News

Those with siblings know there is a constant battle between love and hate. And even though they only played brother and sister on the big screen, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were no different. Now, as the death of Fisher approaches its eighth anniversary, Hamill remembers his bond with his Star Wars co-star, even saying what he would tell her if he had the chance.

Carrie Fisher passed away in December 2016, leaving behind a legacy not just of Star Wars but a wealth of film and television appearances, solidifying herself as an icon of the screen. Hamill and Fisher primarily worked together throughout the original Star Wars trilogy but the two also maintained a relationship that could be described as something all close friends experience. “We were brother and sister in more than one way, where we would fight too. And then, days later, it was all forgotten. She was marvelous,...

Star Wars: Every Droid You Didn't Know that was Voiced by a Celebrity - Main Image

Droids have always been a source of slapstick and comedy in the Star Wars universe. While fans can’t see the person operating the droid, Lucasfilm does tend to cast some well-known faces to play the occasional bucket of bolts.

Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker have already gone down in Star Wars as the most iconic droid actors, but here are some droid characters from the series that some fans may not have known were voiced by celebrities.

Bb-8 (The Force Awakens) – Bill Hader, Ben Schwartz

Starting the list, Bb-8 was considered iconic for Disney-era Star Wars as he was the first droid to kick off the Sequel Trilogy. Though he’s unintelligible throughout the films, the sounds from Bb-8 come from comedians Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live) and Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog...

Warning: contains spoilers for Time Bandits (1981) & (2024) episodes one & two.

“Strong language, self-harm references & violence. This programme isn’t suitable for younger viewers,” is the warning from Channel4.com to anybody currently wishing to stream Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy adventure film Time Bandits in the UK. Despite the film’s “G” (all ages admitted) rating, the streamer asks viewers to confirm that they’re over the age of 16 before it will play.

An overreaction, or fair dos, in light of the film’s meaty battle scenes and famously bleak ending?

The Original Time Bandits Ending

In the film’s final scenes, 11-year-old Kevin (Craig Warnock) awakens in his own bed following a series of perilous adventures through history with a band of time-travelling wannabe thieves played by actors with dwarfism.

After romping through Napoleon’s battlefields, having a hand in the killing of the Minotaur, experiencing the sinking of the Titanic,...

Streaming on: Apple TV

Episodes viewed: 10 of 10

On paper, it looks like the perfect comedy storm: a cult-classic post-Monty Python adventure from Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, adapted and updated by the dudes behind What We Do In The Shadows and The Inbetweeners. But, for all its pedigree and Apple-funded VFX budget, this 21st-century Time Bandits doesn’t deliver the swag.

The main culprits are the titular gang. Portrayed in the original by dwarf performers including David Rappaport, Kenny Baker and Jack Purvis, the Bandits were an engagingly energetic crew, whose fractious antics powered much of the action-comedy (when the big-star cameos weren’t happening) — as loveable as they were amoral. Here, the noticeably ganglier likes of Lisa Kudrow, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva and Charlyne Yi fail to measure up.

The extended running time doesn’t do the concept any favours

This is mostly down to the new troupe’s oddly low-energy shtick,...

Shah has a strong claim to have appeared in more blockbuster movies than anyone else on Earth. He discusses upbraiding Brando, smoking with Christopher Reeve, slanging matches with James Cameron – and a shocking experience at a party with Freddie Mercury

It was 1976 when Kiran Shah saw the advert that would change his life. “It was a sci-fi film looking for a little guy,” he says. Shah turned up at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire and was introduced to a nervous young man named George Lucas. “He said: ‘Can you get in that dustbin thing?’ I was a bit too tall for it but I got in, they put the lid on, and he said: ‘Can you look left, look right?’” Shah didn’t realise he was auditioning for the role of R2-D2 in Star Wars. He didn’t get the job – it went to Kenny Baker – but Lucas’s casting director liked Shah,...

Richard Marquand directed Return of the Jedi, the final installment in George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy. However, he sadly passed away less than four years after the film’s release. A new unpublished interview conducted with Marquand before his passing was later released on the eve of the film’s 30th anniversary.

Richard Marquand directed 1984’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Credit: Lucasfilm).

During the interview, Marquand spoke about the experience of directing a Star Wars movie. At the same time, the director also revealed the character he had the hardest time working with, and it was none other than the fan-favorite droid R2-D2. Here is what Marquand had to say about directing the droid in Return of the Jedi and why it was challenging.

Return of the Jedi Director Richard Marquand Talks Working With R2-D2

Return of the Jedi marks the final entry in the...

R2-D2 is a curious character in "Star Wars" lore. It's a three-foot-tall trashcan-shaped high-tech utility knife on wheels, most often used as a navigational computer (it can be plugged into the navigational systems of small spacecraft), and only communicating using a series of beeps and computerized chirping noises. Other characters talk to R2-D2 as if it's a human being, and indeed, some of its computer language sounds a little bit like a human voice, but one might be able to question if R2-D2 possesses consciousness. 

R2's sounds were provided by long-term "Star Wars" sound designer and editor Ben Burtt, and in multiple "Star Wars" films, actor Kenny Baker operated R2's moving parts from within. The human touch leads many to rest assured that R2 is indeed a conscious being with feelings and memories beyond mere computational storage. R2's consciousness was reinforced in the 1985 animated TV series "Droids,...

The Phantom Menace was a glorious success in terms of box office earnings but the movie that was included in the Star Wars prequel trilogy met with heavy criticism for one primary reason. The trilogy, unlike the sequel movie series, seemed juvenile as considered by fans and critics.

George Lucas. Credit: Joey Gannon/Creative Commons

Now, a few decades later, the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas came to defend the prequel trilogy. However, fans are not ready to accept the reasoning the legendary director provided. Star Wars is one of the biggest and most successful franchises in the history of entertainment and Lucas was the mastermind behind the visionary sci-fi world which still adds shows and movies in it.

George Lucas Defends Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

A still from the Star Wars movie The Phantom Menace. Credit: 20th Century Studios.

George Lucas has finally responded...

Star Wars The Phantom Menace: Where Are They Now in 2024 on Film's 25th Anniversary? - Main Image

What happened to the cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace since 1999? Where are they now? In celebration of Star Wars: Phantom Menace's 25th anniversary, fans will get to rewatch the entire Skywalker Saga in theaters this May.

Where Are the Original Cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in 2024?

As fans reminisce about the first chapter of the Skywalker saga, here's where the cast is, as of 2024!

Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn

Initially starring as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in 1999's Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Liam Neeson later became involved in several projects in the franchise.

Moving past being best known for his action flicks like Taken, Neeson lent his voice in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker and Tales of the Jedi to reprise his role.

"Fear is the path to the dark side..." Time to return to that galaxy far, far away. 20th Century has revealed a brand new trailer for the 25th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace in theaters this May. This highly anticipated prequel in the Star Wars series opened in the summer of 1999, some 25 years ago, and the hype was through the roof. I remember waiting in line just to get tickets, and all the mania waiting for it to open. Then everyone went to see it and did not like it. Now all these years later, is it time for a re-appraisal? In The Phantom Menace, two Jedi escape a hostile blockade and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to claim their original glory. We're introduced to Anakin, Jar Jar, Qui Gon, Amidala,...

There are some interesting mysteries in the "Star Wars" franchise. For example, what the heck is M-Count? How did the Millennium Falcon make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs when a parsec is a unit of measurement, not time?  And why does Chewbacca tilt his head to the side so often, particularly when he hears something that might be confusing? It's a movement reminiscent of one that dogs make when they hear something interesting and are trying to parse it out, tilting their heads from side to side in curiosity, so one might think that's it. After all, Chewie even has the luscious locks of an Irish Setter and a nose reminiscent of a Pekingese, so it would make sense.

Sadly, Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew died in 2019 at the age of 74, but before he passed away he shared a tiny tidbit about Chewie's classic head tilt, and it turns...

Thanks to the generation-defying success of "Star Wars" and the obsessive passionate fanbase that followed, no stone has gone unturned in documenting the making of George Lucas' epic, fantastical space opera. Whether it's acknowledging how Lucas revived a 1950s form of filmmaking technology to pull off the effects or how Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, helped Mark Hamill land the role of Luke Skywalker, you don't have to be a film historian to put together a timeline of how "Star Wars" came to be. As impressive as it is to hear all about the technical mastery that went into making spaceships, planets, alien creatures, and the iconic costume designs, there's also a lot of fun to be had to learn about the backstage hijinks the cast and crew got into.

Like the time Biggs Darklighter, Luke Skywalker, and Laze "Fixer" Loneozner went on an unsanctioned horse riding adventure.

If that...

Every movie is a miracle, and few movies are as seminal but also as well-documented almost-disasters as the original "Star Wars" trilogy. From actors almost quitting, to inventing visual effects and barely delivering on time, and much more as the trilogy went on, it's shocking that "Star Wars" has become the cultural juggernaut that it has.

Thankfully, the movies were released, and they became a huge turning point in American blockbuster cinema. Part of why "Star Wars" works as a franchise is that it features a fully fleshed-out world. The galaxy far, far away is one with vast, unique, and lived-in worlds with their own cultures, their looks, and ecosystems. There are countless creatures with intricate designs that make this feel like a real world filled with real people. Part of why this worked so well is that George Lucas was intentionally vague when it came to the look of the world,...

As a tiny kid when "Star Wars: Episode VI -- Return of the Jedi" came out, I fell in love with Ewoks. As an adult who frequently talks about "Star Wars," I get a lot of crap for the affection I still have for them. Yeah, they were going to be Wookies at one point, and sure, that would have been cool, but there is something so silly and loveable about seeing these tiny little man-eating teddy bears angrily attacking stormtroopers that just warms my heart. Wicket (Warwick Davis), our Ewok protagonist, is the cutest. It was his mannerisms that got me. The moment he plops down next to Leia (Carrie Fisher) when he realizes she has food still makes me giggle every time I watch -- including my viewing for this article five minutes ago. 

As it turns out, Warwick Davis said that there was one improvised moment during shooting that really stuck,...

C-3Po (Anthony Daniels) will not hesitate to tell you when he's unhappy. From the first time we meet him in the original "Star Wars," through that entire trilogy, his appearances in the prequels and the sequels, and every other place he shows up, he complains. I mean, we love him very much, and being crotchety is kind of his thing, but he really does grumble a lot. Still, the golden droid does have a few pleasures in life. No matter how much he grouses at his little droid buddy R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), it's clear that he loves the walking garbage can. He also loves a really good oil bath. Hey, everyone loves a spa day, right? Especially when you have a bad case of dust contamination.

In "A New Hope," after Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his Uncle Owen (Phil Brown) pick up the two lost droids from a group of Jawas,...

Perhaps no other film has shaped Hollywood like "Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope" has since 1977, which is not bad for a movie whose crew regarded it as a joke during production. George Lucas' epic saga of space wizards, space fascists, and plucky everyday heroes long ago in a galaxy far, far away was ground-breaking in its VFX, yet its story looked to the past. Drawing from a myriad of sources across different cultures and genres, Lucas wove a fairy tale as elemental as any in its depiction of the eternal war between the forces of darkness and light.

Due to its success, the cast of "Star Wars" would forever be associated first and foremost with their roles in the film, sometimes to the chagrin of the actors who had led long and illustrious careers before that. For the likes of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels,...

Since the first "Star Wars" film came out in 1977, the sci-fi universe has continued to spawn fan debate. At what moment did Darth Vader figure out that Luke was alive and his son? Why doesn't Darth Vader recognize R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3Po (Anthony Daniels)? Why in the world would Luke still keep the last name Skywalker when his father Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) might find him? How did Leia (Carrie Fisher) remember her mother's sadness if she'd just been born when Padmé (Natalie Portman) died? 

We ask these questions with love ... mostly. One that has always bugged fans (including me) is this: If both Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) and Yoda (Frank Oz) disappear when they die, before becoming Force ghosts, why doesn't the same happen for the redeemed Anakin Skywalker? If you recall, Obi-Wan's brown robes just fall to the ground after Darth Vader kills him.

With the notable exception of the beloved Carrie Fisher, many of the iconic lead actors in the "Star Wars" saga are still with us. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman are all going strong, and so are the stars of the space opera's most recent episodes. Some of the actors from the original film who were already veterans at the time, like Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing, died some years ago, but both enjoyed long lives beyond the average age.

Sadly, this cannot be said of numerous other actors involved in the big screen franchise and its recent TV spin-offs. Performers have died in their 70s, 60s, and 50s, many of them leaving us wishing we could have seen more years of great performances from them. Whether they had spotlight roles or were hidden behind alien masks, here are the "Star Wars" actors we lost too soon.

The most rudimentary research into the creative origins of the groundbreaking 1977 sci-fi flick "Star Wars" will reveal to the reader that creator George Lucas was inspired by "Flash Gordon" serials from the 1930s, as well as Akira Kurosawa's 1958 epic "The Hidden Fortress." Kurosawa's film famously opened with two clownish characters (Kamatari Fujiwara and Minoru Chiaki) who aimed to earn their fortune as samurai. After several misadventures, the peasants unwittingly become embroiled in a much larger plot about a missing princess (Misa Uehara), a war, and a brave protective warrior (Toshiro Mifune). "Star Wars" borrowed that film's structure, introducing audiences to its sci-fi action through the eyes (lenses?) of the robotic characters C-3Po (Anthony Daniels) and the non-humanoid R2-D2. 

C-3Po was a prissy, fastidious droid who seemed impatient with the foibles of the organic beings he lived with, and was frequently panicked and afraid. The only time...

A phenomenon familiar to those in England, but perhaps obscure to those elsewhere, is the notion of the Page Three Girl. In 1970, the lascivious supermarket tabloid The Sun, a paper run by Rupert Murdoch, began running photographs of up-and-coming models, usually topless, on page three. The photos became so popular that other tabloids like the Daily Mirror and the Daily Star followed suit. The models featured became known as Page Three Girls, and some of them became minor celebrities for their spreads. Page Three Girls, of course, sparked an enormous amount of controversy. From this author's own childhood recollections, some tried to pass off the topless pictures phenomenon as a bit of harmless, sexy fun folded into a newspaper that was already completely lacking in credibility anyway. Others objected to the outwardly prurient nature of the nudie pictures, pointing to them as a prime example of widespread sexism and the commodification of women's bodies.

This post contains spoilers for "The Empire Strikes Back."

In 1980, "The Empire Strikes Back" had already screened in about a hundred theaters when executive producer and "Star Wars" creator George Lucas decided that the ending was confusing and needed some last-minute changes. According to StarWars.com, before the movie expanded its theatrical rollout any further, Lucas had the team at Industrial Light & Magic add shots to give clarity to the geography of the Millennium Falcon in relation to the medical frigate where Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and the droids C-3Po (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) stand looking out the window.

It wouldn't be the last time Lucas tinkered with "The Empire Strikes Back," as the version that's now streaming on Disney incorporates further changes he made for its 1997 Special Edition re-release. In 2022, Hamill revealed that the medical frigate scene was itself a late...

Paul Grant, a “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter” actor, has died at the age of 56.

He was found collapsed Thursday outside of the London train depot Kings’ Cross Station by police. His family confirmed the news to The Sun on Monday. The cause of death has not been specified.

Grant was rushed tot he hospital, where he was declared brain dead.

His family made the decision to turn off his life support machine Sunday.

Also Read:

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Son ‘Critically Ill,’ Composer to Miss ‘Bad Cinderella’ Broadway Opening

“I’m devastated. My dad was a legend in so many ways. He always brought a smile and laughter to everyone’s face,” his 28 year-old daughter Sophie Jayne Grant, told The Sun. “He would do anything for anyone and was a massive Arsenal fan. He was an actor, father and grandad.”

“He loved his daughters and son and his girlfriend Maria very much,...

The Star Wars franchise boasts a whole lot of rogues, from Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), but none can hold a candle to Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) in the charm department. From the first moment we meet him in "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back," the man oozes charisma from every pore. Part of it is Williams' natural charisma (which was carried on beautifully with Donald Glover's portrayal in "Solo: A Star Wars Story"). Part of it is the delivery of lines like, "Everything you've heard about me is true." A very big part of it is that cape he always has on. Williams swirls that thing around and wears it like he was born in it. 

For a quick refresher -- not that anyone could forget Lando -- this gambler and con man-turned General of the Rebellion met Han Solo...

Happy Valley star Rhys Connah has responded to some of the fan theories surrounding the show’s ending.

BBC One’s acclaimed crime drama reaches its climax on Sunday (5 February), with the finale of its third and final season.

The Independent has recapped all the major talking points from last week’s dramatic penultimate episode.

Ahead of the finale, viewers have been speculating about the fates of Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire), Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) and others.

But Connah, who plays teenaged Ryan, seemed unconvinced by many of the guesses.

“One of my mates at college, he loves the show. So when we started filming, he wrote a big list with all the ideas of everything he thinks is going to happen,” he said in an interview with the BBC.

“Every time he watches an episode, he’ll sit there with his notes and go, ‘It happened, right, what’s going to happen now?...

Newsnight viewers – and Victoria Derbyshire – were unable to contain their laughter after Conservative peer Ken Baker’s phone wouldn’t stop ringing on TV.

During Tuesday (31 January) night’s episode of the BBC political programme, presenter Derbyshire sat down to discuss the state of the Tory party with the 88-year-old politician.

However, Baker’s phone began ranging during the conversation, with the Baron saying: “My advice to him is not to listen to my telephone, never mind.”

But while Baker thought he’d put his phone away, it kept ringing, leading him to ask Derbyshire: “Will you turn it off?”

She put the phone on silent, joking: “You’re in demand, you really are.”

The phone began ringing againt as the conversation kept on the topic of prime minister Rishi Sunak, with Derbyshire laughing: “Somebody is telling you to shush.”

She handed Baker back his phone at the end of the conversation.

Movie robots are inherently cool. They're brought to life by the best special effects available, like Phil Tippett's amazing stop-motion, or puppeteers inside detailed suits. From Kenny Baker within Lucasfilm's famous R2-D2 bucket to the pair of stuntmen, Frankie Carpenter and Frankie Darro, who brought Robby the Robot to life, there are a bunch of ways to pull it off.

But most movie robots require bearing a couple of things in mind. One is if the audience is supposed to empathize with them, which means comforting, funny voices — Tars, for example — or human-ish eyes, like Optimus Prime. The other is how close are they to falling into the uncanny valley. We're wired to notice when something doesn't look quite right, and some movie robots benefit from using that to scare the hell out of us. There's another level of robot movie power to discuss, and that's how...

Spoilers for the latest episode of "Andor" will follow.

In the weeks since "Andor" arrived on the scene, it has proven itself to have absolutely zero interest in cameos, references, or Easter eggs just for the sake of them. This radical, novel idea to put story and character above shared universe connections — in case it's not clear, please note the sarcasm dripping from that sentence — puts the prequel series in a league of its own compared to other "Star Wars" media in recent years. As surface-level enjoyable as they might be, shows like "The Mandalorian" and "The Book of Boba Fett" increasingly seem to exist solely to activate the pleasure centers of fanboy brains, digitally de-aging actors for off-putting and distracting appearances, or turning a standalone story into a semi-sequel to a much more popular series for kicks.

Meanwhile, "Andor" has consistently refuted those meme-worthy allegations tossed at "Star Wars...

Taika Waititi is a busy man. In addition to his big-budget productions, he also has a smaller film titled, Next Goal Wins, which has currently completed production. He is also producing the What We Do in the Shadows series as well as producing and acting in Our Flag Means Death for HBO Max. Variety now reports that the New Zealander will be co-producing, writing, and directing for the new series, Time Bandits, over at Apple TV .

The official plot for Time Bandits reads that it is “a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an eleven-year-old history nerd.” It was recently revealed that Lisa Kudrow, of Friends fame, will be joining the cast as Penelope. Kal-El Tuck from Unseeing Evil will play the eleven-year-old history nerd, Kevin. Charlene Yi, of Knocked Up and Paper Hearts, is cast to play Judy. Tadhg Murphy...

The “Time Bandits” TV series at Apple from Taika Waititi has found its main cast, Variety has learned.

Joining the series are: Lisa Kudrow as Kevin; Charlyne Yi as Judy; Tadhg Murphy as Alto; Roger Jean Nsengiyumva as Widgit; Rune Temte as Bittelig; Kiera Thompson as Saffron; and Rachel House as Fianna.

The official description of the 10-episode series describes it as “a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an eleven-year-old history nerd (Tuck).”

Kudrow is repped by CAA, Viewpoint and Gochman Law Group. Tuck is repped by rebel nineteen.

Yi is repped by Global Artists Agency, manager Gladys Gonzalez and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. Murphy is repped by Susannah Norris Agency. Nsengiyumva is repped by United Agents.

Temte is repped by Actors in Scandinavia, in the US by Artist International, and Jackoway Austen. Thompson is repped by Cvgg. House is repped by Lion Rock Management.

You just can’t get away from David Warner. Whether you’re watching an episode of Babylon 5 or hearing his voice as Ra’s al Ghul in Batman: The Animated Series, there’s a ubiquity to David Warner that all true fans of superheroes, science fiction, and fantasy know without thinking about it. Yes, Warner did a lot of work that wasn’t sci-fi or fantasy, but his omnipresence within those genres is partly what made him so beloved. Warner passed away recently at the age of 80, and because he’s been in soooo many things we’ve all loved, it feels difficult to accept that he’s gone.

It would be impossible to list every single one of Warner’s projects, so instead here is a curated David Warner movie marathon, highlighting some of his greatest sci-fi and fantasy hits, and a few deep cuts you may not have seen.

Why is it that, when a horror film achieves something special, both the critics and the public tend to elevate it above and beyond the ‘lowly’ horror genre? David Lynch’s most humane and sympathetic film still makes our heads spin, and this new 4K remaster renders Freddie Francis’s great cinematography at its best. Lynch extends and develops the visual nightmares of his experimental Eraserhead for this true-life classic. Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller and Freddie Jones all give indelible, emotionally-moving performances. How many horror pictures hold up hope for social decency and personal dignity?

The Elephant Man

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 1051

1980 / B&w / 2:35 widescreen / 123 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date September 29, 2020 / 39.95

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie Jones, Michael Elphick, Hannah Gordon, Helen Ryan, John Standing, Dexter Fletcher, Lesley Dunlop, Phoebe Nicholls, Lydia Lisle,...

On paper, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge should be a winner. Disney’s lavish theme park bills itself as immersing guests in Star Wars by transporting them to the outer rim planet of Batuu during the Sequel Trilogy. You can have a themed cocktail in Oga’s cantina, construct your own lightsaber and even pilot the Millennium Falcon. The park was expected to be a smash hit, but attendance figures have so far been disappointing.

My initial theory was that potential customers were waiting for the park to finish construction, with the centrepiece Rise of the Resistance ride scheduled to launch months after the opening. But that’s now up and running in both California and Florida and there hasn’t been a huge uptick in guests. Now, it seems Disney is beginning to introduce some more legacy characters in the hope of drawing in more visitors, recently announcing that...

A telephone conversation with Anthony Daniels can be unnerving, particularly when a crackly connection lends his already familiar voice a slight mechanical quality, making it all feel impossibly close to an actual chat with C-3Po. Daniels, 77, has played that droid since 1977 in movies, cartoons, video games, and various other venues (including The Muppet Show and Sesame Street), adventures he recounts in his entertaining new book, I Am C-3Po — The Inside Story. It initially presents his success as a weird Faustian bargain — you get to be in the biggest movie ever made,...

It was March 22, 1976 — the first day of shooting “Star Wars.” As Mark Ramsey’s new “Inside Star Wars” podcast reimagines those first hours in the Tunisian desert, it was a period of falling droids, an unlikely cameo by Jesus Christ, and lots of doubt from Sir Alec Guinness. You can listen to an exclusive clip on Apple or right here.

Ramsey is the host of the previous hit Wondery podcasts “Inside Jaws” and “Inside Psycho,” among others. Through research, a little imagination and stunning sound design, he and producer Jeff Schmidt re-create the grueling process of bringing now-classic films to life.

Also Read: Carrie Fisher Didn't Want to Be an Actress. She Became an Icon (Podcast)

“Inside Star Wars” bounces from a doubt-plagued George Lucas to bewildered thespian Sir Alec Guinness, and from Harrison Ford’s carpentry career to Kenny Baker’s family drama. It covers the entire lifespan of the film,...

Though R2-D2 and C-3Po have appeared in every Star Wars episode to date, it’s been a while now since the two of them have been given much opportunity to interact with each other, with the duo being kept mostly separate in the ongoing Sequel Trilogy. That looks set to change, however, with the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, with actor Jimmy Vee announcing the end of his time on set with a shout out to his costar Anthony Daniels.

For the last few movies, Vee has taken over from original R2 actor Kenny Baker, who was credited as consultant for The Force Awakens before his passing in 2016. Now it seems that Vee has filmed his last scenes for J.J. Abrams’ next film, with the star taking to Twitter with a set photo of R2 and 3Po, along with the following message:

“It’s been a pleasure working with you.

Willow is 30 years old this month! I remember seeing this movie in theaters when I was a kid and I absolutely loved it. It was such a fun and adventurous fantasy film that I will always enjoy. It's just one of those films that always makes me happy when I watch it. 

In celebration of the film's 30th anniversary, I thought I'd put together a list of fun facts about the Ron Howard directed and George Lucas produced film that you may or may not have know thanks to IMdB. 

You will find 25 fun facts below along with a great vintage behnd-the-scenes featurette for the film that you've got to watch!

George Lucas specifically wrote this film for Warwick Davis after meeting him on the set of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. He was only 17 years old.As Val Kilmer was getting out of his crow cage between takes,...

Despite years of flying around on the Millennium Falcon with that holochess game on board, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” shows Chewbacca never managed to improve his strategy.

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” follows young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) as he gets started on his life of crime, meets and befriends Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), gets hold of the Millennium Falcon and gambles with Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover). It also stars Woody Harrelson, who plays Tobias Beckett, Han’s mentor in piracy. In a new clip released ahead of the movie’s May 25 launch date, we discover how Chewie learned the game, and why he might need some lessons.

The clip finds Tobias teaching Chewie to play Dejarik, a chess-like game played on a round board, in which players control holographic monsters that fight each other. Fans of “A New Hope,” the original “Star Wars” film, will recognize the game as the one Chewie (Peter Mayhew) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) play after leaving Tatooine.

Watch the video above.

Also Read: Why Chewbacca Is the Unsung, Disrespected Hero of the 'Star Wars' Universe (Commentary)

As Tobias shows Chewie the rules of the game, he beats the Wookiee with a move that’s also an Easter Egg — Tobias’ big green lizard-creature picks up and body slams Chewie’s smaller yellow guy. It’s the exact same move R2 uses against Chewie in “A New Hope.” You’d think Chewbacca might have learned in the intervening years, given that he could have been practicing all that time.

In “A New Hope,” R2’s monster-smashing move causes Han (Harrison Ford) to caution C-3Po (Anthony Daniels) and R2 about their strategy, suggesting they shouldn’t upset Chewie. C-3Po argues that nobody worries about upsetting a droid.

“That’s because a droid don’t pull people’s arms out of their sockets when they lose,” Han explains. “Wookiees are known to do that.”

Also Read: Every Porg in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Ranked, From Dorky to Adorable (Photos)

Thinking better of the whole thing, 3Po suggests a new strategy to R2: Let the Wookiee win.

It seems that, while Chewie was fine with letting the droids think he might get a little violent over his Dejarik fortunes in “A New Hope,” he really isn’t prone to pulling off the arms of people who beat him. That’s probably because he’s terrible at the game and would wind up with a lot of arms, but no wins.

Read original story ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ Shows Chewie Has Been Bad at Holochess For Years (Video) At TheWrap...

Everyone knows that I love Star Wars. If you didn’t know, you now do. Imagine my excitement when I came upon something that looked like this:

That is the Emperor in a forward racing position piloting an Imperial Shuttle (one of my favorite ship designs). This image comes from Hot Wheels’ new line of Star Wars Battle Rollers. There are currently 5 options available: Emperor Palpatine in the Imperial Shuttle, Darth Vader in Tie Fighter, Luke Skywalker in his X-Wing, Boba Fett piloting Slave I (can you spot the weird part there), and Rey in the Millennium Falcon. These are Die-Cast toys (hence made of metal) with a ball bearing as the base which allows them to roll, race, crash, drift, and more. They are currently selling online for $12.07 and look like fun stocking stuffers for the fan of any age.

In addition to these five racers, YakFace.com reports...

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is finally here, and it’s being met with widespread critical acclaim. That said, there is a certain disquiet rumbling amongst a subset of the fandom due to the movie’s bold choices and unexpected turns. In contrast to the familiar, nostalgia-tinged The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi is keen to challenge our presumptions about the saga.

All that said, it’s still made with a lot of love for what has come before and as such features many a nod to the previous films in the franchise. There are some great obvious ones, for example, such as R2-D2 replaying Leia’s hologram message from A New Hope, the attack on Crait calling back to the Battle of Hoth and, last but not least, the poorly-kept secret that was Yoda’s cameo.

However, Episode VIII also features a lot of callbacks and references that are much easier to miss.

Kids are adorable by nature and they have some of the best questions. PeopleTV just did a video where kids asked questions of the cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi such as “Do you prefer R2-D2 or C-3Po?” The correct answer is R2-D2 (sorry Laura Dern), but it’s not just about the answer they give but the way that the cast answer these questions is hilarious. Gwendoline Christie is the funniest one in this video talking about having a crush on R2-D2 and playing with her own Bb-8 at home. Of course, you'll hear answers from John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Kelly Marie Tran, Benicio Del Toro, and Rian Johnson as well. The best thing about this video is that it has no spoilers for the upcoming movie, but it helps get you all excited for when you see it this weekend. What questions would...

Spoilers below for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an emotional film, for many reasons, markedly because it is the last time the late Carrie Fisher will appear onscreen as Princess-cum-General Leia Organa. I made it to the end in one piece, though, a bit misty eyed perhaps and with the occasional ache of melancholy, until a dedication played midway through the credits: "In Loving Memory of Our Princess, Carrie Fisher."

Then everything came bubbling up and the theater chose that moment, as a truly unexpected amount of tears sprung forth, to flip on the house lights. And, of course, I wasn't alone. Looking around at the other damp, red eyes, the blotchy, streaked cheeks, it was and still is unfathomable to imagine what the next Star Wars episode will be like without Carrie as Leia, to think of how her absence will be explained away. (Episode IX was meant...

As one of the most anticipated movies of 2017, everyone has been buzzing about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, including the fashion industry. Not only did the stars include winks to the film (from little details, like Daisy Ridley’s star brooches at the film’s London photocall, to cosmically huge nods) in their red carpet style, but tons of designers were inspired by the film to recreate special capsule collections dedicated to a galaxy far, far away. Before you get in line for the film tonight, get caught up on the most major red carpet moments and the capsule...

Bb-8 is spilling it all!

The beloved droid stopped by People Now to dish on everything Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Bb-8 said (beeped?) he loved getting the chance to meet Prince William and Harry on the red carpet at the London premiere of the film and that he might not get along with his evil counterpart Bb-9E. (Disclaimer: The People staff does not speak fluent droid and is likely making this all up.)

As for the best piece of advice fellow robot R2-D2 gave Bb-8?

We don’t really know, but it sounds like, “Don’t get blown up.

Although Star Wars today has become much more than just a movie, there was a time when it was nothing more than a risky business proposition. This is a look at how classic film and cultural changes helped that original film blossom into the most popular and profitable film-based franchise in history.

Let me take you back to a time before midichlorians and Gungans. Before lightsabers and tie fighters. This is a time when Death Star could have referred to a Shuriken, and Skywalker was the nickname for future NBA Hall of famer David Thompson. It was 1973 and George Lucas began writing the script for what would become Star Wars, later Episode IV: A New Hope. At this time, Lucas had completed filming his second feature film, American Graffiti, which would become a hit. His first feature film was 1971’s Thx-1138, a dystopian sci-fi, and a flop in theaters. However,...

This review is a no-spoilers zone, so let's cut to the chase: The Last Jedi – Episode VIII of the Star Wars saga – is simply stupendous, a volcano of creative ideas in full eruption. Writer-director Rian Johnson, known for indies such as Looper and Brick, eases into epic filmmaking like a pro. The Star Wars universe is the best toy box a fanboy could ever wish for, and Johnson makes sure that Jedi is bursting at the seams with knockout fun surprises, marvelous adventure and shocking revelations that will leave your head spinning.

This review is a no-spoilers zone, so let's cut to the chase: The Last Jedi – Episode VIII of the Star Wars saga – is simply stupendous, a volcano of creative ideas in full eruption. Writer-director Rian Johnson, known for indies such as Looper and Brick, eases into epic filmmaking like a pro. The Star Wars universe is the best toy box a fanboy could ever wish for, and Johnson makes sure that Jedi is bursting at the seams with knockout fun surprises, marvelous adventure and shocking revelations that will leave your head spinning.

Porgs! What are they? While the newest creatures to join the “Star Wars” universe have gotten plenty of buzz since first debuting via a quick shot in a behind the scenes video unveiled in July at Disney’s D23 event, speculation is still running high as to their actual nature and necessity. Although further looks at marketing materials have made it clear that the seabird-like animals form some kind of bond with Chewbacca during the course of the Rian Johnson-directed feature, whether or not they will go the way of lauded sidekicks like C-3Po and R2-D2 or be maligned misfires like Jar Jar Binks or literally anyone introduced via “Holiday Special” remains to be seen.

But “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” star Gwendoline Christie, who returns to the series for her second outing as the fearsome Captain Phasma, has her own ideas about all of that. While some...

Less than two weeks until the release of probably the most anticipated movie of 2017: Star Wars: The Last Jedi. I know I can’t shut up about it and I have to be even more careful about what articles I read (and write) for fear of spoiling something. That being said, I do enjoy reading some things that shouldn’t spoil plot points. For instance, the global press conference for The Last Jedi was on December 3, 2017, and there was a lot of secrecy happening. The film was not screened for the press and the cast and director were very secretive in their comments. We have a short list of five things that were learned at the press conference that our own Joey Paur was attending. I’m going to throw up a Spoiler Alert here, but you should read #3. It’s hilarious and 100% spoiler free. I will be summarizing most of the points here.

It’s the latest round of Kids Interview — and the cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi is in the adorable hot seat.

First up is 10-year-old Cooper who wants to know who the cast prefers — R2-D2 or C-3P0?

While John Boyega chooses C-3P0 because he could “possibly take him apart and sell his parts,” Gwendoline Christie says she actually had “quite a big crush on R2-D2 as a child.”

Next is 5-year-old Tula, who asks if the cast is scared of Darth Vader. Daisy Ridley responds saying, “Everyone is scared of Darth Vader, but now we’re...

I love ThinkGeek. They have such cool geeky things like glow-in-the-dark Death Star cufflinks. Right now they are having a sale on all things Star Wars where you can save up to 70%! Bb-8 Sphero with Force Band? On sale! R2-D2 Bowls? On sale. Go see if those awesome cookie cutters you’ve been wanting for months are on sale right now! They totally are. This is especially fortuitous timing with the holidays coming up and needing to find that perfect gift for your favorite Star Wars fan.