On Thursday at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, Lucasfilm showcased upcoming and new content, and had several surprises in store for the attendees, including exciting first looks at new Disney+ series “Andor” and “Willow,” an unexpected sneak peek at the third season of “The Mandalorian,” the announcement of “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” a new series exclusively for Disney+, starring Jude Law, an early photo from the newest “Indiana Jones” film, and much more.
Star Harrison Ford and filmmakers James Mangold, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall of the upcoming fifth installment of the “Indiana Jones” franchise were on hand to wish five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams a happy 90th birthday today at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California.
They delighted the enthusiastic fans with an early photo from the film which opens in theaters on June 30, 2023. As on all four previous “Indiana Jones” films, Williams is composing the score for the new film.
Harrison Ford returns to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist for this fifth installment of the iconic franchise. Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Mads Mikkelsen (“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”), Boyd Holbrook (“Logan”), Shaunette Renee Wilson (“Black Panther”), Thomas Kretschmann (“Das Boot”) and Toby Jones (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”). Directed by James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari,”), Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel serve as producers, with Steven Spielberg as executive producer.
After a dramatic entry to the tune of “Duel of the Fates,” stars Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen were joined by executive producer Kathleen Kennedy, director Deborah Chow and cast members Moses Ingram and Rupert Friend. Following a lively discussion about the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series, there was a surprise announcement that there would be a red-carpet premiere of the first two episodes later tonight… and the whole audience was invited.
To the delight of the audience, at the end of Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase, the iconic composer John Williams led the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in the Obi-Wan Theme—played live for the first time ever.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” begins 10 years after the dramatic events of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” where Obi-Wan Kenobi faced his greatest defeat—the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” stars Ewan McGregor, reprising his role as the iconic Jedi Master, and also marks the return of Hayden Christensen in the role of Darth Vader. Joining the cast are Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie. “Obi-Wan Kenobi” is directed by Deborah Chow and executive-produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Deborah Chow, Ewan McGregor and Joby Harold.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” begins streaming exclusively on Disney+ tomorrow, May 27.
On hand to talk about “Andor,” an upcoming new series for Disney+, were star Diego Luna, who returns to the role of Cassian Andor, creator and showrunner Tony Gilroy, executive producer Sanne Wohlenberg and Genevieve O’Reilly who portrays Mon Mothma once again. To the delight of the fans, Luna unveiled the new poster and showed the teaser trailer for the series.
The “Andor” series will explore an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue. Cassian Andor embarks on a path that will turn him into the rebel hero who will challenge the evil Galactic Empire.
Diego Luna returns as Cassian Andor and is joined by cast members Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough and Kyle Soller. The executive producers are Kathleen Kennedy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna and Michelle Rejwan. Tony Gilroy is the creator and showrunner.
“Andor” launches exclusively on Disney+ August 31, with the first two episodes.
Executive producers Jonathan Kasdan and Ron Howard came on stage to talk about “Willow,” an all-new live-action fantasy adventure series from Lucasfilm and Imagine Entertainment based on the classic 1988 feature film. In a fun moment, Warwick Davis who played Willow in the feature film and is coming back for the series, surprised everyone on stage. He was joined by some of the other cast members, including Joanne Whalley, who is returning to her role of Sorsha, Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz and Erin Kellyman. The audience got a first look at “Willow” when the teaser trailer was revealed.
An epic period fantasy series with a modern sensibility set in an enchanted land of breathtaking beauty “Willow” features a diverse international cast with Jonathan Kasdan, Ron Howard, Wendy Mericle, Kathleen Kennedy, and Michelle Rejwan serving as executive producers. The story began with an aspiring magician from a Nelwyn village and an infant girl destined to unite the realms, who together helped destroy an evil queen and banish the forces of darkness. Now, in a magical world where brownies, sorcerers, trolls, and other mystical creatures flourish, the adventure continues, as an unlikely group of heroes set off on a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home, where they must face their inner demons and come together to save their world.
“Willow” premieres November 30, exclusively on Disney+.
Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni took the stage to roars from the excited crowd. They announced that they had just come from the set of “Ahsoka,” which is in production now. Filoni confirmed that he is directing some episodes of the series, and then they shared a video greeting from Rosario Dawson, who is playing the title character, Ahsoka.
“Ahsoka” will follow the former Jedi knight as she investigates an emerging threat to the vulnerable New Republic. The new series is slated for 2023 and will be excusive to Disney+.
As if that wasn’t enough excitement from Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, the duo surprised the audience with the announcement of a new series for Disney+ that they are executive producing called “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.”
Favreau and Filoni went on to introduce creators Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, who are joining them as fellow executive producers on the series. “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” set in the New Republic era, is about a group of kids lost in the Star Wars galaxy trying to find their way home.
Watts and Ford had the pleasure of announcing that Jude Law would be starring in the series, set to launch on Disney+ in 2023.
A lively discussion about Season 3 of “The Mandalorian” ensued, then Favreau and Filoni brought out Katee Sackhoff, who plays Bo-Katan, and treated fans to a surprise sneak peek at Season 3 – created just for the fans in attendance. And as an extra special “thank you” for the fans, Jon Favreau announced The Mandalorian Experience, an exhibit of props and costumes that will be on display for the duration of Star Wars Celebration.
The Mandalorian and Grogu are reunited and continue their journey, facing enemies and rallying allies as they make their way through a dangerous galaxy in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire. Season 3 of “The Mandalorian” is set to launch exclusively on Disney+ in February 2023, and is executive produced by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson.
During Star Wars Celebration, Favreau said, “I was just happy to make Star Wars and its started out as a small project, Disney Plus hadn’t even started yet and now Baby Yoda is everywhere. People really connected with the story, especially when we were all locked in our homes.”
Filoni said of the surprises in the previous season, “we came up with code names and didn’t tell anyone on set what was going on. Rosario didn’t even know she was on-set with Luke. We didn’t even have Skywalker drawn into the concept art and we would cut something else in during the dailies.”
From the triumphant return of legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett to the live-action debut of fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano, the second season of “The Mandalorian” was a fun, surprising, emotional thrill-ride which kept fans excited to see how each new weekly chapter unfolded. Disney+ brought viewers behind the scenes of the groundbreaking season in the hour-long “Making of Season Two” special.
In the installment of “Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian,” filmmakers and cast provided unprecedented access to the storytelling decisions and innovations that went into the second season of the Emmy Award-winning series.
Featuring immersive on-set footage that places viewers right in the middle of the filmmaking process, and rare insights from the cast and crew, the documentary explored the production of all 8 episodes in season two – from early concept art through the groundbreaking technology introduced in the series.
