The "Star Wars" universe is stuffed with memorable baddies, and since the theatrical films have mostly been shot in London, these villains are typically from the United Kingdom. Everyone's got a favorite: Ian McDiarmid's sinister Emperor Palpatine, Peter Cushing's ruthless Grand Moff Tarkin (who was digitally resurrected for "Rogue One"), Kenneth Colley's stressed out Admiral Piett ... there's really no wrong answer here. But if I absolutely have to place one member of the Galactic Empire over all the others, I might just go with Julian Glover's delectably evil General Maximillian Veers.
Why? Even though he doesn't get much screen time in "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back", Glover is just such a strikingly nasty piece of work during the assault on the Rebels' Hoth base of operations that I find myself wishing Lucas had found more for him to do.
No one should...
Why? Even though he doesn't get much screen time in "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back", Glover is just such a strikingly nasty piece of work during the assault on the Rebels' Hoth base of operations that I find myself wishing Lucas had found more for him to do.
No one should...
- 4/15/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Say what you will of "Star Wars," but you can't deny the franchise is great with thematically-consistent visual choices. When a Force user is meant to be bad, they've got a red lightsaber and they're dressed up in scary dark clothing. When the character's meant to be good, they've got a blue/green lightsaber and they're wearing friendly light clothing (with exceptions like Luke Skywalker at the start of "Return of the Jedi"). It's perhaps a little too simple, but it was a great idea on creator George Lucas's part to come up with a type of futuristic sword that straight-up tells you what sort of person its owner is. Talk about taking visual shorthand to the next level.
Outside of clothing and choice of weapon, "Star Wars" is also quick to use appearances to indicate morality. The morally righteous Leia is conventionally attractive, whereas the evil Palpatine has yellow eyes and wrinkly skin.
Outside of clothing and choice of weapon, "Star Wars" is also quick to use appearances to indicate morality. The morally righteous Leia is conventionally attractive, whereas the evil Palpatine has yellow eyes and wrinkly skin.
- 3/31/2024
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
Has it been that long? George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is getting a 25th anniversary re-release by Disney on May 3. That’s in time to celebrate Star Wars day, May the 4th.
As part of the “The Phantom Menace” screenings, fans will be treated to an exclusive look at Disney+/Lucasfilm new series Star Wars: The Acolyte which takes place 100 years prior to Phantom Menace, that latter movie being the origin story of Anakin Skywalker who ultimately becomes Darth Vader. The Acolyte hits Disney+ on June 4.
Also the next Star Wars Celebration is headed to Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan on April 18-20, 2025. Tickets for the event will go on sale Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 P.M. Edt (US Time)/Friday, May 3, at 8:00 A.M. Jst (Japan Time).
Phantom Menace starred Ewan McGregor as young Obi Wan Kenobi, Liam Neeson as his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn,...
As part of the “The Phantom Menace” screenings, fans will be treated to an exclusive look at Disney+/Lucasfilm new series Star Wars: The Acolyte which takes place 100 years prior to Phantom Menace, that latter movie being the origin story of Anakin Skywalker who ultimately becomes Darth Vader. The Acolyte hits Disney+ on June 4.
Also the next Star Wars Celebration is headed to Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan on April 18-20, 2025. Tickets for the event will go on sale Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 P.M. Edt (US Time)/Friday, May 3, at 8:00 A.M. Jst (Japan Time).
Phantom Menace starred Ewan McGregor as young Obi Wan Kenobi, Liam Neeson as his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney is giving us a blast from the past with its next entry in the Star Wars series, as showrunner Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) takes us back to the golden age of the High Republic. Going back further on the timeline than live-action Star Wars has before, The Acolyte takes place at the height of the Jedi Order’s power, 100 years before Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn blundered their trade negotiations in The Phantom Menace.
With a largely new cast, the first trailer for The Acolyte gave us a look at Amandla Stenberg‘s rogue warrior Mae, The Matrix’s Carrie-Anne Moss and Squid Game‘s Lee Jung-jae as Jedi Masters, and Solo’s Joonas Suotamo playing the Wookiee Jedi Kelnacca. But despite the many Jedi in the story, Headland has said that the show also tackles the story of the Sith and how they managed to infiltrate and corrupt the Republic and the Jedi Order.
With a largely new cast, the first trailer for The Acolyte gave us a look at Amandla Stenberg‘s rogue warrior Mae, The Matrix’s Carrie-Anne Moss and Squid Game‘s Lee Jung-jae as Jedi Masters, and Solo’s Joonas Suotamo playing the Wookiee Jedi Kelnacca. But despite the many Jedi in the story, Headland has said that the show also tackles the story of the Sith and how they managed to infiltrate and corrupt the Republic and the Jedi Order.
- 3/21/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is a film full of epic moments. One of the best scenes is the opening battle scene where Chancellor Palpatine manipulates Anakin Skywalker into killing Count Dooku during the Battle of Coruscant.
A still from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
In the scene where Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) instructs Anakin (Hayden Christensen) to cut off Count Dooku’s (Christopher Lee) head, he delivers some famous lines in a dramatic manner. This intensifies the scene even further. However, the scene could have almost appeared entirely different from what it is today.
Ian McDiarmid’s Clash Could Have Almost Threatened Iconic Star Wars Scene
Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine / Darth Sidious in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
The opening battle scene in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith could have become completely...
A still from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
In the scene where Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) instructs Anakin (Hayden Christensen) to cut off Count Dooku’s (Christopher Lee) head, he delivers some famous lines in a dramatic manner. This intensifies the scene even further. However, the scene could have almost appeared entirely different from what it is today.
Ian McDiarmid’s Clash Could Have Almost Threatened Iconic Star Wars Scene
Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine / Darth Sidious in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
The opening battle scene in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith could have become completely...
- 3/13/2024
- by Shreya Jha
- FandomWire
As in Star Wars, Dune has an interplanetary emperor, and as with most similarities between the two universes, it’s probably not a coincidence, given the all-too-obvious influence of Frank Herbert’s novels on George Lucas. But in Denis Vileneuve’s Dune 2, instead of Ian McDiarmid’s lightning-tossing, “unlimited power”-bellowing Palpatine, we get a fantastically understated Christopher Walken as the faded ruler of the known universe, looking bummed out from years of governance, with a vibe not unlike Mitch McConnell’s at his recent farewell press conference. Walken...
- 3/8/2024
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
In George Lucas' 1977 sci-fi flick "Star Wars," there is a scene wherein a cadre of Nazi-like bad guys, in the employ of the evil Empire, gather around a boardroom table and mention that the mysterious off-screen Emperor has dissolved the senate and taken absolute control. The military generals are outraged, wondering how the Empire might survive without a bureaucracy in place. In Irvin Kirshner's 1980 sequel "The Empire Strikes Back," it's established that Darth Vader (David Prowse), a mysterious masked warlock, was actually the Emperor's right-hand man, indicating that the Emperor retains control of the Empire through the sheer force of his villainy.
In "The Empire Strikes Back," the Emperor appeared in holographic form to have a powwow with Darth Vader and plan his next move. In the original cut of the movie, the Emperor was played on screen by actress Marjorie Eaton, outfitted with eerie, alien eyeballs. Eaton was a long-working character performer in Hollywood,...
In "The Empire Strikes Back," the Emperor appeared in holographic form to have a powwow with Darth Vader and plan his next move. In the original cut of the movie, the Emperor was played on screen by actress Marjorie Eaton, outfitted with eerie, alien eyeballs. Eaton was a long-working character performer in Hollywood,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
There's a lot about the "Star Wars" franchise that doesn't make a ton of sense. This was okay during the original trilogy, which left us with plenty of room to fill in the gaps on our own, but the subsequent prequels have made things a bit more complicated. They've even taken moments from the original trilogy that initially seemed logical and retroactively made them a little confusing. For instance, why does R2-D2 not interfere when Leia makes out with her brother in "The Empire Strikes Back"? The rascally droid could've saved the two from so much embarrassment later on.
On a more serious note, another now-questionable moment from the original trilogy concerns Emperor Palpatine's lightning powers. The climax of "Return of the Jedi" involves Palpatine torturing Luke with lightning for a significant period of time, and yet Luke recovers from it all unscathed. Luke comes out of it just...
On a more serious note, another now-questionable moment from the original trilogy concerns Emperor Palpatine's lightning powers. The climax of "Return of the Jedi" involves Palpatine torturing Luke with lightning for a significant period of time, and yet Luke recovers from it all unscathed. Luke comes out of it just...
- 2/24/2024
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
In honour of Empire's new Star Wars prequels issue, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the trilogy's launch, we're asking – which of the prequel movies is the best? Read the case for Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith below, and find the issue on newsstands now.
That Revenge Of The Sith is the darkest chapter in George Lucas’ Star Wars prequel trilogy has never been in any doubt. The first PG-13 film in the Skywalker Saga, Episode III starts with the promise of “War!” and spends the next 140 minutes delivering precisely that. Decapitation! Child murder! Genocide! The death of democracy and the rise of a fascist regime! Pretty intense for a family blockbuster released in the same month as Madagascar, right? But having been there on opening night in May 2005 as a wide-eyed seven-year-old – and writing this now almost 20 years later – Revenge Of The Sith represents the apotheosis of Lucas’ grand vision for the prequels.
That Revenge Of The Sith is the darkest chapter in George Lucas’ Star Wars prequel trilogy has never been in any doubt. The first PG-13 film in the Skywalker Saga, Episode III starts with the promise of “War!” and spends the next 140 minutes delivering precisely that. Decapitation! Child murder! Genocide! The death of democracy and the rise of a fascist regime! Pretty intense for a family blockbuster released in the same month as Madagascar, right? But having been there on opening night in May 2005 as a wide-eyed seven-year-old – and writing this now almost 20 years later – Revenge Of The Sith represents the apotheosis of Lucas’ grand vision for the prequels.
- 2/22/2024
- by Jordan King
- Empire - Movies
In honour of Empire's new Star Wars prequels issue, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the trilogy's launch, we're asking – which of the prequel movies is the best? Read the case for Episode II – Attack Of The Clones below, and find the issue on newsstands now.
When the camera pans up from the opening crawl in Attack Of The Clones — the only film in the Skywalker saga to buck the tradition of the pan down — George Lucas promises us a different kind of Star Wars movie, and he delivers from the very first frame. Every time Lucas set out to make a Star Wars film, he worked to make it different from the others in the most unexpected ways — and Attack Of The Clones is somehow more unique and brilliant amongst the entire Skywalker saga.
As the first film shot entirely digitally, George Lucas didn’t just set out to change...
When the camera pans up from the opening crawl in Attack Of The Clones — the only film in the Skywalker saga to buck the tradition of the pan down — George Lucas promises us a different kind of Star Wars movie, and he delivers from the very first frame. Every time Lucas set out to make a Star Wars film, he worked to make it different from the others in the most unexpected ways — and Attack Of The Clones is somehow more unique and brilliant amongst the entire Skywalker saga.
As the first film shot entirely digitally, George Lucas didn’t just set out to change...
- 2/21/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Empire - Movies
There’s no denying that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker certainly made some… interesting storytelling choices, especially with its main villain, who somehow returned to strike back at Rey and the Resistance. Not only does the movie reveal that Supreme Leader Snoke was just one of Emperor Palpatine’s clones all along, and that he’s been secretly preparing for the return of the true Empire and the Sith on Exegol, but we also get the biggest twist of all: Rey (Daisy Ridley) is his granddaughter.
The Emperor’s family tree is more complicated than that, though. Technically, Rey’s father, Dathan, is a failed clone of Palpatine rather than a biological child, but that hasn’t stopped fans from asking the big question: did the Emperor, in fact, have sex at some point during the saga? It’s a question that has haunted many, even if the answer...
The Emperor’s family tree is more complicated than that, though. Technically, Rey’s father, Dathan, is a failed clone of Palpatine rather than a biological child, but that hasn’t stopped fans from asking the big question: did the Emperor, in fact, have sex at some point during the saga? It’s a question that has haunted many, even if the answer...
- 2/15/2024
- by Brynnaarens
- Den of Geek
Do it. Execute order 69. He could stop others from boning, but not himself. Young fool, only now in your end do you understand. Your coming together is your undoing. Insert your own ribald "Emperor Palpatine has sex" pun here.
In J.J. Abrams' maligned 2019 sci-fi adventure "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," it was revealed that the young heroine Rey (Daisy Ridley) was the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), the deceased villain from several previous "Star Wars" movies. At the end of 1983's "Return of the Jedi," Darth Vader (David Prowse) hurled the elderly Emperor from a tall tower, most definitely killing him. Somehow, however, Palpatine returned. Not only did he return, but he was revealed to be the secret mastermind behind all of the galaxy's recent malfeasance. He was kept alive by eerie, Gigerian machines on the distant planet Exegol, secretly growing clones and constructing a powerful fleet of ultra-destructive warships.
In J.J. Abrams' maligned 2019 sci-fi adventure "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," it was revealed that the young heroine Rey (Daisy Ridley) was the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), the deceased villain from several previous "Star Wars" movies. At the end of 1983's "Return of the Jedi," Darth Vader (David Prowse) hurled the elderly Emperor from a tall tower, most definitely killing him. Somehow, however, Palpatine returned. Not only did he return, but he was revealed to be the secret mastermind behind all of the galaxy's recent malfeasance. He was kept alive by eerie, Gigerian machines on the distant planet Exegol, secretly growing clones and constructing a powerful fleet of ultra-destructive warships.
- 2/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Back in 1999, no cinema event was as hotly anticipated as the return of Star Wars. Thus the prequel trilogy began, unfolding George Lucas’ epic tragedy – vastly expanding the galaxy that fans loved, while pioneering the future of digital production. Now, to celebrate 25 years of the prequels, Empire presents an epic new look back at the trilogy that changed everything – packed with brand new interviews, rarely-seen concept art, and explorations of the greatest set pieces.
The issue hits newsstands on Thursday 15 February, with collectible light side and dark side covers – but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek inside the mag.
Star Wars: 25 Years Of The Prequels
This is where the fun begins. Empire celebrates the Star Wars prequels on a landmark anniversary in a massive special – packed with brand new interviews. Including…
Hayden Christensen
Anakin speaks! The man who would become Darth Vader revisits his wild ride with Star Wars,...
The issue hits newsstands on Thursday 15 February, with collectible light side and dark side covers – but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek inside the mag.
Star Wars: 25 Years Of The Prequels
This is where the fun begins. Empire celebrates the Star Wars prequels on a landmark anniversary in a massive special – packed with brand new interviews. Including…
Hayden Christensen
Anakin speaks! The man who would become Darth Vader revisits his wild ride with Star Wars,...
- 2/14/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Here’s the thing about Emperor Palpatine: somehow, he always returns. First, Ian McDiarmid donned old-age makeup to play the role of Star Wars’ arch-villain in 1983’s Return Of The Jedi. Then, he returned 16 years later to play Palpatine again in the prequel trilogy – this time as the politician who would become the Emperor. And in 2019’s The Rise Of Skywalker, he came back one last time as the rotting, reincarnated ruler, ready to emerge from the shadows and execute his plan once and for all. Palpatine’s resurrection in Episode IX was a controversial point for some fans – not just since Luke and Vader vanquished the Emperor together at the end of the original trilogy, but because the galaxy’s age-old enemy hadn’t featured in the other sequel trilogy films.
But to McDiarmid himself, it makes sense. Speaking to Empire in a major new interview – celebrating 25 years of...
But to McDiarmid himself, it makes sense. Speaking to Empire in a major new interview – celebrating 25 years of...
- 2/13/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Carrie Fisher took the virginity of Indiana Jones. At least, that's how she told it while she was alive. Specifically, that's what she told me. In her own words: "I wrote it with George [Lucas.] We wrote Indiana Jones losing his virginity to Mata Hari. It went very well."
I had been asking about her work on the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, so this answer came a bit out of left field. However, it's a little-known fact that Fisher worked as a writer on many George Lucas projects, doing an uncredited polish on the scripts for the prequels and even coming up with adventures for Indiana Jones to go on in his TV series, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."
So, how did Indiana Jones actually lose his virginity, and what part did Fisher play?
Read more: The 18 Best Action Movie Actors Ranked
Bigger Than Life
"She was a bigger-than-life character and...
I had been asking about her work on the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, so this answer came a bit out of left field. However, it's a little-known fact that Fisher worked as a writer on many George Lucas projects, doing an uncredited polish on the scripts for the prequels and even coming up with adventures for Indiana Jones to go on in his TV series, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."
So, how did Indiana Jones actually lose his virginity, and what part did Fisher play?
Read more: The 18 Best Action Movie Actors Ranked
Bigger Than Life
"She was a bigger-than-life character and...
- 2/13/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
Say what you will about George Lucas' writing -- especially his dialogue -- but there's no denying the man had a vision, and that vision changed cinema forever. He helped bring about the digital revolution, created one of the biggest fictional universes out there, and can also be a pretty good filmmaker with the right material. That said, Lucas is not known for eloquent and specific instructions for his actors. Instead, he is famous for his "faster, more intense" stage direction during the making of the original "Star Wars" trilogy — a direction that was sorely needed in the recent "Ahsoka" series.
Speaking with Empire for the 25th anniversary of the "Star Wars" prequels, Ian McDiarmid spoke of Emperor Palpatine's fateful fight against Mace Windu in "Revenge of the Sith," and Lucas' direction in the making of that scene.
"George [Lucas] kept hyping me up on that," McDiarmid explained. "I was screaming,...
Speaking with Empire for the 25th anniversary of the "Star Wars" prequels, Ian McDiarmid spoke of Emperor Palpatine's fateful fight against Mace Windu in "Revenge of the Sith," and Lucas' direction in the making of that scene.
"George [Lucas] kept hyping me up on that," McDiarmid explained. "I was screaming,...
- 2/13/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Ever since he first popped up in Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Mace Windu has been one of the baddest motherfu- sorry, baddest Jedi Masters in the business. Quite literally, in fact – Samuel L. Jackson has the letters ‘Bmf’ etched into the hilt of the lightsaber he kept. And so, since we never actually saw him perish, there have long been rumours – and wishes from fans – that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t die in Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith. Sure, his hand was sliced off by Anakin, and he was seriously sizzled by Palpatine’s Force lightning before being flung from a window into the Coruscant sky. But in the Star Wars galaxy, is that really enough to kill the coolest Jedi?
Not according to Jackson. For the new issue of Empire – celebrating 25 years of the Star Wars prequels – we fired off a few questions about the galaxy far,...
Not according to Jackson. For the new issue of Empire – celebrating 25 years of the Star Wars prequels – we fired off a few questions about the galaxy far,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
With the arrival of Revenge Of The Sith, Hayden Christensen thought his time as Anakin Skywalker was over, having picked up the baton from Jake Lloyd and plunged the Jedi Knight into darkness. But as it turned out, he wasn’t done quite yet. In recent years, Christensen has returned to Star Wars on screen in Obi-Wan Kenobi and most recently in Ahsoka, once again portraying Anakin (and Vader) in fights, flashbacks, Force-fuelled visions and more. Most notably, in Ahsoka, he got to play a version of Anakin that he’d never played before: his Clone Wars incarnation, previously only seen in animated form (and voiced by Matt Lanter) in The Clone Wars series.
As Christensen tells Empire in a major new interview – for our Star Wars prequels 25th anniversary issue – getting to star in live-action opposite Anakin’s one-time Padawan Ahsoka Tano was a big deal. “The scenes that...
As Christensen tells Empire in a major new interview – for our Star Wars prequels 25th anniversary issue – getting to star in live-action opposite Anakin’s one-time Padawan Ahsoka Tano was a big deal. “The scenes that...
- 2/12/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
During the climax of Richard Marquand's 1983 film "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," the evil Empire's second Death Star was destroyed by the Rebel Army, the ghoulish Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) was killed, and his right-hand warlock Darth Vader (David Prowse) died in the conflagration. It seemed that evil had been vanquished and that everything was well in the galaxy. For many, many years, fans didn't see what happened after that film, presumably because a new era of peace had begun and the Star Wars were over.
It wasn't until the release of J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 2015 that we learned the dark truth. It seems the universe of "Star Wars" can't help but creep back slowly toward fascism with every generation. Decades after the fall of the Empire, the New Order rose in its place, now even more Nazi-like than ever. Stormtroopers were back,...
It wasn't until the release of J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 2015 that we learned the dark truth. It seems the universe of "Star Wars" can't help but creep back slowly toward fascism with every generation. Decades after the fall of the Empire, the New Order rose in its place, now even more Nazi-like than ever. Stormtroopers were back,...
- 2/11/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The epic Darth Maul vs. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn duel. The thunderous Boonta Eve Podrace. The battle of Naboo. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is packed with moments best witnessed on the big screen, spooling back to the very beginning of the Skywalker Saga to depict Anakin Skywalker’s first encounter with the Jedi, the beginnings of the galactic civil war, and the menacing meddling of Palpatine. Well, good news: to mark 25 years since the film first hit cinemas in 1999, it’s coming back to cinemas later this year. Cue the fanfare!
This May the 4th weekend, The Phantom Menace will be re-released in cinemas for a limited time, meaning you can revisit all your favourite moments as large and loud as George Lucas intended. Not only that, but the release is accompanied by epic new poster art from Matt Ferguson – with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon ready to head into battle,...
This May the 4th weekend, The Phantom Menace will be re-released in cinemas for a limited time, meaning you can revisit all your favourite moments as large and loud as George Lucas intended. Not only that, but the release is accompanied by epic new poster art from Matt Ferguson – with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon ready to head into battle,...
- 2/10/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and Empire’s latest issue is an epic celebration of all three movies, including interviews with Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson and Ian McDiarmid.
Hayden Christensen reflected on his time in the Star Wars franchise. “It’s been a remarkable experience,” Christensen said. “And just a very heartwarming one. The journey that I’ve been on with Star Wars over the last 20 plus years… it’s been a wild ride, and where we’re at now is really meaningful to me.” Of course, the backlash against the prequels was rather intense at the time, with plenty aimed at Christensen’s portrayal of Anakin Skywalker. Those opinions have simmered over the years, with a new generation of fans holding the Star Wars prequel trilogy in high regard.
“I think that those movies have held up well over time.
Hayden Christensen reflected on his time in the Star Wars franchise. “It’s been a remarkable experience,” Christensen said. “And just a very heartwarming one. The journey that I’ve been on with Star Wars over the last 20 plus years… it’s been a wild ride, and where we’re at now is really meaningful to me.” Of course, the backlash against the prequels was rather intense at the time, with plenty aimed at Christensen’s portrayal of Anakin Skywalker. Those opinions have simmered over the years, with a new generation of fans holding the Star Wars prequel trilogy in high regard.
“I think that those movies have held up well over time.
- 2/9/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Talk about pressure. There are few villains in cinema as iconic as Darth Vader – recognisable from the briefest glimpse of his distinctive helmet, or the merest mechanical hiss of his respirator. So when Hayden Christensen signed on to play Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, he took on a formidable task: presenting the man behind the mask. Across Episode II – Attack Of The Clones and Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith, Christensen showed us how exactly how the galaxy’s brightest hope turned from the light and plunged into total darkness – and through that time, his own Star Wars experience was a mix of light and dark too. After weathering years of criticism, he’s now been wholeheartedly embraced by the fandom.
Speaking to Empire in a major new interview – and original photo shoot – for our 25th anniversary celebration of the prequel trilogy, Christensen opened up on his time in the galaxy far,...
Speaking to Empire in a major new interview – and original photo shoot – for our 25th anniversary celebration of the prequel trilogy, Christensen opened up on his time in the galaxy far,...
- 2/9/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Star Wars Prequel Cast Revisits The Trilogy 25 Years Later In Empire’s Anniversary Issue – Exclusive
Back in 1999, a brand new era in the galaxy far, far away came to life. George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels told an epic tale of fallen Jedi, forbidden romance, and the dismantling of democracy – assembling a whole new cast to inhabit his vast space-opera. The stars who entered that sandbox took a bold step, not only working at the frontier of digital filmmaking techniques, but conjuring a Star Wars saga that stood apart visually and tonally from the beloved originals. The likes of Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson and Ian McDiarmid became an entire generation’s set of Star Wars heroes (and villains) – and they all spoke to Empire for our epic new issue, celebrating 25 years of the trilogy.
For Ewan McGregor, the pressure of playing the young Obi-Wan Kenobi was eased by working alongside Liam Neeson – whose Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn suffers a noble end in...
For Ewan McGregor, the pressure of playing the young Obi-Wan Kenobi was eased by working alongside Liam Neeson – whose Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn suffers a noble end in...
- 2/9/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
The fall of Anakin Skywalker. The collapse of the Galactic Republic. The rise of Emperor Palpatine and creation of Darth Vader. It’s been 25 years since the Star Wars prequels changed everything – back in 1999, The Phantom Menace exploded into cinemas in an unprecedented cultural event. In its wake followed Attack Of The Clones and Revenge Of The Sith, unspooling George Lucas’ visionary, technically ambitious, and thematically-dense trilogy of tragedy. The reception at the time was unsteady; today, they’re hailed as a vital and beloved era of Star Wars history.
The new issue of Empire is an epic celebration of Episodes I, II, and III, revisiting the movies with the people who made them. Inside, we have brand new cast interviews, including major conversations – and exclusive photo shoots – with Anakin Skywalker himself, Hayden Christensen, and the one and only Emperor Palpatine, Ian McDiarmid; also speaking to Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman,...
The new issue of Empire is an epic celebration of Episodes I, II, and III, revisiting the movies with the people who made them. Inside, we have brand new cast interviews, including major conversations – and exclusive photo shoots – with Anakin Skywalker himself, Hayden Christensen, and the one and only Emperor Palpatine, Ian McDiarmid; also speaking to Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman,...
- 2/9/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
"If [Darth] Vader is the great dark icon of our times, I'm blacker than him. I'm the blackest of the black," said Ian McDiarmid when speaking to Empire Magazine about his role as Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious, master of Vader and greatest villain of the "Star Wars" saga.
"Star Wars" emphasizes how the dark side leads to misery; Vader's portrayal across the original trilogy is about the rediscovery of humanity buried within a monster. Palpatine is the exception; he's an enigmatic sadist utterly devoid of conscience or attachment.
In the prequel trilogy chronicling his rise to Emperor, Palpatine orchestrates an invasion of his homeworld in a complex plot to ride the sympathy vote to the Chancellorship, sparks a ruinous galactic civil war, and ultimately ends 1000 years of democracy (though some might argue that he just hastened the end of the Republic's corrupt husk).
McDiarmid has played Palpatine on and off for...
"Star Wars" emphasizes how the dark side leads to misery; Vader's portrayal across the original trilogy is about the rediscovery of humanity buried within a monster. Palpatine is the exception; he's an enigmatic sadist utterly devoid of conscience or attachment.
In the prequel trilogy chronicling his rise to Emperor, Palpatine orchestrates an invasion of his homeworld in a complex plot to ride the sympathy vote to the Chancellorship, sparks a ruinous galactic civil war, and ultimately ends 1000 years of democracy (though some might argue that he just hastened the end of the Republic's corrupt husk).
McDiarmid has played Palpatine on and off for...
- 1/29/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
There were a lot of surprises in the "Star Wars" prequels, perhaps the biggest of which was the sheer extent of Palpatine's machinations. We knew he was evil and powerful, sure, but we didn't know he'd ever been called Darth Sidious, and we certainly didn't know he'd been the Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. The Palpatine of the prequel trilogy operates right under the Jedis' noses for three movies straight, scheming his way into a dictatorship with barely any hitches in his plans.
It's a different approach from how the original trilogy shrouded Palpatine in mystery. Even by the time Vader was chucking him off that shaft at the end of "Return of the Jedi," we still didn't know much about the character. If you're being critical, you can say the prequels' portrayal of him was a bad choice that made the Jedi seem like buffoons and took away the Emperor's mystique.
It's a different approach from how the original trilogy shrouded Palpatine in mystery. Even by the time Vader was chucking him off that shaft at the end of "Return of the Jedi," we still didn't know much about the character. If you're being critical, you can say the prequels' portrayal of him was a bad choice that made the Jedi seem like buffoons and took away the Emperor's mystique.
- 1/21/2024
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
In director J.J. Abrams' 2019 film "Star Wars: Episode IX -- The Rise of Skywalker," heroes Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) are searching for something called a Sith Wayfinder, a widget that would allow them to locate a hidden planet called Exogol: the place where the evil Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) is hiding out and building a fleet of warships. To find the Wayfinder, however, the heroes must first decipher some runes written in an ancient, forbidden Sith language etched onto the Blade of Ochi. Their translation droid C-3Po (Anthony Daniels) can translate the runes, but the information about the Sith language is embedded deep within his programming, and to extract it, a droid expert named Babu Frik has to wipe out C-3Po's memory entirely.
This was not the first time C-3Po's memory had been wiped. At the end of the 2005 film...
This was not the first time C-3Po's memory had been wiped. At the end of the 2005 film...
- 1/2/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Since the release of Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977, Star Wars has grown into a massive franchise spanning multiple movies, television series and video games.
Fox Business wrote in 2020 that combined box-office total for all the films was around $10 billion worldwide, making the franchise among the highest-earning of all time.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest names from the Star Wars universe and ranked their estimated net worth from lowest to highest.
Keep reading to find out more…
Kelly Marie Tran
Estimated net worth: $3 million, per Celebrity Net Worth
Kelly Marie Tran appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, starring in 2017′s The Last Jedi and 2019′s The Rise of Skywalker as Rose Tico.
Temuera Morrison
Estimated net worth: $5 million, per Celebrity Net Worth
Temuera Morrison is a recent addition to the Star Wars universe, joining the cast of the new Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett.
Fox Business wrote in 2020 that combined box-office total for all the films was around $10 billion worldwide, making the franchise among the highest-earning of all time.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest names from the Star Wars universe and ranked their estimated net worth from lowest to highest.
Keep reading to find out more…
Kelly Marie Tran
Estimated net worth: $3 million, per Celebrity Net Worth
Kelly Marie Tran appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, starring in 2017′s The Last Jedi and 2019′s The Rise of Skywalker as Rose Tico.
Temuera Morrison
Estimated net worth: $5 million, per Celebrity Net Worth
Temuera Morrison is a recent addition to the Star Wars universe, joining the cast of the new Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett.
- 12/12/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Natalie Portman was 16 years old when principal photography commenced on "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace." She was a precocious talent capable of stealing scenes from Oscar winners like Al Pacino (in Michael Mann's "Heat") and Timothy Hutton (in Ted Demme's underrated "Beautiful Girls"), and now she was going to play the eventual mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa in George Lucas' long-awaited, madly anticipated Prequel Trilogy. Career-wise, it was a part no actor her age could afford to turn down. The first film's blockbuster success was preordained; her image would be projected on movie screens all over the world, thus making her a global superstar.
There was just one problem: Lucas hadn't directed a movie in 22 years and wasn't keen on dealing with actors. He offered the helm on "The Phantom Menace" to Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, and Ron Howard, and asked playwright David Hare...
There was just one problem: Lucas hadn't directed a movie in 22 years and wasn't keen on dealing with actors. He offered the helm on "The Phantom Menace" to Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, and Ron Howard, and asked playwright David Hare...
- 12/9/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Since the release of Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977, Star Wars has grown into a massive franchise spanning multiple movies, television series and video games.
Fox Business wrote in 2020 that combined box-office total for all the films was around $10 billion worldwide, making the franchise among the highest-earning of all time.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest names from the Star Wars universe and ranked their estimated net worth from lowest to highest.
Keep reading to find out more…
Kelly Marie Tran
Estimated net worth: $3 million, per Celebrity Net Worth
Kelly Marie Tran appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, starring in 2017′s The Last Jedi and 2019′s The Rise of Skywalker as Rose Tico.
Temuera Morrison
Estimated net worth: $5 million, per Celebrity Net Worth
Temuera Morrison is a recent addition to the Star Wars universe, joining the cast of the new Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett.
Fox Business wrote in 2020 that combined box-office total for all the films was around $10 billion worldwide, making the franchise among the highest-earning of all time.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest names from the Star Wars universe and ranked their estimated net worth from lowest to highest.
Keep reading to find out more…
Kelly Marie Tran
Estimated net worth: $3 million, per Celebrity Net Worth
Kelly Marie Tran appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, starring in 2017′s The Last Jedi and 2019′s The Rise of Skywalker as Rose Tico.
Temuera Morrison
Estimated net worth: $5 million, per Celebrity Net Worth
Temuera Morrison is a recent addition to the Star Wars universe, joining the cast of the new Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett.
- 11/13/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
In one of the clunkiest lines of dialogue to emerge from a major studio motion picture in many a year, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) announced at the beginning of J.J. Abrams' sci-fi thriller "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" that "Somehow, Palpatine returned." Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), as Starwoids will be able to tell you, was the evil Emperor who served a major role in the 1983 film "Return of the Jedi" and was revealed to be a manipulative rising tyrant throughout the events of the "Star Wars" prequel films released from 1999 to 2005. In terms of "Star Wars" chronology, Palpatine was last seen being thrown off of a catwalk, plummetting to his doom at the end of "Jedi."
The line "somehow, Palpatine returned" revealed how desperate the makers of "The Rise of Skywalker" were to excite audiences with little more than nostalgia imagery. The "somehow" even reveals that the screenwriters, Abrams and Chris Terrio,...
The line "somehow, Palpatine returned" revealed how desperate the makers of "The Rise of Skywalker" were to excite audiences with little more than nostalgia imagery. The "somehow" even reveals that the screenwriters, Abrams and Chris Terrio,...
- 10/29/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In 2020, the voice cast of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" reunited on Zoom to celebrate the long-delayed release of season 7 and play some "Star Wars" trivia questions. The one cast member whose hand always shot up, no matter the question? Sam Witwer, the voice of Darth Maul.
When Witwer proclaims himself a "Star Wars" geek, it isn't PR, nor is his knowledge limited to Wookieepedia factoids. The man can and has discussed the meaning of "Star Wars" with passion and evenhandedness. He can also stretch his voice into impressions of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Emperor, and even George Lucas himself. With that range, it makes sense that Witwer has voiced so many different "Star Wars" characters.
During a guest appearance on Michael Rosenbaum's podcast "Inside of You," Witwer discussed how he first got cast in "Star Wars." If you don't know, Witwer provided both the voice and motion capture for Starkiller/Galen Marek,...
When Witwer proclaims himself a "Star Wars" geek, it isn't PR, nor is his knowledge limited to Wookieepedia factoids. The man can and has discussed the meaning of "Star Wars" with passion and evenhandedness. He can also stretch his voice into impressions of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Emperor, and even George Lucas himself. With that range, it makes sense that Witwer has voiced so many different "Star Wars" characters.
During a guest appearance on Michael Rosenbaum's podcast "Inside of You," Witwer discussed how he first got cast in "Star Wars." If you don't know, Witwer provided both the voice and motion capture for Starkiller/Galen Marek,...
- 9/17/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
"Star Wars" lore has a history that spans over four decades. It's had its ups and its downs over the years, and the prequels released between 1999 and 2005 often end up in the latter category. They are a bit of a mess to some, though to others, they providedepth and context to the original trilogy.
No matter what side of the prequel debate you land on, one scene is hard to watch without being moved. It's the "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" scene where Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) battles Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) on Mustafar, losing limbs, burning to a crisp, leading to the final part of his transformation into Darth Vader.
There may be some pretty stilted acting in the prequels, but this scene always gets me, even when I'm rolling my eyes at other things. It's just heartbreaking when you know what's coming for Anakin...
No matter what side of the prequel debate you land on, one scene is hard to watch without being moved. It's the "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" scene where Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) battles Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) on Mustafar, losing limbs, burning to a crisp, leading to the final part of his transformation into Darth Vader.
There may be some pretty stilted acting in the prequels, but this scene always gets me, even when I'm rolling my eyes at other things. It's just heartbreaking when you know what's coming for Anakin...
- 9/12/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
The three "Star Wars" prequel films made by George Lucas from 1999 to 2005 detail the story of Anakin Skywalker as he transforms from an idealistic young engineer (played by Jake Lloyd) into an impetuous and angry young man (played by Hayden Christiansen), and eventually into a corrupted and tyrannical killer. Anakin is infused by the Force (a psychic field accessed by microscopic creatures living inside his body called midi-chlorians), so he is in high demand by both the benevolent Jedi Order and the insidious Sith.
Partway through "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," the nearly-corrupted Anakin attends a bizarre zero-gravity water ballet show, sitting next to the clearly villainous Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Palpatine is secretly a Sith Lord who calls himself Darth Sidious, and he is clearly angling to become an evil emperor, but Anakin doesn't much care. He's so full of hate and paranoia (he's had...
Partway through "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," the nearly-corrupted Anakin attends a bizarre zero-gravity water ballet show, sitting next to the clearly villainous Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Palpatine is secretly a Sith Lord who calls himself Darth Sidious, and he is clearly angling to become an evil emperor, but Anakin doesn't much care. He's so full of hate and paranoia (he's had...
- 9/10/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
There were a lot of things about "Star Wars: Episode VI -- The Return of the Jedi" that gave fans closure for the trilogy. The second Death Star was blown up. The Emperor (Ian McDiarmid) was defeated. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) finally admitted their feelings and kissed. We also found out that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Leia were siblings and saw Darth Vader redeemed and unmasked before his death. That last one might have been wonderful for fans, but for David Prowse, who did all the physical work for the role (with the voice of James Earl Jones replacing his own), it was a disappointment.
That is according to an interview with Prowse with Rock Cellar Magazine in 2012. The actor, who passed away at the age of 85 in 2020, had been a bodybuilder, helped train Christopher Reeve for his 1978 "Superman" role, and appeared in projects like "A Clockwork Orange,...
That is according to an interview with Prowse with Rock Cellar Magazine in 2012. The actor, who passed away at the age of 85 in 2020, had been a bodybuilder, helped train Christopher Reeve for his 1978 "Superman" role, and appeared in projects like "A Clockwork Orange,...
- 9/2/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
At the end of the 2005 film "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," the young Jedi Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), desperate for the power to save his wife from a destined death-by-childbirth, had fully given over to the dark side of the Force. He had pledged his allegiance to the fascist Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) and was determined to become his evil acolyte under the name Darth Vader. This was devastating to Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), who had known Anakin since he was a child and who spent many years training him to be a benevolent member of the Jedi Order. The two confronted one another on a molten world poxy with volcanos called Mustafar, and a lightsaber fight -- a very, very long lightsaber fight -- ensued.
The fight ended when Obi-Wan had the high ground and cut off Anakin's arms and legs (!). He was left to...
The fight ended when Obi-Wan had the high ground and cut off Anakin's arms and legs (!). He was left to...
- 8/14/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
“Star Wars” is one of the biggest franchises of all time and has welcomed multiple generations to a galaxy far, far away for 45 years. George Lucas’ groundbreaking vision, which began all the way back in 1977 with “A New Hope,” changed the movie industry forever and, with that, made a mark on the Academy Awards that year with a Best Picture nomination. However, the relationship between “Star Wars” and the Oscars hasn’t always been as lovable as Han Solo and Chewie. In fact, there’s often been a touch of Vader-Luke in the conflicted dynamic between the two institutions. Here’s a breakdown of the history of every “Star Wars” movie at the Academy Awards, ranked in terms of Oscars success.
“A New Hope” (1977)
Dir: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...
“A New Hope” (1977)
Dir: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
The same week it was announced that Christina Ricci is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, we’ve learned that Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is coming to 4K Ultra HD.
Paramount Pictures will release the 1999 Tim Burton horror movie Sleepy Hollow on 4K + Blu-ray + Digital Code on September 5, 2023, just in time for Halloween.
You can pre-order Sleepy Hollow on 4K Ultra HD from Amazon today.
In the film, “Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people; the culprit is legendary apparition The Headless Horseman.”
Depp and Ricci starred alongside Christopher Walken, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Caspar Van Dien, Ian McDiarmid, Lisa Marie, and Michael Gough.
[Related] Heads Will Roll: Looking Back at Tim Burton’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’ 20 Years Later
The post Tim Burton’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’ Gets a 4K Ultra HD Upgrade This Halloween Season appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!
Paramount Pictures will release the 1999 Tim Burton horror movie Sleepy Hollow on 4K + Blu-ray + Digital Code on September 5, 2023, just in time for Halloween.
You can pre-order Sleepy Hollow on 4K Ultra HD from Amazon today.
In the film, “Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people; the culprit is legendary apparition The Headless Horseman.”
Depp and Ricci starred alongside Christopher Walken, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Caspar Van Dien, Ian McDiarmid, Lisa Marie, and Michael Gough.
[Related] Heads Will Roll: Looking Back at Tim Burton’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’ 20 Years Later
The post Tim Burton’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’ Gets a 4K Ultra HD Upgrade This Halloween Season appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!
- 6/27/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Jodie Comer has become the 100th performer to win a Tony Award for their Broadway debut for her performance in the play, “Prima Facie.”
She won Best Actress in a Play for portraying Tess, a lawyer who concentrates in providing legal defense for men who are accused of sexual assault but soon has the unthinkable happen to her. She is the 11th person to win the category for her first outing on a Broadway stage. She joins:
SEE2023 Tony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 competitive categories
Martita Hunt, “The Madwoman of Chaillot” (1949)
Beryl Reid, “The Killing of Sister George” (1967)
Phyllis Frelich, “Children of a Lesser God” (1980)
Jane Lapotaire, “Piaf” (1981)
Joan Allen, “Burn This” (1988)
Pauline Collins, “Shirley Valentine” (1989)
Janet McTeer, “A Doll’s House” (1997)
Marie Mullen, “The Beauty Queen of Leeane” (1998)
Jennifer Ehle, “The Real Thing” (2000)
Deanna Dunagan, “August: Osage County” (2008)
Below are the Broadway debuts in the seven other...
She won Best Actress in a Play for portraying Tess, a lawyer who concentrates in providing legal defense for men who are accused of sexual assault but soon has the unthinkable happen to her. She is the 11th person to win the category for her first outing on a Broadway stage. She joins:
SEE2023 Tony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 competitive categories
Martita Hunt, “The Madwoman of Chaillot” (1949)
Beryl Reid, “The Killing of Sister George” (1967)
Phyllis Frelich, “Children of a Lesser God” (1980)
Jane Lapotaire, “Piaf” (1981)
Joan Allen, “Burn This” (1988)
Pauline Collins, “Shirley Valentine” (1989)
Janet McTeer, “A Doll’s House” (1997)
Marie Mullen, “The Beauty Queen of Leeane” (1998)
Jennifer Ehle, “The Real Thing” (2000)
Deanna Dunagan, “August: Osage County” (2008)
Below are the Broadway debuts in the seven other...
- 6/12/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
In George Lucas' 1977 film "Star Wars," a military-run, fascist Empire rules the galaxy and it's up to a scrappy group of Rebels to attack them and destroy their ultimate weapon: a moon-sized space station capable of exploding entire planets with a single shot (known as the Death Star). In "Star Wars," the highest-ranking Empire official audiences see is Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing), a stern commanding officer who orders many to their deaths and who commands an eerie masked space wizard named Darth Vader. At one point, Tarkin mentions that the Empire has an Emperor, although we never actually see him in the flesh.
In the 1980 sequel "The Empire Strikes Back," it is revealed that Darth Vader was always a high-ranking individual in the Empire, as we now see him commanding entire Star Destroyers. It is also revealed that Vader answers directly to the mysterious Emperor, who only appears in the form of a hologram.
In the 1980 sequel "The Empire Strikes Back," it is revealed that Darth Vader was always a high-ranking individual in the Empire, as we now see him commanding entire Star Destroyers. It is also revealed that Vader answers directly to the mysterious Emperor, who only appears in the form of a hologram.
- 5/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Darth Vader “was such an iconic character ever since I was a little kid, so getting to play this role was really just the opportunity of a lifetime,” reveals Hayden Christensen about returning to the “Star Wars” fold as the legendary character. For our recent webchat he adds, “I don’t know that I could ever fully get my head around how big it was, just because it didn’t really serve my purposes as an actor, and trying to figure out how to play this character,” he explains, “to come back all these years later and do some more with him has just been a phenomenal experience.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
See ‘Prey’ at the Emmys: Big movie could dominate small screen awards
In “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Christensen reprises his role as the iconic Darth Vader alongside Emmy winner Ewan McGregor, returning as the titular Jedi master from the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy.
See ‘Prey’ at the Emmys: Big movie could dominate small screen awards
In “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Christensen reprises his role as the iconic Darth Vader alongside Emmy winner Ewan McGregor, returning as the titular Jedi master from the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy.
- 5/19/2023
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
“It belongs on streaming.”
With James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” making its out-of-competition Cannes bow on Thursday, the good people at Lucasfilm are offering up a compensatory prize to everyone suffering from Fomo. To get you ready for the June 30 release of the new film, the previous entries of the Indy canon will soon be available on Disney +.
True heads already know the movies can be viewed on Paramount+ but, no diss to our friends at that fine institution (especially everyone involved with “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”), it’s fair to say that Disney+ has a bigger market share.
The big day is May 31. Home viewers will be able to watch Harrison Ford in the O.G. “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” (which is now called “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”), the 1981 masterpiece with the single greatest action sequence in all of cinema.
With James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” making its out-of-competition Cannes bow on Thursday, the good people at Lucasfilm are offering up a compensatory prize to everyone suffering from Fomo. To get you ready for the June 30 release of the new film, the previous entries of the Indy canon will soon be available on Disney +.
True heads already know the movies can be viewed on Paramount+ but, no diss to our friends at that fine institution (especially everyone involved with “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”), it’s fair to say that Disney+ has a bigger market share.
The big day is May 31. Home viewers will be able to watch Harrison Ford in the O.G. “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” (which is now called “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”), the 1981 masterpiece with the single greatest action sequence in all of cinema.
- 5/17/2023
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
“I was a genre kid, I was a little goth kid. I was all about sci-fi and fantasy and this was always the pinnacle of everything,” reveals director/producer Deborah Chow about what leading the creative team behind “Obi-Wan Kenobi” meant to her. For our recent webchat she adds, “it definitely felt surreal in moments, for sure. I remember the very first time we were doing a camera test, it wasn’t even the proper costume. But, you know he was in something approximating it, and he walked out, and it was just like, ‘oh, my God, it’s Obi-Wan Kenobi’ and he just sort of fell so seamlessly back into the character,” she says. “They’re so iconic that it is a little crazy to have them standing in front of you. It’s something I’ve never experienced, where you’re working with actors in these huge roles...
- 5/12/2023
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” continued the academy’s mini-genre revolution by becoming a sci-fi/fantasy movie to win not just Best Picture, but seven Oscars in total. It is another move by the academy that shows they are embracing genre films more and more after decades of shunning sci-fi and fantasy pictures that deserved far more recognition than they deserve. With that in mind, here are 10 sci-fi flicks of old that deserved the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” treatment.
“Edge of Tomorrow” (2014)
Doug Liman‘s film follows Tom Cruise as a soldier fighting aliens — but every time he dies, his life starts over and over again as he relives the same day and tries to work with Emily Blunt‘s war hero to stop the alien invasion. This film is one of the best examples of time-loop movies — packing in terrific alien designs with a whip-smart script (based on...
“Edge of Tomorrow” (2014)
Doug Liman‘s film follows Tom Cruise as a soldier fighting aliens — but every time he dies, his life starts over and over again as he relives the same day and tries to work with Emily Blunt‘s war hero to stop the alien invasion. This film is one of the best examples of time-loop movies — packing in terrific alien designs with a whip-smart script (based on...
- 4/29/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Disney+’s Star Wars: The Bad Batch will end its run after one more season, which will air in 2024. The Season 3 renewal for the animated series was announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Monday by executive producers Brad Rau, Jennifer Corbett, and Athena Portillo.
The Bad Batch follows the heroic Clone Force 99 — also known as the Bad Batch, a group of elite clones — in the aftermath of Order 66 and the rise of the Empire. Season 2 ended with the death of Tech and the capture of Omega — along with the revelation that she has a sister.
The Star Wars Celebration panel for The Bad Batch wrapped with an in-room Season 3 teaser trailer. According to StarWars.com, it began with the Emperor (voiced by Ian McDiarmid) visiting Dr. Royce Hemlock, leader of the Empire’s cloning efforts, on Mount Tantiss. “It is imperative that this facility remain secure,” Palpatine says. All members of the Bad Batch appear,...
The Bad Batch follows the heroic Clone Force 99 — also known as the Bad Batch, a group of elite clones — in the aftermath of Order 66 and the rise of the Empire. Season 2 ended with the death of Tech and the capture of Omega — along with the revelation that she has a sister.
The Star Wars Celebration panel for The Bad Batch wrapped with an in-room Season 3 teaser trailer. According to StarWars.com, it began with the Emperor (voiced by Ian McDiarmid) visiting Dr. Royce Hemlock, leader of the Empire’s cloning efforts, on Mount Tantiss. “It is imperative that this facility remain secure,” Palpatine says. All members of the Bad Batch appear,...
- 4/10/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
I still remember the teaser for "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," especially the ending. Rey (Daisy Ridley) looks out at the destroyed remains of the second Death Star. Luke Skywalker's (Mark Hamill) farewell to his sister Leia (Carrie Fisher) in "The Last Jedi" — "No one's ever really gone" — plays as narration. Cue a smash cut to black as the distinctive laughter of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) seeps into the void. My expectations for the film were flipped on their head and I couldn't wait to see McDiarmid return to a role he defined.
Alas, I didn't end up liking "The Rise of Skywalker," and the execution of Palpatine's return was quite lacking. Still, I wish the awe and excitement I felt at the end of that teaser could have carried over into my experience with the movie itself.
Palpatine's return was a well-kept secret. In the age of set leaks,...
Alas, I didn't end up liking "The Rise of Skywalker," and the execution of Palpatine's return was quite lacking. Still, I wish the awe and excitement I felt at the end of that teaser could have carried over into my experience with the movie itself.
Palpatine's return was a well-kept secret. In the age of set leaks,...
- 4/10/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
In the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy, Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) is on the hunt for Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), viewing the last Jedi as the greatest threat to the First Order's ascension. "Skywalker lives!" the decrepit dark side master declares to his impudent apprentice Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). "The seed of the Jedi Order lives. As long as it does, hope lives in the galaxy."
Now, how would the Supreme Leader react if he discovered his quarry slipped right under his nose? According to Serkis, that's what happened to him. At the 2023 Star Wars Celebration, Serkis attended a "Villains" panel with Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) and Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma). During the discussion, Serkis revealed how he met Mark Hamill during the early pre-production of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
The cast for "The Force Awakens" was announced collectively in April 2014. As Serkis recounts, the actors were invited to...
Now, how would the Supreme Leader react if he discovered his quarry slipped right under his nose? According to Serkis, that's what happened to him. At the 2023 Star Wars Celebration, Serkis attended a "Villains" panel with Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) and Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma). During the discussion, Serkis revealed how he met Mark Hamill during the early pre-production of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
The cast for "The Force Awakens" was announced collectively in April 2014. As Serkis recounts, the actors were invited to...
- 4/10/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
It's official — Daisy Ridley will return as Rey in a new "Star Wars" film. Set 15 years after the conclusion of the sequel trilogy, the film will feature the nobody scavenger turned Jedi Knight training a new generation of Jedi — fingers crossed this attempt goes better than Luke Skywalker's (Mark Hamill). The currently-untitled film was announced at the 2023 Star Wars Celebration; Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is set to direct a script by Steven Knight.
I like Daisy Ridley as an actor. Now, admittedly, the only lead performance of hers I've seen is Rey. In that part, though, she exudes charisma and is plenty capable with meatier material too; she always gave the character emotional depth even when that wasn't on the page.
Still, it's hard for me to be excited about this because of where we last left off Rey's journey: 2019's "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," the finale of the...
I like Daisy Ridley as an actor. Now, admittedly, the only lead performance of hers I've seen is Rey. In that part, though, she exudes charisma and is plenty capable with meatier material too; she always gave the character emotional depth even when that wasn't on the page.
Still, it's hard for me to be excited about this because of where we last left off Rey's journey: 2019's "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," the finale of the...
- 4/8/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
During a retrospective panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London, Disney confirmed that "Return of the Jedi," the finale to the original "Star Wars" trilogy, will be returning to theaters for a limited run.
In the U.S., "Return of the Jedi" will play in theaters from April 28 to May 4 (aka Star Wars Day). The U.K. will enjoy a slightly shorter run from April 28 to May 1. This theatrical rerelease, which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the film's original debut, was rumored earlier this year after the Dolby website listed the film as being available in theaters in late April.
It's likely that the 1997 Special Edition of "Return of the Jedi" will be the one screened; at 2017's Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy indicated there was no intention of restoring the original theatrical cuts. Out of respect for director George Lucas, who was responsible for the tinkering in the Special Editions,...
In the U.S., "Return of the Jedi" will play in theaters from April 28 to May 4 (aka Star Wars Day). The U.K. will enjoy a slightly shorter run from April 28 to May 1. This theatrical rerelease, which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the film's original debut, was rumored earlier this year after the Dolby website listed the film as being available in theaters in late April.
It's likely that the 1997 Special Edition of "Return of the Jedi" will be the one screened; at 2017's Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy indicated there was no intention of restoring the original theatrical cuts. Out of respect for director George Lucas, who was responsible for the tinkering in the Special Editions,...
- 4/8/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
We need to talk about Ben Solo, once again. Starting with "The Force Awakens," Kylo Ren has been a controversial adversary in the sequel trilogy of "Star Wars." A servant of the First Order, Ben Solo (Adam Driver) was the brooding, patricidal son of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and a fanboy of his grandpa Darth Vader. Depending on certain points of view, he was either a sad boy deserving of redemption or a brat who never received any grace. But even at his worst, Kylo Ren had an allure that couldn't be denied.
However you feel about Kylo Ren, things are about to get more controversial. The 2023 Star Wars Celebration announced an upcoming untitled "Star Wars" movie directed by "Ms. Marvel" Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. It's set 15 years after "Rise of Skywalker," with Daisy Ridley returning as Rey Skywalker to train the new Jedi generation. Whether or not Ben will explicitly be brought up,...
However you feel about Kylo Ren, things are about to get more controversial. The 2023 Star Wars Celebration announced an upcoming untitled "Star Wars" movie directed by "Ms. Marvel" Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. It's set 15 years after "Rise of Skywalker," with Daisy Ridley returning as Rey Skywalker to train the new Jedi generation. Whether or not Ben will explicitly be brought up,...
- 4/7/2023
- by Caroline Cao
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.