• Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Details Announced - Street Date March 31

    Posted Sun Feb 23, 2020 at 11:13 AM PST by

    Final Details have been announced for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker with a street date of March 31. In addition to a multitude of retailer exclusives, Disney will also be releasing all previously unavailable on 4K disc titles as individual releases as well. Let's also not forget that Best Buy will be offering a retailer exclusive with all nine films of the Star Wars saga, called The Skywalker Collection which works out to around $26 per movie.

    Finally, don't forgot to visit the linked Forum where all the March 31st Star Wars releases are catalogued, with purchase links, near the bottom of the article or here, or just click the links to the discs mentioned in this article, your choice --

    Here is what Disney officially says about The Rise of Skywalker :

    Everything you want from a Star Wars film” —Owen Gleiberman, Variety

    OWN THE FINAL FILM IN THE CONCLUSION OF THE SKYWALKER SAGA

    STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

    Over two hours of bonus material includes a feature-length, making-of documentary and behind-the-scenes access to the cast and filmmakers who brought the epic scenes and characters to life

    BURBANK, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2020) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams’ riveting, inspiring conclusion of the seminal Skywalker saga, electrified audiences around the globe, earning more than a billion dollars worldwide. Soon fans can complete their collections when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrives digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and via Movies Anywhere on March 17, two weeks before it lands physically in 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on March 31.

    Bonus material includes a feature-length, making-of documentary, which goes behind the scenes with the cast and filmmakers from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and explores the legacy of the Skywalker saga. Bonus features also dig into the film’s Pasaana desert scenes, including the thrilling landspeeder chase, and the ship in which Rey discovers family secrets as well as a new little droid named D-O. Plus, fans will hear from Warwick Davis, who reprises his role as Wicket the Ewok, as well as the creature effects team that created a record 584 creatures and droids for the film. Digital consumers will receive an exclusive feature highlighting legendary composer John Williams, who has scored every episode in the Skywalker saga.

    Bonus features include*:

    • The Skywalker Legacy – The story lives forever in this feature-length documentary that charts the making of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

    • Pasaana Pursuit: Creating the Speeder Chase – Dive into the making of the movie’s epic landspeeder chase and discover how this spectacular sequence was brought to the screen.

    • Aliens in the Desert – See what it took to create the Pasaana desert scenes, from the sheer scale and complexity of the shoot to its colorful details.

    • D-O: Key to the Past – Explore the ship that connects Rey to the mystery of her missing parents and get to know the galaxy’s newest, irresistible droid.

    • Warwick & Son – Warwick Davis, who played Wicket in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, dons the Ewok costume once more; this time joined by his son Harrison.

    • Cast of Creatures – The team behind the film’s memorable creatures reveal the puppetry, makeup, prosthetics and digital magic that bring them to life!

    Digital Exclusive:

    • The Maestro’s Finale – Composer John Williams reflects on his body of work for the Star Wars saga and shares insights on scoring Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

    * Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer.

    The ninth and final episode in the Skywalker saga welcomed the return of original characters Luke Skywalker, General Leia Organa, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Emperor Palpatine and Lando Calrissian, along with the latest generation of heroes and villains, including Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8, Maz, Rose, General Hux and Kylo Ren. Newcomers include Jannah, a new ally of the Resistance; Allegiant General Pryde of the First Order; and smuggler Zorii Bliss. 

    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is packaged several ways to ensure fans get the most out of their at-home viewing experience. The Multiscreen Edition includes Blu-ray and a Digital copy, giving viewers the flexibility to watch the film on different devices. Those with 4K Ultra HD capability may opt for a 4K UHD Ultimate Collector’s Edition, including 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a Digital copy. 4K Ultra HD provides four times the resolution of HD paired with fully immersive picture and sound and Dolby Atmos audio, allowing viewers at home to practically feel the Force.

    On March 31, coinciding with the physical release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, eight Star Wars films are being released on 4K UHD for the first time: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

    PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:

    FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 142 min.

    RATING: PG-13 in U.S.; PG in CE; G in CF

    ASPECT RATIO: 2.39:1

    AUDIO: 4K UHD Blu-ray = English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio, French and Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus

    Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

    DVD = English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio

      UHD Digital = English Dolby Atmos (some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital (some platforms)

    HD Digital = English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital (some platforms)

    SD Digital = English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital (some platforms)

    SUBTITLES: 4K UHD Blu-ray = English SDH, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish and French

    Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish and French

    DVD = English SDH, Spanish and French

    Digital = English SDH, French, Spanish (some platforms)

    SOCIAL MEDIA:

    Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/star-wars-episode-ix-the-rise-of-skywalker

    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/starwars

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/starwars

    Instagram: http://instagram.com/starwars

    YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/starwars

    ABOUT STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER:

    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Naomi Ackie (Jannah), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Richard E. Grant (General Pryde), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Keri Russell (Zorii Bliss), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), with Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian).

    The film is directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and Michelle Rejwan. Callum Greene, Tommy Gormley and Jason McGatlin serve as executive producers. The screenplay was written by Chris Terrio & J.J. Abrams and the story is by Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow and J.J. Abrams & Chris Terrio, based on characters created by George Lucas. Composer John Williams, who has scored every episode in the Skywalker saga since 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope, returns for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

    ABOUT LUCASFILM LTD.

    Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company's activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California. Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. ©2020 & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. 

    MOVIES ANYWHERE (MA):

    Movies Anywhere simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Movies Anywhere brings together the movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment), The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), and Warner Bros. Participating digital retailers are iTunes. Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV and FandangoNOW. Movies Anywhere offers a library of over 7,500 digital movies, including new releases, and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can connect their Movies Anywhere account with participating digital retailers and enjoy their favorite digital movies from the comfort of their living room and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku® devices, Windows 10 and Xbox devices; and popular browsers. Consumers can also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere.

    ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

    For over 95 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today it brings quality movies, episodic storytelling, music, and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. The Walt Disney Studios encompasses a collection of respected film studios, including Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, and Blue Sky Studios. It is also home to Walt Disney Records, Hollywood Records, and Disney Theatrical Productions, producer of world-class stage shows.

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  • New Trailer for THE MANDALORIAN Promises an Action-Packed STAR WARS Western in Space

    Posted Mon Oct 28, 2019 at 06:40 PM PDT by
    mandalorian

    "Mandalorian, look outside. They're waiting for you."

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  • The Force Is as Strong as Ever in Final STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Trailer

    Posted Mon Oct 21, 2019 at 06:55 PM PDT by
    star wars rise of skywalker

    "Long have I waited..."

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  • Marvel's Kevin Feige Set to Develop New STAR WARS Movie

    Posted Thu Sep 26, 2019 at 08:30 AM PDT by
    kevin feige

    The President of Marvel Studios is heading to a galaxy far, far away.

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  • The Dark Side Emerges in New STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Teaser

    Posted Mon Aug 26, 2019 at 06:34 AM PDT by
    star wars rise of skywalker

    "Your journey nears its end."

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  • Disney+ Releases First Trailer for THE MANDALORIAN & Confirms OBI-WAN Series

    Posted Fri Aug 23, 2019 at 05:45 PM PDT by
    mandalorian

    "Bounty hunting is a complicated profession."

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  • Ewan McGregor in Talks to Return as Obi-Wan Kenobi in New STAR WARS Series for Disney+

    Posted Fri Aug 16, 2019 at 09:21 AM PDT by
    Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+

    The actor could be returning to a galaxy far, far away.

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  • Disney Preps Streaming Bundle with Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu for $12.99

    Posted Tue Aug 6, 2019 at 06:45 PM PDT by
    Disney Plus Logo

    The studio's suite of streaming services will be available for a discounted bundle price.

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  • Theme Park Review: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

    Posted Fri Jun 7, 2019 at 03:08 PM PDT by
    Theme Park Review: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Disneyland

    You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy...

    Obi Wan's words ring in my mind as I walk through the tunnel, transporting myself from a nostalgic incarnation of the American west into the remote space outpost of Batuu. Like many young people, I grew up wanting to run off with Luke Skywalker to far-off galaxies. To grab a drink in the Mos Eisley Cantina. To board the Millennium Falcon for adventures unknown. And today I'm finally doing those very things in a very real place.

    (All images captured with a Nikon Z7 and NIKKOR Z 24-70mm F2.8 zoom.)

    Welcome to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Walt Disney's newest land, now open to the public at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Yes, technically we're still waiting on a ride to open before it's finished, and if you're more of a Disney World vacationer, the Florida Galaxy's Edge won't launch until this fall. But if you're in Southern California this summer, you can walk yourself right into your favorite galaxy far, far away. 

    You can gobble the food, guzzle the drinks and, yes, even fly the Falcon with five of your best friends.

    I took my family earlier this week and wanted to share a few first impressions.

    (The Batuu Market)

    Yes, It's a Mall, But...

    Walking from Frontierland into Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge literally takes my breath away. I've been excited to visit, but standing inside, fully immersed, is something different and special. I'm not watching a movie or reading a book. I don't have to imagine anything. It's all just... here.

    Check out these droids waiting for repair. Or the speeders at the mechanic shop. Here's a robot operating a massive barbecue grill at the local market. The First Order is here too, patrolling the city for the Resistance. Their red and black flags blazing symbols of fascist occupation.

    Part of me knows this is nothing but a (very fancy) mall designed to sell clothes and toys and food and drink -- this is the business of show, after all -- but the artistry and craftsmanship on display are extraordinary. Every single square inch of this place brims with story and (fabricated) history and I'm a sucker for it all. Even the bathrooms are beautiful.

    It makes me forget I'm only a hundred meters away from a massive parking structure.

    Flying the Falcon (Galaxy's Edge Rides)

    Galaxy's Edge will eventually have two major attractions. Unfortunately, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance doesn't open until later this year, but know this much: Disney Imagineers called it the most epic attraction they've ever created. For context, I'd say Avatar: Flight of Passage is the most bonkers Disney ride available today, so I'm excited to see if Resistance meets or tops it.

    (Coming soon! Where You Will Wait)

    For now, though, the only Galaxy's Edge attraction is Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run. Imagine Star Tours with six riders sitting in the Falcon's cockpit where two act as pilots, two play gunners, and two become engineers. That's right, you're not just riding along, you're interacting while being judged in the process and on your mission's success.

    (Chewie... we're home.)

    In my opinion, as a ride, Smuggler's Run is just okay. I'm not a big fan of Star Tours because it's less immersive as, say, an IMAX (which is why Flight of Passage is so impressive) or even a real rollercoaster. That said, I was an engineer, which involves pressing eight buttons as they light up, so maybe it's more fun when you're the pilot. The imagery was gorgeous, naturally, and the cockpit bounces and jounces and all those fun things.

    (I let the Wookie win)

    To me, though, the most emotionally fulfilling part was simply being inside the Falcon's corridors. It's like walking into a favorite dream. Just like the city of Batuu, the precision and attention to detail are crazy-good. You can even sit at the infamous Dejarik board and get your picture taken while you wait for your mission.

    Dagobah Drinkin' (Galaxy's Edge Food & Beverages)

    From portable food carts selling snacks and custom Coke bottles (see above) to space cocktails and desserts, there's plenty to drink and eat in Batuu.

    Ronto Roasters sells American style roasted pork and grilled sausages while a droid monitors a massive forge roasting all the yummy space meats.

    (The Milk Stand)

    The Milk Stand offers both A New Hope inspired Blue Milk and The Last Jedi style Green Milk. But don't worry, you don't have to milk any sea cows to enjoy either wone. In fact, they're not actually milk at all. They're a frozen, fruity coconut/rice milk concoction more akin to a smoothie.

    Kat Saka's Kettle sells a fiery-red popcorn-based Outpost Mix.

    Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo offers a variety of vegetarian and meat dishes, from salads and ribs to veggie loaf and beef pot roast. It's definitely the full dining experience in Galaxy's Edge but, alas, you can't enjoy your meal with a beer.

    (Oga's Cantina Menu)

    If you are craving an adult beverage, Oga's Cantina boasts a variety of space cocktails, bubbling virgin drinks for kids and teetotalers, and a few custom beers crafted by Blue Point, New Belgium, Ballast Point, and Sierra Nevada. The drinks and glassware are as visually interesting as the cantina itself, which is already the most popular attraction in Batuu. Is it worth the long wait? I think so. There are a few food snacks as well, but I would have liked to enjoy my Dagobah Slug Slinger and Gammorean Ale with something from Ronto Roasters. Oh well.

    (Dagobah Slug Slinger aka The Space Margarita)

    (Oga's Cantina)

    IMPORTANT TIP: space is limited. If you want to get a drink at Oga's Cantina, you need to register. My advice: find this line as soon as you enter Galaxy's Edge, then wander around waiting for them to text you.

    (Oga's Cantina Droid DJ)

    Choose Your Side, Your Droid, and Your Creature (Galaxy's Edge Merch)

    Batuu feels like a city divided. It may be a remote outpost on the edge of the galaxy, but the First Order controls most of the city, from the spaceport to the market. But The Resistance is here too, just outside the market in the Old Outpost, an open space surrounded by canyon walls and desert plants. There's also a speeder and an X-wing Starfighter.

    The point is, though, that Galaxy's Edge encourages guests to become heroes or villains or both.

    (First Order Cargo)

    First Order Cargo is the place to get your stormtrooper uniforms and First Order enlistment posters. The store is metallic and clean (and a little fascist).

    (Resistance Supply)

    Meanwhile, Resistance Supply is the place to get your Resistance toys, t-shirts, and pilot uniforms & helmets.

    (Droid Depot)

    In the Droid Depot, you get to hand build your own robotic friend as parts appear on a conveyer belt reminiscent of modern Sushi restaurants. Here too you get to choose Resistance or First Order droids, or you can pick up a pre-assembled favorite, like R2D2 or BB8.

    In Savi's Workshop, you get to make your own lightsaber (take that, Harry Potter wands!).

    (Dok-Ondar, I presume)

    In Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, your light vs dark side choices continue. With more stunning production design that includes the above creature, you can choose between blue Resistance artifacts and red First Order gear. 

    (Creature Stall)

    And lastly, over in the market, you'll find several more shops. The Creature Stall sells Kowakian monkey-lizards and other space pets. Black Spire Outfitters sells legitimately gorgeous Jedi-style robes. There are others, of course, but I started losing track.

    Aside from the outrageous prices (make a budget and stick to it or face crushing debt!), what struck me most about the merchandise was the quality and variety. Each place you wander, you can buy cool "limited edition" Star Wars merchandise and memorability.

    Before You Go (A Few Tips)

    ...Updated July 2, 2019...

    Reservations are required to enter Galaxy's Edge through June 23, 2019. I scored mine by booking a night at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels. With a confirmed reservation in hand, you actually have to first go to Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrow Land to pick up a color-coded bracelet, and then you can walk over Galaxy's Edge. It's a little cumbersome, but you can go two hours before your reservation and we didn't face any lines or waiting during this process. Disney was ready and well organized. (Reservations are no longer required.)

    Starting June 24, 2019, anyone with a Disneyland ticket can enter Galaxy's Edge, which I suspect will lead to more crowds. Unfortunately, you won't be able to access Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge during Extra Magic Hour or Magic Morning. As of July (2019), you have to use the Disneyland Park app to get a Fast Pass to enter Galaxy's Edge, and you'll need to get Fast Passes for attractions as well as the Cantina, and they're distributed quite early in the day.

    Final Thoughts

    Like every new land created by the talented Disney Imagineers, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a stunning testament to functional world-building. My favorite lands remain Cars Land in Disney's California Adventure and Pandora in Disney's Animal Kingdom, but Galaxy's Edge is right up there. It's an astonishing accomplishment that is as close as we can ever get to stepping into Star Wars.

    Heck, they even pump in sounds of spaceships taking off or flying over the city. It's so impressive.

    Still, I wouldn't come to Disneyland just to see this one land. Yes, it's filled with an infinite number of small details and even the stores feel like mini-attractions unto themselves. But with only one ride (or even with two), there isn't a full day's worth of activities once you get your fill of the incredible production design. 

    In that sense, if you don't live in Southern California, it might be best to wait until Galaxy's Edge has both rides running and remind yourself to enjoy the rest of the resort at the same time. Or perhaps the Florida incarnation will work better for you.

    Regardless, Star Wars Galaxy's Edge comes highly recommended for Star Wars fans, Disney nerds, and theme park aficionados of all ages. See it for yourself. This is the one you've been waiting to see your whole life.

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  • New STAR WARS Movie From GAME OF THRONES Creators Set for 2022 Release

    Posted Tue May 14, 2019 at 03:00 PM PDT by
    star wars logo

    Winter is coming to a galaxy far, far away in 2022.

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  • May The Fourth Be With You - RIP Peter Mayhew

    Posted Fri May 3, 2019 at 01:14 PM PDT by
    Peter-Mayhew-Star-Wars-May-The-Fourth.jpg

    May the Fourth Be With Us... Always

    Star Wars DayMay the 4th has quickly become a cultural phenomenon. People around the world gather together and celebrate their love for lightsabers, Jedi, Sith, and Midi-chlorians… well, maybe not Midi-chlorians. But you get the picture. This time is typically spent getting hyped for any and everything Star Wars, from new movies such as The Rise of Skywalker to exciting new television events like Disney+'s The Mandalorian. While we should be overjoyed at everything coming our way, this year is a little different. With the breaking news yesterday, we also must stop and thank our favorite big guy, Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew who sadly passed away April 30th at 74 years old at his home in Texas. 

    This one hits hard for me because Chewbacca was my favorite as a little tyke growing up devouring repeated viewings of Return of the Jedi. I didn't have a Luke Skywalker figure. I didn't have a Darth Vader. I didn't have Han Solo and a sure as heck-fire didn't have any of the cool vehicles - but I had a Chewbacca figure! (I still have it!) It's taken a beating over the 30-odd-some years of G.I. Joe battles and Transformers invasions, but he's safely tucked away in my rare collectibles lockbox alongside my first editions of The Crow and Giant Sized X-Men #1.

    Before I ever knew who Peter Mayhew was or that Wookiees didn't actually exist, I knew Chewbacca. Technically, legally, I can say that I saw Return of the Jedi in theaters when I was all of 10 months old. We still have the ticket stub to prove it, but I don't remember sitting in that darkened theater. Like many kids of the 80s, my memories of Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back were on the floor in front of our enormous 25-inch Sony television watching the recorded copies on VHS my dad made from rentals. I couldn't read, but I knew the color of the ink used to label the white stickers on the tapes, and that was good enough for me to figure out which movie was Star Wars, Empire, or Jedi

    Star Wars May The Fourth

    My clearest early Star Wars memory is the day my dad came home with a rental tape of Return of the Jedi. He said he was going to get it. He'd built it up all week long. When he got home from work, he played it cool as a cucumber while my sister and I eagerly awaited confirmation that he executed on his promise. When he finally pulled out the tape from his briefcase, we lost our collective shit. We were so damn excited that it was aggravating waiting through dinner and then the eternity it took for him to hook up our second VHS player so we could make a copy. But it was worth the wait!

    Kids these days just don't know how good they've got it! Back in my day of having to walk to and from school uphill and in a blizzard, we didn't get new Star Wars movies every other year. We didn't get awesome animated T.V. shows that expanded the universe and introduced cool new characters. We got none of that. The best thing we got while we waited for George Lucas to make another movie was The Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. That was it! On the scale of things that's pretty crappy compensation. 

    While I didn't get new movies and TV shows every year, I did get comic book conventions! By 1992 I was a full-on comic addict with a $40 a month habit. I was blown away when I learned conventions were a thing that existed and I could get my favorite books signed. I was even more amazed when I learned that various movie and T.V. personalities would make the rounds and sell autographs and do personal meet and greets. Before May the Fourth and huge dedicated Star Wars conventions were a thing - this was how we got to see our heroes up close and in person. 

    It was at my first Motor City Convention in Detroit that I saw Chewbacca himself - Peter Mayhew. I'd already spent my entire day standing in line getting signatures from guys like Jim Lee, Andy Kubert and Rob Liefeld (Don't judge, I didn't know better at the time). I'd already blown all of my stashed up allowance money on X-Men figures and back issues I needed for my collection. I was literally on my way out the door when he walked in surrounded by eager fans.

    This tall, gentle giant of a man just strode in with a big smile and friendly eyes saying "hi" to people as he tried to make his way to the signature booth for which he was very late. I didn't have the money for an autograph, and my folks were there to pick me up so I couldn't stay - all I could do was watch him pass by. But somehow, in that throng of people, I made eye contact with Peter. His big eyes seemed to get even bigger, and that smile got wider as he gave me a friendly wave - I waved back giddily knowing I just said "hello" to Chewbacca! Through the course of several conventions, I eventually did get to actually meet Peter and shake his hand as we rode in the same elevator together in Chicago, but it's that memory from when I was 11 that sticks with me. It's these kinds of memories that make days like May the Fourth special for fans. 

    It still amazes me that Star Wars has become a generational phenomenon. Consider all of the franchises that have withered, rebooted, or faded into complete obscurity and Star Wars is still here. And if Disney has any say in the matter, it'll be here for a long time to come! With time marching on, we'll have to keep remembering our heroes while we celebrate. Days like May the Fourth make it easy to take a moment from our chaotic day-to-day lives and just have fun. We get to come together and share our experiences of first discovering this wild space opera while we speculate about where that galaxy far, far away is going. We'll also have days like this year where we tip our hats and remember those who are no longer here to celebrate with us who helped bring this wild vision to life and bring so many people so many amazing memories.

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  • New Trailer for VADER IMMORTAL: A STAR WARS VR SERIES Reveals Lightsaber Gameplay

    Posted Fri Apr 12, 2019 at 04:55 PM PDT by
    vader immortal

    Darth Vader is heading to Oculus' new VR system.

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  • Disney Reveals Pricing & Availability for Disney+ Streaming Service

    Posted Thu Apr 11, 2019 at 05:10 PM PDT by
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    Pricing and a launch date have been revealed for Disney's upcoming streaming service.

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  • Disney Announces Opening Dates for STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE Theme Park

    Posted Thu Mar 7, 2019 at 01:50 PM PST by
    star wars rides

    Official launch dates have been revealed for Disney's Star Wars-themed land.

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  • Disney Reveals New Footage of STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE Theme Park Rides

    Posted Wed Dec 26, 2018 at 09:50 AM PST by
    star wars rides

    Disney has released a new behind-the-scenes video for its upcoming Star Wars-themed land set to open at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

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  • Lucasfilm Announces Full Cast for STAR WARS Streaming Series THE MANDALORIAN

    Posted Wed Dec 12, 2018 at 02:25 PM PST by
    mandalorian

    Giancarlo Esposito, Nick Nolte, and more will join star Pedro Pascal in the upcoming show.

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  • Disney Previews New Rides & John Williams' Score for STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE

    Posted Mon Nov 19, 2018 at 06:20 AM PST by
    Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

    New info has been unveiled for the upcoming Star Wars theme park at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

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  • Pedro Pascal Cast as Lead in STAR WARS Series THE MANDALORIAN

    Posted Tue Nov 13, 2018 at 12:30 PM PST by
    mandalorian

    The former Game of Thrones actor will star in the upcoming streaming series.

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  • ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Prequel Series Announced for Disney+ Streaming Service

    Posted Thu Nov 8, 2018 at 02:38 PM PST by
    star wars streaming series

    Another Star Wars series is in the works for the upcoming streaming platform.

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  • Jon Favreau Reveals First Details for New STAR WARS Series THE MANDALORIAN

    Posted Thu Oct 4, 2018 at 08:40 AM PDT by
    Mandalorian

    The director behind Iron Man and The Jungle Book is heading to a galaxy far, far away.

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