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Doctor Aphra's activities during the original Star Wars trilogy suggested she lived beyond the events of Return of the Jedi. But nothing was official until the release of the recent Star Wars comic The Battle of Jakku—Republic Under Siege #1.

The comic confirmed that Aphra was still around in the early days of the New Republic. And this time, she's helping Luke Skywalker by doing what she does best: offering her archeological expertise whether it's wanted or not.

Longtime Aphra fans have been hoping to see more of her after her latest series ended after 40 issues earlier this year. And while another series hasn't been announced (yet), it's clear Marvel is interested in keeping her around -- even as the current run of mainline comics jumps into the New Republic era.

Aphra made her Star Wars debut in 2015 in the original Darth Vader comic run and has since appeared across multiple stories in publishing.

If you’ve played 2023’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, you’re aware that it is quite difficult to beat Darth Vader. In a viral video, a gamer attempted to push the infamous character off a cliff but it turns out, he is not affected by it at all. The player tried to do the same with various other enemies and the results were hilarious.

Taking down Darth Vader in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is quite difficult (Image via Respawn Entertainment)

Players must be very careful while fighting Darth Vader as one wrong move can completely change the outcome of the battle. Similar to the movies, the Darth Vader in the game is also slow but can kill in a single shot, as displayed by the player in their viral video. Darth Vader is a strong enemy who can withstand a lot of attacks, however, he also has a weakness.

Gamer...

The team here at Empire HQ spends a lot of time watching movies. On streaming, at the cinema, on disc, on the little screen on the back of a plane seat — we can't get enough of them. And because we love movies, and watch so many of them, we also love movie trailers. That heart stopping first glimpse at our next cinematic adventure; that perfectly chosen, tone-setting needle drop; that perfectly balanced edit that teases a banger without revealing all of its secrets. The art of the movie trailer is one that's easy to get wrong, and incredibly difficult to get right. And so, as has become an annual tradition, we'd like to take a moment to reflect on the trailers that entertained and enticed us in 2024, stoking conversation and adding to our ever-growing watchlists. Read on for Empire's list of the very best movie trailers we've seen over the past twelve months.

Dave Filoni knows he has his work cut out for him as he continues to write Ahsoka season 2.

The Ahsoka creator is currently hard at work on season 2 and says he's the sole writer on the project, but it's "a challenge," in an interview with Extra TV.

Filoni went into what it's like to write the second season of Ahsoka Tano's show, which features the return of beloved Star Wars Rebels heroes like Hera Syndulla, Garazeb Orrellios, Sabine Wren, Chopper, and Ezra Bridger.

#StarWars: Dave Filoni reveals "Ahsoka" season 2 is happening and he's "so well into" work writing it! Full interview...

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The force is strong with Columbia Sportswear’s latest launch. The popular outdoor brand just announced the release of their new The Vader clothing line, and we’ll be the first to say, it will make you want to jump sides.

Buy Now on columbia sportswear

Officially dropped on December 5, this 16-piece limited-edition collection is made in collaboration with Lucasfilm. According to the official press release, this line...

Denis Villeneuve has a very storied filmography, and it shows that the director takes his inspirations and favorites very seriously. Villeneuve, over the years, has listed some very popular films as among his favorites, such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Empire Strikes Back.

Luke battles Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back || Credit: Lucasfilm

Villeneuve has gone on record to say that both the aforementioned films had given the director some sort of trauma or the other. While the opening of 2001: A Space Odyssey had a deep impression on the director, Villeneuve has also revealed that he was very excited as a child for Empire Strikes Back, which left a very deep impression on him as well.

Denis Villeneuve was very enamored by The Empire Strikes Back Darth Vader in Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd.

The Empire Strikes Back was a film that had...

You might know Akira Toriyama as the creator of Dragon Ball, but did you know that the legendary mangaka had a huge hand in the creation of one of the most used emojis? The emoji in question is the steaming hot pile of poo that everyone seems to love using.

Be it a shitty day, a trash argument, or a fun banter in general, the poop emoji can make any conversation better. But how exactly did Akira Toriyama go from creating Super Saiyan transformations to making a nasty emoji? The answer lies in his past works.

Before Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama was Busy Making Poop the Next ‘It’ Thing Arale picks up a pile pf poop in Dr. Slump by Akira Toriyama | Credits: Viz Media

Before becoming a worldwide icon with the inception of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama wrote Dr. Slump which ran from 1980-1983 in Weekly Shonen Jump. The...

Any roguish hero in the "Star Wars" franchise is always going to be compared to Han Solo. Harrison Ford's iconic character is known for his quick wit, reckless nature, and willingness to break the rules while essentially being a good guy at heart. These traits also apply to Jo Na Nawood, aka Crimson Jack (Jude Law), the lovable misfit in the Amblin-inspired "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" series on Disney+. Despite the obvious similarities to Solo, however, series co-creator Jon Watts told Techradar that Nawood was actually inspired by the actor who plays him:

"It's funny, when we were writing it ['Skeleton Crew'], we would always say 'Nod is a Jude Law-like character.' It feels like he [Law] has already been in 'Star Wars' for a long time, so we just reached out to him and put him in our show. He brings all of these layers of...

In October 2022, Hulu acquired the beloved sitcom Schitt’s Creek after a competitive bidding war with Netflix. The streaming giant paid an astounding $1.2 million per episode, totaling $96 million for all 80 episodes. The three-year deal ensured that the series would stream exclusively on Hulu, starting in October 2022.

Originally distributed by Paramount Global, Schitt’s Creek became part of Hulu’s lineup under this deal. Paramount Global retained the ability to stream the series on Paramount+ during the final year of Hulu’s contract. After the agreement’s conclusion, the rights were set to return to the show’s creators, Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, paving the way for potential new opportunities.

Schitt’s Creek is not the only iconic sitcom Netflix has lost in recent years The iconic cast of Schitt’s Creek. | Official Schitt’s Creek website

The acquisition marked a significant move by Hulu to strengthen its catalog with award-winning content. Hulu President Joe Earley...

With Lucasfilm constantly expanding the Star Wars universe, all eyes are currently set on Ahsoka Season 2, with fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter of Rosario Dawson’s portrayal of the former Jedi apprentice Ahsoka Tano. Meanwhile, expected to go into production in 2025, as Dave Filoni revealed returning as the sole writer for Season 2, there appeared lingering concerns among fans.

A still from Ahoska Season 1 | image: Lucasfilm, Disney

Considering how Ahsoka’s live-action debut left many disappointed with her emotional depth and the complexity of the character, especially after fans loved her from The Clone Wars—there appeared growing concern about whether Dave Filoni will be able to improve the glaring flaw.

Dave Filoni Dropped His Share of Ahsoka Season 2 Update

Following the release of Ahsoka, as the Star Wars show became an enjoyable piece of binge-watch for audiences and an undeniable delight for Star Wars Rebels fans, there appeared rumors...

This article contains spoilers for the first two episodes of "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew."

Back in the day, "Star Wars" used to deal with the fear of the unknown quite a bit. "Episode IV -- A New Hope" alone has plenty of scary moments: Darth Vader (David Prowse, with James Earl Jones providing the voice) is a creepy, unstoppable monster. The Empire is a faceless force of oppression. Animalistic, screeching Tusken Raiders stalk the deserts of Tatooine and nearly end young Luke Skywalker's (Mark Hamill) journey before it even begins. Homesteads and planets are destroyed, countless people die, heroes are trapped in a trash compactor with a monster ... you name it. The other two entries in the original trilogy also have their share of hair-raising moments, from Han Solo's (Harrison Ford) horrifying carbonite prison to the nightmarish fate that befalls anyone cast in the Sarlacc pit.

But all...

The first two episodes of the new “Star Wars” show Skeleton Crew dropped on Disney+ last night at 9 Pm Est. I watched them this morning. While they are a fun 80s-style Spielberian/Lucas-esque show that reminds me of “The Goonies,” “Explorers,” and even “Treasure Planet,” they aren’t exactly “Star Wars” yet.

The show is going for the time period the original trilogy came from (70s and 80s). It definitely has throwbacks to the original trilogy. However, if you took the “Star Wars” references out and made them something else entirely, it wouldn’t change the story too much. That said, we still have six episodes to go, which could change.

Jude Law isn’t in the first two episodes all that much, as the story mostly focuses on the kids and how they get a starship. But the kids are mostly fun and interesting, each with a distinct personality.

Spoilers ahead for "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" season 1, episode 2.

"Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" episode 1 begins with an unfortunate space pirate raid, but soon moves away from the action. The majority of the episode is spent introducing the central quartet of youngsters and the secluded world they live in, only sending them into hyperspace at the very end. 

Episode 2, on the other hand, fills the kids' and the viewers' eyes and ears with the wonders and horrors of the galaxy. it focuses on Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), Kb (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) adjusting to their new situation, meeting new characters, and exploring new places. From the mysterious Onyx Cinder spaceship and its irritable droid first mate Sm-33 (voiced by Nick Frost) to the sordid space station they all end up on, the main characters get to experience new corners of the "Star Wars" galaxy along with the viewer.

This article contains spoilers for the first episode of "Star Wars: The Skeleton Crew."

Jon Watts, perhaps best known for his work bringing Spider-Man to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, incorporates his and co-creator Christopher Ford's love of "Star Wars" and '80s movies to the forefront in "Skeleton Crew." While the brand new show on Disney+ tells the tale of pirates in the era of the New Republic, it also plays the backdrop for a tale of four kids who find a starship and are accidentally whisked away from their home with no way to get back. It takes so many of its cues from the kids-in-adventurous peril tropes of '80s Amblin movies produced or directed by Steven Spielberg. If you're looking for the other side of the grit pendulum-like "Andor," it might sometimes be easy to forget that it's "Star Wars," but "Skeleton Crew" remains...

Spoilers for "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" follow.

Even though the "Star Wars" universe of series, films, and the like take place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, they share plenty of familiar elements with struggles in the human world of Earth. There's romances aplenty and heartbreak, as well as strife as people of different classes attempt to realize their dreams. Oh, and there's also parental problems, primarily (but not entirely) comprised of daddy issues. Luke Skywalker didn't know his own mother, who died in childbirth, and he only realized that his father Anakin was actually the terrifying villain (who eventually breaks good) Darth Vader right after Vader chopped off his hand. And it's not just limited to the original trilogy, either; leaving aside the fact that Luke's mom Amidala dies in childbirth, Anakin himself only has a mother and seems to have been the product of...

Jude Law's love for Star Wars is evident by how quickly he's able to name his favorite Star Wars movies and series. He doesn't shy away from revealing that an offer to be a part of Star Wars has been something he's wanted for eons.

In a new interview with Collider, Law, who stars as Jod Na Nawood in Skeleton Crew, reveals his favorite Star Wars media, what to expect from his character, and his thoughts on all the wild theories about the upcoming series.

When asked if he was relieved to be considered for a part in Star Wars, Law revealed his love for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Mandalorian, and Andor. Law admits watching these Star Wars masterpieces made him wonder which role he could've played if he had been cast in one of them. That's not all, as Law went into much greater detail...

There are actors who define a period of time in the eyes of audiences, who star in groundbreaking, hugely influential projects that are beloved years after they are released, and whose screen presence makes them unforgettable.

One of those actors is Rick Moranis. For many '80s and '90s kids, Moranis was a face greatly familiar to them, a source of comfort in family friendly movies like "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" or their guide into the world of more risqué movies with adult themes and humor like "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Spaceballs." It didn't matter the tone or the genre, Moranis was consistently funny, endearing, and charming -- whether as an innocent floral shop worker who discovers a talking, singing carnivorous plant, or a Darth Vader spoof with plans for world domination (and a penchant for silly ties).

Despite working in so many big hits and franchise-starters,...

We all have our own favorite installments from George Lucas’ Star Wars movies, but there’s no denying that The Empire Strikes Back is the universally accepted answer as the greatest among the bunch.

Credits: Jude Law in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew / Lucasfilm

The 1980 classic masterpiece is considered one of the best science fiction movies of all time and many fans of the Lucasfilm franchise write it at the top of their favorite list. Even actor Jude Law believes it is better than the original Star Wars film.

Jude Law is a Huge Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Fan

While speaking with Collider to discuss and promote his upcoming work on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Oscar-nominated star Jude Law raved about his love and passion for the franchise. Perhaps not a lot of people knew this about him, but he is a self-confessed lifelong fan.

When asked which film...

Not everyone is up for a Star Wars holiday special, but they do have something to celebrate no matter your history with the franchise's more light-hearted side. Combining the self-aware humor of a special with the delightful medium of LEGOs gets even more fun as The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is now on the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel.

The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is now on YouTube!

According to news from the official Star Wars website, "Some of your favorite Lego Star Wars stories are headed to the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel just in time or the holidays!" This project has been on Disney+ since November 2020 but is now available for people with access to other streaming for a limited time. The site describes it as an "endearing special" and says its release will make it "even easier to share your love of the galaxy with...

November flew by! We close this month out with a slew of single issues and one new trade paperback. Let's dive right in!

This Week in Star Wars Comics has The High Republic, the next entry of The Battle of Jakku, and a great gift for Darth Vader fans.

Battle of Jakku — Republic Under Siege #2

Doctor Aphra is back and once again teaming up with Luke Skywalker. Together they will fend off a group of dark side Force users working with the Imperial remnants. Speaking of the leftover Empire, they continue their onslaught on the New Republic.

Battle of Jakku — Republic Under Siege #2 is written by Alex Segura, illustrated by Stefano Raffaele, and the cover artists are Taurin Clarke and Davide Paratore.

The High Republic Adventures – Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone #2

Writer Alyssa Wong is making their debut in The High Republic Adventures with one of their creations, Ruu, an ex-Jedi padawan turned vigilante.

First announced for a 2020 release, Marvel Comics' tradition of Star Wars comic book adaptations finally continues next February with the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation.

Written by Jody Houser and illustrated by artist Will Sliney, the previously-announced five-issue limited series brings 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker film to the page at last. In addition to retelling the Resistance's desperate last stand, the shocking return of Emperor Palpatine and more, the series will include all new scenes not in the final film.

That last part is particularly interesting, especially as Episode IX left Star Wars fans with a long list of unanswered questions. However, we wouldn't necessarily go in expecting any more than what was in The Rise of Skywalker's novelisation. There's always a chance we'll be surprised.

This comic book adaptation arrives just in time for the launch of Charles Soule and Luke Ross' Star Wars: Legacy of Vader,...

After resurrecting EC Comics with Epitaphs from the Abyss and Cruel Universe, Oni Press will continue to expand the eerie universe of EC Comics on January 8th with the first issue of Cruel Kingdom, a new frightful fantasy anthology series that brings the classic EC Comics brand of horror into the ancient times of swords, sorcery, and dark magic.

Ahead of the first issue's anticipated release, we've been provided with an exclusive preview of unlettered pages from writer Chris Condon and artist Charlie Adlard's "Death & Pickaxes," a story that gives a terrifying twist to a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Below, you can check out our exclusive early look at "Death & Pickaxes" as well as the cover art for Cruel Kingdom #1 (including the "Library Variant" cover by Tom Fowler with Nick Filardi), and we also have an exclusive quote from Chris Condon about teaming up with Charlie Adlard to...

As much as I love Star Wars, it was not much of a part of my childhood. I saw the original trilogy one long Saturday when I was thirteen and was hooked as soon as Darth Vader arrived on the screen. But I had the luck to first meet the Ewoks in the 1985 film Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. However, I had never seen Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure until recently. With the film turning 40 this year, let's look back on it with an adult fan's appreciation for childlike wonder.

Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure is a delight for new fans 40 years later

The message I remember from The Battle of Endor is that bravery is important, but you don't have to be brave on your own. I gleaned the same meaning from Caravan of Courage and love it. The story is by George Lucas, so it feels...

Actor Giancarlo Esposito has played a lot of villains over the years. He was fried chicken and meth kingpin Gus Fring on "Breaking Bad" and its prequel series "Better Call Saul," the malicious magic mirror Sidney Glass in "Once Upon a Time," the voice of the megalomaniacal Lex Luthor on "Harley Quinn," and corrupt Vought head Stan Edgar on "The Boys." Instead of shying away from other antagonistic roles, however, he leaned into them, taking on the part of Moff Gideon, the biggest bad on the "Star Wars" Disney+ series "The Mandalorian." 

Esposito is deliciously evil as Gideon, who was one of the warlords responsible for the Great Purge of Mandalore, killing thousands and taking the legendary Darksaber from the Mandalorian people by promising Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) that he will spare her people if she gives it to him. In true villain style, he takes it and then exterminates...

Robert Downey Jr. has always credited his wife Susan Levin for helping turn his life around. And although she’d later become the love of his life, it didn’t seem like the pair would become a thing in the beginning. Despite Downey’s advances, Levin had a few reservations about dating the Oscar-winner.

How Robert Downey Jr. won over Susan Levin Susan Levin and Robert Downey Jr | Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Downey was immediately smitten by Levin when they first crossed paths. However, Levin couldn’t have said the same thing about her husband. The pair met on Downey’s 2003 movie Gothika, where Levin worked as a producer. But although Downey quickly fancied her, there were plenty of reasons for Levin to maintain professionalism with the actor. For one, Levin admitted that she considered Downey a bit strange.

“We were up in Montreal prepping for Gothika, and we had...

We are coming up on Thanksgiving here in the U.S. For many of us, the love and desire to put up decorations for Christmas begins now. The Star Wars franchise is no stranger to decorations for the holiday season.

Let's discuss some of the best Star Wars Christmas decorations.

The Star Wars franchise has many fun ways to decorate your home. One popular choice is the Darth Vader sitting at a piano by the fire portrait with stockings in the background. It has been used for paintings and puzzles alike.

Every Star Wars character you can think of also has a Christmas ornament that you can display. From Bb-8 to Rey and "Baby Yoda," each character, regardless of what you enjoy, can be found hanging on a Christmas tree. Hallmark has an Ahsoka ornament, which displays the popular character wielding her double white lightsabers.

My daughter loves LEGOs, so...

Prolific genre actors are not necessarily contained to a single series. Major science fiction franchises are a great example -- just look at every actor who's been in both "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" over the years. It's arguably even more amusing when an actor who's primarily known from one sci-fi thing turns up in another in such a stealthy fashion that fans don't even realize until the credits roll.

This brings us to the late, great James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader. While he doesn't ever show up onscreen, his iconic, booming voice is an integral part of the "Star Wars" experience, and his slew of other roles mean that his face is immediately recognizable to any fan. As such, you wouldn't expect the man to be able to sneak a cameo in another notable sci-fi property without people immediately noticing. Yet, that's exactly what he did...

The concept of a prequel is a well-worn one in literature. Not only did authors like J.R.R. Tolkien further flesh out their characters and worlds in books set before previously published adventures, but L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," wrote "Ozma of Oz," the first prequel to be set in that particular universe. In cinema, however, the concept took a while to catch on, and it wasn't really until "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" that the cinematic prequel became popular. To say that the process had some bumps in the road would be an understatement; "The Phantom Menace" and its two sequels were loudly reviled upon their initial release, with everything from their characters to their dialogue to their visual aesthetic taken to task for not looking or feeling enough like the original "Star Wars" trilogy. Despite George Lucas' claims that the films...

Spoilers for "Wicked" follow.

At the outset of the production of the "Wicked" movie, it wasn't entirely clear what director Jon M. Chu and company were planning to do with the daunting prospect of adapting both Gregory Maguire's novel and the stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman to the big screen. Initially conceived and announced as a single film, Chu ended up revealing shortly before principal photography commenced in 2022 that the movie would be split into two parts. Chu stated that the reason for this is because "As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years." Schwartz echoed Chu's sentiments, adding that the song "Defying Gravity," which is the close of the first act in the musical, is "written specifically to bring a curtain down, and...

Marvel Comics has published adaptations of the Star Wars movies since the beginning, and finally in February 2025, we will see the long-awaited depiction of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation. Releasing alongside another exciting comics arc, we will have plenty to enjoy in the early months of 2025.

After a 4 year delay, The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation is coming.

Episode IX was full of twists, turns, and intense moments. To capture this excitement, the comic adaptation is in good hands. Marvel reveals the team hasn't changed. Illustrator Will Sliney has already proven his mettle with the 25th Anniversary commemoration of The Phantom Menace as well as such projects as Doctor Aphra and Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren. Meanwhile, writer Jody Houser is celebrated for her work on Star Wars: Thrawn Alliances and the comic adaptation of the series Obi-Wan Kenobi. The two clearly make an outstanding team to tackle this project.

Atari never ceases to fascinate me. A company that created an entertainment industry, to rival Hollywood. Which then attempted to endlessly milk their consumer base, while offering as little to the customer as possible. They had a huge, 30-million selling success with the Atari 2600, and in doing so, created an entire industry.

Atari then tried to follow that success up, by refusing to pay their employees bonuses, based on sales (which led to the creation of Activision) and making frankly bizarre business decisions, to either bring a badly flawed product to the market (5200) or sit on good technology for 3 years, before finally releasing it, to be hit by the Mac truck that was the Nintendo Entertainment System (Nes). They released the 5200, not because it was an evolution of the 2600, but because the Intellivision was coming out. The 7800 (except its awful sound chip) was a great piece of kit, that then...

The Star Wars franchise has somewhat stagnated in recent years with some of its most high-profile projects failing critically and commercially. As a result, it is safe to say that the franchise needs an influx of new ideas, and exploring the tragic backstory of one important prequel trilogy character might be the way for the franchise to move forward.

Kathleen Kennedy needs a hit project to save Star Wars (Credit: IGN | YouTube).

While The Mandalorian and the shows adjacent to it have explored the era after Darth Vader’s return to the light side, the era before the prequel trilogy is ripe with storytelling opportunities. As a result, Kathleen Kennedy needs to develop a project focusing on the only character, who has a backstory as dark as Darth Vader that needs to be brought to life in the space opera franchise.

Count Dooku Has the Most Tragic Villain Arc Other...

2025's Free Comic Book Day is on May 3 and Marvel Comics has announced stories which will serve as entry points for all-new eras of Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man, a prelude to an upcoming X-Men saga, and a glimpse at the very first event set in the new Ultimate Universe.

For the second year in a row, Marvel will also present a Star Wars Free Comic Book Day title which explores what's to come in the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Plus, we'll see creators and characters from different cultures, communities, and identities spotlighted in a special Free Comic Book edition of Marvel's Voices.

Finally, those of you searching for the perfect first comic book for the young ones in your life with an all-new Free Comic Book Day: Spidey & His Amazing Friends.

Here's the solicitation text and cover art for each comic. We're not surprised to see the Fantastic Four...

Robbie Williams takes responsibility for his role in the darker chapters of his life. His unconventional biopic Better Man pulls no punches when it comes to his addictions and abuses.

“There were many villains in this movie until we legally couldn’t have many villains in this movie,” Williams said of the Paramount Pictures release. “Now the only villain in this movie is me. I’m quite happy to be the main villain in this movie.”

The singer lamented that his first manager got off easy, and said early drafts of the script took Williams’ side in his feud with Take That bandmate Gary Barlow.

Related: 2024-25 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More

“In the script, I speak how I spoke and I think how I thought back then,” Williams said. “We sent him the script and he rang me. Gaz phones me, ‘Rob, I come...

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From 2005 to 2022, Idw Publishing held the "Transformers" comic license. When it was announced they were losing the license, fans felt uncertain; "Transformers" had been in Idw's hands for so long, so why not stay the course?

Change can be a great thing, though, and new "Transformers" publisher Skybound Entertainment is already making the most of the Robots in Disguise. Skybound's foremost publishing initiative is the "Energon Universe" — a setting combining "Transformers," "G.I. Joe," and Kirkman's original science-fiction title "Void Rivals." The ongoing "Transformers" comic written by Daniel Warren Johnson kicked off this new universe and remains its crown jewel so far.

"Transformers" #1, published on October 4, 2023, was the best-selling comic issue of that year; it's currently gone to 10th printing. Since it began, "Transformers" has only fallen out of the top 10 best-selling comic series once. This past month of October...

Believe it or not, there used to be a time where movie sequels were actually an incredibly rare thing. As it was, audiences felt that movies and even tv shows should have definitive stories and points that they were trying to make and why would anybody bother making a sequel to what should have been a conclusive story? But now, in an era where Hollywood values established IP and fanbases more than any potential original project, sequels have become the norm. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing that sequels have taken over cinemas, provided that the sequels are just as good as the originals and come out with their own original plot-lines. Like all movies, whether or not a person might enjoy a surplus of sequels is preferential and is more so dependent on the subject material, especially if it’s regarding a franchise that the audience has taken a liking too.

As a "crazy old man" (in the words of Owen Lars) once put it, the truths that we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. If you're the type of "Star Wars" fan who engages with each and every corner of the franchise, you've likely been a bit overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of new titles set in a galaxy far, far away since 2019. On the other hand, if the movies are the only part of "Star Wars" you engage with, you've probably been tapping your foot impatiently in the five years since Sheev Palpatine somehow returned and was once again defeated, bringing the Skywalker Saga to a close. It's a far cry from what Disney promised when it announced plans to unveil a new "Star Wars" film every year back in 2015.

The absence of "Star Wars" on the big screen certainly isn't for lack of trying.

In the pantheon of Star Wars villains, Orson Krennic is perhaps the most thrillingly smug. Played to sneering perfection by Ben Mendelsohn, Rogue One’s baddie wasn’t the leader of the Empire, or a powerful Sith Lord – he was something of a middle-man, overseeing the completion of the Death Star, delighting in throwing his weight around, while also finding himself severely outranked and overpowered by the likes of Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader. And while he bit the bullet at the end of Rogue One, he’s back in Andor Season 2 – once again donning that pristine white cape as his Imperial super-weapon approaches completion.

Just as Krennic bumped up against internal resistance in Rogue One, he’ll have even more competition to face in Andor – like Denise Gough’s ultra-ambitious Dedra Meero, a highlight of Season 1. “If they didn’t see eye to eye, to me, it’s cute,...

Welp. Lucasfilm has learned nothing if recent reports are to be believed. According to “sources” at the Hollywood Reporter, she is the only valuable asset that Disney has left. I wish I were kidding.

Disney took control of Lucasfilm and promptly flushed it down the toilet. They promised audiences Han, Luke, and Leia together again in the trailers for “The Force Awakens.” Instead, they killed Han Solo, didn’t show Luke Skywalker until the end, and made a movie that rehashed “A New Hope” with a bit of “Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” thrown in.

Here is the suggested watch order of Star Wars. May the Force be with you. (Image: Lucasfilm)

It was yet another Death Star—I’m sorry it’s bigger, Star Killer. Darth Vader was back, but now he was a kid throwing temper tantrums. The new Luke Skywalker could somehow outfight trained Sith with zero training,...

Henry Cavill seems to be verse-jumping as he was recently seen in DC’s rival franchise, the MCU’s Deadpool & Wolverine. The actor had a small cameo as a Wolverine variant a.k.a The Cavillrine in Deadpool & Wolverine. This came after his exit as Superman from the Dceu after James Gunn took over and chose to go with a new actor instead.

Cavill has headlined The Witcher, starred in Mission Impossible: Fallout, and has played Sherlock Holmes, making him a franchise-favorite actor. While the James Bond role seems to be elusive to him, the actor had expressed interest in being a part of another legendary franchise, provided a new film met his expectations.

Henry Cavill Reveals What Would Make Him Join Star Wars Henry Cavill in Man of Steel | Credits: Warner Bros.

George Lucas’ Star Wars is one of the biggest film franchises in the world. Revolutionizing pop culture...

The Mandalorian has taken fans on quite a journey in the past 5 years, and the rollercoaster ride includes several shocking moments that the fandom still talks about. There is plenty to talk about, from jaw-dropping cameos to monumental reveals and Din Djarin's historic helmet reveal.

We count down the 5 most shocking moments from The Mandalorian series so far.

1. "Species age differently..."

Ig-11 (Taika Waititi) and The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian's biggest surprise was revealed as a little green bundle of joy in the final few seconds of the series premiere. As a wide-eyed baby that looked strikingly familiar stared back at Mando, fans lost their minds and hearts forever. It was the best-kept secret of any Star Wars project, besides Darth Vader being Luke Skywalker's father (unless David Prowse said something).

No one expected the show to go in this direction,...

Forget the Death Star, the most coveted weapon in the Star Wars movie arsenal is the character of Rey Skywalker.

Since the Nov. 7 reveal that Simon Kinberg had signed on to develop and write and produce a new Star Wars trilogy for Lucasfilm and Disney, debate has focused on whether or not it would be a continuation of the so-called nine-film Skywalker Saga, tying it to the legacy of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and storylines first laid out by George Lucas in 1977. The reason for the debate is that the new, hoped-for trilogy would feature Rey in some form or fashion.

Some fans have expressed criticism that Lucasfilm would return to the well to make “episodes,” as they are called, beyond the nine movies that comprise the Skywalker story, which had been billed as concluding with 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker. That film grossed $1.077 billion globally...

It has already been five years since Disney+'s successful launch with its premier live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian. With three seasons and twenty-four chapters in total, each episode is sure to pack a punch. However, some stand out as extra-special.

Here are the 5 best episodes of The Mandalorian in the past 5 years.

5. Chapter 1: The Mandalorian

Taika Waititi is Ig-11 in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian came out the gates swinging when it first launched in November of 2019 as the flagship series of Disney+. The first episode is as important as any episode in the series as it had to drive home the premise of the show while hooking the audience onto what could happen next. The reveal of what would then be known to the world only as ‘Baby Yoda’ as the target for Bounty Hunter ‘Mando’ set the Star Wars fanbase ablaze while surprisingly...

Mace Windu... lives?

Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was introduced as the purple Lightsaber-wielding Jedi Master in the first of George Lucas' Star Wars prequels, The Phantom Menace, and was ultimately being killed off (or so we thought) in Revenge of the Sith when Anakin Skywalker betrayed him by cutting off his arm and Emperor Palpatine used his Force-lightning to blast him out a very high window.

Despite the character's apparent death, fans have speculated that he may have survived, and Jackson himself has frequently claimed that Windu is still among the living.

Most recently, the actor emphatically told Empire that Mace is "not dead," before making it clear that he'd be more than willing to return to the Galaxy Far, Far Away for a new movie or a Disney+ series.

"It's like, okay, Obi-Wan was dead when episode four started, so maybe...

In The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren speaks to Darth Vader's mask. "I will finish what you started," Ren says in the film. In a way, that applies to actors as well. Like James Earl Jones before him, Adam Driver served his country admirably.

After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Driver chose to enlist in the United Marine Corps. He served for two years before an injury to his sternum forced him to be medically discharged. His final rank while in the service was Lance Corporal. Since Driver began to garner worldwide acclaim for his acting, he has continued to work and support military causes.

He founded the organization Arts in the Armed Forces, a cause that was to bring art programs to military members and their families. The organization was active from 2006 to 2023. While active and following the release of The Rise of Skywalker, fans donated over $90,000 dollars to the organization.

Grant Gustin was the definitive Flash for a generation of DC fans when he starred in the CW’s The Flash. As part of the network’s Arrowverse group of shows, Gustin made his first appearance in Arrow, which served as a backdoor pilot for his own series. The show saw him tackle many antagonists as the fastest man alive.

While Eobard Thawne a.k.a Reverse Flash is Allen’s primary antagonist, season 2 of the series saw the appearance of Zoom, an evil speedster who is a serial killer before gaining abilities. Though physically performed by Teddy Sears, Tony Todd reportedly gave the character his menacing voice.

Grant Gustin’s The Flash Saw Tony Todd Killing It As The Voice Of Zoom The Flash and Zoom in The Flash | Credits: The CW

Late actor Tony Todd is best known for his role in the horror film Candyman and for...

Daisy Ridley walked onto the Star Wars set for her first appearance as the next generation of a Skywalker. Some loved her as the mysteriously shrouded Rey while others just griped over the written dialogue. Now, there could be a non-Skywalker future ahead for the property.

It was announced earlier in the week that a new trilogy series will be brought to the big screen. Written and directed by Simon Kinberg, the new trilogy may or may not involve a Skywalker.

There was speculation, maybe even a little rumor that the next trilogy could wrap the Skywalker saga once and for all. We do know that the final film in the third series ended with a cryptic twist about children surviving with possible Jedi powers. That has yet to be addressed because there hasn't been a Star Wars film since Episode 9.

There has been a lot of discussion about future Star Wars properties.

George Lucas’s Star Wars franchise has an incredible history, evolving from modest beginnings into one of the most iconic sci-fi franchises of all time. When A New Hope first premiered, it wasn’t yet the massive hit we know today, but over time, it has gained an enormous fan base and cultural influence.

Given the franchise’s popularity, it’s no surprise that fans—especially collectors with a passion for Star Wars—are willing to go to great lengths to acquire rare memorabilia.

Next week, a notable auction will be held, featuring a full Stormtrooper costume from the original 1977 A New Hope movie. Many anticipate this iconic piece could fetch an astounding price, capturing the attention of collectors around the world.

Stormtroopers might not be the most beloved characters in Star Wars. Often viewed as comic relief due to their notoriously poor aim, they’re rarely fan favorites, despite...

Best Half-Blood Characters In Harry Potter Explored (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Blood status is essential in the world of Harry Potter, where half-bloods, pure-bloods, and Muggles coexist. But put the pretentious pure-bloods out of your mind for a second—half-bloods are the real deal! These characters, ranging from the heroic to the downright scary, challenge the old-fashioned belief that blood status counts. It’s time to select the top five characters with the most significant impact on the plot since some of the most fascinating characters in the wizarding world are half-bloods.

1. Harry Potter

Harry Potter himself is at the forefront of the movement. He’s not simply the strongest half-blood in fiction; he’s one of the best heroes ever. Harry carried the bravery and wit that characterize a true Gryffindor, even though he didn’t ask to be called the “Chosen One” or to lead the battle against Voldemort.

It's now been two years since Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi premiered Disney+ and Lucasfilm has finally named the mysterious Inquisitor who tracked down and attacked Ahsoka Tano in the series. 

That story played out shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith, but contradicted E.K. Johnston's Ahsoka novel and seemed to suggest that Dave Filoni had no qualms about retconning or ignoring what happens in books or comics. 

That was evident from how Tales of the Jedi changed everything from Ahsoka's first meeting with Bail Organa to how she got her "Fulcrum" codename.

Regardless, as we first reported on SFFGazette.com, the new Star Wars Encyclopedia establishes that the mysterious villain is officially known as the "First Brother."

"One of Darth Vader's Force-attuned Jedi hunters," reads the official character description, "this Inquisitor is dispatched to follow a tip that a Jedi has appeared in a remote village.