The last few times I’ve had news duty there’s basically be NOTHING going on (like, so little there hasn’t been a column). As we approach Star Wars Celebration Chicago (SWCC), THIS WEEK HAS SOME NEWSSS *rap airhorn*

Since we’re already on the subject of Celebration, let’s talk about some exclusives. If you love Star Wars toys like some (me), Funko, Hasbro, and LEGO will all have Celebration exclusives available through an advanced lottery and at their respective booths. More details are here.

Details about non-toy exclusives are here. If you’re obsessed with Spider Maul and want a Letterman Jacket, they’ve somehow got you covered??? Speaking of clothes, there will be Her Universe exclusives branded under the collection “Sisters of the Force”, which is sure to make us all fangirl even more than the terrific Her Universe brand usually does (somehow). Please click through–there is so much good exclusive content that y’all will want that it’s better to look at it than to hear me describe (dog shirts, mugs, JABBA CHIA PETS). Also, as a Book Wars Pod team member, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the load of Celebration exclusive book editions–you can find E. K. Johnston’s Queen’s Shadow as well as Claudia Gray’s Master & Apprentice. Seriously, please click through so you can see the artwork on the exclusive covers. Grabby hands for days, tbh.

Some more Celebration news–THREEPIOOO IS COMINGGG. And by that I mean, Anthony Daniels, who has played C-3P0 in every Star Wars film to date will be at SWCC. If you’ll be there, you can find him on Sunday at 5:15 p.m. when he’ll be presenting “Droidography” on the Galaxy Stage. For additional details and other times you can see him, click through. Also click through HERE for the A M A Z I N G mural Doug Chiang and Jason Palmer that they designed and created to (to paraphrase Kathy Kennedy) “create a piece of art that would encapsulate the entire Star Wars saga, visually representing the complete stories of Star Wars through art”. Do you think it’s overkill to get the whole thing as a back tattoo?

In other, non-Celebration news, who wants to fly the Millennium Falcon at Disneyland!!! (I really, really, do.) Smugglers Run will be at Disney Land and riders will enter the line through “‘Ohnaka Transport Solutions'”, a shady shipping operation run by Hondo Ohnaka” aka, I’m losing my mind and I want to do so many pirate adventures PLEASE?! The details sound tantalizing and full of scoundrel stuff and buttons and all the best things.

AND MORE. Darth Revan just got added to Galaxy of Heroes! THERE’S A NEW MEDIUM–AUDIO-ONLY BOOK!!! As a BWP homie, I am especially excited about Dooku: Jedi Lost.

Alright, seriously, so much news. Please, for the love, click through on all the things so you can get more than my teeny snippets. And enjoy our last few weeks before Celebration!!!

Search no more, dear reader, for the schedule has been bestowed unto thee.

That’s right – the full schedule of panels for Star Wars Celebration Chicago is out, and we’re already panicking over the panels that overlap with one another. A tradition unlike any other. Whether its details on the new VR experience Vader Immortal: Episode I that you’re looking for, or you want to see a sneak preview of The Mandalorian, the Celebration Stage will have you covered. But when will you need to get in line? How will the lottery system work? Well, we kind of know those details thanks to StarWars.com, but the Tosche Station team takes no responsibility if, say, these rules change with no notice and no one actually makes it clear to the attendees. Remember kids, communication is key.

Don’t care about the panels? Just going for the experience? Well, we’ve got you covered there too, with these previews of the collectibles and merchandise that will be available at the show store – with more sure to come in the next few weeks leading up to April 11. And hold onto your sand, because the Chosen One himself, Hayden Christensen, will be gracing SWCC with his presence. We truly, deeply love him.

What’s that – you don’t care about Celebration news? LIES! DECEPTIONS!

Ok fine, there’s something for you this week  as well – never let it be said that we aren’t here for our readers. We got a sneak preview of some of the high-tech functionality coming to Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World via your mobile devices. We got a (gorgeous) cover, a new release date, and a new synopsis for the upcoming novel from Del Rey, Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson, which revealed that old friend Vi Moradi is indeed bringing her presumably-still-unfinished knitting project to Batuu. And finally, a hearty congratulations to The Star Wars Show for earning another Emmy nomination, this time for their hilarious Arrested Development-style recap of A New Hope.

And just think, we aren’t even at Celebration yet. Hold onto your butts.

This week’s Holonet Blast is all about Star Wars Celebration, which is coming up way too fast. (Only three more weekends to prepare! This is totally fine!) While the full panel schedule isn’t out yet, and probably won’t be for another week or so judging by historical trends, certain awesome-sounding panels have already been announced.

To no surprise, there will be a Galaxy’s Edge panel on Saturday. According to the Official Site, it will include team members from Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Imagineering to discuss previously-announced news as well as some surprises. Galaxy’s Edge is set to open in Anaheim on May 31 and Orlando August 29. (No, I will not be there opening weekend in Walt Disney World. I’m not that crazy.)

Also to absolutely no surprise, the Star Wars Show announced an Episode IX panel set for Friday, featuring J.J. Abrams. No news on other guests, but if previous Celebrations are any indication, expect the main cast to make an appearance. This is for sure to be the most popular panel of the convention, so start lining up now. (I’m only slightly kidding.)

In addition to those panels, the Official Site announced a slew of guests, including: Forest Whitaker, Katee Sackhoff, Lee Towersey, Josh Lee, Matt Denton, Hugh Quarshie, Bobby Moynihan, Warwick Davis, Lorne Peterson, Annabelle Davis, and Penny McCarthy.

Stay tuned for more Celebration Chicago announcements, which are sure to happen on the regular from now until April 11.

Good morning and welcome to another edition of the Holonet Blast! I’m still living on a Padmé high after the release of Queen’s Shadow and the Age of Republic comic. You all go read both of them, by the way. But on with the news!

In non-Celebration related news, Christian Blauvelt  is writing another book, this time titled “How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks: A Guide to Surviving the Star Wars Universe”. It certainly looks amusing to say the least.

And then Celebration news. Ohhhh Celebration news. For fans of the animated shows, get excited for panels! Saturday will be Rebels Remembered, Sunday is The Clone Wars, and Monday is Resistance. We also got a slew of new guest announcements including Paul Bettany, Ahmed Best, and Erin Kellyman!!!

Oh and there’s this little thing called Galaxy’s Edge… you may have heard of it…. we have opening day dates! The one in Disneyland will open on May 31st and Disneyworld will open on August 29th. If you’re planning on going, be sure to do your research first as there are things like reservations and staggered ride openings involved.

And that’s it for the week! I’ll go back to dreaming of Batuu now…

Happy March!

Wow, what a week it’s been in Star Wars news, y’all. Seriously. This week was chocked full of very good stuff. Here we go with our fantabulous weekly rundown:

Galaxy’s Edge had a media preview and now I want to live there!

This week a small group of media professionals got to tour the still-under-construction site of Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Cast member uniforms were revealed early in the week followed by wonderful articles on the rides, food & beverage offerings, and exclusive merchandise that will be available in Galaxy’s Edge once the park is open for business. Disney even gave a preview of the incredible animatronic Hondo Ohnaka that guests will have a chance to interact with as part of their visit to Batuu’s Black Spire Outpost.

All these previews have taken me from jazzed at the idea to UNBELIEVABLY OUT OF THIS WORLD EXCITED BEYOND MY ABILITY TO ARTICUALTE for the day visitors are allowed in to experience this for themselves. I am in awe of the amazing immersive technology (the integration with the Play Disney Parks app looks to be incredible), and the in-universe feel of every item available for purchase.

Galaxy’s Edge is slated to open this summer at the Disneyland Resort and this fall in Walt Disney World.

Celebrate Art!

This week, entries in the Star Wars Celebration Chicago art show became available for pre-order via darkink.com. Although a few of the more popular pieces have already sold out, there are still some exquisite pieces available. The art can be purchased online for pick-up at the show only. Folks unable to make the show in person can have their art pieces picked up by a trusted friend in attendance. If you, like me, appreciate Star Wars art, it’s a good idea to get your pre-orders in as these pieces are likely to sell out before Celebration beings.

I’ve already bought three and am eyeing a fourth as I type this.

And speaking of Celebration: MORE GUESTS!

We now know that Ray Park (Maul), Tiya Sircar (voice of Sabine Wren) and Matt Lanter (voice of Anakin Skywalker) are joining the celebrity lineup for Chicago’s upcoming convention.  Autograph and photo opportunities are available for advance purchase via the Star Wars Celebration website.

As though that wasn’t enough: A GAME announcement, too!

EA & Respawn have some news for us at Celebration, and to tease that news, this week they told us two important things. One: come to their panel on Saturday, April 13th because they’re going to pull back the curtain on their next incredible Star Wars game. And, two: that game is called Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and features the adventures of a Padawan who survived Order 66.

There will also be displays on the convention floor highlighting Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes and a new Star Wars pinball game (YESSSSS!!!) as well as a presence by Star Wars: The Old Republic. 

What a week! The countdown to Chicago is getting more and more intense and incredible. I hope to see many of your adorable, smiling faces there in April. Until then, send your Star Wars news tips to Tosche Station and send Galaxy’s Edge Fastpasses to @MandaTheGinger

Happy Monday, Star Wars fans! (Yes, it’s Monday, and I absolutely didn’t forget that I was supposed to write this over the long weekend. No you shut up)

Juuuuuust a bit of news last week, but none bigger than this:

It feels impossible, but today wrapped photography on Episode IX. There is no adequate way to thank this truly magical crew and cast. I’m forever indebted to you all. pic.twitter.com/138AprtFuZ

— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) February 15, 2019

That’s right – the still-untitled Star Wars: Episode IX has wrapped principal photography, and every single one of us was crying. Still no word on… you know… what we should actually call the movie, but one would presume that’s coming between now and Star Wars Celebration Chicago in April.

Besides that lovely bit of goodness to start your week, we also got some exciting book news in the galaxy far, far away, including our first look at Master and Apprentice, the upcoming Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan novel from Claudia Gray. We also saw the announcement of a new art book, The Art of Star Wars Rebels, coming out this October and sure to grace my coffee table just as soon as my wife stops sobbing over all the Kanera pictures. And, they are bringing back Legends… in a small, non-hyper-masculine-douchebaggery way, with a new Marvel one-shot that continues the classic Legends Star Wars comic from the 1980s and 1990s. Including all your favorite Legends characters, like that green Trix rabbit (please direct all hate tweets to @ChrisSedor).

Speaking of Star Wars Celebration Chicago, you can be sure that it will be quite a royal affair with Ian McDiarmid, the legend behind Emperor Palpatine himself, among the newly-announced guests. And finally, Bria got a visit from the Ghost of Cons Yet to Come, who informed her that Triple Force Friday is coming on Friday, October 4, and while we don’t have much information on what to expect, specifically, we do know that it will include merchandise inspired by Episode IX, DIsney+’s The Mandalorian, and Jedi: Fallen Order, the video game from EA that is allegedly still coming out this year.

*deep breath* See, just a tiny bit of news this week, nothing to worry about. We’re fine, we’re all fine here, thank you. How are you?

The Star Wars Show returned this week, unfortunately not with an Episode IX title as some fans (myself included) have been expecting. Nothing new revealed on this week’s Bob Iger earnings call, either. This past week wasn’t completely devoid of news, however. Onward!

We’re all looking forward to Queen’s Shadow by E.K. Johnston (except for Bria, who’s already read it, hiss [Editor’s Note: IT’S SO GOOD AND I CRIED A LOT]). This week it was announced that audiobook fans have something very exciting to look forward to. Catherine Taber, the voice for Padme in The Clone Wars animated series, as well as numerous other Star Wars voice acting credits, will be narrating the audiobook. The long-awaited Padme story is scheduled for release on March 5. E.K. Johnston will be promoting the novel on tour along with Amy Ratcliffe and Cat Taber.

AND THEN, I am going on the road. And, uh, I won’t be going alone.😊 #QueensShadow pic.twitter.com/OtK65wSxuR

— EK Johnston (@ek_johnston) February 5, 2019

In other book news, writer and illustrator Jeffrey Brown has yet another Star Wars book for young readers, Rey and Pals. What would life had been like had the Sequel Trilogy characters grown up together? Jeffrey Brown’s novels are the cutest form of AU fanfiction and I’m excited to see what he comes up with next. The release date is yet to be announced.

Finally, for Fantasy Flight fans (and we have several on this blog), a new board game was announced. Outer Rim is described as “a game of bounty hunters, mercenaries, and smugglers for one to four players.” Of relevance to readers of this blog (and Bria), one of the cards is for Dr. Aphra. Outer Rim will release in the second quarter of 2019.

And that’s it for the news! Will we finally get an Episode IX title next week? Only time will tell.

Good morning and we hope you all enjoyed the Puppy Bowl yesterday! Actually, that makes me wonder… what’s the Star Wars equivalent of the Puppy Bowl? The Lothcat Bowl? Regardless… I’d watch it.

Speaking of sporting events, LEGO Star Wars is celebrating their 20th anniversary with five new vehicle sets including Anakin Skywalker’s podracer! That set also includes a minifig of Padmé in her peasant disguise and yes I need it.

Celebration guest announcements continue with yet another batch of actors including Ashley Eckstein (who I thought had already been announced before this, whoops), John Ratzenberger (Brian is thrilled!), and Katy Karwheel (who did the physical performance for Rio). You can read the entire list here.

In awesome news, our favorite rogue archaeologist’s comic book was nominated for an Outstanding Comic Book GLAAD award. Congratulations to everyone involved with Doctor Aphra. 

Finally, Lucasfilm announced, to much hype, their Galaxy’s Edge books and comics that will allow everyone to step into Batuu. In addition to the previously announced comic series coming in April, fans can look forward to a novel from Del Rey and by Delilah S. Dawson titled Black Spire that appears to star Vi Moradi, a YA novel by Zoraida Córdova titled A Crash of Fate, and Star Wars: Myths and Fables by George Mann which is exactly what it sounds like. You can check out the entire line at the link above but needless to say, we are hyped! Being able to walk into this park with this extra knowledge is going to be (as a certain boy on Tatooine would say) so wizard!

And that’s it for this week!

Hello again and welcome to our weekly romp through the news from the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Make sure your dejarik tables are in their upright and locked position and that your crash webbing is securely fastened, because here we go!

Marvel takes us to Black Spire Outpost

I’m excited to report that those of us who don’t like lines or crowds will still have a chance to see Batuu’s Black Spire Outpost this year. Whether or not you plan on visiting Galaxy’s Edge at Disney parks this year, Marvel is giving us a chance to look around the notorious hive of scum and villainy from the comfort of home this April. The Galaxy’s Edge comic miniseries is being written by Ethan Sacks with art by Will Sliney and is available for pre-order at your favorite local comic store.

Solo nabs Oscar nod

Congratulations to the team from Solo: A Star Wars Story! The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the film is nominated for an Oscar in the category of Outstanding Visual Effects.

It’s a Celebration!

A Star Wars Celebration, that is! The hits just keep on coming this week as Lucasfilm and ReedPop continue to make announcements about the upcoming convention in Chicago. This week’s biggest news is wookiee-sized; Actor Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca) will be making his first appearance at a Star Wars Celebration and I could not be happier about this development. Additionally this week, actors Sam Witwer (Maul), Greg Grunberg (Snap Wexley), Greg Proops (Garma, Jak Sivrak), Paul Kasey (Admiral Raddus, Ello Asty), Ian McElhinney (General Dodonna (Rogue One)), Orli Shoshan (Shaak Ti) along with puppeteer Dace Chapman have been added to the star-studded lineup.

Key poster art for the show also debuted this week along with a list of the featured exhibitors in Artist Alley. Limited tickets are still available– I hope to see all of you there!

That’s all for this week. Thanks again for joining us for the news in under 12 parsecs. As always, send Star Wars news tips to Tosche Station and send wookiee hugs to @MandaTheGinger

It’s Monday–y’all know what that means! It’s the news! And golly gee willikers, there was some really cool news this week! Especially for Star Wars book nerds (like me & the rest of the @bookwarspod crew… and most of this network…)

But first, womp womp, Electronic Arts won’t be making that open-world Star Wars game you may have heard about (code-named Orca, which is kind of badass).  The company is, instead, focusing their efforts around the nearer future–a smaller project that will likely launch in late 2020. In the meantime, we still have Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to look forward to, which is scheduled for fall 2019.

Back to the more positive side of things (read: NEW STUFF!) Marvel announced further details this week about about the one-shots set during the time of the original trilogy. This is the second of three series exploring the different eras of Star Wars, the first is Age of Republic (prequel-centric, available now), the third is Age of Resistance (sequel-centric, available later this year), and this, the middle of the trio, Age of Rebellion (set in the time of the original trilogy). The series will launch in April, and the titles that have so far been announced include Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Princess Leia and Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Grand Moff Tarkin.  Coming a little later in the series we’ll also get stories of this era for Han Solo, Boba Fett, Lando Calrissian, and everyone’s least-favorite Hutt, Jabba. Those are slated to come out in May, and we’ll get even more Vader and Luke (each with their own titular issues) in June.

The SUPER EXCITING LITERARY NEWS I alluded to in the intro comes from our friends at Del Rey and Marvel Comics–a crossover series set in the time of Alphabet Squadron!!! You guys, we’re so excited about this!!! There will be a comic mini-series that take place after Return of the Jedi. It’s called Star Wars: TIE Fighter and will launch in April. Expect it to cover the garbage fire the Empire became, from both the Rebels’ side, and the Empire’s. AHHHH! If you haven’t seen the cover art for these yet, do yourself a favor and CLICK THROUGH. (Editor’s Note: The lady on the cover is named Yrica Quell and she flies an x-wing and WE LOVE HER VERY MUCH!!) Also, we got the exciting news that Alexander Freed’s Alphabet Squadron WILL BE A TRILOGY!!! Perhaps best of all, Del Rey told us in a tweet that General Hera Syndulla (the mother of our beloved son, Jacen) will be there. If you know Kate of the aforementioned Book Wars Pod, you’ll be wholly unsurprising to hear she nearly collapsed from excitement when this news dropped. We can’t wait for this one. And the apparently other two. And the comic mini-series. Give us all the Star Wars.

And that’s the news! One not-so-fun thing and two VERY fun things. We’ll take it!