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Ultimate Collector Series LEGO TIE Fighter

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By: Benjamin Hart

Toy Fair 2015 is going on right now in New York City, and as expected, Star Wars toys were among the many big reveals. Today the building block moguls at LEGO unveiled a brand new buildable version of a Classic ship. The "Ultimate Collector Series" LEGO TIE Fighter is the newest product to come from Lucasfilm and LEGO's long standing partnership. The set measures 19.5″ high, 12″ long, and 12.2″ wide and is heavily detailed, featuring an opening hatch with an exclusive TIE pilot minifigure and a display stand with plaque. It costs $199.99 and will hit shelves in May. A collection of images of the Fighter were revealed, which you can check out below:



Stay tuned for more news and reveals from Toy Fair!

Source: StarWars.com

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.


In Case You Missed It: February 7th - 14th, 2015

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By: Benjamin Hart

In Case You Missed It is back, as it is every week, to keep you up to date with everything that's going on in the Star Wars universe. This time we've got a ton of Rebels news, an update from Mr. Boyega, Celebration Anaheim guest announcements, Battlefront rumors, MAD Magazine, crazy Lightsabers, quotes, costumes, Minecraft, Fulcrum, Lando & much more! Read on to get caught up...


Films

John Boyega Talks 'The Force Awakens' at the BAFTAs
"Finn" spoke about Episode VII and did his best Lightsaber sound.

Billy Dee Williams on the Sequel Trilogy: "I Can’t Imagine Them Not Bringing Lando Back"
The old smoothie gave his thoughts on absence of Lando in the new films thus far.

Mark Hamill Talks Star Wars On Schmoes Know Podcast
He discussed the differences between George Lucas & J.J. Abrams and Matthew Vaughn possibly directing a Star Wars film.


Television

Preview Of Next Star Wars Rebels Episode "Rebel Resolve" Revealed
Take a look at videos & stills from the upcoming installment of Rebels!

'Star Wars Rebels' Season Finale Title Revealed
We now know what the final episode will be called, and it could speak volumes for what we're about to see.

'Star Wars Rebels' Season One Finale to Air on March 2nd
The end of season one is near... but don't worry! Season 2 is on the way!


Literature

'Star Wars #3' Comic Preview
Here's our first look at the upcoming issue of Marvel's hit ongoing series.

MAD Magazine "Star Wars Fans Then And Now" Parody Revealed
Check out this exclusive first look at MAD's hilarious new Star Wars issue.


Events

J.J. Abrams & Kathleen Kennedy Are Coming To Celebration Anaheim
Lucasfilm is planning a huge event to start of Celebration, and two of the biggest faces behind The Force Awakens will be there!

Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, and Kenny Baker Confirmed as Guests for Star Wars Celebration
How could we have a Celebration and NOT have Leia, Threepio & Artoo join us? Also, the Podcast stage schedule and Tattoo pavilion details were revealed.

Celebration Anaheim Art Show Preview
A ton of artists have been hard at work on a huge collection of artwork that will be up for grabs in Anaheim. Here's your first look!

Star Wars Celebration Mobile App Updated for Celebration Anaheim
Going to Celebration Anaheim? There's an app for that...

'Star Wars Day at Sea' Announced for Disney Fantasy Cruises
Imagine taking a cruise with your favorite Star Wars characters... Disney is making it a reality.


Gaming

'Star Wars Rebels' Character Skins Have Come To Minecraft For Xbox
Now you can virtually cosplay as your favorite Rebels character in Minecraft.


Collecting

Star Wars Bladebuilders Toy Line Announced
You thought Kylo Ren's Lightsaber was ridiculous? Wait 'till you see what your kids can make...

Ultimate Collector Series LEGO TIE Fighter
You may already a Lego TIE Fighter, but you definitely don't have one like this!


Rumors

Han Solo Dialogue From 'The Force Awakens' Revealed 
If you're not afraid of spoilers, head over and check it out... It definitely sounds like Han.

Sketch of Leia's 'The Force Awakens' Costume
We finally have a visual on what Leia's duds will look like.

'The Force Awakens' Flashback Scene Description
Could a certain someone show up in a scene from the past?

More Evidence of Fulcrum's Identity
We're 99% sure of who Fulcrum is in Rebels. Check out the evidence, if you're not afraid of spoilers.

'Star Wars Battlefront' to Feature Battles from Entire Saga, Including 'The Force Awakens'
If this is true... Holy poodoo! This game is gonna be amazing!


Also Check Out...
  • The latest SWU Podcast, where we discuss The Sequels, Battlefront and the newest Rebels episode "Call To Action."



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Report: Greg Grunberg To Have Bigger Role In 'The Force Awakens'

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By: Benjamin Hart

A few months back we heard that actor, and life long friend of J.J. Abrams, Greg Gruberg will have a role in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Grunberg is most notable for his appearances in TV Series such as Heroes and many of Abrams' productions, including Lost and Star Trek(2009). We initially believed that Grunberg would only have a small cameo in The Force Awakens, but new information has surfaced that could prove otherwise. The actor recently spoke with ET Online who inquired about his Star Wars role, and he had a lot to say:

"I am so excited to even be in the movie! It’s going to be amazing. I can't say anything about it, J.J. [Abrams] always has this thing about the mystery box. But he has given out a little hints via charity. That’s really great. I am a huge Star Wars fan so to be in the movie was such a thrill."

"The weird thing is, while we were shooting, they had these drones taking pictures overhead. They were taking pictures of these vehicles we had, which were in the first Star Wars! And we were like, really, what’s the sneaky need for those pictures then? I mean it’s cool to see where we were shooting, I guess. But I said to J.J., what kind of scoop are they getting if this was already exposed back in the 1970s?"

But the most interesting portion of the interview is when ET asked Grunberg where he shot his scenes, which he responded:

"In London, I was there for six weeks. It was fantastic. Great cast, great crew."

That really doesn't sound like a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" cameo, does it? While we can still assume Grunberg won't have a major role in the film, it definitely sounds like his character will have a significant speaking part in The Force Awakens. But I guess we won't know for certain until it hits theaters December 18th!

Source: ET Online
Via: Star Wars 7 News

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Rumor: More 'The Force Awakens' Plot and Character Details

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By: Dominic Jones

It's time for another round of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens rumors.  Our friend Jason Ward over atMakingStarWars.net has posted another round of rumors.  Some of these deal with a major twist in the film, so even if you are following the spoilers, you may want to think twice about this one.  That being said, Jason also states that he thinks some of the elements of these rumors are dubious at best.  Keep both of those facts in mind if you choose to keep reading.  So, if you are avoiding The Force Awakens rumors then stop reading now.  This is you official SPOILER ALERT!
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Jason posted the emails his source sent him.  Here is what they said,
Email 1:

Luke Skywalker – Luke is in hiding during much of TFA. He has put himself in a self imposed exile and is protecting an ancient sith tomb from being opened by the main bad guy, Kylo Ren. What lies in this tomb is an Ancient Sith Lord who may turn out to be Darth Plagues The Wise. Luke, it is revealed, has been experiencing severe mental torture whilst protecting this tomb by ghosts of the past, present and future and he is very unstable as we meet him. His power is terrifying to both himself and what it could mean for the future of the galaxy. There is talk that Kylo Ren knows how to unlock this tomb as he has self trained himself in the ways of the Sith without the need of a master. It is not mentioned how long Luke has been watching this tomb but it is implied it has been a few years against the better judgement of his friends. Luke isn’t crazy so to speak but he has felt the damaging effects this exile has had on him.

Han Solo – Han has the lions share of work to do on TFA and it can be said Fords portrayal is closer to ANH/ESB than ROTJ. His arc sets things in motion by being the person who brings Rey, Finn and Poe into the mix. It is true that a simple lightsaber leads the trio to Han but what isn’t mentioned is that Han is extremely reluctant to allow his daughter to be part of this plan. The scene in the trailer of the falcon is Han piloting the gang of the planet after Imperials target them because Poe and Rae help break Finn free of the empire. It is a fact that Han does die in the movie and his death is poignant but amazing. There will be sad eyes come December. I’ve heard that Luke kills Han at his request to save a loved one.

Finn: It is revealed that the Empire have rebuilt their forces through forced enlisting into their ranks despite ability. Finn’ family were murdered by the empire and he was caught and enlisted. He absolutely hates the Empire and is a pacifist. There is a scene which shows him trying to shoot a blaster and he is awful – it’s a little in-joke about how inept Storm Troopers were in the OT. Finn and Poe end up in an imperial brig after being caught. Poe dislikes Finn at first but Finn, an extremely likeable character, pleads with Poe and Rae to get him off the ship. Rae sees his plight and they both agree to steal a TIE FIGHTER. Rae shows how like a solo she is and manages to coerce a simple minded trooper into conversation and ends up stealing a key card.

The brig escape is pure fun – Old School SW much like the detention block escape. It is fast paced, funny as hell but you feel the odds against them. Finn and co steal an advanced TIE and unfortunately it crashes, injuring Finn. Rae helps both Poe and Finn escape by hiding them in her speeder and they travel to see Max Von Sydo in a seedy cantina. Finn shows promise when he uses the lightsaber to deflect some blaster shots. Rae says something about finding his calling.

MAX VON SYDOW: – I don’t know this characters name but he plays a watcher to Rae at the request of Solo. A former Rebel Alliance veteran now dealing in antiquities – very much like a SW version of Brody from Indiana Jones. It turns out that Rae has a lightsaber which holds information vital to the rebellion and this is hidden inside BB-8. Rae is not aware of this and only through the watcher do we understand the significance of it. It is revealed the weapon, Uncle Lukes, has a crystal in it that unlocks the tomb in the castle. This crystal is the main mcguffin of TFA.

RAE: This is Han and Leias daughter. Her real name is revealed through Han Solo much to the surprise of Finn and Poe. Rae is resourceful, humourous but is scared of being part of a force family. Uncle Luke was trying to guide her to being a jedi but she refused. Poe catches her using the force to move something in her workshop but doesn’t mention it.

Solo appears at the Cantina with Chewbacca and Rae expresses her anger at being asked to protect this weapon. Solo explains that it was necessary for her to use an alias and to be on the outer rim to avoid ties to her uncle. He says sorry for not telling her the significance but is thankful. Rae expresses frustration at the watcher who was in on the ruse.

POE: Poe is this trilogies Han – he is a cocky, foolish but brilliant pilot. Rae is in love with him which frustrates Han. Han sees Dameron as his younger self and is slightly annoyed that he is now an older cocky man. Poe is on the planet with Rae and she is fixing his X-Wing. It is revealed that he has strong feelings for Rae. He respects Han too much to act on them. There is a bit of jealousy from Finn as he too likes Rae but she treats him like a kid.

Email 2:
When we see Kylo Ren in the forest in the trailer, his pose and movement indicate he is injured. This scene takes place After solo dies and he is chasing Rey, Luke and Finn into the forest. They are heading towards Poe and the Falcon.

Ren receives damage in a battle with Luke. At the request of Hans dying words, Luke spares Ren and escapes with the others. What follows is a battle between an untrained Finn and Rey after Ren manages to separate then from Luke. Luke is beaten and is unable to aid them. The fight shows that Ren isn’t as prominent a fighter as he wants to be and ultimately is on an even footing with Rey in ability. Finn tries hard to help but ultimately turns to get Luke on the falcon.

Ren is the son of Han and Leia and therefore brother to Rey. It is said that Ren, Adam Driver, has been obsessed with his lineage for a few years and is somewhat an historian with a fascination with the Sith. he is a pilot with the alliance but you will see that he is quite twisted. He sabotaged Poes X wing at some point prior to the opening scenes and this resulted with Poe being on the same planet with Rey. He is arrogant and cares little for his parents or siblings as he wants to be as powerful as his grandfather, Darth Vader. Facts are vague but it will be revealed that there is bad blood between this man and his family.

Email 3:
The Stormtroopers in TFA are given more of a humanity to them. A few actors/extras were given lines and we see troopers sans helmets in a few scenes. They definitely aren’t clones here! There is a Weequay and Rodian trooper in one scene in a hanger bay plus female ST. A scene described to me involved an Imperial commander belittling an alien.

TFA features a scene involving limb loss. The character is said to provoke a main character and Chewbacca basically pulls their arm out of its socket.

The re- introduction of Luke Skywalker is meant to be iconic.  Having seen a play by play of the scene, my source said this:

"Luke is huddled against a wall, he is looking at an approaching figure. We don’t see his face at all and his body is hidden by the dark, we see various flashes of his hood is over his head and the light only shows his grey beard. Someone says “Luke?”. He is startled and cowers to his knees. we are shown his robotic hand, sans glove, with a burn mark exposing the robotic components. An arm reaches out to try and grasp his light sabre which is a few inches away on the floor. The light sabre is smoking. Luke struggles for it and we hear a disembodied voice say “You’ve failed, Skywalker. Have you felt it? Your struggle with the darkside and the light “. We hear the first vocals from Luke and his words staggered and stuttered. He tries to stand but a cackle makes him cower again. He is further goaded by this voice before he hears a familiar voice and stands up and pushes his hood back much like obi wan kenobi did when he first saw Luke in ANH. This is our first proper look at Luke. This Luke is wizened but crazed, his eyes twitch and are bloodshot, his robe is tattered, ripped and his beard is scraggy and his hair grey and long. Luke walks down a few steps and his looking at the tomb. The disembodied voice says ” You will fail, Skywalker”. Luke falls to his knees and screams out with arms outstretched. A tremor reduces a wall partition to rubble and the voice laughs louder. ” They will all die. I am your only choice”. Luke uses a statue to pull himself up and he begs the voice to stop. He has no fight left. Luke uses the force to grab his weapon and he ignites it this time the glow of his green sabre fully shows us a classic glimpse of an older Luke.  We then hear footsteps and the ignition of a second light sabre, a red glow appearing in a pool of water near the tomb.

Email 4:
Just to add to my previous message some lines of dialogue from the shooting
“Are you still relying on that ancient religion?”
“We can play this game once we figure out a way to not getting killed!
” hey, the grunt can’t hold that thing let alone use it!”
“ain’t no use to a dead man, Finn”

Email 5:
Hi Jason, not much has been said about Leia in TFA but this is about to change.

in TFA we first meet Leia at a hideout for Rebels. This is the Greenham common set. She certainly does wear an outfit similar to the Tantive fleet troops.

Leia is not a politician but a republic martyr in hiding from the Empire at the insistence of the senate. She is in hiding with the last numbers of the rebel alliance who we learn have been beaten with no real hope of stopping a newly growing empire.

There are traitors within her own group.

Both the empire and the rebellion are trying to build super weapons. What we learn in a beautiful scene with Leia and the Hutts is that crime lords are funding the construction of the rebels defence of the empire in exchange for leniency with the senate who will turn a blind eye to their criminal actions and ultimately protect them from the empire.

The rebels share an uneasy alliance with criminal groups with Han Solo acting as a go between with a dangerous group of bounty hunters.

The Reublic Senate and the Empire aren’t one and the same. The Empire wasn’t truly defeated after the battle of Endor and many splinter groups are in abundance but controlled by a master imperial order.  Storm troopers are a mix of human and alien races.

Email 6:
Hi Jason, to clarify recent reports:

There are two super weapons in TFA. The empire weapon is not a planet but a super extreme Star Destroyer, the largest vessel in the imperial fleet. Do you remember the seismic charges Jango used on Obi Wan in AOTC? Well this SESD has a weapon on it than can effectively split a planet in two. There is a scene in IMAX  which will demonstrate this, it launchs a bomb that basically sends shockwaves through the core and splits it. It’s supposed to look amazing.

The Rebels are building a weapon that acts as an EMT which basically once activated will shut down any imperial ships and effectively crash them. You may have seen concept art of downed star destroyers, well this was a result of this weapon being used.

However, the device that controls this weapon has fallen into wrong hands and getting it back involves our heroes and a rogue imperial.

The super extreme star destroyer houses the Gleeson character who is trying to sabotage the imperial weapon.

Ultimately the weapon is used on the Sith homeworld.

Email 7:
The pirate cove does house rebels but also a rag-tag group of smugglers, hunters and refugees. Their is a common goal for all involved and that is beating the empire. One of the smugglers is a character named Botep, he’s described as humanoid but his torso is stationed on a droid with spider-like legs. It isn’t revealed how he came to be this way but he is distrustful of the rebels and blames them for the current state of things. Another is called Aldro, a female alien who is feisty and good with a blaster. She is slim build, wears a jump suit like Bossk but it is green. She has a hood which she wears over her head and has goggles on her face. The googles are white with a mesh like lens. She has a few lines with Han and refers to Chewie as “The Rug”. There is a small character believed to be called ” Fitch” who is a mechanic and helps Chewie repair the damaged Falcon. Fitch and Chewie have a scene together which is similar to Artoo and Yoda, playful and very funny. Fitch is part Cgi and animatronic.

Email 8:
(Gwendoline Christie): plays the lead Shock Trooper and she commands a huge ship called in the production notes ” Imperial Hand”. She wears a chrome armoured suit which can cloak itself for stealth missions – this ability is used twice in the move. Her character is said to be  "demeaning to peers, arrogant, viscious and fearless. She uses a light saber also and is heavily skilled in hand-to-hand combat. She kills 2 Jedi Padawans in the movie whilst searching for both Finn and Rae. “Once beautiful now grotesque” heavily scarred face and military hair cut. “Battle hardened – an elite killer”.

(Domhnall Gleeson) – This will shock people but this character is an Imperial Cadet and the son of the huge character. A deserter of the Alliance after finding out they are constructing a super weapon to irradicate the empire before they can use their own weapon. Effectively turning the rebel alliance into the empire by default. DG plans to inflitrate and destroy the weapon from within.

Email 9:
It is going to be a revelation that Gleeson is related to Luke for sure. However, we will learn that the character isn’t as wholesome as his father and will ruffle a lot of feathers in the process. This Tarkin rumour is bogus – DG is not Tarkin but there DEFINATELY is a tarkin in the movie. JJ & Kasden are desperate to move away from making the galaxy seem too small as the prequals did so whilst there is a character who is related to Tarkin, it won’t be anything major. There are a lot of strands in this movie which tie into the wider picture. For instance, there is a slight reference to the Lost Twenty and the fall of the Jedi Order. Kylo Ren is obsessed with history and you will see that he is very knowledgable about the secrets the Jedi Order had and how the sith play into it.

There is no mention of any mother of the Gleeson character and Luke doesn’t reference her. 

There are lots of elements that do line up with many of the things we've heard before.  But, i agree with Jason that there are some elements that I can't say I totally believe.   We won't know for sure until December 18th, 2015


Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Hasbro Toy Fair Star Wars Announcements and Q&A

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By: Dominic Jones

Toy Fair has come and gone and now it's time to really delve into what was, or really what wasn't announced by Hasbro at the event.  Their big reveals were the Bladebuilder lightsaber construction toys, the Chewbacca/Furby crossover, and the new hero mashers line.  To see images of all the reveals, check out the official Hasbro gallery Jedi Temple Archives has posted on their Facebook page.

About the Furbacca (Furbie/Chewbacca toy), Hasbro said,
(Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $79.99/Available: Fall 2015) For the first time ever, HASBRO is bringing FURBY to the world of STAR WARS with FURBACCA! This fully integrated toy and app speaks wookiee just like CHEWBACCA, hums theme songs from the STAR WARS movies, plays virtual games, and much more! FURBACCA takes kids on a STAR WARS themed digital adventure via their mobile device as they explore the galaxy and collect virtual Star Wars FURBY FURBLINGS. The free FURBACCA app will be available for download in the App Store and Google Play in Fall 2015. The FURBACCA app is not required for FURBACCA play. Includes bandolier accessory. Requires four “AA” batteries, not included.

But the really interesting stuff came from the Q&A JTA did with Hasbro representatives about the Star Wars brand.  There were a lot of non-answers (due largely to the secrecy surrounding The Force Awakens), but I've picked out some of the highlights to feature bellow, but you can find the entire Q&A here.

Q: Where are the action figures for the female characters from Rebels, like Hera, Sabine, or Maketh Tua? Male characters like Ezra and Kanan have been released multiple times already in many formats and scales, yet the best we've seen on shelves so far is a single Sabine with a non-removable helmet and a yet-to-be-released Hera, both of whom are packed with re-released Stormtroopers. Female characters have always played an integral role in the Star Wars saga, from Leia in the original trilogy to Padme in the prequels to Ahsoka and Asaaj in The Clone Wars and have always been among the first characters released in figure form, yet for this new chapter in the Saga, they've barely been a blip on the radar.
A: Hasbro feels they have released plenty of female characters in the line.


Q: With the port/shipping delays on the West Coast, are there any plans to re-ship Star Wars Rebels/Saga Legends figures from wave 1 to meet the demand?
A: It’s not an issue of re-shipping. It’s an issue of getting out what’s already ready. Hasbro plans to keep supporting Rebels.

Q: Does Hasbro plan to eliminate producing super articulation 3.75 inch figures altogether, or do they plan on reducing it for the line, for example, between 5-10 points of articulation, to keep the line cost effective and appease collectors?
A: Hasbro plans to continue to supporting collector-focused figures.


Q: With LEGO allowed to put out sets from the old non-canon "Legends" stories such as the Shadow Troopers pack based on 'The Force Unleashed', or Anakin's Starfighter from 'Clone Wars (2003/04), is it possible that we'll ever get action figures and the like from those stories, as well at some point?A: It’s possible. Hasbro was trying to stay within what Pablo Hidalgo (and others) had deemed that the cannon of Star Wars. But exceptions like these could open the window for other options in the future.

Q: Do you have any plans to produce more 6-inch figures from "The Clone Wars"?A: Not right now, past Fall 2015, likely.


Q: Hasbro.. I used to buy a figure or two every week. I haven't spent any money on your company since November last year. I am not interested in 6" or 5POA 3.75". I was going to collect the Rebels line but due to a lack of availability I have lost interest in them and have no desire to collect them now. I know I am not the only collector that feels this way. Are you concerned that you are losing customers by not having the abundance of SA 3.75" that you used to have? I'm pretty much done with collecting as it is in its current state. I only collect Star Wars figures and I am sick of seeing nothing but junky overpriced Command crap. Are you aware that in New Zealand a lot of retailers aren't even carrying figures now?
A: Everyone will be happy Fall 2015.


Q: Do you have plans to release a Star Wars Celebration Anaheim Exclusive?
A: No.
 


I have to say, this was a disappointing showing from Hasbro.  Everyone was aware that The Force Awakens stuff was not allowed to be shown, but the lack of any other reveals was unexpected and disappointing.  I'm also sad to hear that there will be no Hasbro Celebration Anaheim exclusive.  The Furbacca also seems like a bizarre idea.  I don't think many kids were crying out for that, but who knows maybe it will be this years must have toy (yeah right!). 

 
Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Lego Announces 32 New Star Wars Sets

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By: Dominic Jones

Lego announced at Toy Fair this past weekend the 32 new Star Wars sets it will be releasing this year.  This includes the new Ultimate Collectors Series TIE Fighter and a new "Constraction Sets" (construction + action) line of toys (which are buildable versions of characters).  The building sets come from all six current films, as well as the animated series'Star War Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and the popular "Legends" video game The Force Unleashed.  

From Lego's press release, here's all the sets announced,

Bringing Star Wars: Rebels TV Episodes to the Playroom
Six new LEGO sets help fans build the exciting adventures from the Disney XD series, Star Wars Rebels, five available now and one launching in June. Fans looking to build their collection of Stormtroopers will love the Imperial Troop Transport ($12.99), featuring four of the iconic troopers in minifigure form plus an armored transport pod. With Ezra’s Speeder Bike ($19.99), the young rebel hero and his confidant Sabine can outrun the Stormtroopers. In the ultimate expression of the power of the dark side, rogue rebels are tracked by the experimental TIE Advanced Prototype™ ($39.99), complete with folding wings for flight and landing modes, spring-loaded shooters and functional top hatch. Builders can search the streets of Capital City for rebels in the twin-legged AT-DP™ ($49.99), featuring Agent Kallus, a Stormtrooper and two AT-DP pilots. Fans can protect Wullffwarro and his Jedi friend, Kanan Jarrus, with the powerful Wookiee™ Gunship ($69.99), featuring movable front and top cannons, folding wings and two Wookiee minifigures.
 
Rebuild Favorite Star Wars: The Clone Wars Battles
Fans can safeguard the security of the Senate with the elite Senate Commando Troopers™ set ($12.99), featuring a never-before-seen buildable rapid shooter plus Senate Commando Captain minifigure and three Senate Commandos. Or builders can support the clone army at the Battle of Geonosis with the Geonosis Troopers™ set ($12.99), featuring a walker, two Geonosis Clone Troopers and two Geonosis Airborne Clone Troopers. Builders travel to Coruscant to relive the epic lightsaber battle between Asajj Ventress and Anakin with Anakin’s Custom Jedi Starfighter™ ($39.99), featuring detachable escape pod, droid eject function, retractable front landing gear, lightsaber storage, four spring-loaded shooters and an Astromech Droid. All are available now.
 
Revisit Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Fans can protect the Empire with the silent and mysterious Shadow Guards ($12.99 available now) by using their deadly lightsaber staffs, or call in the Shadow Stormtroopers if backup is needed.

Classic Star Wars Sets Feature Big Action from the Saga

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace – Builders can relive the riveting battle scene where the Trade Federation tightens its grip on Naboo and the local Gungans must stop the advancing AAT™ (available now for $24.99). Includes Jar Jar Binks minifigure, Battle Droid and Pilot Battle Droid figures. An additional set launches later in the year.
 
Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones – Fans can build the Republic Gunship™ Microfighter to defend against the heavily armored Homing Spider Droid™ Microfighter ($9.99 each). To defeat the clone army on Geonosis, builders can assemble the Hailfire Droid™ ($19.99), featuring giant rotating wheels and four spring-loaded shooters. Reinforcements at the Battle of Naboo arrive in the Battle Droid Troop™ Carrier ($39.99), featuring detachable driver compartment, hidden wheels to help it glide, Gungan Warrior minifigure, two Pilot Battle Droids and 12 Battle Droids. All are now available. An additional set launches later in the year.
 
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith – Builders can choose sides and reenact the ultimate showdown to defend or attack the Republic. High above Coruscant flies the advanced ARC-170 Starfighter™ Microfighter, perfect for defending against the attack of the deadly Separatist Vulture Droid™ Microfighter ($9.99 each, available now).
 
Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope – Fans can swoop through the canyons of Tatooine chasing down womp rats and trying to avoid Tusken Raiders in the T-16 Skyhopper™ ($24.99, available now), featuring adjustable wings, detachable storage box and dual spring-loaded shooters, Skyhopper Pilot and Tusken Raider minifigure.

Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back– Builders can relive one of the most exciting battles in the entire Star Wars universe as they speed over the icy planet of Hoth in the agile Snowspeeder™ Microfighter to protect the Rebel Alliance and assault the Rebel base with the AT-AT™ Microfighter. Both are available now for $9.99.
 
Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi – Two exciting sets launch later in the year.

First Star Wars Constraction Sets Unveiled
Expanding the way children can build and play within the Star Wars universe, the company also unveiled new constraction – constructable figures – sets featuring, among others, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker ($19.99 and up in September). Additional constraction figures in the collection will be unveiled throughout the year.

LEGO Slave I™ will Delight Even the Most Skilled Fan Builders
Builders can assemble and pilot an unbelievable detailed replica of the iconic Slave I™ spaceship owned and piloted by the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett™. With 1,996 pieces, this set will inspire fans to search the galaxy for fugitives using the realistic rotating cockpit and wings for flight and landing mode along with dual blasters to repel attackers, then reenact the capture of Han Solo™ in Bespin’s Cloud City. Includes minifigures of Boba Fett™, Bespin Guard™, Stormtrooper™ and Han Solo™ and is available now for $199.99.

Also announced was the 2015 Star Wars advent calendar.  You can see pictures of that below,


Lego also released this image of the "Constraction Sets" (construction + action),
And even though they weren't included in the press release, LEGO did reveal the Shuttle Tydirium set and Death Star Final Duel sets.  Pictures below,



The good folks over at ComicBook.com has a comprehensive gallery of all the set announced, check that out here.

I have to say, it was nice to see such a good showing from Lego, especially since Hasbro failed to show much of interest.  Lego has been doing an excellent job with the Star Wars brand and you can bet they have big plans for when The Force Awakens is released as well.


Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Star Tots and More Collecting Panels Announced for Celebration Anaheim

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By: Dominic Jones

Star Wars Celebration is keeping the trend of Collecting announcements going after this past weekend's New York Toy Fair.  The official Celebration announced that Star Tots collectibles would be returning for another go around at Celebration (it began at Celebration VI and continued at Celebration Europe 2013).  They are collectibles handed out the collection panels.  You can see the images of the 20 Star Tots here.

Speaking of Collecting Panels, several more were announced.  Check them out below,

Ewok Collectibles Beyond Return of the Jedi
Presented by Amy Sjoberg and Jarrod Clark
Celebrate the love as we discuss domestic and international Ewok collectibles that were released after Return of the Jedi.  Surprisingly, while 1984-1990 had little to offer to Star Wars collectors in general, Ewok collectors had plenty of reasons to rejoice. With examples from Ice Capades, Disney parks, cartoons and Ewok movies, this merchandise might surprise you.

Collecting 501st, Rebel Legion, and Other Fan Club Collectibles
Presented by Ken Tarleton
Learn about collecting and trading fan club creations, including patches, coins, trading cards, pins, t-shirts and lots of other odd and fun club-related treasures. We will focus on the 501st and Rebel Legion with a mix of a few other clubs who create unique items for their members. Learn how to obtain these sought-after collectibles and how to join one of the clubs as well. We will show some of the lesser-known items and share some surprises, as well as recommend what you should be hunting for at Celebration Anaheim!

Vintage Star Wars Coins
Presented by Will Grief, Mark Salotti, James Gallo and Gus Lopez
Ever wonder how to make an ounce of aluminum worth is weight in gold? Put a Star Wars logo on it! Join Gus, Will, Mark and James as they review the basics of Star Wars coin collecting, discuss recent market trends and shed light on the inner workings of how the Power of the Force coins were developed and produced. This presentation will take a close look at the two mints involved in producing the coins, dispel some myths and misinformation, and share never-before-seen images of Star Wars coin rarities.

Wearable Fandom: Collecting Vintage Star Wars Clothing
Presented by Todd Chamberlain and Duncan Jenkins
Star Wars t-shirts were among the earliest promotional items and retail merchandise, and Star Wars clothing continues to be a primary way for fans to proclaim "The Force is strong in this one!" Todd and Duncan will cover a wide range of shirts, hats, belts, underwear, socks, shoes, and other clothing and accessories, focusing primarily on 70s and 80s items. See vintage advertising and family photos featuring vintage fandom in action! Tips on how to collect, display, and preserve.

Plastic Galaxy
Presented by Brian Stillman
Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys is a documentary about — you guessed it — Star Wars toys! Through interviews with former Kenner toy designers, experts, and collectors the film explores the history, cultural influence, and magic of our favorite collectibles. Don’t miss this special 40-minute excerpt of Plastic Galaxy, edited especially for Celebration Anaheim. Then join director Brian Stillman and collector Gus Lopez as they discuss the making of the documentary and offer exclusive behind-the-scenes insights.  

Star Wars Comic Art
Presented by David Mandel
This year marks the triumphant return of Star Wars to Marvel Comics. First published back in 1977 as a way to promote the film, Star Wars comics have been published almost continuously since, unitizing the skills of some of the best names in the comic industry to create a series of beloved tales. From Howard Chaykin to Al Williamson, from Travis Charest to Adam Hughes, every Star Wars comic starts with pen and ink on a piece of illustration board and these original drawings have become increasingly collectible. Come hear and learn all about collecting original Star Wars comic art with collector and Curb Your Enthusiasm writer/director David Mandel, with special guests.
 
Elite Character Focus Collecting
Presented by Bill McBride, Skye Paine and Bill Cable
Character focus collecting is a popular method by which enthusiasts assemble impressive runs of production and prototype action figures of a single character. We will discuss character focus collecting that reaches beyond the toys, delving into the realms of everything from cookware to original movie props. From the impressive to the eclectic, please join us as we share the sorts of items only an obsession will hunt.

Great Stories of Star Wars Collecting
Presented by Chris Fawcett, Mattias Rendahl and Tommy Garvey
Rocket Firing Boba Fetts, cases of vinyl-caped Jawas, fantastic eBay auctions, an abandoned Death Star, and collectibles owned by the Queen? Join Chris Fawcett, Mattias Rendahl, and Tommy Garvey as they tell some of the best and most interesting stories of the past 35 years of Star Wars collecting.

These will all take place on the Celebration Stage, and times will be confirmed at a later date.
Star Wars Celebration Anaheim takes place from April 16-19 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.  Get your tickets here.

57 Days to go!

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Rancho Obi-Wan Announces "Inspired by the Force: Star Wars Fan Artifacts & Art" Book

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By: Dominic Jones

Steve Sansweet's legendary Star Wars collection housed a Rancho Obi-Wan in California is about to be commemorated in book form.  Rancho Obi-Wan announced today the first in a new series of books called The Treasures of Rancho Obi-Wan.  The first book, titled Inspired by the Force: Star Wars Fan Artifacts & Art will be feature many of the fan made items in Sansweet's collection.  The book will cost $25 and will be available for pre-order in March and pick up at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim.  


Rancho Obi-Wan’s 900-square-foot exhibit at Celebration Anaheim April 16-19 will focus on how Star Wars fans through the years have made their own tremendous contributions to that far-away galaxy, and in commemoration the nonprofit museum will make available a limited print-run book, “Inspired by the Force: Star Wars Fan Artifacts & Art.”

The full-color, hardcover 72-page book will act as an exhibit guide, containing photos and stories of scores of the items on display. Written and photographed by Steve Sansweet and Anne Neumann, with design and layout by Stan Stice, the book is intended to be the first volume in a series, “The Treasures of Rancho Obi-Wan.” It also includes a 4-page centerspread foldout that has hundreds of photos of visitors to Rancho and to our exhibits at past Celebration events.

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The new book, with an initial printing of just 1,000 copies, is one of several surprises that Rancho will reveal in the weeks leading up to what many believe will be the largest and most exciting Star Wars fan event ever.

The Rancho Obi-Wan Experience exhibit will feature fan objects and art starting in the late 1970s through today, from an airbrushed van tire cover and hand-tooled leather backgammon board to a Chewbacca tissue box cover and bird house, from amazing art mash-ups based on a print by Goya and a painting by Picasso to bizarre limited edition figurines made by urban artists.

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The book will cost $25 and pre-orders for pick-up at Celebration will begin in March on this web site.
Both Steve Sansweet, chairman and CEO of Rancho Obi-Wan, and Anne Neumann, vice president and general manager, will be available at posted hours to sign the new book at no charge.

More exciting news about the Rancho Obi-Wan Experience Exhibit and other Rancho activities will be announced soon.

I have to say this book looks fantastic.  I will definitely be picking up a copy for myself.  I saw the Rancho Obi-Wan display at Celebration Europe in 2013 and it was fantastic.  I can't wait to see what they have in store for Celebration Anaheim!

 
Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Dates, Artwork & More For Disney's Star Wars Weekends 2015 Revealed

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By: Benjamin Hart

As if there was any doubt, Disney and Lucasfilm have now confirmed that the beloved annual event Star Wars Weekends will be returning to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida this year! Today, StarWars.com revealed the official poster artwork for it, which you can see above, along with a ton of details.

First off they confirmed that James Arnold Taylor will once again return to Weekends to host the Star Of The Saga talk show, which will be preceded by the Stormtrooper preshow at a new and larger venue inside the Theater Of The Stars on Sunset Boulevard. Also, the popular shopping destination Darth's Mall will be expanding and moving to a new complex near Streets Of America. You can also look forward to other activities and events such as Jedi Mickey's Star Wars Dine and a Summon The Force celebration, topped off each night with the Symphony In The Stars Fireworks show!

Star Wars Weekends 2015 will take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between May 15th and June 14th. Be sure to visit StarWarsWeekends.com for info!

Source: StarWars.com

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Rumor: Huge 'The Force Awakens' Spoiler

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By: Dominic Jones

There are spoilers and then there are spoilers.  Up until this point most spoilers have been minor, especially when you compare them to what Jason over at MakingStarWars.net reported today.  Even if you've been reading spoilers, you may want to reconsider reading on.  This rumor is something that has been speculated before, but this is the first time we have a legitimate source reporting it.  This rumor deals with the ultimate fate of a major character and how that scene plays out in detail.  So if you don't want to know this major spoiler from Episode VII, then stop reading now.  This is you official SPOILER ALERT!
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According to Jason,
The facts are this was shot at Pinewood:
  • This sequence takes place on the ramparts of The Evil Castle.
  • Han Solo is hiding.
  • He decides to reveal himself to Kylo Renn.
  • Finn, Rey, Chewbacca and BB-8 stop in their tracks.
  • They watch as Han Solo confronts Kylo Ren. Kylo Rnn silences the conversation forever.
  • Chewbacca lets out of a barrage of angry roars and laser blasts.
  • Kylo Ren flees the scene.
  • Explosions.
  • Stormtroopers file in and Finn and Rey are forced to flee.
  • More explosions.
  • BB-8 and Chewbacca flee to the Falcon.
Han Solo is never in a scene after this. Those are the facts.

Wow.  That is huge.  We've speculated this may happen, but if this is how it happens then wow!  Jason suggests that this scene may play out a bit like Obi-Wan's death in Episode IV.  Which makes sense seeing as it seems Han may almost being playing an Old Ben type role (in that he helps get the next generation started on their journey, not the hokey religions part).  Still, this sounds like a tragic scene and I'm sure there will be some tears in the theatres come December 18th, 2015 (assuming this is true).
As always this is just a rumor until confirmed or denied by Lucasfilm or Disney.


Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Preview Of Marvel's Star Wars Comics For May 2015

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By: Benjamin Hart

Marvel has been doing a phenomenal job recently producing brand new Star Wars Comic books! Two new series have been launched, with two more coming soon. Our friends at Jedi News have gotten their hands on Marvel's solicitations for the month of May which features cover artwork and descriptions for Princess Leia #4, Star Wars #5, Kanan - The Last Padawan #2 and Darth Vader #5. Check them out below!


PRINCESS LEIA #4 (of 5)
MARK WAID (w) • TERRY DODSON (a/C)
• The Empire is rounding up fugitive Alderaanians...
• ...that doesn’t sit well with their Princess.
• But what can one woman do against an Empire?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.



STAR WARS #5
JASON AARON (W) • JOHN CASSADAY (A/C)
SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY JOHN CASSADAY
THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME CONTINUES!
• As Luke goes home in search of the truth about his late mentor...
• ...Leia takes Han on a secret mission of vital importance to the Rebellion.
• Unfortunately, they both run into some unfriendly encounters.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.



KANAN - THE LAST PADAWAN #2
GREG WEISMAN (w) • PEPE LARRAZ (a)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
REBELS TV ARTIST VARIANT BY TBA
CGI CHARACTER VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
• His master betrayed and killed, young Caleb Dume is alone.
• When being a Jedi makes him a target, what can a Padawan do?
• Continuing the story of the birth of Star Wars Rebels’ Kanan Jarrus!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.



DARTH VADER #5
KIERON GILLEN (W) • SALVADOR LARROCA (A)
Cover by ADI GRANOV
VARIANT COVER BY SALVADOR LARROCA
• Vader continues his investigation into the Emperor’s secrets...
• Not everyone wants him to find out the truth.
• Who are Vader’s mysterious new rivals?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.


Source: Jedi News

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Rumor: The Opening Scenes of 'The Force Awakens'

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By: Dominic Jones

Our friends over at MakingStarWars.net have been in touch with one of their sources who has provided them with some information regarding the opening scenes of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.  This describes the scenes from immediately following the opening crawl of the film.  Lots of this lines up with previous rumors, which leads me to think there's a good chance its true.  But, as usual, there's a chance these may not be true, but if you're trying to avoid all The Force Awakens rumors then stop reading now.  This is your official SPOILER ALERT!
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According to MSW,
The film does open with a lightsaber in space. It falls to the ground in a savannah environment during the day. It is quickly discovered by a farmer named Naka. Naka accidentally ignites the weapon and starts a fire with it. At first he runs, but then turns around and obtains the weapon. I assume he snatches the weapon so it is not destroyed in the fire.  Naka then takes the weapon to his elder called The Vicar.
 
The Vicar is most likely played by Max von Sydow. It is most likely a code name too. Chances are they didn’t need to name the character during filming so they just went with the title The Vicar which means leader or superior. Anyways, the Vicar appears to contact the Rebels and this brings Poe Dameron to the planet.

Later that night, Poe Dameron arrives and retrieves the lightsaber from The Vicar. The only problem? They’ve brought the Empire there as well (not sure if the Empire followed Poe or intercepted the initially transmission he received). Poe sees Stormtroopers are coming and he places the laser sword safely in a little droid: BB-8. The droid flees and the heroic Poe Dameron prepares to fight!

Concurrently, a young Stormtrooper named Finn enters a situation that will drastically change his life forever. When his best friend dies in battle and he allows a few innocent villagers to escape, Kylo Ren orders him arrested and the village burned to the ground. Because Finn just isn’t naturally evil enough, he finds himself in the brig of a Star Destroyer with a Rebel pilot. Finn never learned to fly. Finn has the knowledge how to get out of the brig and Poe is their best chance to fly out of there. They hatch a plan to steal a TIE Fighter and make a run for it.

Brandon Rhea first mentioned that Poe would end up on the planet and get thrown in the brig. It was true as Star Wars 7 News reported that Poe and BB-8 are together at the start of the film, the brig is aboard a Star Destroyer and they do crash land on the planet afterward. Badass Digest were the first to report a hand in space with a lightsaber in it (there is no indication there is a hand involved). So we’re starting to see some of these loose strands coming together and making sense. It takes a village. Not just to burn down, but to figure this stuff out.

As I mentioned at the top, the fact that this lines up with earlier rumors does make think there is truth to it (where there's smoke, there's fire, sort of thing).  It does sound like an exciting opening act to the film, and likely some of the questions we have about this will be answered with the opening crawl, giving us context about how the galaxy far, far away has been for the last 30 years.

As always, this is just a rumor until confirmed or denied by Lucasfilm or Disney.

Source: MakingStarWars.net

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Report: 'The Art of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens' Book Coming November 2nd

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By: Dominic Jones

It's no secret that the build up to the release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens will be huge, with many books, toys, and who-knows-what-else be released to tie-in.  One of these will be a The Art of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens book from Abrams publishing, which is slated for a November 2nd release.  The good folks over at Jedi-Bibliothek discovered a Amazon UK link for the book.

Little more is known about the book, but it does raise an interesting question.  With this material coming out over a month before the film, how does Lucasfilm expect to release an "art of" book without giving away too many spoilers.  If they were feeling cheeky they could just put out a book featuring all the concept art that's been leaked over the past year or so.  It will be interesting to see what they do when the book comes out.


Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

'LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded' and Proto Fett Minifigure Announced

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By: Dominic Jones

StarWars.com announced today that the upcoming book from DK Publishing, LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded will include a special Proto Fett minifigure.  The Proto Fett is the all white Boba Fett based on the prototype armor created for The Empire Strikes Back, seen in this famous behind the scenes video,


As for the book itself, StarWars.com describes it as,

Featuring 72 extra pages of new minifigures, little-known facts, and much more, it’s a treasure trove of beautiful imagery and in-depth information fans. If that’s not enough, there’s one more addition that definitely makes it worthy of inclusion in your personal Jedi Archives.

No word yet on when the book will be released.


Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

The SWU Podcast LIVE | 20/02/15

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On this episode Chris, Ben, and Dominic are joined by special guest Stephen Stanton, aka Grand Moff Tarkin on Star Wars Rebels.  They delve deep into the character of Tarkin, discuss the behind the scenes process of Rebels, and make some wacky plans for Star Wars Celebration Anaheim!  Then, the guys break down the news from Toy Fair, and get into a discussion about the future of action figures.  Plus, JJ Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy are coming to Celebration, the latest from Lego, and a potentially huge spoiler.  All this and much more!

Spoilers Begin at 1:54:47
Right click here and select save link as to Download MP3.   
Website:  www.starwarsunderworld.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/swunderworld
Twitter: @TheSWU
Subscribe and Review on iTunes
Email: swunderworld@gmail.com
Voicemail: 1-410-989-1138
Listen live Thursdays at 9pm EST on Channel 1138 

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.


JJ Abrams Discusses 'The Force Awakens' Secrecy, Admits Some Rumors Are True

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By: Dominic Jones

Ever since Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was announced there have been rumors about it.  And things only got crazier once principle photography began.  Director JJ Abrams, who is know for his secretive ways, addressed the current state of rumors at the Irish Oscar Wilde awards last night.  

Abrams told the BBC,
"We did the best we can to preserve the story for the audience, but it doesn't always work. 

There are a ton of rumours - some true, some false. But I'm grateful for everyone who would want to read a spoiler because it means that they care and want to see the movie. 

I know what it feels like, as an enormous Star Wars fan myself." 

I really like this response from JJ.  It shows that he understands why fans are going after rumors, and he is not complaining about it either.  Clearly he recognizes the hunger that exists for the film and that there is not a whole lot of official information out about it yet.  
Abrams also gave a minor update on the current state of the post production on the film saying,
"I can't wait for you to see it. It's been a blast working on this and luckily we have an incredible post-production team.

There are always challenges as you go but it's been a complete kick to put this together."

Carrie Fisher was also on hand at the awards where she received a special honor.

 
Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Rumor: Luke Skywalker's Involvement in 'The Force Awakens'

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By: Dominic Jones

If you're into Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens spoilers, you're probably still recovering from that rumor from earlier this week.  Well, today we have another one for you that, while not a devastating as the earlier one, is equally huge.  This, of course, comes from our friend Jason Ward over at MakingStarWars.net who gets this information from his various sources.  As usual, there is a chance this may not be true, but if you are avoiding all The Force Awakens spoilers then stop reading now.  This is your official SPOILER ALERT!
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According to Jason, Luke Skywalker is barely in the film!  Apparently his introduction will be the final scene in the film.  Here's how Jason describes it playing out,

The heroes suffer a great blow when they lose their mentor figure. But after a great duel with Rey and Finn versus Kylo Ren, the heroes return back to the base as heroes. At this point, it becomes clear that their current adventure together has come to an end.

We follow our main hero, Rey as she says goodbye to the important players in the film, Leia, Poe, and so on. Meanwhile BB-8, Artoo-Detoo, and See-Threepio decode a puzzle. Rey makes a special stop to say goodbye to Finn in the medical bay.

Rey, Chewbacca, and BB-8 then get into the Falcon and take off. Chewbacca playfully messes up her hair in an endearing gesture. Things are going to be alright, is what the Wookiee is trying to say, as far as I can tell.

I imagine like all Star Wars films, the end is silent with music playing. That’s just my take though. But it seems likely here.

Rey walks up the stone steps. She comes up to a figure and puts the Lightsaber in his hand. Its Luke Skywalker.

The End.

That’s what Luke does. He gets his lightsaber back. He apparently finds an apprentice. It appears Luke Skywalker is very much an artifact being saved for Star Wars: Episode VIII.
 
This is a first.  I think we'd all been assuming that Luke Skywalker would have a more sizable role in the film than this.  I wasn't expecting Luke to be the focus of The Force Awakens, but I did expect we'd see him more of him than this.  That being said, it would make for a cool scene, and a great teaser for what's to come in Episode VIII.  It also lines up with some of my speculation that Han will be the old Ben of the sequels (in that he helps the new generation get started on their journey and is the member of the previous generation who is in the spotlight in the first film of the trilogy) and Luke will be the Yoda (in that he is responsible for a lot of the training and is the member of the previous generation who is the spotlight in the second film).
 
The other surprising thing would be the fact that Mark Hamill was on set for so long!  He was there basically the whole time which fed the speculation that he would have a sizable role in the film.  Could him having been there been a red hearing to keep us off the scent?  I struggle to believe that.  There are lots of conspiracy theories surrounding films like this that stuff is shot that will never be used, but that rarely turns out to be true (I honestly can't think of a single example).

The simple truth is we will have to wait and see on December 18th, 2015.

As always, this is just a rumor until confirmed or denied by Lucasfilm or Disney.

 
Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Mark Hamill, Ray Park, Peter Mayhew & Others Confirmed To Appear At Celebration Anaheim

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By: Benjamin Hart

We are now only 54 days away from the biggest party in the Galaxy kicking off in Anaheim, California, and news is coming faster and more intense the closer we get! A ton of new celebrity guest for Star Wars Celebration Anaheim have just hit the web, including Jedi, Sith, Bounty Hunters and a certain Wookiee.

Today the official Celebration site announced that Luke Skywalker himself will be coming to Anaheim to no doubt discuss his work on The Force Awakens. Joining him will be fellow Episode VII co-star Peter Mayhew(Chewbacca). Also in attendance, and signing autographs with Official Pix, will be Jeremy Bulloch(Boba Fett), Ray Park(Darth Maul), Amy Allen(Aayla Secura), Dickey Beer(Various) Tim Rose(Admiral Ackbar), Anthony Forest(various), Orli Shoshan(Shaak Ti) and Felix Silla(Ewok), Mathew Wood(General Grievous) and, last but not least, Daniel Logan(Young Boba Fett).

Other previously announced guests include Dave Filoni, J.J, Abrams, Carrie Fisher, Kyle Newman and the cast of Star Wars Rebels.

It's also worth noting that the Celebration site also revealed info about where and when you can pick up your badges. You can check that out here!

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim will be happening at the Anaheim Convention center from April 16th through the 19th! Visit the StarWarsCelebration.com to get your tickets now, because you're not going to want to miss this one!

Sources: StarWarsCelebration.com, StarWars.com

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

Rumor: Taron Egerton in Consideration to Play Young Han Solo in Stand Alone Film

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By: Dominic Jones

From Kingsman to Smuggler?  The infamous UK newspaper The Sun is reporting that Kingsmen: The Secret Service star Taron Egerton is being looked at by Star Wars producers as a potential young Han Solo in an upcoming Stand Alone film.  This is expected to be the second stand alone film (due out in 2018 and directed by Josh Trank) as The Sun reports that the first stand alone film (due out in 2016 and directed by Gareth Edwards) will be about Boba Fett.  

According to The Daily Mail,
"The film will reportedly reveal how Harrison Ford's iconic character got the Millennium Falcon and as well as showing how he fell out with Jabba the Hutt, according to The Sun."

Keep in mind The Sun's reputation is sketchy at best so I wouldn't be too quick to buy into this one.  I can't say I know much about Taron, but I don't think he looks enough like Ford to really pull off young Han.  But then again, he could turn in a great performance.

As always this is just a rumor until confirmed or denied by Lucasfilm or Disney.


Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

The Clone Wars: Season Seven Arc To be Revealed Soon?

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Dave Filoni's concept sketch of a resurrected Clone Trooper Ech(at left) alongside a fan imagining of of the finished animation by Brian Snook(at right).
By: Benjamin Hart

After a feature film, five seasons on television and one on Netflix, the beloved animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars officially drew to a close early last year. But since then we've seen that Season six was far from the end of the show. We have been treated to the Darth Maul: Son Of Dathomir comic series, the Crystal Crisis On Utapau story reel arc and we're currently anticipating the new novel Dark Disciple, all of which continue stories from the The Clone Wars in different mediums. Now it appears the trend may continue!

Former Clone Wars writer Brent Friedman recently took to Twitter to answer fan questions about the series, and one of the responses he gave was very intriguing. Twitter user PJ Monkey inquired about a "Bad Batch Arc", to which Friedman replied:


"The Bad Batch" arc that they refers to is an unreleased set of four episodes from the planned seventh season of The Clone Wars. Details about this arc first surfaced last year when supervising director Dave Filoni revealed some concept art of Clone Trooper Echo, who had been presumed dead since the Citadel story arc in season three, thus confirming the character was alive. Brent Friedman, who wrote the episodes, later revealed that the arc would revolve around Captain Rex leading a group of experimental Clone Commandos, including Echo, called "The Bad Batch". Being that the episodes were fully written, and possibly even partially animated, that means that this arc is a very likely candidate to for some type of release, be it in some time of animated form, or a book or comic. We'll just have to take Brent's advice and wait and see.

Sources: Twitter, Wookieepedia
Via: The Wolfpack Podcast

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