Disney News

Category: Star Wars

  • Warwick Davis To Make Appearance at Star Wars Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line

    Warwick Davis To Make Appearance at Star Wars Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line

    When you Blast off for your Star Wars Day at Sea you’ll experience the heroes, villains and rousing action of the legendary saga up-close.  Now you’ll not only find the droids you’re looking for, but also Fan-favorite Star Wars actor Warwick Davis on your ‘out of this galaxy’ sailing on the high seas.

    Warwick Davis was announced as a Star Wars Day at Sea guest presenter on the March 17-24, 2018, Disney Fantasy sailing.

    As you may know, Warwick Davis played Wicket, one of the most important Ewoks in the galaxy in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. He also appeared in different roles in several other Star Wars films, including Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Warwick also will join the intergalactic action in the upcoming, Solo: A Star Wars Story.

    But wait, there’s more! Here are the other exciting guest presenters coming to Star Wars Day at sea this year:

    Star Wars Day at Sea

    • January 6-13: Scott Trowbridge, Walt Disney Imagineering creative portfolio executive for Star Wars franchise
    • January 13-20: TBD
    • January 20-27: Matt Martin, Lucasfilm Story Group creative executive
    • January 27-Feb. 3: TBD
    • February 3-10: TBD
    • February 10-17: Delilah Dawson, author of the “Phasma,” “The Perfect Weapon” and other Star Wars stories
    • February 17-24: Pablo Hidalgo, Lucasfilm Story Group creative executive
    • February 24-March 3: Jarrett J. Krosoczka, writer and illustrator of “Jedi Academy: A New Class” children’s book series
    • March 3-10: TBD
    • March 10-17: Troy Alders, Lucas Licensing art director
    • March 17-24: Warwick Davis, actor, multiple Star Wars films
    • March 24-31: Katie Cook, artist featured in Star Wars trading card sets, children’s books and web comics
    • March 31-April 7: Leland Chee, Lucasfilm Story Group managing Holocron continuity database
    • April 7-14: Russell Paul, Industrial Light & Magic, asset and digital supervisor
    • April 14-21: Ashley Eckstein, Her Universe founder, voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels

    Hearing their incredible stories and meeting these amazing guest presenters are just some of the ways you can celebrate the legendary adventures and iconic characters from the Star Wars galaxy on a Star Wars Day at Sea cruise. The event features a full day of fun, including Star Wars-themed family and youth activities, character encounters, a costume celebration and a thrilling deck party with a spectacular fireworks display.

    Star Wars Day at Sea returns to the Disney Fantasy from January to April 2018. If you need help booking this epic day on your family’s Caribbean cruise vacation, contact Travel Time with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!

  • runDisney Announces First Ever Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon

    runDisney Announces First Ever Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon

    If you love to run this is the marathon you’re looking for. runDisney is giving runners everywhere the opportunity to participate in the first-ever Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon and earn an out of this galaxy Star Wars-themed medal.

    Star Wars Virtual Marathon

     

    Starting January 3 – February 28, you can register for the new virtual race at runDisney.com or at the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo during Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, January 3-6. Complete 13.1 miles in your neighborhood, on a treadmill or wherever you enjoy running by March 31 to earn your one-of-a-kind Star Wars hardware.

    This new virtual run experience also includes the 2018 runDisney Kessel Run Challenge, offering runners the chance to earn a special challenge medal for completing both the Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon from home and the Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon on April 22 at Walt Disney World Resort.

    As part of the registration process participants will have the opportunity to make a donation to Starlight Children’s Foundation on behalf of Star Wars: Force for Change. Starlight Children’s Foundation brings joy and comfort to hospitalized children and their families through programs at children’s hospitals around the world.

    runDisney will also be making an independent donation to Starlight Children’s Foundation in honor of the Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon.

  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi Forces Its Way To $1 Billion Worldwide

    Star Wars: The Last Jedi Forces Its Way To $1 Billion Worldwide

    In only three weeks Disney-Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” has blasted past $1 billion in worldwide box office sales to close out 2017. While many critics have given the latest installment rave reviews, there have been mixed reviews from general audiences, but if the box office sales are any indication then this film is no scruffy-looking nerf herder.

    “The Last Jedi” pulled in $120.4 million globally on the New Year’s Eve weekend with $52.4 million at 4,232 domestic venues and an additional $68 million internationally. All this before the significant boost it will receive when it opens in its final market on Jan. 5 in China.

    On the final day of 2017, “The Last Jedi” has surpassed Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” as the top grossing film in North America for 2017. According to studio estimates on Sunday, “The Last Jedi” brings its domestic total $517.1 million after it’s haul this weekend, while Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” totals $504 million for the year.

    “The Last Jedi” is now the eighth highest-grossing domestic movie of all time with $517.1 million and 24th on the worldwide chart with $1.04 billion. The eighth film in the “Star Wars” saga premiered in North America on December 14 to the second-biggest opening ever and is second only to its predecessor, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which debuted in 2015.

    “The Last Jedi” is already close to surpassing “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” which brought in $1.06 billion in revenue last year. The last numbered Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, stands at $2.07 billion, ranking it third place all time after its December 2015 premiere.

    While the film may crack the top ten globally, odds are it wont come close to “Force Awakens” numbers.  But as Han Solo would say, “Never tell me the odds!”

    Directed by Rian Johnson, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” picks up where “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” left off. It stars returning cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Andy Serkis. New stars include Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro.

  • Mark Hamill Pays Tribute to Carrie Fisher on the Anniversary of Her Death

    Mark Hamill Pays Tribute to Carrie Fisher on the Anniversary of Her Death

    On the one year anniversary of beloved Carrie Fisher’s death, Mark Hamill is remembering his Star Wars costar with a very some very touching words.

    Quoting a piece of dialogue from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Fisher’s final film in the franchise, Hamill wrote on Instagram “No one’s ever really gone” followed by the hashtags #AlwaysWithUs and #CarrieOnForever.

    No one’s ever really gone… #AlwaysWithUs #CarrieOnForever

    A post shared by Mark Hamill (@hamillhimself) on

    The post was accompanied by photos of Hamill and Fisher as well as a sketch of Fisher famously flipping the bird as she holds her beloved dog Gary.

    Hamill and Fisher became close when they were both rising stars after meeting on the first Star Wars in 1977.

    Hamill and Fisher starred in the original three Star Wars films in the 1970s and 1980s, and they finally reunited in the latest movies, 2015’s The Force Awakens and the latest film The Last Jedi, which is dedicated to her memory.

    Fisher had several poignant moments with the whole cast, including her daughter Billie Lourd. The young actress made her debut in the 2015 Star Wars movie The Force Awakens alongside her mother.

    Lourd also remembered the actress on Instagram, revealing that she traveled to Norway to honor her mother.

    “Star Trek” icon William Shatner, who often engaged in playful public battles with Fisher about whose franchise was better, also shared a photo on Twitter of him and Fisher.


    Many celebrities and fans shared heartfelt messages about Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in “Star Wars.” Fisher died at age 60 just two days after Christmas in 2016, following a heart attack she had on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

  • ‘The Last Jedi’ Blasts Past $800 Million Worldwide Box Office

    ‘The Last Jedi’ Blasts Past $800 Million Worldwide Box Office

    The second weekend may have seen a dip in Star Wars: The Last Jedi earnings, but the force is still strong with this film. The newest instalment to the Star Wars saga is blasting past $800 Million at the box office worldwide.

    On Christmas Day the film earned approximately $27.5 million from North American theaters with the international release raking in $14.8 million more.

    The Last Jedi is now the third highest-grossing film of 2017 in the U.S. It’s currently lands just behind Wonder Woman and Beauty and the Beast. It should be noted that it has reached that third place ranking in less than two weeks.

    Already the 28th-highest of all time its 11-day domestic total is at $400 million, the film is poised to crack the $1 billion worldwide threshold for sure as it is set to open in China on Jan. 5.

    With $800 million worldwide at the end of Christmas, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” already ranks as the 71st-highest worldwide grosser of all time. It is also had the second highest opening day total bringing in $104 million. It’s the second highest opening day for a film in U.S. history and once again second only to “The Force Awakens”

    With many moviegoing folks on vacation for the holidays the film should finish 2017 strong. Despite recent criticisms, many film reviewers praised The Last Jedi as “the best since” Empire Strikes Back.

    Those believing that interest in Star Wars is on the decline “I find your lack of faith disturbing.” While The Last Jedi is below The Force Awakens totals it’s still far ahead of Rogue One numbers. The film’s plummeting audience score on Rotten Tomatoes has been a little suspect too with an alt-right group recently taking credit for using bots in a concerted attack against the Rian Johnson-directed movie.

    It really seems that much of the criticisms of the film are coming from a small minority of fans as the calls for The Last Jedi to be deleted from history seem to be landing in the silence of space. In the end the box office tells the story and right now these numbers are looking pretty good.

    Directed by Rian Johnson, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” picks up where “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” left off. It stars returning cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Andy Serkis. New stars include Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro.

  • Alt-Right Group Claims Credit For ‘Last Jedi’ Low Audience Scores

    Alt-Right Group Claims Credit For ‘Last Jedi’ Low Audience Scores

    Star Wars: The Last Jedi has been getting mixed ratings from critics and fans. These are not the ratings you’re looking for if you are Rian Johnson or Disney for that matter. But now we may have an answer behind some of the low ‘Last Jedi’ audience scores.

    Initially scores on sites like RottenTomatoes.com were great with a “fresh” rating opening weekend. Early on it had 96 percent positive reviews from top critics and is still holding strong with a 93 percent, according to the aggregator. Soon after the audience score numbers began to plummet beyond what even the most conservative of Star Wars fans might believe.

    With more than 118,000 users weighing in and a “luke” warm audience score of 55 percent it became quickly apparent that there was a large divide between critics’ reactions and general audiences. Now after a post, from a Facebook page called Down With Disney’s Treatment of Franchises and its Fanboys, the reason for the declining score may have an answer.

    The page claimed responsibility for tanking the Rotten Tomatoes audience score for the latest “Star Wars” film, stating that they used bots in a concerted attack against the Star Wars Film.

    According to a report from The Huffington Post they sent a direct message to the page Tuesday and talked with the page administrator for a bit. Responding almost immediately, he explained that he’s upset with “Star Wars” producers for, “among other things,” introducing more female characters into the franchise’s universe.

    Throughout the course of their conversation, the self-identified member of the “alt-right” claimed that Poe Dameron (played by Oscar Isaac) is a “victim of the anti-mansplaining movement,” that Poe and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) are in danger of being “turn[ed]” gay, and that men should be reinstated as rulers of “society.”

    The latest installment in the “Star Wars” franchise has earned overwhelming praise from movie critics which prompted managing editor Erik Davis from Fandango to exclaim that he’s never seen a film earn a Certified Fresh stamp so quickly.

  • ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Forced to $600 Million Worldwide

    ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Forced to $600 Million Worldwide

    On Tuesday, Star Wars: The Last Jedi passed $500 million worldwide as the newest installment of the Star Wars franchise added $42 million to its total. On Wednesday the film added another $20 million to its international box office numbers giving it $295 million overseas and $573 million globally. Crossing the $300 million mark internationally today, a $600 million worldwide total is fast approaching.

    Disney-Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” brought in more than $220 Million in its opening weekend making it the second biggest opening day total behind only Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($247M).

    On its fourth day of domestic release, Star Wars: The Last Jedi earned $21.8 million bringing its four-day total to $241.8 million. That’s just under the $247.9 million opening weekend of The Force Awakens. The five-day total in North America was $262 million, earning another $20.3 million on its fifth day of release. The Last Jedi earned $16.9 million yesterday for a six-day total of $278.8 million domestically.

    It took five days for The Last Jedi to make what The Force Awakens earned in just three. Of course, when you’re dealing with a movie that reached $220 million in three days and has more than $500 million worldwide in just under a week, it’s a little hard to compete.

  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi Premieres in China at Shanghai Disney Resort

    Star Wars: The Last Jedi Premieres in China at Shanghai Disney Resort

    More than two weeks ahead of its public release in China, Star Wars: The Last Jedi made its debut at the Walt Disney Grand Theater at Shanghai Disney Resort.

    Fans lined the red carpet in costume for a glimpse of Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, director Rian Johnson and producer Ram Bergman – not to mention BB-8 and R2-D2.

    Star Wars Shanghai Disney Resort

    Ahead of the premiere, the cast and crew shared a few behind-the-scenes stories and presented lightsabers to four young Jedi apprentices. They also visited Star Wars Launch Bay at Shanghai Disneyland, where they encountered Kylo Ren and caught up with C-3PO.

    Star Wars Shanghai Disney Resort

    A processional of Stormtroopers crashed the party, but the Force prevailed and the night ended in applause.

  • Disney Cruise Line Top Ten Ways to Experience Star Wars Day at Sea

    Disney Cruise Line Top Ten Ways to Experience Star Wars Day at Sea

    This is the cruise you are looking for.  If you are a Star Wars fan then get ready to set sail aboard the Disney Fantasy for Star Wars Day at Sea for galactic adventures in 2018.

    To prepare your family for the out-of-this-galaxy fun, check out these top ten ways to experience Star Wars Day at Sea.

    Star Wars Day at Sea

    1. Choose your costume wisely. Before you even step on the ship, choose a side and plan your day’s attire. Whether you resemble Jedi, Wookiees, droids, Stormtroopers or other iconic Star Wars characters, dressing up adds to the fun for young and old alike.

    2. Indulge in the Star Wars films. In the days leading up to the epic celebration, check out all of the Star Wars feature films in the Buena Vista Theatre, culminating in a showing of the newest film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

    Star Wars Day at Sea

    3. Encounter heroes who inspire you. New in 2018, you are guaranteed a time to meet and take photographs with C-3PO and R2-D2, Chewbacca and Darth Vader. Before you even step onboard, reserve these character encounters on disneycruise.com.

    4. Celebrate with other fans. The family costume party in the atrium is one of the day’s epic events not to be missed. It’s a great chance to celebrate your love for Star Wars and meet other fans who share your affinity.

    Star Wars Day at Sea

    5. Be open to making new friends. You never know who you might meet roaming the ship. Jawas, Rebels, Storm Troopers and others are often spotted out on the deck. Plus, your kids can meet C-3PO, Storm Troopers and more at Star Wars: Command Post in the youth club.

    6. Make it a family adventure. Share your love for Star Wars with your kids by joining the special activities for families, such as droid racing in the atrium, learning to draw your favorite Star Warscharacters, and helping track the Porgs wreaking havoc throughout the ship.

    7. Send your kids to Resistance training. At Star Wars: Command Post, Younglings can embark on an action-packed training adventure with members of the Resistance who will teach them how to hone their skills to defeat First Order Stormtroopers.

    Star Wars Day at Sea

    8. Cheer as Padawans face the dark side. In “Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple,” Force-sensitive children can learn the ways of the Jedi and use their new-found skills in a final face-off with Darth Vader and, new to 2018, Kylo Ren.

    9. Watch the epic saga come to life on stage. The “Summon the Force” deck celebration is where you can unleash the Force during games, music and a galactic dance party. The event features stunts, special effects and favorite Star Wars characters, including Rey for the first time in 2018.

    Star Wars Day at Sea

    10. Get inspired by a stunning fireworks show. The day’s grand finale is a spectacular pyrotechnics display set to John Williams’ iconic music. Both lifelong Star Wars fans and those new to the adventure are sure to get chills as you watch the pyrotechnic show with family by your side.

    Star Wars Day at Sea returns to the Disney Fantasy from January to April 2018.

    If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Travel Time with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!

  • UPDATE: Last Jedi Tops $220 Million at the Box Office – 2nd All Time

    UPDATE: Last Jedi Tops $220 Million at the Box Office – 2nd All Time

    As Star Wars fans always do, they were lined up early and often this opening weekend to see the long anticipated new installment of the Star Wars Saga.  Disney-Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” brought in more than $220 Million this weekend making it the second biggest opening day total behind only Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($247M).

    Those numbers make it the fourth film in domestic box office history to cross the $200 million threshold in its opening weekend.  It is also had the second highest opening day total bringing in $104 million. It’s the second highest opening day for a film in U.S. history and once again second only to “The Force Awakens”

    The Thursday preview brought in $45 million making it the second largest Thursday night preview total ever, behind, you guessed it, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens’” which totaled of $57 million in 2015.

    The film may not be hitting “Force awakens numbers, but “The Last Jedi” will finish significantly above Star Wars spinoff “Rogue One,” which opened with $155 million on the same weekend a year ago.

    So if any thinks that interest in Star Wars is on the decline “I find your lack of faith disturbing.” While The Last Jedi is below The Force Awakens totals it’s still far ahead of Rouge One numbers.

    Directed by Rian Johnson, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” picks up where “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” left off. It stars returning cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Andy Serkis. New stars include Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro. “The Last Jedi” was well received by critics, with 96 percent positive reviews from top critics, according to aggregator RottenTomatoes.com