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Liam Neeson has revealed his true feelings about Qui-Gon Jinn's death in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Though The Phantom Menace is often regarded as the worst Star Wars prequel movie, there's no denying its importance to the overall franchise. Qui-Gon Jinn's death at the hands of Darth Maul changed the course of Anakin Skywalker's life.

During a three-way duel between Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), and Sith apprentice Darth Maul (Ray Park), Qui-Gon Jinn was stabbed through the gut with a lightsaber, dying in Obi-Wan's arms. Despite the grandeur of it all, Neeson wasn't impressed with his character's death. During an interview with GQ, Neeson described Jinn's death with vicious honesty:

"I thought my death was a bit namby-pamby. I’m supposed to be a Master Jedi. You know, my character fell for that, 'Oh, I’m going for your face,...

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace has had its age rating reclassified in the UK almost three decades after its release. Coming 16 years after the conclusion of the original Star Wars trilogy, the first of George Lucas' prequel movies was met with a mixed response from audiences and critics.

The Phantom Menace may have confounded some with its exploration of space politics and the inclusion of Jar-Jar Binks as comic relief, but it also features plenty of space opera action. The Star Wars movie's lightsaber and blaster battles earned the film a PG rating in the U.S. from the MPA and U (for Universal) in the UK.

Per Rte, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace has now been reclassified in the UK from a U rating to a PG, for Parental Guidance. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) made the change due to "moderate violence," particularly during...

A screen-used Stormtrooper helmet from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope was sold for $256,000 at an auction held Sunday at Comic-Con in San Diego.

The helmet was previously exhibited at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, last year as part of an exhibition titled “Defending America and the Galaxy: Star Wars and Sdi.” According to Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies, which organized the event, this original stunt helmet was used in the production and is believed to be featured in scenes on Tatooine as a “Sandtrooper” helmet. It’s said to be one of only six stunt helmets known to have survived and are accounted for in private collections.

The auction was part of “Echoes From the Galaxy, A Star Wars Memorabilia Exhibit + Auction,” a two-week event presented at Comic-Con Museum that was touted as having “sold the world’s largest collection of...

The Headless Horseman from Tim Burton‘s gothic fairy tale Sleepy Hollow is mounting up to ride again in a new sequel, this time in comic book form.

Idw Publishing’s horror imprint, Idw Dark, will release Return to Sleepy Hollow, a new comic series set 15 years after the events of the movie, EW reports this morning.

Look for the comic to hit shelves on October 29.

In the 1999 film, Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people. While there, he becomes romantically entangled with Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci) and discovers that the murderer is the legendary apparition The Headless Horseman (Christopher Walken and Ray Park).

Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer comic scribe and Eisner award winner Casey Gilly has envisioned “a deeper evil” now lurking in the town for this comic book sequel. Savanna Mayer, making their comics debut, is the...

Not all Star Wars movies are created equal—especially when it comes to hitting that play button a third or fourth (or thirtieth or fortieth) time. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, some entries in the saga just beg for repeat viewings. Maybe it’s the pacing, the characters, the action, or that one lightsaber duel you can’t stop thinking about—I'm looking at you, Darth Maul.

But some movies...well, some you watch just once, simply because it's Star Wars, never to pick them up again.

I know, I know...Star Wars lists abound all over the internet. We've even got our own here, where we show you how the movies stack up according to Rotten Tomatoes. But they've got The Last Jedi at No. 4.

That can't be right. Can it?

Today, we’re ranking all 11 live-action Star Wars films—from the ones you can...

Disney+’s Rogue One prequel series, Andor,is arguably one of the most celebrated Star Wars series ever produced. With its massive $650 million budget for 24 episodes over two seasons, it seemed like no expense was spared, even regarding some things that may have gone unnoticed by fans.

Andor’s production designer, Luke Hull, shared a stunning Easter Egg that viewers may have overlooked during the series run. Hull shared the pic via his Instagram.Much like a Disney “Hidden Mickey,” there was a secret picture within a mural depicted on the show.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Luke (@luke_e_hull) Fan Reaction to the Mosaic

Within a mural of a Ghorlectipod, or Ghorman spider from the planet Ghorman, if one looks closely, the body of the spider is the face of an iconic Star Wars villain - Darth Maul. X (formerly Twitter) user Jammin333 noted that...

George Lucas' canceled TV show, Star Wars: Underworld, would reportedly have featured the return of Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi in a duel with Darth Maul. It's easy to forget that George Lucas himself was the one who spun Star Wars out beyond a film franchise. In fact, in the 2000s, he planned to make a live-action Star Wars TV show.

We don't know much about Lucas' planned live-action TV show. Apparently scripts for 60 episodes of Star Wars: Underworld were prepared, and we know one story featured an unlikely romance in which Palpatine was betrayed by a gangster. But now new reports suggest Underworld would have been even more ground-breaking.

We know that Star Wars: Underworld was set on the lower levels of Coruscant in the Dark Times of the Empire's reign. Yahoo! just dropped a fascinating report including some rumored plots:

"Rumored plots will sound eerily familiar to anyone...

Lightsaber battles are the beating heart of Star Wars, blending raw emotion, stunning choreography, and iconic music. From gritty clashes to epic showdowns, these duels define the saga’s legacy across films and shows.

We’ve ranked the top 10 lightsaber fights, from thrilling to legendary, based on stakes, style, and impact. Let’s ignite our sabers and dive into the galaxy’s greatest duels.

10. Mace Windu vs. Darth Sidious – ‘Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’ (2005) Lucasfilm

Mace Windu confronts Emperor Palpatine in a tense, high-stakes duel in the Chancellor’s office. Samuel L. Jackson’s fierce Jedi Master wields his purple saber against Ian McDiarmid’s cunning Sith Lord.

The fight’s raw intensity and Palpatine’s lightning-fast strikes keep us on edge. It’s a pivotal clash that shifts the galaxy’s fate.

9. Ahsoka Tano vs. Darth Vader – ‘Star Wars Rebels’ (2014-2018) Lucasfilm

Ahsoka battles her former master, Vader,...

Heroes in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord are few and far between.

Appearing on Katee Sackhoff's podcast, longtime Maul voice actor Sam Witwer addressed what this new chapter in the ex-Sith's life will entail and the challenges confronting Maul as he grows his criminal empire amidst the Galactic Empire's rise. He described the show as battle of "bad guys vs. worse guys, and our bad guys are still bad guys," insisting that Maul's dark edges won't be dulled regardless of his protagonist status.

"This isn’t going to be a show where you find out Maul is 'a real teddy bear, man. That guy, he's just misunderstood. You have to understand... if you have coffee with him, he's really cool.' We’re not doing that," he said, with the novel twist being how Shadow Lord questions "is he as bad as Sidious or Vader? And the answer is 'actually no.

Back in April during Star Wars Celebration Japan, Lucasfilm announced that a new animated series based on the post-Clone Wars, pre-Star Wars Rebels adventures of Darth Maul was in the works for Disney+.

The synopsis for Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord that was released at the time reads: "After the Clone Wars, Maul plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. In a new series set after the events of the final season of The Clone Wars, Maul rises again to lead the underworld factions."

The show is believed to be set roughly one year after the events of The Clone Wars, around 19 Bby.

Now, voice actor Sam Witwer has shared some more details, and he clarifies that Maul will not be sanitized or redeemed as some fans feared - although it sounds like the character's humanity will be explored to some extent.

Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (but after Howard the Duck), there was the X-Men trilogy. Produced by 20th Century Fox in the early-to-mid 2000s, the X-Men movies made Hugh Jackman's Wolverine and other heroes a household name. Of course, heroes are nothing without villains, and the X-Men movies were full of them. Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, Ray Park and more all served as thorns in the X-Men's side.

Avengers: Doomsday, which hits theaters on May 1, 2026, will feature some long-awaited, history-making supervillain comebacks. Announced during Marvel's official March 26 livestream, Doomsday's cast is confirmed to include two supervillains from the era of Fox's X-Men films: Ian McKellen Erik Lehnsherr aka, Magneto, as well as Mystique, again played by Rebecca Romijn.

Phase 6 Will Include 2 Big-Time X-Villains Read full article on The Direct.

After Star Wars Celebration wrapped up only a few weeks ago and Revenge of the Sith has returned to theaters everywhere to celebrate its 20th anniversary, there’s no better time to be a Star Wars fan than right now. The latest season of Andor recently hit Disney+ last week, and it’s already earned the title as the highest-rated Star Wars project ever. Fandom has conducted a new study on the Star Wars franchise by collecting data from fans, which has revealed the favorite characters, movie/TV shows, and even games.

Leading the charge for the favorite character is Ahsoka, voiced by Ashley Eckstein in animation and portrayed by Rosario Dawson in live-action. Following behind Ahsoka, in order, is Ben Solo (Adam Driver), Snoke (Andy Serkis), Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), Darth Maul (Sam Witwer/Ray Park), Darth Plagueis, Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley), Count Dooku (Christopher Lee...

As the years go by, we continue to look back on some of Hollywood's biggest franchises only to see that they've gotten bigger over time. There are plenty of them too: The Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Jurassic Park movies, the countless DC films (including the Batman series alone), Terminator and so many more. And one of the most enduring of them all is Star Wars.

That franchise in particular features one of the most committed fanbases of all, and it's no surprise given how vast the world of Star Wars is and all of the legendary characters it has produced. That's even more true now that the saga's future reaches across film and television, with multiple beloved characters headlining their own projects in recent years.

As Lucasfilm brought audiences together at Star Wars Celebration Japan, a major announcement revealed that another significant figure in the lore is set to headline their own series.

“Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord” is a new CG-animated TV series, set one year after the events of “The Clone Wars”, starring Sam Witwer as ‘Darth Maul’, targeting a 2026 streaming date on Disney+:

“…the new show promises to explore different sides of the ‘Star Wars’ villain….

“…originally portrayed in live-action by Ray Park and Peter Serafinowicz in “The Phantom Menace” (1999).”

“We learn some different things about this character”, said Witwer.

“He’s got some different traits that you wouldn’t necessarily think he has that make perfect sense from what he’s been through…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The "Star Wars" prequel trilogy may still be viewed by many fans as a mixed bag, but when George Lucas managed to conjure up the old magic of 1977, we remembered why we cared so much about this universe in the first place. And one character he absolutely nailed in the much-debated "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" was the Sith Lord Darth Maul.

Portrayed by Ray Park, the character combined the frightening power of Darth Vader with the acrobatic martial arts skills of Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan. Most importantly, with his red-and-black facial markings and those menacing red-yellow eyes, he just looked freaking cool. You wanted his action figure and very possibly had plans to strut around as this ultra bad-dude on Halloween.

Alas, fans were also pretty peeved when Lucas rather definitively killed off Darth Maul at the end of the movie, which made the promise...

The Sith Lord character of Darth Maul was seemingly a rare element of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace that had been scrutinized by audiences. In fact, fans of Star Wars wished the character had more time to shine and clamored for more from him. Luckily, Lucasfilm brought him back for The Clone Wars series, as well as Star Wars Rebels. The character even made a surprise cameo appearance in the spin-off Solo: A Star Wars Story. Now that Star Wars Celebration is underway, according to The Hollywood Reporter, this morning saw the announcement of a new Darth Maul chapter.

A new animated series that will be centered around Darth Maul was revealed to be heading for Disney+. The show is said to be titled Maul: Shadow Lord. Lucasfilm Cco Dave Filoni made the announcement with the VP of the animation division, Athena Portillo, during a panel that...

At Star Wars Celebration Japan, Lucasfilm announced Maul - Shadow Lord, an all-new animated series based on Darth Maul.

Cbr Movies/TV Jr. Editor (and resident Star Wars expert) Jamie Parker was in attendance at the Lucasfilm Animation 20th Anniversary panel in Tokyo as the new project was announced. Footage was shown to those at the event, and Maul voice actor Sam Witwer appeared on stage.

The first trailer for Maul: Shadow Lord was just shown! As Sam Witwer takes the stage pic.twitter.com/6veB2Xovya— Cbr (@Cbr) April 18, 2025Maul - Shadow Lord, a Star Wars Original series, arrives on @DisneyPlus in 2026. #StarWarsCelebrationpic.twitter.com/yW2YDxGj3J— Star Wars (@starwars) April 18, 2025

Maul debuted in 1999's The Phantom Menace, played Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz. The character is a Zabrak from Dathomir who was abducted by Darth Sidious as a child and became his first Sith apprentice.

Star Wars villain Darth Maul is getting his own series.

The popular character, who first appeared in 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, will headline Maul: Shadow Lord, a new animated series for Disney+, it was announced at Star Wars Celebration on Friday.

The series was revealed in the final minutes of a panel spotlighting the 20th anniversary of Lucasfilm Animation, with Lucasfilm Cco Dave Filoni, who rose through the ranks via the animation division, and vp, animation Athena Portillo discussing the company’s rich output. But while they were chatty about woking with George Lucas or the animation process or past hits, when it came to discussing a future project, it was show, don’t tell. They simply dropped a trailer onto an unsuspecting crowd.

And when it became clear that it was a show centered on Maul, fans were sent into a rapturous ecstasy.

The show, which will...

Original X-Menstar Halle Berry shuts down rumors she will be making a comeback in Avengers: Doomsday.

Speaking to APEntertainment, Berry reacted to fans' hopes of seeing her name appear on the next director's chair teaser for Avengers: Doomsday, saying, "Well keep waiting, because it's not going to be there." Berry reiterated somewhat somberly, "It's not going to be there."

Halle Berry responds to fans hoping to see her return as her X-Men character Storm in Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday.†pic.twitter.com/y1yLoAstCG— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) April 3, 2025

Berry first appeared as Ororo Munroe, better known as Storm, in director Bryan Singer's X-Men. The film featured a star-studded ensemble cast including Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, James Marsden as Cyclops, Tyler Mane as Sabretooth, Anna Paquin as Rogue, Ray Park as Toad, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Famke Janssen as Jean Grey,...

X-Men (2000) stands as one of the most important films in the superhero franchise. Serving as the old stomping grounds for a slew of key figures that would go on to shape the MCU, including Kevin Feige and Joss Whedon.

While Whedon was able to deliver two of the franchise’s biggest successes with The Avengers and its sequel, Age of Ultron, there have been some misfires from the director/writer when it comes to his time with Fox’s X-Men universe.

Halle Berry as Storm || Credit: 20th Century Studios

The scene in focus here is the infamous exchange between Toad, played by Ray Park, and Storm, played by Halle Berry, in 2000’s X-Men. Storm electrifies Toad, but the way her dialogue was shot was not at all how Joss Whedon imagined it. However, that has since become a scene that has been associated with the Age of Ultron director.

Joss...

2000’s X-Men started the epic franchise and a new era of comic book movies, but how did it really end?

Back in 2000, comic book movies were in a downturn with some thinking the genre was dead. Then X-Men came along to revive it. The monster hit not only brought the beloved mutants to life but grounded them in a realistic way to influence scores of other films, including the MCU.

The movie made a star out of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine with a top-notch cast and Bryan Singer’s direction was sensational. It combined into a hit film that was backed by a great storyline.

How does X-Men play out?

The movie focuses on Wolverine as he’s hunted by Magneto (Ian McKellan) and his Brotherhood of Mutants. He and young Rogue (Anna Paquin) are taken in by the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) with Cyclops (James Marsden...

Every good hero needs an equally great villain, and Star Wars is full of them. To celebrate all of our favorite baddies in the galaxy, Star Wars Insider magazine has released a collector's edition. Star Wars Insider Presents: The Dark Side Collection is out today!

This deluxe magazine is full of baddie goodness, and we're here to give you a sneak peek at what to expect! Let's go villain by villain and check out this special issue!

@TitanBooks release-day: Star Wars Insider Presents: The Dark Side Collection

A special souvenir hardcover collection themed around the dark side of the Force.

Check out more about this release at https://t.co/KaYaRqE5o5 pic.twitter.com/waiV8VtOON

— Eddie vd Heijden (@onceuponagalaxy) January 21, 2025

Darth Vader

Marvel Comics Star Wars: Darth Vader. Image Credit: StarWars.com | starwars.com

Darth Vader is a fan favorite, and The Dark Side Collection makes sure to give him plenty of love.

Since practically the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, comics fans have been clamoring for the X-Men to join the fray. While there's every indication that the MCU is closer than ever to passing that event horizon, it bears remembering that characters from the franchise have already appeared in more than a dozen films, with mixed results. While there are definitely complaints to be made, some scenes perfectly capture why the X-Men are one of the most beloved superhero teams in comics.

At its core, the X-Men is a story about mutants, individuals born with a special 'X gene' that grants each of them a unique power or ability. Humans, fearful of the mutants, persecute them. Regardless, the X-Men are a group of mutants who devote their lives to using their power for the betterment of humanity, protecting a world that hates and fears them.

Magneto Threatens the Cops With...

Deadline reports that Faran Tahir is set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Marvel’s upcoming Vision series. He will reprise the role of Raza, the leader of the Ten Rings who kidnapped Tony Stark in the original Iron Man movie. I think this might set a new MCU record for the longest stretch between appearances.

Not much is known about the Vision series at this time. Paul Bettany will naturally be returning as Vision, but the series will also include James Spader as Ultron. Beyond brief mentions, we haven’t seen Ultron in any live-action MCU project since his introduction in Avengers: Age of Ultron ten years ago. Todd Stashwick has also joined the cast, and while it’s not known who he will be playing, previous reports have stated that he will be “an assassin who is on the trail of the android and the technology he possesses.

Following What If...? season 3, Marvel Studios now has six different versions of the Iron Fist in the MCU, even though Finn Jones' low-rated version of the iconic Marvel hero doesn't yet have a confirmed future in live-action. What If...? season 3 put weird and wonderful spins on some of the McU's best-loved characters, including Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier, Agatha Harkness, Bruce Banner's Hulk and Shang-Chi. The latter appeared in What If...? season 3, episode 6, "What If... 1872?," and starred alongside a surprising new addition to the MCU.

What If...? season 3, episode 6, explored a reality in which several notable MCU characters existed in the Wild West of 1872. The story focused on Shang-Chi and Kate Bishop's Hawkeye, two outlaws on the hunt for Shang-Chi's sister, Xu Xialing, who turned out to be the infamous Hood, a villain soon to debut in the McU's Ironheart series. As well as developing these pre-established MCU characters,...

Once upon a time, in the years before 2009 when "Taken" somehow took cinemas by storm, Liam Neeson used to act in all different kinds of movies. Before "Taken" and its many sequels, Neeson starred in movies ranging from the ultra-saccharine Christmas romantic comedy "Love Actually" to genre fare like "The Haunting" remake and "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace." He played Jean Valjean in the 1998 adaptation of "Les Misérables" and brought numerous historical figures to life, including Irish Republican Army founder Michael Collins, 18th-century Scottish highlander Rob Roy, and German industrialist and humanitarian Oskar Schindler. 

Unfortunately, since "Taken," Neeson pretty much only stars in action thrillers, like his absolutely abysmal 2022 movie "Blacklight," which is currently the prolific actor's lowest Rotten Tomatoes score. He starred in plenty of great films before that, however, including one of director Steven Spielberg's best movies: the multiple Academy Award-winning "Schindler's List." It should...

When you're in "Star Wars," you don't always need that many lines or that much screen time to become a fan favorite. Just ask Ray Park, who quickly shot to fame within the fandom after playing Darth Maul in 1999's "The Phantom Menace." Park doesn't utter a single word as the character, as Maul's few lines were dubbed over by Peter Serafinowicz. When the character was resurrected for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels," he was voiced by veteran voice actor Sam Witwer instead. But Park's version of Maul has remained near and dear to fans' hearts due to his unforgettable physical presence and martial arts ability. And yet, he likely would have never been cast if not for a truly terrible movie.

In 1995, "Mortal Kombat" gave us one of the best video game movies we'd seen in decades. It's goofy and campy, sure, but it's also fun,...

Quick Links Why Liev Schreiber Played a Better Sabretooth Than Tyler Mane Schreiber's Sabretooth Almost Returned For Logan Could Liev Schreiber Still Return For Another X-Men Related Project?

Deadpool and Wolverine recently brought back a plethora of Marvel characters that were previously licensed by 20th Century Fox. While those like Blade and X-23 played major supporting roles, others were only brought back for glorified cameos like Chris Evans’ Human Torch. Even Sabretooth was brought back, only it wasn’t quite the Sabretooth many were hoping to see. Tyler Mane, who played the character in the first X-Men film before Liev Schreiber took on the role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, was the one to have his glorious reprisal. It was Schreiber, however, who played the version that many seem to remember more fondly; as even though his film received heavy-hitting bouts of negative criticism, his performance was considered to be one of its few redeeming qualities.

Here are some of the major Star Wars characters who've filled the role of Darth Vader at one point or another - whether as the "face" of the franchise or as a villain who fits his pattern. Let's face it, there's something utterly iconic about Darth Vader. The Dark Lord of the Sith has a relatively minor role in the first Star Wars movie (later retitled A New Hope), but he became increasingly important as the franchise continued. Darth Vader essentially became the "face" of Star Wars.

All that made recent reports that Disney consider Daisy Ridley's Rey to be their most marketable character all the more intriguing. Rey is serving as Darth Vader's replacement, the face of the franchise who could potentially appear in multiple movies, which fits with Ridley's recent comments that her role and expectations are "evolving." She's not the first character to fill the Vader space,...

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the most beloved figure in Star Wars history, but his origin was not always so cut and dry. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Menace, Star Wars artist Iain McCaig revealed George Lucas original intentions for the character. Debuting for audiences in Star Wars: A New Hope, Alec Guinness played the character reluctantly before Ewan McGregor took up the mantle in the Star Wars prequels. McGregors portrayal of the young padawan who follows his Master Qui-Gon Jinns (Liam Neeson) directive to care for young Anakin (later played by Hayden Christensen) is a high point of the series. His duel with Darth Maul (Ray Park) in the first prequel is iconic and McGregor has gone on to reprise the character many times over. But this familiar story of Obi-Wan taking Anakin under his wing could have been much different, as McCaig told StarWars.com.

Deadpool & Wolverine featured a mishmash of exciting Marvel cameos, but it could not convince an X-Men: First Class actor to reprise his villain role in the MCU sequel. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman lead a multiverse extravaganza, including the return of fan-favorite characters like Blade, played by Wesley Snipes, and the on-screen debut of Channing Tatum as Gambit. However, some original actors did not make the cut. Jason Flemyng, who portrayed Azazel in X-Men: First Class, rejected Marvel Studios' offer to return in Deadpool & Wolverine.

During an interview with Comicbookmovie.com for his next film The Stoic, Flemyng revealed that, like many other actors from the former Marvel-Fox universe, he received an offer to appear in Deadpool & Wolverine. His role in First Class as Azazel was as the secondary villain to Kevin Bacon's Sebastian Shaw. In the comics, he was the father of Nightcrawler, even though that wasn't addressed in the film franchise.

Within the "Star Wars" galaxy, few alien races are cooler than Zabraks. From their intricate facial tattoos to their cranial horns, there's really no species that looks quite so visually distinct. They don't pop up often in the "Star Wars" saga, but when they do, they make a genuine impression. Take Darth Maul, played by Ray Park in "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace." Though he's only appeared in live-action twice (the last time for a cameo in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" that never bore any fruit), he's become a fan favorite since. His popularity has a lot to do with his character design, which is at once utterly terrifying and totally unforgettable. He's a decisive highlight of the "Star Wars" prequels, and he ultimately became the blueprint for Zabraks and their subspecies.

As important as he's become to the franchise now, though, Maul's origins weren't auspicious.

Star Wars Insider is the go-to magazine for everything going on in a galaxy far, far away. For the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the publisher is releasing a special edition issue out on October 29!

According to the official press release, "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The 25th Anniversary Special Edition recounts the behind-the-scenes story of the first chapter in the prequel trilogy from the unique vantage point of Star Wars Insider, as it followed the movie’s progress firsthand from pre-production to premiere.

With prequel updates from producer Rick McCallum, insights from writer and director George Lucas, and in-depth looks at the movie’s spectacular concept designs and visual effects, this official special edition takes you back in time to explore the making of the movie –as it happened.

Also included in this anniversary edition are on-set interviews with cast members Liam Neeson,...

Lewis Tan reflects on his first Mortal Kombat role before he joined the 2021 big-screen adaptation, sharing a new photo from the unreleased web series Mortal Kombat X: Generations. The actor starred in the Warner Bros. adaptation of the popular fighting game franchise as the original character Cole Young, an Mma fighter and descendant of the ninja who would become Scorpion. Having been dragged into the inter-realm tournament and survived the battle, Cole is left to gather new allies, heading to Hollywood to recruit Johnny Cage in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 .

After many requests, Tan shares photos from the unreleased Mortal Kombat X: Generations, a web series that would presumably later be compiled as a film for a home release. They include a shot of him in costume as Kung Jin, a relative of Kung Lao featured later in Netherealm's rebooted video game timeline, with the actor joking that he...

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Tim Burton has always been an outlier in Hollywood. He's a filmmaker with a distinct, peculiar aesthetic and set of interests, yet his movies have broad appeal and are remarkably consistent in the way they perform financially. Even Burton's weakest franchise films bear the sort of directorial hallmarks that are often missing from tentpoles in the 21st century. Indeed, say what you will against his "Dark Shadows," but only Burton could have enough pull to get a $150 million movie reboot of a cult '60s soap opera oddity green-lit in 2012 while also making it precisely the way he wanted. It's the same reason the critically-derided horror-comedy has found its share of defenders.

Be that as it may, having to deal with the relentless friction between creativity and commerce has taken its toll on Burton in the past. His 1996 sci-fi...

Heads are gonna roll this October! 25 years after its initial release, Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow is returning to the big screen and not a moment too soon, as the director is making a bit of a comeback with the recent release and box office success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Sleepy Hollow is being re-released in theaters on Oct. 13 and Oct. 16, with tickets available via the Paramount Scares website. The re-release is brought to you by Paramount Scares and Fangoria, which is putting Sleepy Hollow under the Scream Greats label just in time for Spooky Season! You can check out the announcement below, which also showcases a brand-new poster for the film's 25th anniversary.

Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow returns to theaters for its 25th anniversary on October 13 & 16, 2024.Get your tickets now: https://t.co/zR1Ec176WE pic.twitter.com/x0z2gI1FrF The Horror Calendar (@HorrorCalendar) September 17, 2024 Sleepy Hollow...

Following Channing Tatum's appearance as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine, it's possible that many other canceled Marvel movie characters could finally make their live-action debuts in the MCU. Channing Tatum first auditioned to play Remy LeBeau's Gambit for 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, but the role was cut, and he was replaced in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Although Tatum's much anticipated solo Gambit movie never came to fruition, Marvel Studios gave him a chance to play the Cajun hero in Deadpool & Wolverine, and other canceled Marvel characters could get the same treatment.

Over the years, many movies based on characters from Marvel Comics have been planned, but not all of them have managed to get out of the planning stages. There have been a huge number of unproduced Marvel movies, some of which would have starred high-profile actors as some iconic heroes and villains. Marvel Studios' exploration of...

Surprising, daring movies that subvert audience expectations have long since been a staple of film-making. Few of these subversions come as more of a surprise than when a major actor is killed off in the movie far earlier than expected, with typical narratives making viewers assume that big-name stars will survive to the end of the story. By pulling a metaphorical rug out from underneath these audiences and killing off a major actor, these movies end up ingraining themselves in viewers' minds by re-establishing just what is at stake in the plotline.

Whether the actor was a large part of a movie's promotional material, or had been tipped to be the main protagonist early on in the film, these major deaths have left a lasting impression on cinema. Sometimes, the death of the actor early on serves as a way to enhance one's viewing experience by keeping them on the edge of their seat,...

Plenty of things in Star Wars weren't received well, but there are 12 characters, concepts, and projects that were judged much more harshly than they deserved to be. Star Wars has grown into such a massive franchise that it's rare any Star Wars show or movie can appeal to the entire fanbase. Even the best Star Wars movies and shows have aspects that don't work perfectly and earn the ire of audiences, and even the worst projects have some redeeming qualities. There are 12 things in Star Wars, however, that got a much more negative reception than they deserved.

Star Wars is very dear to many people, so it's completely understandable that certain new elements and decisions in the franchise aren't universally loved. There are also certain elements of Star Wars that are widely disliked for valid reasons, like certain story decisions in the sequel trilogy and shows. For all the valid criticisms of the franchise,...

Deadpool & Wolverine has lit the world on fire, raking in nearly $1.3 billion at the box office. Along the way to his massive theatrical success, the Merc With a Mouths road trip through the Void took a few pit stops to spotlight characters fans had thought were gone for good. These ranged from favorites like Hugh Jackmans Wolverine to forgotten deep cuts like Jennifer Garners Elektra. It even took things a step further, introducing Channing Tatum as Gambit. Tatum had been cast as the character for a potential spin-off years earlier, but the film would never see release.

Tatums performance, including the instantly iconic utterance of his intent to make a name for himself here, has garnered interest in a potential follow-up role for the character. Gambits newfound fandom showed that audiences still clamor to see their favorites brought to the big screen. But Tatum wasnt the only actor to...

The Phantom Menace & Batman Begins hinted at Liam Neeson's action-star potential. Taken showcased faster, brutal action scenes compared to Neeson's previous roles. Liam Neeson solidified his status as an action star through the success of Taken and its franchise.

Liam Neeson is now best known as an action star thanks to the Taken movie series, but we should have seen this transition coming long before Taken premiered 16 years ago. Liam Neeson has been part of movies from a variety of genres throughout his acting career. Neeson received critical acclaim for his role as Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielbergs Schindlers List, which served as his breakout role. Neeson continued a streak of success with movies like Rob Roy, Michael Collins, and Les Misrables.

In the late 1990s and 2000s, Neeson expanded to blockbusters, beginning with Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. Neeson was part of big productions like Batman Begins...

The Ahsoka vs. Maul lightsaber duel in The Clone Wars is iconic, and it's praised for both its physicality and drama. This cosplay recreating the duel showcases dedication and reverence among Star Wars viewers for this moment. This duel should serve as inspiration for future Star Wars choreography, as it's unmatched in intensity.

The duel between Ahsoka Tano and Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Clone Wars is still, to this day, one of the best lightsaber duels throughout the Star Wars franchise. The fight, which was done in motion capture by stunt doubles Lauren Mary Kim and the legendary Ray Park, has been lauded by audiences as one of the many lightsaber duels that rival the quality of the movies in Clone Wars, due to its physical tenacity and pure awesomeness that just added further drama to the Siege of Mandalore in The Clone Wars' final season.

Related Star Wars: The Clone Wars...

Deadpool & Wolverine missed a huge cameo opportunity for Storm in their movie. Storm's omega-level powers could shine in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. Halle Berry's Storm deserves a final Marvel appearance before the McU's X-Men debut.

Deadpool & Wolverine missed a huge cameo opportunity, and I'm hoping it's something that the McU's Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars can rectify. Despite Deadpool & Wolverine being stuffed full of nostalgic cameos, there was still a smattering of expectations that were left unfulfilled. While plenty of characters from Fox's X-Men franchise joined Hugh Jackman's Wolverine on screen, the host mostly comprised villains, including Tyler Mane's Sabretooth and Ray Park's Toad.

On the side of the titular antiheroes, meanwhile, were a handful of Marvel movie veterans, including Wesley Snipes' Blade and Jennifer Garner's Elektra, while Channing Tatum's Gambit paid off a movie role that was not to be...

The Acolyte has been a much-debated show among Star Wars fans. Some have come to like it for its unique take on the Jedi and its strong finale, but it's also been criticized for its pacing, writing, and not making good use of its setting. Watching the show, some fans couldn't help but wonder about how much else there is to explore in the Star Wars galaxy on TV.

So what are some ideas for Star Wars ideas Disney could use to make a new Star Wars show, since they're clearly interested? Here are good ones:

Star Wars: The Old Republic.. Image Courtesy BioWare, EA Games Knights of the Old Republic

For two decades, fans have loved this Star Wars video game, arguably the best ever. This award-winning RPG remains an incredible experience, set 4000 years before the movies and showcasing a war between the Republic and the Sith. It's packed...

"Deadpool & Wolverine" is such a dizzying whirlwind of meta references, Marvel Studios Easter eggs, and shocking cameos that you really do need to see the film more than once to, in Pokémon parlance, catch 'em all. Just take a look at your social media feed. If you follow a lot of full-on comic book nerds, you know folks are still sifting through the film's unceasing chaos for every last morsel of minutia.

When it comes to the Fox character cameos, specifically those that don't merit the ultra-heroic slow-motion entrances given to Gambit, Elektra and X-23, you might be left wondering if they were played by the actual actors who originated the roles. The action flashes by with such relentless fury that you don't always get a telling close-up.

While you probably surmised that Colin Farrell did not return to wreak pinpoint havoc as "Daredevil" villain Bullseye, you might be...

Marvel Studios was careful not to give too much away about Deadpool & Wolverine before it arrived in theaters, though we did catch a glimpse of some familiar Variants in the trailers and officially released images.

Well, we thought they were familiar.

While the threequel did bring back plenty of iconic characters from the past, outside of Pyro, Cassandra Nova's army of villains was made up of recognisable characters played by unknown actors. There's a precedent for Variants looking different in the MCU, but for many fans, they'd have preferred to either see the originals or no one at all.

Vinnie Jones' Juggernaut, for example, was replaced by Free Guy's Aaron W Reed, a shame given how pivotal that villain was to the final battle (Jones is thought to have declined an offer to return over money).

Regardless, when an actor was spotted in the background of a scene...

After years of begging, pleading, and probably threatening to leak embarrassing photos of Fox execs, Deadpool finally made it to the big screen in 2016. Yes, it was quite a struggle. And since then, the Merc with a Mouth has not only saved the MCU but also resurrected Ryan Reynolds’ career from the dead. Well, it is not entirely true, as there would be no Deadpool on screen if Reynolds hadn’t invested his entire life into the character.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) | 20th Century Studios

Reynolds took a not-so-established villain in the films and made him a household name. Fans thus will always rally behind the guy who refused to let go of this crazy, foul-mouthed character. In short, it is a love story, as there wouldn’t be one without the other.

Ryan Reynolds Went Through Hell to Bring Deadpool to the Screen!

Deadpool has...

Actor Ray Park is a beloved figure among the Star Wars fanbase, having played the role of the Sith apprentice Darth Maul. However, Park also has another villainous role in a popular franchise under his belt. The martial artist appeared as the X-Men villain Toad in the first live-action movie in the Fox franchise.

Darth Maul actor Ray Park played Toad in X-Men (Credit: @iamraypark | Instagram).

During an interview, Park spoke about his involvement in the Marvel Comics-based film franchise. At the same time, Park compared his Marvel role to his Star Wars role and pointed out the key difference between them. Park revealed the two reasons why his X-Men role was slightly more memorable for him, and here is what he had to say.

Ray Park Reveals Why He Liked Playing One X-Men Villain More Than Darth Maul

Actor Ray Park debuted in the role of Sith...

Fans still cannot get the accurate count of returning Fox characters that they saw in Deadpool & Wolverine. Some fans may remember seeing Mortimer Toynbee / Toad from the first X-Men movie in a few scenes. Interestingly, stuntman Ray Park played the role in both movies. However, fans of the character might be disappointed that he got a non-speaking role in the film.

Ray Park as Toad/Mortimer Toynbee in Deadpool & Wolverine | Marvel Studios

Park’s acting debut in films began with the Darth Maul role in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. He gave an incredible performance in the fight sequences in the film, however, he did not get to voice his character in the film due to one concern from George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum.

Deadpool & Wolverine Stole One Thing From Ray Park That His X-Men Role Gave Him Ray Park as Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace...

In the very first action set piece of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, a chopper gets shot out of the sky, crashing in front of a truck carrying heroes that includes Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans). The scene which follow would set the tone for the rest of movie. After that fiery explosion, there is an all-out assault on the soldiers, who do their best to repel the black-clad Cobra troopers. Alas, the heroes’ weapons are no match for the terrorists’ superior tech.

A funny thing, however, is also occurring in this scene—an element which borders on distracting. The camera focuses less on the carnage circling around the heroes and more on the recognizable IP of their vehicles and uniforms. The lens flies past the nose of the Cobra ship attacking Duke and Ripcord in order to instead highlight the high-tech missiles on its side. Each...