May the Poncho Be With You

The Aerodynamics of Star Wars Tested

Look, we all love Star Wars, and part of that love is picking apart all of the ways it's dumb. The walking tanks make absolutely no sense. The capital ships? Questionably designed. The fighters? Not a whole lot better. And to explore that last bit in even more detail, one endeavoring YouTuber [EC Henry] took to analyzing the aerodynamics of some of the series' classic ships to see exactly how they'd fare in atmospheric flight.

Read more at Popular Mechanics.

Check out a video breakdown after the jump.

Mark Hamill is a Franchise Traitor!

8-Foot TIE Fighter Replica Raises Money for Cancer Treatment

An replica of the iconic TIE fighter from the Star Wars films is being sold off to raise money for [Cancer patient] Demi Knight.

The ship measures in at eight feet long and four feet tall without its stand, and would make an excellent addition to any fan's collection.

Paul Jackman, who runs the Comic Book Heroes costume shop in Grimsby [UK], is putting it up for sale as he no longer has room for it and wanted to donate any proceeds to Demi's cancer treatment.

Read more at Grimsby Live.

The Truth Hurts Sometimes

Carrie Fisher's Daughter, Billie Lourd, Throws Out First Pitch at LA Dodgers Star Wars Night

Carrie Fisher would be so proud. Billie Lourd paid tribute to her late mother at the Los Angeles Dodgers game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles on Friday. Celebrating Star Wars night at Dodgers Stadium, the 25-year-old actress wore Princess Leia's iconic hairstyle to throw the first pitch.

Read more at Entertainment Tonight.

Star Wars VS. Star Trek Brought Into Perspective

Cancer Patient's Radiation Mask Made to Look Like Stormtrooper Helmet

The Force is strong for a brave eight-year-old cancer patient who has been channeling one of his favourite Star Wars characters while he battles a brain tumour.

Evan Cornett was given a major uplift in his fight against the disease when he was presented with a radiation mask designed to look like a Stormtrooper.

The youngster has been receiving proton beam treatment at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri.

Read more and watch a video at Daily Mail.

Hulk Versus... Yoda?

George Lucas's Ideas for Episodes 7, 8, and 9 Revealed

The internet has been abuzz recently thanks to a few very intriguing quotes from George Lucas, addressing where the director would’ve taken the Star Wars saga if he had not sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012.

The commentary comes from Insight Editions’ tie-in book for the AMC series James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction. George Lucas stated:

"[The next three Star Wars films] were going to get into a microbiotic world. But there’s this world of creatures that operate differently than we do. I call them the Whills. And the Whills are the ones who actually control the universe. They feed off the Force.

If I’d held onto the company I could have done it, and then it would have been done. Of course, a lot of the fans would have hated it, just like they did Phantom Menace and everything, but at least the whole story from beginning to end would be told."

Read more at io9.

You Can Now Buy Your Star Wars Toys with 'Solo' Checks!

Star Wars can not only drain your checkbook, now it can be on your checkbook.

I Don't Think Think This is What Kylo Had in Mind

Peter "Chewbacca" Mayhew Raises Funds for Venezuelan Children

He fought in epic battles against the galactic empire. Now an actor who portrayed “Star Wars” legend Chewbacca is fighting for Venezuela’s poor with an online fundraising campaign whose proceeds will benefit a charity feeding underprivileged children in the crisis-wracked South American nation.

Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in five “Star Wars” movies, has so far raised more than $10,000 through the sale of commemorative coins showing the Wookiee warrior’s hairy legs and a bullet belt slung around a map of Venezuela.

Read more at The Washington Post.

Who's in Charge Here?

Mark Hamill Has Never Met His Onscreen Mother

Natalie Portman celebrated her 37th birthday over the weekend and the official Star Wars social media accounts asked fans to celebrate with her. In a surprising twist, Mark Hamill responded by stating that he has never met his Star Wars mother in real-life or even on screen for that matter.

Mark Hamill took to Twitter to respond to the official Star Wars tweets celebrating Natalie Portman's birthday by saying, "Fun Fact: I've never met this woman."

Read more at Movieweb.

Even the Empire Needs Help from Google

Even the Dark Side Loves Animals: Animal-Free Kylo Ren Vegan Shoes

You won't have to travel to another galaxy for these animal-free Kylo Ren-inspired vegan shoes.

In August, ethical design company Po-Zu will begin shipping a vegan Star Wars hi-top inspired by the film series’ character Kylo Ren. The unisex shoes ($92.60) bear an illustration of Ren’s helmet, are made in Sri Lanka, and are comprised of organic cotton and locally sourced Fair Trade rubber.

Read more at VegNews.

Greedo Actor Paul Blake is Coming to DFW Area on June 13th!

Madness Games and Comics in Plano, TX is excited to announce that Paul Blake, best known as Greedo from Star Wars: A New Hope, will be on site doing signings from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM on Wednesday, June 13th!

Prices for the event:
Autograph $40
Selfie $40
Autograph/Selfie Combo $60

For more info, go here.

Not the Droids Darth Vader is Looking For?

Marshall County, WV's Star Wars-Themed Relay for Life [VIDEO]

Relay for Life took Marshall County, WV by storm Friday night, and they did things a little differently than normal.

The relay was Star Wars themed, so you could see plenty of "May the Cure be with You” signs and different Star Wars costumes.

The event brought out a few hundred people, and cancer survivors were able to tell their stories.

Read and see more from Fox WTOV9 after the jump.

So Many Rens to Choose From

ROT5's Eric Shirey Guests on Podcast The Rantcor Pit's "When Lucas Got Hammered"

I had the opportunity to sit in on Star Wars podcast The Rantcor Pit's special birthday episode, "When Lucas Got Hammered." The episode served as a birthday celebration for actors Peter Cushing (May 26th) and Christopher Lee (May 27th). Both actors were Hammer Film alumni and then, decades apart, starred in the Star Wars saga.

You can check out the podcast after the jump.

Lord Vader is Going to Be Very Grumpy

The Empire Strikes Back Up on the Big-Screen at Grapevine, TX's Palace Theatre

Star Wars - Episode V; The Empire Strikes Back is hitting the big-screen once again on Friday, June 15th at Grapevine, TX's Palace Theatre (300 S. Main St.)!

*PROMO* Wear a costume of your favorite character and receive a free popcorn. Best costume wins (4) movie passes.

The Historic Palace Theatre located in the heart of downtown Grapevine, was originally built in the 1940s and makes going to the movies or a live performance a special occasion. On Friday nights, enjoy classic films such as "Grease" and "Jaws" on the big screen! In addition to the Friday night film series, the Palace Theatre is home to concerts featuring a variety of musical talent, stand-up comedians, as well as dance and theater performances and so much more.

Purchase tickets to the classic film series online or call the Palace Theatre Box Office at 817-410-3100. The Box Office opens for walk-up sales and will call tickets one hour prior to show time.

Please no outside food or beverages in the theater. The Palace concession stand features soda, candy, popcorn and bottled water. Bring in a same-day receipt from any Grapevine restaurant and receive a free small popcorn!

Let's Talk About THAT Big Reveal at the End of Solo

Massive Spoilers for Solo: A Star Wars Story are found below. If you haven't seen it yet, then read on with that in mind. Also, what are you waiting for? Drop what you're doing right now and go see the movie!

Obi-Wan Shares Another of His Certain Points of View

Lucasfilm Design Supervisor James Clyne Makes the Kessel Run

The record-setting [Kessel Run] that made the Millennium Falcon a legend in its time is, for the first time, seen on-screen in the new film.

And it was [Lucasfilm Design Supervisor James] Clyne and his crew that had to tackle the challenge of designing the treacherous course, the monsters lurking in the mist, and the gravity well that essentially demolished all their hard work piece by beautiful piece, using some real-world inspiration from extreme weather conditions and some help from Indiana Jones.

“I proposed this idea that the Falcon gets really battered up, more battered up than you’ve ever seen it,” Clyne says. “We had to design every progression, from the first panel coming off to the last panel coming off. We had to understand what that meant.”

Read more at StarWars.com.

The Artist Strikes Back

I yuess the Empire really can bring peace to the galaxy.

Your Order is Up!

See Some Crazy Millennium Falcon Alternate Designs!

The Millenium Falcon in Solo doesn’t look much different from the ship fans have come to love.

But as you can see above, there were some rather wild alternate designs that would have given the ship’s body quite the overhaul, and you can see even more alternate Millennium Falcon designs below.

Read and see more at /Film.

Can You Give Me a Han Clap?

Winchester Music posted this meme on their Twitter page with the caption, "Star Wars AND music humor? Yes, please!"

Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy Book Coming in October

StarWars.com is thrilled to exclusively announce a new book from Chronicle Books that celebrates this eclectic mix of female characters from the films, cartoons, novels, comics, and video games — Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy by Star Wars fan and journalist Amy Ratcliffe, arriving October 2018 in hardcover.

It will feature Leia Organa, Rey, Ahsoka Tano, Jyn Erso, Rose Tico, Maz Kanata, and many more — including characters from Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars Resistance — the book gathers 75 profiles with text by Ratcliffe and all-new, incredible artwork from 18 talented female and non-binary artists.

Read more at StarWars.com.

See book art after the jump.

The Warning Signs Were All There

The warning signs were all there in this artwork from Brian Kesinger.

Delve Deeper into The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story

Solo: A Star Wars Story is now playing in theaters everywhere. Also available: The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story, a book loaded with great concept art that tracks the creation of the film’s many worlds and characters.

Above is a favorite piece of mine featuring a hip millenial-looking Lando Calrissian hanging out with his robot L3-37.

Check out more exclusive Solo concept art from The Art of Solo at /Film.

We've posted a couple more pics after the jump.

The Millennium Falcon is HEAVY METAL!

Twitter user Charles Collett posted this picture of his Millennium Falcon metal artwork the other day in anticipation of Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Marvel Comics Releasing Beckett Prequel Comic in August

STAR WARS: BECKETT #1
GERRY DUGGAN (W) • WILL SLINEY, EDGAR SALAZAR & MARC LAMING (A)
Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY TERRY DODSON
MOVIE VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE DEADLY!
TOBIAS BECKETT taught HAN SOLO everything he knows about surviving hoodlum-filled cantinas and backwater worlds. But who is this career outlaw and why is ENFYS NEST— one of the galaxy’s most dangerous and brutal marauders — so dead set on taking him down once and for all? Find out in this original tale of a man who has gamed star system after star system, but at a cost that no heist can make up for.
40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T …$4.99

Star Wars: Beckett #1 hits comic store shelves in August!

You can see the full cover after the jump.

Solo: A Star Wars Story Reviewed by Twin Flicks!

Solo: A Star Wars Story is finally out in theaters! We've brought you our review of the movie. What do our buddies over at Twin Flicks think about the film? You can find out below.

Formally Bluray Junkies. Twin Flicks is run by filmmakers Paul and Simon, who create entertaining and informational videos about movies and filmmaking.

We have a range of episodes from Movie Analysis, Topic Videos, Lost Cinema Series, Interviews with Filmmakers, Flashback Flix, Spotlight Series, Movie/Bluray Reviews, Trip Videos and we are working on new short films and skits. Episodes are uploaded one or twice a week.

TODAY is Star Wars Day!

Happy Birthday to the one that started it all and the one that ended the Original Trilogy!

May 25, 1977: Were you there?

Were you around when the party started?

Logan Director James Mangold Will Write / Direct Boba Fett Movie

Just got out of my second viewing of Solo: A Star Wars Story to see this news from The Hollywood Reporter:

"The hunt is on.

James Mangold is writing and will direct a Star Wars stand-alone movie centered on Boba Fett, the feared bounty hunter and fan-favorite character, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned.

It was rumored that Simon Kinberg, the writer-producer behind the X-Men franchise and films such as The Martian, was working on a Boba Fett movie. While Lucasfilm and Disney won’t make any official confirmation, sources say that Mangold will co-write the script with Kinberg, who will also produce the Boba Fett project. Kinberg and Mangold are close, having worked on Logan, the X-Men spinoff that earned high praise last year.

Details for the Boba Fett storyline are being kept deep in the Sarlacc Pit."

Here's hoping they get Daniel Logan, who played the character in Star Wars - Episode II: Attack of the Clones, to reprise the role for the new movie.

LEGO Puts Together Solo: A Star Wars Story Trailer

We're putting together a crew... with LEGO bricks in this version of the Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer.

When Kylo Met Snoke

Kylo Ren was just trying to keep it real.

Solo: A Star Wars Story Movie Review

Writers Lawrence Kasdan and his son, Jonathan Kasdan, construct an entertaining origin story for Han Solo that doesn't try to recreate the wheel and brings to life all the key moments fans have always heard about the character and his co-pilot Chewbacca. Borrowing camera angles and setups from everything from old westerns to chase films and even the original trilogy, Solo: A Star Wars Story is an elegantly shot film that wears it's technical influences on its sleeves. Ron Howard does a great job of balancing lightheartedness and humor with the darkness of The Empire Strikes Back and fresh excitement of its 1977 predecessor.

Happy 38th Anniversary to The Empire Strikes Back!

The Empire Strikes Back hit theaters 38 years ago today in 1980.

It originally came out to mixed reviews.

Today it is looked at by many Star Wars fans to be the best chapter in the saga.

Chewbacca Attends Royal Wedding!

It just wouldn't be a royal wedding without Chewbacca in attendance!

The Royal couple felt it was only right to include everyone's favorite Wookiee in the festivities, since it was his birthday after all.

Actor Peter Mayhew shared this picture of the blessed event on his Twitter.

Thandie Newton Isn't Playing Around in This Action Figure Dress

Thandie Newton's dress for the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story is printed with images from her personal collection of African- American Star Wars action figures. Look closely and you can see Finn, Saw Gererra, Lando Calrissian, Captain Panaka, and Mace Windu.

See more pictures after the jump.

Lucasfilm Wants a Lando Movie Someday

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has been making the publicity rounds for Solo in the wake of the world premiere in Los Angeles and the Cannes Film Festival screening earlier this week. She spoke to Premiere France (via Cinema Blend) about what’s next for Lucasfilm when it comes to the in-between movies under the Star Wars Story moniker, and she gave a surprisingly straight-forward answer:

“We think that the next spin-off will be dedicated to Lando Calrissian. Of course, there are still many stories to tell about Han and Chewbacca, but Lando will be next.”

However, Lucasfilm told io9 shortly after this quote started making the rounds online that the quote in question from the French magazine was not translated correctly. Kennedy instead said something akin to the Lando Calrissian movie being something she’d like to do some day, but there are no concrete plans for it to be the next spin-off just yet.

Read more at /Film.

New Solo Featurette Goes Behind-the-Scenes

“I still consider myself an independent, low-budget filmmaker,” said Solo Cinematographer Bradford Young. “‘Star Wars’ is like a once in a lifetime, unexpected opportunity that you take because [there] might be space for your voice in there, but it’s not something I was asking for, or even envisioned for myself.”

“There was never a moment where I presented a level of darkness and I got some sort of above the studio pushback,” said Young. “To their credit, they asked me to come through the film.”

Watch the new Making Solo Featurette, which highlights Cinematographer Bradford Young's work,  after the jump.

Star Wars Fan Digitally Inserts Harrison Ford into Solo Trailer

So, THIS looks sort of creepy in places. While I would love to see Harrison Ford reprise the role of Han Solo, I wouldn't want to see it this way.

There are parts of this fan-made trailer where I shuddered in discomfort over the way it looked. I do give props to creator Nick Acosta for all his hard work, however.

Nick Acosta recently posted his work, True Solo, on Vimeo — in it, he swaps Alden Ehrenreich for digital composites of Ford's face. The work also features clips from Ford's earlier work, such as American Graffiti.

"I couldn’t help wonder what this movie would look like if you could magically transport a young Harrison Ford to play his iconic character," Acosta wrote with the video. "So using a variety of digital compositing software and some editing tricks I tried to make that happen."

Check out the end result of his hard work after the jump.

The Meeting of the Solos

Harrison Ford snuck up on Alden Ehrenreich during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. Afterwards, the two Han Solos caught up with each other in a back hallway. Twitter user Vince LiFonti shared with us how their conversation went.