Star Wars Action Figures to Be Auctioned off for Possible $360,000

An auction of the world's rarest and most highly sought-after Star Wars figures, including Darth Vader with an extending lightsaber, could fetch more than $360,000.

The large collection featuring many items that have never been available to the public before are going under the hammer with Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas.

The prized piece is a prototype figure of a character named Bib Fortuna, the rarest of Star Wars figures with only five in existence.

Read more at Daily Mail.

The Clone Wars Returns with New Episodes - Watch the Trailer!

During today's "The Clone Wars" 10th Anniversary Panel at San Diego Comic Con, Dave Filoni and company dropped a bombshell - the landmark animated series would return for new episodes.

Darth Vader Actor Spencer Wilding Speaks Out Against Bullying

A famous "Star Wars" actor came to Topeka Wednesday to speak with kids and members of the military.

Spencer Wilding is most known for his role as Darth Vader in the movie "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

He spoke to kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Topeka about bullying and signed autographs.

Read more at KSNT.

Solo: A Star Wars Story Flies Home Sept. 14th on Digital and Blu-ray Sept. 25th

EXPERIENCE THE FUN-FILLED GALACTIC HEIST “SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY” SEPT. 14 ON DIGITAL, AND ON BLU-RAY SEPT. 25

Extensive extras invite fans aboard the Millennium Falcon with Han, Chewie and Lando, and behind the scenes with the stellar cast and crew

Lucasfilm’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” directed by Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Ron Howard—the creator of unforgettable films, such as “A Beautiful Mind,” “Apollo 13,” “Parenthood” and “Splash”—took moviegoers on this summer’s wildest ride with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy, Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich). The action-packed journey explores Han’s first encounters with future friend and copilot Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and notorious gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), as well as his adventure-filled past alongside fellow street thief Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) and career criminal Beckett (Woody Harrelson). Watch instantly on Sept. 14th as the Millennium Falcon sets course digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and on Movies Anywhere, and bring the adventure home on Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on Sept. 25.

Are There Star Wars Easter Eggs in Marvel's Phase Three Movies?

Reddit user KYLO733 has noticed that many movies in the third Phase of the MCU feature characters being hit by lightning, much like the Emperor’s iconic method of dealing with his enemies, first seen in Return of the Jedi. The handy graphic below points out all the times this has happened in films such as Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Here’s how the fan explained themselves in the comments section of their original post:

“As we know, Phase Two was confirmed to have an Empire Star Wars reference of characters losing their hands. So when Phase Three started, I noticed this but waited until Infinity War until I posted. It’s basically characters getting electrocuted/lightning struck, as Luke is in Return of the Jedi (3rd OT movie). I couldn’t find the Black Panther or Infinity War clips but will update with pics soon (the reference is in these movies though). [It] has also happened to an extent in some the TV shows but I would have to re-watch the others.”

Read more at We've Got This.

How Much Would It Cost to Travel to Every Star Wars Filming Location?

From the snowy hills of Hoth to the woods of Endor and the deserts of Jakku and Tatooine, the saga of the Skywalkers wouldn’t be the same without the stunning vistas and alien landscapes on which their story plays out.

And one of the great things about the Star Wars movies is that most of those alien planets are actually real places on planet Earth! If you wanted to really celebrate your Star Wars fandom, you could take a trip around the world to visit all of them.

Sounds awesome, right? But also expensive. And while the cost might be less than you think. It’s still a lot. The cost of traveling to the filming locations (excluding studio lots) for all nine existing Star Wars movies would be just a hair over $12,500. Woof. And that doesn’t even take into account the cost of food and lodging!

Read more and see a breakdown at Opp Loans.

Return of the Jedi Production Illustrator George Jenson Dies

George Jenson, the production illustrator on Return of the Jedi and many more of our favorite genre titles, has died at the age of 87.

According to Variety, Jenson died May 25 of melanoma cancer in Henderson, Nevada. Jenson worked in the film industry for over four decades before retiring in 2003. Most notably, he was the production illustrator for the third film in the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi, and in 1984 he received an Oscar nomination for visual effects for his work on 2010.

Read more at SyFy Wire.

React Robotics' DogBot Inspired by AT-ATs

Groceries and pizzas could soon appear at your front door strapped to an “intelligent” robot dog inspired by Star Wars and created in Surrey.

DogBot, made by React Robotics, took its first self-taught steps yesterday after five years’ work.

Slightly larger than an Alsatian, it ran free in the lab after its harness was removed.

React Robotics founder Greg Epps said: “My inspiration when designing the aesthetics was more Star Wars. The first one we built... it looks exactly like an AT-AT. When we sell this, it might be [for] delivering pizza or as an inspection robot with sensors. There’s lots of autonomous vehicles but they tend to have wheels. In an urban environment, you have scenarios like damaged pavements, steps and stairs."

Read more and see a video of the robot at Evening Standard. 

Amidala on a Mission to Disney's Star Wars Land Planet Batuu in New Thrawn Book

The world of Batuu is forming right before our eyes ahead of its 2019 opening Star Wars Land at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, and this time, we have another new connection to the planet: Padmé Amidala.

In the follow-up novel to Timothy Zahn’s bestseller “Thrawn,” the former Queen of Naboo will make an appearance for a mission alongside Anakin and Thrawn in “Thrawn: Alliances,” out July 24.

You can read an excerpt of the new novel now on the official Star Wars website.

Read more at Attractions.

Postal Jeep Turned into Star Destroyer

A group of geniuses in Texas converted a Jeep DJ-5M Dispatcher mail Jeep into a Star Destroyer, and built a fleet of other Star Wars-themed vehicles to drive along with it. Just. Wow. 

Houstonian Patrick and his friends have been making art cars for Houston’s Art Car Parade for some time now, and for this year’s 31st annual show, their entry was a fleet of Star Wars-themed vehicles, including: a Star Destroyer Jeep, an X-Wing Fighter-themed scooter, a TIE Bomber-themed Polaris Ranger, and even a Star Wars-themed electric emperor’s chair.

Read and see more at Jalopnik.

Tarkin and the Dark Lord Face Off in Darth Vader #18

With STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #18, Charles Soule continues to add something fresh yet compatible with the STAR WARS canon.

This issue functions as a standalone issue that impeccably develops the central character of Darth Vader. While the plot and art aren’t always perfect, the unpredictable and unique storytelling in this issue is what makes Soule’s wonderful addition to the STAR WARS universe.

DARTH VADER #18 showcases a cat and mouse game on the moon Chandra. On one side are Governor Wilhuff Tarkin (soon to be Grand Moff) and his group of hunters. On the other side is the Dark Lord of the Sith, the cyborg monstrosity, Darth Vader. This issue delightfully plays with the question of who is hunting whom.

Read more at Comicsverse.

Lucasfilm Sends Care Package to Mourning Family

There has been a lot of negativity in the Star Wars fan base which has caused a drift between the cast and crew, and audiences. However, even with the disappointments floating all around, there have been remarkable stories of how the galaxy far, far away can help bring some joy to the most loyal fans, even while they face immense tragedy.

One fan, Raymond Camden, is remembering how Lucasfilm helped him cope with his wife’s loss by sending him and his children a care package full Star Wars merchandise after they lost their mom.

“About two months ago, I lost my wife of over twenty years. Saying it has been rough is a massive understatement, but I’m very lucky to have a strong support system here. (My wife was one of 8 kids.) A few weeks ago, a friend of mine reached out to the publicity department at Lucasfilm and let them know what happened and how I was a huge Star Wars fan.”

He explains that Lucasfilm paid attention to detail and left no stone unturned in the package.

“Yesterday I got two boxes full of gifts from them. They had called my friend to find out about my situation and my kids. They got their ages and every single one of them (I’ve got seven kids, yep, seven) got an incredible gift bag of merchandise. All the right size – all age appropriate. They even sent me some wonderful stuff as well.”

Read more at FanFest.

Want to See What You're Going to Miss Out on at Comic-Con?

San Diego Comic-Con features exclusive collectibles you can’t find anywhere else, including these great Star Wars SDCC additions.

San Diego Comic-Con is time for all the geeks and nerds to come together and share in their love of pop culture. SDCC is also a place to get amazing exclusive items before they hit the secondary market.

From comics to figurines, SDCC is the place to find new Star Wars items to add to your collection.

You can see more at Fansided.

Harrison Ford to Receive Wildlife Ambassador Award

The Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc. has selected film star Harrison Ford as the recipient of the 2018 Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award. The organization says the honor is given to people "who have been effective, credible and consistent voices for wildlife."

The Star Wars and Indiana Jones star is an honorary chair of the Indianapolis Prize, which is also awarded by the Indianapolis Zoological Society, and serves on the executive committee for Conservation International, an organization of which Ford has been a member for 25 years. Additionally, Ford was instrumental in the establishment of Conservation International's Center for Applied Bioscience Diversity and Center for Environmental Leadership in Business.

“Nothing is more important to human society than preserving its natural capital. Nature does not need people, people need nature,” Ford said. “Our health relies entirely on the vitality of our fellow species on Earth. I care deeply for the natural world. It’s not about me, it’s not about me at all, it’s about this other world we’re going to leave behind. If we don’t stop the destruction of nature, nothing else will matter. Jobs won’t matter, our economies won’t matter, our freedoms and ethics won’t matter, our children’s education and potential won’t matter. If we end the ability of a healthy natural world to sustain humanity nothing else will matter."

Ford is pictured above with fellow 2018 Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award recipient Russell Mittermeier. 

Read more at Inside Indiana Business. 

Jar Jar Binks Actor Thanks Fans (and Yoda) for Their Support

After revealing that backlash to his controversial role led him to contemplate suicide, the actor who portrayed Jar Jar has thanked fans — and Yoda — for the support they’ve shown him in the days since.

“Thank you all for your love and kindness. Its been overwhelming,” Best tweeted. “...Thanks for all your support. It means so very much to me.”

Among those showing their support was Frank Oz, who provided the voice of Yoda. “I LOVED Jar Jar Binks,” Oz told Best in a tweet. “...I just will never understand the harshness of people’s dislike of him. I do character work. He is a GREAT character!"

Read more at Indiewire.

Chewbacca Mask Used for Cell Phone Smuggling

Shoplifters in a Virginia county went after cell phones, but carried their loot in other items snatched from store display, authorities said. One item seemed conventional, a large purse. The other was not:, a “Wookie” mask from the movie Star wars, according to officials.

The incident was reported Monday by the sheriff’s office in Stafford County, Va. The thefts occurred June 21 at a Walmart store, the sheriff’s office said.

Read more at The Washington Post.

Dallas Free Summer Movie Series: Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Fair Park's 2018 Free Summer Movie Series continues July 11 with "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," (also known as Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi) a 2017 American epic space opera film.

Movies will be shown on Wednesdays at dusk at the Museum Green lawn area (near the Natural History Building). The start time will be approximately 8:00 p.m. (movies will not start until complete darkness).

In "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," Luke Skywalker's peaceful and solitary existence gets upended when he encounters Rey, a young woman who shows strong signs of the Force. Her desire to learn the ways of the Jedi forces Luke to make a decision that changes their lives forever. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren and General Hux lead the First Order in an all-out assault against Leia and the Resistance for supremacy of the galaxy.

LOCATION
Museum Green, 3536 Grand Ave., Dallas, TX
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/cydtVTawGTE2

BRING
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets for an evening of great, free family fun! (Pets on leashes are welcome. Please clean up after your pet.)

PARK
Free parking is available through Gate 5 (Robert B. Cullum Blvd. at Grand Avenue)

IN CASE OF RAIN
In the instance of inclement weather, movies will be shown inside the Women's Building on the first floor. Enter Fair Park through Gate 3 (Washington Street at Parry Avenue) behind the Women's Building for free parking.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call 214-670-8400.

Lando is Back for Episode IX!

The Hollywood Reporter is stating Billy Dee Williams is returning to a galaxy far, far away .

The actor, who famously played the galactic gambler Lando Calrissian, will reprise the role for Star Wars: Episode IX, the next Star Wars installment from Lucasfilm.

Chatter about Williams joining the production, which is set to begin later this summer, increased in recent days when the actor bowed out of an upcoming sci-fi and pop culture convention citing a conflict with a movie schedule. Sources confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Williams will indeed be returning to the Star Wars film franchise for the first time since 1983’s Return of the Jedi. The Lando Calrissian character made his suave debut in 1980's Empire Strikes Back.

Williams has in recent years returned to the role that fuels his appearances on the convention circuit, voicing Calrissian in various cartoon series and video games.

The character is one of the more popular personages in the Star Wars universe and appeared in a major way in this year’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. Donald Glover slipped on the cape to play a younger Calrissian.

Episode IX is being directed by J.J. Abrams and will reunite Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver, among others. Keri Russell is one of the new additions to the cast. The film is set to open Dec. 20, 2019.

Keri Russell In Talks to Join Cast of 'Star Wars: Episode IX'

J.J. Abrams appears to be going back to his past successes to cast Episode IX.

Spider-Speeder vs. Ant-Walker

ROT5 celebrates the release of Ant-Man and Wasp with this super cool mashup.

Check Out Empire Strikes Back Super 8 Animation Footage [VIDEO]

Original Trilogy fans...here's the digitized super 8mm clip of Phil Tippett, Jon Berg and Doug Bestwick stop-motion animating a snow walker shot from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. As I watch this for the first time in thirty-five years I am truly amazed at the amount of work that went into the creation of just one shot in this iconic sequence. I love stop motion with all it's archaic flaws and charm. This is a great example of what will hopefully not become a lost art form.

Happy 4th of July from ROT5!

Pretty Sure George Lucas Didn't Have This in Mind When Creating Star Wars

China now has Star Wars-like laser guns that burn clothes and skin from half a mile away a report says.

Laser guns, once the fodder of science fiction, are now a reality in China, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

The ZKZM-500 laser assault rifle, while classified as a nonlethal weapon, can strike a target from a half-mile away, causing “instant carbonization of human skin and tissue,” the Post reported.

The gun is described as a box-shaped assault-style weapon that looks more like a toy gun than a sleek “Star Wars” blaster, Live Science reported.

Read more at Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Did Rian Johnson Steal the 'Last Jedi' Ending From 'Escape From L.A.?' (VIDEO)

An intriguing new video on YouTube raises a question all Star Wars fans should hear: Did Rian Johnson rip off the ending of Escape From L.A.?

Hasbro Announces a Rogue One Hovertank for the Vintage Collection

You Rogue One fans are going to love this.

Hasbro's Rogue One action figure line may not have done very well, but Hasbro is still committed to giving collectors some awesome toys. Case in point: your Jedha diorama is about to get a major upgrade, thanks to the upcoming Imperial Combat Assault Tank, aka the Hovertank!

Star Wars Rebels Season Four Flies Home on Blu-ray July 31st

Join the Ghost crew as they embark on their most important mission in Star Wars Rebels: The Complete Fourth Season, available on Blu-ray™ and DVD July 31st.

Star Wars Rebels: The Complete Fourth Season delivers all 15 action-packed episodes of the hit CG animated series’ final season, plus exclusive, never-before-seen bonus extras on Blu-ray™!

Anakin Skywalker Re-Imagined

How Much Did Han Solo's Blaster Sell For at Auction?

Han Solo's Blaster from the Return of the Jedi fetched a cool half million Saturday.

The film prop sold for $550,000 at a Las Vegas auction.

The item will likely fetch its owner an income; Julien's Auctions says Ripley's Believe It or Not bought the item Saturday.

Read more at CBS News.

Can We Moisture Farm Like in Star Wars?

It took a long time to reach this galaxy, but “moisture farming” technology from the Star Wars universe has finally reached Philippine shores.

Check out more after the jump.

Isn't a Stormtrooper's Helmet Scarier Upside-Down?

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.