No new trailer has dropped for the Star Wars live action series starring Pedro Pascal (and Baby Yoda, technically named The Child), but Season 2 will include Timothy Olyphant in some fashion, Rosario Dawson as “Clone Wars” character Ahsoka Tano, and Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett.
And fans can expect even more of “The Mandalorian” in the future. The series is in pre-production for a third season, and creator and showrunner Jon Favreau has been “writing season 3 for a while,” as sources close to the production said in the spring.
The series, centered on Pascal as the titular Mandalorian bounty hunter who becomes caretaker to The Child, was Disney Plus’ first original hit upon launch last November.
The streamer attracted over 60.5 million paying subscribers globally in the first nine months of its existence, proving to be a huge draw, even amid competition from a number of other new direct-to-consumer competitors that have launched in the last year.
Disney Plus is now premiering Disney’s live-action version of “Mulan” on Friday, Sept. 4 for an additional $30. The ongoing coronavirus has meant mass closures of movie theaters nationwide, prompting the company to nix a theatrical release of the tentpole film in favor of releasing it directly on the streamer. The additional fee will keep “Mulan” in consumers’ accounts so long as they continue to subscribe to Disney Plus.
Star Wars: The High Republic launches in January 2021 with original stories spanning a variety of books, comics, and beyond and now Lucasfilm has confirmed that Yoda will be part of these stories and released new concept art showing a younger Yoda.
Yoda has trained jedi for 800 years, but he’s only known him through his final act — in the last days of the Republic and Jedi Order, and during the training of Luke Skywalker. In Star Wars: The High Republic, we’ll encounter the Jedi Master centuries prior.
Yoda will feature prominently in Daniel José Older’s Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures comic, coming 2021 from IDW Publishing; the Jedi Master that Older depicts in his series, however, won’t be quite the same sage-like being you’ve known. Take a look at the concept art below:
“It’s especially exciting to be able to introduce him in the era of the High Republic,” Older said in an interview with StarWars.com. “The High Republic Yoda is a journeyman out in the galaxy.” According to Older, the Emperor’s “little green friend” will still be treading somewhat familiar ground — that of teacher.
“While he’s already a respected member of the Jedi Council at this point, we meet Yoda in IDW’s The High Republic Adventures series doing what he loves best: looking out for the young folks — in this case, a group of Padawans traveling around the galaxy to learn the ways of the Jedi with a hands-on approach,” Older says. “The Force study abroad program, basically.”
Ultimately for Older, depicting Yoda during a previously unseen era is an opportunity he doesn’t take for granted.
“The only reason writing Yoda wasn’t on my Star Wars writing bucket list is because I didn’t think it would ever be possible!” he says. “It’s an incredible honor to give words to one of my all-time favorite Star Wars characters.”
With an appearance in a visual medium, that would mean a new design for the iconic character. It was a challenge not to be taken lightly. “The goal was to update Yoda, but to be careful and be true to the Yoda that we all know and love,” says Troy Alders, Lucasfilm art director. “Also, to really make sure that the new look was believable, as this is really the first time that there has been an opportunity to update his look and his clothing. It felt like a daunting and enormous responsibility to embark on and get right.”
Once design work began, Lucasfilm didn’t want to fix what wasn’t broken. At the same time, there was an obvious need to show that these were earlier days. “Well, Yoda is not that much younger — around 700 years old instead of about 900. But we thought that with it being hundreds of years earlier, he would definitely have a different outfit, maybe even more than one,” says Alders. “His age, as far as the way that his hair and face look, is maybe just slightly younger, but fairly close to his look in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.” And since the thinking was his appearance wouldn’t be radically different from that of Episode I, Alders went to one of the talents who visually defined that film.
“Right away, concept artist Iain McCaig felt like the go-to artist to help us start to explore this new look for Yoda,” says Alders, “so we called him up and started to talk about what directions to explore.” Other artists contributed, as well, with Disney Publishing illustration manager Jeff R. Thomas and Star Wars: Dark Legends artist Grant Griffin playing key roles in defining the final look. Griffin’s concept art, revealed here exclusively, shows a Yoda with slightly less mileage in terms of wrinkles, as well as fresh outfits; note the previously established High Republic-era lightsaber holster, more layered tunics, and cloaks reflecting the era. “This mission outfit, with just tonal markings on the robe, are inspired by the Jedi Temple architectural details. Many new fans may not even notice these very subtle additions,” Alders says. “The temple attire, however, from this special time of the golden age of the Jedi, feels so right with its elegance, and we are all extremely grateful for the artists that helped us arrive at such a beautiful solution for this important milestone in the Star Wars timeline.”
Alders and his team of artists took great care in getting these designs right — making sure they were worthy of the story, and a character loved across the world.
“I do not think that I, or anyone on our team, fully realized what a huge task this was,” Alders says. “But looking at where we arrived, after many countless explorations and iterations with various creative minds and artists, it feels authentic to what this noble Jedi would wear. Dressing Yoda for this epic time period, and creating designs adorned with gold, using beautiful fabrics and details, is something that he and all of the Jedi very much deserve, and the end result, I think, is gorgeous, and really celebrates this exciting and visually rich, gilded era.”
This is the pet costume you’re looking for! Disney has released a Baby Yoda pet costume by Rubies on shopDisney that is perfect for your fur babies this halloween season.
Bounty hunters will cross galaxies to acquire this howlingly fun asset for their pup. Complete with plush frog in his hands, “the Child” makes a perfect costume choice for canine companions.
Shop the adorable costume below, and get ready for a full-on Star Wars-themed photo session with your pup.
The costume, which comes with a faux-fur-collared robe, a headpiece featuring Yoda’s famous ears, and a plush frog held by little green “hands,” is available in sizes small through extra large (or for pets that are between six and 45 pounds).
Baby Yoda missed his Halloween 2019 moment in the sun. But don’t fret; even though Halloween may not look like it usually does this year, you can still dress up your pet as your own personal Baby Yoda this October (or really, anytime you want) thanks to this adorable Baby Yoda Pet Costume.
The Child — aka Baby Yoda — from The Mandalorian is one of the cutest characters to come out of the last year of entertainment, and since the Star Wars show premiered in November on Disney+.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopens on July 15 and in order to help maintain appropriate physical distancing, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will once again be using the virtual queue system.
If you’ve joined the Resistance before, you will want to note a few changes to the process beginning July 15. Most importantly – as availability allows – guests will have an opportunity at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. to request to join the virtual queue. This means there is no need to arrive early to the park to check the virtual queue.
Whether it’s your first trip to Batuu or you have joined the fight against the First Order before, there are a few important details to know before you arrive:
First, make sure you have the My Disney Experience app. Once you enter the park, log in to your account at one of the distribution times (10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.).
Once you have logged in, select “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Virtual Queue” on the home screen. You will be able to view the current status and next steps for joining the virtual queue.
The app will indicate when there is no availability for a specific distribution time. Some guests may join backup groups.
As long as your My Disney Experience account is linked to park tickets for you and the others in your group, you can enroll everyone in the virtual queue at the same time. In order to give as many guests as possible the opportunity to join the Resistance, each guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day.
Make sure push notifications are turned on for My Disney Experience so you will be alerted if your group is called to return. You’ll have up to an hour from the time of the alert to go to the entrance of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Please note that joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Last holiday season Baby Yoda was a phenomenon and merchandise was scarce, but this year there are more options including the first ever Baby Yoda chistmas decorations and they are now available for pre-order.
The character, named simply “The Child” in the new Disney+ series, made a surprise appearance toward the end of the first episode. “Star Wars” fans went wild for the adorable creature, calling it “Baby Yoda” due to its uncanny resemblance to the iconic character Yoda.
It appears that “Baby Yoda” from The Mandalorian is peeking out of this adorable Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Child Print 19-Inch Stocking with Cuff. There are also snowflakes, a celestial background, and a white faux-fur cuff bearing the Star Wars logo. The stocking is made of polyester and hangs from a silver loop. Order yours now, for “this is the Way!”
Add some precious cargo to your holiday decorating with this Christmas tree ornament featuring the mysterious Force-sensitive alien known only as the Child. Fans of the Disney+ original series The Mandalorian will love this ornament that features the mysterious fan-favorite character, often referred to as Baby Yoda, in his hovering pram transport.
Based on the popular TV series The Mandalorian, this delightful Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Child 19-Inch Stocking with Cuff is made of polyester and hangs from a green loop.
There’s more to this little fellow than meets the eye! Crafted of wood solid, wood composite, and resin, this Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Child 9 1/2-Inch Nutcracker presents The Child, aka Baby Yoda, standing on a red base decorated with snowflakes and a gold-colored nameplate displaying his moniker.
John Boyega is joining those protesting for justice after the killing of George Floyd in police custody.
On Wednesday, the Star Wars actor, 28, spoke to a crowd gathered at Hyde Park in London for a peaceful protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Boyega used the moment to thank supporters and encourage their continued activism, while admitting he doesn’t know if he’ll “have a career after this.”
The 28-year-old urged the crowds to remain as “peaceful as possible,” saying, “They want us to mess up, but not today. Take a look at the speech below:
“I’m speaking to you from the heart,” Boyega said. “Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but f–k that!”
Boyega urged his fellow protesters to remain “as peaceful as possible.”
Other celebrities who attended the London protest included One Direction singer Liam Payne and his girlfriend Maya Henry.
Disney is introducing a new online platform called The Disney Destiny of Imagination that brings together a collection of your favorite characters in themed activities and it’s being made available to families for free.
The activites are Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars themed and are sure to keep all ages entertained.
The freebies are aimed at helping children to play, stay active and continue learning while having fun with everything from Frozen to Captain America.
They include storytelling sessions so that young ones can listen to classic and magical Disney tales and Art of Animation workshops with Disney artists so that they can learn to draw characters such as Captain America and Olaf.
Other Frozen treats include boardgames and trivia quizzes to test fans’ movie knowledge while other trivia movie themes include Star Wars and among the games is Marvel top trumps.
There are plenty arts and crafts activities, such as join-the-dots and colouring-in of favourite characters, with activity books covering everything from Mickey and Minnie to The Hulk and Spider-Man.
Star Wars activity packs, for instance, enable fans to create their own Darth Vader masks while young ones will no doubt enjoy Mickey Mouse drawing tutorials.
New activities will be going live every week and those due to be added soon include Keep Active ideas with exercise sheets encouraging children to expend a bit of energy alongside their favourite characters, according to ChronicleLive.
All the activities are available for free at the Disney shop here.
Disney Springs began it’s phased reopening last week and with the many new saftey procedures put in place due to the coronavirus crisis, Disney has brought in First Order Stormtroopers to help enforce the new protocols.
They’re stationed on some of the balconies and if you do see them, it’s probably best to snap a photo from afar and “move along,” as Stormtroopers may not appreciate you getting too close.
Check out a video from ITM of the Stormtroopers in action below:
The World of Disney store opened its doors Wednesday, along with other Disney-owned and -operated venues D-Luxe Burger (mobile order) and the Marketplace Co-Op.
The second season of the Disney+ Star Wars show The Mandalorian will reportedly feature the return of Boba Fett.
Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett in 2002’s Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, will play the iconic roll, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Boba Fett’s first appeared on the big screen 1980’s Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and who seemingly died in 1983’s Return of the Jedi as he fell into a sarlacc pit. Actor Jeremy Bulloch portrayed the character in the original trilogy.
Rumors had been swirling that Boba would make an appearance in the Disney Plus series, after a mysterious off-screen character made similar noises to the bleeps from the character’s suit at the very end of the fifth episode of season 1. All viewers could see was the character’s shadow, as he loomed over the dead body of bounty hunter Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen).
As The Mandalorian takes place after the events in the original trilogy, The Mandalorian will presumably have to explain how he’s still alive. Previously, The Mandalorian director Dave Filoni similarly resurrected Darth Maul, who was seemingly killed in The Phantom Menace, for his animated series The Clone Wars.
To celebrate Star Wars Day, Lucasfilm has announced that Academy Award winner Taika Waititi will direct and co-write a new Star Wars feature film for theatrical release.
Joining Waititi on the screenplay will be Academy Award nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917, Last Night in Soho), who received a BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film of the Year on the three-time Oscar-winning film, 1917.
This marks Waititi’s return to the world of “Star Wars.” The “Thor: Ragnarok” filmmaker directed the first-season finale of “The Mandalorian” and voiced the bounty hunter turned nanny droid IG-11.
It’s unclear if Waititi’s film is one of Disney’s three untitled “Star Wars” movies dated for Dec. 2022, 2024 and 2026 — or if it’s a separate project.
In addition, Emmy®-nominated writer Leslye Headland (Russian Doll, Bachelorette) is currently developing a new untitled Star Wars series for Disney+. Headland will write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner for the series, which adds to a growing list of Star Wars stories for Disney’s streaming platform including The Mandalorian, now in post-production on Season Two, and two other previously announced series: one based on Cassian Andor’s life prior to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and another following the adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi between Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: A New Hope.
Release dates for both Waititi’s and Headland’s projects have not yet been announced.
