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It may seem churlish to recount this, but to state it all clearly: George Lucas' 1977 blockbuster "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope" centered on Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), a dissatisfied youth who hates his life on the backwater desert planet of Tatooine. His humdrum existence is then interrupted by the discovery of a secret holographic communiqué hidden inside a droid that his uncle recently purchased. The hologram is of Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), the ruler of the planet Alderaan and secret leader of the Rebellion against the galaxy's tyrannical Empire. Before long, Luke finds himself joining forces with a desert-dwelling sage who goes by Ben (Alec Guinness) and leaving his home world on the spaceship of a shifty smuggler named Han Solo (Harrison Ford), all in the hope of rescuing Leia and joining the Rebellion himself.

Luke, Leia, and Han went on to form the core ensemble of...

Lightsaber battles are the beating heart of Star Wars, blending raw emotion, stunning choreography, and iconic music. From gritty clashes to epic showdowns, these duels define the saga’s legacy across films and shows.

We’ve ranked the top 10 lightsaber fights, from thrilling to legendary, based on stakes, style, and impact. Let’s ignite our sabers and dive into the galaxy’s greatest duels.

10. Mace Windu vs. Darth Sidious – ‘Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’ (2005) Lucasfilm

Mace Windu confronts Emperor Palpatine in a tense, high-stakes duel in the Chancellor’s office. Samuel L. Jackson’s fierce Jedi Master wields his purple saber against Ian McDiarmid’s cunning Sith Lord.

The fight’s raw intensity and Palpatine’s lightning-fast strikes keep us on edge. It’s a pivotal clash that shifts the galaxy’s fate.

9. Ahsoka Tano vs. Darth Vader – ‘Star Wars Rebels’ (2014-2018) Lucasfilm

Ahsoka battles her former master, Vader,...

Six years after the release of Star Wars: Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker, the mystery surrounding Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Emperor Palpatine's (Ian McDiarmid) final fight has been solved. After learning that Darth Sidious had returned and that she was related to him, Rey confronted the Emperor on Exegol. But after Palpatine drains Rey and Ben's (Adam Driver) force dyad, the strength of other Jedi gives Rey the necessary power to win against the Emperor.

This strength is represented in The Rise of Skywalker by the voices of Jedi far and gone, who whisper to Rey in her moment of need. While some of these Jedi voices are familiar, fans have speculated over the identities of those who helped Rey against Palpatine in the final battle.

Lucasfilm Read full article on The Direct.

Gavin Newsom cast aside subtlety today in his war of words — and now lawsuits — with President Donald Trump.

The California Governor’s Press Office posted two seemingly AI-generated TikTok videos with a voice that sounds a lot like Star Wars’ Emperor Palpatine (played by Ian McDiarmid) reading recent military-minded posts from the president related to the unrest in Los Angeles.

The first features a very marital, John Williams-sounding score playing over animated images of storm troopers mobilizing on the ground as star destroyers float overhead. The ominous voice reading Trump’s words begins, “A once great American city, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by illegal aliens and criminals…”

You can watch it below.

A Once Great American City Has Been Occupied! pic.twitter.com/R3EnZNIk55

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) June 10, 2025

The second video features footage from the imperial attack on the rebel base from the...

The 2025 Tony Awards gave a warm welcome to first-timers tonight by awarding four actors for their Broadway debut. This accounts for half of the ceremony's acting categories — one of the best showings for debut performances this century.

Sarah Snook also portrayed multiple roles to win Lead Actress in a Play for The Picture of Dorian Gray. The Succession star impressively swaps between 26 characters in this adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic, often acting opposite recorded versions of herself projected onto a giant screen center stage.

Cole Escola became the first nonbinary performer to win the Lead Actor in a Play category for their wild performance in Oh Mary!, which they also wrote. Escola portrays a comically demented version of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, who craves nothing more than becoming a “rather well-known niche cabaret legend.”

Nicole Scherzinger won Lead Actress in a Musical for Sunset Boulevard in an upset...

This article contains a spoiler for "Predator: Killer of Killers."

For an actor, there are a couple of pathways to achieving cinematic immortality. The most obvious is becoming a fully-fledged movie star, the type whose name and face are known to millions around the world. Another option is portraying an iconic character; while this often goes hand in hand with being a movie star, in some cases, the character can be more popular than the actor, such as with Ian McDiarmid playing Palpatine in several "Star Wars" films. Yet another path doesn't require playing an iconic character, but simply appearing in a film with one: horror fans make a point out of remembering all the victims and survivors of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, for instance.

There's also a secret fourth pathway: becoming compelling movie trivia. While a lot of film trivia games cater to the hardcore cinephiles, there are...

Mark Hamill is in a galaxy far, far away from the Star Wars universe.

In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, the veteran actor cautioned that fans should not expect him to return as a world-weary Luke Skywalker in any forthcoming installments and that Lucasfilm/Walt Disney Pictures would do well to hone in on new faces in the franchise.

“I am so grateful to George [Lucas] for letting me be a part of that back in the days, the humble days when George called Star Wars ‘the most expensive low-budget movie ever made,’” he began. “We never expected it to become a permanent franchise and a part of pop culture like that. But my view is, I had my time. I’m appreciative of that, but I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters.”

Hamill last notably appeared as Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) cynical mentor...

In April 2025, Lucasfilm re-released "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" in movie theaters in honor of the film's 20th anniversary. Although the initial fan response to George Lucas' prequel trilogy was mixed at best and toxic at worst, time has been kinder to those movies, mainly due to the expansive canon material such as the animated series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which helped enrich that era with deeper storytelling and character development. As a result, audiences in 2025 flocked to revisit "Revenge of the Sith" and the tragic fall of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), a noble Jedi who gets radicalized by Sheev Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), and transforms into his new apprentice, Darth Vader (who's voiced by James Earl Jones).

Young Anakin Skywalker was first portrayed by Jake Lloyd in 1999's "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace." Its follow-up, 2002's "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones...

Spoilers for "Andor" follow.

The premise of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" offered a chance to see the Pov of the "little people" of the "Star Wars" universe. Rebel soldiers like Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) are the people who help make history happen but wind up, in the long run, forgotten by it. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) lands the lucky shot to destroy the Death Star, but "Rogue One" recontextualizes how he only got there due to the struggles and sacrifices of many others.

"Rogue One" zoomed out from the villains' centers of power, too. Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) may be head of the Death Star construction project, but he's a middle manager next to Darth Vader (James Earl Jones & David Prowse/Spencer Wilding) and Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing/Guy Henry).

The freshly-wrapped "Rogue One" prequel series "Andor" extends this Pov by going even further down the totem pole.

Michael Gambon was an Irish-English actor with an impressive career spanning six decades. When he passed away in 2023 at 82, many knew him best for playing Albus Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" franchise, but there was much more to him than wands and wizards. Gambon was one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre and was initially known for his performances in Shakespeare productions. Throughout his career, he won three Olivier Awards and was nominated for a Tony Award. As for his history with film and television, Gambon had over 170 credits to his name, and his first onscreen role was playing various parts in "Othello" (1965) alongside the legendary Laurence Olivier.

Gambon went on to make many appearances in movies and television shows. He was nominated for two Emmys and received much acclaim for playing Philip Marlow in "The Singing Detective," which earned him his first of four BAFTA Awards.

May the 4th be with you.

Every year on this say, Star Wars fans the world over show their appreciation for all things Galaxy Far, Far Away, and Lucasfilm has now joined the celebration by releasing an all-new montage of footage from every movie, live-action and animated series in the saga.

The video cleverly mashes-up footage and dialogue from all three movie trilogies, as well as the likes of The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars Rebels, Visions, Skeleton Crew, and more.

We haven't seen Star Wars on the big screen since The Rise of Skywalker, but that will soon change. In addition to Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, Lucasfilm has Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's untitled Rey-focused movie, James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi (probably not the official title), and Dave Filoni's "Mandoverse" crossover event in the works.

“I think it’s a very clever way for fans...

Once a heroic Jedi named Anakin Skywalker, the man took a sharp turn to the dark side and became the much-dreaded villain of the galaxy far, far away. Whether you view Darth Vader as a tragic fallen hero or the ultimate villain, you have to agree that he is the face of Star Wars. If there is a fictional universe where the villain is more popular than the hero, it is this one. While the dark side has many unforgettable characters, Darth Vader will always remain the most iconic out of all, and for all the right reasons.

For years, fans have thought about the exact moment that Anakin crossed the threshold of ethics and morals to become Darth Vader. While many link the villain’s first appearance to the infamous massacre in Revenge of the Sith, he actually appeared a little earlier in the story, if you remember. And if you don’t,...

It’s hard to believe that there are just six episodes of Tony Gilroy’s Andor left, but as we scooch closer to the events of Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, some familiar faces from the galaxy far, far away are sure to stop by. Andor season 2 has already brought back Ben Mendelsohn’s villainous Orson Krennic to expand the Imperial director’s backstory, while Alan Tudyk is confirmed to reprise his role as K-2So. There are whispers we could see more of Mads Mikkelsen’s Galen Erso, and although the idea of Felicity Jones popping up might be a pipe dream, the fact that Andor is confirmed to collide with the start of Rogue One means anything is possible.

More than just old favorites, Andor has juggled his plenty of newcomers with a starring role for Diego Luna’s titular 'rebel scum”. Standouts like Stellan Skarsgård...

Warning: Spoilers for Episode 4 of Tales of the Jedi Ahead

The fourth episode of the Tales of the Jedi mini-series is my personal favorite episode of the bunch and a fantastic conclusion to Dooku’s arc. It really has this authentic Star Wars feel and blend of expert storytelling.

Learning that Dooku was present at the Jedi temple during the events of The Phantom Menace really helps connect us to the movie and his moment with Qui-Gon is both wonderful and bittersweet. It was amazing to see Qui-Gone voiced by Liam Neeson and this marks the second time he has returned to Star Wars in just the last year. The moment is made a little more tragic when we realize that this is the last time the two will ever speak and Dooku will meet Obi-Wan, but under very different circumstances than Qui-Gon would have hoped.

What also makes this...

Revenge of the Sith has officially wrapped up its re-release, and the final film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy found immense success at the box office. After grossing $25.4 million at the box office this weekend, Hayden Christensen’s Star Wars movie then earned $2.4 million on Monday and $2.7 million on Tuesday at the domestic box office. At the time of writing, the film sits at a domestic total of $410 million and an international total of $485 million, helping its global total reach $896 million. This $410 million domestically is enough to push Revenge of the Sith past Iron Man 3 to become one of the 30 highest-grossing sequels ever. It will likely pass Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness when the final numbers come in, but possibly fall short of Toy Story 3.

It’s unclear at this time if any additional screenings for Revenge of the Sith will be added, but after it’s performed so well,...

After a successful weekend back in theaters to celebrate its 20th anniversary, Revenge of the Sith just got a little closer to another major milestone. The final film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy earned $2.4 million at the domestic box office on Monday, which has helped its domestic total reach $408 million. When paired with the $485 million the film has grossed at the international box office, Revenge of the Sith now sits at $893 million globally. Although Episode 3 is expected to play in theaters for only a few more days, it should have no problem reaching another box office milestone between domestic and international earnings. It recently became one of the top 50 highest-grossing movies ever, thanks to its re-release numbers, which included $42 million globally over the weekend.

Revenge of the Sith picks up approximately three years after Attack of the Clones, and it follows Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) as a fully formed...

Ian McDiarmid is a cherished figure in the Star Wars universe, but even he wasn’t immune to the criticism surrounding the return of Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Long presumed dead after being cast into a reactor shaft by Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi, Palpatine’s sudden reappearance—along with the explanation that he had been orchestrating events from the shadows—sparked widespread debate among fans.

While speaking with Variety, McDiarmid addressed the backlash. “Well, there’s always something, isn’t there? I don’t read that stuff and I’m not online. So it’ll only reach me if someone mentions it. I thought there might be a bit of a fuss about bringing him back,” he said. “But as I said, mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable. This man who was horribly maimed thought maybe one day it might happen to him,...

Every corner of the internet had their say when "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" came out, with some voices louder than others. This past weekend made it clear that, despite all of the mockery surrounding the third chapter of George Lucas' prequel trilogy, a whole lot of people were more than happy to see it in theaters again to celebrate the film's 20-year anniversary. Some of the most diehard "Star Wars" fans seem to forget that an entire generation grew up with the prequels in the same manner as the original trilogy.

Watching "Revenge of the Sith" in a theater made me feel like a kid again. I was able to recognize the film's noticeable shortcomings (such as its wonky compositing and awkward line deliveries), while still recognizing the very present heart and emotion at the center of it all. Its blemishes strangely make it more endearing.

Only a Sith deals in absolutes, but “Star Wars” fans love to deal with hyperbole.

This fan has such a declaration to make: “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” is the best “Star Wars” movie of all. It is as personal a blockbuster film as you’ll find this century, a work of operatic grandeur and daring and despair that built on every “Star Wars” movie before it to deliver a final statement. Well, a final statement for George Lucas, at least, who folded up his director’s chair once and for all after “Revenge” hit theaters in 2005.

Over the past 10 years, since Disney took over the franchise and unspooled its galaxy’s worth of films and TV shows set in the “Star Wars” universe, the prequels have received an approval-ratings boost. The cynics will say that the prequels haven’t changed, it’s just a matter...

As Star Wars: Episode III-- Revenge of the Sith celebrates its 20th anniversary, there has been a lot of reflection over the past decades on the film. One person who discussed his career as Emperor Palpatine was the beloved Ian McDiarmid, who sat down recently in an interview with Variety. While they talked about Episode III, McDiarmid shared a humorous story about how he impressed one of Hollywood's greatest directors.

McDiarmid and the interviewer, Todd Gilchrist, discussed the recent passing of Clive Revill, who was the original voice of the Emperor in Return of the Jedi. McDiarmid shared his appreciation for Revill, calling him, "a very fine actor," and saying that the two of them had met a few times.

McDiarmid figured that Revill would just dub over his part. George Lucas liked what McDiarmid did and kept his vocal work. Though he also felt bad for taking the vocal role from Revill.

After Star Wars Celebration wrapped up only a few weeks ago and Revenge of the Sith has returned to theaters everywhere to celebrate its 20th anniversary, there’s no better time to be a Star Wars fan than right now. The latest season of Andor recently hit Disney+ last week, and it’s already earned the title as the highest-rated Star Wars project ever. Fandom has conducted a new study on the Star Wars franchise by collecting data from fans, which has revealed the favorite characters, movie/TV shows, and even games.

Leading the charge for the favorite character is Ahsoka, voiced by Ashley Eckstein in animation and portrayed by Rosario Dawson in live-action. Following behind Ahsoka, in order, is Ben Solo (Adam Driver), Snoke (Andy Serkis), Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), Darth Maul (Sam Witwer/Ray Park), Darth Plagueis, Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley), Count Dooku (Christopher Lee...

Ian McDiarmid has now been playing Emperor Palpatine for 42 years. First, it was as the mysterious big bad of the original Star Wars trilogy, and then as a Senator who rises to the ultimate position of power in the Galaxy (while corrupting Anakin Skywalker) in the prequels.

Return of the Jedi killed the Emperor, and Revenge of the Sith wrapped up the story of how he became the monster we first met in The Empire Strikes Back. Fans thought that was it for the villain, but The Rise of Skywalker brought him back from the dead as a clone.

In an interview with Variety (via SFFGazette.com), McDiarmid said it was "very satisfying" to learn he had a granddaughter in Daisy Ridley's Rey. However, no one ever explained how the Emperor managed to have children.

"There was never any discussion of any of that. It was up to me...

One of Star Wars’ longest-tenured stars has just pulled back the curtain on a project that never made it to fruition. Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) recently sat down for an interview with Variety to promote Revenge of the Sith’s return to theaters for its 20th anniversary, and he spilled all the juicy details on the former politician/Sith lord who orchestrated the demise of the Jedi. One of the things McDiarmid spoke about what the planned Palpatine TV series that was reportedly in the works years ago that never came to fruition. When asked if he knew anything about the backstory that the show was going to focus on, he shared a detail that would have directly connected to The Acolyte:

"Just the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise. It’s fairly obvious that my character murdered Plagueis on his road to becoming Palpatine. But beyond that, no.

Ian McDiarmid “thought [he’d] gone too much too far” during his Palpatine vs Mace Windu duel in ‘Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith’.The 80-year-old actor - who has portrayed Emperor Palpatine in the sci-fi saga since 1983’s ‘Return of the Jedi’ - battled Jedi master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) during director George Lucas’ 2005 prequel blockbuster, though has now admitted he thought he had overdone it during the fight.He told Variety: “I thought I’d gone much too far, and George said, ’No, no, you can go much further.’ It’s the moment when the monster becomes available and he is ecstatic with delight because he can lose the hypocritical face. “When we were doing ‘The Phantom Menace’, George said, ‘You should think of your face as a carapace’ - as if we’d made me up, and underneath was the real person. That was great,...

Lucasfilm’s 2005 ‘space opera’ feature, “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”, written and directed by George Lucas, returned April 25, 2025 to theaters, in celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, earning on its re-release weekend ‘Domestic’ $25.2 million and $17 million ‘International’ for a ‘Worldwide’ box office gross of $42.2 million:

“…starring Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Frank Oz…

“…‘Revenge of the Sith’ is set three years after the onset of the ‘Clone Wars’, established in ‘Attack of the Clones’.

“The ‘Jedi’ are spread across the galaxy in a full-scale war against the ‘Separatists’. The Jedi Council’ dispatches ‘Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi’…

“…on a mission to defeat ‘General Grievous’, the head of the Separatist army and former apprentice to ‘Count Dooku', to put an end to the war.

“Meanwhile, after having visions of his wife ‘Padmé ‘ dying in childbirth…...

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith returned to theaters this weekend, two decades after it was first released. As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, the final chapter of George Lucas' divisive prequel trilogy proved its lasting audience appeal by taking in an estimated $42.2 million at the worldwide box office.

Episode III, which was re-released to celebrate its 20th anniversary on Friday, made an estimated $25.2 million domestically, helping it beat The Accountant 2 to #2 in North America (Sinners remained #1 with a fantastic weekend of its own).

Outside of the U.S., it also played in select theaters within many markets, including Germany (where it opened #1), France, Spain, the UK, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico, on its way to an estimated $17 million internationally.

This is one of the top-grossing re-release weekends in domestic industry history, playing behind Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope ($36 million from the January 1997 Special Edition release...

None other than Steven Spielberg gave Ian McDiarmid his seal of approval for making Star Wars' Emperor feel genuinely evil.

Speaking with Variety ahead of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith's twentieth anniversary, McDiarmid reflected on his legacy playing Emperor Palpatine and having the opportunity to expand upon his Return of the Jedi role in the prequel trilogy. On replacing the late Clive Revill as Palpatine's voice, he said, "I thought if Clive knew what that creature had become or what he looked like, he would be doing something along the lines of what I was doing. So I continued to do my little voice like that; George didn't say stop, and neither did Richard." While recording the Adr for his performance, McDiarmid happened to meet director Steven Spielberg and future Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy -- then co-founder of Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment -- recalling,...

Though the Skywalkers tend to get most of the love and attention from “Star Wars” fans, there was another famous lineage throughout the intergalactic saga that remains just as vital to the narrative… even if it wasn’t all that clear in the beginning. During a recent interview with Variety in celebration of the 20th anniversary re-release of “Revenge of the Sith,” Emperor Palpatine actor Ian McDiarmid reflected on his experience playing the big baddie over the course of nearly 40 years, explaining how the character’s importance wasn’t strategized beforehand.

“It wasn’t mapped out at all, really,” he said. “When I first got the part, I had no idea what the world was that I’d be in charge of as the Emperor. So it started off as a big mystery. I had no idea that Palpatine would figure [into the story so heavily].”

Even when George Lucas brought McDiarmid back for “The Phantom Menace...

Ian McDiarmid has admitted he felt like he'd "gone much too far" in the iconic Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith scene where his character Supreme Chancellor Palpatine reveals he is the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. The shocking revelation comes during a battle between Palpatine and Jedi Master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson).

The 2005 prequel lays the groundwork for Palpatine turning Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side by manipulating the Jedi Council to take a stand against him. Mace Windu eventually discovers Palpatine's true nature, leading to a lightsaber battle where the Supreme Chancellor kills Windu with Force Lightning (thanks to some interference from Anakin).

Ian McDiarmid Reveals George Lucas' Reaction to Palpatine Revealing Himself as a Sith Lord

The scene is perhaps most memorable for Palpatine initially feigning weakness, only to scream that he had "unlimited power" after seizing the advantage over Windu. McDiarmid has now told...

Ian McDiarmid has defended his controversial return as Emperor Palpatine (a.k.a. Darth Sidious) in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. McDiarmid reprised his role even after Palpatine was seemingly killed in 1983's Return of the Jedi.

Director J. J. Abrams made the controversial decision in the ninth Star Wars film to resurrect Palpatine for a showdown with his granddaughter Rey (Daisy Ridley). Fans were critical of Abrams' creative decision, especially as the opening crawl of The Rise of Skywalker matter of factly announced that the galaxy had simply heard "a threat of revenge in the sinister voice of the late Emperor Palpatine."

Star Wars Legend Addresses Controversial Return of Emperor Palpatine

Speaking to Variety, McDiarmid admitted that he'd never expected to return to Star Wars after the Emperor's apparent death in Return of the Jedi.

"I mean, I thought he was killed," he admitted. "So when I got...

Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith Re-Release North America Box Office Day 1: Bests Avatar’s Re-Issue Opening Day Number ( Photo Credit – Prime Video )

George Lucas directed Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, which was originally released in 2005 and re-released in North America to commemorate its 20th anniversary. The film has opened with great numbers, even bested by the 2022 re-release of James Cameron’s Avatar and a few other classic films. It has beaten new releases to open in the top three of the domestic box office chart. Keep scrolling for the deets.

It is the third installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the third chronological chapter of the Skywalker Saga. The movie features Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Le, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Frank Oz. It reportedly broke several records in its opening, and it seems the film is...

It's been six years since Avengers: Endgame opened in theaters and broke records, but this is no sleepy weekend at the box office without the MCU to lend a hand.

Sinners has vastly exceeded expectations, with a second weekend dip of roughly -10%. The movie is eyeing a $42 million - $44 million haul, following a $48 million debut over Easter. This is a tremendous result for an original IP, and it's no doubt been buoyed by positive reviews (it sits at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes).

By the end of this weekend, its 10-day cume will have likely reached $120 million in North America.

The fight for #2 has come down to The Accountant 2 versus Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. The former is hoping to net somewhere between $23 million - $25 million, but the re-release of George Lucas' 2005 movie is nipping at its heels with projections pointing to $21 million - $23 million.

Some analysts expect Episode...

Darth Vader might be the face of the Empire in the “Star Wars” saga — but even he has a boss.

The Emperor has existed as long as the franchise itself, from a passing mention in “A New Hope” to his unexpected (and controversial) reappearance in “The Rise of Skywalker.” But the 2005 prequel finale “Revenge of the Sith,” now re-released to theaters and celebrating its 20th anniversary on May 19, forms the inflection point between his benevolent public persona and his true (and truly evil) identity. Remarkably, Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid has inhabited the role for 42 years; along with Anthony Daniels as C-3P0, that ranks among the longest tours of duty in “Star Wars” history.

To commemorate the “Revenge of the Sith” anniversary, McDiarmid spoke with Variety from his flat in London to discuss the character’s climactic pivot, and the process of building his arc after first being cast in...

As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, Disney's 20th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith could score a box office upset in North America this weekend.

The movie earned $3.4 million from Thursday previews, and with $20 million in presales, it may open between $27 million - $30 million. Should it meet those expectations, then it stands a chance of debuting at #1, topping Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal's The Accountant 2. That made $2.5 million yesterday and should land in the low-to-mid $20 million range.

It's a little too soon for full weekend estimates, but Sinners is holding up well and has the potential to earn north of $30 million. If so, then it will likely take the top spot. However, even #2 would be a huge win for Disney, seeing as this is just a re-release.

Video game adaptation Until Dawn is eyeing a $8 million - $9 million start. That may sound low, but...

The fun is certainly beginning for George Lucas' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith as the 20-year-old film had an impressive showing at the box office in Thursday previews.

Per Deadline, Revenge of the Sith earned $3.4 million in Thursday previews, beating out the newly released sequel, The Accountant 2, which brought in $2.5 million. According to the outlet, Revenge of the Sith is projected to earn around $20 million in its opening weekend, which would place the 20-year-old film at or near the top of this weekend's box office totals. Over the past few years, Lucasfilm has re-released past Star Wars films to celebrate anniversaries. Last year, Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace was re-released in theaters for its 25th anniversary and Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi had its own 40th anniversary re-release back in 2023. However, Revenge of the Sith is poised to...

Bryce Dallas Howard spoke to Lucasfilm boss Dave Filoni about making a ‘Star Wars’ Mace Windu spin-off.The 44-year-old actress and director had worked with Filoni, 50, on the ‘Star Wars’ shows ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Book of Boba Fett’, and Howard has now teased she has spoken with the Lucasfilm's chief creative officer about potentially bringing back Samuel L. Jackson’s famed Jedi in an upcoming project.She told The Direct: "I went straight to Dave Filoni and I was like, ‘So, let's just talk about Mace Windu and where he is. Can we just talk about this? Because, is he dead? Is he?’"The ‘Jurassic World’ star added Jackson, 76, has always been "incredibly supportive" of her, and that he wanted to work with her on a project she was directing.She said: "Sam Jackson has been incredibly supportive of me and has told me many times that he would...

"Andor" season 2 starts with bang -- the theft of an experimental new Tie fighter model, a ripped-from-the-headlines exposé about the Empire's despicable treatment of undocumented agricultural workers, and perhaps the single most evil brainstorming session you'll ever watch. That last scene -- a top-secret meeting led by Orson Krennic. Specifically, ot's one of his most infamous meme lines from the disappointing "Star Wars" prequel trilogy. While describing the Empire's "Energy Initiative," a cover story for the Death Star project, Krennic emphasizes Palpatine's special interest in the program. "I met with the emperor yesterday," Krennic says. "He suggested I remind you that the Energy Initiative remains a centerpiece of his agenda. Access to stable, unlimited power will transform the galactic economy and solidify imperial authority."

That's right, power. Unlimited power. It's one of Palpatine's most famous lines, screamed at the top of his lungs in "Revenge of the Sith" as he...

Lucasfilm’s 2005 ‘space opera’ feature, “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”, written and directed by George Lucas, returns April 25, 2025 to theaters, in celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, available in 4Dx, offering high-tech motion chairs that sync with over 21 effects:

“…starring Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Frank Oz…

“…‘Revenge of the Sith’ is set three years after the onset of the ‘Clone Wars’, established in ‘Attack of the Clones’.

“The ‘Jedi’ are spread across the galaxy in a full-scale war against the ‘Separatists’. The Jedi Council’ dispatches ‘Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi’…

“…on a mission to defeat ‘General Grievous’, the head of the Separatist army and former apprentice to ‘Count Dooku', to put an end to the war.

“Meanwhile, after having visions of his wife ‘Padmé ‘ dying in childbirth…

“…‘Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker’ is tasked...

Since 1977, every Star Wars movie to hit movie screens has been a sequel or a prequel, but that's about to change. Star Wars: Starfighter, which just had its release date and title announced at the Star Wars Celebration convention in Chiba, Japan, will be an all-new adventure set in the Star Wars galaxy. Collider's Maggie Lovitt was on the scene as director Shawn Levy discussed the film.

Lev was also able to explain when in the Star Wars universe it takes place, making it the first piece of Star Wars fiction to explore the aftermath of 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.

The movie is a new adventure, it's new characters. It takes place in a new period of time after the Battle of Exegol in Episode 9.

Ryan Gosling, who will star in the film, added that the plot of Star Wars: Starfighter "has so much adventure, so much heart,...

Lucasfilm’s 2005 ‘space opera’ feature, “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”, written and directed by George Lucas, returns April 25, 2025 to theaters, in celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, available in 4Dx, offering high-tech motion chairs that sync with over 21 effects:

“…starring Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Frank Oz…

“…‘Revenge of the Sith’ is set three years after the onset of the ‘Clone Wars’, established in ‘Attack of the Clones’.

“The ‘Jedi’ are spread across the galaxy in a full-scale war against the ‘Separatists’. The Jedi Council’ dispatches ‘Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi’…

“…on a mission to defeat ‘General Grievous’, the head of the Separatist army and former apprentice to ‘Count Dooku', to put an end to the war.

“Meanwhile, after having visions of his wife ‘Padmé ‘ dying in childbirth…

“…‘Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker’ is tasked...

If you think sequels are bad now, you should have seen them a couple decades ago. Today, franchises are so ubiquitous that the studios take time to get them as right as possible, securing the original stars and trying to write stories that equal their predecessors. At the dawn of the blockbuster era, however, sequels were seen as cheap cash cows to be rushed out as quickly as possible while people still remembered the original. Nowadays, we know that nostalgia can overcome most of that and keep some properties around forever.

If you're wondering why your least favorite "Star Wars, "Star Trek," or "Superman" isn't on this list, it's simple: when you have an actor associated with an iconic character who continues to commit to the role, it elevates even "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace." It's hard to hate a movie that has Christopher Reeve in the tights, or Leonard Nimoy in pointy ears,...

One of the most important movies in the Star Wars timeline just got a significant update that could keep Star Wars readers from turning to the dark side. Random House World and Lucasfilm have allowed Collider to exclusively announce that the Revenge of the Sith Novelization is being given a breathtaking new hardcover to celebrate 20 years of the prequel film. First released in 2005 in unison with the film’s theatrical debut, the Revenge of the Sith novelization provides critical details and insight into Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) descent to the dark side at the hands of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).

Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, also provided an official quote on the deluxe edition release that can be found below, as well as a short clip showing off all the bells and whistles of the novelization:

“We couldn’t be more...

The great New Zealand-born actor Clive Revill has passed away at the age of 94. He died in Sherman Oaks, California, having succumbed to dementia on March 11. The sad news was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by his daughter, Kate Selsby Revill-Oglesby. Revill's storied career encompassed performances on the stage, silver screen, and television, and spanned from Shakespeare to horror and Star Trek to Star Wars, and included many voice-acting credits.

Revill, who would have turned 95 on April 18, entered the Star Trek universe in 1991, when he guest starred as Sir Guy of Gisbourne in the fourth-season Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Qpid.” The character seeks to marry Maid Marian/Vash (Jennifer Hetrick) and ultimately clashes with Robin Hood/Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his Merry Men, a/k/a Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden), Worf (Michael Dorn), Data (Brent Spiner), Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and Troi (Marina Sirtis).

Among Revill’s other credits,...

Lucasfilm’s 2005 ‘space opera’ feature, “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”, written and directed by George Lucas, returns April 25, 2025 to theaters, in celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, available in 4Dx, offering high-tech motion chairs that sync with over 21 effects:

“…starring Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Frank Oz…

“…‘Revenge of the Sith’ is set three years after the onset of the ‘Clone Wars’, established in ‘Attack of the Clones’.

“The ‘Jedi’ are spread across the galaxy in a full-scale war against the ‘Separatists’. The Jedi Council’ dispatches ‘Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi’…

“…on a mission to defeat ‘General Grievous’, the head of the Separatist army and former apprentice to ‘Count Dooku', to put an end to the war.

“Meanwhile, after having visions of his wife ‘Padmé ‘ dying in childbirth…

“…‘Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker’ is tasked...

Sad news for Star Wars fans today as Clive Revill, best known as the original voice of the villainous Emperor Palpatine in The Empire Strikes Back, has died at the age of 94. Over a prolific career, the actor made many appearances on stage and screen, and his passing is the loss of another star from a generation that gave the world some pioneers of modern cinema. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Revill died March 11 at a care facility in Sherman Oaks following a long battle with dementia.

Born in 1929, Revill showed a love of acting at a young age and attended many schools and colleges on his way to a professional career which began in England. Appearing in many West End productions, the actor became a powerhouse performer in both modern – at the time – and Shakespearean roles, lending his voice to characters of both dramatic and comedic inclination.

In the 1960s and 1970s,...

Actor Clive Revill, known in part for his work on Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Revill died on March 11 while at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, California. According to his daughter, Kate Revill, her father died following a battle with dementia. He was 94 years old.

Revill is known to Star Wars fans for his role in the original cut of 1980's Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. After he worked with director Irvin Kerschner on 1966's A Fine Madness, Revill was called upon to record some dialogue to be used for the voice of the emperor, in which the character is presented as a holographic projection. In the next movie, Return of the Jedi, Ian McDiarmid took over the role of the emperor, and in the 2004 DVD release of The Empire Strikes Back, McDiarmid's version was used to...

Quick LinksThe Original Emperor Was Not Played By Ian McDiarmidWhy George Lucas Removed The Original EmperorThe Californian and Kiwi that Created The Ominous Emperor

Star Wars has seen its fair share of casting variations for its side characters, as well as re-edits to update effects, formats, and continuity moments. The fandom doesn't always enjoy these changes, creating entire forums dedicated to making high-quality versions of older editions so they can enjoy the films the way they want. An interesting part about the casting bits in particular is that, for most, actors who played popular background creatures eventually got to show their faces or showcase their voices for future Star Wars movies and shows. However, some voices and actors have been cut out completely.

This complete cut-out of certain actors does not refer to the typical removal of scenes with tertiary characters with speaking roles, but rather long-standing scenes in the...

Clive Revill, the New Zealand native who after being recruited to be an actor by Laurence Olivier starred on Broadway, appeared in two films for Billy Wilder and provided the original voice of the evil Emperor Palpatine in The Empire Strikes Back, has died. He was 94.

Revill died March 11 at a care facility in Sherman Oaks after a battle with dementia, his daughter, Kate Revill, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The extremely versatile Revill played cops in Otto Preminger’s Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965), starring Olivier, and Jack Smight’s Kaleidoscope (1966), starring Warren Beatty; not one but two characters (a Scotsman and an Arab) in Joseph Losey’s Modesty Blaise (1966); and a physicist investigating strange goings-on at a haunted mansion in John Hough’s The Legend of Hell House (1973), starring Roddy McDowall.

A veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Revill also appeared seven times on Broadway and received Tony nominations for...

Have you been keeping up with The Acolyte? This short-lived Star Wars series that premiered on Disney+ on June 4, 2024, packed in some serious deep-cut references during its eight-episode run. Despite receiving generally favorable reviews from critics, the show famously divided the fandom and became the subject of review bombing campaigns.

Poster for The Acolyte | Credits: Lucasfilm, Disney+

Set approximately 100 years before The Phantom Menace at the tail end of the High Republic era, the series explored a respected Jedi Master investigating crimes that reconnect him with a former Padawan and reveal sinister forces at work.

Though Disney+ officially canceled the show in August 2024, creator Leslye Headland had numerous plot ideas for a potential second season that will sadly never see the light of day. As we look back at this controversial chapter in Star Wars history, let’s count down the top 10 Easter eggs that showed just how deeply The...

It's been twenty years, and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith remains a gift that keeps on giving. George Lucas' conclusion to the Prequel Trilogy has such a complex plot and so many details, that, once in a while, we catch on to something we missed. For example, something that bothers a lot of new fans is: why the hell didn't the Jedi catch Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) sooner? He was always right next to them! Couldn't they have used the Force to sense it? Weren't his political shenanigans fishy enough? Were the Jedi just not that powerful? Well, as it turns out, it's a bit of everything.