Here's a round-up of all the biggest news from Star Wars Celebration 2019. For years, Star Wars Celebration has been a huge event for fans of the Star Wars franchise. It's a tradition that began back in 1999, when George Lucas used it to promote Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and while it sometimes skips a year - there was no Star Wars Celebration 2018, for example - this one's a special one. It marks the beginning of the marketing campaign for the last film in the sequel trilogy - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Over the weekend, there'll be a whole host of panels focusing on everything from the movies to the comics, from the TV shows to the Galaxy's Edge theme park, from the computer games to the novels. Lucasfilm hold a lot of news in reserve ahead of Star Wars Celebration, which means there's a lot for Star Wars lovers to keep up with. Attention has naturally been focused on the films and TV series, and it's not hard to miss some of the other key announcements.
So here's a collection of all the biggest breaking news from Star Wars Celebration 2019, to help you keep up-to-date on everything that's happening in a galaxy far, far away
- This Page: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
- Page 2: Star Wars TV: The Mandalorian & The Clone Wars
- Page 3: Star Wars Games: Vader Immortal & Jedi Fallen Order
- Page 4: Galaxy's Edge And Hasbro At Star Wars Celebration 2019
The Official Title of Episode IX is Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The sequel trilogy will come to an end with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. At the Star Wars Episode IX panel, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and director J.J. Abrams stressed that they have a responsibility to bring a satisfying close to not just the sequels - but the entire Star Wars saga. The title is every bit as mysterious and enigmatic as that of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and it's sure to inspire a lot of speculation over the months to come. Is this referring to the last of the Skywalker bloodline, Kylo Ren or Leia? Does it refer to a major role for the Force Ghosts of Luke and possibly even Anakin? It probably doesn't mean Rey is being retconned as a Skywalker, but it could mean Rey moves beyond Jedi, founding a new order called "Skywalkers."
The Star Wars 9 Trailer Dropped At Last
The Star Wars 9 panel ended with the much-anticipated release of the first trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It was only a teaser trailer, raising as many questions as it gave answers, and it began with an extended scene in which Kylo Ren chases Rey down in his TIE Interceptor. Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Cropduster scene in North by Northwest, this ended with Rey performing a stunning Force Leap over Kylo Ren's fighter with her lightsaber in hand. The trailer ended with the Resistance heroes unexpectedly heading to what appeared to be Endor, and looking out at the wreckage of the second Death Star.
The Emperor Is Back In Star Wars 9
As the screen faded to black, there was a sinister and very familiar laugh. When the lights came back on after the trailer, the delighted audience found that Ian McDiarmid had taken to the stage. His presence confirmed the shocking twist: Palpatine is back.
Other Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Reveals
The panel carefully avoided answering any specific questions; they wouldn't even indicate how much time had passed between Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Still, Naomi Ackie did confirm that her mysterious character's name is Jannah, and Lucasfilm revealed that Artoo has a new droid friend, D-0.
Page 2 of 4: Star Wars TV Reveals From Celebration 2019
Disney Premiered Footage From The Mandalorian - But Didn't Release It Online
Sunday's The Mandalorian panel aired exclusive footage from the upcoming Disney + live-action Star Wars show. Although Lucasfilm chose not to release this online - anyone watching online was treated to a hold screen and Star Wars music - we were able to release a full description.
Character Reveals For The Mandalorian
The panel revealed that Gina Carano's character is called Cara Dune, an ex-Rebel shock trooper who's struggling to acclimatize to civilian life now the war with the Empire is over. Carl Weathers plays Greef, head of a chapter of the Bounty Hunters Guild, who hires the Mandalorian for a mission. From the footage, it appears the job is for a leader in the Empire, and involves a mystery that runs back to before Palpatine rose to power.
Lucasfilm Revealed A Trailer & Footage For The Clone Wars Revival
Lucasfilm may have chosen to be secretive about The Mandalorian, but they were willing to lift the lid on the Clone Wars revival. They released a brand new trailer celebrating Ahsoka's return, and premiered three clips at the panel as well:
- An action scene involving the Bad Batch, a crack team of Clone Troopers who prove to be uniquely skilled combatants.
- An extended sequence showing Ahsoka attempting to pilot a speeder in Coruscant's lower levels. Unfortunately it turned out to be damaged, and the flight nearly ended in catastrophe.
- An unfinished clip showing Ahsoka returning to the Clone Wars in order to lead Clone Troopers in the Siege of Mandalore. Although Ahsoka had left the Jedi, the Clone Troopers still respected her, and had chosen to decorate their helmets in her honor.
The Return of Darth Maul in The Clone Wars Revival
The Clone Wars revival will feature the Siege of Mandalore, and Sam Witwer - who voices Darth Maul - promised that it will be an important character arc for the former Sith Apprentice. According to Witwer, Maul will actually come close to breaking the cycle he's been locked in ever since The Phantom Menace. Dave Filoni revealed thatthis time Maul's action scenes will be modeled on Ray Park, who played Maul in The Phantom Menace and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
The Story of Hera Syndulla Will Be Continued In A Tie-In Novel
Star Wars Rebels may have come to an end, but Hera Syndulla's story isn't over. At the Lucasfilm Publishing panel, Alexander Freed revealed that his upcoming Star Wars tie-in novel, Alphabet Squadron, will see Hera take command of a rag-tag group of New Republic pilots in the aftermath of the Battle of Endor.
Page 3 of 4: Star Wars Games At Celebration 2019
ILMxLAB Revealed Vader Immortal
ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s immersive entertainment studio, finally shared details of the upcoming Star Wars VR game, Vader Immortal. They confirmed that star Maya Rudolph will play ZOE3, a quick-witted droid co-pilot and first mate that players partner with. "Much in the way Alan Tudyk did with K-2SO, we needed somebody for this role that could create a unique character using their improvisation and performance skills," writer and executive producer David S. Goyer noted at the Vader Immortal panel. “Maya truly was the first person we thought of, right from the very beginning, and her contributions and sense of humor have guided ZOE3 every step of the way."
Vader Immortal Will Return to Mustafar
The story of Vader Immortal will be closely tied to the wider Star Wars universe, with a direct link to ILMxLAB's previous VR game Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire. You'll get to explore Mustafar, and even interact with the planet's natural inhabitants. In the game, you play a smuggler who gets taken in by Imperial Forces and escorted to Vader’s castle for a very important mission. "The story is about why Vader has chosen you," Goyer said. It also explores the man behind the mask. "There’s a mournfulness, a sadness beneath the helmet," he added, and promised that players will get to see that side of the Dark Lord in an intimate and surprisingly emotional way.
Jedi: Fallen Order Will Release in November 2019
To the delight of gamers, Respawn revealed that the Jedi: Fallen Order game will release on November 15 this year. It will be a single-player with no microtransactions.
The Story of Jedi: Fallen Order Was Revealed
Respawn Entertainment revealed a story trailer for Jedi: Fallen Order, which stars a Jedi pupil named Cal Kestis, who survived Order 66 and is on the run from the Imperial Inquisitors. The focus is on what Respawn Entertainment called "thoughtful combat," and it will introduce players to a host of new planets and characters. It will be fascinating to see how this fits into the wider Star Wars story, given the odds of Cal's survival by the end of the story are pretty slim.
Star Wars Pinball is Coming to Nintendo Switch
Chris Baker, Zen Studios' creative director, revealed that Star Wars pinball is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch. Speaking to StarWars.com, he explained that game will come packed with its previously released collection of 19 digital pinball tables, including those based on the prequel, classic, and sequel trilogies, Rogue One, Solo, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Rebels. The Switch edition is also getting all-new modes: the community-based Galactic Struggle, which allows players to contribute points to the light or dark side; a new Career mode, in which fans choose the side of the Jedi or Sith as they work their way up the ranks; and a Force Training mode for pinball Padawans.
Page 4 of 4: Galaxy's Edge And Hasbro At Star Wars Celebration 2019
New Details on the Millennium Falcon At Galaxy's Edge
The Star Wars Galaxy's Edge theme parks are due to open this year, at Paris in May and at Florida in August. The panel confirmed that the Millennium Falcon will be a central attraction, with groups of six able to simulate a flight and combat experience. The goal will be to keep the Falcon in one piece but if you take a lot of blaster fighter or crash into spires, that damage will be reflected in the iconic corridors of the old hunk of junk on the way out; for example, lights will be broken, panels will spark as though with electricity, and comms will crackle. A future attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, involves joining a Resistance group who live in the ancient ruins - and winding up in the gun-sights of the First Order.
Galaxy's Edge Will Feature An Interactive App
Galaxy's Edge is envisioned as a completely immersive environment, with a unique downloadable app with four different options:
- Translate galactic languages (like Aurebesh)—both written and spoken.
- Scan to discover precious cargo and digital goods as you scan objects all around the spaceport—including items hidden inside space-shipping crates and containers.
- Tune into communications sent by the planet’s many residents to uncover stories and secrets throughout the land—and unscramble transmissions being sent from far, far away.
- Play a multiplayer game and hack into the land’s many devices, control panels and droids. Games continue until either the Resistance or The First Order wins, before it restarts.
Exclusive Merchandise at Galaxy's Edge
Vendors at Galaxy's Edge sell unique products, with even food and soft drinks redesigned and labeled in Aurabesh. If you find Savi at Black Spire Outpost you can build and customize a one of a kind lightsaber, while Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities allows you to buy exclusive merchandise such as life-size models of Ahsoka's lightsaber.
Hasbro's Black Series Is Coming To Galaxy's Edge
Hasbro revealed that a range of exclusive Black Series figures will be available only at Galaxy's Edge, including a First Order 4-pack (Kylo Ren, Commander Pyre from Star Wars Resistance, a Mountain Trooper, and an MSE droid), a Droid Depot 4-pack (C-3PO, R2-D2, BB-8, and Galaxy's Edge's own R-3X), and a Smuggler's Run 4-pack (Jedi Training Rey, Chewbacca, fan-favorite Hondo Ohnaka, and some Porgs).
The Emperor Returns to the Black Series
The Emperor is returning to the Black Series with an Amazon exclusive model that's inspired by Return of the Jedi. This new take on Palpatine includes three alternate heads, Force lightning, and a throne. "We’ve updated the soft goods," said product design manager Sam Smith, "which is important for our Emperor. Unlike the earlier iteration of the Sith Lord, this new version can fully bend his legs thanks to a fully cloth cloak, allowing him to do something simple but iconic: sit down."
Hasbro Is Working On The Ultimate Lightsaber
At the end of the Hasbro panel, they cut the lights and showed off a whole new lightsaber toy that actually ignites a beam of light. No photographs or videos were allowed, and it's currently only at a prototype stage. Vickie Stratford, director product design and development, noted that it's the latest in Hasbro's efforts to develop "the ultimate Star Wars lightsaber."
