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Star Wars and Star Trek are considered the best of all the science fiction franchises in the entertainment industry. Throughout all these years, each franchise has transformed from its initial TV premiere and movie release in 1966 and 1977 into big establishments with fans across different generations.

The TV series of Star Trek evolved into a massive entertainment franchise, which now features various shows as well as films, books, comics, and merchandise series. The brand constructed its way from being dropped after three seasons to achieving its status as one of the most recognizable sci-fi properties.

Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope | Credit: Lucasfilm

As a creation of George Lucas, Star Wars grew into a movie-based multimillion-dollar powerhouse that changed the meaning of blockbusters and produced huge merchandising programs. Despite sharing elements of space themes and fan communities, the financial power of their productions differs significantly.

Joe Russo, one-half of the sibling powerhouse producing/directing team known as the Russo Brothers, posited that today’s blockbuster versus indie discourse is in large part to Harvey Weinstein’s Oscars campaign playbook.

In a new interview with the U.K.’s The Sunday Times, Russo lamented that popular films’ success at the box office and disproportional losses at the Academy Awards is due to a trend started by the disgraced mogul.

“This trend was started by Harvey Weinstein,” he said. “He vilified mainstream movies to champion the art films he pushed for Oscar campaigns. Popular films were winning Oscars before the mid-Nineties, then Weinstein started mudslinging campaigns … It affected how audiences view the Oscars, because they’ve not seen most of the movies. We’re in a complicated place. Things we should all enjoying collectively we instead punch each other in the face over.”

The Avengers: Endgame co-director added,...

When the trailer for "Taken" first started making the rounds in 2008, no one thought it was terribly out of character for Liam Neeson to star in a straight-ahead action flick. With films like "Darkman," "Rob Roy" and "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" on his resume, the 1993 Best Actor nominee for "Schindler's List" certainly seemed comfortable making genre movies. The surprise was the five years that led up to it. After failing to snag a well-deserved second Best Actor nomination for "Kinsey" in 2004, he segued to supporting parts in "Kingdom of Heaven," "Batman Begins" and "Breakfast on Pluto," which suggested he was either getting passed over for lead roles, didn't fit the star type for whatever was being offered, or entering the character actor phase of his career.

After the moody Western "Seraphim Falls" failed to catch on with moviegoers (despite the intriguing pairing of Neeson and Pierce Brosnan), next up was "Taken.

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...

George Lucas changed cinema forever with "Star Wars." He didn't just alter the medium in terms of franchising, but he also pushed the limits of independent cinema and revolutionized everything from visual effects to digital editing, sound design, and filming. But you already know that, right? 

What you may not know, however, is that Lucas frequently made appearances in non-"Star Wars" movies and TV shows throughout his career. For example, the now-retired filmmaker once cameoed in his buddy Steven Spielberg's Peter Pan film "Hook," specifically in a scene where he makes out with Carrie Fisher. (!) Lucas also played a small role in "Beverly Hills Cop III" (sharing the screen with Christina Venuti) and even showed up in an episode of "The O.C." once.

Of course, "Star Wars" fans are aware that Lucas similarly popped up in "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith." In that case,...

Actor Sam Witwer has a longstanding association with the Star Wars franchise. He first provided his voice and likeness for a series of video games before portraying fan-favorite prequel trilogy villain Darth Maul in several animated projects, including Star Wars Rebels, where the character eventually met his demise.

Sam Witwer on the Inside of You podcast (Credit: YouTube).

During an interview, Witwer reflected on his run as the now-iconic villain. In the process, Witwer also talked about his dynamic with Obi-Wan Kenobi, with the actor highlighting a fatal error the Jedi Knight made during Rebels season 3. Here is what Witwer had to say about Maul and Kenobi’s fight that changed the galaxy far, far away.

Sam Witwer on Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul’s fate duel in Star Wars: Rebels season 3

Darth Maul was first introduced in 1999’s The Phantom Menace and quickly became popular with the Star Wars fanbase.

In 1983, several actresses filmed scenes as star pilots in the Battle of Endor for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. However, they did not make it into the final cut of the film or dubbed over as men. Since then, though, there have been many female star pilots in both the Star Wars films and series.

In 1999, George Lucas rectified the omission 16 years later in The Phantom Menace. British actress Celia Imrie portrayed Naboo starfighter Dinee Ellberger. The character assisted the Jedi and Naboo's liberation of the planet against the Trade Federation.

With the exception of Solo: A Star Wars Story, the four other films released under Disney have featured female star pilots. In The Force Awakens, Jessica Henwick portrayed X-Wing pilot Jessika Pava. Henwick was a finalist for the role of Rey and won over director J.J. Abrams to give her a role in the film.

A fun new Easter egg has been discovered in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, 26 years after the movie’s release. It turns out that George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, made a secret appearance in the film.

If you know when and where to look, you can spot his bearded face on a stone archway in the background on Naboo, at 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 17 seconds into the movie.

Source: https://claytonsandell.substack.com/p/star-wars-the-george-lucas-phantom

This surprising discovery was shared by Caroleen “Jett” Green, a former matte artist at Industrial Light & Magic (Ilm), who worked on The Phantom Menace. Jett revealed that she created the hidden cameo while working on a matte painting for the movie.

Related: George Nolfi Talks George Lucas’ Political Influence on ‘New Jedi Order’ and Star Wars Legacy

She said that she noticed an oval-shaped space on an arch in the painting,...

Almost all of you reading this are likely aware that Star Wars mastermind George Lucas had a cameo role in 2005's Revenge of the Sith. The filmmaker played the blue-skinned Baron Papanoida but it turns out he debuted in the Galaxy Far, Far Away he created years earlier.

As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, Clayton Sandell recently sat down for a conversation with former Ilm matte painter Caroleen "Jett" Green and discovered that Lucas has a literal blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in Theed's Royal Palace on Naboo during The Phantom Menace's final act. However, unlike the Baron, he wasn't there in person for it.

Instead, Green painted his face into one of her backgrounds. When Queen Padmé and her guards run through a long hallway in the palace before being surrounded by the Trade Federation's Battle Droids, Lucas' face can be seen far in the background in an arch above a window.

By now, most Star Wars fans probably know the majority of these films and shows' most iconic "Easter eggs" by heart. Even the most dedicated watchers, however, may have still missed a subtle George Lucas "appearance" in 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

Journalist and Star Wars writer Clayton Sandell (Star Wars: Timelines and more) revealed on his Substack earlier this week that there is a literal blink-and-you-miss-it Easter egg hidden in the film. It took over 25 years, but we can all now finally point it out excitedly to all our friends and family.

In the scene where Queen Amidala and her guards are running down a hallway in the Theed palace, there is actually a blurry image of George Lucas's face at the top of an archway. You kind of have to squint to see it, but it's there -- at the timestamp of 1:57:17 on Disney+,...

Seeing actors before they were famous in other films and projects is always an uncanny experience. We all know Andre Braugher as Captain Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but how many of us actually remember that he was in The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer?

Now, I have watched Attack of the Clones more times than I can count, and while everyone and their mom knew Keira Knightley was in it, never once did I realize that Rose Byrne was there too!

Rose Byrne in The Phantom Menace || Credit: Lucasfilm

Rose Byrne played Agent Moira MacTaggert in what is perhaps the best X-Men film from the Fox era, X-Men: First Class, and what baffles me is that her presence in the film went completely unnoticed, despite semi-annual viewings of the Prequel trilogy.

Rose Byrne’s character, much like Keira Knightley’s, has a rich history in Star Wars lore Sabé,...

When Disney bought out Lucasfilm in 2014, that brought future "Star Wars" comics under the Marvel publishing umbrella.

Longtime "Star Wars" fans had early reservations about new stories supplanting the old expanded universe ("Star Wars: Legends"). But the Marvel "Star Wars" comics have seen some solid hits. Kieron Gillen/Salvador Larocca's "Darth Vader" run is especially beloved, and comics were a key part of the High Republic publishing initiative.

The latest Marvel "Star Wars" ongoing comic is "Jedi Knights." Set before "The Phantom Menace," this series will focus on the supporting Jedi characters from the prequel trilogy, ala "The Clone Wars" cartoons. The comic is an anthology, with each issue showing a different Jedi adventure.

The first issues at least will be written by Marc Guggenheim and drawn by Madibek Musabekov — Marvel has shared an exclusive first look at the "Jedi Knights" debut issue with /Film. The issue synopsis reads:...

Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith Re-Release Box Office Update ( Photo Credit – Prime Video )

The Star Wars franchise remains one of the world’s most popular and influential entertainment properties. Although its popularity has fluctuated over the years, it continues to have a massive fanbase across multiple generations. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is returning to the theatres soon to commemorate its 20th anniversary. The film has been given the chance to achieve a major milestone worldwide. Scroll below for the deets.

For the unversed, it is the third installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the sequel to The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. This threequel is the sixth film in the Star Wars film series. Directed by George Lucas, the film features Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Frank Oz.

It was released...

This is a great week for fans of the Galaxy's best protocol droid. We should stop to wish Anthony Daniels a very happy 79th birthday. In honor of his contributions to the franchise, I wanted to look back on his contributions to Star Wars. I acknowledge that I'm limiting myself to not include TV shows, comics, and books, which include Star Wars Legends, but I would be here until Anthony's 80th birthday if I included all of the media.

Here are the top 5 C-3Po moments from Star Wars1. "I do believe they think I'm some sort of god." Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. C-3Po played by Anthony Daniels on Endor with the Ewoks. Image Credit: StarWars.com | starwars.co

I'll admit that Leia Organa and Han Solo make wonderful foils for each other, but if there's one pair in the movies that embodies irreconcilable differences,...

This is where the fun begins. 2025 is a big year for Star Wars anniversaries – not only will the end of the year mark 10 years since The Force Awakens arrived (a terrifying comment on the rapid runaway nature of time), but this summer will be 20 years since Anakin Skywalker finally became Darth Vader on screen in Revenge Of The Sith. Yes, that’s two decades of the Mustafar duel, of General Grievous' dastardly wheezing, of the killing of the younglings, of the big lizard chase, of that midwife droid that goes “Ooh-bahh, ooh-bahh”. And, lest we forget, of that all-important High Ground. And if mention of all those things makes you desperate to see Episode III back on the big screen, we bring good news: it’s officially back in cinemas in April.

Just as The Phantom Menace came back to cinemas last year for its 25th anniversary, Revenge Of The...

"You underestimate my power!" "Don't try it." Anakin and Obi-Wan are returning to theaters again! Disney has officially announced that Star Wars: Episode III will be returning to cinemas around the world at the end of April just before the summer movie season begins. I remember going on opening weekend years ago! Get everyone together to re-experience this sci-fi spectacle on the big screen. Last year they also re-released Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace back in theaters again (on May 3rd) now they're following up with the much dark, much more intense third movie from the prequels. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith first opened in theaters May 2005, meaning it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year during its re-release coming up this summer. It will play for one week only starting on April 25th, 2025. This epic finale to the prequel trilogy features Ewan McGregor and...

We’re already two months deep in 2025, but the trending news and gossip related to our favorite comics are already booming, with so many upcoming things to look forward to in the very first months of the new year.

And everyone’s making a comeback, some long-forgotten characters and superheroes, and some of the most powerful Marvel characters too. What is the comic fandom in for in 2025? This article focuses on the latest trending news and releases from the comic world.

A New Era Dawns: Marvel’s Star Wars Relaunch is Upon Us!

Marvel is making the jump to hyperspace once again! This time, the Star Wars mainline comic is getting a fresh relaunch, set in the New Republic era—a time largely untouched in previous comics. While we’ve seen glimpses of this post-Empire era in The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, Marvel is finally pulling back the curtain on the...

There's a lot of magic that goes into the art of making movies, but it's rare that all the performers in a movie don't meet before cameras start rolling. Nevertheless, things get complicated on big-budget sets, especially when you factor in Covid-19 restrictions, reshoots, and actors who refuse to work with each other. 

With all that in mind, it's not uncommon that some co-stars aren't always on set at the same time during production. A lot of times, pivotal characters never meet in movies, meaning the only opportunities that actors get to interact would be at the table read or during the film's promotional period. Take, for instance, Tom Holland and Tom Hiddleston, whose characters never interact in "Avengers: Infinity War," despite the actors frequently appearing in interviews together. 

Surprisingly, for these 12 films we're about to cover, not only was there limited contact between co-stars at times, but some actors...

Warwick Davis, known for his roles in Star Wars and Harry Potter, received BAFTA’s highest honor at the Film Awards on Sunday. The British actor, whose career spans decades and includes memorable turns such as Ewok Wicket in Return of the Jedi and appearances in Willow and The Phantom Menace, was celebrated by peers and fans alike during the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

During his speech, Davis expressed deep gratitude while acknowledging personal loss. “This is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me—and I’ve been in Star Wars,” he said with a touch of humor. The actor, who experienced the recent passing of his wife Samantha, credited the support of his children and family for helping him rediscover joy in his work. He paid homage to his late wife, recalling her warmth and unwavering support, and emphasized that her memory continues to inspire him.

Warwick Davis, the British actor who has played various roles in the Star Wars franchise, got a tribute from Luke Skywalker himself as he was garlanded with BAFTA’s highest honor.

Mark Hamill described Davis as “one of the hardest working men in showbusiness” as he received the Fellowship prize at the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday.

Hamill joked that Davis has more Star Wars credits than himself and that he followed up the mega-franchise with another in the shape of Harry Potter.

Davis was celebrated by BAFTA for his prolific career and role in creating a more inclusive screen industry. George Lucas was among others who paid tribute to Davis, saying he was a “great actor.”

An emotional Davis, who unexpectedly lost his wife last year, thanked his loved ones — including his children — for helping him learn to “laugh and love again.” He joked: “This is one of the...

Star Wars has had some classic characters that have almost turned into archetypes an entire generation of filmmakers. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and Leia Organa are all very well-established as classic Hollywood characters and Star Wars fans have been happy with stories revolving around these characters.

Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo || Credit: Lucasfilm

Come The Phantom Menace, characters like Qui-Gon Jinn, Darth Maul, and Padme Amidala took center stage in the story. However, criticisms that were leveled at the film were actually hilarious in hindsight and might have been telling signs of what the fandom was going to mature into eventually. Needless to say, there has always been a hunger to see familiar stories play out in Star Wars, with archetypical characters. This has only now changed, thanks to shows like Andor and Skeleton Crew.

Fans seemed interested in The Phantom Menace because characters...

Known for creating the iconic Star Wars franchise, George Lucas revolutionized the film industry with groundbreaking storytelling and cutting-edge technology. Since the release of A New Hope in 1977, the sci-fi saga has grown into one of the biggest and most influential franchises in the world, expanding into numerous films, TV series, games, novels, comics, and more.

George Lucas | Credit: Joi Ito/Cc-by-2.0/Wikimedia Commons

Despite Star Wars’ massive success and cultural impact, its creator has had a complicated relationship with Hollywood’s most prestigious honor, the Academy Awards. While the franchise has won multiple Oscars, Lucas himself has often been overlooked in major categories such as Best Director.

From his early success with American Graffiti to the sci-fi juggernaut that is Star Wars, here’s a look at every time the legendary filmmaker lost at the Oscars.

George Lucas lost the Best Director Oscar for American Graffiti

George Lucas is...

While Taken‘s success, for better or worse, rebranded Liam Neeson as an action star, the actor initially rose to stardom following his dramatic prowess in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. On the flip side, Sandra Bullock, whose career has been mostly defined by rom-coms and dramas, originally rose to global stardom due to Speed and Demolition Man.

Speed | Credit: 20th Century Studios

Although their careers have rarely intertwined, interestingly, the duo did join forces in the early 2000s for an action comedy, which is often considered one of the most forgettable outings in their filmography.

A quite forgettable collaboration – Gun Shy

Considering Sandra Bullock was popping off in the ’90s and Liam Neeson had starred in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace just a year prior, on paper, a collaboration between the two screamed success. But at the end of the day, it all boils down to the story,...

The excitement surrounding the Star Wars prequels was huge in the late 90s; with that in mind, perhaps it was inevitable that they would never live up to the expectations of fans. The same could, of course, be said about the sequels.

Unfortunately, even more than half a decade after The Rise of Skywalker wrapped things up, it still feels like the latter left a much worse taste in the mouths of moviegoers.

However, while an argument could be made that The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi were better than the prequels in terms of pure filmmaking, we think a case can be made for George Lucas' movies ultimately telling a much better, far more coherent story than the sequels which wrapped up the Skywalker Saga.

The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith certainly made a lot of mistakes. In this feature, we're taking a look at why,...

Fans who have been following the Star Wars franchise since the 1980s might be aware that Kenner Toys planned to launch a line of action figures with an accompanying animated series called Star Wars: The Epic Continues in the 1980s. The purpose of The Epic Continues was to keep sales of Star Wars merchandise afloat at a time when the popularity of the brand was starting to dwindle due to the lack of new movies. And while The Epic Continues never came to fruition, the planned villain from the series will soon be making his canon debut in the upcoming comic book Star Wars: Jedi Knights.

Atha Prime is back in the comic book Star Wars: Jedi Knights

Marvel is bringing back Atha Prime - an original character created for "The Epic Continues" - the cancelled Kenner toy line that was planned to continue the Star Wars story after Return of the Jedi pic.

Imagine this: you’re on a hot streak, having just crushed it in one of the biggest blockbuster franchises of the decade, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. You’ve tasted that sweet, sugary success and suddenly, another iconic role lands on your lap. A character so rich in depth, so soaked in honor and tragic downfall, that it could elevate your career into the stratosphere.

Well, it’s Boromir from The Lord of the Rings. The catch?

Liam Neeson | Credits: Retribution/Lionsgate.

You might be thinking, “Who would turn that down?” But, sometimes, the devil’s in the details. For Liam Neeson, the actor who was offered Boromir’s role, it wasn’t about fame or fortune; it was about shaking off a certain label!

The role Liam Neeson turned down: Why Boromir wasn’t his fate

Liam Neeson wasn’t just another actor looking for a paycheck.

When Cowboy Bebop was first conceptualized, few could have predicted its lasting influence on anime and pop culture. Even with modern animation and many CGI techniques, the anime feels like the picturesque representation of the future.

Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. [Credit: Sunrise]

There is an intriguing origin story behind the legendary anime. The timing of its production during the late ’90s coincided with the resurgence of the Star Wars franchise because of the release of The Phantom Menace.

Cowboy Bebop is ‘a galaxy far, far away met jazz’

The unique feature of Star Wars was its futuristic spaceships and other technological vehicles which could be made into miniature models and sold as toys to capitalize on the popularity. Bandai had the idea to make money off of this boom.

A still from Cowboy Bebop | Credits: Sunrise Pictures

Bandai’s original intent for Cowboy Bebop was very simple; to create an anime with spaceships.

There are plenty of icons in the Star Wars franchise. From Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker, this movie series has expanded beyond its own horizons, spilling into the worlds of video games, comics, and in recent years even television. That's how legendary Star Wars is.

Lucasfilm has taken some time to figure out what to do with the franchise's future on the silver screen after the conclusion of the iconic Skywalker Saga (which produced nine films across 45 years) and the Disney Plus shows have allowed it to do that. The irony is that the juggernaut's next installment, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is set to bring Star Wars' most beloved TV characters to movie theaters.

But that's not the only offshoot that The Mandalorian has produced, as one of its returning spinoffs is reportedly about to include one of the biggest Star Wars characters of all time - one who is...

The fates of child actors always seem so predetermined. A few get out and make good on their ambitions, but others get wrapped up in drugs or fade into oblivion or become incessant tabloid fodder. But Jake Lloyd is different. Tasked with carrying the future of Star Wars on his tiny shoulders, he was absolutely shredded by moviegoers and the media at just 10 years old. Facing bullying at school, hate from Star Wars fans, ridicule from reporters, and battles with his mental health, Jake Lloyd has seen a world like perhaps no other child actor before or since. More than 25 years removed from The Phantom Menace, he’s eyeing a recovery that matches it. Let’s find out: What Happened to… Jake Lloyd?

Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, Jake Lloyd and his family soon found their way to Hollywood. After a supporting role alongside Gena Rowlands and Marisa Tomei in...

The only agreeable response to “Hello there,” is “General Kenobi” in that menacing voice, thanks to the iconic dialogue delivery of Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor, who joined Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, he was just 28 years old. He was stepping into one of the most iconic franchises in cinematic history.

As the young Obi-Wan Kenobi, McGregor had big shoes to fill, not only as a Jedi but also as a successor to the legendary Sir Alec Guinness, who portrayed the character in the original trilogy. He wasn’t the confident, amazing actor we know and love right from the start.

Liam Neeson as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Credits: Lucasfilm

Despite his undeniable talent and charm, McGregor’s presence was somewhat overshadowed by Liam Neeson’s towering portrayal of Qui-Gon Jinn. However, behind the scenes, director George Lucas...

Star Wars is so deeply ingrained into our pop culture. Even people who have never seen the movies know what characters like Darth Vader or, more recently, "Baby Yoda" look like. The phrases are baked into our media. So when SlashFilm released an article about how Gen Z fans are engaging in a new trend where they watch the films in chronological order and react to unknown moments online, I immediately thought, "Huh, so it's basically First Steps."

I discovered First Steps: A Star Wars Podcast last year thanks to my friend who talks about the show all the time. The premise is simple: Two Star Wars fans, Calvin and Wyatt, introduce their friend Andi to Star Wars in chronological order. They started with The Phantom Menace and are working through to The Rise of Skywalker. At the time of writing this, they just wrapped up Star Wars Rebels, and...

Filmmaker George Lucas shepherded the Star Wars franchise for several decades, working extensively on the original and prequel trilogy. While the original trilogy remains a cinematic milestone, the same cannot be said for the prequels, which were initially received extremely poorly, especially the first installment, titled The Phantom Menace.

George Lucas is the genius mind behind the Star Wars franchise (Credit: Lucasfilm).

During an interview, Lucas was asked about the poor reviews of the movie, which marked the filmmaker’s return to directing an installment of the space opera saga for the first time since 1977. However, Lucas was extremely blunt when it came to the critical reception of the movie and his words prove the filmmaker will never see eye to eye with the detractors of the prequels.

George Lucas had a blunt response to critics who ripped apart Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

George Lucas returned to the Star...

Steven Spielberg is arguably one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, having directed some of the biggest franchises. Moreover, Spielberg is a close friend of George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise. As a result, if anyone should be in pole position to direct an entry in the space opera saga it should be him and it is a surprise Spielberg hasn’t already helmed a Star Wars movie.

Steven Spielberg has never directed a Star Wars movie (Credit: The Late Show | YouTube).

During an interview, Spielberg spoke about his desire to direct a film in the franchise but revealed why Lucas did not allow him to make one. However, despite not getting a chance to helm an installment in the space-faring saga, Spielberg has still played a key role in shaping some of the most important movies in the Star Wars franchise, and here is what...

Everyone remembers when they learned that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father. Some folks were fortunate enough to catch it in the theater back in 1980 or shortly after when "The Empire Strikes Back" made its way to home video. As a 1990s kid, I saw it sometime around 1999 when I watched the original trilogy for the first time in the lead-up to the release of "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace." The reveal blew my tiny little mind, and there's a reason it's not just one of the greatest moments in the entire "Star Wars" franchise, but also one of the greatest movie moments ever. Unfortunately, it's a reveal that has become such an unignorable part of America's pop culture fabric, there are also an immeasurable number of people who likely learned about Luke Skywalker's paternity discovery from a bit in "Tommy Boy," a joke on "Family Guy,...

Remember Watto, the slave master to a young Anakin and Shmi Skywalker on Tatooine? He has reportedly died at the hands of Darth Vader.

After a controversial run in canon and non-canon Star Wars, the Toydarian junk dealer's final fate will seemingly be revealed in the second edition of Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader published by Marvel Comics. Editor Mark Paniccia shared a sneak peek into some of the panels from the #2 issue, where we can see Ben Solo, Aka Kylo Ren, travel to Tatooine, his grandfather's childhood home planet, to explore further and connect with Anakin's legacy.

One of the flashback panels shows Darth Vader with his lightsaber on, attacking an older Watto trembling in what could only be fear. The speech box says, "Vader must have returned here, taken his revenge."

Sneak peeks of Star Wars: Legacy Of Vader #2. Kylo Ren on... Tatooine! https://t.co/O5hy1sLKl7 pic.

Natalie Portman’s depiction of Padmé in Star Wars awed the audience on more than one occasion. Her most notable performance, though, possibly was during her last time bringing the character to life on screen in the Revenge of the Sith.

Natalie Portman as Queen Padmé Amidala in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Credits: Lucasfilm

The movie delved deep into Anakin Skywalker’s mind and portrayed his journey of becoming Darth Vader in gruesome detail. Interestingly, there have been reports of the movie initially expected to go on an even darker path than what made the final cuts.

As a concept artist from the movie revealed, there were ideas floating around of the final confrontation of Anakin and Padmé taking on a very Game of Thrones-ish tone for the climax. Natalie Portman, too, once commented on the same, but her statement seems to have left fans even more confused than before.

According to the rumors, 25 years after her first appearance in The Phantom Menace, Natalie Portman may return to Star Wars as Padme Amidala.

The Kristian Harloff Show recently claimed that the Black Swan actress is in talks with Lucasfilm about reprising the role in Ahsoka Season 2 and that showrunner Dave Filoni is keen to make it happen. According to Harloff, Ewan McGregor will also return to Star Wars in the Rosario Dawson-led Disney+ series.

Given that Ahsoka is set in the New Republic era, between the events of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, it is long after Padme’s heartbreaking death during childbirth. Portman’s prequel co-star Hayden Christensen’s Force Ghost Anakin was an integral part of the first season, helping Ahsoka finish her training when she was stuck in the World Between Worlds. Padme was never shown to be Force-sensitive. So, the possibility of...

We might not have had a new Star Wars movie since 2019, but there's been no shortage of movie news flying in from that galaxy far, far away in recent months. There's been talk of a new Simon Kinberg trilogy, confirmation that James Mangold's Dawn Of The Jedi will be set 25,000 years before The Phantom Menace, and even the curveball potential casting of Ryan Gosling in Shawn Levy's secretive Star Wars project. And now THR are reporting that Disney's New Jedi Order movie with Daisy Ridley has brought aboard Ocean's Twelve and The Bourne Ultimatum writer George Nolfi.

As you may recall, back in October we reported that director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's hotly anticipated movie — a film set 15 years after the events of The Rise Of Skywalker that is expected to centre around a now-Jedi Master Rey as she trains up a, well, new Jedi Order — had lost screenwriter Steven Knight.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles emerged in 2000 during the Star Wars revival sparked by The Phantom Menace. A side-scrolling action game, it allowed players to control Jedi characters like Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi through levels inspired by the film. Players initially received the game with mixed reactions, yet it gained recognition as a memorable gaming experience.

In 2025, Aspyr released Jedi Power Battles on new gaming platforms with a port based on the Dreamcast version. The release maintains the game’s original structure while offering updated graphics and refined controls.

The port keeps the game’s original challenging elements and cooperative gameplay, creating an experience that will resonate with longtime fans. Priced at $20, the game targets players who remember the original release, though its straightforward mechanics and limited gameplay might feel outdated for players accustomed to contemporary Star Wars video games.

Gameplay Mechanics and Combat

Star Wars Episode...

It's been almost two years since Star Wars Celebration was held in London, England. At the event, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Logan director James Mangold revealed his plans to head into a Galaxy Far, Far Away for a story about the First Jedi. 

While we know this untitled Star Wars movie - typically referred to as "Dawn of the Jedi" - will be set roughly 25,000 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, few updates have been shared since. That's likely because it's had to compete with A Complete Unknown for the filmmaker's attention. 

Today, we have an update on Mangold's Star Wars plans (via SFFGazette.com). It's said that the current idea is for the movie to begin shooting in December. The script, written by Mangold and Andor's Beau Willimon, will be completed by the summer and it's then casting will begin. 

That's a big...

Star Wars enthusiasts were thrilled when Hayden Christensen returned as Anakin Skywalker in the first season of the prequel series Ahsoka in 2023. Now, the buzz in Tinseltown suggests that Natalie Portman might reprise her role as Padmé Amidala in the show’s second season on Disney+.

Naturally, fans can’t get enough of the idea, taking to social media to share their thoughts. Podcast host Kristian Harloff disclosed that the May December actress, 43, might soon come back to the far, far away galaxy, suggesting that Portman is nearing an agreement with the studio.

'Star Wars' Fans Go Wild Over Speculation That Natalie Portman Could Reprise Her Role As Padmé Amidala

He said, as reported by Cbr, "It'd probably be a world between worlds type thing which, if you think about it, makes sense with the Ewan McGregor of it all and the young Ahsoka." McGregor, 53, as Harloff noted, played Obi-Wan...

In 1977, Star Wars blasted into theaters like a rebel ship. Lightsabers flashed, space battles roared, and Darth Vader wheezed his way into fame. That galaxy far, far away? It became the biggest thing right here on Earth.

Darth Vader in Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (Credits: 20th Century Home Entertainment)

Almost five decades later, Star Wars is a full-blown empire. Twelve movies, nine shows, theme parks, games, toys—it’s everywhere. But let’s focus on the heart of it all: the live-action movies. Over 40+ years, they’ve raked in over $10 billion at the box office worldwide.

Want to know which movies ruled the box office and which ones got sidelined? Let’s break it all down, movie by movie, using Box Office Mojo’s numbers.

1. Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Credits: 20th Century Home Entertainment)

This is where it all began.

Ryan Gosling is headed to the great galaxy far, far away.

The three-time Oscar nominee is in negotiations to topline the Star Wars feature project that will be directed by Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy.

Details on any Star Wars project are harder to acquire than plans for an orbital planet killer, and this one is no exception. Levy has been developing his Star Wars feature since 2022 and Jonathan Tropper, who collaborated with Levy on films such as This Is Where I Leave You and The Adam Project, has been working on a script for over a year. Levy is also producing the feature via his 21 Laps banner, joining Star Wars stewards Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm.

It is unclear when Levy’s project is set. Star Wars stories have run the gamut of hundreds of years, detailing the goings-on of a galactic republic-turned-dictatorship-turned-rebellion. It’s also unclear if it concerns Jedis and their enemies,...

It’s been several months now that ‘The Acolyte’ has seemingly wrapped up its storyline, and despite the show ending in a manner that strongly suggested season 2, with cameo appearances of two major characters from the franchise, the show was canceled due to poor reception and low viewership.

Fans have been petitioning for season 2 of the show, but it ultimately didn’t lead anywhere. Then a few weeks ago Manny Jacinto hinted that his story is not quite over, and the rumors of season 2 started back up again.

We know now that the story won’t continue as a show but there is some good news for fans of ‘The Acolyte!’ The story of its fascinating characters will continue in new novels. One of these is ‘The Acolyte: Wayseeker’ by Justina Ireland, which explores Vernestra Rwoh’s adventures before the events of the show, alongside Jedi Knight Indara.

Related: ‘The...

40 years after he was first conceived, a "Star Wars" villain that never got his day in the sun is making a comeback. Admittedly, this is an obscure character even by hardcore fan standards. This is as about as unknown as they come, but that only serves to make the character's return all the more interesting.

Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm recently announced a new book titled "Star Wars: Jedi Knights." The book hails from writer Marc Guggenheim ("Arrow") and artist Madibek Musabekov ("Star Wars"). In terms of the overall timeline, it takes place around the "Fall of the Jedi" era before the events of "The Phantom Menace." Aside from the rich era for storytelling that the prequel era has proved to be, the book's intrigue has to do with making Atha Prime part of the official canon. Readers would be forgiven for not knowing that name, but it's a villain that...

A dark new threat is coming to the Galaxy Far, Far Away, but longtime Star Wars fans will know he's been around for a very long time. Inspired by unused Return of the Jedi concept art, Atha Prime was planned to be the main villain for an unreleased Kenner toy line in the '80s, one that was intended to continue the success of Star Wars action figures following the release of the Original Trilogy.

Now, decades later, Atha Prime will officially debut in Marvel's upcoming Star Wars: Jedi Knights comic book series.

Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Marc Guggenheim and rising star artist Madibek Musabekov are set to introduce the character as a mysterious planet's tyrannical ruler who boldly opposes the Republic and the Jedi Order.

Befitting his legacy, Atha is spotlighted on John Tyler Christopher's Action Figure Variant Cover for Star Wars: Jedi Knights #1 and will also be featured on Ramon Rosanas’Foil Variant Cover.

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is easily my favorite Star Wars villain, but Disney has repeated one aspect of his story one too many times—and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has finally given audiences something different. Anakin is one of Star Wars' best characters, which is true not only because he becomes one of Star Wars' most powerful Sith, but also because his fall to the dark side and redemption are both some of the most compelling storytelling in all Star Wars movies and TV shows. Star Wars was meant to be innovative, not derivative, though.

That was George Lucas' vision from the very beginning, and, for the most part, Lucas continued to innovate, even if not all of his new ideas were popular—midi-chlorians created quite the controversy, for example. Disney Star Wars has had plenty of new ideas as well, and I'm far from disliking Disney's Star Wars projects.

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader's fall to the dark side is one of the most important events in Star Wars, but when did it really begin? There were many defining moments in Anakin's fall to the dark side, which can make it difficult to pin down precisely when this turn to the dark truly began. In fact, Anakin's Star Wars timeline is arguably one of the most complicated throughout Star Wars' movies and TV shows.

This is true not only because so much happens to him in such a short time, but also because plenty is still unknown about what Obi-Wan and Anakin did between Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Nevertheless, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, and even Star Wars: The Clone Wars have provided...

First introduced in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the droid army has become an important part of the galaxy's history, although their fate is never truly shown at the end of the Clone Wars in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. In fact, the third prequel movie isn't the only Star Wars project that's shied away from showing what happened to the battle droids. Both Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Bad Batch neglect covering this topic in great detail as well, although we have learned more over the years.

Between Star Wars' TV shows, books, comics, and more, information about the fate of the droid army has increased more and more. After largely glazing over the fate of the droids initially, the aforementioned animated The Bad Batch series also provides some details as to what happened to some of these battle droids after the Clone Wars.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew delivered on the promise of a "whole new kind of Jedi" in Star Wars, but it wasn't at all who (or what) I was expecting. Skeleton Crew just released its final episode, bringing this brilliant new addition to Star Wars movies and TV shows to a close. With Skeleton Crew's cast of characters, the show's innovative storylines, and the many Easter eggs and references to all that has come before in Star Wars, I truly believe Skeleton Crew is the best show we've had since Andor.

It also wasn't clear whether this was a story 'about' the Jedi. In recent years, Star Wars TV shows—and the movies, to some extent—have shifted away from the Jedi versus the Sith story and have begun focusing on other characters and storylines. In fact, some of Star Wars' best TV shows have focused on non-Force users, such...