The Mandalorian and Grogu Head to Theaters

 

Although I wasn’t particularly enamored with The Mandalorian’s third season – it was fun but didn’t quite reach the meteoric highs of the first two seasons – I’m intrigued by news that Din Djarin and his little, green, and marketable buddy Grogu are going to star in a feature film entering production this year.

StarWars.com reports that Jon Favreau will direct The Mandalorian and Grogu (likely a working title), with Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni joining him as producers.

“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” said Favreau in a statement. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”

"Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen," added Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm.

My hope here is that the film looks, feels, and plays out like an honest-to-goodness Star Wars film and is not merely an extended and slightly more expensive-looking episode of the series. Plus, with Mando and Grogu’s story tying up nicely in the final moments of Season 3, I’m curious as to what this “new story” will entail and how much money I will be somehow compelled to spend on new Grogu merchandise when it gets here.

In other news, Ahsoka Season 2 is officially in production, and the below concept art featuring Ahsoka Tano and her apprentice Sabine Wren standing on one of the mammoth statues featured in the first season’s finale sets up what just might be the best “pull my finger” joke of all time!

New ‘Ahsoka’ Trailer Drops Potential ‘Rebels’ Bombshell

 

If you weren’t already salivating like a womprat at a bantha roast over Ahsoka, you probably are now.

Lucasfilm unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming Star Wars Disney+ series that gives us new looks at Lars Mikkelsen’s Grand Admiral Thrawn, Eman Esfandi’s Ezra Bridger, Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Hera Syndulla, the villainous Shin Hati and Baylan Skoll (Ivanna Sakhno and the late Ray Stevenson) post-Rebels relationship between Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) … or apparently their lack of one.

“You never made things easy for me,” says Sabine, her arms crossed in defiance. “… Master.”

Wait.

WAIT.

Did I miss something? Indeed, it seems as though Ahsoka and Sabine had a falling out that ended their Master/Apprentice kinship, which either means that Ahsoka simply served as a secular mentor to the younger Sabine … or that the Mandalorian demolitions expert and graffiti enthusiast is Force-sensitive.

This is either Dave Filoni shrugging his shoulders at four seasons of his own TV show that hardly hinted at Sabine’s Force abilities, or we’re due for a massive retconny revelation about her when the series debuts next month.

Join me in obsessing over the Ahsoka trailer below, and don’t miss the series’ two-episode premiere Aug. 23, exclusively on Disney+.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Diminishing Returns?

 

Indiana Jones came out of retirement for one last adventure on June 30 for James Mangold’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, a film rife with nostalgia in Disney’s continued plundering of time-tested IP in pursuit of theatrical fortune and glory. Given the lukewarm box office reception in its debut weekend, during which it fell short of projections by whipping up just $82 million domestically over five days, it’s safe to say that fortune eluded Indy this time around – especially given its $300 million budget. As for the glory? Well, that depends.

Way back in 2008, I was remarkably high on Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a film that became the subject of much derision due to its fridge-nuking propensity for silliness. Although I affirm that Crystal Skull is still the weakest in the series to this day (spoiler: Dial of Destiny is a stronger film), it still has that classic Steven Spielberg charm in spots and features Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones – one of the greatest marriages of actor and character in movie history.

And it’s that strength of Ford’s performance that carries much of Dial of Destiny, even when it veers into the realm of the preposterous. Infamously a curmudgeon in the press these days, Ford, 80, has a twinkle in his eye as he closes the curtain on a character that he, Spielberg and George Lucas created more than 40 years ago. Indy alumni Karen Allen and John Rhys-Davies return as Marion Ravenwood and Sallah, joined by series newcomers Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy’s goddaughter Helena Shaw, Ethann Isidore as aspiring aviator Teddy, and Mads Mikkelsen as the villainous Jürgen Voller. The story, which spans several decades, revolves around Archimedes’ Dial, a device that gives its wielder the power to transcend space and time.

Mangold had big shoes to fill in directing the first and only Indiana Jones film not helmed by Spielberg, but as he did with the phenomenal Logan, he tells a compelling story about an aging hero coming to terms with the mistakes of the past and the mounting limits of his mortality. A well-paced first act shows us a younger World War II-era Indy (by way of some impressive de-aging technology) escaping Nazis on board a speeding train, where we’re introduced to the film’s main villain and the titular Dial (or at least half of it). We then catch up with an elderly Indy in 1969 on the cusp of his retirement, but a chance reconnection with his estranged goddaughter Helena brings him back into conflict with Nazis and back into pursuit of an artifact that has the power to alter the course of history.

A fun first act gives way to a muddy middle that caused me to look at my own Dial of Destiny (my watch) a few times, and the climax is going to be something scholars (nerds) debate for a long, long time. That said, for a series that’s featured beating hearts plucked from chests, an eleventh-century knight living long enough to learn the Charleston and actual ALIENS, I didn’t bump into the film’s final scenes as much as some other people on the internet and I’m satisfied with where Indy ultimately winds up.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny likely won’t be the most memorable film you see this year or even this summer, and anyone expecting it to reach the highs of the original three films will be as disappointed as Walter Donovan when he wet his whistle in the Canyon of the Crescent Moon. That said, getting to see Ford as Indiana Jones one more time goes a long way. And when it comes to long-running, decades-spanning franchises – Indy or otherwise – it’s not the years. It’s the mileage.  

‘Mandalorian’ Musings: Was the Season 3 Finale Underwhelming?

 

Remember how I said that Gorian Shard was “The New Gigachad of the Star Wars Universe”? Well, seeing as how he suffered a terrible case of getting blown the f*** up in his second appearance, I might have overestimated his relevance and longevity in that galaxy far, far away.

But my new favorite space-faring swamp monster was just one of many surprises in The Mandalorian Season 3. Jack Black! Lizzo! Christopher Lloyd! Zeb! Glowing popsicles! Oh, and the gigantic Mythosaur, Grogu driving IG-11 1G-12 like a mech suit, Moff Gideon’s cloning plot and Bo-Katan’s ascent to the throne of Mandalore. I suppose those were big deals too.

The season culminated in a grand finale that dropped April 19, a crowd-pleaser of a climax that saw the Mandalorians defeat Gideon’s and reclaim their home planet as Din Djarin finally adopted (Din) Grogu as his son. With a home on Navarro and the promise of new adventures ahead – helping the New Republic wipe out the Imperial Remnant – the season acts not only as a conclusion to the current season, but the end of an era for these characters.

Pretty satisfying, right? Well, hold on a minute.

When it comes to nerd properties these days, we’ve been conditioned to expect a lot of our season finales. Hell, the last episode of The Mandalorian Season 2 gave us Luke Skywalker in his PRIME with the aid of some cutting-edge tech. Given the barrage of surprises and cameos, including celebrity guest spots and Rebels’ Zeb, mentioned earlier, this season – for better and for worse – leaned heavy on the unexpected. So when the story wrapped up in a fairly conventional way, I couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed. And I’m honestly not sure what I expected. Grand Admiral Thrawn appearing in live action for the first time? A Mythosaur rampage? Taylor Swift as a Porg breeder? In any event, a well-made finale left me feeling hollow for some reason. But it’s not you, Star Wars, it’s me. Hi. I’m the problem, it’s me.

 But seeing as how Star Wars Jedi: Survivor drops this Friday – the same day Return of the Jedi comes back to theaters for its 40th anniversary – I’m sure I’ll get over it. 

The 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Teaser Trailer Is Here!

 

Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Aw, hell. How can I not?

HELLO THERE!

The teaser trailer for the Disney+ limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi is here, and it’s something else. Ewan McGregor looks and sounds fantastic as a slightly-more-weathered-than-we-last-saw-him Obi-Wan, and based on the shots we see in the trailer, we’re getting Inquisitors, child Luke Skywalker, lightsaber action and – mercifully – other planets besides Tatooine.

Following up on The Book of Boba Fett, which had some challenging pacing but an ultimately satisfying finale, Obi-Wan Kenobi looks like a well-crafted love letter both to the character and this key point in the Star Wars timeline between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. With Deborah Chow – who directed fantastic episodes of The Mandalorian – at the helm, it seems that we’re about to take our first steps into a larger world. Or at least a fun, new Star Wars series.

Watch the trailer below! Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on Disney+ Wednesday, May 25. 

Let's Unite Over the New 'Rogue One' Trailer

Social media has been a pretty toxic place in the lead-up to the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, with people on both sides of the aisle spewing vitriol at the other with little regard for compromise. I'm trying to stay out of it, for the most part, which unfortunately means limiting my interaction with the digital world as much as possible. That's a major reason why it's been a few weeks since I've posted.

Yet, I think there's one thing that we can all agree on in these divisive times. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story looks freakin' amazing. The final trailer for the forthcoming Gareth Edwards film chronicling the heist of the Empire's plans for the first Death Star was released today, giving us a better idea of what the Rebel Alliance is truly up against, the nature of Jyn Erso's mission and, finally, what "Rogue One" actually stands for.

What I dig most about the new trailer, embedded below, is that Edwards made a conscious effort to shoot this movie differently than any Star Wars film before it, but it still feels like that galaxy far, far away. We're in for something special on Dec. 16.

Watch the trailer below.

Disney Confirms 'Indiana Jones' Sequel

May the 5th Indiana Jones movie be with you.

Okay, it doesn't have the same ring as "May the 4th be with you," but I imagine there will be a Star Wars Day-esque celebration on the horizon for the Indiana Jones franchise after Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed to Vanity Fair that a Disney sequel is in the works for the bullwhip-toting archaeologist. 

Another Indiana Jones film "will one day be made inside this company," Kennedy said.  "When it will happen, I'm not quite sure. We haven't started working on a script yet, but we are talking about it."

Whether this film will star Harrison Ford or a franchise newcomer such as long-rumored Indy apparent Chris Pratt remains to be seen. I feel like the last film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, has aged worse than any film made over the last decade, so I hope Disney turns back the clock and recasts the character, or at least produces a fifth film that doesn't acknowledge the last one. Mutt Williams who?

For the full story, click here. 

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Teaser Now Online

"Have you felt it?"

Well, this morning brought me some major déjà vu as I sat on my bed frantically refreshing my Twitter feed awaiting the arrival of the promised teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to arrive. As was the case with each Prequel film, I approached viewing this teaser with bizarre single-mindedness, determined to be among the first online to gaze upon J.J. Abrams' bold new vision for the Star Wars Saga.

When I saw Ralph McQuarrie-esque X-wing fighters skimming over water in formation, the Millennium Falcon gracefully soaring into battle against TIE fighters and (gasp!) actual location shots, I was immediately won over, watching the clip three more times in a row.

Although the teaser presents more questions than it answers (what's the deal with that droid and how does that new lightsaber work?), I'm ecstatic about Star Wars right now ... and judging by my aforementioned Twitter feed, so are many of you.

Check out the teaser below!

So Long, 'Star Wars' Expanded Universe!

On April 25, StarWars.com clarified Disney's stance on previous works in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which includes books, comics, video games and other media that told stories in George Lucas' galaxy outside the core films. Essentially, The House of Mouse is wiping the slate clean, rendering all EU content produced over the last several decades decidedly "non-canon" as to not hinder the creative direction of future films in the franchise, including a sequel trilogy beginning next year. So the Star Wars films (and, according to the StarWars.com statement, the recent Clone Wars cartoon) will exist in the new canon. For hardcore fans of the Yuuzhang Vong, however, I'm afraid I've got some bad news ...

Although I appreciate the value of the EU as it was — it kept Star Wars alive in the early 1990s when there were no films to support the franchise — I don't mourn its death in the slightest. In fact, I feel it was far overdue.

Like many Star Wars fans who were too young (or not yet born) to experience Alan Dean Foster's 1978 novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye or 1979's The Han Solo Adventures by Brian Daley, my exposure to the EU began with Timothy Zahn's so-called "Thrawn Trilogy," which began in 1991 with Heir to the Empire in 1991 and continued with Dark Force Rising and The Last Command in the years that followed. Although the stories were somewhat ridiculous — including such facepalm-worthy concepts as force-nullifying caterpillars and a clone of Luke Skywalker named "Luuke Skywalker" — they more than adequately satisfied fans' hunger for more adventures in that galaxy far, far away.

Other EU novels followed, including such high points as Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston's X-Wing series and Shadows of the Empire. There were even some amazing comics and video games to emerge from the EU, including successful Dark Horse titles like Tales of the Jedi and Dark Empire and such LucasArts gems as Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Knights of the Old Republic.

Unfortunately, the Expanded Universe would eventually devolve into a wasteland of Force-sensitive Mary Sues and more than enough "copy-and-paste" science-fiction plots to shake a lightsaber at. By the time the laborious New Jedi Order series killed off Chewbacca by having him crushed by a moon (yep), the EU had become more of a headache than a haven for Star Wars fans. Hell, it was a lot worse than the prequels at times.

George Lucas never put much stock in the EU himself, going so far as to designate other forms of media outside of his films as a lower level of canon — licensed fiction that was more "what if?" than anything else due to their questionable continuity and contradicting narratives. Now, it appears as though Disney and Lucasfilm are making a concerted effort to streamline the franchise and make it more consistent, with the same people guiding the films keeping watch over all content associated with the brand. Comic books, novels, video games and animated series will be just as "real" as the films. Ultimately, don't we want all of these stories to connect with each other in a meaningful way?

It goes against one of the most commonly used phrases in Star Wars, but I'll say it anyway:

I have a good feeling about this.

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Begins Principal Photography in May!

Disney and Lucasfilm have confirmed that the latest installment of the Star Wars saga will begin principal photography in May at London’s Pinewood Studios. Additionally, the studio has revealed that Episode VII will take place 30 years after Return of the Jedi, which is actually pretty on-point given that Jedi was released 31 years ago.

As Star Wars geeks brace for excitement (and the omnipresent threat of extreme disappointment), I’m curious as to how social media will play into the production. Will the @StarWars Twitter account give us some reasonable access behind-the-scenes from the set, or will we remain mostly in the dark as was the case with the prequels?

Star Wars: Episode VII hits theaters Dec. 18, 2015.

'Star Wars: Episode VII' Gets a Release Date

Jaws might have been the first summer blockbuster in 1975, but it was George Lucas’ Star Wars films that made big, loud movies a time-honored tradition during the hottest months of the year. However, Disney and Lucasfilm are balking at that popcorn-munching ritual in 2015, and will be bringing us the seventh installment of the Star Wars saga on Dec. 18 of that year.

As confirmed by StarWars.com, Episode VII will be the first film in the franchise with a winter release date. The later-than-expected opening might lead many to believe that the Star Wars sequel is experiencing some production woes, but I think it’s more likely that Disney’s putting forth a concerted effort to make this upcoming trilogy, you know, good.

Production on Episode VII will begin this spring. For the full story, click here.

New 'Star Wars' Games Coming from EA

If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting several years for a decent Star Wars game that doesn’t have “Lego” at the front of the title. I’m sorry, but those Force Unleashed games just don’t count.

Fortunately, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Disney Interactive are entering into a multi-year, multi-title agreement with Electronic Arts to finally bring some quality gaming to that galaxy far, far away ... or at least that’s what I hope they intend to to.

“Every developer dreams of creating games for the Star Wars universe,” said EA Labels President Frank Gibeau in a statement. “Three of our top studios will fulfill that dream, crafting epic adventures for Star Wars fans. The new experiences we create may borrow from films, but the games will be entirely original with all new stories and gameplay.”

Those developers include DICE (Battlefield), Visceral (Dead Space) and BioWare (Mass Effect), the latter of which produced my all-time favorite Star Wars video game, Knights of the Old Republic.

I’m curious to see how EA handles the Star Wars franchise across multiple platforms, especially as we move into the “next generation” of game consoles. To learn more about this potential “new hope” for Star Wars gaming, head over to StarWars.com.

Lucas, Abrams Comment on ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’

On Friday, Lucasfilm issued an official statement confirming that Star Trek director J.J. Abrams will indeed helm Star Wars: Episode VII. Abrams joins Academy Award-winning scribe Michael Arndt, who will pen the screenplay of the anticipated 2015 sequel.

“I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller,” George Lucas said. “He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

Even though the Lost creator was initially hesitant about being a part of Disney’s resurrection of the Star Wars film franchise, Abrams is now clearly excited about the prospect of playing in Lucas’ sandbox.

“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with [new Lucasfilm head] Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor," J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

Abrams’ next film, Star Trek Into Darkness, hits theaters on May 17. For the full press release, click here.

George Lucas Is Engaged!

Now that Disney has taken the reins of his Lucasfilm empire, Star Wars creator George Lucas has seemingly finally found time to focus on his personal life. The 68-year-old filmmaker is now engaged to 43-year-old investment firm president Mellody Hobson, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Lucas’ previous wife was film editor Marcia Lucas, with whom he was married from 1969 to 1983. George and Marcia have three children together: Amanda, Katie and Jett.

I can’t wait to see the “Special Edition” footage of the wedding ceremony. For the full story, click here. 

Harrison Ford ‘Open’ to Reprising Han Solo Role in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’

Just as he returned to don Indiana Jones’ trademark fedora in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, 70-year-old actor Harrison Ford could once again choose to play rogue smuggler Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode VII, Entertainment Weekly reports. The Star Wars sequel, announced alongside news that Disney purchased Lucasfilm, will hit theaters in 2015 — more than three decades after Return of the Jedi premiered.

“Harrison is open to the idea of doing the movie and he’s upbeat about it, all three of them are,” an unnamed source told EW.com, referring also to Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia). What’s odd is that of the three main stars of the original trilogy, Ford has been the most vehement about distancing himself from the Star Wars franchise. What changed his mind?

It’s important to note that it is not yet known whether Episode VII will feature Luke, Leia and Han at all. Still, if this anonymous source is telling the truth, it’s nice to know Ford isn’t averse to the idea of becoming everyone’s favorite scruffy-looking nerf herder once again.

For more on this story, click here.

My Thoughts on Disney’s Lucasfilm Purchase

About a week ago in, well, this galaxy, the Internet was abuzz in reaction to shocking news that The Walt Disney Co. had purchased Lucasfilm, Ltd., for a whopping $4.05 billion dollars. As if that bombshell wasn’t enough to send the geek world into a tizzy, The House of Mouse revealed that it would be bringing Star Wars: Episode VII to theaters in 2015

This was a lot to process — especially considering the fact that many of us on the U.S. East Coast were dealing with the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy, which left millions without power (myself included). Nevertheless, it seems as though just about everyone has an opinion about Disney’s latest acquisition, including the belief that Disney will forever tarnish the legacy of one of the film world’s most beloved properties. Will Mickey Mouse ruin Star Wars?

To answer that question, no. If the prequels didn’t ruin Star Wars forever, the franchise can withstand anything.

Jokes aside, though, I firmly believe that Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm is the best thing to happen to George Lucas’ empire in more than a decade. The 68-year-old filmmaker’s decision to hand the keys to his kingdom over to the caretakers of the Magic Kingdom will no doubt allow for fresh, new creative minds to play in the sandbox the Flanneled One created nearly four decades ago. By essentially relinquishing control of the franchise and serving as “creative consultant” on this new trilogy of films, Lucas has ensured that Star Wars will live forever.

That’s the big thing that seemed to be lost on many people hearing this news last week: a new director (or directors) will helm the next Star Wars trilogy. When Episode VII hits theaters in 2015, we will witness the first-ever live-action Star Wars film directed by a fan. There’s an entire generation of talented directors that was weaned on the classic films, and all of them are surely anxious to take the Star Wars franchise into hyperspace. As we’ve seen with Dave Filoni’s work on the stellar animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network, modern Star Wars is at its best when fanboys are in charge.

But what about the other stories to be told in Lucas’ far, far away galaxy? Will we finally get that Star Wars live-action series we’ve been hearing about all these years? What about some traditional 2D Star Wars animation? Can we expect Han Solo and Chewbacca to join Woody and Buzz Lightyear in the next Toy Story film? We can only speculate on the future of Star Wars at this point, but I feel we can rest assured that it will be a bright one.

Is George Lucas Really Retiring?

In a press release this week, Lucasfilm Ltd. Announced that George Lucas is moving forward with retirement plans, with [Steven Spielberg’s longtime producing partner] Kathleen Kennedy becoming co-chair of Lucasfilm. The Star Wars mastermind will continue to serve as fellow co-chair while Kennedy acclimates herself to this role, and will continue as CEO of the company. Micheline Chau will remain as president and COO of Lucasfilm, and, according to the release, will “continue to focus on the day-to-day operations of the business.”

What does this mean for Lucas? Freed up from corporate responsibilities, he would have time to helm those smaller and more personal films he’s always wanted to make. Lucas said as much in a recent interview with Empire, stating the following:

“I’m moving away from the company, I’m moving away from all my businesses, I’m finishing all my obligations and I’m going to retire to my garage with my saw and hammer and build hobby movies. I’ve always wanted to make movies that were more experimental in nature, and not have to worry about them showing in movie theatres.”

For more on this story, head over to /Film.

Get Ready for 3D 'Star Wars' in 2012

Earlier this week, Lucasfilm announced that all six films in the Star Wars saga are being converted to 3D and re-released in theaters, starting with The Phantom Menace in 2012.

Yes, that means Jar Jar Binks will soon have the opportunity to annoy us in three dimensions.

Decade-old fanboy gripes aside, it’ll be pretty cool to see the entire saga in theaters once again, although one hopes that Star Wars creator and notorious tinkerer George Lucas stays his hand when it comes to unnecessary alterations to the classic films. A nip and a tuck here and there, sure, but if Lucas further populates the original trilogy with irritating CGI aliens and slapsticky robots, there will be a lot of nerds cringing behind their 3D glasses. There’s enough of that stuff in the prequels.

Judging by the official statement posted on StarWars.com, it looks like Lucas and his team are determined to avoid the missteps that plagued previous post-production 3D conversions, namely Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Louis Leterrier’s Clash of the Titans and M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender.

“It takes a critical and artistic eye along with an incredible attention to detail to be successful,” said John Knoll, visual effects supervisor for Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic. “It is not something that you can rush if you want to expect good results. For Star Wars we will take our time, applying everything we know both aesthetically and technically to bring audiences a fantastic new Star Wars experience.”

For more on the 3D Star Wars saga, click here.

Another Star Wars Cartoon?

To quote several Star Wars characters, “I have a bad feeling about this.”

IESB reported on March 17—citing an unnamed source—that Lucasfilm Animation is in pre-production on a Star Wars cartoon aimed at pre-school and kindergarten-aged children. The show, apparently, would be based on Hasbro’s Galactic Heroes line of kid-friendly Star Wars toys, which feature squat bodies and oversized hands, feet and heads. If you’ve seen The Superhero Squad Show on Cartoon Network—based on a similar line of Marvel Comics toys—this series would pretty much be exactly like that. Ugh.

The MTV Movies Blog reached out to Lucasfilm for comment and received confirmation that one of the projects Lucasfilm Animation is working on “is for a younger audience but it’s in very early development and too early for any details.” Hopefully the Lucasfilm rep is referring to that CGI fairy musical George Lucas is reportedly producing, which has absolutely nothing to do with Star Wars.

Since I consider Star Wars: The Clone Wars to be an excellent all-ages Star Wars cartoon series, with plenty of appeal for younger and older fans alike, I’m baffled as to why a series based on the Galactic Heroes toyline would be at all necessary. Sure, this would probably help Hasbro sell more product, but since when has Star Wars been motivated by merchandising? Wait, don’t answer that.

Lucasfilm Responds to Admiral Ackbar College Mascot Campaign

“It’s a trap!” Or is it?

Last week, students at the University of Mississippi voted on a new mascot to replace Colonel Reb, a borderline offensive caricature of an old Southern gentlemen. The early winner? Admiral Ackbar from Return of the Jedi. Students have rallied behind the Mon Calamari Rebel Alliance leader, launching websites such as notatrap.org, which asks, “Who wants a Colonel when you can have an Admiral?”

Clearly appreciating this humor in this situation, Lucasfilm issued a tongue-in-cheek statement on the matter to The New York Times. “Lucasfilm is flattered that our Star Wars fans at the University of Mississippi are considering electing Admiral Ackbar as their mascot,” the studio said. “The last time we checked in with Admiral Ackbar he was leading the Rebel Alliance Fleet on a critical mission so it will be difficult for him to show up for the games!”

And it seems some hardcore Ole Miss fans and discontented students would prefer it that way. TMZ reports that angry students have threatened to transfer if Ackbar becomes the new mascot. Angry parents have even vowed to “never send their kids to Ole Miss” if the character wins. They must be Trekkies.