Zack Snyder Reveals Reason He Pitched an R-Rated Star Wars Film



Rebel Moon director Zack Snyder delves into how he nearly went to a galaxy far, far away as he reveals the main reason he pitched an edgier R-rated Star Wars movie.

Speaking with The Atlantic, Snyder explained why he originally pitched Rebel Moon as an R-rated Star Wars movie to Lucasfilm in 2012, before Disney acquired the production company. According to Snyder, he believed the Star Wars fanbase had "grown up" enough to want to see it move in a different direction. However, when Disney made the acquisition, he felt the mass media giant had little intention of making his film down the line. "The Star Wars audience, they've grown up," Snyder said. "They're adults now. And it would be cool to make movies for them... When the acquisition happened, there were discussions of, like, 'Oh, maybe we'll make your movie, like down the liiiiiiiine,'" he said. "And I was like, 'Okay, whatever.'"

After Snyder's pitch was rebuffed, the director conceptualized the Rebel Moon franchise, which includes the film duology he's currently promoting, as well as a planned video game and a comic book series, among other properties. Both Rebel Moon movies, A Child of Fire and The Scargiver, were set in their own continuity. Netflix vice president Ori Marmur revealed the reason why Snyder's Rebel Moon was split into two movies, telling Variety, "When we saw how big the world he created was, we thought it would be better served as two pieces versus one film. It’s the kind of story that can continue to grow."

Starring Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ray Fisher and Anthony Hopkins, A Child of Fire made its limited theatrical debut on Dec. 15 ahead of its Netflix debut shortly thereafter. However, the results so far have been disappointing for Snyder, with the film attracting a 23% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though the audience score of 73% suggests there is fan interest in his franchise. Most of the criticism surrounding A Child of Fire stems from its focus on world-building over storytelling, while some have questioned the depth of the characters involved.

Rebel Moon uses a cliffhanger ending to set up The Scargiver, which is set for an Apr. 19, 2024 release. Along with the versions people have seen in cinemas and will get to stream on Netflix, Snyder has promised a "very hard" R-rated director's cut of A Child of Fire to further stoke audience interest.


A Child of Fire is now available for streaming via Netflix.

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New Star Wars Movie Cancellations Are Actually Good For The Future

Since the 2019 release of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, the future of the cinematic part of the Star Wars franchise has been in limbo, but recent information means there may be new hope going forward. Variety revealed that Lucasfilm has officially pulled two known upcoming Star Wars films from development. This indicates that Star Wars has been busy planning its cinematic future, and these two films aren’t a part of what Lucasfilm has settled on.

The two films that were pulled were Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron and the unnamed film that was supposed to be produced by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. Jenkins’ film was originally scheduled to premiere in December 2023, but with the project no longer in development, that means there will be a longer wait to see another Star Wars film in theaters. Despite the extended hiatus, this delay can only spell good things for the Star Wars universe. As Disney CEO Bob Iger admitted when speaking at a Morgan Stanley conference, "We’re going to make sure that when we make one, that it’s the right one, so we are being very careful there​​​​​​​."

Star Wars Movies Being Shelved Suggests Disney Finally Has A Real Plan


With the shelving of Kevin Feige’s unnamed film and Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron, the Star Wars universe may actually have a roadmap to follow. For a while, there had been announcements of numerous projects in development, which gave no clear indicator of where the franchise was heading next. In fact, Rogue Squadron was reportedly set to take place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and the entire Skywalker Saga. This would’ve been completely new territory for Star Wars to explore and set up stories for years to come. The shelving of the film indicates that Lucasfilm has a plan it is looking to follow going forward in the universe.

However, what that path forward is, is still unclear. It’s known that Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) and Taika Waititi (Thor: Love and Thunder) are still set to craft the next two Star Wars films, though specifics about the stories are unknown, as well as when in the timeline they’ll take place. These two films will be vital in setting the course for Star Wars’ cinematic future. Having a direction with clear parameters to meet to establish the road ahead for the franchise is exciting, and the fact that Lucasfilm has seemingly figured that out is a positive sign.


Disney Taking Its Time With New Star Wars Movies Is Good


The Star Wars franchise has not had much success in producing beloved films since Lucasfilm was acquired by Disney in 2012. The sequel trilogy was littered with directorial issues, and Ron Howard’s outing as director for Solo: A Story Wars Story was also rattled with behind-the-scenes drama that saw creative overhauls during production. These problems have caused mediocre films to be rushed out when they weren’t ready to be released. Star Wars taking its time now and resolving issues before they enter production is a positive.

The shelving of two films means that Lucasfilm is considering whether or not the next movies are the best path forward in terms of getting things right. While these films may be great additions to the larger universe, it’s more important that any issues get addressed early instead of Lucasfilm putting out another Star Wars film that doesn’t do as well as projected. With the two movies being shelved, there’s also the possibility they could still be made, just not now. These films, if they are ever picked back up, may also not be led by Feige or Jenkins, which could also be for the best.

What We Know About New Star Wars Movies


There isn’t too much known about what the upcoming Star Wars films will be about, or when in the timeline they would take place. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see Star Wars explore a completely new part of the timeline, maybe years after the end of The Rise of Skywalker. It may also be time for Star Wars to re-canonize some of the best stories from the now non-canon Legends continuity. It would be wise for Star Wars to stay away from parts of the timeline that have already been deeply explored to avoid the recast versus de-age issue that’s been popping up with characters like Lando Calrissian and Han Solo.

The next Star Wars film is said to be written by Lindelof and directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chony, and is most likely the film slated for 2025. Details on the film's plot are scarce, though it's said to be set around the sequel trilogy era; either way, the film has a lot riding on its success. In addition to Lindelof’s film, Waititi is slated to direct and potentially star in another upcoming film, presumably for a 2027 release. It also wouldn’t be too surprising to see Rian Johnson return to the Star Wars universe. When or if these films will be made remains to be seen, but the possibilities are seemingly endless.

While it’s disappointing that there won’t be a new Star Wars film until 2025, the shelving of Feige’s unnamed film and Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron is actually good news for the longevity of the Star Wars franchise. Lucasfilm taking its time to really map out the next cinematic chapter is very reassuring and shows that there’s a plan in place to bring a higher quality of films and storytelling to the galaxy. Star Wars Celebration in April promises brings some clarity to what the roadmap is going forward, paving the way for what Star Wars films are on the horizon.

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Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 Receives Disappointing Release Update

 


Star Wars has been on a roll as of late. The franchise is thriving with its venture into Disney+ storytelling and shows no sign of slowing down. And it has not just been on the live-action side of things. In its time on the streaming network, the sci-fi universe has produced some excellent animated content. Among these animated adventures has been The Bad Batch

The Clone Wars follow-up series follows a band of malfunctioning clones, who were not affected by Order 66. The crew is tasked with protecting a young unaltered clone (à la Boba Fett) named Omega, and from there the adventure unfolds. 

At the time of its announcement, Season 2 of The Bad Batch was given a 2022 date with many assuming a spring release for the series. Well, despite this assumption, it looks as though the animated series could be slipping later into the year. 

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 Later Than Expected


Reddit user BZPJMJ64 uncovered in issue 209 of Star Wars Insider that The Bad Batch Season 2 may not be coming as soon as fans had hoped. 

In past issues of the magazine, the project was listed with a Spring 2022 release window. That tag has now been removed and replaced with a "Coming Soon" label, with no new specific release timing stated.

Waiting on Clone Force 99

While this will surely upset some fans, a Spring 2022 release date was never officially announced for Bad Batch Season 2. Yes, it appeared in official material like Star Wars Insider, yey the animated series had never been widely promoted to have that Spring release date.

With Obi-Wan Kenobi in the hopper for late May, a Spring release would not have made sense unless Disney wanted to double-up on their Disney+ Star Wars. This is something that hasn't happened yet, but many assume that eventually - with the sheer number of projects coming down the line - it will have to happen. However, that time is not now.

So when will fans see Clone Force 99 again? Well, it is looking more and more like July or August would be a perfect time. This late summer window would allow for Obi-Wan to be out of the way but would be before the supposed release of Andor sometime this fall.

It all would work swimmingly, but the later Disney pushes it, the closer the studio will get to having to break that double-up seal.

The Bad Batch Season 2 is set to debut sometime in 2022, but the exact timing remains unknown.


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The Mandalorian Director Rick Famuyiwa Teases His Star Wars Future

 


The Mandalorian Season 1 had a monumental challenge in introducing a new narrative for Star Wars storytelling while driving in viewers for Disney+. Series showrunner Jon Favreau made it a personal mission to select a group of directors with wide ranges of experience and perspectives to add to the story, with one common pre-requisite: everyone needed to be a Star Wars fan.

One of the directors brought in to shepherd the effort was Rick Famuyiwa, whose work has extended into both seasons of the series. Famuyiwa has done arguably some of the biggest work in terms of adding to growth to Din Djarin's character, as he oversaw the beginning of his bond with Grogu in "Chapter 2 - The Child" and showed how far Mando would be willing to go to save the kid in "Chapter 15 - The Believer."

Alongside Dave Filoni, Famuyiwa is the only other person to direct and write episodes for The Mandalorian, having penned "Chapter 6 - The Prisoner" in addition to "Chapter 15." The director's work has been highly praised by the Star Wars faithful, and as Din and Grogu's journey continues to unfold, there's natural desire to see him back in the chair. Given the sentiments shared in a recent interview, the feeling is mutual.

Rick Famuyiwa Wants to Do More Star Wars


In an interview with the official Star Wars website, writer and director Rick Famuyiwa noted that The Mandalorian's great success can be attributed to how each member of the team brings something unique to the project:

"One of the great things about The Mandalorian in particular was there was this group of filmmakers that came together, and kind of brought together by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni and Kathy Kennedy. But each of the filmmakers were from different perspectives and had different point of views. "

He further elaborated by explaining that the different voices for the episodes in the series allow things to feel fresh and new:

"And so I’ve always felt that what makes The Mandalorian resonate so much is, of course, we got a very cool lead character that lots of people love, but I think also it’s that there were stories being told from a perspective that, even though it was in the world of Star Wars, it was new. It was different. It felt like what I was saying and my point of view was different than what Dave Filoni’s or Taika Waititi’s point of view were, than Deb Chow, but that they were all part of the same storytelling."

 This approach to the series has offered a new opportunity for Star Wars storytelling going forward:

"And it kind of opened up what storytelling in Star Wars could be. If you just bring in different perspectives, you find those little elements that make things new and really exciting. So I think the future of Star Wars is continuing to sort of open up those doors and continue to tell these stories from a point of view, because that’s not what we’ve seen before."

Famuyiwa expressed his desire to continue working in the galaxy far, far away, which affords the opportunity to reach audiences with relevant narratives:

"I want to continue to be a part of that storytelling, because I do think, as I was saying before, that the audience today and coming up and growing up with storytelling wants to see a different kind of thing. And I think Star Wars and other franchises have to speak to that, or they become like artifacts — museum pieces that we study — and they’re not living and breathing. You have to be where the people are."

While the world is a complicated place with varying perspectives, the Force brings both Star Wars and the fans together:

"And the people right now are a global community that has perspectives that are varied, but at the same time, a kind of universal thing binding everything together. And honestly, that’s what the Force is. That’s what the galaxy of Star Wars has always been about, represented through different alien species and droids and disparate sort of lands that both look familiar and not. But all of it was sort of shaped by one universal thing."

Famuyiwa's Return to Star Wars

There's little doubt that Rick Famuyiwa will continue to be a major voice going forward as Star Wars expands across Disney+.

Though it's still several months away and has largely remained out of the spotlight, Star Wars: Andor is set to debut in the summer - and Famuyiwa is rumored to be directing a few of the episodes. Nothing has been officially announced on that front, and likely won't be until Star Wars Celebration, but Famuyiwa is a natural choice for a series that will be exploring Cassian Andor and the varying mindsets between the Empire and Rebellion.

With The Mandalorian Season 3 wrapping production next month, one can only hope that Famuyiwa will be attached to that project as well. He's been a staple for the series to this point, and any stories that may involve Bill Burr's Mayfeld would surely see him return to pen the episode as well as direct.

A clear slate is in place for Mando and Grogu, and their relationship has grown further than even Din's willingness to remove his helmet to find the young one as he did in "Chapter 15." There's a clear need for stories that will explore the characters first and foremost, and with his exceptional work having set a precedent for the series, it should be a given that Rick Famuyiwa will be back for more adventures in the MandoVerse.

Andor debuts on Disney+ in Summer 2022, and The Mandalorian Season 3 is set to premiere later in the year.

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Is Disney+ Teasing New R-Rated Marvel Movies and Shows Coming Soon?

 


Fans were in an excited panic when Netflix users began noticing a disclaimer accompanying the streaming services' Marvel shows, like Daredevil or The Punisher. This indicated that they would be leaving the service on March 1 at exactly midnight PST. The obvious conclusion that many came to was that it was a sign that these R-Rated Marvel shows and films would come to Disney+ instead.

Of course, some fans had suspected that such a move would eventually come, especially when it was reported that Daredevil exploded in new viewers on Netflix after Charlie Cox returned as Matthew Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home. After all, it's unadvised to give free advertising to your direct competition for their hosted content.

Disney is expected to announce where these shows will stream next "soon." A word that might actually have been used appropriately, if a new mistake to the sign-in page to Disney+ is any indication.

A Small Mistake with Big Implications for Disney+?

One noticeably small and significant change was noticed on the sign-in page of Disney+ in the United States. The promotional image for the section "Watch the way you want" displayed its layout with Star.

Star is a content hub within Disney+ that is only available in a subset of countries, one which features television and film content from the libraries of Disney's many subsidiaries like Freeform, FX, and 20th Century Studios. Given that these subsidiaries aren't directly tied to the family-friendly Disney brand name, their movies & shows can lean more mature, resulting in the Star hub's content being more mature than the typical Disney+ hub.


To make sure this wasn't a mistake and simply the U.S. sign-in page using the same image intended for international users, we checked the sign-in page for the United Kingdom. The page there uses an entirely different image.


Another possibility is that this has been up for months by mistake and that it's only now been noticed and left uncorrected. But, the image doesn't include Star when using the Way Back Machine and looking at the last time the U.S. webpage was archived, which was at approximately 15:19:47 GMT on February 18, 2022.


However, nearly 24 hours after the new image was noticed, Disney seemed to realize their mistake and quickly changed it to one without the Star content hub the next day.


Disney Rolling Out Streaming Carpet for Netflix Marvel Shows?

On the day that it was revealed all of Netflix's Marvel streaming shows would be leaving the service by March 1, it was reported that Disney was expected to make an announcement "soon" about where those shows would stream next. So, this newest revelation is certainly auspicious timing, as this is precisely what many fans had expected.

Additionally, it's curious that the promotional image for the U.S. sign-in page is pushing Marvel films and shows far more than the one for the U.K., which puts the focus on TV dramas like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. Again, perhaps in anticipation of more mature Marvel shows and films arriving on the Disney streaming service, albeit sequestered to the Star section.

It would mean the audition of DaredevilJessica JonesLuke CageIron FistDefendersPunisher, and R-Rated Marvel films like LoganPunisher: War ZoneBlade, and, of course, the Deadpool franchise. But, fans will have to wait until "soon" arrives to hear whether this is indeed Disney's plan for these shows.

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Spider-Man: No Way Home's Jon Watts Reportedly Directing Star Wars

 


Jon Watts has quickly become one of the biggest names in the directing community thanks to his work with Marvel Studios' Spider-Man franchise. His latest effort, Spider-Man: No Way Home, became the movie event of a generation as it earned some of the best reviews of any movie in history. Combine that with the sixth-best box office run of all time, and Watts is sitting in a great place thanks to his work.

Even though Peter Parker's time in the MCU is far from over, it's unclear if Watts will be the man to lead the way for as many as three confirmed Spidey sequels.

Currently, the director is already in line to bring Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four to the big screen in the next few years, taking on another fan-favorite property after the Fox merger. Outside of the MCU, he'll also bring his expertise to the sixth entry in the Final Destination franchise, making him one of the busiest men in Hollywood.

As it turns out, even all this isn't enough for Watts, as reports have him linked to yet another massive blockbuster franchise in the near future.

Jon Watts Joins Disney's Star Wars Story

Discussing Film revealed that Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts is in talks to direct at least one episode of an unannounced Star Wars project for Disney+. Rumors point to this being the recently-rumored Stranger Things-inspired series that is set during the High Republic era.

The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau will reportedly act as an executive producer on the show, which currently has the working title of Grammar Rodeo. The series is set to begin filming in summer 2022 in Los Angeles.

Jon Watts Going Intergalactic with Star Wars

This new Stranger Things-inspired show from Lucasfilm is set to be something different than anything that's come before. Set in the largely unexplored High Republic era and featuring a cast of largely pre-teens and teenagers, it's a mystery as to how this story will add to the growing Star Wars narrative.

Thankfully, Jon Watts appears to be just the man to help bring that kind of exciting story to the Disney+ sphere.

Having worked with a cast full of youngsters in all three MCU Spider-Man movies, including power couple Zendaya and Tom Holland, Watts seems perfectly equipped to replicate his success in the galaxy far, far away. Combine that with his upcoming dip into horror and his expertise with blockbuster franchises, and it seems that Lucasfilm has a recipe for massive success.

Possibly the most exciting part of this is that Watts will reunite with MCU star and Star Wars guru Jon Favreau for a project that will have cameras rolling in a few months. The hope is that more information about his work will come to light in the near future, but the fact alone that he's involved will have anticipation skyrocketing in a hurry.

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Obi-Wan Kenobi: Disney+ Leak Spoils Major Detail About Darth Vader Battle

 


Disney and Lucasfilm are set to continue their venture into live-action storytelling in the Star Wars universe with Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi in May 2022. Already teased to feature "the rematch of the century" between the Jedi Master and his former Padawan, Darth Vader, this limited show will give a new level of depth and emotion to McGregor's classic hero.

Plenty of the story will focus on new characters and actors joining the Star Wars narrative, which will utilize a combination of classic story beats with plot points never explored before. However, the headliner is still the Obi-Wan vs. Vader matchup - one that started the whole franchise in Episode IV: A New Hope and fully came to life in the prequel trilogy more than a decade ago.

While Hayden Christensen is confirmed to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker and Vader in this series, it's unclear how big of a role the battle will play in the show or how often they will face off against one another.

Now, a new report is hinting that this fight may not be just a one-time thing.

Obi-Wan vs Vader - Round 2...& 3?!


LRMOnline revealed that the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+ will feature two separate battles between Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan and Hayden Christensen's Darth Vader.

While no details were shared about when or how these fights will add to the story, they are teased as being two of the best battles in Star Wars history.

The Star Wars Rematches of the Century

For all the new and exciting plot points being delivered in Obi-Wan Kenobi, nothing seems to be more exciting than the confirmed battle between Jedi Master and apprentice. After Obi-Wan and Anakin's story served as the driving force behind Episode I through Episode III, it seems only fitting that they'll be facing off more than once in Ewan McGregor's solo series.

Thus far, most of the plot for Obi-Wan Kenobi is still shrouded in mystery other than McGregor's central character doing everything he can to rescue a young Princess Leia. However, rumors also point to Vader serving as the show's eventual main antagonist, likely showing up in each of the last four episodes and said to be "out for blood" on his path for vengeance.

Regardless of the specifics, the fact that Obi-Wan will fight Vader twice will give viewers something truly special to look forward to once the show airs.

Their battle at the end of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is still widely regarded as one of the highlights of the prequel trilogy for the emotion shown in battle and the sheer length of the fight. Seeing that kind of fight twice more will only add that much more drama and excitement to Obi-Wan's long-awaited return to Star Wars.

Obi-Wan Kenobi will debut on Disney+ on May 25, 2022.


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Star Wars Reveals Different Version of Carrie Fisher's Leia Death

 


The last few years of Star Wars lore have heavily featured Carrie Fisher's Leia Organa, one of the founding members of the original trilogy from the 1970s and 1980s. Although Fisher passed away before Episode XIII, her heroine remained a central figure in the sequel trilogy as Leia led the rebellion against the First Order. This all led to her on-screen death in Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker as she tried to save her son from the dark side.

Although The Rise of Skywalker had its fair share of issues, Leia's death still came as quite an emotional blow thanks to Fisher's four decades of time in the franchise. Fans had seen Leia grow from princess of Alderaan to leader of a massive army alongside Finn, Rey, and Poe, all while she imparted her wisdom and learned about her own abilities with the Force.

As Rey stabbed Kylo Ren with his own lightsaber on Bef Kir, fans saw the life leave Leia's body as her journey ended in a devastating fashion.

While this happened at the rebels' base in the final cut of The Rise of Skywalker, a new piece of concept art shows another version of how the moment was imagined.

Star Wars Shows New Take on Leia's Death

Star Wars concept designer Phil Saunders took to Instagram to show an alternate version of Leia Organa's death scene from Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.

In this new version of the scene, Leia passes away in her own stateroom on the Tantiveiv. It also had her on the move rather than stationed on the ground with her troops.


Saunders included the following caption with the image, also revealing that a comet was meant to fly by in the sky outside of Leia's ship:

"Another concept from The Rise of Skywalker. An earlier version of the script placed Leia's death in her stateroom on the Tantiveiv in transit. At the moment of her passing, a comet was supposed to streak past her window. I shaped the stateroom to telegraph its location in the Blockade Runner, just under the cockpit in the hammerhead."


 In the final cut, Leia died suddenly as she led her people from the rebel base into battle, all while Rey battled with Kylo Ren in the rain some distance away.


Maz Kanata, Rose Tico, and others from the heroes' side of the fight stood over the fallen general during the final moments of her life.


Leia Organa's Emotional End in Rise of Skywalker

No matter where it took place, Leia's passing in The Rise of Skywalker was always going to be a turning point moment after she played a key role in six of the nine movies from the Skywalker Saga.

This concept art seemingly indicates that there were ideas to initially have her more secluded as she died, almost similar to how her mother Padme died in Episode III. This came after Padme gave birth to Luke and Leia as their mother died of a broken heart, which became something of a family trend after Leia used her energy to keep her own family safe in The Rise of Skywalker.

In the end, the location for this scene didn't make much of a difference in how much of an impact it was bound to have on the story. While Leia's story in the Star Wars legacy isn't over yet thanks to her reported upcoming role in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, her passing in Episode IX will be one that fans never forget.

Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is available to stream on Disney+.


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Star Wars Leak Reveals Kumail Nanjiani's Role In Obi-Wan Kenobi

 


As 2022 quickly moves along, Obi-Wan Kenobi is the next Star Wars project up. The series finally sees the return of Ewan McGregor as the titular Jedi Master, with his prequel trilogy co-star Hayden Christensen also reprising his role of Darth Vader. Obi-Wan and Vader are set for a crash course that will lead to their first confrontation since Mustafar, engaging in what Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has described as "the rematch of the century."

The duel is the ultimate destination for the show, so there will be a lot of build-up to the conflict in the interim. Rumors heavily suggest that several members of the series' cast will be playing Inquisitors, with Rupert Friend performing the live-action debut of the Grand Inquisitor. Vader's enforcers are a volatile bunch, seen previously in Star Wars Rebels and Jedi: Fallen Order going on the warpath to eliminate any survivors of the old religion.

In Kenobi, the Inquisitors are said to be especially ruthless, taking part in several acts of violence that demonstrate the might of the Empire. Eventually, the group will arrive on Tatooine, where Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker are at risk of discovery. Locating Kenobi is the primary focus of their master, and to do so they'll need to find a way to draw him out of hiding.

Luke is an unknown entity to the Empire; unfortunately, his twin sister isn't. As Obi-Wan Kenobi draws nearer, a new rumor has begun to connect some of the pieces that will bring Princess Leia into the series - and how Kumail Nanjiani's character will come into play.

Leia Captured and Kumail the Contact


Making Star Wars has reported that Obi-Wan Kenobi leaves Tatooine to rescue Princess Leia. The rumor shares that Bail Organa personally visits the Jedi Master at his hut to ask for his old allies' help. At this point, Kenobi departs the planet via public transportation, much like the vessels seen in The Book of Boba Fett.

Obi-Wan's destination is said to be something like "Space Reno," a terrible world that few wish to journey to. It's there that he meets Kumail Nanjiani's character, who will be a contact of Kenobi and Organa's. The contact directs Obi-Wan to a Spice Den where Leia is being held hostage, and the Jedi proceeds to rescue the princess while in disguise.

Secret Agent Obi-Wan Kenobi


Princess Leia has long been rumored to serve as the catalyst for Obi-Wan's departure from Tatooine, and MSW's report backs up another source's claim that the young girl is being held captive. The key distinction between the two reports is the location, with one being a Spice Den and the other a cantina-like setting, though the latter could very well be associated with a Star Wars crack house depending on how it's portrayed.

With the recent word that Jimmy Smits would be reprising his role of Bail Organa, the senator going straight to Obi-Wan for help seems likely. Rogue One implies that Bail and Yoda are the only people in the galaxy aware of Kenobi's whereabouts, and the safety of Anakin's daughter is paramount if the Empire is ever to be defeated. By this point, Organa has been involved with the Rebellion for years, so it's unsurprising that he'd have a contact to link Obi-Wan up with.

The Spice Den seems like the exact opposite of a world like Tatooine, which will be refreshing after so many episodes of Star Wars streaming being spent on the dust ball. There's great opportunity for Nanjiani and the witty Obi-Wan to hit it off, providing some great humor before the Jedi Master goes in to get Leia. It will be interesting to see what kind of plan he devises, and presumably, the disguise is something Nanjiani's character supplies him with.

Assuming Leia's captivity is directly the work of the Inquisitors, it can be inferred that things don't go very well for the Empire's enforcers. While they may successfully confirm that Obi-Wan Kenobi is still out there, something will have to leave his connection to Leia and the Organas ambiguous to remain consistent with the princess' identity remaining unknown.

The bond Obi-Wan developed with Luke on Tatooine has been well established, but Star Wars fans have never seen the Jedi interact with Leia before. It was initially surprising to learn that she would be involved in the series, but the recognition Leia has for Kenobi in A New Hope seems to go far beyond just the name and her mission; she had a personal connection with him, and the rescue from captivity seems to be it.

Obi-Wan Kenobi debuts on May 25 on Disney+.


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Star Wars Director Reveals George Lucas' Main Concern With Grogu


 Star Wars' ownership may have officially changed hands, but only one man's vision of the galaxy far, far away is truly pure: George Lucas. The Maker's imagination spawned one of the most successful franchises of all time, a classic story of good vs evil that's inspired several generations of fans. While some of his work was maligned in the past, many critics have come around to appreciating what the creator was able to accomplish.

It's only fitting that his own Padawan, Dave Filoni, has taken on a major role in Star Wars storytelling, overseeing the live-action MandoVerse alongside Jon Favreau. Lucas remains in close contact with Filoni, as well as Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, and has visited the sets of each Star Wars project under Disney's umbrella. He spent significant time hanging around The Mandalorian's production, watching Filoni and Rosario Dawson bring Ahsoka Tano to life.

Lucas essentially is the Yoda of Star Wars - a wise man with lessons to impart on those who will listen on how to be a good person and overcome trying times. Filoni was initially hesitant to include a baby of Yoda's species in The Mandalorian, as he didn't want to take away from the mystique of the Jedi Master. Eventually, he acquiesced, and with Favreau, he created one of the most popular characters in the franchise.

But it took some convincing, and the director needed to hear from his master on the idea as well. Grogu's abilities with the Force and how he chose to follow the Jedi path are known now, but there was a time when the creative minds behind the character didn't fully know the little guy's backstory - so Filoni turned to Lucas for advice.

George Lucas Wanted Grogu to Have Training


The Direct got our hands on the Star Wars book The Art of The Mandalorian: Season 2, and within it, writer and director Dave Filoni reveals that he had discussions with George Lucas regarding Grogu. In those talks, the Star Wars creator wanted to ensure that the character had learned how to hone his Force abilities:

"I had a talk with George, at one point, about the Child, and his main concern was that the kid has to have a proper amount of training."

As it turns out, Lucas had an indirect influence on a decision made for "Chapter 15 - The Believer" by concept artist Doug Chiang, as well - thanks to a set visit for Rogue One:

"An early idea was that the Imperial drivers were wearing the same armor as the AT-AT commanders [from The Empire Strikes Back]. Ultimately, we decided to go with the tank troopers from Rogue One [a design chosen by George Lucas on a Rogue One pre-production set visit]."

As Chiang explained in the book's foreword, The Mandalorian's art department continues to follow the guiding principles of design Lucas established for Star Wars:

"So, what makes a strong Star Wars design? The guidelines established by George Lucas are simple: Design as if a child could draw it. Design for the silhouette. Design for the iconic logo. Keep it simple. Give it personality and make it believable."

Master Lucas the Wise


Darth Vader. Yoda. R2-D2. The Mandalorian.

Name the Star Wars character, and there's an iconic silhouette. Each human, alien, and droid has a distinct look that makes them instantly recognizable. The Disney+ intro for each piece of new Star Wars content illustrates this as well. There's a simplicity to the designs in the franchise, but the guiding principles of its creator have ensured that they all remain relevant decades after their creations.

It's incredible that even after a decade has elapsed since the ink dried on Lucasfilm's sale, George Lucas continues to have such remarkable influence on his franchise. It hasn't all been smooth; The Maker originally planned to be deeply involved with the sequel trilogy, but Disney threw out his story treatments and the writers and directors of the films didn't follow up his saga true to form. This largely turned Lucas away from his old company, and he's very much taken a back seat since.

But even his short set visits have yielded great results. Who better to pick out a design for a new trooper in Rogue One than the man who started it all?

And the choice later proved beneficial for The Mandalorian, as the right design already existed for the situation needed. During a set visit to Solo, Lucas suggested during the scene in Lando's closet on the Millennium Falcon that Han wouldn't care to put a cape back on the rack - he would just drop it. And that small action was Han Solo.

When it comes to Jedi wisdom and explanations about the Force, Lucas is naturally the man to go to. Dave Filoni has gone on epic rants about the Force himself, and everything he says, he learned specifically from George while making The Clone Wars. Lucas stated during the 40th Anniversary panel at Star Wars Celebration 2017 that he looks at Filoni as one of his kids, and the latter has done everything he can to remain faithful to his mentor's vision.

Grogu is an interesting situation in Star Wars because he's a baby. Not in the sense that he's a cash cow for endless merchandise, or that he can be used in stories for the next thousand years. Having a character who's Force sensitive and learned under the Jedi but remains a baby decades after the Order's demise is a unique concept, and the believability of what he can do hinges entirely on what he learned before.

It makes complete sense that Lucas would find it critical that Grogu has proper training - this goes for both the past and the present. For Grogu to demonstrate such power as to lift beasts and heal injured beings, he would need to have been taught how to make use of his abilities. While his exile may have hindered his growth, it's imperative that the kid continues to learn if he's going to grow beyond his helpless state and become a capable warrior and, eventually, teacher.

Basically, Grogu is the opposite of Rey. He's of a species that's naturally gifted with the Force, but without training and discipline, there's no chance of him evolving as a Jedi. Filoni and Favreau have followed the principles of becoming a Jedi with the character, emphasizing the need for him to devote himself and take the time needed harness his abilities. As Luke tells Mando before taking Grogu, "Talent without training is nothing."

Grogu's training can be seen in both The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, which are now streaming on Disney+.


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