This spring, The Walt Disney Company builds on powerful momentum from a record-breaking 2025, with an exciting slate that fans across Lucasfilm, Pixar Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures won’t want to miss.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2 is now the No. 1 domestic release of 2025, also ranking as the No. 1 MPA animated film of all time worldwide. This milestone marks the second consecutive year that The Walt Disney Studios has delivered the top domestic release — and in 2025, Disney claimed three of the top four domestic films overall with Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch, and Avatar: Fire and Ash.

That strength extends to streaming. 20th Century Studios’ Predator: Badlands debuted as the No. 1 film premiere on Hulu since Prey, drawing nearly 9 million global views in its first five days across Disney+ and Hulu. In total, audiences have streamed more than 300 million hours of the Predator franchise globally on Disney’s streaming platforms.

Disney enters 2026 on a remarkable run, backed by a daring slate poised to captivate audiences around the world.

Here’s what’s coming to theaters this Spring 2026:

• Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers — March 6
• Searchlight Pictures’ Ready or Not 2: Here I Come — March 20
• 20th Century Studios’ The Devil Wears Prada 2 — May 1
• Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu — May 22

Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers

Release Date: March 6

Disney and Pixar’s next original animated comedy follows a young animal lover who “hops” her consciousness into a robotic beaver to communicate with animals and protect their habitat. The all-star ensemble features the voices of Piper Curda (Mabel), Bobby Moynihan (King George), Jon Hamm (Mayor Jerry), Meryl Streep (Insect Queen), Dave Franco (Titus), Kathy Najimy (Dr. Sam), and more. Hoppers delivers heart, humor, and a wholly original world to fans of all ages.

Searchlight Pictures’ Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Release Date: March 20

Let the game begin! Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace (Samara Weaving) discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all. The unpredictable sequel raises the stakes on the deadly game that made the first film a breakout hit. Radio Silence’s Ready or Not 2 also stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, with David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood.

20th Century Studios’ The Devil Wears Prada 2

Release Date: May 1

The Devil Wears Prada 2? This spring? Groundbreaking. After two decades, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine in the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2006 phenomenon that defined a generation.

Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu

Release Date: May 22

After more than 6 years since Star Wars was in theaters, the galaxy’s favorite duo is about to make their debut on the big screen. When dangerous warlords threaten a peaceful galaxy, the New Republic calls upon legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu to protect everything the Rebellion fought for. Directed by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian and Grogu also stars Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White and is produced by Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, with music composed by Ludwig Göransson.

Following a record-setting year in theaters, Disney’s 2026 lineup raises the bar with fresh storytelling, fan-favorite worlds, and big-screen experiences designed to bring audiences together.

This summer, Disney and Pixar return with Toy Story 5 on June 19, followed by Disney Live Action’s highly anticipated reimagining of Moana on July 10. Searchlight Pictures keeps the energy high with the comedy Super Troopers 3 on August 7, before 20th Century Studios closes out the blockbuster season with Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars on August 28.

In a collaboration that bridges generations and fandoms, Disney, Lucasfilm, and GoNoodle are joining forces to bring the world of Star Wars to classrooms, living rooms, and learning spaces across the country through short, engaging content that blends movement and mindfulness.

Designed to help kids refocus, move, and build healthy habits, this new initiative blends GoNoodle’s beloved developmental programming with the iconic characters and stories of Star Wars — launching a playful, educational adventure that parents and teachers can access anytime, anywhere.

“At Disney and Lucasfilm, we believe great stories spark curiosity and creativity. Bringing Star Wars into the GoNoodle platform lets kids experience the characters and stories they love in a way that’s active, joyful, and meaningful,” Jeff Benjenk, Vice President of Brand Marketing at The Walt Disney Company, said. “Together, we’re giving families and educators simple tools they can rely on to inspire movement, mindfulness, and imagination every day.”

Making Mindfulness Fun with the Force

The debut video in the series features none other than Grogu, one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars galaxy. In this short, Grogu guides children through a mindful breathing exercise — inviting them to slow down and center themselves using Jedi training tricks.

“Grogu embodies the qualities we want every child to build: curiosity, balance, and kindness, making him a natural fit for GoNoodle’s mission to transform how mindfulness shows up in classrooms and school communities,” KC Estenson, CEO of GoNoodle, said.

This video helps kids practice important developmental skills like self-regulation, focus, and healthy daily habits. This program was developed with an understanding of the roles that movement and mindfulness play in helping kids to regulate and optimize student learning — two of the core principles that GoNoodle was founded on.

The video will be freely available on GoNoodle’s website on a designated Star Wars channel as well as on YouTube, ensuring that teachers and parents can integrate it effortlessly into routines at school or at home.

“Through the new Star Wars channel, mindfulness content, and curriculum-paired activity, we’re equipping educators with trusted tools that help students focus, settle, and find their balance in ways that feel joyful and familiar,” Estenson said. “By weaving mindfulness into movement and play, we’re helping kids build emotional regulation skills they can carry with them for a lifetime.”

This partnership brings together two brands that families know and trust. For nearly a decade, Disney and GoNoodle have worked side by side to create memorable content rooted in movement, joy, and developmental support for young learners. This latest collaboration builds on that relationship by introducing the legendary Star Wars characters and stories to a new generation in a way that is energetic and educational, encouraging connection between young fans and the stories their parents and teachers grew up loving.

A Galaxy Reimagined for the Classroom and Living Room

Teachers have long relied on GoNoodle’s activities to support transitions, reenergize students, or help them reset between lessons. This new collaboration is crafted to make those moments even more captivating — helping young learners stay engaged while building the social-emotional skills that will stay with them throughout their lives.

At home, Grogu can help kids refocus their energy as they come back from school, finish homework, get ready for dinner, or even prepare for bedtime. This effort also highlights Disney’s commitment to storytelling that supports children’s development — infusing familiar characters into platforms that nurture creativity, calm, and confidence.

This first video marks only the beginning. Star Wars and GoNoodle are planning additional content drops all year long, expanding the collaboration with more characters, more movement, and more opportunities for kids to practice Jedi skills. Parents, educators, and fans can expect additional playful, purpose-driven programming that showcases the vibrant world of Star Wars in new and meaningful ways.

The initiative arrives at an exciting moment in the Star Wars universe as anticipation builds for The Mandalorian & Grogu, premiering May 22, 2026, where Grogu’s journey continues alongside the legendary bounty hunter Din Djarin. Starting on May 22, guests will also be able to team up with Grogu and Din Djarin on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.

Today, to mark the start of production on Star Wars: Starfighter, Lucasfilm has announced the full cast for the upcoming feature film from Shawn Levy. Joining the previously announced Ryan Gosling, the film stars Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams.

Star Wars: Starfighter is an all-new standalone adventure. The film, which has begun production, is an entirely original story set in a period of time never before explored in Star Wars. Starfighter will be released theatrically May 28, 2027.

“I feel a profound sense of excitement and honor as we begin production on Star Wars: Starfighter,” says filmmaker Shawn Levy. “From the day Kathy Kennedy called me up, inviting me to develop an original adventure in this incredible Star Wars galaxy, this experience has been a dream come true, creatively and personally. Star Wars shaped my sense of what story can do, how characters and cinematic moments can live with us forever. To join this storytelling galaxy with such brilliant collaborators onscreen and off, is the thrill of a lifetime.”

Directed by Shawn Levy, the film is produced by Levy and Kathleen Kennedy. Executive producers are Ryan Gosling, Dan Levine, Mary McLaglen, and Josh McLaglen. The script is by Jonathan Tropper.

Darth Vader, the infamous villain from Star Wars, appeared in Fortnite on Friday in an entirely new way as a conversational AI-experience, powered by the iconic voice of Disney Legend James Earl Jones.

In close consultation with the family of James Earl Jones (who passed away last year), Disney, and Lucasfilm, Epic Games used groundbreaking AI technology to allow fans to interact with this renowned character in ways that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

“James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it,” the family of James Earl Jones said. “We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character.”

Epic Games and Disney have worked together to thoughtfully develop this innovative feature with a strong focus on transparency, consent, and safety — ensuring that creators, Disney IP, and players are protected in interactive experiences.

“James Earl Jones’ legendary vocal performance is a defining element of what makes Darth Vader one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history,” Sean Shoptaw, EVP, Disney Games and Digital Entertainment, said. “Disney, Lucasfilm, and Epic Games are honored to bring his voice to Fortnite for millions of players to experience — showcasing how we responsibly embrace emerging technologies to expand storytelling while keeping people at the heart of the creative process.”

“We just launched the most expansive Star Wars collaboration Epic and Disney have ever done, and we are excited to introduce a new and immersive way for players to interact with a legendary Star Wars character,” said Adam Sussman, President of Epic Games. “Now players have a chance to chat in real time with Darth Vader in Fortnite, one of the most memorable characters in cinematic history.”

Players under the age of 13, or below their country’s digital age of consent (whichever is higher), will need parental permission to engage in conversation with the character. When players talk to Vader, Epic Games securely processes the voice audio to generate Vader’s responses, but audio and transcriptions of the conversation are not stored. Players can also report anything Darth Vader says.

To learn more, head to Fortnite.

Plus, Players Can Link Their Epic Accounts with Their MyDisney Accounts to Unlock a First Order Stormtrooper Outfit

Epic and Disney are embarking on their most expansive Star Wars collaboration in Fortnite to date with the first entirely Star Wars-themed Battle Royale Season and the in-game premiere of Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld on May 2, two days ahead of its Disney+ launch. This marks the first debut of a Disney+ series in a game.

Recently announced at Star Wars Celebration, Fortnite: GALACTIC BATTLE begins May 2 and introduces new Star Wars content and gameplay to Battle Royale each week. Fans can play as Darth Jar Jar or Emperor Palpatine, while piloting ships like X-wings and TIE Fighters. The season will culminate in an epic in-game live event, Death Star Sabotage.

The Star Wars Watch Party island will also go live on May 2, and beginning at 10am ET, players will have a chance to view the first two episodes of Lucasfilm Animation’s Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, an all-new anthology series of animated shorts from creator Dave Filoni focusing on the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy through the experiences of two iconic villains: Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane. Beyond the Star Wars Watch Party theater, players have the opportunity to fight off incoming waves of Stormtroopers using blasters and lightsabers. The standalone Star Wars Watch Party island was built in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) and uses official Star Wars assets to create a breathtaking environment inspired by a galaxy far, far away.

To further bridge the worlds of Fortnite and Disney, starting today players and fans can link their Epic Games and MyDisney accounts. Eligible players who choose to link their Epic and MyDisney accounts will unlock a First Order Stormtrooper Outfit to further celebrate the upcoming Star Wars season of Battle Royale — with more benefits to come. This is a first step to enable Fortnite players and Disney fans to seamlessly move between Epic and Disney’s ecosystems, bringing more value to streaming subscribers as we work to build an all new Disney games and entertainment universe connected to Fortnite.

“For the first time, Disney+ is premiering a show inside a game, launching alongside our largest Star Wars collaboration with Fortnite to date — giving fans and players an exciting first look at the kinds of experiences they can expect as we shape a new future together,” said Sean Shoptaw, Executive Vice President, Disney Games & Digital Entertainment. “We’re building the next era of digital entertainment, where fans can play, watch, create and connect — and we’re just beginning to tap into what’s possible.”

“Disney and Epic are pioneering the future of social entertainment together, and this expansive Star Wars collaboration offers a glimpse into the type of interactive experiences we envision,” said Adam Sussman, President, Epic Games. “We are reimagining what’s possible with immersive storytelling in Fortnite with one of the world’s most beloved franchises — stay tuned for a lot more to come.”

You can read more about how to join the Star Wars Watch Party island and Epic and MyDisney account linking on the Fortnite Blog here.

About Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld

From creator Dave Filoni comes Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, an all-new anthology series of animated shorts which will premiere May 4, 2025, exclusively on Disney+. The popular series, which began in 2022 with Tales of the Jedi and continued in 2024 with Tales of the Empire, this time focuses on the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy through the experiences of two iconic villains. Former assassin and bounty hunter Asajj Ventress is given a new chance at life and must go on the run with an unexpected new ally, while outlaw Cad Bane faces his past when he confronts an old friend, now a Marshal on the opposite side of the law.

Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld is executive produced by Dave Filoni, Athena Yvette Portillo, and Carrie Beck. Dave Filoni is supervising director, Josh Rimes is co-executive producer, Alex Spotswood is the senior producer, and Matt Michnovetz is the writer. Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld stars Nika Futterman, Corey Burton, Artt Butler, Lane Factor, AJ LoCascio, Clare Grant, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Eric Lopez.

The Force is strong with Revenge of the Sith at the box office.

This weekend, two decades after its initial theatrical release, Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith proved its lasting audience appeal by taking in an estimated $42.2 million at the global box.

Revenge of the Sith — which was re-released Friday in celebration of its 20 anniversary — made an estimated $25.2 million domestically, helping it take the No. 2 spot at the box office. It played in 2,775 domestic theaters, and was shown in several formats, including, for the first time, 4DX. Outside of the U.S., it also played in select theaters within many markets — including Germany (where it opened No. 1), France, Spain, UK, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico — on its way to an estimated $17 million internationally.

This is one of the top-grossing re-release weekends in domestic industry history, playing behind Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope ($36 million from the January, 1997 Special Edition release) and The Lion King ($30 million from September, 2011 3D release). Last year, Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace proved it was still a box office Force by making $14.5 million at the global box office for its 25 anniversary re-release, with $8.1 million coming domestically.

Prior to this weekend, Revenge of the Sith had already earned $850 million globally.

Stars of the film, such as Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor, have seen continued success reprising their iconic roles in various Star Wars projects since the initial prequel trilogy was released.

In the Emmy®-nominated limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+, McGregor reprised the titular role, with Christensen returning as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Christensen can also be seen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the Emmy®-winning Disney+ series Ahsoka.

Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson, who played Mace Windu in the prequel trilogy, surprised fans at a sold-out screening on Friday night at the El Capitan Theatre in downtown Hollywood. The duo was met with rapturous applause by the audience.

Last weekend, Christensen appeared at Star Wars Celebration Japan, the biggest international Star Wars Celebration ever, which was attended by over 105,000 fans from more than 125 countries. At the event, Christensen announced that he would be reprising his role for the second season of Ahsoka, starring alongside Rosario Dawson.

Other news from Star Wars Celebration Japan included major announcements, like an all-new theatrical release — Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, set to hit theaters May 28, 2027, a new series from Lucasfilm Animation — Maul: Shadow Lord set to debut in 2026, an all-new collaboration between Star Wars and Fortnite, and a new update coming to Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort on May 22, 2026, the same day The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to hit theaters.

And, there are other exciting Star Wars stories currently available for fans to enjoy, such as the return earlier this week of the critically-acclaimed series Andor to Disney+, which takes place between the events of Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. There’s also Lucasfilm Animation’s Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, which is set to debut on Disney+ on the ultimate Star Wars holiday, May the 4.

Revenge of the Sith — written and directed by Star Wars creator George Lucas — takes place years after the onset of the Clone Wars, when the noble Jedi Knights lead a massive clone army into a galaxy-wide battle against the Separatists. When the sinister Sith unveil a thousand-year-old plot to rule the galaxy, the Republic crumbles and from its ashes rises the evil Galactic Empire. Jedi Hero Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of the Force to become the Emperor’s new apprentice — Darth Vader. The Jedi are decimated, as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Yoda are forced into hiding.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and the entire Star Wars saga is currently streaming on Disney+.

Lucasfilm’s Andor returns for its highly anticipated second and final season on Tuesday, April 22, only on Disney+. A prequel to the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), the critically acclaimed thriller series tells the story of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his transformation from disinterested, cynical nobody into a key player in the Rebel Alliance.

Andor creator and showrunner Tony Gilroy — who co-wrote the billion-dollar blockbuster Rogue One — once again brings his clear, creative vision to the series, which won a Peabody Award and was nominated for eight Emmys^®, including Outstanding Drama Series.

According to Gilroy, having a previously established ending for the titular character was surprisingly freeing. “It’s having the ending, it’s having the structure, it’s having the boundaries of Season 2 and the leadup to Rogue One that make it possible for the show to be good,” he said. “That restriction, that framework, really allows you to swing within that.”

Whereas Season 1 spanned a single year, Season 2 will cover four years of storytelling. The 12 episodes will release in four “chapters,” consisting of three episodes each, and chart Cassian’s growth into the hero who will eventually make the ultimate sacrifice to steal the plans for the Death Star — paving the way for the events of Star Wars: A New Hope (1977).

An Epic Conclusion

While some characters’ “fates are known,” Gilroy teased, “some are up for grabs.”

What that will ultimately mean for characters such as Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona), Saw Gererra (Forest Whitaker), Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), Dedra Meero (Denise Gough), and Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) remains to be seen. But, Gilroy said, they all have an important role to play amid the Empire’s rise. “All of our characters are so fascinating and they’re so intertwined with one another,” he explained. “They’re all tribally connected, and they inevitably lead to each other, in a way.”

As for Cassian? “It’s interesting, because Season 1 covered just one year of his life, but there’s so much that he witnessed, so much he went through. There is a lot for him to take in, to digest,” Luna said. “In the second season, we’re going to see four years of his life, and there’s still a lot of growth needed for him to get to the point where we see him in Rogue One. One thing that’s very interesting is that he has an awakening, but now he has to find out what he’s capable of. He has to understand what’s going on around him; it’s not an easy moment in the history of this galaxy far, far away to actually understand what’s going on.”

The Adventures Continue

When Andor concludes May 13, Luna believes fans will see Rogue One in a different light.

“It has changed the way I see Rogue One; I’m positive of that,” Luna said. “Rogue One is about events, but you don’t get to know the characters, what’s behind their choices. And now you will. You will know what he means when he talks about sacrifice, when he talks about doing terrible things for the rebellion. You’ll understand, because you’ll know what he’s thinking, who he’s dreaming of, who he is thinking of — and what he’s leaving behind.”

Star Wars Celebration 2025 came to a close last night in Tokyo, after three days of nonstop excitement celebrating Lucasfilm’s impressive slate of major theatrical titles and live action and animated series and specials on Disney+. The weekend featured numerous big announcements, surprise celebrity appearances, and exclusive details and first looks at Lucasfilm’s landmark productions, all of which will continue to deliver unparalleled adventure and entertainment that is truly out of this world.

2025 marks the 16^th occurrence of the bi-annual global event, and this year’s event was the biggest international Star Wars Celebration ever, with over 105,000 guests from 125 countries in attendance, which is an 8 percent increase in overall attendance from the last Celebration, which took place in 2023 in London. It was also the fastest Celebration to sell out. The three-day event, which took place at Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Tokyo, featured 26 hours of programming across the three main stages, and 100 hours of fan panel and podcast content.

The weekend got off to a big start on Friday, with news of an all-new theatrical release set in the Star Wars Galaxy. Lucasfilm’s president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni brought director Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling to the stage to discuss Star Wars: Starfighter, an all-new standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The film, which will begin production this Fall, is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet. Star Wars: Starfighter will be released theatrically May 28, 2027.

The excitement continued when director/co-writer Jon Favreau took to the stage to talk about Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated theatrical release The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to hit theaters May 22, 2026. Joining him were Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni and the film’s stars, Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and Grogu himself, for a brief discussion of what fans can look forward to when the characters from the Emmy Award®-winning Disney+ series bring their biggest adventure yet to the big screen. In the film, the Mandalorian and his young apprentice, Grogu, embark on a thrilling adventure as they travel the galaxy. Behind-the-scenes images and an exclusive first look at the film were shared with the audience.

Friday’s festivities also included a special panel to celebrate Industrial Light & Magic’s contributions to the entertainment industry, as 2025 marks the 50^th anniversary of the groundbreaking visual effects company. The filmmakers from Light & Magic came to the stage to talk about the second season of the acclaimed documentary series, which first premiered in 2022 and is now streaming on Disney+. Lucasfilm’s Light & Magic Season 2 is a three-part series produced by Imagine Documentaries that follows Lucasfilm’s visual effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, as it enters its most challenging and revolutionary period: the dawn of digital. From creating the first fully realized CG character to solving the challenge of digital water, it is an era that finds ILM scaling new heights of innovation despite dramatic setbacks. The director is Joe Johnston, and the executive producers are Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Wilkes, Sara Bernstein, Joe Johnston, Lawrence Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy, and Carrie Beck. Jacqui Lopez, Ted Schillinger and Michael Garcia serve as co-executive producers. The series producers are Meredith Kaulfers and Christopher St. John, and Nicole Pusateri is the supervising producer.

Attendees heard from director Joe Johnston and producer Ron Howard via videotaped greetings, and Sam Witwer (voice of Maul) moderated a panel discussion comprised of Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Lynwen Brennan (president and general manager Lucasfilm Business), Doug Chiang (senior vice president and executive design director, Lucasfilm), Janet Lewin (senior vice president, general manager and head of ILM), John Knoll (ILM executive creative director, senior visual effects supervisor), and Rob Coleman (ILM creative director and senior animation supervisor). Filmmakers then unveiled the trailer and key art.

Also on Friday, a special Lucasfilm Animation Panel to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the division that created fan-favorite and critically acclaimed shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, and more. The panel wasmoderated by David Collins and included panelists Dave Filoni and Athena Yvette Portillo (vice president, animation production, Lucasfilm), and surprise guest Sam Witwer (voice of Maul).

Fans were treated to the world-premiere of the first episode of Lucasfilm Animation’s Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, an all-new anthology series of animated shorts from creator Dave Filoni, which will premiere May 4, 2025, exclusively on Disney+. The popular series, which began in 2022 with Tales of the Jedi and continued in 2024 with Tales of the Empire, this time focuses on the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy through the experiences of two iconic villains. Former assassin and bounty hunter Asajj Ventress is given a new chance at life and must go on the run with an unexpected new ally, while outlaw Cad Bane faces his past when he confronts an old friend, now a Marshal on the opposite side of the law.

The panel ended with an announcement many fans have been waiting for: a brand-new series from Lucasfilm Animation, this one focusing on Maul: Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, premiering on Disney+ in 2026, starring Witwer. Guests were then treated to an exclusive first look at the series, and gifted an exclusive Lucasfilm Animation special 20^th anniversary poster.

Later that day, everyone’s favorite Pooba, Nubs, then came to the Star Wars LIVE! stage, where it was announced that the third season of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures will debut this Fall on Disney+ and Disney Jr.

Set 200 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi Younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs, as they study the ways of the Force, learn from Jedi Master Yoda, explore the galaxy, and help citizens and creatures in need. The upcoming episodes will see the Jedi kids embark on a journey into the delightful world of droid care, where they will befriend the lovable and quirky droid owner of a local shop, Dotti, and three adorable new droid friends: Beepers, Dozer, and Gigi.

The day ended with a photo call at Tokyo’s Zojoji Temple featuring Lucasfilm talent and filmmakers, including Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Gilroy, Diego Luna, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Shawn Levy, and Ryan Gosling, as well as Grogu and the iconic Stormtroopers.

Saturday was devoted to the return of two of Disney+’s most popular series, as well as exciting news about a new LEGO® Star Wars animated project.

Hosts Sascha Boeckle and DJ Taro took to the stage to kick off the day with a thrilling look at the highly anticipated Season 2 of the Emmy®-nominated drama Andor, which returns to Disney+ for its long-awaited conclusion on April 22. The excitement started off with an exclusive look at a recap of Season 1. The duo then welcomed creator/writer/director Tony Gilroy and executive producer and Cassian Andor himself, Diego Luna, to the stage. They were joined by executive producer Sanne Wohlenberg and cast members Genevieve O’Reilly, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, and Alan Tudyk, for a lively discussion of what fans have to look forward to in Season 2.

The 9,000 guests in attendance were treated to a screening of the first episode, followed by an exclusive preview of Season 2, and a special Andor celebration poster.

The second season of Andor takes place as the horizon of war draws near and Cassian becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices, and conflicting agendas will become profound. Rife with political intrigue and danger, the series is a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which portrayed a heroic band of rebels who steal the plans to the Empire’s weapon of mass destruction — The Death Star — setting the stage for the events of the original 1977 film. Andor sets the clock back five years from the events of Rogue One to tell the story of the film’s hero, Cassian Andor, and his transformation from disinterested, cynical nobody into a rebel hero on his way to an epic destiny. The final season will unfold over 12 episodes broken down into four chapters of three episodes each. The first chapter of Season 2 will premiere April 22, with subsequent chapters debuting each week, exclusively on Disney+.

Also on Saturday, Celebration attendees were treated to an exclusive look back at the first season of Ahsoka with guests Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, Rosario Dawson, and Hayden Christensen. Panelists shared never-before-seen photography from Season 1 and early production photography from Season 2. Filmmakers officially confirmed that Rory McCann has been cast in the role of fan-favorite character Baylan Skoll, originated by the late Ray Stevenson, and that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker in the upcoming season. The panel ended with an exclusive concept art preview of what audiences can expect from Ahsoka, Season 2, which officially begins production next week.

Later that day at the Star Wars LIVE! Stage, Ahmed Best thrilled attendees with the announcement of a new LEGO Star Wars animated sequel series, LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild Galaxy – Pieces of the Past, and an all-new teaser poster. In Pieces of the Past, a new threat rises in the galaxy, and Sig Greebling and Darth Dev must combine their powers of Force Building and Sith Breaking to stop it. Alongside Jedi Bob, Yesi Scala, and Servo, they will journey into the deepest corners of LEGO Star Wars lore, uncovering pieces of all the galaxies that have come before…

On Sunday, hosts Sascha Boeckle and DJ Taro provided fans a first look at Volume 3 of Star Wars: Visions, which will debut October 29, 2025, exclusively on Disney+, followed by a panel discussion featuring filmmakers from david production, Kamikaze Douga, Kinema citrus Co, Polygon Pictures, Production I.G, Project Studio Q, TRIGGER, and WIT Studio.

Volume 1 of Star Wars: Visions, which premiered in 2021, received an Emmy® nomination for the short, “The Duel.” The Emmy, Lumierre, and Annie Award-winning second volume was released in 2023, and featured shorts by global animation studios, including Aardman, Cartoon Saloon, Triggerfish, and Punkrobot.

With Volume 3, the animated anthology returns to where it all began with nine shorts from nine different anime studios to further demonstrate the diversity and creativity of Japanese animation.

The titles of each studio’s short, the directors, and key details were revealed for all nine shorts:

David Production – “BLACK”

Directed by Shinya Ohira

A psychedelic battle between past and present, light and dark, and life and death plays out in the haunted psyche of an Imperial trooper who is on the cusp of defeat.

Kamikaze Douga + ANIMA – “The Duel: Payback”

Directed by Takanobu Mizuno

With the help of some unexpected allies, Ronin faces off against his greatest foe – a twisted Jedi known as the Grand Master who is bent on revenge.

Kinema Citrus – “The Lost Ones”

Directed by Hitoshi Haga

After assisting refugees escape a natural disaster, an incognito F is forced to confront the ghosts of her past when their refugee ship is intercepted by the Empire.

Kinema Citrus – “Yuko’s Treasure”

Directed by Masaki Tachibana

A sheltered orphan teams with a street rat kid to rescue his droid caregiver and find a long lost treasure.

Polygon Pictures – “The Bird of Paradise”

Directed by Tadahiro Yoshihira

After she is blinded in battle, a hot headed Jedi padawan must undergo a series of spiritual trials in order to overcome the temptation of the Dark Side.

Production I.G – “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope”

Directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani

Pursued by Jedi Hunters, and blasted adrift into space, Kara encounters a seemingly abandoned ship tended to by a mysterious droid.

Project Studio Q – “The Song of Four Wings”

Directed by Hiroyasu Kobayashi

A princess-turned-rebel protects a child from the might of the Empire on a snowbound planet.

TRIGGER – “The Smuggler”

Directed by Masahiko Otsuka

A smuggler, desperate for a quick payday, agrees to take on a job to bring a wanted young prince to safety as the Empire pursues.

WIT Studio – “The Bounty Hunter”

Directed by Junichi Yamamoto

A rogue bounty hunter takes on a job for a shady industrialist that has unexpected consequences for her and her droid.

While complete cast details have not been announced, an exclusive sizzle was screened for fans in room (and on the Star Wars LIVE! Stream), which featured the voices of Ami Maeshima, Yasuko Hatori, Takako Honda, Yume Miyamoto, Makoto Koichi, and Chinatsu Akasaki from the Original Language cast, and George Takei, Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Kishiyama, Lincoln Bonilla, Jimmie Yamaguchi, Mike Bodie, and Stephanie Hsu from the English dub.

The day ended with an announcement from James Waugh, Lucasfilm’s senior vice president, franchise content and strategy, who also serves as an executive producer on Star Wars: Visions, that the series will continue with the creation of an all-new banner Star Wars: Visions Presents, which will be used to tell longer-form Star Wars: Visions stories. Kenji Kamiyama, who directed The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, joined Waugh on stage to announce the first title to be released under the new banner: Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi. Kamiyama will serve as supervising director of the limited series, which will continue the story of Lah Kara that first debuted in Star Wars: Visions, Volume 1. Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi, a new Star Wars: Visions Presents limited series, will premiere on Disney+ in 2026.

Be sure to check out the 20^th anniversary release of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, in theaters on April 25. The film will run in U.S. theaters and select international territories for one week only, and will be available in several formats, including, for the first time, 4DX. Tickets are on sale everywhere tickets are sold.

This weekend, over 100,000 fans from more than 125 countries are gathering for Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025. The sold-out, three-day event is a unique opportunity for fans to convene around the nearly 50-year-old iconic and beloved franchise.

Fans will have access to first-hand panels with creative talent, opportunities to meet the stars of their favorite Star Wars movies and shows — such as Diego Luna (Cassian Andor), Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), and many others — and be able to immerse themselves in the galaxy far, far away.

Not to mention, they’ll be able to get all the latest Star Wars news and updates, such as the release date of Star Wars: Starfighter and the Season 2 trailer for Light & Magic.

Star Wars Celebration has taken place all over the world since its beginnings in 1999. But, for the second time, it’s landing in Japan, a nation that has “a very special symbiotic relationship” with the Star Wars franchise, according to Carol Choi, EVP, APAC Integrated Marketing & Japan Managing Director at Disney.

“Japan’s rich storytelling, history, art, and popular culture have influenced Star Wars for nearly 50 years, and Star Wars has made its own mark in Japanese storytelling,” Choi said.

Central to the Saga

Japanese popular culture, history, and cinema had a deep influence on George Lucas as he embarked on creating Star Wars. Lucas famously drew from samurai films like Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress to influence a narrative structure and character archetypes for Star Wars. And of course, Darth Vader’s imposing helmet found part of its origin in historic samurai armor.

“Elements like the Jedi, modeled after samurai, and the spiritual aspects of the Force, influenced by Bushido, highlight the profound impact of Japanese culture on the series,” Choi explained. “There is so much love and respect amongst Lucasfilm executives and creators towards Japanese creators, films, anime, and manga, as we will undoubtedly experience at the Celebration this year.”

Lucas Seastrom, Historian at Lucasfilm, noted that this influence continues to this day, “with series like Star Wars: The Clone Wars evoking elements of the Godzilla films or The Mandalorian taking inspiration from Japanese manga.”

Not only has Japan influenced Star Wars, but the success of Star Wars has created a feedback loop to Japanese storytelling

“The success and popularity of Star Wars on both sides of the Pacific helped bring Japanese anime to American audiences, and likewise inspired the growth of science-fantasy anime stories in Japan itself,” Seastrom said. “With the production of Star Wars: Visions in recent years, this has come full circle, with Japanese filmmakers bringing their distinct points of view to create Star Wars stories directly in the anime medium.”

And it isn’t just a connection between the U.S. and Japan, but the whole world, too.

“Star Wars has drawn deep inspiration from Japan and through its storytelling and visual design, introduced aspects of Japanese culture to global audiences across generations,” Choi said.

A Gateway to APAC

“Star Wars Celebration continues to grow year over year. It’s a testament to not only the incredible generational appeal of the saga but also to the lifelong memories that are created at an event like this,” Chris Argyropoulos, VP, Franchise Assets & Publicity, Lucasfilm, said.

This event is a tangible way that fans across APAC can connect with the brand that they love. For instance, many attendees to this year’s Celebration are flying in from Australia and New Zealand, as well as from Southeast Asia.

And fans in the APAC region have that connection to Star Wars due to a variety of touch points with the Star Wars franchise. The films and television series are, of course, global. And series like Star Wars: Visions — a special Disney+ anthology series that was created in collaboration with local Japanese anime studios, have, according to Choi, “really resonated with Japanese and Asian viewers.”

On top of that, Disney Consumer Products collaborates with global and local partners to create a diverse portfolio of products that blend the creative excellence of Japanese manufacturing with the iconic storytelling of Star Wars, so fans can carry the story with them wherever they go.

A Galaxy of Celebration

While there’s always so much Star Wars to celebrate, this year’s Star Wars Celebration will hold space for tons of exciting moments in the coming weeks.

There will be panels on the highly anticipated second season of Andor on April 22; the 20 anniversary of Revenge of the Sith, which is returning to movie theaters in a limited engagement on April 25; a look at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the groundbreaking visual effects house that is the subject of a second season of the seriesLight & Magic, and which celebrates its 50 anniversary in May.

There’s all that and so much more at Star Wars Celebration, which will keep fans interested and in the know as the latest Star Wars projects — like next year’s The Mandalorian and Grogu — come to a galaxy not so far away.

“For Lucasfilm, it’s important that we give fans from all over the world the opportunity to participate in an event like Star Wars Celebration to keep them engaged and get them excited about what the next 50 years will bring,” Argyropoulos said.

Today at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan, Lucasfilm’s President Kathleen Kennedy and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni announced an all-new theatrical release set in the Star Wars Galaxy. Star Wars: Starfighter will open exclusively in theaters May 28, 2027.

Star Wars: Starfighter, which will be directed by Shawn Levy and star Ryan Gosling, is a standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The film, which will begin production this fall, is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet.

Star Wars: Starfighter comes to theaters on May 28, 2027. #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/dsbVb3VdBY

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 18, 2025

Levy is a director and producer of both film and television series, including Deadpool & Wolverine and Stranger Things.

Gosling most recently starred in the 2024 blockbuster Barbie, for which he received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Other credits include La La Land, The Notebook, and Crazy Stupid Love.

Today, Disney+ released the trailer for Lucasfilm Animation’s Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, an all-new anthology series of animated shorts from creator Dave Filoni, premiering exclusively on Disney+ just in time for the ultimate Star Wars holiday, May the 4th.

The popular series, which began in 2022 with Tales of the Jedi and continued in 2024 with Tales of the Empire, this time focuses on the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy through the experiences of two iconic villains. Former assassin and bounty hunter Asajj Ventress is given a new chance at life and must go on the run with an unexpected new ally, while outlaw Cad Bane faces his past when he confronts an old friend, now a Marshal on the opposite side of the law.

Filoni created the series and is the supervising director. He is also an executive producer along with Athena Yvette Portillo and Carrie Beck. Josh Rimes is the co-executive producer, Alex Spotswood is the senior producer, and Matt Michnovetz is the writer.

The voice cast includes Nika Futterman, Corey Burton, Artt Butler, Lane Factor, AJ LoCascio, Clare Grant, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Eric Lopez.

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld joins an expansive collection of Star Wars films and series on Disney+, just in time for May the 4th.

Today, Lucasfilm announced the return of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith to the big screen on April 25 to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary. The film will run in U.S. theaters and select international territories for one week only and will be available in several formats, including, for the first time, 4DX. 4DX features high-tech motion chairs that sync with over 21 effects, all designed to complement the narrative of the film.

Renowned graphic artist Matt Ferguson created an exciting new poster for the re-release event.

Revenge of the Sith takes place years after the onset of the Clone Wars, when the noble Jedi Knights lead a massive clone army into a galaxy-wide battle against the Separatists. When the sinister Sith unveil a thousand-year-old plot to rule the galaxy, the Republic crumbles and from its ashes rises the evil Galactic Empire. Jedi Hero Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of the Force to become the Emperor’s new apprentice — Darth Vader. The Jedi are decimated, as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Yoda are forced into hiding.

The film stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Disney Legend Frank Oz as Yoda, Jimmy Smits, Peter Mayhew, Ahmed Best, Oliver Ford Davies, Temuera Morrison, Anthony Daniels, Silas Carson, Kenny Baker, with Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu and Christopher Lee as Count Dooku. Disney Legend George Lucas wrote and directed the film.

In Lucasfilm’s new, original, live-action series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, four younglings suddenly find themselves lost in a dangerous and unfamiliar galaxy. Set in the era of the New Republic, their adventure begins Monday, December 2, with two episodes on Disney+.

In a Q&A head writers Jon Watts and Christopher Ford — who serve as executive producers alongside Disney Legend Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson — share their inspirations, their experiences with Lucasfilm, and much more.

What makes Skeleton Crew different than anything fans have seen from Star Wars before — and, on the other side of the coin, what makes this series distinctly Star Wars?Jon Watts: It’s a perspective that we’ve never really seen before. We’ve never seen the galaxy through the eyes of four 10-year-old kids; there have been kids in Star Wars, but it’s never been told from their perspective. That, to me, automatically makes it new and fresh.

As you mentioned, the series centers on four kids. What are your childhood memories of Star Wars, and how did those touchpoints influence the story you’re telling on Disney+?Christopher Ford: The kids are a reflection of that feeling. People have talked about how the show has an Amblin or a Goonies feeling, because the show captures the feeling we had when we were kids watching those movies. We would go outside to ride our bikes and play and hope that an adventure would happen to us. For these kids, that actually happens.

How did you ensure the series appeals to audiences of all ages?Jon Watts: There’s a whole universe that already exists, and what we were able to do is simply look at it from a new perspective. You don’t have to go into it with any preexisting knowledge of Star Wars, because the kids are all learning about it for the first time as well. So, that was a fun way to explore a world that we already know and love from a new angle.

What were the benefits of working within the Lucasfilm ecosystem?Christopher Ford: It couldn’t have been a better setup for us. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni had been making Disney+ Star Wars shows already, so they mentored and supervised us. They knew all the challenges and all of the things we were going through… It was like having the best boss you could possibly have. They are also super talented, creative people.

Jon Watts: We were also able to tap into the Lucasfilm design team, like Doug Chiang and everyone on his team. Any idea we had — from a thumbnail sketch on the back of a napkin to a one-sentence description of an idea or a world — they would run with. They’ve been doing this for so long, and they’re so good at it. Everything they pitched back to us was 10 times better than what was in our imagination. The difficult thing about working with Lucasfilm is that everything they’re showing you is cool, so you want to put everything in it.

How did technology — pre-viz, MOCAP, the Volume, etc. — help you tell this story?Jon Watts: Something we had the luxury of doing was make full animatics of every episode first, with me reading all of the dialogue. We’d watch those and then we’d rewrite [the scripts] based off that. It was similar to how you develop an animated project as opposed to a live-action project. Once we had that dialed in, we’d make a 3D pre-viz version of that… It became this iterative process that was so much more helpful than just churning out draft after draft. You really start to see it. By the time we were on set, we’d already lived in the world for such a long time, so it was a much smoother process to go from script to screen.

You hired stop-motion animator Phil Tippett and brought an ILM painter out of retirement. What inspired you to include traditional artistic elements in this series?Jon Watts: Part of what makes something feel like Star Wars is going back to these original, practical, analog techniques. Very often, they can be a little bit more expensive or difficult. Sometimes you literally have to get someone out of retirement to do a matte painting, like we had to do. But we were really encouraged to do that by [our executive producers, Disney Legend] Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, who love those old-school techniques. Any time we said,  “We want to do that,” they would say to us, “Yeah, why not?”

In addition to you, Jon, Skeleton Crew has a murderer’s row of directors that includes David Lowery, the Daniels, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung. What do they bring to the table, and how did you ensure they were able to put their own stamp on their episode without losing the tone you had established in the pilot?Jon Watts: We made a list of all of our favorite directors who had experience either with kids or with VFX, or who had some sort of combination of the two. We then walked them through the script, and we’d also made those animatics for them to watch. It was really fun to sit back and let them do their thing. I’d been given that sort of freedom at Marvel Studios when I was making the Spider-Man movies, so we tried to do the same thing and let them bring their voice to [Skeleton Crew] in as many ways as they felt that they could.

Each young actor brings something unique to their role. What stood out about Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, and Robert Timothy Smith, and how did you define their characters? Each seems to possess a quality that another lacks.Christopher Ford: That started really early in the writing process. When you have a foursome, it’s almost elemental; you want them to be opposites, but in different combinations. Developing that in a really abstract way is a good place to start. You have to get really specific and find people who embody those archetypes, who make them feel real.

Jon Watts: We did a lot of casting, and a lot of really talented kids came through that door. But it’s a different thing when you have this idea of a character in your head; you just kind of have to wait for that character to walk in the room. We rewrote a lot of the dialogue to match the kids that we later cast, so that they could bring a lot of themselves into the roles.

Lastly, what can you tease about Jude Law’s character, Jod Na Nawood?Christopher Ford: We were looking for the character to feel complex — and Jude was able to dive into that. We talked about his backstory and how we wanted it to feel lived in — like he had come from another Star Wars movie you hadn’t seen yet. And he was able to create that feeling somehow. We really kept feeling like he had already been in Star Wars.

After taking a lightspeed trip to 4.8 million views in one day, The Acolyte‘s premiere episode drove 11.1 million views* globally based on five days of streaming, maintaining its status as the biggest series premiere on Disney+ of 2024.

Set during the High Republic Era of the Star Wars saga, The Acolyte tells the story of an investigation into a shocking crime spree that pits a respected Jedi master against a dangerous warrior from his past.

The first episode thrusts viewers right into the action with a gripping fight scene that sets off the central mystery of the series.

“I was very interested in telling a story about the Sith,” Leslye Headland, creator and executive producer of The Acolyte, said. “The logical conclusion would be to set this show in a time period where the Sith are the underdogs.”

The first two episodes of The Acolyte are currently streaming on Disney+, and new episodes will debut every Tuesday through July 16.

Star Wars fans can find the rest of the sprawling saga — from the original trilogy to the latest series — on Disney+.

Created and executive produced by Headland, The Acolyte stars Lee Jung-jae, Amandla Stenberg, Charlie Barnett, Manny Jacinto, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

* A view is defined as total stream time divided by runtime.

Leslye Headland was “very interested in telling a story about the Sith” when it came to The Acolyte — the new Star Wars series on Disney+.

However, in a saga known for heroes like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo, how would the creator and executive producer of the series focus on the bad guys that make up the galaxy far, far away?

One solution: set The Acolyte a long, long time ago.

“The logical conclusion would be to set this show in a time period where the Sith are the underdogs,” Headland said.

And that’s what she did.

A Story from the High Republic Era

The Acolyte — which begins streaming Tuesday on Disney+ — takes audiences into the dark underside of the High Republic Era — a time long before the Skywalker Saga that was filled with peace and hope. During that period of prosperity, Headland crafts a Star Wars story that follows an investigation into a shocking crime spree against Jedi.

The mystery at the heart of the series pits a respected Jedi Master, played by Lee Jung-jae, against a dangerous warrior from his past, played by Amandla Stenberg.

Since this era hasn’t been seen in live action before, that gave Headland leeway for creative freedom.

“We actually can explore something new here and we don’t have to worry about stepping on anything else and preserving something else,” Headland said. That allowed her to tell “a version of Star Wars from the bad guys’ perspective.”

However, one challenge did present itself to Headland as the show came together.

“There’s a lot tonally to try to accomplish,” Headland explained. “I was hoping to have a combination of a darker tone, but still there would be a decent amount of fun and games, and then also an intriguing mystery.”

Fights as emotional scenes

Headland worked closely with action designer and second unit director Chris Cowan to make sure that each fight was — first and foremost — “an emotional scene.”

She added that the fights would be broken down into sequences, so that by the third part of a confrontation “something is revealed, and you have a shift in who’s in control, who’s in power.”

That lends narrative propulsion to each action sequence, rather than stopping the development of the characters and plot. The fight scenes are also often depicted in wide shots where the actors’ entire bodies can be seen executing the fight choreography, lending real-world weight and plausibility to those moments.

Walking the tightrope with support from Lucasfilm

Creating an eight-part installment in one of the most well-known franchises in this or any galaxy was a significant change for Headland, who had mainly worked in independent films prior to collaborating with the teams at Lucasfilm and Disney.

Headland described being “overwhelmed by the support that I got from Lucasfilm,” adding that due to her time making smaller projects, she was “always fighting uphill to get something made. I had never been in the position where there were a dozen people cheering you on.”

She added that she had “a lot of people at Lucasfilm supporting me, my designers, my writers, my cast.”

“I felt like I had a vision and I had something that had a lot of merit and could work really well in this world,” Headland noted. “But I think without that level of support, it would have been difficult to walk that that tightrope.”

At the end of the first episode of The Acolyte, the first name in the credits is Headland’s. The second is that of Disney Legend and Star Wars creator George Lucas.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice that,” Headland, who is a long-time Star Wars fan, said. “When I first saw that, my heartbeat quickened. That was one of the moments where it really felt real.”

After 25 years, the Force is still strong with The Phantom Menace.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace made an estimated $14.5 million at the global box office this weekend — an impressive total for a re-release of a film that is a quarter century old.

The film — which released on Friday in celebration of its 25th anniversary and timed to May the Fourth, also known as Star Wars Day — made $8.1 million domestically, which helped it take the No. 2 spot at the box office. It was shown in 2,700 domestic theaters, including 150 Premium Large Format screens and 130 specialty motion D-Box/4D auditoriums.

For comparison, the 40th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi opened to $5.1 million in April of last year.

The Phantom Menace opened in 1999 and was instantly a pop culture sensation.

The film — which was directed by Star Wars creator George Lucas and starred Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman — broke box office records and has since found a new generation of fans, growing its popularity over the last two decades.

The film tells the origins of Anakin Skywalker who would eventually become the sinister Darth Vader. The science fiction fantasy classic is full of cinematic innovations, creative storytelling, and iconic moments, which are hallmarks of the Star Wars series.

The re-release of The Phantom Menace was paired with an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte, which premieres June 4.

A significant number of international markets are also playing the film including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Japan, Mexico and Brazil.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and the entire Star Wars saga is currently streaming on Disney+.

The Star Wars ‘March to May the 4th’ campaign began Thursday, March 21 in New York City, with new product announcements including toys, apparel, accessories, collectables and more. The march started with a takeover of the Empire State Building, including a lighting ceremony by Hayden Christensen, who portrays one of the most recognizable antagonists of all time, Darth Vader.

The spectacle was synched to John Williams’ “The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme),” and culminated in a showstopping dynamic light show displayed on the façade of the world-famous New York landmark. The five-minute light show featured scenes from the Star Wars saga, with a special focus on fan-favorite villains including Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, stormtroopers and more.

The takeover of the Empire State Building includes interactive photo moments, which highlight new Star Wars consumer products in window and observatory deck displays. On the iconic 86th Floor Observatory, Star Wars fans can pose with a life-size Funko POP! Darth Vader figure with a backdrop of unmatched New York City skyline views.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of LEGO® Star Wars, the LEGO Group is featuring a museum-quality display of life sized Star Wars villains built from LEGO bricks, including six-foot tall, brick-built recreations of Darth Vader and Darth Maul on the building’s 80th floor.

The building’s iconic Fifth Avenue Lobby windows feature a special Star Wars display that depicts imagery of Darth Vader, Darth Maul and stormtroopers amid an array of Star Wars merchandise.

Select activations throughout the building and within the Observatory Experience will remain open to the public through April 29.

Additionally, Hasbro and Amazon have teamed up to create a Star Wars experience with something for every Star Wars fan on the first floor of the Empire State Building. The immersive retail experience offers visitors photo opportunities with costumed characters, including Darth Vader, and photo backdrops featuring iconic scenes inspired by the films.

Visitors will be able to check out the latest Hasbro Black Series helmets or wield their favorite character’s FX Elite or Kyber Core LIGHTSABER adult and kid collectibles. The Hasbro and Amazon experience will remain open to the public through Saturday, March 23.

Senior Vice President, Global Brand Commercialization, Lucasfilm, Disney Experiences, Paul Southern, commented: “We’re excited to unveil a broad range of new products for fans of all ages with our extensive roster of licensees and retailers as we all march to May the 4th. We really brought the power of the Empire to the Empire State Building with this Star Wars takeover, creating a moment only fit for one of the strongest entertainment brands and most enduring franchises in the world.”

New Star Wars Products

New products include the first of three new Star Wars dark side timepieces from Citizen Watch – STAR WARS | Citizen Imperial Stormtrooper, the LEGO Group’s Invisible Hand and Boarding the Tantive IV, together with products from Just Play and Panasonic.

The Disney Store collections launching in the weeks leading up to May the 4th including the dated May the 4th collectable pin and tumbler, and a thrilling collection created in honor of the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

Disney Store also announced The Sith Apprentice: Darth Maul Legacy LIGHTSABER Set – Limited Edition, complete with light and musical effects, launching on May 4, 2024. For photos from the event, please view our media gallery.

Breaking news from a galaxy far, far away…

As previously announced, Star Wars Celebration will take place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, between April 18–20, 2025, marking the first Star Wars Celebration held in the country since 2008. Fans of all ages—and from all over the world—are invited to come together and immerse themselves in the cultural phenomenon that is Star Wars.

Today, Lucasfilm Ltd. and ReedPop debuted the key art for Star Wars Celebration Japan on StarWars.com. Inspired by the traditional Japanese ink painting style known as sumi-e, the 2025 key art features the looming presence of Darth Vader accompanied by beautiful cherry blossoms and sweeping ink strokes. X-Wings, TIE Fighters, and Imperial AT-ATs are featured prominently in the foreground, while the Rising Sun—Mount Fuji contained within—completes the spectacular piece.

Tickets will go on sale Thursday, May 2, at 7 p.m. EST (U.S. Time) and Friday, May 3, at 8 a.m. JST (Japan Time), with travel packages available for non-local fans who are planning to attend. Star Wars Celebration revels in the excitement of new films, television series, books, art, and comics, while also commemorating the vast history of the ever-expanding Star Wars galaxy. It encompasses three full days that include major announcements, immersive exhibits, an interactive show floor, screenings, exclusive merchandise, celebrity guests, panels, autograph sessions, fan-inspired activities, costumes, and more Star Wars surprises.

Subscribe to the Star Wars Celebration newsletter for more updates.

The Mandalorian and his little green friend Grogu—the stars of the hit Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian—have taken many adventures in the galaxy far, far away. Now, they’re heading somewhere completely different: the big screen.

A new theatrical film directed by Jon Favreau—the creator of The Mandalorian—and produced by Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy—the President of Lucasfilm—and Dave Filoni is set to go into production this year starring the galactic pair.

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

Kennedy added that “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.”

The new film will lead Lucasfilm’s ongoing feature-development slate including projects helmed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold and Filoni, among those in the works.

Filoni is also currently developing the second season of the popular Disney+ series, Ahsoka.

Ahsoka—the latest Star Wars Disney+ series—premiered last week and with it came a lot of fanfare. Part one of the series, Master and Apprentice, was the most-watched title on Disney+ this past week, notching 14 million views.

It makes sense why. Ahsoka Tano—the titular character and double lightsaber wielding Jedi of the series—is one of the most popular characters from the galaxy far, far away. Ever since her debut as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan apprentice in 2008’s The Clone Wars, Ahsoka has made a lot of fans along the way as a beloved female hero.

With the new live-action series starring Rosario Dawson putting the character front and center, we asked Brittney Todd—Disney’s VP of Marketing Strategy—and Kyle Rodri—VP of Creative Advertising—how they marketed the new series to not only expand the Star Wars universe but introduce Ahsoka to whole new galaxy of fans.

Star Wars is one of the most beloved brands. The name Star Wars itself is a marketing tool. With Ahsoka, how do you use the brand to market the series?  Brittney: Lucasfilm and Star Wars has built such a strong brand and reputation. Just seeing the Lucasfilm and Star Wars name stirs all these emotions and nostalgia, and it’s really just about taking care of that and knowing that people have these memories—these core memories—that are connected to the brand. You have to go into it knowing that people feel so close to this story, and it’s just about keeping that top of mind with everything that you do from beginning to end. Ahsoka just falls within that world but knowing that people feel really connected to this universe is something we have to be aware of throughout everything we do on the project.

Kyle: Obviously, these filmmakers have crafted a story that is new, and so you can’t rest on what we’ve done in the past. I think we have to establish that this is an event that is here to excite fans. I think fans deserve to know that a character like this—which has had such a long history in animation—is getting her own series. And I think that the event nature of it deserves a marketing campaign that is specific to it.

Ahsoka is set around a female character. In fact, multiple female characters. How does that impact the marketing strategy around it?Brittney: I think that females have always been a part of the Star Wars galaxy. They’ve always been a part of the stories that Lucasfilm and Star Wars have told. But truly being centered in this story, I think is something that’s been very unique and something that we want to be able to celebrate in all of our marketing. Not necessarily pivot from anything that we’ve done in the past or totally go outside of what we would do for the Star Wars fandom, but really be able to celebrate it as an opportunity to bring in some new fans and maybe find some new champions for the series as well.

Ahsoka Tano is one of the most popular characters in Star Wars history. Does that make it challenging to tell her story to fans in Ahsoka?Brittney: Anytime you’re dealing with a character that’s beloved, well known, has a history and a connection, it just takes that extra bit of care. And you have to take that into consideration in anything that you’re doing in the marketing realm. You want to make sure that you have those Easter eggs. You don’t spoil anything. You keep it exciting for the people that are already those core fans, but then also offering an opportunity for someone new who is maybe on the outside.

Kyle: Also, I think at this point the character has earned this level of attention in the series and in the marketing.

Why is it important to expand the Star Wars brand to people who may not already be fans? And how does Ahsoka help that cause?Brittney: It goes without saying that it will help the fandom to live on. It’s a truly multi-generational property. It’s great to be able to build something that’s going to mean something so specific to audiences of a certain generation and now have an opportunity to bring in a new generation that will grow that same love and affinity. I think it’s important for us to bring in an audience of a younger generation so that we can build on that great storytelling that’s been already set for us. Ahsoka is just the next story in that legacy.

Kyle: Star Wars has permeated culture. It’s transcended whether you know who Darth Vader is or not. We can all relate in some way to the characters in the stories. We know that Star Wars—as a marketing term—is “for everyone.” If you’re a fan of action, if you’re a fan of science fiction, we have that, but also if you’re a fan of storytelling. It echoes our day-to-day relationship. These stories, especially these series, are really drilled down into the intimacy of the characters. For me, that makes it feel like this galaxy that’s far, far away is actually closer than we think. We also have to remember it’s a galaxy. There are a multitude of stories, and you don’t necessarily need to know all of them to be able to relate to whatever you find. You can come in to Ahsoka and understand that it is a standalone story. You don’t have to have any preconceived notions of the past. So—for me—people that might not already be fans, I think there’s a huge opportunity to bring them in.

Ahsoka is now streaming on Disney+