in the special, which means original actors return to their roles. Listen out for Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon, Amy Sedaris as Peli Motto, Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze, Timothy Olyphant as Cobb Vanth, and even Bill Burr as Migs Mayfeld (he's on hand to recount the events of season 2, which, he points out, he witnessed a whole 20% of).

Of course, any Mandalorian project – Lego or not – needs to include its fair share of heartwarming Clan of Two moments. The special doesn't just recreate the tearjerking scenes you know and love from the show (the special's version of Mando and Grogu's goodbye in the season 2 finale did indeed remind me of how many tears I shed back in December 2020), but it also includes a few new moments of its own. Highlights include Mando urging Grogu to make his signature cooing sound more intimidating if he's going to be a bounty hunter, Grogu using the Force to levitate a party hat onto Mando's beskar helmeted head, and Grogu having his own miniature steering wheel in the Razor Crest. If you've been missing Din Djarin and Din Grogu since their big-screen outing earlier this year, then you can't go wrong with the Lego special.

Assembled with love

The special is also set after The Mandalorian and Grogu on the Star Wars timeline, as revealed by the Razor Crest's distinctive yellow paint – and an appearance from Zeb Orrelios to tell this part of the story, before he's interrupted. Of course, Lego releases aren't Star Wars canon, so nothing that happens in this special is actually part of the saga's ongoing story. But, it does give a nice window into the kind of life you'd like to imagine Mando and Grogu living in between missions for the New Republic. What better way to spend their downtime than a party with friends?

And, while it might not be canon, and the premise is indeed silly fun, every second of the special makes it obvious that it was made with clear, reverent love for The Mandalorian and Star Wars as a whole. The story goes beyond just a party, encompassing Mando's growth across his tale so far as he comes to accept he's no longer a loner. Yes, this Lego special gets pretty deep, in between all the fun.

At the moment, it's unclear when we'll see Din Djarin and Din Grogu again, as nothing has been confirmed about their future (either in The Mandalorian season 4 or another movie). So, while we wait to be reunited with the Clan of Two, there's no better way to pass the time than with Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian.

Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney Plus now. See what else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has talked about his working relationship with Dave Filoni, and how the film and Disney Plus show reflect it.

"I think the show and the film is a reflection of our partnership," Favreau told Filoni, on the official The Mandalorian and Grogu podcast. "Like two musicians who play together. It changes the way we play, I think. And it makes me feel very comfortable when I get to tell stories with you."

Filoni was in agreement. "We come together and we do some things a little separately, then I bring you things to watch, which is always super helpful," he said. "Because that's the other thing, too, especially if we're shooting separately at times, we see what the other shot, you get those fresh eyes to look at something. And you are, in a lot of ways, the ultimate audience member. Because if you don't understand it, you'll tell me."

Filoni, who is the co-president of Lucasfilm, directed the puppet unit on The Mandalorian and Grogu, and he also directed multiple episodes of The Mandalorian TV show.

Next up for Star Wars is Filoni's Ahsoka season 2, which dropped its first trailer at this year's D23. It teased the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn to the galaxy, Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker back as a Force ghost to guide Ahsoka Tano, and Ezra Bridger back in action.

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on January 20, while The Mandalorian and Grogu and the official podcast are streaming on Disney Plus now.

Check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Industrial Light & Magic animation supervisor Hal Hickel says that impossibly sweet scene in The Mandalorian and Grogu where Rotta and Grogu play together on the beach meant a lot to director Jon Favreau (and me, personally).

"That was maybe the most important scene to Jon. It's the heart of the whole movie for him," Hickel told StarWars.com.

The scene is a moment of stillness in the movie, and it comes shortly after Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White) is rescued by Mando from almost being killed in a rotten deal that kept him trapped as a fighter in order to entertain the people of Shakari. Grogu and Rotta simply pass a ball back and forth, and it seems like the worst is over.

Not only that, but also, the scene represents how Rotta never really got the chance to be a playful, carefree kiddo, thanks to being related to the absolutely terrifying and terrible Hutt family. So we love a multi-layered moment that makes us cry a little.

As there likely won't be another season of The Mandalorian, it's unclear when we'll see Rotta the Hutt again. Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which hits Disney Plus in the new year.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is streaming on Disney Plus now, and you can read our guide to all the other The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs through the link.

For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, or our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

While Han Solo doesn't appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu, a sneaky, unintentional Easter egg referencing him does – and it involves Rotta the Hutt.

In the original trilogy, Han was in a lot of trouble with Rotta's dad, Jabba the Hutt. In one scene in the 1997 Special Edition of Star Wars: A New Hope, Jabba even comes to speak with Han by the Millennium Falcon while it's docked in Mos Eisely. During this chat, Han walks over Jabba's tail, which Jabba doesn't seem too pleased about.

In The Mandalorian and Grogu, Rotta fights Din Djarin in a gladatorial ring, and everything comes full circle...

"It goes by super fast, but there is actually a moment during their fight when Mando circles behind Rotta, steps on his tail to get a little height, and then knocks his arm out of the way," Industrial Light & Magic animation supervisor Hal Hickel told StarWars.com.

"We didn't put that in there as a wink to the original gag, but still – it's like poetry, it rhymes," he added.

Even though the call back wasn't on purpose, it certainly is a nice parallel between father and son – though, of course, Rotta is pretty adamant that he's nothing like his dad.

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which lands on Disney Plus on January 20. The first trailer was finally unveiled to the public at this year's D23, and it features Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, Grand Admiral Thrawn going up against the New Republic, and Ezra Bridger back in action.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is streaming on Disney Plus now, and you can read our guide to all the other The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs through the link.

For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, or our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

The Mandalorian and Grogu are coming home. Four months after the Star Wars film brought the saga back to the big screen for the first time in seven years, the Razor Crest is touching down on Disney Plus this September 2.

The film arrived a lengthy three years after its (less well-received) third season and didn't quite set the box office on fire. It scored a reasonably low 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, and many have questioned the wisdom of turning a streaming show into a theatrical movie – or criticized the film for focusing on a standalone adventure story rather than weaving in the wider galaxy.

Still, despite it all, I firmly believe there was no better film to kickstart Star Wars's theatrical comeback than The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Welcome back

That might seem like a nuclear take, but I have my reasons. Personally, I simply loved the movie: an all-grown-up Rotta the Hutt became my surprise MVP; Grogu, continuing to grow into his Mandalorian and Jedi potential, was a delight; and I thought the whole thing was a good old-fashioned, fun adventure tale with cool and creepy critters, spectacular action set-pieces, and all the heartwarming Clan of Two moments you could ask for.

I'm not alone in this, either: the film was well-liked by the audiences who showed up for Din Djarin and Din Grogu, with a healthy 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore on opening night. The box office may have been a somewhat underwhelming $345.8 million (though, on a budget of $165 million, that's not a total disaster), but the film succeeded elsewhere. It returned us to the Mando-verse era of the Star Wars timeline just in time for Ahsoka season 2, and it also seemed to give the three seasons of the flagship show a boost: The Mandalorian was Disney Plus's third most-watched original series in the first half of 2026 with 2.4 billion minutes viewed, according to Luminate. That's particularly noteworthy considering the show hasn't released a new episode in three years.

Aside from the film deserving a much warmer reception and boosting the show's streaming fortunes, though, it was also the right choice for getting audiences used to Star Wars as a theatrical experience again. Seven long years have passed since The Rise of Skywalker, and, in that time, the franchise has released a whole host of Disney Plus shows. Like Marvel, this seems to have contributed to a certain dilution of the franchise, with every new Star Wars project no longer feeling like an unmissable event – unthinkable even 10 years ago – regardless of each show's quality. But, despite the more lukewarm reception to season 3, Mando and Grogu have remained instantly recognizable Star Wars icons, even though they originated on streaming themselves. Choosing this duo to launch Star Wars's return to theaters made total sense.

While the film drew criticism for its self-contained story, going in such a standalone direction was also a wise move. There's nothing more off-putting than feeling like you need to do your homework before you head to the theater, after all. And, since the film is so self-contained, it's also primed to be a new generation's introduction to Star Wars.

Maybe most importantly for the saga at large, though, The Mandalorian and Grogu set the stage for Star Wars: Starfighter. Any film tasked with bringing Star Wars back to the big screen was going to face a great deal of scrutiny – and the pressure of high expectations – but, now that Mando has broken that barrier already, Starfighter has something of a clearer runway.

Next moves

Judging by The Mandalorian's streaming boost, it's likely that the movie will do very well on Disney Plus. In the wake of The Mandalorian and Grogu's theatrical performance, it's hard to imagine Disney and Lucasfilm won't pivot when it comes to its theatrical slate. I would bet that Dave Filoni's movie, announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 and set to tie together the Disney Plus shows, will be reconfigured into a streaming event (most likely an Heir to the Empire-style showdown against Grand Admiral Thrawn, considering the Ahsoka season 2 trailer).

The future of Star Wars on the small screen seems less certain, with nothing live-action confirmed past Ahsoka. It's doubtful that Lucasfilm will abandon TV entirely, but I expect the days of multiple Star Wars shows a year are long behind us.

But for the saga's return to the big screen, I'm glad Lucasfilm chose The Mandalorian and Grogu. If nothing else, the film was a fun few hours at the theater this summer, and it reunited me with two of my favorite Star Wars guys. This is the way.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is streaming on Disney Plus now. See what else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, or check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review.

One Star Wars fan artist has recreated the iconic Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi duel in Revenge of the Sith in the most incredible way.

The artist, who goes by the Tumblr username idk-i-was-bored, shared the artwork of the fiery Mustafar duel – which is actually recreated from every single line of dialogue in Revenge of the Sith, written out by hand. Check it out below.

"I decided to do something a little bit insane. I sat down and typed every word spoken in Revenge of the Sith so I could then hand write every word to create this scene redraw. I am very pleased with the final result I'm not gonna lie," the artist captioned the post.

In the comments, he also revealed a little more about the process – and it sounds like serious dedication went into the artwork. "1. My hands were fine after doing this. I spaced out how often I'd do write the words and my handwriting got looser in the end so there was less pressure. Also literally every hobby and activity I do heavily involves my wrists, so they're kind of used to this," they wrote.

"2. Yes I’m aware there are scripts online for this movie. But the ones I found weren't accurate or were of the uncut 4 hour version therefore I'd have to watch the movie again anyway to work out which parts exactly were in the movie. So I just decided to do it myself," he added.

And, as for how long it might have taken: "3. Idk how much time this actually took to make I'm not gonna lie. Procreate says there was about 12 hours of pen to canvas time spent arranging of the text, actually writing, and drawing and colouring the image. But typing up all the words in the movie took absolutely ages. And like I said. Everything was very spaced out so I didn't hurt my wrists. So I actually have no idea how many hours it was from having the idea to posting the image"

Plus, it sounds like we might be able to look forward to more artwork in a similar style. "4. I know this is mildly insane but I actually had a lot of fun doing it and I'll probably end up making more of other movies at some point," they said. In the immortal words of Sheev Palpatine: we will watch your career with great interest…

We'll soon be seeing Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker again in Ahsoka season 2, which sees him return both as a Force ghost and in Clone Wars-era flashbacks on the Star Wars timeline. As for Ewan McGregor, nothing has been confirmed, but the actor is so keen to return he pitched a comeback to Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni on the Ahsoka season 2 set (his wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, plays Hera Syndulla in the show).

The Disney Plus show arrives on January 20, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Anakin Skywalker star Hayden Christensen wants to work with Padmé Amidala actor Natalie Portman in Star Wars again.

The duo starred together in prequel movies Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, but despite both Christensen and Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor returning to Star Wars since, Portman has yet to reprise her role.

"I would love to get to work with her again and play these characters together," Christensen told USA Today at D23. "I think there's still opportunity to do that. I love the whole Clone Wars timeline in Star Wars and it's been a lot of fun to get to explore that a little bit in this series [Ahsoka]. So, I would love to get to do that with her at some point."

Christensen will return in Ahsoka season 2, both as a Force ghost and in Clone Wars-era flashbacks on the Star Wars timeline, as revealed by the first trailer and a display at D23 (you can read our Ahsoka season 2 trailer breakdown for all our theories).

Portman isn't the only prequel actor Christensen would like to reunite with, either. "I know that Ewan McGregor would love to do more with it," Christensen shared on the Hey Jonas podcast. "I've heard Natalie [Portman] would love to come back. Sam Jackson. So you could get the band back together."

Whether we ever do get a reunion remains to be seen, though McGregor is apparently so keen to return he pitched some ideas to Dave Filoni on the set of Ahsoka season 2, which stars his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla.

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on January 20, 2027. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

Dave Filoni has spoken about his Star Wars mission statement after becoming installed as Lucasfilm co-president.

Speaking at a D23 panel about Leslie Iwerks' new documentary Worldbuilders – which charts how major Disney franchises are integrated into park experiences – Filoni said of his task, "We have several different generations of Star Wars fans, right? There’s original trilogy fans, prequel fans, sequel trilogy fans, Clone Wars fans, expanded universe fans. They all have different interests."

"And I always look at how we’re going to serve all these different interests. And most importantly, how do we bring them all together because they have this common love of Star Wars," Filoni added. "And I think the park is a great place to do that."

While Filoni has only stepped into a major Lucasfilm leadership role recently, we have already seen his approach bear fruit: The Mandalorian and Grogu (despite box office struggles) was marketed as a family-friendly film, while also playing into the original trilogy's appetite for lone heroes.

Elsewhere, Ahsoka season 2 is undoubtedly aimed at fans of prequels and animated series The Clone Wars, while the likes of anime spin-off The Ninth Jedi, Maul – Shadow Lord, and Andor are all distinct, capturing different sections of its audience in their own inimitable style.

Next up on the big screen in a galaxy far, far away is Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy. As announced at SDCC, the pair will reunite in the MCU for 2028's Ghost Rider.

For more, check out the upcoming Star Wars movies currently in the works.

Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni appears to have crushed any remaining hope for the Adam Driver-led movie Hunt for Ben Solo.

During a Variety interview at D23, Filoni was asked about the scrapped Star Wars project. He responded that it wasn't happening "right now", before offering a curious gesture involving a Jedi mind trick.

Unfortunately for those clinging to the unlikely comeback story, Filoni was far more definitive in a later chat with Deadline.

“It’s not here; you won’t find it here. The Force is not with us in that regard," Filoni said. "I love the love you feel for it."

The Hunt for Ben Solo has become a white whale for Star Wars fans in a galaxy far, far away – but it seems to be dead in the water after Disney's previous rejection.

Last year, Adam Driver suddenly revealed details of the top-secret production, which would have been directed by Steven Soderbergh.

“We took it to [then-Disney CEO] Bob Iger and [Disney Entertainment chairman] Alan Bergman and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that," Driver told AP News.

In a statement, Soderbergh said, "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it."

Next up for Driver is a villainous franchise role of a very different kind – as Mister Sinister in Marvel's new X-Men movie. Driver recorded a video message for fans at D23 as the cast was unveiled.

Over on the Star Wars side, a Starfighter teaser was shown behind closed doors. Luckily for you, we were there and have an exclusive description.

For more, check out all the latest news on the upcoming Star Wars movies and upcoming Marvel movies in the works.

At D23, Star Wars: Starfighter finally revealed a first look at the Ryan Gosling-starring movie. The catch: it's not going to appear online anytime soon, and was only for people in the room. However, we were on the ground and can bring you an exclusive description.

The teaser footage starts with Flynn Gray's as-yet-unnamed young character throwing the cover off a starfighter. Gosling, whose character was confirmed as Kade Auberon, tells him not to touch, it's a decommissioned Imperial model and the fastest ever built. Kade says there's a reason Gray's character has never heard of such a vessel, despite it's capabilities. Quick flashes of action, include flying/gliding across water, turning an ignition and, of course, plenty of flying.

Starfighter, directed by Deadpool and Wolverine's Shawn Levy, stars Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Aaron Pierre. It is the first Lucasfilm movie to take us beyond The Rise of Skywalker on the Star Wars timeline.

"In a rebuilding galaxy, a solitary pilot becomes entangled in a crucial mission as new threats emerge. Their journey may alter the future of the Force itself," reads the synopsis.

"It is different in that it is an all-new non-sequel, non-prequel adventure," Levy has said previously of the film. "It's new characters, it's a new timeline. It inherits legacy themes, but it's really trying to give Star Wars [fans] – and just movie audiences – something fresh, something new. And with a spirit of play and big-hearted adventure with moments of real levity that, frankly, A New Hope had in a revolutionary way."

Starfighter arrives May 28, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's in the works.

You can keep up on more announcements and reveals with our D23 liveblog.

Marvel Studios will be appearing at D23 as part of the company's major panel today. But when exactly is it?

It feels like only yesterday that Kevin Feige headed to San Diego Comic-Con 2026 for a host of big announcements, but Marvel still has more up its sleeves. They'll appear in the Disney Entertainment Showcase, which takes place at the annual convention for the House of Mouse, D23.

This is set to be a bumper event featuring the latest from Marvel, as well as announcements from Star Wars and Lucasfilm, Pixar, and other upcoming Disney projects. Happening live from Anaheim in California, we're expecting some big news covering everything from Ahsoka season 2 to VisionQuest.

So when does it all kick off and how can you keep up with the latest news? We've compiled a guide below for everything you need to know about the D23 Marvel panel below. And if that wasn't enough, check out our guides to all the upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Star Wars movies for what might be in store.

When is the D23 Marvel Panel?

The D23 Marvel Panel forms part of the Disney Entertainment Showcase. This kicks off on Friday, August 14th at 7pm PT. It runs for two hours, concluding at 9pm PT.

If you're watching on the East Coast, this means it starts at 10pm EDT. In the UK, this means you'll have to tune it on Saturday, August 15 at 3am BST.

Disney don't release the exact running order for their panel so if you're hoping to tune in for only the Marvel Studios announcements, it might be a bit tricky to navigate. They'll probably only have around 20-30 minutes of the allotted time too, which could come at any point during the timeframe.

How to watch D23

Unfortunately, the Disney Entertainment Showcase is not streamed live. This means that you won't be able to watch along as it happens. Some panels are streamed during D23, but this is not one of them.

This means that if you want to follow along with all the news and announcements, then you'll need to keep an eye on our live-blog as well as Total Film's Twitter for live updates.

What will be announced at D23?

We're not yet sure what will be announced at D23 but some early details in the convention hall have given us a bit of an idea. The Ahsoka season 2 costumes have been on display so we'd hedge our bets that a trailer might be imminent for the Star Wars show.

VisionQuest also has an installation, featuring an intriguing tease about a new character. We're yet to have a trailer from the show, despite it arriving in just a few months. D23 might be the perfect time for that.

Other potential announcements could come around the upcoming X-Men movie. The project was largely absent from Marvel's San Diego Comic-Con panel and there have been some casting rumors circling.

Other upcoming projects sure to get a mention include Star Wars: Starfighter and Avengers: Doomsday.

In terms of other Disney news, there are rumors that a new Pixar movie will be announced and we expect to hear some details from the upcoming Frozen 3.

Check out our guide to all the new Disney movies coming in 2026 and beyond.

At a time where Star Wars desperately needs a cinematic win, IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond has heaped praise on the upcoming Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighter.

"I've been on set of [Star Wars: Starfighter] and that's a throwback to the Harrison Ford kind of Star Wars," Gelfond said on The Town with Matt Belloni.

When Belloni replied that The Mandalorian and Grogu tanking doesn't help their case, Gelfond said, "I'm on a limb on this one. I'll tell you, take it to the bank… I think it's going to be good."

Right now, Star Wars is on shaky theatrical ground. We're seven years removed from The Rise of Skywalker and the bad taste it left in the mouths of audiences still lingers. The Mandalorian and Grogu was also a notable box office flop, even though Disney felt it was a success in other areas.

Precious little is known about Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy. A new synopsis reads, "In a rebuilding galaxy, a solitary pilot becomes entangled in a crucial mission as new threats emerge. Their journey may alter the future of the Force itself."

Thrillingly, Tom Cruise also arrived on the set of Starfighter – and even helped direct an action scene. If Mr. Movies is onboard, that already feels like a good omen.

Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Aaron Pierre, is released in cinemas on May 28, 2027.

For more, check out the upcoming Star Wars movies currently in the works.

After appearing in the trilogy of Star Wars prequels, Natalie Portman says "no director" wanted to work with her.

Quotes from a 2014 piece in New York Magazine have recently resurfaced thanks to Far Out Magazine. There, Portman recalled the fallout from playing Padme Amidala in The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.

"Everyone thought I was a horrible actress," Portman said. "I was in the biggest-grossing movie of the decade, and no director wanted to work with me."

The Phantom Menace grossed over $1 billion dollars upon its release, but Episode One, and the subsequent movies in the trilogy, were widely panned by critics – and used as shorthand for unnecessary prequels thanks to its melodramatic twists, middling CGI, and move away from what made the original Star Wars trilogy so popular.

A separate 2008 interview in The Independent also saw Portman recall a negative backlash to her stint in the Star Wars prequels, but had a measured approach to her performances.

"With almost every performance, I feel like I've failed on some level," Portman said at the time. "But I also think it's very human to feel that when you mess up, you get more out of it than when you succeed."

Thankfully, Portman soon turned her career around with acclaimed performances in 2003's Cold Mountain and 2004's Closer, the latter of which netted her a Golden Globe win and Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

The 2010s proved more of a success for Portman, with the actor winning Best Actress for Black Swan. She even dipped back into franchise waters as Jane Foster in Thor and Thor: The Dark World, before reprising the role for a (seemingly) final time in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Portman is next appearing in Good Sex, the Lena Dunham-directed romcom, alongside Mark Ruffalo.

For more, check out the rest of 2026's biggest movie release dates.

These days, it's easy to look at a movie's box office number and declare it a success or, in the case of both live-action remake Moana and Star Wars feature The Mandalorian and Grogu, a dismal failure.

New Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro clearly doesn't subscribe to such binary thinking, declaring on the company's earnings call (via Variety), "Even when our franchise films don’t meet our box office expectations, as with The Mandalorian and Grogu and the live-action Moana, our investments in these core properties fuel other parts of our company."

Disney CFO Hugh Johnston added, "Theatrical performance is important to us, of course, and we certainly aspire to deliver consistent financial results for our films. But the nature of the film industry is such that it is more of a portfolio game. The good news for us is our diversified business helps us basically cover the volatility that comes out of the film business."

As the pair of Disney leaders allude to, The Mandalorian and Grogu and Moana aren't film-only concerns. There is, of course, immense value in adding them to streaming on Disney Plus. That's without factoring in merchandise and synergy with Disney's theme park and cruise ship businesses.

Released on May 22, The Mandalorian and Grogu marked the next chapter in Din Djarin's journey in a galaxy far, far away after three seasons on Disney's streaming success.

Unfortunately, a low-stakes plot and general disinterest in the series led to disappointing takings at the box office, with the Star Wars movie only grossing $345 million – a record low for a live-action film in the franchise.

The Moana remake fared less well when stacked up against the gold rush of Disney live-action movies in recent years.

It's currently only just made more than its $250 million budget, a stark contrast to last year's Lilo and Stitch remake ($1.03 billion). It's not a disaster Disney is sweeping under the carpet, but it's certainly one the House of Mouse is taking positives from.

For more, check out the new Disney movies in the works, plus all the movie release dates we still have to look forward to in 2026.

Given that Star Wars has been around for almost 50 years now, you’d be forgiven for being a little off in remembering certain portions of the beloved franchise. That’s the very issue one fan highlighted on Reddit, which sparked plenty more replies about revealing sequences that didn't play out like they originally imagined.

"What's one of those things that you swear you remember happening in the movies that isn't actually from the movies at all?" wrote the fan, with plenty coming back with their own rather odd encounters with the Star Wars saga.

One moment was an obvious one, given that the whole world had seemingly been hit with the Mandela Effect when it came to The Empire Strikes Back. "There isn't one I can’t think of for myself, but 'Luke, I am your father' is probably the most famous historical example of this," wrote the fan, referring to the sequel's big reveal, which is often misquoted. It's "No. I am your father."

Another fan chimed in, saying that they misremembered the outcome of Luke's test. "When I was a lad I didn't understand that Luke's face was in Vader's mask in the Dagobah vision scene. I thought that was Vader." One fan also added the double-take that had lasted decades: that C-3PO was all gold, when in fact he had a silver leg instead of a matching pair. Clearly something we overlooked, what with being near-sighted scrap piles and everything.

Admittedly, given that there are various versions of the movies up to this point, we'd understand how some scenes are a little sketchy in the old memory banks.

For our list of favorite Star Wars moments, head on over here and see which one of yours makes the cut.

Star Wars creator George Lucas is the latest prominent voice to come out in support of AI in the creative arts, comparing its rise to that of the invention of the automobile.

Lucas's full-throated embrace of AI despite its inherent ethical and environmental risks – not to mention Yoda's outspoken skepticism of paths that are quicker, easier, and more seductive – is disheartening, but the Star Wars visionary says there's no point in resisting. It's "the future," in his words.

"Artificial intelligence means it's much easier for us to make movies," he tells A Rabbit's Foot. "It's very much like sitting here saying, 'Well, I believe the horse and the buggy is really where it's at. These cars, they break down, they need gas, there's all kinds of problems with them and pretty soon they'll be making them into tanks, and then they'll be killing people. It's terrible.' There's nothing you can do about it."

The car analogy is one of the most common rationalizations for AI complacency in the ongoing debate about the technology's role in various mediums, an inevitability one would be wise to adapt to or risk being left behind. But most analysts still see the worst implications of AI as far from inevitable, which is why in the video game industry many prominent developers refuse to use it at all. Meanwhile, other filmmaking auteurs are outright rejecting AI in movies, like The Odyssey director Christopher Nolan, who just recently praised Gen Z for its "rapid wholesale dismissal of a supposedly foundational jump in technology."

Lucas acknowledges that AI has its risks, but argues that it's smart enough to self-correct. "If you want AI that tells you when something is fake and where it came from, AI can do that," he says. "Humans can't, we're not that smart. The whole idea is you're a human being, you're responsible for what you say and what you do, and if you're doing something that's illegal you should be punished for that. Whatever you do, you should be recognised. It's just like real life."

Of course, Lucas is one of the most prolific, enduring, and beloved filmmakers of his generation, known for pushing technological boundaries and revolutionizing the film industry's approach to visual effects. If anyone's allowed a bullish take on an emerging technology, it's him, even if film buffs and creatives alike are grimacing at the implications.

Star Wars creator George Lucas says film studios nowadays care more about "what the fans think" rather than trusting filmmakers

Star Wars creator George Lucas has been around long enough to see the film industry change and shift into what it is today, and feels thta studios nowadays care more about the audience's opinion than the filmmaker's original vision.

“I don’t like focus groups,” said Lucas in an interview with A Rabbit's Foot. "The audience doesn’t know what they want to see. If they don’t like a character, that’s interesting, and as a filmmaker I want to find out why. But when the studios hear that, they take the wrong message."

The legendary director added, "They let the audience actually make the movie. Of course, now they go crazy with that. Now, it’s all about what the fans think. That isn’t how you make the movie. You make a movie by finding someone that knows how to make movies, that has a story to tell and is passionate about it.”

But in an industry run by box office sales and Rotten Tomatoes scores, Lucas still values the artistry in filmmaking. "You go to the movies because the stories move you emotionally,” he said. “Art is an emotional medium.” Lucas thought back to the criticism he received when he was making the first Star Wars trilogy in the late '70s, and if he had listened, we wouldn't have some of the most beloved characters in the galaxy far, far away.

"The critics and the fans who were 10 years old when they saw the first one and 13 when they saw the second one complained that they didn’t want to see a children’s film," recalled Lucas. "Oh, that’s terrible. Jar Jar Binks is terrible!... Everyone said the same thing about R2-D2 and C-3PO. At the beginning, there was a huge push for me to get rid of C-3PO, and then in the third one [Return of the Jedi], people said the same thing about Ewoks."

However, despite admitting "I’m a stubborn man," Lucas will take criticism from his lifelong friends who just so happen to be celebrated filmmakers in their own right. "I had a group of friends I went to school with: Marty Scorsese, Francis [Ford Coppola], Steven [Spielberg]. We were all students at the same time, and we all know each other really well," said Lucas. "When I show them a movie and they make comments, I know where they’re coming from."

For more, keep up with movie release dates and new movies heading your way.

It's time to discuss the Star Wars prequels like it's 1999.

Speaking on the Class Clown podcast (H/T Variety), Peter Serafinowicz – who voiced Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace – recalled his displeasure with the experience.

"The design of it… I wasn't that into it," Serafinowicz said of Maul's Dathomir look. "When I saw the film, it was the biggest disappointment of my life at that point. It really was."

Serafinowicz, who was replaced as the voice of Maul by Sam Witwer in future projcets, even revealed how Star Wars creator George Lucas compared him to Darth Vader's voice actor, James Earl Jones. It didn't seem to go down that well.

"Suddenly there I was with George Lucas, and he was like saying, 'Well, Peter, you're the new James Earl Jones,' and I was like, 'Fucking hell, am I? Then why are you paying me such shit money, George?'"

Whatever Serafinowicz's opinion, it can't be doubted that Darth Maul emerged from the prequels as one of its most iconic aspects. The twin-blade lightsaber-wielding Sith went on to play a key role in Star Wars: The Clone Wars before starring in his own Disney Plus animated series, Maul – Shadow Lord.

Recently, fellow Star Wars villain actor Ian McDiarmid has revealed that Lucas once had plans for a Palpatine TV show, seemingly charting his life from Chancellor to Emperor. But that's not a story Disney will tell you.

For more from a galaxy far, far away, check out the upcoming Star Wars movies currently in the works.

The Mandalorian and Grogu star Brendan Wayne has defended the movie's box office performance – and also hinted at Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni's grander plan.

Wayne is one of the Din Djarin suit performers and has played Mando since season 1 of the Disney Plus show.

Speaking to Brandon Davis, Wayne was asked what makes Filoni the right man for the top Lucasfilm job. As part of his answer, Wayne explained: "Dave's understanding of like, 'Hey, we're going to tell a story, and we're going to tell it over, three movies, or this next episode, this next season of Ahsoka.' He understands that it's not all about, did we open well against Solo, or whatever it was? We were amazing because we didn't have the budget of those movies, and we still did something."

The Mandalorian and Grogu debuted to a $165 million opening weekend on a budget of a matching $165 million, and its total global gross now stands at $297 million. While it has made almost double its production budget, it is the lowest grossing Star Wars movie ever, behind Solo's $392.9 million.

What's especially intriguing about Wayne's answer, though, is the concept of telling a story over three movies and the next season of Ahsoka. Whether Wayne is just speaking hypothetically, or whether there really is a plan for more movies, remains to be seen…

What is clear, though, is that Ahsoka season 2 is going to have huge ramifications for the galaxy far, far away.

"Anybody who saw the sequels knows that there's a First Order coming in, like, 20 years from where we are now in the storyline," Jon Favreau has previously teased. "And then Ahsoka season 2 is coming out – which I've seen all of – and that's definitely more dealing with the larger [picture], a higher level. That's about the officers and we're the enlisted men – this is more of a ground-level experience of what's going on. You're seeing the backdrop – which, by the way, is what the first Star Wars started off as."

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

Jon Favreau says The Phantom Menace inspired a tiny detail in The Mandalorian and Grogu.

In the in-theater director commentary, Favreau revealed that the red laser barriers in the stadium where Din Djarin is forced to fight Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White) were inspired by the Duel of the Fates sequence in The Phantom Menace (H/T Laughing Place). Remember those laser gates on Naboo in the infamous fight scene where Obi-Wan Kenobi faces off against Darth Maul? It's a subtle reference, but a cool one nonetheless.

Favreau also revealed that the video game Star Wars: Jedi - Fallen Order was used as a reference for what the inside of an All Terrain Armored Transport, aka an AT-AT walker, looks like. The worlds depicted in various Star Wars graphic novels also helped the art team figure out what the planet of Nal Hutta should look like.

The director commentary is available in over 6,000 US theaters via the TheaterEars app, and is currently only available in the United States. The commentary itself, and more, will likely arrive with the later streaming and VOD release of the film. As the movie is still in theaters, we likely have quite a while to wait before that happens.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has shared which scene from the Star Wars movie was filmed first, and it's my favorite moment.

In the director's commentary currently available to moviegoers via the TheatersEars app, Favreau revealed that the very first thing shot for the film is the plate of the ocean at Adelphi Base, where Grogu and Rotta the Hutt play in the tides together (via Laughing Place).

Now, if you're not up on filmmaking lingo, a plate shot is something filmed to be used in a VFX shot. So, this means the ocean itself was filmed, and Grogu and Rotta added later.

The scene is my favorite in the whole movie – which might come as a surprise, considering all the action, or that beautiful sequence involving Grogu fending for himself. But, the brief, adorable moment acts to emphasize the growing friendship between Rotta and Grogu (one of the reasons Rotta is my MVP of the movie), and, as Din Djarin watches on, it's a sweet reminder that these two get to play in the surf because they have a protector willing to save them from the galaxy's villains.

The director's commentary has revealed all kinds of fun behind the scenes facts about the Star Wars movie, including that Favreau sought George Lucas's permission for one part of the film, Edgar Wright had some advice regarding Embo the bounty hunter, a Luke Skywalker reference was added last minute, one of the best lines was improv, the Droid Gotra were inspired by a scrapped Star Wars game, and Jedi: Fallen Order helped with one action sequence.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

The Mandalorian and Grogu may be a standalone movie, but the Star Wars film includes a flurry of nods to the franchise and has brought up many discussions within the fan base, including how powerful the Hutts are.

Over on Reddit, one fan pointed out how the new movie shines a new light on the Hutts after Jabba made a rather weak first impression in the original trilogy. "For the longest time, I've heard about how Legends paints the Hutts of Old as these great warriors," said the fan, "I never really believed it when my only point of reference was the likes of Jabba and the Hutt Council… Then I saw how Rotta was moving in the new movie and completely understood all of it."

Let's face it, when we meet Jabba in Return of the Jedi, we see a bloated, idle crime lord who, yes, has immense power, but he is not exactly a warrior. The sluggish villain made it hard to understand how he got into such a position. Enter Rotta the Hutt in The Mandalorian and Grogu. The new movie gives us insight into what the Hutts can do at the peak of their power, which is demonstrated in the arena scene, where we see a jacked Rotta, voiced by Jeremy Allen White, show off his talents.

"Sure, he's still probably not beating anything in a foot race," added the fan, "but the sheer intimidation factor of this Slug Hulk charging at you like a demon, followed by the strength to lift some of the most deadly creatures in the galaxy and toss them around like toys… Combine all of this with the aforementioned blaster-resistant hide, and I can finally understand why these guys are so feared even before their empire."

Other fans seem to agree, as one replied, "Hutts are like tongues, pure muscle, but leisurely life makes them fat," and another added, "Honestly, Rotta has become one of my favourite new characters just because of how he makes people realise how dangerous Hutts are when they aren't fat and lazy."

When the movie first hit screens, our writer singled Rotta out as the real MVP of The Mandalorian and Grogu, writing, "from the moment Rotta is introduced in the film, it's obvious he's going to be a ton of fun."

The Mandalorian and Grogu is out in theaters now. In the meantime, check out our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order, and keep up with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows heading your way.

Star Wars stories in a galaxy far, far away often take inspiration from wider media in the iconic franchise. But we didn't expect this.

As Jon Favreau revealed during a cinema-exclusive director's commentary on The Mandalorian and Grogu, the cancelled Uncharted-like Star Wars 1313 was influential to the droid group guarding the Nal Hutta palace.

As per Laughing Place, the Droid Gotra were 'borrowed' from the scrapped LucasArts title, which would have centred around Boba Fett on Coruscant.

Perhaps the most famous Star Wars video game that never was, 1313 was dropped after Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm and the shuttering of LucasArts. Perhaps it's no surprise that remnants of the project live on, however.

Ex-Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy told Slash Film back in 2015 "we don't want to throw any of that stuff away" in regards to 1313 or George Lucas' ambitious TV show Star Wars: Underworld.

The Mandalorian also has previous history with repurposing 1313 concepts. So, even if we never get to play as Boba Fett in a fully-fledged rampage through the galaxy's criminal underworld, some of the game's legacy stretches out into streaming and big-budget blockbusters.

The curious case of the in-cinema director's commentary, meanwhile, has thrown up several gems for those listening via the TheatreEars app – including why director Edgar Wright gets a thank you in the credits and how a Luke Skywalker reference was added on the day of filming.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is now in cinemas. For more, see our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

Filmmaker Edgar Wright had one key note after watching an early screening of The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it has to do with the movie's evil bounty hunter, Embo.

According to the director's commentary provided by Jon Favreau, which movie-goers can listen to in-theater thanks to the TheaterEars app, Wright suggested that the best way to introduce Embo in the film was to have him appear earlier (H/T The Holo Files). Initially, our live-action introduction to Embo was when he breaks into Din and Grogu's house to capture Din on the orders of the Hutt Twins. Having him subtly appear in the corner of the screen when Din and Grogu fly back to Nevarro makes things a little more ominous (especially with his overall sinister appearance), and sets up the danger to come.

We first met Embo in The Clone Wars season 2 episode 17, and his arc ended with him and his anooba Marrok joining the Fett syndicate. It's also worth noting that Embo has a different anooba (his wolf-like hunting partner) in The Mandalorian and Grogu.

The director commentary is only available to United States fans (at least for now), as the TheaterEars app is available in over 6,000 US movie theaters. The commentary itself, and more, will likely arrive with the later streaming and VOD release of the film.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

A Luke Skywalker reference in The Mandalorian and Grogu was added during filming, Jon Favreau has revealed.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is still in theaters, and now you can listen in on Favreau's director's commentary with the TheatersEars app. As you might expect, the commentary is revealing all kinds of interesting details about the film.

During the movie, when Mando is injured and Grogu must fend for himself, we see Baby Yoda seated on a tree trunk and meditating. It's a call back to Grogu's stint training as a Jedi Padawan with Luke Skywalker, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett: in episode 6 of that show, we saw Luke and Grogu meditating together.

According to Favreau (via Laughing Place), he had the idea for the meditation scene in The Mandalorian and Grogu on the day of filming, and he used some spare time to capture the moment. He explained that he thinks Grogu learned to meditate from Luke, and the former-Padawan could be "continuing Jedi training on his own."

During The Book of Boba Fett, Luke gave Grogu the choice to either continue his Jedi training or return to Din Djarin. Grogu chose Mando, and now Grogu is officially a Mandalorian apprentice.

"He's not on the typical Jedi path of a youngling, but he has trained with some of the best Jedi teachers that there are," Favreau told us of Grogu's Jedi journey before the film's release. "We know for sure he's studied with Luke Skywalker. There's implications that he may have crossed paths with Yoda, because he does recognize the name, is what we imply. And he also was there at the Jedi Temple before Order 66.

"So, it's a big part in talking to Dave Filoni, and by extension, to what he learned from George [Lucas], which is that the Force is about training," he continued. "It's about refining, just like an athletic ability or any skill. And we do see that, although Grogu is not serving under somebody who is teaching him, he still clearly is meditating and going through some version of the Jedi discipline. So, I think that his Force use has definitely leveled up a bit. Luke Skywalker didn't study under Obi-Wan for very long, but still refined his skills. So, I think that that's part of the path that's available to Grogu, as per what we've already learned from the previous Star Wars films."

This might not be the only reference to Luke in the movie, either: one fan spotted what could be R2-D2 being lifted from an X-wing in the background of the movie's opening credits.

In the same director's commentary, Favreau also revealed that he sought George Lucas's permission for a specific aspect of the film, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order provided inspiration for a major action sequence, and the movie's best line was improv.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. You can check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review to read our verdict on the film, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

It turns out everyone's favorite line from The Mandalorian and Grogu was actually some genius improvisation.

That's according to Jon Favreau, who revealed the behind the scenes tidbit in the new director's commentary for the film, which is available via the TheatersEars app.

In the new Star Wars movie, Din Djarin is captured and taken to Nal Hutta by Embo the bounty hunter, and Grogu and his Anzellan pals set off on an adventure to rescue him. This involves climbing up to a pipe that leads deeper into the Hutt palace. As the camera pans down the long, dark tunnel the tiny friends will have to traverse, one of the Anzellans observes: "Big pipe, huh?"

It's a line that has taken on a life of its own online already, and Favreau shared in the commentary that it was improv from Shirley Henderson, who provides the voices for the Anzellans (H/T The HoloFiles).

Favreau has also previously revealed that he reached out to JJ Abrams about the Anzellans, since Babu Frik debuted in Abrams's The Rise of Skywalker. "When I was working with the Anzellans, I called up JJ," he explained. "And JJ came to the set. Because you want him to know that, you know, 'I appreciate what you did. Can we – do you mind? Are we handling this well? Are you happy?'"

In the same director's commentary, Favreau also revealed that he sought George Lucas's permission to use the original Red Jammer model, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order provided a key piece of inspiration for a major action sequence in the film.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. You can check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review to read our verdict on the film, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

Boba Fett actor Temuera Morrison was hoping to make an appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it actually would've made a whole lot of sense.

"I was hoping to pop in there, too, and maybe help [Din Djarin and Grogu] out with something," Morrison told a fan who said that he hoped Boba would've made an appearance. "They might want him back one day… you never know."

It wouldn't have been out of the realm of possibility for Boba Fett to appear in The Mandalorian and Grogu given that he appeared in The Mandalorian season 2, specifically in episodes 6, 7, and 8 (though his subsequent survival after falling into the sarlacc's mouth is implied in episode 1).

You might also recall that Boba's arc ends with him sitting upon the throne that once belonged to Jabba the Hutt. Given that The Mandalorian and Grogu takes place on the Hutts' planet and involves a rescue mission for Jabba's son Rotta... it would've actually made perfect sense for Morrison's bounty hunter to make an appearance, and, as Morrison said, help Din Djarin and Grogu out with something.

The Book of Boba Fett ran for just one season on Disney Plus back in 2022, with Morrison previously saying that the show's reception "seems to have impacted the future of the character in the franchise." As a staunch defender of The Book of Boba Fett and the Star Wars Christmas Special (where Boba made his first official on-screen appearance), I have full faith that we'll see the bounty hunter again.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

Over the past decade, Star Wars has focused heavily on the period of time between the prequels and original trilogy, so much so that fans are wondering if it is time to move on from releasing projects set in this era.

When the Star Wars prequels were released, there was no doubt that fans had a lot of questions about what had happened in the 19 years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. But thanks to the ever-growing franchise, many projects have filled in the blanks and introduced lots of new characters. But when is enough enough?

"Considering the sheer amount of media we've gotten that takes place between III-IV, is there STILL some plot holes that need to be addressed? Or is it finally time to move on?" asked one fan on Reddit. Many others agree, as one pointed out, "Personally, I’m over the timeline between Ep1-6... give us the Luke Han Leia story post-6. Take some heavy swings at the lore. Dig deep and do some mythological heavy lifting."

Many fans are seeing the funny side of Lucasfilm and Disney's overexploration of The Dark Times. "There's still a dude in the back of the Mos Eisley's cantina in ANH we don't have a full 3-season show about," joked one fan, and another added, "You joke, but the Tales From Mos Eisley Cantina literally gave us the backstory of Han Solo's vest."

There are now 10, yes ten, projects set between the prequels and the original trilogy, and that's not counting Tales of the Jedi, which has episodes set slightly before. On the Star Wars timeline, Tales of the Empire, Tales of the Underworld, The Bad Batch, Maul – Shadow Lord, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Star Wars Rebels, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story all take place during that 19-year gap.

It doesn't look like Lucasfilm is quite finished with the period known as the Reign of the Empire, as Maul – Shadow Lord season 2 is already in production, and a third Star Wars Jedi games is expected to continue the story of Cal Kestis in this period. However, the franchise is exploring pastures new in Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, which will take place approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker. Starfighter hits cinemas on May 28, 2027.

For even more, check out our guide on how to watch Star Wars movies in order, and keep up with upcoming Star Wars movies and shows heading your way.

The Mandalorian and Grogu might be directed by Jon Favreau, but Star Wars creator George Lucas was still involved in one specific way.

Moviegoers are currently able to listen to Favreau's director's commentary for The Mandalorian and Grogu while watching the film in theaters via the TheatersEars app, and Favreau reveals plenty of fascinating details about the flick.

In the commentary, Favreau explains that he was at Skywalker Ranch, using the parking lot to film a Razor Crest miniature, when he learned that the original Red Jammer Y-wing starfighter model was being prepped for display at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Favreau then obtained the permission of George Lucas himself to use the model in the film (via Laughing Place).

The Red Jammer was created as a reference for A New Hope, but the model itself never appeared in the film. The Mandalorian and Grogu marks its first appearance in Star Wars.

"After a lengthy negotiation, George Lucas gave us permission to borrow the model," visual effects supervisor John Knoll previously told VFX Voice (via ComicBook.com). "We shot two motion-control elements of it. It's in the movie and will go by quickly. Unless somebody points it out, you won't notice it, but there are two photographed elements of a 1976 original model from Star Wars, which has never been seen onscreen before."

The Red Jammer shows up during The Mandalorian and Grogu ending, in the Nal Hutta X-wing action sequence. It's being piloted by filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung. For more The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs and cameos, check out our guide through the link.

Lucas's American Graffiti was also an inspiration for The Mandalorian and Grogu, Favreau shared, specifically Mando wanting to boost the Razor Crest's speed by stripping his new ship of restrictors.

Favreau has also previously revealed that he reached out to JJ Abrams about using the Anzellans again, since Babu Frik debuted in Abrams's The Rise of Skywalker.

Plus, during the commentary, Favreau explained how Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order helped inspire a key sequence in the film.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. You can check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review to read our verdict on the film, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get caught up on the galaxy far, far away.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is still in theaters, and moviegoers are currently able to enjoy an audio track of Jon Favreau's director's commentary running alongside the film via the TheatersEars app.

As you might expect, the director's commentary lifts the lid on plenty of interesting details about the latest Star Wars film – including a link to the game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Per Laughing Place, Fallen Order was used as a reference for the look of an AT-AT walker's interior. The Mandalorian and Grogu's action-packed opening sequence sees Din Djarin and Grogu battling Imperial remnants across three different walkers, destroying the giant vehicles as they go.

In Fallen Order, Cal Kestis climbs inside of an AT-AT on the Wookie homeworld planet, Kashyyyk, and he even uses the walker itself in a showdown against his Imperial foes.

That's not the only way Fallen Order figures into the movie, either: on Adelphi Base, BD unit droids can be spotted wandering around (they made their live-action debut in Peli Motto's garage in The Mandalorian). For more The Mandalorian and Grogu Easter eggs, check out our guide through the link.

Recently, it was confirmed that Cal Kestis's story is not over, and a new Star Wars book even revealed that Luke Skywalker knows Cal survived Order 66 by 34 ABY on the Star Wars timeline (AKA after the Death Star's destruction). What might be next for Cal remains to be seen, but here's hoping he returns sooner rather than later.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. For more on the film, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or see our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order to get up to speed on the galaxy far, far away.

Shawn Levy may be busy working on Star Wars: Starfighter, but he has an idea for another story in the universe. It's all inspired by Backrooms, the new world-of-mouth horror movie from YouTuber Kane Parsons, which sees a shopkeeper get lost in an endless stretch of rooms that he can't escape from.

Speaking at a screening of the film, which Deadpool and Wolverine director Levy was an executive producer on, he revealed that he'd love to explore something similar in a galaxy far, far away.

"Right now, I'm making a movie called Star Wars: Starfighter, and so I very much have Star Wars on my mind," Levy told Vanity Fair. "And I can't help but be captivated by a Backrooms, Star Wars mashup and, luckily, I've got a little bit of involvement in both, so I'll see what I can do."

It's definitely a fun idea. Part of the appeal of Backrooms, and why it has already been winning over audiences at the box office, is that it is a unique, original idea. We'd love to see this kind of thinking brought into the Star Wars universe. It wouldn't be the first time that the franchise has expanded beyond its core story, finding success with original stories like Andor, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew.

While these genre experiments have had mixed success, we'd love to see more of them. It's true too that horror is not a style that Star Wars has explored yet – and this isn't the first time that it has been suggested.

Andor creator Tony Gilroy previously shared his hopes that the franchise would lean into genre. "I always fantasised that the show would break new ground, that someone would be able to make a three-camera sitcom in Star Wars or a horror movie," he previously told SFX magazine.

"I think the first thing I said to Kathy [Kennedy, Lucasfilm president] when she said they wanted to open a line, was, 'Could you do a courtroom drama?' And why not? We've worked really hard on Andor to make our lane, and it's up to other people now to find another way to do it."

For more on the galaxy far, far away, check out our guide to upcoming Star Wars movies and shows and our breakdown of the Star Wars timeline.

Before making his live-action debut in The Mandalorian and Grogu, we first met villain Embo in The Clone Wars series. However, Lucasfilm boss Dave Filoni says the bounty hunter was actually supposed to appear way earlier, in George Lucas' scrapped series Star Wars: Underworld.

"While we were writing and creating The Clone Wars, George was also developing a live-action series called Star Wars: Underworld," said Filoni to StarWars.com. "He had a lot of visual development done where he was exploring new designs for ships, planets, droids, and aliens. When we would meet to discuss upcoming Clone Wars [episodes], George would use some of that visual inspiration for our stories."

First announced at Star Wars Celebration 2005, Star Wars: Underworld was supposed to be a live-action show that would bridge the gap between the prequel and original trilogies. Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, Lucas wanted the series to take on a more mature tone than the space opera. Over the next few years, the team built huge set pieces and wrote over fifty scripts. However, in 2010, the project was abandoned due to budget constraints.

Just last year, producer Rick McCallum shed a little more light on why Underworld was cancelled. McCallum told Young Indy Chronicles podcast that the show would have cost upwards of $40 million per episode, adding, "each episode was bigger than the films... It would’ve blown up the whole Star Wars universe, and Disney would’ve definitely never offered George to buy the franchise."

It is not clear what part Embo would have played in Underworld, but it was the first piece of concept art that prompted both Lucas and Filoni to include him in The Clone Wars. "I gave Embo the species name 'Kyuzo,' which was a character from the Seven Samurai played by Seiji Miyaguchi," added Filoni. "I really liked that character so I gave a nod to the performance in Embo's character." That was just the beginning, as Embo went on to make more appearances in the show and even gained a trusty companion, a dog named Marrock.

After the Clone Wars, Embo retired and went to live a quiet life on the planet Felucia. In The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is set around 30 years after the end of The Clone Wars, we meet Embo in a new era, where he has a new pet and is quickly pulled back into the bounty hunter life. Embo is just one of the antagonists against Din Djarin and Grogu in the new movie, as the pair join forces with the New Republic in order to save what the Rebellion fought so hard for.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is now in cinemas. For more, check out our guide to The Mandalorian and Grogu ending, plus a look at the full Star Wars timeline.

The Way isn't just a nifty catchphrase. For Din Djarin and his fellow Mandalorians, it's a way of life that adds 'never showing your face to an enemy' to its list of many rules and regulations.

Pedro Pascal's Mandalorian has already broken that creed on multiple – albeit necessary – occasions, but The Mandalorian and Grogu movie has unmasked the Star Wars character for longer than at any point in Din's prior history across three seasons on Disney Plus.

As per numbers crunched by Star Wars Holocron, Din Djarin is unmasked for 270 seconds in The Mandalorian and Grogu. By comparison, The Mandalorian seasons 1-3 offer a shade fewer moments of unmasked action, clocking in at 259 seconds.

Towards the movie's third act, The Mandalorian and Grogu sees Din Djarin pulled in front of the Hutt Twins and his helmet removed – a moment that Pedro Pascal said made "perfect sense."

"When we got to that part, all I can say is that it made perfect sense, and it was what I was hoping would be the reason," Pascal told Empire. "If I were to pitch something, I would say, ‘The only thing that makes sense is...’ And that’s exactly it. He filled that blank. I said immediately, ‘Jon, that’s exactly what I was hoping to hear!’"

Previously, Mando has taken off his helmet to say goodbye to Grogu, as well as showing his face to IG-11 after being seriously wounded at the tail-end of the first season. This is the first time he has been forcefully unmasked, however, which is probably why we saw Pedro Pascal's face for so long.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is now in cinemas. For more, check out our guide to The Mandalorian and Grogu ending, plus a look at the full Star Wars timeline.