'The Rise of Skywalker' Press Conference Recap

Image via: @JediTink (Twitter)

By: Dominic Jones

The cast and principle crew members of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker gathered in Los Angeles to hold a press conference promoting the film's released later this month.  The conference was moderated by Selma and A Wrinkle In Time director Ava DuVarney, and featured director JJ Abrams, co-writer Chris Terio, and producer and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, as well as cast members Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Keri Russel, Billy Dee Williams, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Kelly Marie Tran, and Anthony Daniels.

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Rumor: The 2022 'Star Wars' Film Has A Director, No Announcement Expected Until January

By: Dominic Jones

While all eyes are focused on the present and immediate future of the Star Wars franchise, with The Mandalorian being in the midst of its first season and The Rise of Skywalker coming out next month, decisions are being made behind the scenes about the more long term future of the series.  And while there have been some recent setbacks when it comes to the future of Star Wars on the silver screen, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has reportedly charted a course that we will learn about early next year.

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David Benioff & D.B. Weiss Are No Longer Working On 'Star Wars'

By: Dominic Jones

Another Star Wars shake-up! Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, who were slated to write and produce a new Star Wars trilogy beginning in 2022, have announced that they are stepping away from Star Wars.  In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the duo claimed their new development deal with Netflix (reportedly worth $250 million) was behind their decision and that they felt they could not commit to both Star Wars and their agreement with the streaming service to develop new content.

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BREAKING: Marvel's Kevin Feige To Develop A Star Wars Film

By: Benjamin Hart

Huge news just dropped that are sure to get Star Wars and Marvel fans really excited!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has joined Lucasfilm to produce a new Star Wars film! Almost no information about the film is known at this time, except for a quote from Walt Disney Studios co-chairman and chief creative officer Alan Horn who spoke with THR about this development:

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Kathleen Kennedy Introduces The New Droid D-0 From 'The Rise Of Skywalker' To 'Good Morning America'

By: Dominic Jones

Following the reveal of the new teaser for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker at D23 Expo this weekend, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was interviewed by Good Morning America. Though she was the only human subject of the interview, Kennedy wasn't alone.  She was joined by the droids BB-8 and D-0, who will make his debut on screen in The Rise Of Skywalker this December.

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The Cast Of 'The Rise Of Skywalker' Discuss The New Footage, Rey And Kylo's Relationship, And More

By: Dominic Jones

With the reveal of the new footage from Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker at D23 Expo, there are  many questions that need to be asked.  Fortunately many of the people with the answers were on hand and doing interviews, unfortunately (as expected) their answers offered only more questions.  Director JJ Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, as well as cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Keri Russel, and Anthony Daniels took part in several interviews covering what was revealed and what's still to come when the film hits theaters this December.

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BREAKING: Ewan McGregor To Reprise Obi-Wan Kenobi For New Disney+ Series (UPDATED)

By: Benjamin Hart

It's happening! It's finally happening!

Just moments ago Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy took the stage at D23 alongside the man himself, Ewan McGregor, to announce a brand new series that's coming to Disney+.

While few details were given, it has been confirmed that Ewan McGregor will be reprising his iconic role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in an upcoming series. Thanks to our very own Dominic Jones' live-tweets from the Disney+ we now that the Kenobi series is indeed happening, all the scripts have been written, and that it will go into full production next year!

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'The Rise of Skywalker' Producer, Michelle Rejwan Hired As Lucasfilm's SVP of Live Action Development and Production

By: Dominic Jones

Michelle Rejwan, producer of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and co-producer of The Force Awakens, has been hired by Lucasfilm as their senior vice president of live action development and production.  The announcement was made this week by the company's president Kathleen Kennedy, who revealed that Rejwan would be working with Lucasfilm on, "shaping the future in all areas of story development, from theatrical film development to live action content for Disney Plus."

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Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg & Others Tour 'Galaxy's Edge'

By: Benjamin Hart

Hype for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is building as we draw closer the theme park's opening days at Disneyland and Walt Disney World! Later this month the Disneyland edition will be revealed to everyone who was lucky enough to get a reservation. And for a select few VIPs, the park is already open.

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Episodes I-VII, 'Rogue One', and 'The Mandalorian' Will Be Available On Disney+ At Launch

By: Dominic Jones

While all eyes have been on Star Wars Celebration for big announcements about the future of the galaxy far, far away, Disney (somewhat) quietly had some announcements about how the saga will be represented on Disney+, the upcoming streaming service launching on November 12th.  At a Disney+ event on April 11th, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy took the stage to reveal what Star Wars films and TV series will be available on the service at launch.

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Kathleen Kennedy Says Bringing The Emperor Back Has Always Been In The Plan For The Sequel Trilogy

By: Dominic Jones

Perhaps the biggest surprise revealed during Star Wars Celebration this past weekend was that Darth Sidious, aka Emperor Sheev Palpatine, would play some sort of role in the final installment of the sequel trilogy, Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.  The reveal was a major shock to all who watched the teaser trailer on Friday, and had many asking the question: was this in the plan all along or was this something new that director JJ Abrams came up with when he was brought on board in Fall 2017?

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Alan Tudyk Joins The Cast Of The Cassian Show, Stephen Schiff Announced As Showrunner

By: Dominic Jones

Even though there were no panels on day one of Star Wars Celebration, that doesn't mean Lucasfilm is not making news.  Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy made some exciting Disney+ related announcements at a Disney shareholders event.  First, she revealed that Alan Tudyk will be reprising his role from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as K-2SO in the upcoming Cassian Andor prequel series, launching in 2021. Tudyk joins his Rogue One castmate, Diego Luna (Cassian Andor), in reprising their roles for the series.

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'Episode IX' Panel Announced For Celebration Chicago

(John Boyega and JJ Abrams at Star Wars Celebration in 2015)

By: Dominic Jones

At long last, we know for sure when we'll see our first major preview of the upcoming film Star Wars Episode IX.  Lucasfilm and Reedpop announced today, what we've all long suspected, that a panel previewing Episode IX with director JJ Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy will be held on the Friday April 12th on the Celebration Stage at Star Wars Celebration Chicago.  The panel will give fans a peak at the upcoming film and hopefully be the place where the first trailer is debuted.

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Kathleen Kennedy & J.J. Abrams Comment On 'Episode IX' Filming In Jordan

By: Benjamin Hart

On top of everything else happening in Star Wars these days it's easy to forget that we're still waiting for the final(?) chapter in the Skywalker saga, Star Wars: Episode IX. Over the past several months we've been treated to various spy photos and information regarding filming that's been happening in Wadi Rum, Jordan.

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Kathleen Kennedy Tells Reporter The Rumored Boba Fett Film Is Not Happening

By: Dominic Jones

For fans hoping to see the galaxy's most feared bounty hunter on the big screen again, we have bad news.  Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy revealed at a screening of Black Panther that the company is not making a Boba Fett film and are instead putting their complete focus on the live action streaming series The Mandalorian (currently filming, with Jon Favreau serving as writer and executive producer).  Kennedy made the comments to reporter Erick Webber, who tweeted the following,

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The SWU Podcast LIVE | 4/10/18

On this episode Chris and Ben dive into all the latest breaking Star Wars news, including the big reveal of Jon Favreau’s upcoming live-action series The Mandalorian. They discuss the first image, synopsis & casting rumors, and break down the diverse collection of episodic directors for the show. Furthermore, they share their thoughts on Kathleen Kennedy’s contract extension at Lucasfilm, a new Resistance preview, and more Solo tidbits. Later in the show Dominic joins in to give his opinions on all of that, plus he provides a live report from New York Comic Con! This jam packed episode is not to be missed!

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Kathleen Kennedy Signs Three Year Contract Extension With Lucasfilm

By: Dominic Jones

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is here to stay!  The legendary movie producer, who took over from Star Wars creator George Lucas as head of Lucasfilm in 2012, signed a three year contract extension with the Walt Disney Company to remain in that role, Borys Kit from The Hollywood Reporter reports.  The deal keeps Kennedy, who was recently honored with the Irving G. Thalberg Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, with Lucasfilm/Disney through 2021. 

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Kathleen Kennedy To Receive An Honorary Oscar At The Governors Awards

By: Benjamin Hart

Kathleen Kennedy has one of the most amazing resumes of any producer in Hollywood, having her hands in the creation of such classic films as Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, E.T., Back To The Future, The Goonies and many, many others. And that was all before she became President of Lucasfilm and produced the four newest Star Wars films(and countless others to come).

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Lucasfilm Congratulates Marvel On Surpassing Their Opening Weekend Record

By: Benjamin Hart

While Solo: A Star Wars Story is still less than a month away, the film that has been at the forefront of everyone's minds this past week is Avengers: Infinity War. The culmination of 10 years of storytelling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Infinity War shook things up big time, which has resulted in incredible box office returns so far.

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Extended Preview Of 'The Director and The Jedi' Released

By: Dominic Jones

An eleven-minute preview from the "making of" documentary about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, titled The Director and the Jedi, has been released online by IMDb.  The preview begins with The Last Jedi writer/director Rian Johnson giving a speech at the film's wrap party in London, before transitioning to some early rehearsal sessions with the films stars Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill, and then concludes with Johnson arriving at Skellig Michael in Ireland to shoot the first scenes for the movie.  You can check out the preview below,

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