Darth Vader is returning to a galaxy far far away and Hayden Christensen is back! LucasFilm has announced that Christensen will be returning as Dark Lord of the Sith in the upcoming Kenobi series on Disney+
The Obi-Wan series, starring Ewan McGregor begins 10 years after the dramatic events of “Revenge of the Sith” and in what Kathleen Kennedy has dubbed, “the rematch of the century,” Kenobi and Vader will finally share the screen together again.
Disney announced the news on Thursday during its Investor Day, and Star Wars’ official Twitter account tweeted out the casting as you can see below:
Hayden Christensen returns as Darth Vader, joining Ewan McGregor in OBI-WAN KENOBI. The Original Series begins 10 years after the dramatic events of Revenge of the Sith, and is coming to #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/9WR2npRUkk
“It was such an incredible journey playing Anakin Skywalker,” said Christensen. “Of course, Anakin and Obi-Wan weren’t on the greatest of terms when we last saw them… It will be interesting to see what an amazing director like Deborah Chow has in store for us all. I’m excited to work with Ewan again. It feels good to be back.”
Also at the investor conference presentation they revealed the title and teaser video of the Cassian Andor series starring Diego Luna, Andor; the development of a series centered around Lando Calrissian; two Mandalorian spin-off series (including one centered on Rosario Dawson’s fan-favorite character Ahsoka Tano); and that Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins will helm a new Star Wars feature film titled Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.
The project has been described as a six-episode limited series that will begin filming in spring 2021.
British actor David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original ‘Star Wars’ trilogy, has died at the age of 85.
Prowse wore the Darth Vader costume in the original Star Warstrilogy, while James Earl Jones provided the villain’s iconic voice. At a towering 6 feet, 7 inches tall, the actor was originally offered a choice between the role of Vader or Chewbacca.
On Sunday morning, the actor’s management company shared on social media the news of his death as you can see below:
“with great regret and heart-wrenching sadness for us and million of fans around the world,” the post read.
Prowse’s official website added, “It has been an absolute pleasure working with this wonderful man over the years. He truly was a gentle giant, and one of the kindest celebrities you could ever meet.”
“So sad to hear David Prowse has passed,” Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker in the films, tweeted.
So sad to hear David Prowse has passed. He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader. Actor-Husband-Father-Member of the Order of the British Empire-3 time British Weightlifting Champion & Safety Icon the Green Cross Code Man. He loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIPpic.twitter.com/VbDrGu6iBz
Disney released new pictures from the inside of their new Star Wars themed hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
During an IAAPA presentation Monday, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro shard renderings of what guests will experience when they step inside their cabin.
In the new Star Wars Resort guests will live aboard a starship for a 2-day, 2-night experience. Unlike any typical cruise, though, you can become the heroes of your own Star Wars story in a new type of immersive experience that only Disney could create. Take a look at the new images below:
Guests will cruise the galaxy in style aboard the Halcyon, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. Onboard, you’ll stay in well-appointed cabins, experience onboard dining, make a planet-side excursion to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu and much more.
Adidas has released a new line of Star Wars sneakers inspired by Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and it is strong with the force.
The Mandalorian x adidas Originals collection ranges from $70 to $150 USD and releases on November 4 at the adidas website.
The collection includes designs based on The Mandalorian’s armor, the Darksaber, and, of course, Baby Yoda. As you’ll see in the images below, several of the designs reference key moments from Season 1.
NMD_R1 The Mandalorian Shoes
“Upgrade your armor just like the Mandalorian with these beskar steel Mandalore inspired NMD shoes. Part of Star Wars: The Mandalorian Collection, where iconic adidas silhouettes are transformed into the galaxy’s greatest characters and moments. Designed with silver details and tongue logo, reflecting his durable armor. Inside, see the sockliner show off a special print to celebrate the series.”
The NMD_R1 The Mandalorian Shoes will be available here at adidas for $140.
NMD_R1 The Mandalorian Shoes #2
“The Mandalore is a creed, a way of life when you decide to put the uniform on. A collaboration with Star Wars and Lucasfilm that brings together a collection from Star Wars: The Mandalorian. These NMD_R1 shoes are based on the galaxy’s most formidable bounty hunter, Mando. The heel tab confirms this is the way of life, with a helmet inspired design and all-over armor print.”
The NMD_R1 Mando shoes will be available here at adidas for $120.
ZX 2K Boost Mudhorn Shoes
“The symbolic creature that paved the way, the Mudhorn proved to be a mighty challenge for the Mandalorian. This ZX 2K Boost takes inspiration from the Child and Mandalorian’s epic battle and a story so true to finding the way. Shades of brown, green and speckled print bring these characters together and symbolize the bond between the clan of the two. Made with a unique sockliner that tributes the iconic scene. Bestow the Mudhorn signet, just like Mando with the tongue logo.”
ZX 2K Boost Mudhorn Shoes will be available here at adidas for $150.
Gazelle Darksaber Shoes
“From the Star Wars: The Mandalorian Collection, debuting nine shoes tributed to the galaxy’s greatest characters and moments from the series, see the Gazelle shoes appear as if they are the Darksaber. Making an unexpected return, the Darksaber is a one of a kind black bladed lightsaber. Designed with glowing 3-Stripes that honor the sword. If you know, you know.”
The Gazelle Darksaber shoes will be available here at adidas for $100.
The Child Superstar Shoes
“From Star Wars: The Mandalorian Collection, these Superstar shoes join a collection of nine silhouettes dedicated to the galaxy’s greatest characters and moments. Though 50 years old, the cutest bounty in the galaxy brings curiosity and mystery to the galaxy. Now, not all species or shoes age the same. This Superstar celebrates 50 years of it’s iconic design with inspiration from the most adorable 50 year old you’ll ever see and says “The Child, 50th anniversary” in Aurebesh.”
The Child Superstar shoes will be available here at adidas for $90.
Top Ten The Child Shoes
“As part of Star Wars: The Mandalorian Collection, these Top Ten shoes are transformed into the galaxy’s cutest bounty, the Child. Undoubtedly the most adorable, mysterious and sought after with his new-found force powers. Designed with a suede upper and canvas heel collar, inspired by the Child’s outfit. His picture on the tongue and iconic line “The force is strong with this little one” remind us, just how much of an impact the Child has on everyone that encounters him. Walk a similar path in the Top Ten shoes.”
Top Ten The Child shoes will be available here at adidas for $90.
Top Ten The Child Shoes
“Feel the force as much as the Child does. The Top Ten shoes are all about the galaxy’s cutest and cheekiest creature. Joining the Star Wars™: The Mandalorian™ Collection, debuting nine shoes celebrating the series greatest characters and moments. See the Child’s little face printed on the tongue logo. These shoes are designed with a colorway inspired by it’s favorite place, his pod. Look inside and see a special sockliner print that gives a nod to the starting point of the duo’s journey.”
Top Ten The Child shoes will be available here at adidas for $80.
Since its debut last year, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has proven to be one of the most popular attractions at Disney World and to to help alleviate wait times and shorten lines Disney to created a virtual queue that could only be accessed while inside Hollywood Studios. Now Disney has changed the procedure and you can access the virtual queue outside the park.
To better help guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios plan ahead for their day at the park, they’re piloting a new approach to the virtual queue system for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Starting Nov. 3, 2020, here’s how it will work:
Guests with a valid ticket or annual pass and a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to access the virtual queue system and check for an available boarding group starting at 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation. This can be done before you leave your Disney resort hotel, or wherever else nearby you might be at that time.
Just as we do today, the virtual queue will reopen daily at 2 p.m. for anyone who wasn’t already able to join a boarding group earlier in the day. Note: Guests must be inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios to access this second virtual queue opportunity, and access to a boarding group is subject to availability and not guaranteed.
Disney is hoping this new approach will make a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios more enjoyable and relaxing, as guests no longer need to be inside the park each morning to request a boarding group for the first virtual queue opportunity. As a reminder, you need to be inside the park to request the 2 p.m. boarding groups.
To try to maximize the number of boarding groups Disney’s able to accommodate while adhering to current health and safety guidelines, they recently added a clear barrier between the two rows of seats on each First Order Fleet Transport vehicle inside the attraction. This enables them to invite more guests to board Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance each day.
The attraction’s virtual queue is only accessible via the My Disney Experience mobile app. To maximize your opportunity to secure a boarding group, here are some tips we recommend you check off your list prior to your day at the park:
Register an account in My Disney Experience
Download the My Disney Experience mobile app on your smart device or ensure you’re using the most updated version of the app before you arrive at the park.
Link and assign all park tickets in your party to a My Disney Experience account
Have a valid Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the day you’re visiting
Select one member of your party to access the virtual queue for everyone in your group; if multiple people in your party try to join the virtual queue simultaneously, that may complicate your ability to secure a boarding group
Remember, virtual queue boarding groups are limited and subject to availability
This new pilot approach to the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance virtual queue is designed to give guests the best possible experience during a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
When Disney+ released ‘The Mandalorian’ last year, there wasn’t much merchandise ready to go due to the level of secrecy surrounding creature affectionately known as ”Baby Yoda,” but as season 2 gets ready to premiere, Mattel has unveiled a new Baby Yoda remote control plush and this is the toy you’re looking for…
Now you can embrace your guardian skills when you assume control of “The Child” from Star Wars: The Mandalorian. The new Mattel Baby Yoda is an animatronic RC toy that is controlled with a wrist strap remote control unit with its joystick and you can also enable a “Follow Me” mode.
The 11 inch toy has the ability to waddle on the ground, turn its head from side to side, look up and down and wiggle its ears, play hide and seek, make sounds, and more as you can see in the video below:
The animatronics aren’t just restricted to Baby Yoda’s head though—his arms can move up and down as he attempts to use the Force, or reach for a control knob to use as a play toy.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Child Real Moves Plush is now available for pre-order here at shopDisney for $69.99 and will be available for this fall.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 debuts on Disney+ this Friday, October 30th. During a recent interview, executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni teased what fans can expect from the upcoming season – including details about Baby Yoda.
“The new season is about introducing a larger story in the world,” Favreau explained. “The stories become less isolated, yet each episode has its own flavor, and hopefully we’re bringing a lot more scope to the show.” Adds Filoni, “Everything gets bigger, the stakes get higher, but also the personal story between the Child and the Mandalorian develops in a way I think people will enjoy.”
Academy Award winning actor Robert Downey Jr. — who brought Tony Stark to life in the MCU — may be headed to a galaxy far far away as a new rumor reports that Disney is eyeing him for a role in the Star Wars universe.
Details on what role he may be wanted and it’s not clear whether they’d want him for a television series or a feature film, but who wouldn’t love to see the 55 year-old Tony Stark actor wielding a lightsaber?
“According to insider Daniel Richtman, the House of Mouse is reportedly eying Downey Jr. for a role in Star Wars. The tipster doesn’t say which project it would be for, but if this deal ends up happening, the performer will journey from one historic franchise to another,” WGTC reported.
It’s estimated that Robert Downey, Jr. has made nearly $250 million from his appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That is an astounding career reversal for an actor who started off as a young prodigy, went through a whirlwind of drugs and eventual prison time, and is now reportedly one of the wealthiest actors in Hollywood.
He got attention for roles in his early 20s like Weird Science (1985) and Back To School (1986). During this period, critic Roger Ebert described his performance as an addict in 1987’s Less Than Zero as “so real, so subtle, and so observant that it’s scary.”
The new Star Wars resort coming to Disney World is set to open in 2021. Construction for the massive project is of galactic proportions and these are the updates you are looking for.
Twitter user Bioreconstruct shared some amazing aerial photos of the new resort that shows that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel is still progressing throughout the pandemic.
“Aerial look at the Porte Cochère of Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel). One of the recent changes is the walkway at [the] arrow,” Bioreconstruct tweeted Sunday, as you can see in the post below:
Aerial look at the Porte Cochère of Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel). One of the recent changes is the walkway at arrow. None of the show building will be visible to guests. An instant forest and the high walls will be in the sightline. pic.twitter.com/acRhxVvJts
You can see in the photo that has a small yellow arrow denoting the referenced walkway. “None of the show [buildings] will be visible to guests. An instant forest and the high walls will be in the sightline,” they noted.
Aerial look at construction activity at Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel). Tents are up for break/lunch space. Unclear what the nearby crates might contain. pic.twitter.com/CwnreMKEjN
In another post Bioreconstruct shows “construction activity.” They wrote that lunch break tents are set up at the 201 South S Studio Drive site in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Aerial overview of Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel). Cabins are in the section at left. Decks of the ship are in the show building at center. Guests will check in and be transported up the the ship for 2 days of adventure inside the Star Wars timeline. pic.twitter.com/4Ipc1s7OgD
“Cabins are in the section at left. Decks of the ship are in the show building at center,” they wrote in another tweet that shows the entire construction site. “Guests will check in and be transported up the ship for 2 days of adventure inside the Star Wars timeline.”
This first-of-its-kind resort will combine luxury with complete immersion into an authentic Star Wars story. Guests’ journey through space will start when everyone departs together for a multiday Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.
Disney has debuted the first trailer for The Mandalorian’s second season after recently announcing the show will return on October 30th.
The two-minute trailer takes viewers to a galaxy far, far away as the bounty hunter known as the Mandalorian and his little green friend nicknamed Baby Yoda, fight their way through the wretched hive of scum and villainy in the Star Wars universe.
“Wherever I go, he goes,” the Mandalorian, who is played by Pedro Pascal, can be heard saying in the trailer as you can see below:
Disney made sure the trailer showcased everything that fans and Disney+ subscribers loved about the show’s first season. There were blaster gun battles, rusty spaceships, remnants of the evil Empire, and, of course, Baby Yoda being, well, cute.
The series, which launched Disney’s streaming efforts last November, was an instant success. The show was well-reviewed, dominated social chatter online, and even overshadowed the much-maligned “Star Wars” film, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” which opened last December.
Danielle Nicole is releasing two new Baby Yoda inspired bags as part of their Star Wars The Mandalorian collection.
The collection features a pair of new handbags that are designed so you can bring “The Child” along for your everyday adventures.
Designer Danielle DiFerdinando of Danielle Nicole handbags merges the fantasy of Star Wars storytelling with the personality of the people she expects to take her bags on their own journeys when the line launches later this week. Take a closer look at the cute new bags below:
“I first discovered Star Wars at Star Tours at Disney World in Orlando when I was little girl with my family,” DiFerdinando notes. “I remember going on the ride with my three sisters and our parents and it felt like I was in another galaxy. It was a fantasy escape. It was so fun and it felt so real!”
She has found herself thinking back to that entry point often while translating the Child from the screen into accessories for everyday wear. “Whenever you wear the bag, you have that emotional connection of what you experienced when watching that series,” she says.
Already a fan of the wise Master Yoda, when DiFerdinando first saw the mysterious Child, with similarly green-hued skin and big pointed ears, she knew the character was special. “I immediately fell in love with The Child because he was so adorable. Then later you learn just how special this little guy is and why it is important to protect him. He’s definitely a character you cannot underestimate. Small but mighty.”
Shop the Danielle Nicole x Star Wars collection this week, beginning September 10 at 11 a.m. EST at Danielle-Nicole.com.
