After a one week break, The Week in Star Wars returns with loads of news from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a change of title for Episode VIII, a tease for Episode IX and more…
We’ll kick things off this week with a load of new images from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. First up is the subscriber cover for Empire which features Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO [see it here] as well as whole host of images from inside the magazine [see those here and here]. Lucasfilm posted an episode of The Star Wars Show, which unveiled the Imperial astromech droid C2-B5 [see him here], and we got a better look at Darth Vader from the playing card series [see that here]…
…Darth Vader was also seen in the POP! Vinyl series alongside Jyn Erso, Captain Cassian Andor, K-2SO, Chirrut Îmwe, Baze Malbus, Saw Gerrera, Director Orson Krennic, a Scarif Stormtrooper, an Imperial Death Trooper and C2-B5, promotional images for which can be seen here…
…Speaking of toys, and Hasbro released some images of the upcoming action figure series including two-figure packs for Moroff / Stormtrooper Squad Leader and Rebel Commando Pao / Imperial Deathtrooper and the TIE Striker (with TIE Fighter Pilot) and Rebel U-Wing Fighter (with Captain Cassian Andor). And as an added bonus, there’s also a new two-figure pack featuring Poe Dameron and First Order Snowtrooper Officer, all of which can be seen here. They even made stop-motion shorts using the figures, which you can watch here…
…LEGO unveiled its LEGO Star Wars: Rogue One sets for the Jyn Erso, K-2SO and Imperial Death Trooper Buildable Figures, AT-ST Walker, TIE Striker, Krennic’s Imperial Shuttle, Imperial Assault Hovertank and Rebel U-Wing Fighter, which you can see here and here…
…And if that’s not enough Rogue One junk for you to collect and store, Hot Toys has unveiled its 1/6th scale Death Trooper (Specialist) Collectible Figure, while Disney are releasing some limited 3D glasses, and this time they’re Imperial-themed and based around the design of the Stormtrooper and Deathtrooper masks…
…Lastly on the tie-in material, and we got a look at the covers for a few novels as well as the synopsis for Star Wars Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel: War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building more and more deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of Chancellor Palpatine’s top secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can. And an old friend of Krennic’s, the brilliant scientist Galen Erso, could be the key…
…Going back to the Sith, and according to Ian McDiarmid he will be the only Sith Lord in the movie as Emperor Palpatine won’t feature. “Rogue One’s on its way, [and it’s set] when I was in charge of things – I mean the Emperor, not me. I am not featured in [the movie] myself, but I understand that Darth Vader may be making an appearance…”
…It’s likely Jar Jar Binks won’t feature either, but that didn’t stop someone making a trailer with him all over it…
…And finally on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and director Gareth Edwards has been talking about the film’s title and what it means. “I’d been thinking about it,” he said. “What does it mean? ‘Rogue One’ is a military call sign to some extent, but this is the first film that’s gone off-piste and is not part of the saga – or the Anakin story – so it’s the ‘rogue’ one, you know? It’s kind of describing [Jyn Erso] as well in a similar way. It has [all] these split, multiple meanings that made it feel like the right choice…”
…Looking ahead to Star Wars: Episode VIII and it looks like we won’t be hearing an official title for some time – at least that’s according to Daisy Ridley. Rey stopped by the studios to record an episode of My Dad Wrote a Porno (yes, that is the real show name) and said, “I heard a title, but I don’t know if it’s going to be that. I really don’t know much about anything…”
…There’s also some more confirmation – of sorts – that Yoda will feature in the movie. However, this comes from a Reddit report claiming they overheard a conversation, so not exactly the most accurate of sources…
…And looking even further ahead to Star Wars: Episode IX, and Mark Hamill has teased on Twitter that he will make it through to the ninth movie in the Star Wars Saga…
…Myself and Oli Davis talked about many of these stories on the Flickering Myth Podcast, which you can listen to below:
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…Disney XD has released a new promo for the upcoming third season of Star Wars Rebels, which focusses on the introduction of fan favourite Expanded Universe character Grand Admiral Thrawn; watch it here…
…Designer Psyence’s LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collectors Series Landspeeder set has become the latest LEGO Ideas concept to achieve the necessary 10,000 supporters to progress to the Second 2016 Review Stage as it hopes to become an official set; check out images of it here…
…Officially being released is the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector’s Series Death Star (75159). It’s pretty much the same set as its predecessor, albeit with updated and additional minifigures, and a few small modifications to the main build. In total, there’s over 200 extra pieces (4,016), but it does come with a hefty increased price tag of US$499.99, CA $599.99 and UK £399.99…
…Sideshow also revealed its upcoming Jango Fett Premium Format figure from Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Standing at around 24 inches tall, it is available to pre-order here, priced at $499.99 and is expected to ship July-September 2017; check it out here…
…And finally, here’s your comic book previews for the week. First up is Star Wars: Poe Dameron #6: Poe and Agent Terex are in a race…to break out of jail! But with Black Squadron surrounded by deadly inmates… Their only hope is BB-8?!?
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth and the co-host of The Flickering Myth Podcast and Scooperhero News. You can follow him on Twitter @ThisisLukeOwen and read his weekly feature The Week in Star Wars.
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