BREAKING: Colin Treverrow Is No Longer Directing “Star Wars: Episode IX”

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Disney has just announced that Colin Trevorrow will no longer be directing “Star Wars: Episode IX”.

This comes as not much of a surprise after Lucasfilm recently fired Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from the “Han Solo” movie over creative differences. Lucasfilm also had issues with Gareth Edwards’ direction of “Rogue One” resulting in re-shoots that did not include Edwards’ participation. A few years ago, Josh Trank was also fired as director of the “Boba Fett” spin off movie.

Lucasfilm is very protective of the Star Wars franchise and I can’t blame them with being overly concerned with Treverrow’s participation. This is the final chapter of the current Star Wars trilogy and you dont want it in the hands of someone with questionable experience. Treverrow did have blockbuster success due to his direction of “Jurassic World” but prior to that, he was virtually unknown and his latest movie, “The Book Of Henry” was a critical and box office flop.

From The Wrap:

Colin Trevorrow is stepping down as the director of “Star Wars: Episode IX,” Disney announced on Tuesday.

“Lucasfilm and Colin Trevorrow have mutually chosen to part ways on ‘Star Wars: Episode IX,’” Disney said in a statement. “Colin has been a wonderful collaborator throughout the development process but we have all come to the conclusion that our visions for the project differ. We wish Colin the best and will be sharing more information about the film soon.”

Trevorrow was announced to direct “Episode IX” in 2015, set for release in 2019. The film will conclude the third trilogy of “Star Wars” movies that began with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” last year. Rian Johnson is directing “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

Trevorrow directed the 2015 box office hit “Jurassic World” and has a writing credit on its upcoming sequel, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” His recent film, “The Book of Henry,” was a critical and commercial flop.

Source: The Wrap

Star Wars Galactic Nights Returns December 2017, Including Panel on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge & More!

Holster your lightsabers and get in your X-Wings – Star Wars: Galactic Nights is returning! Held after park hours from 7 p.m.-midnight with a Hollywood-style launch party, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will welcome Star Wars fans to celebrate the entire Star Wars Saga on December 16th, 2017.

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Among many thrills in store, Guests can expect to enjoy Star Wars entertainment, special photo opportunities, event-exclusive merchandise and food & beverage, character greetings, a look at the ongoing Star Wars expansion coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and much more.

In addition to returning favorites like a Hollywood red carpet welcome, encounters with characters like Darth Vader and immersive photo backdrops of locations around the Star Wars galaxy, there are several thrilling new offerings for Guests to explore.

Event offerings include:

  • Star Wars Entertainment – Both Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular fireworks and the Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away stage show will be enhanced with special saga elements.
  • Sneak Peeks at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – The Epic Theater will play host to a special one-night-only panel discussion about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the 14-acre Star Wars expansion that’s set to open in 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
  • Special Photo Ops – Throughout the park, Guests can step into immersive and iconic scenes from their favorite Star Wars films in a series of incredibly detailed photo locations, including new backdrops inspired by Star Wars Rebels and other scenes from the saga.
  • Character Encounters – Be on the lookout for Star Wars characters like Ewoks, AWR Troopers and roaming droids; Jedi Knights teaching younglings in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple; rocketing to the stars aboard Star Tours – The Adventures Continue; and more.
  • Exclusive F&B and Merchandise – Even more specialty Star Wars-themed food and beverage and merchandise will be available.
  • Enjoy park attractions – Select attractions will be open to all guests. At embarkation points to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Guests may come face-to-face with Stormtroopers on the lookout for a Rebel spy.

Also new for this event, several premium offerings will be available to add on to the Star Wars Galactic Nights experience. Intergalactic foodies can nosh on Star Wars-inspired food and beverage with a Galactic Tasting Sampler, and intrepid, Force-sensitive Younglings can explore their abilities with a Jedi Recruitment package.

Tickets are priced at $129 adults, $124 ages 3-9, with discounts available for Annual Passholders & DVC Members. Guests are able to book now for this out-of-the-galaxy event by calling 407-W-DISNEY or visiting DisneyWorld.com.

You can check out a ton of video from the last Star Wars – Galactic Nights event in our post from April.

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“Obi-Wan Kenobi” Will Be The Focus Of The Next “Star Wars” Spin Off Movie

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The Hollywood Reporter just announced that a Obi-Wan Kenobi movie is in the works at Disney and Lucasfilm. This will be the third Star Wars spinoff movie and join the likes of “Rogue One” and “Han Solo”.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Stephen Daldry is Star Wars’ newest hope.

The Oscar-nominated director behind Billy Elliot and The Hours is in early talks to direct a Star Wars stand-alone movie centering on Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Sources say talks are at the earliest of stages and that the project has no script. If a deal makes, Daldry would oversee the development and writing with Lucasfilm brass. It’s not known at this stage if Ewan McGregor will reprise his role.

The Obi-Wan Kenobi stand-alone is one of several projects being developed by Lucasfilm and Disney that fall outside the trilogies telling the saga of the Skywalker family. A Han Solo movie is now in the final stages of shooting under new director Ron Howard and Lucasfilm is also looking at movies featuring Yoda and bounty hunter Boba Fett, among others.

 

Source: THR

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Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Reaches Highest Point

This week, Walt Disney Imagineering celebrated a huge milestone by topping off the tallest point of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. The highest point of the new 14-acre land is 130 feet.

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Below is a video Disney shared with us celebrating the milestone at Disneyland Park.

“Star Wars: Force Friday II” Coming To Disney Parks on September 1st

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The Disney Parks Blog has announced that Disney Parks will be the place to be as “Star Wars: Force Friday II” kicks off on September 1st to celebrate the release of the newest Star Wars merchandise from “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.

From Disney Parks Blog:

New Star Wars themed merchandise and more will land in our galaxy at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts on September 1, 2017 at 12:01 a.m. (Midnight).*

The Force Friday II event is your opportunity to be among the first to purchase new Star Wars and Star Wars: The Last Jedi themed merchandise, including unique products found only at Disney Parks.

Please see details below if you are planning to attend this free event in California or Florida.

Disneyland Resort – World of Disney Store, Downtown Disney District

Pre-registration for the Force Friday II event is required for guests attending the event in Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort.

Registration will be accepted only on DisneyParksMerchandise.com beginning August 24 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific) / 2:00 p.m. (Eastern).

Once registered, guests will receive additional instructions via email. Doors open at 12:01 a.m. on September 1.

Walt Disney World Resort – World of Disney, Disney Springs

For guests attending the event at Disney Springs, registration for Force Friday II will take place outside the World of Disney store entrance across from Basin on August 31 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Guests will be given a numbered wristband on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once a wristband is received, guests are invited to return to World of Disney by 11:30 p.m. where they will be lined up in sequential order. Doors open at 12:01 a.m. on September 1.

Please park in the Lime Parking Garage at Disney Springs for shopping convenience.

Set your hyperspace coordinates for this merchandise event in preparation of the highly anticipated film release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi on December 16.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

BREAKING: “Star Wars – Secrets of the Empire” VR Attractions Coming to Disney World, Disneyland Later This Year

The Void announced today that their newest hyper-reality experience, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, is coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts later this year.

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This first-of-its kind Star Wars experience is being produced by the world-class teams at Lucasfilm and ILMxLAB in collaboration with the team at The VOID. Soon you’ll have the opportunity to step beyond reality into a galaxy far, far away!

Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire will plunge guests directly into the iconic Star Wars galaxy. They will move freely throughout the untethered, social, and multi-sensory Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire experience in a way that allows them to interact and engage with friends, family and Star Wars characters. This ground-breaking experience will open to the public at two new VOID Experience Centers at Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort beginning this holiday season.

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“At The VOID, we combine the magic of illusion, advanced technology and virtual reality to create fully immersive social experiences that take guests to new worlds,” said Curtis Hickman, co-founder and chief creative officer at The VOID. “A truly transformative experience is so much more than what you see with your eyes; it’s what you hear, feel, touch, and even smell. Through the power of The VOID, guests who step into Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire won’t just see this world, they’ll know that they are part of this amazing story.”

Vicki Dobbs Beck, executive in charge of ILMxLab, said, “At ILMxLAB, we want people to step inside the worlds of our stories. Through our collaboration with The VOID, we can make this happen as guests become active participants in an unfolding Star Wars adventure. By combining Lucasfilm’s storytelling expertise with cutting-edge imagery, and immersive sound from the team at Skywalker Sound, while invoking all the senses, we hope to truly transport all those who experience Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire to a galaxy far, far away.”

“Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire marks an important milestone in the continued expansion of The VOID, which also joined the 2017 Disney Accelerator earlier this year,” said Cliff Plumer, CEO of The VOID. “Through the power of The VOID, guests can now experience the magic of Star Wars firsthand.”

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Marketplace Fun Finds Closing, Once Upon a Toy Being Remodeled at Disney Springs

Sections of the Once Upon a Toy store at Disney Springs will undergo a refurbishment beginning July 31st. To make way for this refurbishment, all of the Star Wars merchandise in the back section will be relocated to Marketplace Fun Finds across the way.

As a result, Marketplace Fun Finds will be closed July 24th to August 2nd as Disney refits and renames the location. The merchandise currently available in that store is typically available at other locations anyway, but Fun Finds has been a staple of Disney Springs for many years under many different names. Marketplace Fun Finds is not expected to return.

Her Universe Releases Star Wars Collection Corporate Wear

Ever wish you could wear your ever growing Disney tee shirt collection to work? I do! Even on our casual Fridays people still stay away from graphic tees. Well of course the mastermind Ashley Eckstein, behind Her Universe, came up with a great solution. The whole goal of the collection is pieces that are suitable for corporate work environments.

Here are just a few pieces from the collection. The rest of the Her Universe collection can be found on Thinkgeek.com

Star Wars Symbols Blazer $59.99 | Rebel Alliance Print Infinity Scarf $24.99

Star Wars Ships Blouse $39.99

R2-D2 PrintTunic Blouse $34.99

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CONFIRMED: New Star Wars Hotel Coming to Walt Disney World – D23 Expo 2017 News

Confirming news that we broke back in April 2017 (and quite possibly our most-read article ever), Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney’s Parks and Resorts, announced that a new Star Wars luxury Hotel is coming to Walt Disney World. Chapek talked about Disney’s ambitious plans to create the most experiential concept ever in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. Dedicated entirely to the galaxy of Star Wars, it will be a one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

“It is 100% immersive, a truly unbelievable experience.” Chapek said.

AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK ANNOUNCES NEW STAR WARS-THEMED HOTEL FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT — During D23 Expo 2017, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek announced plans to create the most experiential concept ever in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. Dedicated entirely to the galaxy of Star Wars, it will be a one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK ANNOUNCES NEW STAR WARS-THEMED HOTEL FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT — During D23 Expo 2017, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek announced plans to create the most experiential concept ever in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. Dedicated entirely to the galaxy of Star Wars, it will be a one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK ANNOUNCES NEW STAR WARS-THEMED HOTEL FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT — During D23 Expo 2017, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek announced plans to create the most experiential concept ever in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. Dedicated entirely to the galaxy of Star Wars, it will be a one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

Rey Has Joined the Cast of Star Wars – A Galaxy Far, Far Away at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

With the return of the Star Wars – A Galaxy Far, Far Away stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, the glorified character photo-op has added Rey from The Force Awakens to each performance.

Rey on stage at Star Wars - Galactic Nights back in April

Rey on stage at Star Wars – Galactic Nights back in April

This was first seen at the Star Wars – Galactic Nights event back in April, and you can see our video of Rey’s first appearance in the show below:

It is expected that she will appear in every show moving forward and this is now a permanent addition.