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Your phone is a lightsaber in Google's desktop browser game
Since real lightsabers don't exist (yet), Google and the studios behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens are offering the next-best thing: A program that turns your smartphone into a lightsaber, which then takes out bad guys on your computer screen. Lightsaber Escape is live now -- open it in your desktop browser and then punch in the unique URL on your phone (or vice versa), and you're good to go. Your phone becomes a lightsaber handle and, as you move it around, the actual glowing sword moves on the desktop.
Over a million Brits have reserved seats for 'Star Wars'
If you hadn't noticed already, the world is riding a megatsunami of hype over the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens -- or every nook and cranny of the internet is, at least. The movie has just premiered in the States, and will be debuting in the UK this Thursday to a record-breaking audience. Last week, cinema chain Vue said it'd already sold 290,000 tickets for the flick, but new figures from The Hollywood Reporter now put that total at over 355,000. Odeon has also fielded around 500,000 bookings, according to the UK Cinema Association, and taking other theatres into account the new Star Wars has definitely smashed the UK pre-sales record with "way beyond 1 million" reserved cinema seats.
The 'Star Wars' VR experience for Google Cardboard is here
The Star Wars hype machine's rolling at full force. But that shouldn't surprise you, considering the new film from the world-famous franchise is debuting soon, on December 18th. As part of Disney's promotional efforts leading up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, ILMxLAB (Lucasfilm's, Industrial Light & Magic's and Skywalker Sound's immersive entertainment laboratory) has created a virtual reality experience for Google Cardboard. Enter Jakku Spy, a VR project that ties directly into the latest installment of the movie series. The experience, available for iOS and Android, is designed to take you into another reality and put you in the role of a Resistance secret agent on Jakku, a desert environment derived out of The Force Awakens.
'Star Wars' promo turns your Google account to the dark side
One downside of being a billion-dollar movie studio that owns one of history's most popular film series is that it's hard getting the word out about new releases. Take Disney, which is struggling to inform the population that there's a seventh episode of the Star Wars saga coming out in a few weeks. Thankfully, the folks at Google have noticed the studio's plight, and decided to help out by offering customized themes for everyone's favorite internet services.
Netflix will stream the new 'Star Wars' in 2016, but only in Canada
If you're determined to save money by watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens at home through a streaming service... well, you'd better live in the True North Strong and Free. Netflix tells Variety that the timing of its Disney deals will only let it stream the new Star Wars flick in Canada, starting eight months after it leaves theaters. You see, the service's Canadian Disney agreement covers movies released in 2015 onward, which includes The Force Awakens -- in the US, you're stuck with movies debuting in 2016 or later. We certainly wouldn't expect UK availability via Disney's own streaming service, but The Force Awakens will hit Sky as soon as it's finished airing in cinemas.
New 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' trailer debuts during MNF
As promised, we have the latest trailer for the new Star Wars movie, which just aired during halftime of Monday Night Football. Giving us a two and a half minute look at the seventh entry in the series, it's embedded after the break, but if you're already sure you want to see it opening night, ticket pre-orders are open on sites like Fandango and MovieTickets.com. If you're not having any luck there, try hitting up your local cinema directly, or just enjoy the trailer and wait for the extra show times that will inevitably be added in the next two months before its premiere December 18th.
Sky to show 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' first after UK cinemas
Sky knows that more and more UK families are shying away from building costly DVD and Blu-ray collections and embracing on-demand services like Sky Movies and Now TV. To be the best, you need the best streaming catalog though, which is why the company is extending its current deal with Disney. The new multi-year agreement means that Disney flicks will continue to premiere on Sky Movies and Now TV's Sky Movies Pass in the "first pay TV window" -- before streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, in other words. It'll cover family-favourite Inside Out and, perhaps more importantly, the next instalment in the Star Wars franchise. So once the lightsaber mayhem has left UK cinemas, that means Sky will be one of the first places to let you watch it all again at home. We suspect most fans will make an exception and buy a physical copy of The Force Awakens, but if you're a parent or a casual movie fan, it's good to know Sky's got you covered.
'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' preview shows 'nothing's changed'
No, you're not at Comic-Con, but that doesn't mean you have to skip this preview of Star Wars Episode VII. Disney previewed video from The Force Awakens interspersed with behind-the-scenes chatter tonight in San Diego, and you can watch it after the break. You can enjoy Simon Pegg's appearance (he's playing an alien), and get a better idea of how this Star Wars flick is staying true to the old ones with "real sets, practical effects." The usual cast of characters and equipment are making an appearance, along with the cast we've seen in previous trailers. StarWars.com has a live blog of the panel too, so the only thing you're missing out on (you have the app, right?) is the post-reveal concert.
Adorable new 'Star Wars' droid proves it's not CGI
When the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released, the internet lost its collective mind. Not only were people up in arms over the fact that a stormtrooper could be *gasp* black, but also nobody could believe that this incredible rolling droid, dubbed the BB-8, was actually real. It must be CGI, right? Well, during today's Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, California, the BB-8 made its first real-life debut by rolling onstage to riotous applause from the crowd. Check out the video below to see the BB-8 and the venerable R2-D2 engage in a beeping, tweeting chirp battle.
