The Mandalorian and Grogu on Disney+

The Mandalorian and Grogu are coming home.

The Mandalorian and Grogu hit the big screen on 22nd May. For over half a decade, Star Wars has been on the small screen with animated and live-action spin-off series on Disney+. The family-friendly adventure, featuring fan-favourites from The Mandalorian series, brought the saga back to cinemas. This is the way.

Star Wars: Starfighter, a standalone story set 5 years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, is due for release on 28th May 2027 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of George Lucas' space opera. The upcoming film directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) stars Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams.

Experience Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, streaming 2nd September on Disney+.

Are you looking forward to watching The Mandalorian and Grogu on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Stargate producer on rebooting Doctor Who

The BBC is putting Doctor Who out to competitive tender after the Disney+ deal was not renewed and the departure of series showrunner Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf.

Dean Devlin, who co-wrote and produced Stargate and Independence Day, has responded to rumours that his production company, Electric Entertainment, is linked to a new series of Doctor Who with David Tennant purportedly reprising the titular role.

When approached by the Radio Times, Devlin said in a statement: "It is untrue that we have had negotiations with the BBC. Preliminary or otherwise. When the proper time comes when they are prepared to speak with people, we certainly hope to have a discussion with them."

The update follows an earlier post by Devlin on Facebook, in which he shared an AI-generated video featuring himself and various other former Doctor Who actors posing on the set of the TARDIS. "So BBC is putting Doctor Who out to tender," Devlin captioned the video. "Do you think they should partner with us at Electric Entertainment?"

What are your thoughts on Dean Devlin producing Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars and Marvel Comics collide

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm Publishing unveiled Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles, the first-ever crossover between the two beloved franchises launching in January 2027.

Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles marks a new chapter in the decades-spanning relationship between Marvel Comics and Star Wars.

“On April 12th, 1977, Marvel Comics introduced readers to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars #1. Now, 50 years later, it's only fitting that the Star Wars galaxy collides with the Marvel Universe to celebrate the 50th anniversary of A New Hope,” reflects Michael Siglain, Creative Director of Lucasfilm Publishing. “With Hope Assembles, Kevin Smith has written a true love letter to Star Wars, to Marvel, and to comics in general. And combined with David Marquez's incredible art, we'll see the heroes and villains of Star Wars team-up and battle with the heroes and villains of Earth-616.”

As I've written previously, Star Wars Weekly #2 was my first comic book glimpse of a galaxy far, far away...

“Marvel and Star Wars’ histories have been intertwined for 50 years and continue to set the standard for storytelling across the world… and across the media landscape,” adds Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Stephen Wacker. “Lifelong lovers of both Star Wars and Marvel have a lot to look forward to as we finally bring the characters together in ways fans have been dreaming about for decades!”

Series scribe Kevin Smith is one such lifelong lover of both franchises. “Back in the early ‘80s, I had a subscription to Marvel’s Star Wars comics. And as fun as it was to follow the adventures of Luke, Leia and Han, I always wished that Spider-Man or Doctor Doom could cross over into their cinematic saga,” he shares. “So when the opportunity arose to actually tell that story, nobody had to Force my hand! I’m ecstatic to be writing Hope Assembles for the 50th anniversary of Star Wars! Many thanks to Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm for trusting me to fly the Falcon and the Quinjet!”

Are you looking forward to Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars at D23

Lucasfilm has exciting news about the Star Wars franchise at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event this week.

Friday, August 14

A LEGO Star Wars Conversation with Shelby Young

10 a.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Go behind the bricks with voice actress Shelby Young as she discusses her experience across various LEGO Star Wars projects, including a sneak peek into new LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian special coming to Disney+ on September 2.

Ahsoka Spotlight

12 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Ahsoka’s Eman Esfandi, who plays Ezra Bridger in live action, stops by to talk about making Season 1 of the Emmy Award®-winning Disney+ series.

Creatures and Characters with Legacy Effects

2 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

The creative effects studio that brought the Mandalorian, Grogu, and the Anzellans to life talks about the craft of making lifelike creatures and costumes.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Meet & Greet

4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Saturday, August 15

Hasbro: Bringing Star Wars Characters to Life Through Toys

10 a.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Meet the Makers! Join the Hasbro team for a conversation about the creative journey behind bringing Star Wars characters from the screen into fans' hands through expressive, interactive toy design.

Designing The Mandalorian and Grogu: A Conversation with Doug Chiang

12 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Join Lucasfilm's Senior Vice President and Executive Design Director Doug Chiang for a moderated conversation about bringing The Mandalorian and Grogu to the big screen. Hear firsthand how the film's environments, creatures, and vehicles were developed from concept to screen.

Creatures and Characters with Legacy Effects

2 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

The creative effects studio that brought the Mandalorian, Grogu, and the Anzellans to life talks about the craft of making lifelike creatures and costumes.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Meet & Greet

4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Sunday, August 16

The Making of Star Wars: The Experience

10 a.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Lucasfilm’s Portia Fontes and Matt Martin join The Franklin Institute’s Abby Bysshe and MDSX’s Dan Picard to provide an in-depth look at curating the new Star Wars: The Experience traveling exhibition to celebrate 50 years of the franchise and the fandom.

Inside Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord with Matt Michnovetz

12 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Join head writer and executive producer Matt Michnovetz as he discusses the production process, creative journey, and powerful storytelling of Maul - Shadow Lord Season 1.

Creatures and Characters with Legacy Effects

2 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

The creative effects studio that brought the Mandalorian, Grogu, and the Anzellans to life talks about the craft of making lifelike creatures and costumes.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Meet & Greet

4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. at the Lucasfilm Booth

Which Star Wars panels are you looking forward to at D23? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd

Lucasfilm has announced a Welsh-language dub of Star Wars: A New Hope. Entitled Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd, it is scheduled to air on Christmas Day on S4C in anticipation of the movie's 50th anniversary next year.

S4C's chief executive Geraint Evans said: "We were thrilled when Lucasfilm approached us to partner on producing a Welsh version of Star Wars: A New Hope.

"It's such an iconic film to so many generations of fans across the world so we're delighted to be working with them and Creative Wales to turn this ambition into reality."

Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd is directed by Ellyn Stern and produced by Michael Kohn, director of distribution operations at Lucasfilm.

"We're really excited about this project for many reasons," Kohn said.

"I've been involved in a few indigenous dubs of Star Wars over the years that aim to preserve and revitalise interest in learning the language.

"The chance to celebrate the Welsh language through Star Wars is one we couldn't pass up."

Wales has a storied history with Star Wars. A life-sized Millennium Falcon was built at Pembroke Dock in 1979 for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, as well as scenes from Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte that were shot across Bannau Brycheiniog.

Lucasfilm co-president Lynwen Brennan, who was born and raised in Wales, said: "Wales has such a rich history of storytelling and a beautiful lyrical language.

"We have never before had a translation of Star Wars into Welsh and I am so thankful that in celebration of our 50th anniversary, we have been able to work with some incredible Welsh talent to make that a reality.

"Welsh speakers will finally be able to enjoy the film in our native language and my hope is that it will have the same emotional impact as if you were watching the film again for the first time."

Matthew Rhys will voice Han Solo, with Rhys Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Princess Leia. Star Wars veteran Mark Lewis Jones, who portrayed Captain Moden Canady in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, will take on the role of Darth Vader, and Osian Morgan will voice Luke Skywalker.

May the Force be with you, or Bydded y Grym gyda chi, as fans say in Welsh.

Are you looking forward to seeing Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd? Let me know in the comments below.

Grand Theft Auto VI extended look on Netflix

Rockstar Games has announced that an extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI will first be available on Netflix later this month.

"The new iteration in the blockbuster series comes 13 years following the debut of GTA 5, the same year that Netflix was beginning its push into original programming," Netflix wrote. "This collaboration represents the next generation of storytelling and content on Netflix."

GTA VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond, in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series yet. With a reported budget of over a billion dollars and featuring a female protagonist (Lucia), GTA VI was originally due to be released in 2025.

“Grand Theft Auto reveals have become cultural moments in their own right," said Brandon Riegg, Netflix's VP of Nonfiction Series. "The anticipation and fandom around Grand Theft Auto 6 is unprecedented, and we’re honored that Rockstar Games has partnered with us to debut the next part of the Grand Theft Auto story with Netflix members first. It’s a reflection of what we hope Netflix is becoming: a place where the most ambitious storytelling, from any medium, can find the biggest possible audience."

The long-awaited next instalment in the GTA franchise will be released on PlayStation 5 (PS5) and XBOX Series X|S on 19th November and will be digital-only. The halcyon days of midnight launches are gone forever post-pandemic, and vertical companies will have complete control over distribution, availability and dynamic pricing.

This has sparked controversy (I'm team digital on XBOX, but prefer physical on PlayStation), and now an extended look will be paywalled on Netflix for 6 hours, which will only add to the unprecedented hype.

My octogenarian dad isn't a gamer, but he knows about GTA VI given all the mainstream media coverage of this monoculture moment in entertainment and that I've pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition for PS5.

Pre-order Grand Theft Auto VI at Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to Grand Theft Auto VI? Let me know in the comments below.

Babylon 5 on YouTube

The future of Doctor Who and Star Trek may be in flux, but renewed interest in Babylon 5 could be our last, best hope for a classic sci-fi series on streaming services following the cancellation of Stargate.

Warner Bros. Discovery has launched an official YouTube channel featuring classic episodes from J. Michael Straczynski's sprawling space saga.



Read the official description:

"You’ve arrived at Babylon 5, the last, best hope for peace. A neutral station standing at the crossroads of galactic powers, where ambassadors, soldiers, traders, and dreamers all have a stake in the future.

Here you’ll find stories of destiny and choice, of politics and prophecy, of wars fought in shadows and victories won through understanding. This channel is a gathering place for the history, ideas, and moments that made Babylon 5 one of science fiction’s most enduring legacies.

Whether you’re a longtime citizen of the station or arriving through the jump gate for the first time, you’re welcome here."

Straczynski introduced the new channel, promising it would feature original commentaries, interviews, chats, and additional material in the coming months.

As I've written previously, the sci-fi series will always be synonymous with undergraduate study. SeaQuest DSV and Babylon 5 both utilised Amiga Video Toasters and were the subject of lively debate in computer animation studies. George Lucas' Star Wars prequels were still a few years away, non-linear media production was still in its infancy and prohibitively expensive for the homebrew crowd (myself included) before Steve Jobs returned to Apple, democratising the industry with the iMac and iPhone.

Babylon 5 was originally shown on Channel 4 in the UK, running for 5 seasons between 1993 and 1997. Straczynski's sci-fi opus, a galaxy-spanning retelling of The Lord of the Rings, quickly became a touchstone in the space opera firmament. There were countless carshare and water-cooler conversations with fellow fans when I was hired as an online journalist at Reuters following graduation 30 years ago.

Could Warner Bros. Discovery be testing the cosmic waters to garner reaction from fans (myself included)? There have been premature announcements of a reboot with Straczynski back at the helm on The CW.

What are your memories of watching Babylon 5? Let me know in the comments below.

Dungeons & Dragons x Star Wars

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a gateway into role-playing games (RPG) for generations of fantasy fans (myself included)!

The first time I became aware of TSR's tabletop franchise (not namechecked) was in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Subsequently, Marvel Comics' D&D animated series became an afterschool staple, and my parents bought me licensed LJN action figures, which were soon integrated into Masters of the Universe and Star Wars toy stories.

Netflix's Stranger Things introduced a new generation to D&D.

Star Wars celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2027, and Hasbro's Wizards of the Coast has announced a collaboration during the D&D Vision Keynote at Gen Con!

Season of Rebellion.

"We want to let our community know that D&D Universes Beyond is additive to the incredible roadmap we have for our own worlds. We have been staffing up to support this initiative and look forward to what the future holds."

As a fan of both franchises, I'm intrigued and am envisaging Magic: The Gathering Star Wars action figures on Hasbro Pulse!

Are you looking forward to the Dungeons & Dragons | Star Wars collaboration? Let me know in the comments below.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Is superhero fatigue a thing, or can Spidey swing above it? Matt, Harry and Luke Charlton find out in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Guest post by the Charltons

Are you Spider-Man? Or are you Peter Parker?

This is the question that our hero is faced with throughout the latest movie from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures - with the latter hoping that the webhead carries on bringing in those dollars after every other attempt to bring a Spider-Man villain to the big screen without Spidey has failed miserably and is often lambasted for being ‘that bad’ - especially by the people who star in them.

We won’t mention Morbius; suffice to say we know that Jared Leto (Tron: Ares) is very capable in Masters of the Universe, but every single attempt by Sony to do anything with the Spider-Verse that doesn’t involve Spider-Man is terrible. It is known.

This will be a spoiler-free review for the most part - but if you want to stay completely away from anything going on until you’ve seen the movie, step away now.

We, of course, will not speculate nor confirm who Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) is playing in this movie.

She is in the movie. That’s all you’re getting. Oh, and there’s no Kate Bush.

The movie picks up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Peter Parker (Tom Holland) being pretty much truly alone in the universe. Nobody knows who Peter is, but everyone knows Spider-Man and his reputation has never been better. Everyone loves him. It’s great.

If you’ve seen the trailers, you’ll have seen The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) features, as does Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) (and maybe even a little Hulk - and maybe even a big Hulk?).

I’ve seen a few early reviews that say bad things, but I think they were going to the shock jock angle. People saying it was emotionless and messy. I disagree, and at the moment the critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes is 91%, which is fair.

I’ve also seen people asking if we need a 4th Spider-Man film, and the answer is yes, we do, and more, please.

This movie is an emotional rollercoaster, and it will make you feel things, and feel things again. It covers topics of grief, of loneliness, of loss and of losing hope. But it also talks about finding hope and helping others, too.

There are many lessons, multiple layers and many laughs. The stakes are high; anything could happen, and you truly feel your heart leave your chest at multiple parts.

As always these days, I travelled to the cinema with Harry (15) and Luke (10), both big Spider-Man fans and again as a dad, I can’t tell you how much love I feel in my heart that I can share these moments with them. Seeing their faces light up with joy, seeing the shock and awe. You can’t beat it.

The cinema was the fullest it's been on any of our trips, given it was the first UK showing at 5:30pm on release day - and we get it two days before the USA, too. The people sat beside me sadly could not stay off their phones or stop talking all the way through - why people are happy to pay upwards of £70 with tickets, snacks and drinks and sit there like it is their living room, I have no idea - or maybe that’s just what it was, feeling they paid enough so they could do what they wanted?

The dynamics between Spider-Man and The Punisher are great. There’s a lot of quips, attitude and history there, and you get a feeling they’ve worked together quite closely in the past.

We see Peter go through a lot of changes in this movie, both physically and emotionally, and we also see him evolve in many other ways.

It’s fun to see how right or wrong people were about characters being photoshopped out of certain scenes in trailers, AKA Peter 2 and Peter 3 in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

There is a post-credits scene, just a single one - which doesn’t give much away but, as always with Marvel, it’s worth hanging around for, and shaking your head at the people who leave immediately - who even does that?

Some questions that you might have...

Will Spidey make it through the movie in one piece?
Does Venom eat lunch at Delmars?
Do we see Thor and the Avengers robbing ATMs again?
Do we see Man-Spider?
Does Ned turn into Hobgoblin?
Who is Sadie Sink playing?
Where else *do* those organic webs come out of?

For answers to these questions and more, book your tickets to see Spider-Man: Brand New Day... today!

Have you seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Let us know in the comments below.

The Mandalorian and Grogu at Steve Jobs Theater

Lucasfilm recently screened The Mandalorian and Grogu at Apple's Steve Jobs Theater.

Read the official description:

"Attendees were treated to a special screening of The Mandalorian and Grogu at Apple’s Steve Jobs Theater courtesy of Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound. Before the screening, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll joined Apple’s Alex Lindsay for a discussion about ILM’s legacy with Apple hardware and software and how the studio is developing new software and leveraging the latest Apple technology to streamline the filmmaking process. Watch the film at home on Digital now!"

Pre-order The Mandalorian and Grogu at Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you seen The Mandalorian and Grogu? Let me know in the comments below.