Star Wars Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

With poor box office numbers so far for Pixar‘s “Elemental” and James Mangold‘s “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny,” Disney sees itself in the middle of its worst theatrical slump in a long time. And it arguably started back in March with “Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania,” which made less than $500 million worldwide and suffered the steepest second-week drop at the domestic box office of any Marvel film.

Disney has finally given Star Wars fans their first look at live-action Grand Admiral Thrawn! In the recent Ahsoka series trailer, we finally get to see the face of the Chiss admiral. Thrawn is seemingly the main antagonist in the upcoming Ahsoka Tano spin-off series. Grand Admiral Thrawn was also one of the “big bads” in the hit animated show Star Wars Rebels. It was announced in April at this year’s Star Wars Celebration that Lars Mikkelsen would reprise his role as the Star Wars villain.

The Sith, the ancient enemy of the Jedi order in Star Wars. The Sith are easily recognizable. They wield a bright red lightsaber, wear black robes, and most have dark yellow eyes.

Alison Herman TV Critic For a few years in the 2010s, TV was seen as a refuge from the intellectual property boom engulfing blockbuster filmmaking. Original, mid-budget stories aimed at adults were no longer welcome at the multiplex, but they could often find a home in a prestige-hungry medium newly attractive to A-list talent. Beginning with the launch of the streaming service Disney+ in 2019, however, “cinematic” universes like Star Wars and Marvel established a presence on the small screen, while the conclusion of “Game of Thrones” that same year kicked off the arms race for the next crossover genre hit. The Primetime Emmy Awards have acknowledged this trend in the past. “WandaVision,” “The Mandalorian,” and “The Boys” all earned series nominations in prior years, affording artistic legitimacy to these franchises in addition to their popular success. (The first two series were the small screen debuts of Marvel and Star Wars, respectively; “The Boys” is a superhero satire that is itself adapted from a comic book, with a budget and fandom to match that of its targets.) But for its 75th annual honors, the Television Academy fully embraced the IP extravaganza that’s enveloped the rest of culture. TV is no longer a refuge from the prevailing winds, but a channel for them.

Star Wars: Ahsoka finally has a new trailer! After a few days of teasing, Disney has finally released what is probably the last Ahsoka series trailer. We finally get to see Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka reunite with some fan-favorite characters. In the trailer, we see many familiar faces from the animated series Star Wars: Rebels.

While the feature side of their “Star Wars” universe is slowly coming together, Lucasfilm is already heading into their second spinoff show connected to “The Mandalorian” with Dave Filoni’s “Star Wars: Ahsoka.” Today, Disney+ released a new trailer and poster for the Rosario Dawson-starring show and also announced that the series debut on August 23 will kick off with the first two episodes.

William J. Immerman, a veteran movie producer who held senior executive positions at studios including 20th Century Fox, died June 24 at his home in Los Angeles of natural causes, his widow, Ginger Immerman told TheWrap on Friday.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Bill Immerman, veteran executive at film companies including 20th Century Fox, AIP, Cannon Films and Yari Film Group, died June 24 in Los Angeles of natural causes. Born Dec. 29, 1937 in New York, he graduated the U. of Wisconsin and obtained his J.D. at Stanford Law School. Before moving into entertainment, Immerman started his career as a deputy district attorney for the County of Los Angeles. He joined American International Pictures as associate counsel in 1965, eventually heading up business affairs and serving as production executive on films including “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Wild In the Streets,” “Three In the Attic” and “An Evening of Edgar Allen Poe,” starring Vincent Price.

Bill Immerman, who was a Senior EVP during the 20th Century Fox 1970s heyday that produced such box office hits as Star Wars, Young Frankensten, and The Omen, died June 24 at his Los Angeles home of natural causes. He was 85.

Peacock today is launching Moley, the animated kids series starring Warwick Davies, Gemma Arterton and Julie Walters.

Movie stars no longer “own” Hollywood, we are told, but two hallowed brand names owned much of the media space this week.

Star Wars: Ahsoka is right around the corner! With that being said, we do not know a whole lot about this upcoming series. Recently there have been rumors surrounding the voice of Ahsoka Tano, Ashley Eckstein. Ashley voiced Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Star Wars Tales Of The Jedi.

Maybe this is why we should take filmmaker debunks with a grain of salt? Way back in 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm; you remember that, of course. And in the ensuing years, there were rumors of many proposed solo films, a Han Solo movie, a Yoda movie, and a Boba Fett film.

What do we know about the new “Star Wars” series “Skeleton Crew” from creators Jon Watts (director of the Marvel/Sony ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy) and Christopher Ford (one of the writers on Watts’ “Spider-Man: Homecoming”)? Well, we know it has an Amblin vibe, with the producer citing things like “E.T.” and “The Goonies” as influences.

Star Wars franchise has its first ever transgender actor, who will star in forthcoming spinoff series The Acolyte.According to DisneyDining.com, Abigail Thorn has been cast as Ensign Eurus in the forthcoming Disney+ series alongside Amandla Stenberg, Jodie Turner-Smith, Dafne Keen and others.Thorn has yet to confirm the news publicly. NME has contacted Disney+ for comment.Thorn is a British actress, writer and director who produces the YouTube channel Philosophy Tube.

Star Wars franchise has its first ever transgender actor, who will star in forthcoming spinoff series The Acolyte.According to DisneyDining.com, Abigail Thorn has been cast as Ensign Eurus in the forthcoming Disney+ series alongside Amandla Stenberg, Jodie Turner-Smith, Dafne Keen and others.Thorn has yet to confirm the news publicly. NME has contacted Disney+ for comment.Thorn is a British actress, writer and director who produces the YouTube channel Philosophy Tube.

The live-action Ahsoka Tano series is set to release in just a few months! Many Star Wars fans are looking forward to this project and can not wait till late August to see the chosen one’s padawan back in live-action. Luckily, we will be getting some more footage very soon! Thanks to the ESSENCE Festival this weekend we will see a sneak peek at Star Wars: Ahsoka.   “Disney is proud to return to the ESSENCE Festival of Culture as a major sponsor and showcase the magic happening across our brands,” said Jill Estorino, president and managing director of Disney Parks International.

“The Empire Strips Back,” a “Star Wars”-themed burlesque show.At all 90-minute performances, audiences are treated to scantily-clad, gyrating Princess Leia, stormtroopers, C-3PO, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and many more characters reimagining the popular sci-fi series for a late-night crowd.“I had a disconcerting suspicion that the taboo dreams of many of those around me were finally coming true,” wrote New York Post critic Johnny Oleksinski in his review of the titillating evening.And if this sounds like the “Star Wars” show for you, we’re happy to report that you can grab tickets for “The Empire Strips Back” literally right now.While most performances start at $55 before fees on Vivid Seats, we did find some tickets going for as low as $44 before fees.Want to see all your favorite “Star Wars” icons like you never have before?Keep reading.We’ve got everything you need to know and more about “The Empire Strips Back” below.All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.As of right now, it appears that “The Empire Strips Back” has eight shows a week running Wednesdays through Sunday.Our records show Wednesday and Thursday shows start at 7:30 p.m.On Fridays, “The Empire Strips Back” begins at 7 and 9:30 p.m.The Saturday crowd can catch 4, 7 and 9:30 p.m. showings.Finally, a 4 p.m.

Prop Store Auction, which is handling sale of the dress.According to the company, the dress is the only surviving costume worn by Carrie Fisher in “Star Wars.”Designed by Academy Award-winning costume designer John Mollo, the dress is made of “cream lightweight silk fabric and includes intricate draping,” Prop Store Auction says. Mollo won the Oscar for costume design for his work on “Star Wars” at the 1978 Oscars.

Her Universe, the fandom-centric fashion brand created by “Star Wars” voice actor Ashley Eckstein, will return to San Diego Comic-Con for its ninth annual fashion show on July 20, for a celebration of Disney’s 100-year anniversary.The show will feature clothing designs from across the company’s various properties, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and more. The fashion show will be co-hosted by Eckstein and Michael James Scott, who is currently starring on Broadway as The Genie in “Aladdin.”Scott, an actor and recording artist best known for his Broadway roles, is expected to perform during the fashion show in addition to co-hosting with Eckstein.

Michael Shannon recently reprised his role as General Zod in the new “Flash” film for DC Studios. This marks the first time the actor has had a starring role in a huge franchise film since the original time we saw Zod in 2013’s “Man of Steel.” And according to Shannon, that’s not by mistake, as the actor doesn’t really have any interest in acting in franchise films, not even a “Star Wars” feature.

Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars, passed away at the age of 60 on December 27, 2016, after suffering a massive heart attack on December 23, 2016. She left behind a legacy that friends and fans alike will never forget.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic “Superhero fatigue” is a phrase that tends to make devoted movie lovers swoon with rapture. If you’re someone who cares about movies, who cares about cinema, the very prospect of superhero fatigue inspires you to think: Yes! There’s hope! People will get tired of this shit! But let’s be honest — that’s probably wishful thinking. In the last 20 years, led by Marvel but by no means limited to Marvel, comic book movies have infiltrated our culture and our consciousness to the point that they’re now part of who we are. If you ask any number of people, especially dudes of a certain generation, to name their favorite film, they will look at you and say “Star Wars,” often with a smirk that’s really saying, “’Star Wars,’ of course!” These aren’t just “Star Wars” fans. They’re “Star Wars” fundamentalists, who built the seedbeds of their imaginations on the original trilogy.

Mads Mikkelsen has said it’s an “enormous honour” to be in the upcoming new Indiana Jones film, India Jones and the Dial of Destiny.Mikkelsen, who plays villain Jürgen Voller in the film, said it felt that way due to his personal connection to the franchise – something he said he “grew up with”.During a recent press conference about the film, Mikkelsen said: “It’s not my first franchise, but it’s the first one I grew up with. I’ve been lying in all the other interviews when I did Bond and Star Wars.

This story about Andy Serkis and “Andor” first ran in the drama issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… Andy Serkis was already a part of “Star Wars.”Thanks to the magic of performance capture, the actor starred as Snoke, the gnarled heir apparent to the evil Galactic Emperor, in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and Rian Johnson’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” So it was a surprise when Serkis, in human form, popped up in “Andor,” Tony Gilroy’s live-action prequel series to 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”Serkis plays Kino Loy, an inmate in an Imperial prison that is also holding Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor. Loy is a gruff enforcer who is slowly radicalized by Andor and his escape plan.

In the recent teaser trailers for the Star Wars: Ahsoka series we see many familiar characters. One of which is the Mandalorian Sabine Wren. Sabine made her debut in Star Wars Rebels and quickly became a fan favorite.  For casual Star Wars fans, these trailers may be confusing.

As an animated anthology series, Star Wars: Visions gives animation studios from around the world an opportunity to bring their perspective and inspirations to the Star Wars universe. Chilean director Gabriel Osorio brought Patagonian influences to the story of his episode “In the Stars.” The short follows two sisters living in hiding from the invading Empire. As the last of their kind, they must fight back when they are discovered. Using the Empire as a colonizing force, Osorio brought in elements of the actual story of how Patagonia was colonized and used the appearance of stop motion for the animation to give the short a “handcrafted feel.”

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Disney is to close its six remaining linear TV channels in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea as the conglomerate puts a greater emphasis on direct-to-consumer streaming. The channels concerned are National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Star Chinese Movies, Star Chinese Channel, Star Movies and Star World. Linear services will end from September in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Korea, and by December in Taiwan. The group expects to retain a streamlined television portfolio with channels in Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand for the time being.

Massive release date changes were fairly commonplace over the past few years, as we watched the COVID pandemic shift entire distribution strategies for film studios. Now, it appears the WGA Strike has finally shown its impact on film releases, at least over at Disney, as the studio delays some of the biggest films on its schedule including new “Avengers,” “Star Wars,” and “Avatar” films.

There have been plenty of Star Wars games over the years, but nothing like what Star Wars Outlaws could be. This completely open-world game developed by Ubisoft is set to release sometime in 2024. Star Wars games have mostly been focused on action adventure games and shooters in recent years.

There are a ton of changes happening to the theatrical release calendar.

latest look at the next “big” Netflix original concurrently with the launch of the most recent biggie is pretty par for the course.“They Cloned Tyrone” is the directorial debut of Juel Taylor, who previously wrote or co-wrote films like “Creed II,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and the recently-released (on Peacock) LeBron James biopic “Shooting Stars.” This Black List script, penned by Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier (who also shares credit with Taylor on the two LeBron James-specific titles) looks to have become a peppy caper-ish genre throwback. The trailer lays out the tone and hints at the plot, all set to Rockwell’s 80’s single “Somebody’s Watching Me.” The comic conspiracy tale stars, stars John Boyega (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Breaking”), Teyonah Parris (“Chi-Raq,” “If Beale Street Could Talk”) and Jamie Foxx (“Project Power,” “Day Job”) as three locals (a hustler, a pimp and a prostitute) who discover a diabolical conspiracy right beneath their feet.

Star Wars series Andor was supposed to feature the franchise’s first ever F-bomb, but it ended up being refused by Disney.Created by Tony Gilroy, the series takes place five years before events in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, as Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) becomes involved in the mounting resistance against the Galactic Empire.It is the fourth live-action series set in the Star Wars universe, following The Mandalorian, The Book Of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi.In a new interview with Variety, director Benjamin Caron revealed that the show was set to feature an F-bomb in a crucial scene, but the request ended up being turned down by Disney.In the scene, Cassian’s late adoptive mother Maarva Andor delivers a speech via hologram, which ends: “Fight the Empire!”As Caron revealed, the initial script instead had her saying: “Fuck the empire!”“Disney wouldn’t let us use it,” he revealed. “So we changed it to ‘Fight the empire.’ I remember having a call with Tony Gilroy saying, ‘Are we gonna get away with this?’”The director added how he “wrote a legal brief” to Disney encouraging them to let them use the word.

Netflix hit “Beef,” for a Variety interview. The series, which follows a feud stemming from a road rage incident, prompted Pascal to share his own story.“It was my fault. I’ve had three incidents, and they’ve all been my fault,” Pascal confessed.

The Ubisoft Forward game showcase event debuted brand-new footage for “Star Wars: Outlaws,” Ubisoft’s expensive, open-world take on the “Star Wars” universe. The gameplay saw players going through a third-person stealth-action mission filled with crouching, shooting, bonking people on the head and most other standard gameplay mechanics of AAA studio third-person games.

cinematic trailer on Sunday for “Star Wars: Outlaws,” the first open world “Star Wars” video game which will be launched next year. The trailer, which aired during the Xbox Games Showcase, introduces fans to Kay Vess, a young smuggler desperate for a way out as she is hunted by the criminal syndicates that have prospered under the Galactic Empire’s reign and who are the true power on the backwater planets where Kay struggles to survive.