Looks like Thor is having a really bad day and things are about to get worse as he has to face his fellow Avenger in a fight to the death. Check out this first teaser for “Thor: Raganarok!
Good Morning America just gave us a really big tease for tomorrow’s show as they promised that Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley will appear on the show to make a big Star Wars announcement that has been 40 years in the making. Are we going to get our first look at “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”? Could it be the announcement of an Unaltered Original Trilogy Blu-ray set? Or could it be something else? Tune in tomorrow to find out!
Disney has released an official lineup for this year’s Night of Joy event. Night of Joy is a 2 night event that features some of the best Christian Contemporary music all at Disney World and features such artists this year as Amy Grant, Colton Dixon and Toby Mac. This year, the event is returning to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Concert Lineup:
Friday, September 8th, 2017: MercyMe, TobyMac, Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, Matt Maher, Colton Dixon, Rend Collective, Zach Williams
Saturday September 9th, 2017: Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kirk Franklin, Jordan Feliz, Crowder, Jeremy Camp, Tye Tribbett
All of these artists are subject to change, but as of right now these are the artists performing each night. Tickets will go on sale early June.
This morning on Good Morning America, Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley announced the newest fundraising campaign for Star Wars: Force For Change.
STAR WARS: FORCE FOR CHANGE CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF STAR WARS WITH EPIC FUNDRAISING EVENT
PRIZES INCLUDE A VISIT TO A STAR WARS MOVIE SET, TICKETS TO THE PREMIERE OF STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, AN OVERNIGHT STAY AT SKYWALKER RANCH, AND MORE!
Star Wars: Force For Change in collaboration with Omaze will launch the Star Wars “Past, Present and Future” fundraising campaign to benefit UNICEF and Starlight Children’s Foundation. The campaign is themed around the timeless appeal of Star Wars, with experiences inspired by the saga’s past, present, and future. Lucky winners will receive prizes, like the chance to appear in the upcoming Han Solo movie, tickets to the world premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, or, an overnight stay at the fabled Skywalker Ranch.
Over the course of four weeks between April 11th and May 11th, 2017, fans may enter at Omaze.com/StarWars for a chance to win these once-in-a-lifetime Star Wars experiences, with each week bringing a new prize to be awarded to a randomly-selected winner. Additionally, at the end of the campaign, one randomly-selected grand prize winner will be awarded all three amazing experiences.
Starlight Children’s Foundation is joining Star Wars: Force for Change as the initiative’s newest charity beneficiary in 2017. Through a $1 million grant, Star Wars: Force for Change supports the foundation’s core programs which are designed to bring comfort and joy and comfort to hospitalized kids through Starlight’s network of more than 700 children’s hospitals, clinics, camps and other partners across the US. Star Wars: Force for Change and fan donations through this campaign will also provide new Starlight programs, like fun, comfortable Star Wars-themed Starlight Brave Gowns, to tens of thousands of hospitalized children across the country.
Since 2014,Star Wars: Force for Change and UNICEF have joined together to help improve the lives of children around the world. With the support of Star Wars fans, thecollaboration has raised more than $9 million to help the world’s most vulnerable children. To date, Star Wars: Force for Change has helped UNICEF save the lives of over 30,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition through the distribution of over 4 million packets of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food Packets (RUTF) around the world.
“In a year that we celebrate 40 years of the Star Wars saga, I continue to be inspired by the incredible generosity and charitable efforts of our fans,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “We are so proud of their tireless dedication to positively impact the lives of children and others around the world, and hope this year’s Force For Change campaign will offer a few of those wonderful fans an experience they will never forget.”
Star Wars “Past, Present, and Future” Winner Experiences:
Past – Stay at Skywalker Inn, tour of the archives & the Ranch, and a screening of Star Wars: A New Hope
Present – Join the cast and attend the Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere and exclusive after party
Future – Visit the set, meet the directors and have the chance to appear in the untitled Han Solo movie
Grand Prize – One winner will receive the Past, Present AND Future prizes!
Fans are encouraged to follow the campaign at Omaze.com/StarWars for exclusive updates each week.
No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited. Promotion begins 12:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on April 11, 2017 and ends at 11:59 PM PT on May 11, 2017. Must be at least eighteen (18) years old and a resident of an eligible domicile to enter and win prizes. Residents of of Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Malta, North Korea, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, or Thailand are not eligible to enter. Sweepstakes consists of four (4) prize drawings; odds of winning a prize depend on number of entries received for each drawing. For free entry: (i) send postcard to Sponsor at P.O. Box 866, 9942 Culver Blvd, Culver City, California 90232 and write the following statement: “I have read and agree to the Star Wars: Force For Change Official Rules” and send by applicable mail date; or (ii) visit www.omaze.com/starwars. Prizes that include being filmed in a movie scene do not guarantee that such footage will be included in the final movie. Travel and accommodations are at Sponsor’s discretion and subject to availability and change. Winner and guest may be required to pass a background screening or security check to receive a prize and/or reward. Visa conditions may apply. All taxes are winner’s responsibility.
Rewards are separate from sweepstakes prizes. Some rewards are limited in quantity. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook®. Residents of certain territories may be required to successfully complete a trivia question to qualify. For full sweepstakes entry requirements, methods & entry periods, prize details, list of rewards and all limitations & restrictions, see Official rules at www.omaze.com/starwars. Sole Sponsor: Omaze, Inc., P.O. Box 866, 9942 Culver Blvd, Culver City, California 90232.
ABOUT STAR WARS: FORCE FOR CHANGE
Star Wars: Force for Change, a charitable initiative from Lucasfilm and Disney, harnesses the strength of Star Wars to empower and improve the lives of children around the world. Born in 2014, it was inspired by Star Wars fans, and the countless hours they have dedicated to philanthropy over the past four decades. To date, over $13 million has been raised for charitable causes around the world on behalf of Star Wars: Force for Change, including
$9 million towards UNICEF’s programs to put children first. This year, Force for Change is proud to announce Starlight Children’s Foundation as its newest charitable beneficiary. As a founding sponsor of Starlight Children’s Foundation’s VR program, Force for Change will continue to empower and improve the lives of children around the world. With a bright future ahead, and new Star Wars stories to be told, Force for Change aims to continue collaborating with causes and encouraging others to be forces for change in their own community. To learn more, please visit ForceForChange.com.
ABOUT LUCASFILM LTD.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
ABOUT STARLIGHT CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION
Starlight creates moments of comfort and joy and comfort for hospitalized kids and their families. For 35 years, Starlight’s programs have positively impacted more than 60 million critically, chronically and terminally ill or injured children in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. With your help, kids and their families will enjoy Starlight VR, Starlight Brave Gowns, Starlight Fun Centers and other Starlight programs at a children’s hospital or facility near you. Support Starlight’s work by visiting www.starlight.org and by following Starlight on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
ABOUT UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org. Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT OMAZE
Omaze is an online fundraising platform that offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive merchandise to support nonprofits around the world. Omaze is disrupting the charitable giving space by offering creative opportunities that make it fun and easy for anyone to give. Each of our fundraising and awareness campaigns brings together influencers, nonprofits and people across the globe and enables real, lasting impact. Since launching, Omaze has impacted more than 200 charities and received donations from over 175 countries.
Some people have really good eyes. Take a look in the photo above at the building appearing over the right shoulder of The Grandmaster, played by Jeff Goldblum, from the trailer for “Thor: Raganarok”. Could that be The Collector’s Fortress that will appear in the upcoming Disney’s California Adventure attraction, “Guardians Of The Galaxy: Mission Breakaway”? Yes it is blurry, and far away, but compare it to the concept picture (left) of The Collector’s Fortress released by Disney. Could be.
A structure spotted over the shoulder of Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) in the Thor: Ragnarok trailer shares some similarities to that of the building being constructed in DCA. Big thanks to /Film theme park consultant Reza Lackey for pointing this out.
Is it possible that the Collector’s Fortress will make it’s MCU debut on the big screen? It’s also likely that this is just an Easter egg in the background for Disneyland fanatics like myself. I can see the similarities, but it’s a little too unclear to say for sure.
This “warehouse, fortress-like power plant” (as described by Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Executive Joe Rohde) is designed to be intimidating and imposing, but also shimmering and regal.
So just how feasible is it that The Collector would set up shop on the same planet that The Grandmaster rules over? More feasible than you think.
In Marvel Comics, both The Grandmaster and The Collector are known as an elite group called The Elders Of The Universe. The Elders consist of powerful beings who were the first humanoids to evolve in the Universe. The Elders are the last survivors of their race that have ultimately achieved the gift of immortality. Although each Elder represents a different race, they consider themselves to be brothers.
The Collector is a gatherer of precious things. The Grandmaster finds amusement through games and competition. So they both have somewhat similar hobbies taking advantage of unwilling subjects.
Lastly, just look at them. They have similar facial paint going from their lip to their chin. They both like eye shadow a lot. And it looks like they may get their hair cut at the same place.
We are going to have to wait for Marvel to officially confirm this one, but there is enough evidence out there that we may have gotten our first look at The Collector’s Fortress.
This “Star Wars Battlefront II” trailer was supposed to premier at Star Wars Celebration this week. Luckily, it found it’s way online early. Get ready to play a new Battlefront that spans “all of the Star Wars saga time frame”! And finally, a single player campaign!
https://vimeo.com/212842535
Disclaimer: The trailer above appears to have been leaked early, so it may become unavailable at any time.
Disney and Lucasfilm Celebrate Iconic Heroes from a Galaxy Far, Far Away…with Star Wars Forces of Destiny
Micro-series of original, animated shorts will focus on untold stories of everyday heroism that shape the destinies of Rey, Jyn Erso, Sabine Wren, Princess Leia, Ahsoka Tano and others
Daisy Ridley, Felicity Jones, Tiya Sircar, Ashley Eckstein and Lupita Nyong’o reprise their roles for new series launching in July
Books, apparel and toys including new ‘Adventure Figures’ from Hasbro launching this summer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MF2VFgCUSk
Disney and Lucasfilm today announced Star Wars Forces of Destiny, a new initiative celebrating the inspiring stories of iconic heroes from across the Star Wars universe. An original series of animated shorts (each 2-3 minutes in length) will explore exciting, all new adventures of key characters including Rey, Jyn Erso, Sabine Wren, Princess Leia, Ahsoka Tano and others, ahead of books and a TV special later in the year. The stories will also be supported by a line of toys from Hasbro, including new ‘Adventure Figures’ – a fusion between traditional dolls and action figures, creating a whole new way to play Star Wars.
“Star Wars Forces of Destiny is for anyone who has been inspired by Leia’s heroism, Rey’s courage, or Ahsoka’s tenacity,” said Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm. “We’re thrilled that so many of the original actors are reprising their roles in these shorts which capture the small moments and everyday decisions that shape who these characters are. It is a fun new way for people to experience Star Wars.”
Developed by Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars Forces of Destiny will remain true to the Star Wars canon, showing how choices both big and small ultimately shape the destinies of beloved characters. Launching in July, the animated micro-series will be available on Disney YouTube ahead of a two-part TV special featuring eight additional shorts on Disney Channel in Fall 2017. Fans will be delighted to hear familiar voices in the series, including: Daisy Ridley (Rey), Felicity Jones (Jyn), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano) and Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata as narrator).
Star Wars Forces of Destiny will also be supported by global product extensions, such as books, apparel, bedding, and toys – including the new line of ‘Adventure Figures’ created by Hasbro, which bridges the gap between traditional action figures and dolls. Each individually designed figure features dynamic action, like Rey swinging her lightsaber, along with multiple points of articulation to help recreate the characters’ adventures and heroic moments with different poses.
“From Princess Leia to Sabine Wren, Star Wars heroines are unique, and we wanted to represent that in the product line for Star Wars Forces of Destiny,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “The result is the creation of our new ‘Adventure Figures’ that celebrate the power and stories of these incredible characters and allow kids to recreate their most heroic moments at home.”
The 11-inch figures will depict characters including Rey, Jyn Erso, Princess Leia, Sabine Wren, plus loveable sidekicks and epic villains like BB-8, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren and many more. Hasbro is also rolling out Star Wars Forces of Destiny role play and accessories—from Rey’s Extendable Staff, to a new, electronic Jedi Power Lightsaber toy, which are part of the Star Wars Bladebuilders system.
Adds John Frascotti, President of Hasbro: “As the Star Wars fan base has broadened over the last 40 years, we have continued to add new and exciting play experiences to the Star Wars brand, to engage fans across generations. We’ve worked closely with Disney to bring the storytelling from Star WarsForces of Destiny to life through this innovative toy line to help connect with new audiences as well as appeal to existing fans.”
Fans attending Star Wars Celebration in Orlando will see a sneak peek of Star Wars Forces of Destiny during the “Heroines of Star Wars” panel on Friday, April 14. The panel, moderated by Amy Ratcliffe – host of “Lattes with Leia” podcast, will feature Carrie Beck – vice president of animation at Lucasfilm and Dave Filoni – executive producer of Star Wars Rebels, as well as Ashley Eckstein, Tiya Sircar and other surprise guests. For a first look at the new Star Wars Forces of Destiny Adventure Figures, stop by Hasbro booth #2744.
ThinkGeek Drops Off Brand-New Star Wars Cargo
at Star Wars Celebration Orlando
Join ThinkGeek and pick up some items exclusive to Star Wars Celebration
Commemorate your time at Star Wars Celebration Orlando with some brand new ThinkGeek products launching at the show.
Star Wars Geeki Tikis Series 2 There’s something about a tiki bar that just makes us smile. Maybe it’s the vibrant vintage kitsch feel. What better tiki mug to drink from than one that looks like a character from Star Wars? Choose to drink with C-3PO, a Jawa, Tusken Raider, Tauntaun, Wampa or Wicket the Ewok.
Star Wars Jabba the Hutt and Salacious Crumb themed Geeki Tikis
These two characters are special. You already knew that. But they’re extra special as Geeki Tikis because the Jabba and Salacious Crumb themed ones are only available on the site and at our booth and are limited to a single run.
Nixon Rey Kensington Watch Never lose track of time while scavenging a Star Destroyer on Jakku again. This limited edition Nixon Kensington watch will look great even if you are fixing up the Falcon or out saving the galaxy.
More Loot In addition to these items, ThinkGeek is offering an enamel Jabba the Hutt and Salacious Crumb pin as a gift with purchases of $50 or more, a Star Wars Celebration Zeb pin, the Hope Leia poster by artist Russell Walks, and R2-D2 and BB-8 mini backpack keychains.
501st Legion Bash: Showdown at the Cantina While at Star Wars Celebration Orlando, join the 501st Legion at the 501st Bash: Showdown at the Cantina, with support from ThinkGeek, for an immersive Mos Eisley Cantina Experience. Expect exclusive gifts and prizes and a private performance by 501st Legion honorary member “Weird Al” Yankovic. For more information on the 501st Legion and the Showdown at the Cantina, visit the event website here.
ThinkGeek is also hosting contests sweepstakes throughout the celebration online and in-person at Booth #2532, so be sure to stop by the booth and check ThinkGeek.com for additional information.
About ThinkGeek
ThinkGeek is the premier retailer for the global geek community. Since 1999, ThinkGeek has been creating a world where everyone can express and celebrate their inner geek, turn their interests into passions, and connect with one another. We are obsessed with creating and sharing unique and authentic experiences that stimulate our fans’ imaginations and fuel their geek core. We believe there is a geek in everyone and invite you to Join In. Geek Out. Learn more at ThinkGeek.com.
Lucasfilm has just released the tribute to Carrie Fisher that was shown during the “The 40 Years Of Star Wars” panel and introduced by Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd: