Big Star Wars News at D23

Hello there, indeed. A crowd erupted in cheers and leaped to give Ewan McGregor a standing ovation as he surprised fans at D23 Expo Friday evening, taking the stage to announce his reprisal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in a future Disney+ series.

The welcome return of Anakin Skywalker’s former Jedi Master was just one of many exciting moments during the Disney+ Showcase, which brought together stars from Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, Disney, and more to kickoff the debut of the streaming service on November 12.

Here are 8 of the biggest moments and reveals during Lucasfilm’s star-studded presentation.

Star Wars

@starwars

Hello there! Just announced at : Ewan McGregor will reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a new original series, coming to .

View image on Twitter
13.5K people are talking about this

1. Obi-Wan Kenobi is back.

Now there’s a name we’ve not heard in a long time. “After secrets and fibs and not being able to talk about it, I am thrilled to bring out a beloved member of the Star Wars fandom,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy told the crowd to herald McGregor’s arrival onstage. “Can you please ask me, am I going to play Obi-Wan Kenobi again?” McGregor pleaded. He’s been dodging questions about returning to the role for the last four years. “But now I can say yes we’re going to do it.” Scripts for the as-yet untitled Kenobi series — set eight years after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith— have been written, and Kennedy said the crew is ready to start shooting next year.

A still from The Mandalorian trailer.

2. The Mandalorian debuted its first trailer.

After an earlier announcement that Ming-Na Wen will join the cast of The Mandalorian, the show’s executive producer, writer, and newly minted Disney Legend Jon Favreau and his trusted collaborator Dave Filoni took the stage to share a first look at the action-packed world of the mysterious blaster-slinger, which you can now watch for yourself. “It’s a dangerous world,” Favreau said. From the pounding rhythm of the soundtrack to the gorgeous special effects, November 12 can’t come soon enough.

A still from The Mandalorian trailer.

3. Jon Favreau concept for The Mandalorian.

Favreau revealed his original pitch to Kennedy, “a version of a show that took place after Return of the Jedi, after the revolution, after everybody’s done celebrating because the Empire is gone,” he said. “And then chaos reigns because there’s no central government in the galaxy and so it degrades into a world where, like the old Samurai movies and the old Westerns, where the gunfighters are roaming and people are fighting for their own safety.” The beauty of creating the first live-action Star Wars series in this uncharted era with all-new characters is that it’s as accessible to new fans as it is recognizable to existing ones, Favreau said. “If you’re new to Star Wars, it’s a whole new storyline starting in a whole new timeframe that hasn’t been covered yet,” he added. “But if you are a Star Wars fan, we got you.”

A still from The Mandalorian trailer.

4. The cast is genuinely thrilled to be part of the family.

The creators were also joined by five cast members. Pedro Pascal, the titular warrior, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, and Taika Waititi, who will voice the droid IG-11, joined Filoni and Favreau to talk about becoming a part of the Star Wars. “It’s a dream come true,” Pascal said simply, a sentiment shared by many of his colleagues. “Once a part of the Star Wars family, always a part of the Star Wars family,” Weathers added.

5. The actors behind Cassian Andor and K-2SO were also reunited.

Ever since we learned that Alan Tudyk was joining the series that will bring Diego Luna back to the role of Cassian Andor, we’ve been waiting to see the two friends together again. On Friday, fans got a glimpse at the camaraderie between the two actors behind the scenes of the prequel. “It’s been hard three years,” Luna said, since his character met his end in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. “My kids won’t look me in the eye.”

6. But there’s no name for the series. At least not just yet.

Luna and Tudyk weren’t able to reveal the name of their project, but Tudyk helpfully suggested his own title for the series set to start shooting in London next year. “Kay-Too Fast, Kay-Too Furious: A Cassian Andor Story,” he quipped delightedly.

Ahsoka Tano and Darth Maul in an image from Star Wars: The Clone Wars shown at D23 Expo 2019

7. Star Wars: The Clone Wars has been saved, and it’s heading to Disney+ early next year.

Fans of the beloved animated series following the adventures of Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano got a glimpse at an all-new image of the fierce Togruta, taking a fighting stance against a familiar looking Dathomirian. Kennedy also announced that new episodes will debut on the streaming service in February 2020.

8. And it’s bringing along some good company.

Within the first year, Kennedy promised that Disney+ would also be the hub for the entire Star Wars galaxy, including the forthcoming Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. “This service will be home to the entire Star Wars collection,” she said. “Over 40 years of Star Wars storytelling in one place. I would say that’s pretty fantastic.”

The Mandalorian debuts November 12 on Disney+.

Associate Editor Kristin Baver is a writer and all-around sci-fi nerd who always has just one more question in an inexhaustible list of curiosities. Sometimes she blurts out “It’s a trap!” even when it’s not. Do you know a fan who’s most impressive? Hop on Twitter and tell @KristinBaver all about them.

It’s Official: The First Star Wars Film After Rise of Skywalker Will Be From Game of Thrones’ Showrunners

We’re going from Westeros to a galaxy far, far away. While speaking at the MoffetNathanson Media & Communications summit today, Walt Disney Company chairman Bob Iger confirmed that the next Star Wars film following The Rise of Skywalker will be from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, coming in 2022.

“We did a deal with David Benioff and D.B Weiss, who are famous for Game of Thrones, and the next movie that we release will be theirs,” Iger said. “And we’re not saying anything more about that.”

Continue reading after the jump: https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-first-star-wars-films-after-rise-of-skywalker-will-1834749699?utm_medium=Socialflow&utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Facebook&utm_source=Kotaku_Facebook

Peter Mayhew Dies at Age 74

Peter Mayhew, best known for his role as Chewbacca in the Star Warsfilm series, has died at aged 74. 

“The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away,” a tweet posted on the actor’s Twitter page read on Thursday afternoon. “He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home.”

Impact X: Director Krennic Architect Of Terror

Krennic is on the verge of greatness, he is this close! Unappreciated genius and cunning tactician – In Star Wars: Legion Krennic is the fourth Imperial commander and first commander not from the original trilogy and he brings a whole new set of tricks to the way the Empire plays. 

swl33_cardfan_unit-card.png

Base Unit Summary: (commander)

  • Damage Output – Ranged: Below Average: 1.875

  • Damage Consistency Ranged: Above Average: surge to crit, Pierce 1, Sharpshooter 1

  • Damage Output – Melee: Below Average: 0.625

  • Damage Consistency – Melee: Above Average: surge to crit

  • Damage Resistance: Below Average: 33.4%

  • Wounds: Average: 6

  • Attrition: Above Average: 6/figure

  • Range: Below Average: 1-2

  • Speed: Average: 2

  • Courage: Above Average: 2

  • Role: Commander, Control, Buff / Debuff,

Unit Role

Krennic is a commander who excels in disrupting his opponents plans and supporting his troops. He does this through his command cards and the Compel keyword. Krennic is aggressive and adaptable on the field and can be played in different ways according to your needs.

Continue reading after the jump: https://www.legionimpact.com/blog/krennic-architect