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Disney Plus has been the home for the Star Wars franchise for the past six years. One of Hollywood's most iconic film series spawned its new era with The Mandalorian in 2019 and it hasn't looked back since, producing spinoffs, standalones, and even sequels to some of the most beloved Star Wars movies. It was all happening on the small screen.

There were some occasional glitches in the journey back to that galaxy so far, far away. While The Mandalorian became the saga's most successful ongoing series and Obi-Wan Kenobi brought back Ewan McGregor's beloved Jedi to become one of Disney Plus' most successful ever titles, The Acolyte crumbled under the pressure of its huge budget and The Book of Boba Fett didn't live up to expectations.

As Lucasfilm and Disney Plus recalibrate the next chapters of the Star Wars story (many of which will be back on the big...

Dan Stevens has joined the upcoming sequel series Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past as Solitus, a fallen Jedi who sought out access to Forcehold – a secret realm full of discarded pieces of the past.

In the Lego Star Wars animated sequel series, which is a continuation of the story that began in 2024 with Rebuild the Galaxy, 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.

The returning voice cast includes Gaten Matarazzo as Sig Greebling, Tony Revolori as Darth Dev, Bobby Moynihan as Jedi Bob, Marsai Martin as Yesi Scala, Michael Cusack as Servo, Ahmed Best as Darth Jar Jar,...

Dan Stevens is heading into the world of Lego Star Wars. According to Disney and Lucasfilm, the actor has been cast as the main villain in the upcoming animated sequel series, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past, which will be streaming on Disney+.

In this new series, Stevens will voice Solitus, a former Jedi who has turned to the dark side. Solitus is on a mission to find Forcehold, a hidden realm full of old and forgotten parts of the galaxy. Once a Jedi, he now poses a serious threat to everyone.

The show is a follow-up to Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, which first came out in 2024. This new chapter brings back familiar faces while introducing fresh characters and dangers. The galaxy is in trouble again, and it’s up to a group of heroes to stop what’s coming. Sig Greebling and Darth Dev have to work together,...

Dan Stevens is joining the galaxy far, far away, in Lego form. The actor has been cast as the new villain Solitus in Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past, the animated sequel series coming to Disney+. The news comes from Disney and Lucasfilm, who shared the announcement along with details about the upcoming show.

Stevens will voice Solitus, a once-noble Jedi who turned dark after searching for Forcehold, a mysterious place filled with forgotten parts of the past. Solitus is set to become a major threat in the new adventure.

Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past continues the story that began in 2024’s Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. This time, the galaxy faces a new danger, and a strange team has to come together to stop it. Sig Greebling and Darth Dev team up, using their unique powers, Force Building and Sith Breaking, to take on the challenge.

Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past’ Poster

Dan Stevens (Abigail) is joining returning Lego Star Wars voice cast members Gaten Matarazzo and Tony Revolori in the new addition to the franchise, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past. Stevens will be voicing Solitus (featured in the above poster), a character described as a fallen Jedi who sought out access to Forcehold – a secret realm full of discarded pieces of the past.

Matarazzo is back as Sig Greebling, Revolori returns as Darth Dev, Bobby Moynihan is Jedi Bob, and Marsai Martin is Yesi Scala. Additional returning voice cast members include Michael Cusack as Servo and Ahmed Best as Darth Jar Jar, with Mark Hamill popping up in a special guest appearance as Luke Skywalker. Ashley Eckstein voices Lego BrickHeadz Ahsoka Tano and Ben Schwartz voices Jaxxon.

“In the Lego Star Wars animated sequel series,...

Dan Stevens has joined the cast of Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past animated sequel series at Disney+.

Stevens will voice new villain Solitus, a fallen Jedi who sought out access to Forcehold – a secret realm full of discarded pieces of the past.

The Lego Star Wars animated sequel is a continuation of the story that began in 2024 with Rebuild the Galaxy. In the series, 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.

The four-part sequel series, from Lucasfilm and Lego Group, premieres September 19 on Disney+.

Related: 2025 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

Returning voice...

The Star Wars: Visions anthology series has been a breath of fresh air for long-time fans who weren't impressed by the recent sequel trilogy. But, it appears that Disney and LucasFilm love the animated anthology series as much as fans do, because one of the best short films from the show, titled "The Ninth Jedi," is being adapted into a new series. This year's Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan brought about many surprises, including Ryan Gosling taking to the stage to promote his new Star Wars movie with Shawn Levy. But, no one expecting a brand new, previously unannounced show to be unveiled.

That's exactly what happened during the third and final day of Star Wars Celebration. The Ninth Jedi series was announced by LucasFilm's senior VP of franchise content and strategy, James Waugh, to roarous applause from the crowd. "The Ninth Jedi" short film was written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama,...

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd Copyright© 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Exciting news rippled through Star Wars Celebration Japan, particularly during the Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 panel! While the anticipation is already building for the nine new animated shorts set to drop on October 29, 2025, Lucasfilm had another surprise up their sleeve. James Waugh announced an exciting new spin-off series of longer stories emerging from the vibrant world of Star Wars: Visions. And the best part? It’s continuing a fan-favorite tale! Taking the stage was Kenji Kamiyama, the brilliant mind behind The Ninth Jedi from Volume 1. Overwhelmed by the audience’s enthusiastic support for Kara and Juro’s adventures, including the upcoming Child of Hope in Volume 3, Kamiyama unveiled a brand-new series set to arrive in 2026: Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi.

The Ninth Jedi, a new Star Wars: Visions Presents limited series, coming to @DisneyPlus in 2026. #StarWarsCelebration pic.

The Star Wars galaxy continues its expansion.

At the franchise’s celebration in Japan, Lucasfilm announced the release date of its animated Star Wars: Visions Volume 3, along with a new spinoff series titled The Ninth Jedi, which stems from an earlier Volume 1 story. Also revealed at the event was the forthcoming collaboration with Fortnite, featuring Darth Jar Jar in a Galactic Battle Season coming up May 2.

SVP of franchise content & strategy James Waugh revealed Visions Volume 3 would debut with nine episodes Oct. 29, after which he invited “The Ninth Jedi” episode writer and director Kenji Kamiyama to the stage to unveil the spinoff, which will feature longer stories than the animated shorts. In that episode, Kara — the daughter of lightsaber-smith Juro — is pursued by dark forces while on a dangerous mission to deliver newly crafted lightsabers.

Kamiyama previewed that Visions Volume 3 episode “Child of Hope” will continue the Kara and Juro story,...

Lucasfilm has announced that Star Wars: Visions will return to Disney+ on October 29 with a third volume. The new collection will include nine episodes and follow up on three shorts from the series’ first season: “The Duel,” “The Village Bride,” and “The Ninth Jedi.”

The announcement was made during a panel at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo. Executive producer James Waugh confirmed that the new entries will continue stories introduced in Volume 1. Takanobu Mizuno will direct “The Duel: Payback” for Kamikaze Douga. Hitoshi Haga of Kinema Citrus will return for “The Lost Ones,” tied to “The Village Bride.” Naoyoshi Shiotani of Production I.G. will direct “Child of Hope,” the next installment in “The Ninth Jedi” storyline.

Waugh also introduced Star Wars: Visions Presents, a new project label that will include longer-form work. The first title under this label will be a full-length anime series based on “The Ninth Jedi,...

Lucasfilm leaders had more surprises on the final day of the three-day Star Wars Celebration fan event in Tokyo. A new batch of nine “Star Wars: Visions” shorts will debut Oct. 29 on Disney+, and also upcoming is the longform series “The Ninth Jedi,” a spinoff of an earlier “Visions” short, from writer-director Kenji Kamiyama.

“The Ninth Jedi” series was announced with fanfare at the event by James Waugh, Lucasfilm’s senior VP of franchise content and dtrategy at Lucasfilm. He called Kamiyama to the stage, “who thanked the audience for being so supportive and enthusiastic about the adventures of Kara and Juro in ‘The Ninth Jedi’ and the upcoming ‘Child of Hope,’ ” according to Disney’s StarWars.com official fan site.

“He then announced that fans will watch Kara’s journey continue to unfold in an all-new spinoff called “Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi,’ ” the site stated.

“Star Wars: Visions...

He was just supposed to be passing by, but Ronin, the former Sith Lord character who appeared in the first season of the animated anthology Star Wars: Visions, will be returning in the third season of the Lucasfilm series which debuts on Disney+ on Oct. 29 this year.

The big reveal came at the Star Wars Celebration event in Tokyo, in a panel dedicated to the hit show, where Visions executive producer James Waugh confirmed that three of the most popular storylines from the first season of the show — “The Duel,” “The Village Bride” and “The Ninth Jedi” — will be continuing in the upcoming third volume of episodes.

Waugh also revealed a “bold new direction” for Visions with the introduction of the Star Wars: Visions Presents banner, which he said would be giving filmmakers a chance to tell deeper and more longform stories without the constraints of the shorter runtime of the typical Visions episodes.

The animated Disney+ series Star Wars Visions was the first show of its kind in the franchise when it premiered in 2021.

Star Wars-inspired storytelling told from a non-Western perspective available to such a large audience allowed studios across Japan to showcase both their breathtaking animation expertise and their deep love and understanding of a galaxy far, far away. With a second season on the way, things will be a little different — but in a good way.

Speaking with Deadline, series Executive Producer James Waugh discussed what’s next for the show in the upcoming second installment of episodes.

“The first anthology is anime because we all [at Lucasfilm] loved the style of it,” he said. “But personally my intention for Visions was to always let it be a more broad palette, because there’s so much great animation work going on in the world.”

The second season or “volume” of the anthology series,...

A critically acclaimed animated series in the Star Wars universe is finally set to return after well over a year away, bringing with it a slew of both new and returning anime studios.

Per StarWars.com, Disney revealed at the 2024 Disney Apac Content Showcase that Visions Volume 3 will hit streaming next year -- the second confirmed Star Wars show of 2025 after Andor. This season will feature a mix of returning and new collaborations with major Japanese animation studios, with the former including Kamikaze Douga ("The Duel"), Kinema Citrus Co. ("The Village Bride"), Studio Trigger ("The Elder" and "The Twins"), and Production I.G. ("The Ninth Jedi"), from Volume 1. New studios, meanwhile, include David Production (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure), Project Studio Q, Polygon Pictures (Knights of Sidonia), Wit Studio (Spy x Family) and Nima, although footage of Volume 3 has yet to be publicly released.

Related On the Way to His Epic Destiny: Andor...

The response to the Disney era of the Star Wars saga has been, to put it gently, a mixed bag. But one show has been met with widespread critical acclaim, the animated anthology series Star Wars: Visions. Well, good news! Because the animated effort will be back for more, and has now officially been renewed for Season 3 (via THR). Disney made the announcement as part of the studios Content Showcase event in Singapore, revealing details of what we can expect from the Star Wars shows return.

A collection of animated short films presented "through the lens of the world's best anime creators" that offers "a fresh and diverse cultural perspective to Star Wars," Star Wars: Visions tells both big and small stories from across the galaxy.

Following episodes crafted by the likes of El Guiri (Spain), Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Aardman (United Kingdom), Studio Mir (South Korea), Studio La Cachette (France), 88 Pictures (India), and more,...

At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney+ and Lucasfilm revealed the new trailer and key art for Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, which will begin streaming on September 13, 2024.

Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, and James Waugh presented the show at the event.

In Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, the entire galaxy gets completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), unearths a powerful artifact from a hidden Jedi temple.

He finds himself thrust into an adventure in a new, wondrously wild, and twisted version of the galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of all depends on Sig becoming the hero who can put all the pieces back together.

The voice cast includes Gaten Matarazzo (Sig Greebling), Tony Revolori (Dev Greebling), Bobby Moynihan (Jedi Bob), Marsai Martin (Yesi Scala), Michael Cusack (Servo), Ahmed Best (Darth Jar Jar), and...

Star Wars fans can prepare themselves for some big announcements at this year's D23 event, according to a schedule announcement by Lucasfilm. Usually, the huge event involves a celebration of everything related to the saga, but what most people expect is the reveal of new content in relation to the latest films and TV shows of the franchise. For the 2024 edition, Lucasfilm has confirmed they will show "exclusive new content coming to the big screen, your small screens, and stages worldwide."

D3 2024 is the annual event where The Walt Disney Company provides information about its most popular IPs and franchises. It's subtitled as D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, and it plays like the perfect convention for all fans who are fascinated with the House of Mouse and everything stemming from their recent acquisitions. This year, the D23 will take place in Anaheim, California, from August 9 to 11, and Lucasfilm...

Lucasfilm has revealed the official trailer and key art for the second season of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. The original animated series will return on Wednesday, August 14, on Disney+ and Disney Jr.

Set 200 years before 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, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way.

Lys Solay, Nash Durango, Kai Brightstar, Nubs, and Rj-83

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Season 2 follows the younglings as they continue their training and embark on even bigger missions across the galaxy. Helping to lead the younglings on these missions is Master Zia’s new Padawan, Wes Vinik, and his astromech Ro-M1.

As they continue their training and grow in the ways of the Force,...

Lucasfilms original animated series, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures finally has a release date. The first season premiered in May last year.

The series will debut its second season on Disney+ and Disney Jr. on Wednesday, August 14. Fans can anticipate the second half of the season arriving in early 2025. For those eager to dive back into the Star Wars universe sooner, the new Fun with Nubs digital series is available today on StarWarsKids.com. Additionally, new Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures shorts will premiere on Disney Jr. and Disney+ on August 2.

Related Young Jedi Adventures Can Bring More of the High Republic to the Screen

Young Jedi Adventures announced that beloved High Republic book characters would appear in its new episodes opening the door for more characters.

Set 200 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar,...

The second season of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Lucasfilm’s original animated series, will debut on Disney+ and Disney Junior on Wednesday, August 14. The second half of the season is coming in early 2025.

In addition, a series of shorts from Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Season 2 will debut on Disney Junior and Disney+ on August 2.

Set 200 years before 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, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way.

The second season follows the younglings as they continue their training and embark on even bigger missions across the galaxy. Helping to lead the younglings on these missions is Master Zia’s new Padawan, Wes Vinik, and his astromech R0-M...

Lego Rebuild the Galaxy Release Date: When Does the Star Wars Miniseries Come Out? - Main Image

When is the release date of Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy on Disney+? Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo leads the animated block series as Sig Greebling who ends up unearthing a powerful artifact from a hidden Jedi temple.

But when can fans expect the miniseries to air on the streamer? Find out here.

Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Release Date

The upcoming four-part special, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, is an animated miniseries that will be available to stream on Disney+ on September 13, 2024.

According to the show's executive producer James Waugh, this series is "a celebration of all things Star Wars, Lego, and the incredible explorations that can only happen when these two amazing brands come together."

Mark Hamill and Ahmed Best Return to the Galaxy Far Far Away

Apart from Matarazzo,...

Lucasfilm unveiled the teaser trailer for its “four-piece” animated special, “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy” (streaming September 13 on Disney+), where the entire galaxy gets completely mixed up, reversing good and evil.

From showrunners and executive producers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, “Rebuild the Galaxy” concerns nerf-herder Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), who unearths a powerful artifact called The Cornerstone from a hidden Jedi temple, forcing him to rebuild the twisted galaxy.

The Lucasfilm mashup of Lego sets includes Ewok bounty hunters, Geonosian Jedi, and even Darth Jar Jar. They also snap together Imperial X-fighters, Rebel Tie-wings, and the Dark Falcon.

“Rebuild the Galaxy” marks the 25th year in the ongoing collaboration between Lucasfilm and the Lego Group. A teaser poster has also been released, featuring the “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy” logo, a starfield comprised of Lego studs, and the Cornerstone.

“The opportunity to work with Lego and Lucasfilm...

Lego and Star Wars fans rejoice, because Darth Jar Jar is finally here! The new animated series, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, will see good guys turned bad, bad guys turned good, and some long-standing fan theories turned turn into reality.

Just a few days after fans the world over celebrated Star Wars Day on May 4th (May the fourth be with you!), the first teaser for Lego: Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy was released on YouTube. The official description of the show reads as follows: "In Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, the entire Star Wars Galaxy gets completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), unearths a powerful artifact from a hidden Jedi temple. He finds himself thrust into adventure in a new, wondrously wild and twisted version of the galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of...

Disney+ has unveiled the teaser trailer for the “four-piece” animated special ‘Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy’.

The animated special showcases the longtime team-up of Lucasfilm and Danish toy manufacturing company, The Lego Group. “It’s hard to believe that it’s been twenty-five years since the ground-breaking collaboration between Lucasfilm and The Lego Group began,” says executive producer James Waugh.

“In that time, Lego Star Wars has given our fans the unique power to unlock their imaginations and play with the galaxy’s elements in any way they can conceive… and build. It’s with that playful spirit in mind that we set out to ‘Rebuild the Galaxy’ like never before. Tapping into the comedic genius of Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, two of the most talented comedy writers I’ve had the fortune of working with, we’ve mixed and matched Lego sets to snap together Imperial X-fighters,...

Disney+ has shared the first teaser trailer for its new "four-piece" animated special, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.

Jar Jar Binks remains a divisive character among fans and it's long been theorised (jokingly...we think) that the Gungan was secretly a villain who set out to destroy the Galaxy. That's led to the "Darth Jar Jar" meme which this project is leaning into by finally introducing that version of a character who first debuted way back in 1999's The Phantom Menace.

And yes, Ahmed Best will reprise the role!

In Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, the entire Star Wars Galaxy gets completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling, unearths a powerful artefact from a hidden Jedi temple.

He finds himself thrust into an adventure in a new, wondrously wild and twisted version of the Galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the...

Jar Jar Binks is one of the more reviled characters in the entire Star Wars franchise, and while he’s largely harmless, some fans wonder if he’s not hiding something darker and more sinister. Some have even theorized that Jar Jar is secretly a Sith Lord, and the new teaser trailer for Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy definitely plays into that by giving us… Darth Jar Jar. Check out the teaser below!

Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy will find the entire Star Wars Galaxy getting completely mixed up when “an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), unearths a powerful artifact from a hidden Jedi temple. He finds himself thrust into adventure in a new, wondrously wild and twisted version of the galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of all depends on Sig becoming the hero who can put all the pieces back together.

When the whole Star Wars saga started, the Jedis and the Siths started taking over our lives. And none of us probably thought there would come a day when Lucasfilms would give us a Star Wars movie with Darth Jar Jar. But here we are today, as Disney dropped the trailer for Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, and this is exactly what we got!

Darth Jar Jar in Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy | Lucasfilm / Disney

The Darth Jar Jar theory is longstanding and amusingly absurd, and still something that makes you think twice. So when fans get an official nod to this absurd theory and see Jar Jar Binks in his Sith version, they are undoubtedly going to be losing their minds. Even if it is lego!

Disney Just Released The Trailer for Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy

The trailer for an animated special was recently released,...

We got a good feeling about this: Disney+’s latest Star Wars special is revealing Darth Jar Jar.

The trailer (below) for the animated special Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy unveils a menacing Sith Lord version of the much-maligned Gungan character, who was infamously introduced in 1999’s The Phantom Menace.

From the official description, the premise for the special is “the Star Wars Galaxy gets completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), unearths a powerful artifact from a hidden Jedi temple. He finds himself thrust into adventure in a new, wondrously wild and twisted version of the galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of all depends on Sig becoming the hero who can put all the pieces back together.”

That Jar Jar Binks might be have secretly been a villain has been a fan theory for years in...

Today, Disney+ unveiled the teaser trailer and poster for the “four-piece” animated special Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. Launching on September 13, the special showcases the longtime collaboration between Lucasfilm and the Danish toy manufacturing company The Lego Group.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been twenty-five years since the ground-breaking collaboration between Lucasfilm and The Lego Group began,” says executive producer James Waugh. “In that time, Lego Star Wars has given our fans the unique power to unlock their imaginations and play with the galaxy’s elements in any way they can conceive… and build.”

Waugh added: “It’s with that playful spirit in mind that we set out to ‘Rebuild the Galaxy’ like never before. Tapping into the comedic genius of Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, two of the most talented comedy writers I’ve had the fortune of working with, we’ve mixed and matched...

The Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures cast are about to meet some beloved High Republic Jedi in-person.

In a conversation with IGN, Star Wars: The High Republic writer Cavan Scott and Lucasfilm Senior Vice President, Franchise Content and Strategy James Waugh talked about Young Jedi Adventures' upcoming crossovers with characters from the Phase I High Republic books. One episode, "Charhound Chase," will see protagonist Kai Brightstar meet Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm (Matthew Yang King), Padawan Bell Zettifar (Marcus Scribner), and their charhound companion Ember, whom Kai must search for after Ember goes missing. The second, "Stuck in the Muck," will see Kai and friends Lys, Nubs, and Nash visit the Republic space station Starlight Beacon, where they get to meet its Jedi head of operations, Estala Maru (Liam O'Brien).

Related: New Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III Comic Previews a Fan-Favorite Jedi's Master Status

"When I first read about...

The Sidemen–aka Ksi, Miniminter, Zerkaa, Tbjzl, Behzinga, Vikkstar123, and W2S–have taken their merch brick-and-mortar.

The YouTube group (18.8 million subscribers) is opening its first clothing store this weekend at the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Dartford, England.

Per Kent Live, the store is 6,000 square feet and located in the Upper Rose Gallery of Bluewater, next to Apricot.

People who visit on debut day (July 15) will get early access to a new merch line that’ll be exclusive to the store for a month before launching online in August. Shoppers will also get a Sidemen keyring and a discounted one-month membership to the group’s extra content club Side+ with each purchase.

This is the first time Sidemen’s sprawling trove of merch will be available to buy Irl.

“With the ever-changing landscape of physical retail, it is important for us as industry leaders to bring digital-first brands to the...

Disney+ and Disney Junior are set to release six new episodes of the series, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, starting August 2, 2023.

Lucasfilm, Disney+, and Disney Junior are gearing up for six new episodes of their hit series, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. The next phase of the thrilling saga will launch on Disney+ and Disney Junior starting August 2, 2023, marking an exciting expansion in the 25-episode debut season.

The Epic Journey Continues...

With the series premiere on May 4, many Star Wars fans are wondering whether Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is canon. The Star Wars franchise is more likely to make a statement if a series is not canon. For example, Star Wars: Visions' noncanonical status has clearly been stated in the series' promotional materials. In contrast, series like Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi are immediately assumed to be canon, no official statement necessary, because they are connected with already canonical works.

Similarly, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is connected to the canonical Star Wars: The High Republic subseries, making the show presumably canon as well. The series focuses on Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay and Nubs alongside their friend Nash Durango as they train during the High Republic era. Due to a crossover, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures confirms that other series like Star Wars Galaxy of Creatures and Star Wars Galactic Pals are also canon.

In case you missed it during your annual "Star Wars Day" machete viewing order party, season 2 of "Star Wars: Visions" was officially released on Disney+, and is back with an even more ambitious catalog of animated shorts from various studios. While the first season was best known for sticking to a theme of Japanese anime influences and pushing the boundaries of "Star Wars" aesthetics, the second season of "Visions" somehow takes things even further. Pulling from studios all around the world, including the famous British animation studio Aardman, Irish studio Cartoon Saloon, and French studio La Cachette, this season has an interesting focus on diverse and distinct cultural flairs and influences.

Despite how different the shorts that make up "Visions" are — they're completely self-contained and unique in tone and style — they all share the same "Star Wars" spirit, bringing us insight into the larger galaxy that exists outside of the Skywalker bubble.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures premiered all seven episodes of its first season on Disney+ on May 4. The animated series is a first for Star Wars, as it's aimed largely at families with preschool-aged children. It presents the adventures of a trio of young Padawans as they study the Force on their way to becoming Jedi. As befitting of its audience, the show is very gentle, with age-appropriate threats and simple character designs.

That gives rise to questions about whether or not Young Jedi Adventures is part of official Star Wars canon, and if it is, what part of the timeline it takes place in. The series doesn't contain many formal answers to either question, with only a loose story arc and the majority of episodes consisting of straightforward problems and solutions. The producers chose the setting and time very carefully, to better help the show do its job.

Related:...

"Star Wars: Visions" Volume 2, the animated anthology TV series from Lucasfilm offers new "Star Wars" stories set through the style and tradition of Japanese anime, now streaming on Disney+: 

"Lucasfilm partnered with seven of the most talented anime studios in Japan...

"...to bring their signature style and unique vision of the 'Star Wars' galaxy to this inspired new series," said James Waugh, executive producer and Lucasfilm Vice President, Franchise Content & Strategy.

"Their stories showcase the full spectrum of bold storytelling found across Japanese animation. 

"Each told with a freshness and voice that expands our understanding of what a 'Star Wars' story can be...

"...and celebrates a galaxy that has been such an inspiration to so many visionary storytellers."  

Click the images to enlarge... ...

Like all good Star Wars stories, it began with a vital transmission. Except, this one wasn’t from Princess Leia, nor was it delivered in the memory unit of an R2 droid.

It was, simply, a phone call to the offices of Aardman Animations – beamed from Skywalker Ranch, home of the legendary Lucasfilm, to the Bristol-based HQ of Britain’s most beloved animation studio, back in March 2021. It was, says Aardman’s Executive Creative Director Sarah Cox, “a mysterious call”. And like Leia’s message, it came with a mission: for the quintessentially British stop-motion studio behind Wallace & Gromit to create its very own short for animated anthology _Star Wars: Visions, with an open remit for what that might entail. The possibilities were vast. But for the studio that once delivered a definitive answer on whether the moon is made of cheese Cox had one big question: “Can we be funny?...

More Star Wars: Visions could be on the horizon.

According to industry scooper Jeff Sneider, Lucasfilm and Disney are already developing a third volume of the acclaimed anthology series. At the time of writing, Visions Vol. 2 has just been released on Disney+ to very positive reviews but the studios have provided no insight into whether more episodes of the anthology series have been greenlit. No other information on the purposed third volume were shared by Sneider.

Related: Visions 'The Spy Dancer' Is the Most Heartbreaking Star Wars Family Story

Star Wars: Visions currently spans two Volumes that consist of non-canon stories set within the galaxy far, far away. While Season 1 was built entirely on the contributions of anime studios, Season 2 brought in a variety of animation houses from across the globe, including South Africa, India, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Korea. Each episode focuses on a different character and story,...

"Star Wars: Visions" Volume 2, the animated anthology TV series from Lucasfilm offers new "Star Wars" stories set through the style and tradition of Japanese anime, now streaming on Disney+: 

"Lucasfilm partnered with seven of the most talented anime studios in Japan...

"...to bring their signature style and unique vision of the 'Star Wars' galaxy to this inspired new series," said James Waugh, executive producer and Lucasfilm Vice President, Franchise Content & Strategy.

"Their stories showcase the full spectrum of bold storytelling found across Japanese animation. 

"Each told with a freshness and voice that expands our understanding of what a 'Star Wars' story can be...

"...and celebrates a galaxy that has been such an inspiration to so many visionary storytellers."  

Click the images to enlarge... ...

"Star Wars Visions" is the purest expression of "Star Wars" as a sandbox, where all kinds of stories can be told. After the first season took the galaxy far, far away back to its earliest influences of Japanese cinema and mythology, the second season doubles down on the sandbox idea, with episodes mixing the iconography of the franchise with a sense of cultural specificity from animation creators from all around the world. It shows that "Star Wars" has space for everyone, and that it can look much different from what we usually expect from the franchise.

Indeed, what makes the anthology so unique is that it's animated, featuring an incredible diversity of animated styles and looks from across the globe, ranging from stop-motion animation to painterly 3D and more. Furthermore, each episode can and does look unlike any of they others in terms of visuals, designs, and influences.

With so...

Disney+’s acclaimed “Star Wars: Visions” anthology series from Lucasfilm moves beyond anime with “Volume 2.” The nine shorts in this second season tout a broader range of styles and techniques while showcasing the Star Wars franchise’s cultural impact throughout the world.

“We believed in this potential from the start when we expanded out more globally,” executive producer James Waugh told IndieWire. “We really thought we could show the world just incredible animation that’s being done out there and incredible cultural voices out there from different countries. Each one of these creators had something they wanted to say. They are such masters of their craft. And then we got to see the fun of watching all their different animation techniques and styles brought to life in ‘Star Wars’ in ways we never quite experienced before.”

The studios tapped by executive producers Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes include Aardman from Bristol,...

When “Star Wars: Visions” debuted in the fall of 2021, it felt like exploring a genuinely new part of the galaxy far, far away.

A collection of nine animated shorts from some of Japan’s most storied studios, they were brilliant and, living up to the title of the collection, visionary – full of Tatooine rock bands and epic lightsaber duels. For the follow-up (now on Disney+), the team has taken a more international approach and recruited studios from all over, including Ireland (Cartoon Saloon), England (Aardman), France (Studio La Cachette), India (88 Pictures) and more. The results are, much like the first batch of shorts, exhilarating – they each have such a distinct perspective and cultural specify that make the stories come alive. They’re emotional, thrilling and unique, while still being undeniably “Star Wars.”

TheWrap spoke to Jacquie Lopez, James Waugh and Josh Rimes about the process of bringing the shorts to life,...

Star Wars canon is more flexible than it appears, according to Star Wars: Visions executive producers James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes.

Waugh, Lopez and Rimes dismissed the supposed rigidity of the franchise's continuity in a recent interview with Inverse. "On some level, everything that is done within Star Wars is influencing everybody else working within Star Wars," Waugh said when asked about the non-canonical Visions' connection to wider Star Wars lore. Rimes added Visions still has to clear appearances by characters from in-continuity Star Wars installments (such as Wedge Antilles) with Lucasfilm, while Lopez expressed interest in continuing each of Visions' animated shorts as fully-fledged spinoffs that exist within their own canon if given the opportunity to do so.

Related: Star Wars: Visions Subverted the Concept of Jedi Romance - For the Better

Fans hungry for more explicitly canonical Star Wars stories needn't worry, though. Lucasfilm has an...

"Star Wars: Visions" Volume 2, the animated anthology TV series from Lucasfilm offers new "Star Wars" stories set through the style and tradition of Japanese anime, streaming May 4, 2023 on Disney+: 

"Lucasfilm partnered with seven of the most talented anime studios in Japan...

"...to bring their signature style and unique vision of the 'Star Wars' galaxy to this inspired new series," said James Waugh, executive producer and Lucasfilm Vice President, Franchise Content & Strategy.

"Their stories showcase the full spectrum of bold storytelling found across Japanese animation. 

"Each told with a freshness and voice that expands our understanding of what a 'Star Wars' story can be...

"...and celebrates a galaxy that has been such an inspiration to so many visionary storytellers."  

Click the images to enlarge... ...

Mumbai, May 2 (Ians) ‘The Bandits of Golak’ which is one of the nine short stories from the anthology series ‘Star Wars: Visions Volume 2’ offers a new perspective on the storied mythos of ‘Star Wars’.

‘Star Wars: Visions’ Executive Producer James Waugh shared that the team wanted to bring new perspectives to the ‘Star Wars’ with the anthology.

He said, “With ‘Star Wars: Visions Volume 2’, we wanted to take audiences on a tour of the incredible animated filmmaking happening around the globe. We hoped to see Star Wars through fresh eyes and fresh perspectives”.

The short story has been produced by 88 Pictures led by Milind D Shinde, and directed by Indian Animation filmmaker Ishan Shukla.

James further mentioned, “88 Pictures has always been a studio that impressed us and their vision to showcase the vibrant creativity of India’s rich culture through a Star Wars lens had us instantly hooked. The...

Star Wars: Visions executive producer James Waugh explains how studios from different countries bring something new to Star Wars. The Star Wars anthology series features a new animated short film every episode. The first season focused on anime, with a different Japanese studio creating each episode. Each episode of the second season will be created by a new studio from a different country, including Ireland, Chile, France, and South Korea.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Waugh discussed what makes Star Wars: Visions unique. He explained how the storytelling in the first season inspired them to expand to other studios in different countries. Waugh also broke down how different creators bring different perspectives to Star Wars. Check out Waugh's full quote below:

We had always noticed with the first volume, just how much we can tell. The fact that these creators were from Japan informed their storytelling. So specifically...

Star Wars: Visions is a collection of animated short films from different studios that offer a unique new perspective on Star Wars. The first volume focused on Japanese studios, with each episode featuring a different anime style. Volume 2 expands to include studios from around the world, including Ireland, Chile, South Korea, and South Africa.

Star Wars Visions has to balance the freedom for each studio to tell original creative stories while staying true to the heart of Star Wars. Each Star Wars: Visions episode explores new characters' stories, including the Sith, the Jedi, and characters that aren't connected to Force users. The Star Wars Visions episodes are also influenced by the culture of each country, with the French episode tapping into the idea of spy dancers while the Irish episode brings the Irish ghost story style into Star Wars.

Related: Upcoming Star Wars Shows In 2023: Story, Casts & Everything We...

"Star Wars: Visions" is unlike anything we've seen before in the Star Wars franchise. The anthology series tells stories unconnected to the larger canon of the franchise, meaning it has complete freedom to reinterpret the iconography of the galaxy far, far away and its many time periods rather than force themselves into the established canon.

It's also a series in which each episode is animated by a different studio with a vastly different visual style. In the first season, Lucasfilm enlisted seven Japanese anime studios, with episodes ranging from cute "Astroboy" homages and space operas to black-and-white samurai-inspired epics and cartoonish and bombastic tales of Force-sensitive twins. Now, Lucasfilm is expanding its horizons to the rest of the world.

But for Volume 2, rather than audition new animation studios, the executives from Lucasfilm reached out to these companies directly.

"We certainly had studios that were really inspired and wanted to reach out,...

Life is full of little disappointments. People rarely land their dream jobs. The partner of your dreams rarely materializes. The McRib will never be a permanent menu item.

We deal with these micro-heartbreaks as best we can. We endure. We must, as Sonia advised Uncle Vanya, live our lives. But I'm not sure I want to live in a world where the animated "Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures" won't end with Anakin Skywalker massacring a bunch of younglings.

As you likely remember, the tragic third act of "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith" features the soon-to-be-Darth-Vader making a lightsaber hash out of the young Jedi trainees. The wanton murder of children is not typically funny, but the tonal mixture is so off in these movies that the most crushing moments are often unintentionally hilarious. For example, in the 2000s, the maniacs at Ytmnd, Inc. made uproarious hay...

"Star Wars: Visions" Volume 2, the animated anthology TV series from Lucasfilm offers new "Star Wars" stories set through the style and tradition of Japanese anime, streaming May 4, 2023 on Disney+: 

"Lucasfilm partnered with seven of the most talented anime studios in Japan...

"...to bring their signature style and unique vision of the 'Star Wars' galaxy to this inspired new series," said James Waugh, executive producer and Lucasfilm Vice President, Franchise Content & Strategy.

"Their stories showcase the full spectrum of bold storytelling found across Japanese animation. 

"Each told with a freshness and voice that expands our understanding of what a 'Star Wars' story can be...

"...and celebrates a galaxy that has been such an inspiration to so many visionary storytellers."  

Click the images to enlarge... ...