Zendaya’s seemingly futuristic body armor actually has a long history steeped in cinema and pop culture.
At the root of it all is the likeness to the female robot, often called “Maria,” in Fritz Lang’s masterwork of futurism, Metropolis. Maria has inspired countless cultural references including the images of Lang’s robot used in David Bowie and Queen’s video for “Under Pressure”; a profound influence on Ralph McQuarrie’s designs for C-3Po in Star Wars; inspiring looks worn by Beyoncé, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga; providing the concept of Janelle Monáe’s Metropolis: The Chase Suite album; and serving as a background for Whitney Houston’s music video for “Queen of the Night” as well references in the The Bodyguard.
The actual suit that Zendaya wore to the world premiere is an archival creation from fashion designer Thierry Mugler’s fall/winter 1995 couture collection. Per...
At the root of it all is the likeness to the female robot, often called “Maria,” in Fritz Lang’s masterwork of futurism, Metropolis. Maria has inspired countless cultural references including the images of Lang’s robot used in David Bowie and Queen’s video for “Under Pressure”; a profound influence on Ralph McQuarrie’s designs for C-3Po in Star Wars; inspiring looks worn by Beyoncé, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga; providing the concept of Janelle Monáe’s Metropolis: The Chase Suite album; and serving as a background for Whitney Houston’s music video for “Queen of the Night” as well references in the The Bodyguard.
The actual suit that Zendaya wore to the world premiere is an archival creation from fashion designer Thierry Mugler’s fall/winter 1995 couture collection. Per...
- 4/9/2024
- by Robert Lang and Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
During the premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’, television writer Leslye Headland discussed her potential ideas for Star Wars films if approached by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. By April 2020, Headland was confirmed to write and serve as showrunner for a new female-centric Star Wars series on Disney+.
The series was anticipated to be set in the High Republic Era, in a different timeline from other Star Wars projects. Now, after several years in development, ‘The Acolyte’ finally has a trailer and a release date. In light of this, Leslye Headland has shared her inspiration for the show and what fans can expect. Headland revealed that she has been a fan of the franchise since her teenage years, finding a sense of escape in the galaxy far, far away.
I think it just meant so much to me because it was a place to live, a place to escape to.
The series was anticipated to be set in the High Republic Era, in a different timeline from other Star Wars projects. Now, after several years in development, ‘The Acolyte’ finally has a trailer and a release date. In light of this, Leslye Headland has shared her inspiration for the show and what fans can expect. Headland revealed that she has been a fan of the franchise since her teenage years, finding a sense of escape in the galaxy far, far away.
I think it just meant so much to me because it was a place to live, a place to escape to.
- 3/19/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
At the premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’, television writer Leslye Headland shared her ideas for potential Star Wars films if approached by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. By April 2020, Headland was confirmed to write and serve as showrunner for a new female-centric Star Wars series on Disney+. The series was expected to be set in a different timeline from other Star Wars projects in the High Republic Era.
Now after several years in the making, ‘The Acolyte’ finally has a trailer, and a release date. Due to that, Leslye Headland opened up regarding her inspiration for the show and what the fans can expect. Leslye revealed that she had been a fan of the franchise since she was a teen as the Galaxy far far away offered her a sense of escape:
I think it just meant so much to me because it was a place to live,...
Now after several years in the making, ‘The Acolyte’ finally has a trailer, and a release date. Due to that, Leslye Headland opened up regarding her inspiration for the show and what the fans can expect. Leslye revealed that she had been a fan of the franchise since she was a teen as the Galaxy far far away offered her a sense of escape:
I think it just meant so much to me because it was a place to live,...
- 3/19/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
Darth Vader didn't always have a red lightsaber. Early concept art by Ralph McQuarrie (pictured below) shows Vader wielding a blueish-white blade, the same as the Jedi. After all, Vader was always a fallen Jedi (though making him Anakin Skywalker came later).
Lucasfilm/Ralph McQuarrie
Whatever the case, the change to red was the right call. The color complements his black armor better, contrasts with the blue and green blades he duels onscreen, and radiates evil. Symbolically, red is also the color of both anger and blood. The red lightsaber is such a memorable part of Vader's presence that when the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy came around, all the Sith Lords there had red lightsabers too. Ergo, red became the de facto color of evil lightsabers.
We first see a lightsaber when Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness) gives one to Luke (Mark Hamill), saying the blue blade belonged to his father.
Lucasfilm/Ralph McQuarrie
Whatever the case, the change to red was the right call. The color complements his black armor better, contrasts with the blue and green blades he duels onscreen, and radiates evil. Symbolically, red is also the color of both anger and blood. The red lightsaber is such a memorable part of Vader's presence that when the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy came around, all the Sith Lords there had red lightsabers too. Ergo, red became the de facto color of evil lightsabers.
We first see a lightsaber when Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness) gives one to Luke (Mark Hamill), saying the blue blade belonged to his father.
- 2/10/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
There are many ingredients to the success of 1977's "Star Wars," from its spectacular cast of mostly unknowns to the groundbreaking special effects that revolutionized the industry and its lived-in universe rich in details and history. But another vital ingredient that ensured "Star Wars" would remain in audiences' minds forever was its use of iconography. Every visual aspect of the movie is memorable and striking, from the look of the human characters and alien creatures to the spaceships and buildings.
Take the stormtroopers, the faceless mob of soldiers with terrible aim and a tendency to bonk their heads on the ceiling. Though mere blaster fodder in the franchise, the stormtroopers are as much a part of "Star Wars" as the lightsaber or the Millennium Falcon. Even after 40 years, the franchise continues to find new uses for the stormtroopers, like finally showing how they became the main army of the Empire in "The Bad Batch.
Take the stormtroopers, the faceless mob of soldiers with terrible aim and a tendency to bonk their heads on the ceiling. Though mere blaster fodder in the franchise, the stormtroopers are as much a part of "Star Wars" as the lightsaber or the Millennium Falcon. Even after 40 years, the franchise continues to find new uses for the stormtroopers, like finally showing how they became the main army of the Empire in "The Bad Batch.
- 1/21/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
When it premiered in 2014, "Star Wars Rebels" introduced us to a slew of new "Star Wars" characters. One of them was former Lasat honor guard member-turned-Rebel-pilot Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios (voiced by Steven Blum). He's a bit gruff and closed off at the beginning, having dealt with the horror of the Empire massacring his people, but it's impossible not to love him. Seeing him in live-action (also played by Steven Blum) and drinking with Captain Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) in "The Mandalorian" was a huge treat for fans of "Rebels."
Zeb's character functions in much the same way as Chewbacca does in the films. He's a large and loyal friend and the muscle of the group. Zeb's look was even based on the original concept art that Ralph McQuarrie did for Chewbacca. However, Chewbacca actually changed the way "Star Wars Rebels" wrote the character of Zeb, according to a...
Zeb's character functions in much the same way as Chewbacca does in the films. He's a large and loyal friend and the muscle of the group. Zeb's look was even based on the original concept art that Ralph McQuarrie did for Chewbacca. However, Chewbacca actually changed the way "Star Wars Rebels" wrote the character of Zeb, according to a...
- 12/9/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
There's long been this narrative that some "Star Wars" fans are mad that "The Force Awakens" threw out George Lucas's ideas for the continuation of the Skywalker Saga and that it doesn't really have anything to do with him. And while there was a version of the stories from George Lucas' blueprint that would have delved deeper into the Whills and midi-chlorians, the brunt of ideas that we were presented with in the sequel trilogy came right from Lucas' brain. From Luke's turn from the Force to the character of Rey and many points in between, "The Force Awakens" is a mirrored reflection of many of George Lucas' early ideas going straight back to the early drafts of the screenplay for "A New Hope."
Read more: The Best Star Wars Books Ever Written
It's Like Poetry, It Rhymes.
The biggest clue that "The Force Awakens" fits neatly in the...
Read more: The Best Star Wars Books Ever Written
It's Like Poetry, It Rhymes.
The biggest clue that "The Force Awakens" fits neatly in the...
- 12/7/2023
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
In the animated series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," we were introduced to the character of Professor Huyang, an architect and lightsaber designer droid who has been instructing younglings studying to be Jedi for, as he says in the series, "over a thousand generations." Visually designed with inspiration from concept artist Ralph McQuarrie's original art for C-3Po, Huyang's database has all the information about every lightsaber ever made and the Jedi who wielded it. He's got drawers full of lightsaber parts (which was based on creator Dave Filoni's grandfather's basement draws full of tools and parts), and he's always ready to help guide the young padawan in the creation of their first weapon. Plus, as we saw in the live-action Disney+ series "Ahsoka," he helps with Sabine's (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) lightsaber training. Huyang is voiced in both projects by David Tennant, aka the Tenth Doctor from "Doctor Who,...
- 12/3/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Science fiction has gifted us some of the most iconic villains in cinematic history, from the imposing presence of Darth Vader to the dread-inspiring Predator. It's hard to imagine that these menacing figures could have sported entirely different appearances. In the world of movies and TV, the creative process often calls for exploring multiple paths before settling on a final look. What if these other designs had been embraced? Could V'ger from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" or the "Forbidden Planet" Id Monster have been more effective if they weren't the figures we know today? Would the title creatures from "The Thing" or "Alien" frightened us so much if they had been imagined in other ways?
These distinct designs provide a rare glimpse into the untapped potential of characters and beings we love ... and love to hate. Such remarkable variations might have redefined our perception of these antagonists. Sometimes, the...
These distinct designs provide a rare glimpse into the untapped potential of characters and beings we love ... and love to hate. Such remarkable variations might have redefined our perception of these antagonists. Sometimes, the...
- 12/3/2023
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
"May I introduce you to architect and lightsaber designer Huyang?" That's the line Ahsoka Tano (voiced by Ashley Eckstein) says as the ancient droid Huyang appears for the first time in the animated series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." Voiced by "Doctor Who" alum David Tennant, the character has been around for centuries, creating lightsabers and teaching young Jedi padawans. He recently appeared in live-action, again voiced by Tennant, in the Disney+ series "Ahsoka."
After the Republic falls, Huyang is not only an incredible source of information, but also someone who gives gentle critique, as he does for Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) when she's trying to learn to use the Force. He's a fan-favorite droid, voiced by a fan-favorite Doctor. How did Tennant end up in another humongous franchise that has been around for many decades? Let's take a look at how he was cast in the first place.
After the Republic falls, Huyang is not only an incredible source of information, but also someone who gives gentle critique, as he does for Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) when she's trying to learn to use the Force. He's a fan-favorite droid, voiced by a fan-favorite Doctor. How did Tennant end up in another humongous franchise that has been around for many decades? Let's take a look at how he was cast in the first place.
- 12/3/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
In George Lucas' 1977 sci-fi/fantasy film "Star Wars," the roguish smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) claimed to have the fastest starship in the galaxy. Named the Millennium Falcon, the ship was said to have "made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs." Clearly, Lucas hadn't yet grasped that a parsec is a measure of distance (about 19 trillion miles) and not time.
When it comes to its design, the Millennium Falcon is more or less a flying saucer. It carries a radar dish on its dorsal region, two fork-like protrusions on its bow (called loading arms), and its cockpit rests protruding from its starboard side. Otherwise, it's flat and plate-shaped. Like many of the vehicles in "Star Wars," it is encrusted with textured plating and scads of ineffable machinery that only the most devoted Starwoids could accurately explain. It's a small ship, too, only able to house about a half dozen people comfortably.
When it comes to its design, the Millennium Falcon is more or less a flying saucer. It carries a radar dish on its dorsal region, two fork-like protrusions on its bow (called loading arms), and its cockpit rests protruding from its starboard side. Otherwise, it's flat and plate-shaped. Like many of the vehicles in "Star Wars," it is encrusted with textured plating and scads of ineffable machinery that only the most devoted Starwoids could accurately explain. It's a small ship, too, only able to house about a half dozen people comfortably.
- 11/4/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
George Lucas' "Star Wars" was a whole-cloth piece of world building. Inspired by gee-whiz sci-fi serials like "Flash Gordon," Lucas envisioned a sprawling saga that would stretch over multiple chapters. There was just one problem: the technology required to bring his vision to fruition didn't exist.
If you're any kind of "Star Wars" fan, you know about John Dykstra's revolutionary motion-control camera (the Dykstraflex), a pioneering piece of equipment that allowed Lucas to pull off the climactic trench run. You're also most certainly aware of how Rick Baker and Stuart Freeborn conjured up their groundbreaking creature effects. But do you know the story of how the lightsaber, the Jedi weapon of choice, was discovered?
While Lucas' idea for the lightsaber was brought to vivid life by the brilliant conceptual designer Ralph McQuarrie, someone had to either build or find the saber That someone was art director Roger Christian. And...
If you're any kind of "Star Wars" fan, you know about John Dykstra's revolutionary motion-control camera (the Dykstraflex), a pioneering piece of equipment that allowed Lucas to pull off the climactic trench run. You're also most certainly aware of how Rick Baker and Stuart Freeborn conjured up their groundbreaking creature effects. But do you know the story of how the lightsaber, the Jedi weapon of choice, was discovered?
While Lucas' idea for the lightsaber was brought to vivid life by the brilliant conceptual designer Ralph McQuarrie, someone had to either build or find the saber That someone was art director Roger Christian. And...
- 10/21/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Every "Star Wars" project goes through the same cycle. At first, there is intense hatred when it comes out, with people nitpicking every single thing and criticizing it for being a betrayal of George Lucas' original intention. Then, time passes and the projects are reinterpreted with greater context and some of the more criticized elements become assets. Then the next thing comes along and fans complain it is not like the previous thing they loved ... even if they started out hating it.
When it comes to "Rebels," every single aspect of the show was excruciatingly examined and criticized, mostly for being different from "Clone Wars" in terms of its art style, kid-friendly humor, and lack of familiar characters like Ahsoka and the clones. But one of the more common (and ridiculous) criticisms was purely an aesthetic one — the girth of the lightsabers.
You see, lightsaber blades are super thin in "Rebels,...
When it comes to "Rebels," every single aspect of the show was excruciatingly examined and criticized, mostly for being different from "Clone Wars" in terms of its art style, kid-friendly humor, and lack of familiar characters like Ahsoka and the clones. But one of the more common (and ridiculous) criticisms was purely an aesthetic one — the girth of the lightsabers.
You see, lightsaber blades are super thin in "Rebels,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
With the sudden passing of actor Paul Reubens after a private battle with cancer, the outpouring across the country and the world has been comforting, to say the least. Reubens will always be most associated with Pee-wee Herman, the character he created and developed when he was a part of the world-famous comedy troupe The Groundlings during the late '70s. As Pee-wee became more entrenched into our own cultural fabric and "Pee-wee's Playhouse" hit the airwaves every Saturday morning, a generation of '80s kids fell in love with him.
With Tim Burton's "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and its sequel "Big Top Pee-wee," Reubens carved out a franchise of his very own during the same decade where the original "Star Wars" trilogy completely dominated the box office. For fans of George Lucas' space opera, Reubens wasn't just known as the lovable, eccentric children's host from television. He was also the voice of Rex,...
With Tim Burton's "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and its sequel "Big Top Pee-wee," Reubens carved out a franchise of his very own during the same decade where the original "Star Wars" trilogy completely dominated the box office. For fans of George Lucas' space opera, Reubens wasn't just known as the lovable, eccentric children's host from television. He was also the voice of Rex,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
This article appears in the new issue of Den Of Geek magazine. Get your copy here.
“Where do you get your ideas?” is one of those questions you are never supposed to ask, but Gareth Edwards remembers precisely where he was when the storyline of The Creator came to him.
“I got the idea on a road trip while promoting Star Wars [Rogue One],” Edwards recalls. “I had Thanksgiving off, and we were driving to Iowa, where my girlfriend’s family is from, and I was just looking out the window. We went past this farmer’s field of tall grass with a strange building in the middle that looked like a factory, and my memory is it had a Japanese logo on the side, and I thought, ‘I wonder what they’re building in there.’ Being a sci-fi geek, my first thought was ‘robots,’ and to be honest, in Iowa,...
“Where do you get your ideas?” is one of those questions you are never supposed to ask, but Gareth Edwards remembers precisely where he was when the storyline of The Creator came to him.
“I got the idea on a road trip while promoting Star Wars [Rogue One],” Edwards recalls. “I had Thanksgiving off, and we were driving to Iowa, where my girlfriend’s family is from, and I was just looking out the window. We went past this farmer’s field of tall grass with a strange building in the middle that looked like a factory, and my memory is it had a Japanese logo on the side, and I thought, ‘I wonder what they’re building in there.’ Being a sci-fi geek, my first thought was ‘robots,’ and to be honest, in Iowa,...
- 7/22/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Propstore, one of the world’s leading film and TV memorabilia companies, just kick-started a new memorabilia auction this week that was loaded with horror props. On Wednesday, June 28, over 500 rare and iconic pieces from Film and TV fetched in excess of $9.7 million.
The most high-priced auction item? The original clown doll from 1982’s Poltergeist!
Notable sales from yesterday, Day One of Propstore’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, included (sale prices inclusive of buyer’s premium)…
Screen-Matched Evil Clown Doll from Poltergeist (1982) sold for $656,250 Norris (Charles Hallahan) Spider Head-Thing from Thing, The (1982) sold for $587,500 Robert Blalack’s Praxis Optical Printer Used to Composite Every VFX Shot from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) sold for $337,500 Rick Deckard’s (Harrison Ford) Screen-Matched and Photo-Matched Costume from Voight-Kampff and Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) Fight Scenes from Blade Runner (1982) sold for $287,500 Screen-Matched Jumanji Game Board from Jumanji (1995) sold for $262,500 Light-Up Full-Size...
The most high-priced auction item? The original clown doll from 1982’s Poltergeist!
Notable sales from yesterday, Day One of Propstore’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, included (sale prices inclusive of buyer’s premium)…
Screen-Matched Evil Clown Doll from Poltergeist (1982) sold for $656,250 Norris (Charles Hallahan) Spider Head-Thing from Thing, The (1982) sold for $587,500 Robert Blalack’s Praxis Optical Printer Used to Composite Every VFX Shot from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) sold for $337,500 Rick Deckard’s (Harrison Ford) Screen-Matched and Photo-Matched Costume from Voight-Kampff and Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) Fight Scenes from Blade Runner (1982) sold for $287,500 Screen-Matched Jumanji Game Board from Jumanji (1995) sold for $262,500 Light-Up Full-Size...
- 6/29/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Production designer Patrick O’Keefe drew inspiration from brutalist architecture, graphic artist Syd Mead and British punk band The Sex Pistols when animating the world of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”
As Miles Morales crosses path with different Spider-People from other dimensions, it was up to O’Keefe and his team of animators to create visual worlds that reflect those counterparts.
With Variety, he breaks down the looks of each world and shares his favorite easter eggs that pay homage to the Canadian animators who worked on the film.
Earth 928
“Whenever it comes to developing anything for the film, I’m always asking myself, whose point of view are we seeing this from? And what does it need to do?
In animation, we have this awesome opportunity because we don’t have to take the look of the world around us for granted, it can be anything we want. We’re going...
As Miles Morales crosses path with different Spider-People from other dimensions, it was up to O’Keefe and his team of animators to create visual worlds that reflect those counterparts.
With Variety, he breaks down the looks of each world and shares his favorite easter eggs that pay homage to the Canadian animators who worked on the film.
Earth 928
“Whenever it comes to developing anything for the film, I’m always asking myself, whose point of view are we seeing this from? And what does it need to do?
In animation, we have this awesome opportunity because we don’t have to take the look of the world around us for granted, it can be anything we want. We’re going...
- 6/10/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Did you know that John Mollo, the costume designer for "Star Wars: A New Hope," had never had any costume design experience before landing that gig? It's kind of amazing when you consider just how iconic and influential the look of all the outfits in "Star Wars" have become. What got him the job was his expertise in historical military costumes, which was of great interest to George Lucas. He wanted someone who was fluent in real-world costumes, not a Hollywood costume designer who had experience in science fiction. For Lucas, "Star Wars" only worked if we recognized enough of our world in it to help ease the audience into the sci-fi/fantasy of it all.
Obviously, Mollo didn't work on these striking costumes himself. He had a dedicated team and was working off of not only George Lucas's script descriptions but also Ralph McQuarrie's production art. That said,...
Obviously, Mollo didn't work on these striking costumes himself. He had a dedicated team and was working off of not only George Lucas's script descriptions but also Ralph McQuarrie's production art. That said,...
- 4/23/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for the season 3 finale of "The Mandalorian," "The Return."
Season 3 of "The Mandalorian" just came to a thrilling conclusion that should go down as one of the best episodes in the series and one of the most accomplished finales Star Wars has ever produced, animated or otherwise. Chapter 24, "The Return," showed Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) and The Armorer (Emily Swallow) battling Imperial Super Commandos in mid-air, a final showdown (perhaps) between Din Djarin and Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), and Grogu Force pushing a fireball just like Kanan Jarrus in "Star Wars Rebels." What more could you possibly want?
More Mandalorian armor, perhaps? Sure! The ending of "The Return" lives up to its name when the true inhabitants of Mandalore restore their home planet and reignite the Great Forge, ensuring that the ancient craftsmanship of molding and forging beskar armor will hopefully be preserved for a new generation.
Season 3 of "The Mandalorian" just came to a thrilling conclusion that should go down as one of the best episodes in the series and one of the most accomplished finales Star Wars has ever produced, animated or otherwise. Chapter 24, "The Return," showed Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) and The Armorer (Emily Swallow) battling Imperial Super Commandos in mid-air, a final showdown (perhaps) between Din Djarin and Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), and Grogu Force pushing a fireball just like Kanan Jarrus in "Star Wars Rebels." What more could you possibly want?
More Mandalorian armor, perhaps? Sure! The ending of "The Return" lives up to its name when the true inhabitants of Mandalore restore their home planet and reignite the Great Forge, ensuring that the ancient craftsmanship of molding and forging beskar armor will hopefully be preserved for a new generation.
- 4/19/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
On September 1, 1969, Muammar Gaddafi took the capital of Libya, ousting the monarchy and establishing what would become the Libyan Arab Republic. Over the next several years, hundreds of former government officials, as well as the Libyan royal family, were brought to court by Gaddafi's new regime, each one of them charged with treason. Gaddafi eventually established a single political party, ignored all previous local tribal rulers, and effectively became a dictator, a position he would hold until his death in 2011. In October of that year, anti-Gaddafi militants asserted control and liberated the country.
Back in 1976, however, Libya was militarily tetchy, and Gaddafi's military dictatorship was firmly ensconced. There was also a lot of resentment between Libya and its neighboring countries after Gaddafi had tried to form a multi-nation alliance called the Arab Islamic Republic. Those plans, however, fell through spectacularly, and Gaddafi was furious for years thereafter. It was said...
Back in 1976, however, Libya was militarily tetchy, and Gaddafi's military dictatorship was firmly ensconced. There was also a lot of resentment between Libya and its neighboring countries after Gaddafi had tried to form a multi-nation alliance called the Arab Islamic Republic. Those plans, however, fell through spectacularly, and Gaddafi was furious for years thereafter. It was said...
- 4/17/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "The Mandalorian" Chapter 23, "The Spies."
The latest episode of "The Mandalorian" was full of surprises, one of the biggest being the return — in a fashion — of the Imperial Super Commandos.
As the Mandalorians, led by Lady Bo-Katan Kryze, headed back to Mandalore in order to conquer and settle it once again in their own name, Moff Gideon sprung an elaborate trap to lure them in and destroy them once and for all. It didn't hurt that he had been operating a base on Mandalore for quite some time in order to steal the beskar from the planet and use it to outfit his own brand of Imperial Super Commandos — soldiers in white beskar armor with jetpacks who are loyal to the Empire. However, this isn't the first time they've been seen in "Star Wars" and with this episode ending on a cliffhanger, I doubt it will be the last.
The latest episode of "The Mandalorian" was full of surprises, one of the biggest being the return — in a fashion — of the Imperial Super Commandos.
As the Mandalorians, led by Lady Bo-Katan Kryze, headed back to Mandalore in order to conquer and settle it once again in their own name, Moff Gideon sprung an elaborate trap to lure them in and destroy them once and for all. It didn't hurt that he had been operating a base on Mandalore for quite some time in order to steal the beskar from the planet and use it to outfit his own brand of Imperial Super Commandos — soldiers in white beskar armor with jetpacks who are loyal to the Empire. However, this isn't the first time they've been seen in "Star Wars" and with this episode ending on a cliffhanger, I doubt it will be the last.
- 4/12/2023
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
Norman Reynolds, the two-time Oscar winning production and art designer on various Star Wars and Indiana Jones films who director Steven Spielberg once called the “creative core” of the franchises, has died. He was 89.
LucasFilm Ltd has confirmed his death, first reported by the BBC, which said that Reynolds “died peacefully with his wife Ann and three daughters by his side.”
Spielberg, who first collaborated with Reynolds on 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, said on a statement, “Norman was always smiling with enthusiasm, and there was nothing he couldn’t make work. Joyful and friendly and a massive talent.”
Among Reynolds’ many contributions to the franchises was his sculpting of the iconic golden idol that Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones attempts to steal during the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Reynolds based the idol on an Incan fertility sculpture he’d collected during overseas travels.
“The...
LucasFilm Ltd has confirmed his death, first reported by the BBC, which said that Reynolds “died peacefully with his wife Ann and three daughters by his side.”
Spielberg, who first collaborated with Reynolds on 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, said on a statement, “Norman was always smiling with enthusiasm, and there was nothing he couldn’t make work. Joyful and friendly and a massive talent.”
Among Reynolds’ many contributions to the franchises was his sculpting of the iconic golden idol that Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones attempts to steal during the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Reynolds based the idol on an Incan fertility sculpture he’d collected during overseas travels.
“The...
- 4/6/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
This Star Wars: The Mandalorian article contains spoilers.
The Mandalorian season 3 kicks things into high gear with “The Pirate.” Gorian Shard wants to take Nevarro for himself but seriously underestimates Greef Karga’s connections. When Din, Bo-Katan, and the rest of the Mandalorians show up to kick the pirates out of town, all hell breaks loose in the skies above the city as well as on the ground. The Armorer smashes a few faces in with her hammer while Paz lays down the law with his gatling blaster, with air support from Din and Bo. By the end of the episode, Gorian has nowhere to go but down.
Unsurprisingly, the lead up and the battle itself cue up quite a few callbacks and references to other Star Wars stories, including a few cameos that should get fans excited for the future of the Mandoverse! Here are all the easter eggs...
The Mandalorian season 3 kicks things into high gear with “The Pirate.” Gorian Shard wants to take Nevarro for himself but seriously underestimates Greef Karga’s connections. When Din, Bo-Katan, and the rest of the Mandalorians show up to kick the pirates out of town, all hell breaks loose in the skies above the city as well as on the ground. The Armorer smashes a few faces in with her hammer while Paz lays down the law with his gatling blaster, with air support from Din and Bo. By the end of the episode, Gorian has nowhere to go but down.
Unsurprisingly, the lead up and the battle itself cue up quite a few callbacks and references to other Star Wars stories, including a few cameos that should get fans excited for the future of the Mandoverse! Here are all the easter eggs...
- 3/29/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This week’s episode of “The Mandalorian” (“Chapter 21: The Pirate”) is the best of the season and easily one of the best episodes of the entire series, full of rousing fun, featuring beautifully choreographed action and big, heartfelt moments. It also had a cameo appearance by a character that might be familiar to diehard “Star Wars” fans – he’s furry, he’s purple and he is a member of the New Republic’s X-Wing squadron. But who is he, exactly? Read on to find out.
Spoilers follow, for this week’s “The Mandalorian” and several other key junctures in the “Star Wars” universe.
This character isn’t identified by name. What’s his name?
His name is Garazeb Orrelios, more commonly known as Zeb.
Who is Zeb?
Zeb is a former Captain of the Lasat high honor guard, who rose up against the Empire during the Rebellion. This led...
Spoilers follow, for this week’s “The Mandalorian” and several other key junctures in the “Star Wars” universe.
This character isn’t identified by name. What’s his name?
His name is Garazeb Orrelios, more commonly known as Zeb.
Who is Zeb?
Zeb is a former Captain of the Lasat high honor guard, who rose up against the Empire during the Rebellion. This led...
- 3/29/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
This Star Wars article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian.
The Mandoverse is expanding further in 2023. While last year’s The Book of Boba Fett fleshed out the post-Return of the Jedi story of the infamous bounty hunter and his quest to rule Mos Espa, two more shows will take this corner of the Star Wars universe to new territory. There’s Jon Watts’ Skeleton Crew, which will see Jude Law leading a group of teens on an epic adventure inspired by ’80s Amblin films. Then there’s Ahsoka, which picks up the story of not just the beloved Jedi warrior but all her friends from the Rebels animated series. We know Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and Ezra Bridger are all involved in the quest to find Grand Admiral Thrawn, but there’s one name that until this moment had been left out: the grumpy Lasat rebel fighter Zeb Orrelios. What’s he been up to?...
The Mandoverse is expanding further in 2023. While last year’s The Book of Boba Fett fleshed out the post-Return of the Jedi story of the infamous bounty hunter and his quest to rule Mos Espa, two more shows will take this corner of the Star Wars universe to new territory. There’s Jon Watts’ Skeleton Crew, which will see Jude Law leading a group of teens on an epic adventure inspired by ’80s Amblin films. Then there’s Ahsoka, which picks up the story of not just the beloved Jedi warrior but all her friends from the Rebels animated series. We know Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and Ezra Bridger are all involved in the quest to find Grand Admiral Thrawn, but there’s one name that until this moment had been left out: the grumpy Lasat rebel fighter Zeb Orrelios. What’s he been up to?...
- 3/29/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
There will be spoilers for "Star Wars: The Mandalorian" Chapter 21 - The Pirate
Over the course of its 21 chapters thus far, "The Mandalorian" has referenced "Star Wars Rebels" quite a bit. One of the biggest reveals was the inclusion of Ahsoka Tano in the second season, when Din Djarin traveled to the planet Corvus. There, we saw Ahsoka battle Morgan Elsbeth, looking for the whereabouts of Grand Admiral Thrawn, which was one of the key dangling plot threads at the end of the series finale of "Rebels."
Another major hint was bringing Bo-Katan Kryze and the story of the Darksaber into the show. The tale of the Darksaber featured prominently in "Star Wars Rebels", as did the Mandalorian people and culture, as they sought to free themselves from the yolk of the Empire. Thanks to "The Mandalorian" and "The Book of Boba Fett," we know that Moff Gideon quickly unmade...
Over the course of its 21 chapters thus far, "The Mandalorian" has referenced "Star Wars Rebels" quite a bit. One of the biggest reveals was the inclusion of Ahsoka Tano in the second season, when Din Djarin traveled to the planet Corvus. There, we saw Ahsoka battle Morgan Elsbeth, looking for the whereabouts of Grand Admiral Thrawn, which was one of the key dangling plot threads at the end of the series finale of "Rebels."
Another major hint was bringing Bo-Katan Kryze and the story of the Darksaber into the show. The tale of the Darksaber featured prominently in "Star Wars Rebels", as did the Mandalorian people and culture, as they sought to free themselves from the yolk of the Empire. Thanks to "The Mandalorian" and "The Book of Boba Fett," we know that Moff Gideon quickly unmade...
- 3/29/2023
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
"Star Wars" was in a strange place in 2007. Two years out from the release of "Revenge of the Sith," George Lucas' mega-lucrative prequel trilogy had yet to undergo the critical re-evaluation it would receive over the decades that followed its conclusion. At the time, people were (not unfairly) still a little too hung up on their clumsier and weirdly affectless narrative elements to fully appreciate just how shockingly insightful the films are when it comes to their commentary on U.S. politics and the ways history keeps repeating itself. It would also be another five years before Disney acquired Lucasfilm, at which point the "Star Wars" franchise would see a dramatic re-tooling in terms of its over-arching storytelling and thematic design.
Why, then, is 2007 a significant year for a galaxy far, far away? You see, dear reader, this was when Lucas began pitching "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" to TV networks,...
Why, then, is 2007 a significant year for a galaxy far, far away? You see, dear reader, this was when Lucas began pitching "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" to TV networks,...
- 3/10/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Spoilers for "The Bad Batch" Season 2 Episode 12 - "The Outpost" follow.
Once more, the Bad Batch (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) takes a breather from the continuing narrative and this episode focuses solely on their former member, Crosshair. Crosshair watches on Coruscant as more clones are shipped off into forced retirement and the new Stormtroopers take over. Then, he's assigned to Lieutenant Nolan (Crispin Freeman)to head to a distant outpost to pick up crates of equipment "vital" to the Empire. On the planet Barton-4, they find a snowy wasteland defended by three clones led by one named Mayday. They've been on the planet defending the cargo for more than a year without reinforcements and insurgents have continued attacking them, consistently whittling down their numbers.
When another attack breaks out and the insurgents make off with two crates of important Imperial goods, Nolan assigns Mayday and Crosshair to personally recover them.
Once more, the Bad Batch (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) takes a breather from the continuing narrative and this episode focuses solely on their former member, Crosshair. Crosshair watches on Coruscant as more clones are shipped off into forced retirement and the new Stormtroopers take over. Then, he's assigned to Lieutenant Nolan (Crispin Freeman)to head to a distant outpost to pick up crates of equipment "vital" to the Empire. On the planet Barton-4, they find a snowy wasteland defended by three clones led by one named Mayday. They've been on the planet defending the cargo for more than a year without reinforcements and insurgents have continued attacking them, consistently whittling down their numbers.
When another attack breaks out and the insurgents make off with two crates of important Imperial goods, Nolan assigns Mayday and Crosshair to personally recover them.
- 3/8/2023
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
‘Star Wars’ Comparisons, Work Conditions, and Corey Stoll: Inside the ‘Ant-Man’ VFX of ‘Quantumania’
After exploring microscopic worlds in the first two “Ant-Man” movies, director Peyton Reed expanded into the massive Quantum Realm for the epic battle with Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) in “Quantumania.” What better way to kick off Phase 5 of the MCU?
Much was made upon the film’s release of its similar look to that of “Star Wars,” but according to Marvel VFX production supervisor Jesse James Chisholm, Reed was more focused on the sci-fi visual influences of Heavy Metal Magazine and the abstract photography of Gerard van Smirren than the work of legendary “Star Wars” designer Ralph McQuarrie and his eye-popping, surreal landscapes and kitschy characters.
But Chisholm understands the comparison. “I don’t think we went in consciously making a ‘Star Wars’ movie,” he told IndieWire. “We all grew up on those films and it’s so steeped in our lexicon that it just becomes a part of our thinking.
Much was made upon the film’s release of its similar look to that of “Star Wars,” but according to Marvel VFX production supervisor Jesse James Chisholm, Reed was more focused on the sci-fi visual influences of Heavy Metal Magazine and the abstract photography of Gerard van Smirren than the work of legendary “Star Wars” designer Ralph McQuarrie and his eye-popping, surreal landscapes and kitschy characters.
But Chisholm understands the comparison. “I don’t think we went in consciously making a ‘Star Wars’ movie,” he told IndieWire. “We all grew up on those films and it’s so steeped in our lexicon that it just becomes a part of our thinking.
- 3/6/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The majesty and mystery of the "Star Wars" universe can really be traced back to one character: Boba Fett. Although the infamous bounty hunter was first introduced in the much-maligned "Star Wars Holiday Special," everyone really remembers his original appearance alongside Ig-88, Dengar, Bossk, Zuckuss, and 4-lom in "The Empire Strikes Back." Who was this cool and calculated mercenary? What's his backstory? For dyed-in-the-wool fans of the original trilogy, Boba Fett should have remained an enigma, shrouded in secrecy.
In the decades since he ushered Han Solo away to Jabba's Palace aboard Slave-1, Boba Fett has also come to represent everything that's wrong with the "Star Wars" universe. Fans now know his backstory and then some. He's an unaltered clone of his father, Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison), who re-emerges from the Sarlacc pit 5 years after "Return of the Jedi" to take over the criminal underworld on Tatooine. A young Fett...
In the decades since he ushered Han Solo away to Jabba's Palace aboard Slave-1, Boba Fett has also come to represent everything that's wrong with the "Star Wars" universe. Fans now know his backstory and then some. He's an unaltered clone of his father, Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison), who re-emerges from the Sarlacc pit 5 years after "Return of the Jedi" to take over the criminal underworld on Tatooine. A young Fett...
- 2/15/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
The Hollywood system was a rigid, impenetrable system that suffered from reverse agism and a certain lack of raw creativity until a group of maverick filmmakers changed movies forever in the 1970s. Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Brian De Palma, and a young George Lucas were a crucial part of a new movement in cinema that captured the public's imagination like never before. Spielberg and Lucas didn't invent the blockbuster with "Jaws" and "Star Wars," but they certainly provided a new model for Hollywood that's still being followed today. When Bruce the mechanical shark in "Jaws" kept malfunctioning out in the open waters of the Atlantic, the production seemed doomed. The outtakes alone make the famously troubled production seem amateurish and frankly laughable. Then, "Jaws" became a sensation all over the globe.
With nine saga films, multiple spinoffs, and a continuous onslaught of Disney+ TV show, it's worth remembering that...
With nine saga films, multiple spinoffs, and a continuous onslaught of Disney+ TV show, it's worth remembering that...
- 2/14/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
When "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" was first released in theaters in 1980, fans were enraptured by the unique "look" of a certain background bounty hunter so much that he quickly elevated to fan favorite status. Not much was known about Boba Fett at the time — his backstory would later be colored by expanded universe material and a parentage established by the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy. His design, however, was still compelling enough to capture the imagination of the most curious-minded fans of George Lucas's fantasy/sci-fi galaxy.
It's the sleek and effortless cool of the T-shaped visor on the helmet, the various intricate shapes that make up his weaponry and toolset, a dark green and black color palette, and even a jetpack that transformed into every kid's most desired action figure. With all this in mind, it may come as a shock to know that the...
It's the sleek and effortless cool of the T-shaped visor on the helmet, the various intricate shapes that make up his weaponry and toolset, a dark green and black color palette, and even a jetpack that transformed into every kid's most desired action figure. With all this in mind, it may come as a shock to know that the...
- 1/31/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Andor."
In the penultimate episode of the first season of "Andor," Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) is forced to visit Saw Gerrera on the out-of-the-way planet of Segra Milo. The two of them have much to discuss regarding their plans for Anto Kreegyr, whose raid on the Spellhaus power station has been hotly debated amongst the rebels and the Imperials who know about it and want to thwart it. Once Saw and Luthen make a final decision about it, Luthen has to leave the planet and head to put out other fires in his work. Namely, he has to find Cassian Andor and kill him before he can be caught.
But before Luthen can make it to Ferrix on his own, he's stopped by an Imperial Arrestor Cruiser, something we've only seen in "Star Wars" once before ... even though it has a...
In the penultimate episode of the first season of "Andor," Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) is forced to visit Saw Gerrera on the out-of-the-way planet of Segra Milo. The two of them have much to discuss regarding their plans for Anto Kreegyr, whose raid on the Spellhaus power station has been hotly debated amongst the rebels and the Imperials who know about it and want to thwart it. Once Saw and Luthen make a final decision about it, Luthen has to leave the planet and head to put out other fires in his work. Namely, he has to find Cassian Andor and kill him before he can be caught.
But before Luthen can make it to Ferrix on his own, he's stopped by an Imperial Arrestor Cruiser, something we've only seen in "Star Wars" once before ... even though it has a...
- 11/16/2022
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the Steven Spielberg classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (watch it Here), and earlier this year Universal celebrated the anniversary by giving the film a re-release on IMAX screens. Next up, they’re going to be giving E.T. a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital release on October 18th (pre-order Here). In anticipation of that release, we’ve gotten our hands on an Exclusive clip that gives a glimpse behind-the-scenes of E.T. and shows Spielberg working with E.T. himself while Chris Columbus discusses the film’s practical special effects. Check it out in the embed above!
Scripted by Melissa Mathison, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has the following synopsis:
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed,...
Scripted by Melissa Mathison, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has the following synopsis:
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed,...
- 10/14/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
In the fourth and latest episode of "Andor," "Aldhani," viewers got another look at the inside and outside of a new "Star Wars" ship, piloted by Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård). It's the same ship we saw at the very end of the third episode, "Reckoning," but Luthen and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) were in such a hurry to get off Andor's planet, Ferrix, that they didn't have much time to stop and admire the ship's design. However, the inside of the cockpit somewhat resembles that of the most famous "Star Wars" ship of them all, the Millennium Falcon. And when Andor and Luthen set down on a new grassy planet, the titular Aldhani, in episode four, things have calmed down a little and we have a few more seconds to see the outside of the ship.
It turns out the ship's design may have borrowed a few elements from some...
It turns out the ship's design may have borrowed a few elements from some...
- 9/30/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Visual effects have come a long way since the first "Star Wars" trilogy premiered in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 1983's "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" broke ground in terms of effects, just as its two predecessors had. One of the people responsible for this was Industrial Light & Magic's Dennis Muren. He worked on the visual effects for both of the first films but had even more responsibility for "Return of the Jedi."
When you're in demand as a top visual effects artist, you often have to work on more than one project at a time. A while back, Muren spoke to StarWars.com about his experience on the film and how he simultaneously balanced doing work for George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.
To give you a taste of the work Muren has done, he's provided visual effects for films like "Jurassic Park," "War of the Worlds,...
When you're in demand as a top visual effects artist, you often have to work on more than one project at a time. A while back, Muren spoke to StarWars.com about his experience on the film and how he simultaneously balanced doing work for George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.
To give you a taste of the work Muren has done, he's provided visual effects for films like "Jurassic Park," "War of the Worlds,...
- 9/20/2022
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Sam Esmail, the creator of "Mr. Robot" and director of Prime Video's "Homecoming" season 1, is bringing the production of his recently announced Apple TV+ series, "Metropolis," to Melbourne, Australia, where it will utilize cutting-edge volume technology similar to "The Mandalorian."
"Metropolis" is based on the classic 1927 German expressionist silent film, directed by Fritz Lang, and that movie already shares a connection with "Star Wars" in that its signature robot, Maschinenmensch, inspired the original design of the droid C-3Po. The very first production painting that concept artist Ralph McQuarrie did for the first "Star Wars" movie back in the 1970s featured a C-3Po, whose look...
The post Sam Esmail's Metropolis Series Will Use the Volume Tech from The Mandalorian appeared first on /Film.
"Metropolis" is based on the classic 1927 German expressionist silent film, directed by Fritz Lang, and that movie already shares a connection with "Star Wars" in that its signature robot, Maschinenmensch, inspired the original design of the droid C-3Po. The very first production painting that concept artist Ralph McQuarrie did for the first "Star Wars" movie back in the 1970s featured a C-3Po, whose look...
The post Sam Esmail's Metropolis Series Will Use the Volume Tech from The Mandalorian appeared first on /Film.
- 4/15/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Since the very first movie premiered in 1977, “Star Wars” has been a franchise with a clearly identifiable aesthetic: rusty armor, billowing capes and a retro vibe firmly entrenched in ’70s science fiction. Later iterations of the franchise would update or play with that look to varying extents, but “The Book of Boba Fett” miniseries on Disney Plus is a full-fledged resurgence of the original trilogy’s magic, thanks to the work of costume designer Shawna Trpcic.
A hardcore “Star Wars” fan, Trpcic first joined the franchise during season 2 of “The Mandalorian.”
In preparation for diving into the show’s spinoff “The Book of Boba Fett,” she studied the original making-of books that George Lucas created during production of the first movie, which provided templates for the original designers like production illustrator Ralph McQuarrie and costume designer John Mollo to follow. Then, she started working to create costumes that looked and...
A hardcore “Star Wars” fan, Trpcic first joined the franchise during season 2 of “The Mandalorian.”
In preparation for diving into the show’s spinoff “The Book of Boba Fett,” she studied the original making-of books that George Lucas created during production of the first movie, which provided templates for the original designers like production illustrator Ralph McQuarrie and costume designer John Mollo to follow. Then, she started working to create costumes that looked and...
- 2/3/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
This Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett article contains spoilers.
Organized crime on Tatooine is a full-time job. Boba Fett fights off a bounty hunter and makes some new allies in “The Streets of Mos Espa,” all while also preparing for the next threat that’s incoming.
Like the rest of the show, this episode of The Book of Boba Fett has many Original Trilogy references and familiar sights. Take a look at all the Star Wars easter eggs and references we spotted in this episode…
Danny Trejo as the Rancor Keeper
Director Robert Rodriguez’s long-time collaborator (and second cousin) Danny Trejo, plays the rancor keeper. He’s known for playing gritty anti-heroes and villains who operate outside of the law.
You can read more about Trejo and the rancor keeper here.
Stephen Root as the Water Monger
Stephen Root plays Lortha Peel, the water monger. He’s...
Organized crime on Tatooine is a full-time job. Boba Fett fights off a bounty hunter and makes some new allies in “The Streets of Mos Espa,” all while also preparing for the next threat that’s incoming.
Like the rest of the show, this episode of The Book of Boba Fett has many Original Trilogy references and familiar sights. Take a look at all the Star Wars easter eggs and references we spotted in this episode…
Danny Trejo as the Rancor Keeper
Director Robert Rodriguez’s long-time collaborator (and second cousin) Danny Trejo, plays the rancor keeper. He’s known for playing gritty anti-heroes and villains who operate outside of the law.
You can read more about Trejo and the rancor keeper here.
Stephen Root as the Water Monger
Stephen Root plays Lortha Peel, the water monger. He’s...
- 1/12/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
On Dec. 29, Star Wars fans will finally get something they could only fantasize about in 1983: the further on-screen adventures of Boba Fett. It’s a Disney+ show almost 40 years in the making, and not just because the pre-Disney canon had already established Boba survived the sarlacc pit, but because the villain always seemed destined for something bigger than his six-ish minutes of screen time and four lines of dialogue in the Original Trilogy.
Boba is a great example of the kind of zeitgeist-grabbing myth-making that has made Lucasfilm such a successful movie studio over the last 50 years. As with other memorable Lucasfilm icons, including Indiana Jones, the studio put a lot of time into designing the bounty hunter. In fact, the creation of Boba Fett is emblematic of Lucasfilm’s signature approach to character building and the massive success of that process.
Before 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, there was already Boba Fett.
Boba is a great example of the kind of zeitgeist-grabbing myth-making that has made Lucasfilm such a successful movie studio over the last 50 years. As with other memorable Lucasfilm icons, including Indiana Jones, the studio put a lot of time into designing the bounty hunter. In fact, the creation of Boba Fett is emblematic of Lucasfilm’s signature approach to character building and the massive success of that process.
Before 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, there was already Boba Fett.
- 12/2/2021
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
"Star Wars" just wouldn't be "Star Wars" without the decades of world-building that went into creating that galaxy long ago and far, far away. A variety of planets, their people, and their environments create unique settings for the fantastical stories we grew up with. Life itself is a necessary ingredient for making a fictional world feel lived in, and the creatures of "Star Wars" are not only part of these intricate landscapes, but memorable in their own right.
The artists that bring "Star Wars" to life -- creators like Ralph McQuarrie, Terryl Whitlach, and Phil Tippett -- are magic makers, each as important to the franchise's legacy as George...
The post The 14 Best Star Wars Creatures Ranked appeared first on /Film.
The artists that bring "Star Wars" to life -- creators like Ralph McQuarrie, Terryl Whitlach, and Phil Tippett -- are magic makers, each as important to the franchise's legacy as George...
The post The 14 Best Star Wars Creatures Ranked appeared first on /Film.
- 11/16/2021
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
1978’s Star Wars Holiday Special is known for many things: continuing the adventures of Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewie; introducing fans to Life Day and Chewie’s son, Lumpy; and being an all-around terrible TV special. But it also marked the first onscreen appearance of one of the most iconic characters in Star Wars: Boba Fett.
In the animated portion of the special, the heroes first meet Boba as an ally, a mysterious man in imposing armor who offers to help Han and Chewie after they crash on a dangerous moon in the Panna system. But we soon learn of this Good Samaritan’s true allegiance — he’s working for Darth Vader and the Empire. It’s this backstory that would later inform Boba’s first live-action appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, in which he’s hired by Vader to track down the Millennium Falcon in order to set...
In the animated portion of the special, the heroes first meet Boba as an ally, a mysterious man in imposing armor who offers to help Han and Chewie after they crash on a dangerous moon in the Panna system. But we soon learn of this Good Samaritan’s true allegiance — he’s working for Darth Vader and the Empire. It’s this backstory that would later inform Boba’s first live-action appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, in which he’s hired by Vader to track down the Millennium Falcon in order to set...
- 11/12/2021
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
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Shopping for the right coffee table book isn’t as easy as you might think, namely because there are so many choices out there. To narrow things down a bit, you can find books that align with your personal interests. If you’re a movie fan who wants to incorporate that cinema aesthetic into your living room decor, we rounded up a list of some of the coolest coffee table books to buy right now.
From “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (not that one!) to “Criterion Designs,” this book list blends captivating photos and illustrations with fascinating stories and fun facts that cover more than 100 years of cinema history. Find the list below,...
Shopping for the right coffee table book isn’t as easy as you might think, namely because there are so many choices out there. To narrow things down a bit, you can find books that align with your personal interests. If you’re a movie fan who wants to incorporate that cinema aesthetic into your living room decor, we rounded up a list of some of the coolest coffee table books to buy right now.
From “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (not that one!) to “Criterion Designs,” this book list blends captivating photos and illustrations with fascinating stories and fun facts that cover more than 100 years of cinema history. Find the list below,...
- 10/1/2021
- by Latifah Muhammad
- Indiewire
Each episode of "The Mandalorian" usually ends with some Ralph McQuarrie-esque concept art showing over the credits. Two years ago, we wrote that the art practically demanded its own coffee table book. Our prayers were answered with "The Art of the Mandalorian," and now the book, like the show, has come back for a second season.
StarWars.com has given us our first look at "The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season 2)." The book comes from Abrams, the publishing company, not to be confused with J.J. Abrams, the director of "The Force Awakens" and "The Rise of Skywalker." It's a hardcover packed with art from the...
The post The Art of The Mandalorian Season 2 Book Arrives in Time for Christmas appeared first on /Film.
StarWars.com has given us our first look at "The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season 2)." The book comes from Abrams, the publishing company, not to be confused with J.J. Abrams, the director of "The Force Awakens" and "The Rise of Skywalker." It's a hardcover packed with art from the...
The post The Art of The Mandalorian Season 2 Book Arrives in Time for Christmas appeared first on /Film.
- 9/17/2021
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Star Wars toys remain one of the venerable franchise’s most reliable metrics when it comes to assessing the enduring sustainability of its films and television shows, and also accurately identifies which characters continue to capture the imaginations of fans young and old alike. However, the miniaturized medium is occasionally used as a tribute to some of the franchise’s esteemed behind-the-scenes personnel. Indeed, Hasbro has just revealed that the latest recipient of this honor is none other than The Mandalorian’s Dave Filoni.
Amongst Hasbro’s reveals for its heralded PulseCon 2021 toy event was a Star Wars The Black Series 6” scale action figure for The Mandalorian‘s New Republic pilot, Trapper Wolf. To the layperson, the figure would appear to be just a generic representation of a body-mold-recycled Rebel pilot, which begs the question as to why it’s getting the deluxe treatment, sold for $29.99, which is well above...
Amongst Hasbro’s reveals for its heralded PulseCon 2021 toy event was a Star Wars The Black Series 6” scale action figure for The Mandalorian‘s New Republic pilot, Trapper Wolf. To the layperson, the figure would appear to be just a generic representation of a body-mold-recycled Rebel pilot, which begs the question as to why it’s getting the deluxe treatment, sold for $29.99, which is well above...
- 7/9/2021
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm. To say the corporation that George Lucas founded as a way to realize his artistic vision forever altered popular culture is akin to understating the heat of the sun. Indeed, it is incomprehensible to think of a world without Lucasfilm and the wonders it has given us over the course of the past half century.
What initially began as a way for Lucas to pursue his creativity outside of the auspices of the Hollywood machine is a fascinating story in and of itself – one whose irony is impossible to overlook given how the independent filmmaking ideologies held by the company eventually gave way to the biggest film franchise in history. And that’s not to overlook the significant artistic and technological achievements Lucasfilm unleashed, Ark of the Covenant style,...
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm. To say the corporation that George Lucas founded as a way to realize his artistic vision forever altered popular culture is akin to understating the heat of the sun. Indeed, it is incomprehensible to think of a world without Lucasfilm and the wonders it has given us over the course of the past half century.
What initially began as a way for Lucas to pursue his creativity outside of the auspices of the Hollywood machine is a fascinating story in and of itself – one whose irony is impossible to overlook given how the independent filmmaking ideologies held by the company eventually gave way to the biggest film franchise in history. And that’s not to overlook the significant artistic and technological achievements Lucasfilm unleashed, Ark of the Covenant style,...
- 5/4/2021
- by Chris Cummins
- Den of Geek
The time is February 2020. The place? Manchester’s Space Studios, on the extraordinary set of Intergalactic, Sky’s new sci-fi drama series. From an immersive set, cramped within the bowels of a prison ship, to concept art of stunning sci-fi landscapes, there’s nothing to remind us of a mundane present that will, only a month later, come to seem like something of a lost utopia.
Well, almost nothing. The screensaver on one of the ship’s computers bears the logo of Her Majesty’s Government. Is time travel involved, then? Nope. It’s a relic from previous work on Cobra, the Sky political drama about the collapse of British society in the aftermath of a disaster. Oddly fitting, really…
Mercifully, we come back to the future. First things first, though: this isn’t the galaxy as we know it. “We are set 150 years in the future,” explains producer Iona Vrolyk.
Well, almost nothing. The screensaver on one of the ship’s computers bears the logo of Her Majesty’s Government. Is time travel involved, then? Nope. It’s a relic from previous work on Cobra, the Sky political drama about the collapse of British society in the aftermath of a disaster. Oddly fitting, really…
Mercifully, we come back to the future. First things first, though: this isn’t the galaxy as we know it. “We are set 150 years in the future,” explains producer Iona Vrolyk.
- 4/20/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Boba Fett’s green, T-visored helmet is a menacing visage that’s nearly evocative of Star Wars as Darth Vader’s; one first embodied on film by actor Jeremy Bulloch, who, sadly, passed away on December 17 at the age of 75. However, the legacy that Bulloch leaves behind has proven far greater than a character with minimal screentime and dubbed lines seemingly had any right to possess. It’s a legacy to which hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian owes a great deal of thanks.
Bulloch, born in Leicestershire, England on February 16, 1945, wasted little time getting himself onscreen with uncredited roles—while still an adolescent—in 1958 films Violent Playground and Titanic tragedy movie A Night to Remember, continuing to work steadily for years in U.K.-aimed films and television shows. He fielded a notable four-episode 1974 run as Hal the Archer on Doctor Who (opposite Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor); his second run on the series,...
Bulloch, born in Leicestershire, England on February 16, 1945, wasted little time getting himself onscreen with uncredited roles—while still an adolescent—in 1958 films Violent Playground and Titanic tragedy movie A Night to Remember, continuing to work steadily for years in U.K.-aimed films and television shows. He fielded a notable four-episode 1974 run as Hal the Archer on Doctor Who (opposite Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor); his second run on the series,...
- 12/18/2020
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Star Wars fans woke up to some sad news, as actor and former bodybuilder David Prowse has passed away. The British character actor died at the age of 83, and if you’re at all a lover of the Star Wars Saga, you know who he played. Prowse of course played Darth Vader, providing the screen presence and size needed to instantly make Vader into an iconic villain. Even without the voice, which was memorable dubbed over his by James Earl Jones (an iconic performance on its own), Prowse made the character imposing and a part of cinematic history. He will be missed, not just by fans, but by all in the film world. Here’s some of the obituary for Prowse from The Guardian: Cinema audiences were introduced to the terrifying Darth Vader when he appeared through the smoky residue of a laser battle at the beginning of Star Wars...
- 11/29/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Mandalorian brings a fan-favorite Jedi from Star Wars animation to live action in “The Jedi,” which takes us to the wasteland planet of Corvus, where an Imperial warlord rules with an iron fist. Along the way, we learn more about Baby Yoda’s origin as well as where the show might be headed. We also get some pretty neat callbacks to the classic films of Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa.
Here are all of the easter eggs and Star Wars references we’ve found in “The Jedi” so far:
Ahsoka Tano
– Fan-favorite Jedi hero Ahsoka Tano finally makes her live action debut in “The Jedi.” She’s played by Rosario Dawson here. As if she simply leapt out of the animated series and onto The Mandalorian, Ahsoka looks almost exactly like she did on Rebels, wearing similar attire and armed with the white lightsabers she used before the Galactic Civil War.
Here are all of the easter eggs and Star Wars references we’ve found in “The Jedi” so far:
Ahsoka Tano
– Fan-favorite Jedi hero Ahsoka Tano finally makes her live action debut in “The Jedi.” She’s played by Rosario Dawson here. As if she simply leapt out of the animated series and onto The Mandalorian, Ahsoka looks almost exactly like she did on Rebels, wearing similar attire and armed with the white lightsabers she used before the Galactic Civil War.
- 11/27/2020
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
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