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Marvel and Star Wars films will be Disney streaming exclusives
Last month, we reported that Disney would be pulling its future titles from Netflix in favor of its own streaming service, scheduled for launch sometime in 2019. What wasn't clear was the fate of Marvel and Star Wars titles -- the media giant owns these brands, but the original release only specified that Disney and Pixar movies would be pulled. Netflix was reportedly in talks to keep the valuable movies on its service.
NASA channels 'Stars Wars' for its 2017 ISS mission patch
The International Space Station's mission patch for 2017 will look very familiar if you're a huge fan of that galaxy far, far away. CASIS or the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, the organization that oversees all the experiments aboard the ISS, has teamed up with Lucasfilm to design the space station's Star Wars-themed annual mission patch for 2017. Since the patch is supposed to stand for all the scientific payloads already aboard and headed to the ISS within the year, Star Wars designer and concept artist Doug Chiang chose three of the franchise's newest droids to represent "the ideas of adventure, science and hope."
'Star Wars: Episode IX' loses director Colin Trevorrow
Surprise! Star Wars: Episode IX will no longer be directed by Jurassic World helmer Colin Trevorrow, Lucasfilm announced tonight. Unfortunately, there's no word yet on who'll be replacing him, but Star Wars fans will certainly make their preferences known online. Episode IX is currently slated for a May 24th, 2019 release date -- and no, we don't know if this news means it'll be delayed. The abrupt announcement follows the last-minute firing of Han Solo directors Christopher Miller and Phillip Lord, who ended up being replaced by Ron Howard.
littleBits' Droid Inventor Kit teaches kids tech with 'Star Wars'
The latest addition to the littleBits line of products is a Droid Inventor Kit -- part of the Force Friday II toy launch ahead of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. "We've created a gender-inclusive product that celebrates kids' own self-expression and ingenuity, while showcasing the same characteristics of imagination, grit and invention that are embodied in the Star Wars franchise," said littleBits CEO Ayah Bdeir in a statement.
Lenovo’s first augmented-reality glasses are a 'Star Wars' exclusive
Compared to virtual reality, augmented reality has been slow to take off. Sure, phone-based augmented reality is getting a bit of a boost right now -- Apple and Google are certainly investing in it -- but there's still a dearth of commercially available headsets. Devices like HoloLens and the Meta 2 are too expensive, and while there are startups that promise more affordable models, they're still years away from being on store shelves. Lenovo, however, has come with a solution -- and it's partnered with Disney to bring it to the masses. The caveat? It works with only one game (at least for now) and that's Star Wars: Jedi Challenges.
Meet R2-D2 and BB-9E, Sphero’s new ‘Star Wars’ toys
It's been nearly two years since Sphero introduced its app-controlled BB-8, a replica of the cute rolling droid that first appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That toy quickly became one of the most coveted by fans of Disney's franchise, and it wasn't long before the company followed it up with a Battle-Worn Edition, designed to look as rugged as the character does in film. And today at IFA 2017, Sphero announced it is expanding its connected-toy universe with two more Star Wars droids, R2-D2 and BB-9E. Naturally, Sphero worked closely alongside Lucasfilm to bring these to life, just as it did with BB-8. The idea, as you might expect, is to make them as close to the real thing as possible.
Disney turns to AR to sell 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' toys
Luckily for George Lucas, Fox didn't give a hoot about toy licensing for the original Star Wars, but Disney sure as hell does. To make sure its September 1st Star Wars: The Last Jedi Force Friday II toy launch event is a success, it has added an augmented reality component called Find the Force. You'll be able to scan new in-store physical displays that feature characters like Rey and the new "Executioner Stormtrooper," and those characters will come to life on your screen, Pokémon-style.
‘Star Wars Battlefront II' space skirmishes put Yoda in the cockpit
Star Wars: Battlefront II may have a single-player mode -- a first for the series -- but that doesn't mean multiplayer is taking a back seat. Electronic Arts showed off the large-scale, multiplayer Starfighter Assault mode for the first time in a live demonstration at Gamescom, dropping a few details along the way.
Netflix in talks with Disney to keep 'Star Wars' and Marvel movies
A little over a year ago, Disney made Netflix the exclusive home of its movies, including Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel flicks, which led to rumors of a Netflix acquisition by Disney. A few days ago, however, Disney used its earnings report to announce that it would no longer stream its content on Netflix. The entertainment company plans to launch its own streaming service in 2019. The devil is in the details, however; the companies are reportedly in "active discussions" about keeping Marvel and Star Wars films in the Netflix queue.
Disney will show the sights, sounds and smells of 'Star Wars' in VR
Disney is teaming up with virtual reality gaming centre The Void to launch an immersive Star Wars experience at two of its sites. Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire lets you step inside the intergalactic world of the hit films through a VR headset. You'll also be able to touch, feel, and even smell your surroundings (which may not bode well if you end up chilling with Yoda on Dagobah). Built in collaboration with Lucasfilm, the new experience hits Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort this holiday season.
Disney's immersive 'Star Wars' hotel is a Jedi dream come true
No, you're not dreaming: Walt Disney World plans to open an ambitious, immersive Star Wars hotel that sounds like something out of Westworld. Every guest will experience a completely unique story throughout their stay, which will "touch every single minute" of their day, according to Disney's resort chairman Bob Chapek. You'll dress up in Star Wars clothing and explore a starship (the hotel itself) filled with familiar-looking aliens. And just to complete the experience, every window will look out onto space.
'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' behind the scenes footage is here
After offering up a quick look at Star Wars: The Last Jedi in April, Disney gave us a further taste at its D23 Expo today with a new behind the scenes reel. More than anything, it sets the mood for what looks to be a particularly dramatic film. According to director Rian Johnson, fans might find some aspects of The Last Jedi "shocking."
Lenovo made an augmented reality headset for 'Star Wars' games
Here's something you probably weren't expecting out of a Disney fan event: a Star Wars augmented reality headset. Lenovo and Lucasfilm have teased headgear that uses your smartphone to bring the space epic into the real world. There's precious little to know about the hardware (not even a release date), but we already know a bit about the games you'll play. Lenovo and Disney are teasing holochess, for a start, but there's also a real-time ground battle game and Jedi Challenges, which will (naturally) have you wielding a lightsaber. In short: you're about to live out a lot of Star Wars fantasies.
Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ theme park is taking shape
Universal Studios Japan recently released the first trailer for its in-construction Super Nintendo World attraction, and now Disney has gone one better by building an actual physical model showing off its upcoming Star Wars Land (unofficial title). Due to open in 2019 at both Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida, the new area "will transport guests to a never-before-seen planet" -- which just happens to look like every weathered, forgettable world characters from the films briefly touch down on to get a ship part or intel or what have you.
‘Star Wars: Battlefront II’ open beta begins October 6th
Everything we saw of Star Wars: Battlefront II at E3 this year -- the engrossing single-player solo campaign, the accessible multiplayer with planned-free DLC -- told us the game's developers had listened to feedback from the skimpy first title. You can see for yourself this fall when the game's open beta starts on October 6th, but anyone who pre-orders the game will get a two-day headstart.
Recommended Reading: Apple's original television aspirations
Apple Is a Step Closer to Making Its Own TV Shows David Sims, The Atlantic While the company's television aspirations remain largely a mystery, Apple hired two big names this week to help build its slate of original shows. Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, presidents of Sony Pictures Television, will make the move to Cupertino this summer with experience making hits like Damages, Breaking Bad, Justified and other series. The Atlantic offers a look at what this means for Apple and what we can expect from Eddy Cue & Co. in the months to come.
'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' hits Netflix July 18th
That exclusive deal with Disney that Netflix made back in 2012 started to pay off last fall. We wondered when we might see any Lucasfilm releases at the time, but it looks like the time is ripe for spending some time with Jyn Erso and her band of plucky Rebels. Rogue One is headed to Netflix on July 18th.
'Star Wars Battlefront II' makes being the bad guy feel normal
When Disney gave Electronic Arts the exclusive gaming rights to Star Wars, the company took the brand almost literally. EA's first take on the Battlefront franchise was little more than a war among the stars -- filled with the sights, sounds and characters of George Lucas' iconic space opera but completely devoid of story. The result was a gorgeous title that felt a little incomplete. With Star Wars: Battlefront II, EA is changing that. This time, narrative is key.
'Star Wars Battlefront II' is a friendlier 'Battlefield'
It's hard to talk about EA's multiplayer Star Wars shooter without accidentally stumbling over your words and mentioning the company's other large-scale war series: Battlefield. It's only natural. Long before Disney gave Electronic Arts the exclusive rights to create Star Wars video games, the Battlefront series was taking notes from DICE's own shooter -- draping science fiction trappings over the WWII game's vehicle combat, large battlefields and even its name. When EA took over the franchise its own game inspired, however, the resulting game was accused of being gorgeous, but shallow. Fortunately, the company seems to have heard player complaints. According to Star Wars Battlefront II executive producer Matt Webster, the next game in the series could play like a more accessible, but still sufficiently deep, Battlefield title.
'Star Wars Battlefront II' campaign looks like a spin-off movie
Star Wars Battlefront II is definitely much bigger than its predecessor -- but we knew that. EA's E3 presentation did its best to balance new multiplayer tid-bits (Chewbacca, the planet Naboo, Yoda, Darth Maul, Rey and more) with the highly-anticipated campaign mode, which appears to center on the "good" Imperials fight to beat the upstart Rebel Alliance. The sequel will focus on its story more than pretty much any Star Wars game that's come before it. As Janina Gavankar, who plays Inferno Squad Commander Iden Versio, puts it herself, it's all about "in-depth cinema-caliber stories in a game". Battlefront II will apparently bridge the story gap between Return of the Jedi and the The Force Awakens, similar to how spin-off movie Rogue One connected older Star Wars chapters. And it'll all look a little bit like this: