ANAHEIM, United States —
Disney announced a new live-action “Star Wars”
series featuring Jude Law at a major fan convention Thursday — but any mention
of upcoming films in the beloved sci-fi franchise was conspicuously absent, as
the company focuses on its streaming service.
اضافة اعلان
Harrison Ford and Ewan McGregor were among the stars who appeared on stage before a raucous
and outlandishly dressed crowd in Anaheim, California for “Star Wars
Celebration,” a four-day gathering held every few years, usually tied to new
movies.
But television
shows dominated the opening presentation, which featured unseen footage from
“Andor” and the third season of “The Mandalorian” — plus the surprise
announcement of a world premiere for McGregor’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi”.
Fans in
attendance will be the first to watch two episodes from the series, the day
before it launches on
Disney+.
McGregor and
Hayden Christensen, who both reprise their roles from the “Star Wars” prequel
film trilogy for the series about the iconic Jedi master and his
apprentice-turned-nemesis Darth Vader, both appeared at the event.
As for Law, he
will appear in the previously unconfirmed series “Skeleton Crew,” created by
“
Spider-Man: No Way Home” director Jon Watts, it was announced.
“It’s the story
about a group of kids — about 10 years old — from a tiny little planet, who
accidentally get lost in the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy,” said Watts.
Fans ‘showed up’
Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012 and immediately began
pumping out films including a new trilogy, and spin-offs “Solo” and “
Rogue One,” but has since slowed its big-screen “Star Wars” output.
The decision
followed diminishing box office returns and mixed reviews — and the
all-important launch of its Disney+ streaming service.
Disney+ has
gained more than 130 million subscribers since its 2019 launch, defying most
analyst expectations, and creator of smash hit launch show “The Mandalorian”
Jon Favreau thanked “Star Wars” fans for their role in its rapid rise.
“One group, the
‘Star Wars’ fans, showed up when they launched Disney+... you all helped make
Disney+ a success,” said Favreau.
Favreau
presented footage from the third season of “The Mandalorian,” in which the
disgraced bounty hunter — accompanied by Baby Yoda — vows to earn forgiveness
“for my transgressions”.
Tony Gilroy, who
wrote the Jason Bourne action films, said another new series “Andor” will be
set five years before spin-off movie “Rogue One,” and will feature two
12-episode seasons.
Returning star
Diego Luna said the series will portray a younger, more selfish version of his
character Cassian Andor — a pilot who sacrifices himself at the end of the film
to fight the Empire.
“The beauty of
this show is, there’s no way they’ll kill me,” he joked.
Favreau
confirmed shooting has just begun on yet another series, “Ahsoka,” starring Rosario
Dawson.
But while Disney
has three “Star Wars” movies on its schedule, and has previously announced
films from directors Taika Waititi, Rian Johnson and Patty Jenkins, none were
mentioned on stage Thursday.
Lucasfilm head
Kathleen Kennedy told Variety there would be “plenty of time to showcase”
upcoming movies in the future.
Indiana Jones
Instead, the presentation ended with a performance from veteran
composer John Williams, who conducted a live orchestra through his latest music
for “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Williams — who
turned 90 this year — was lauded by Ford, who played Han Solo in the original
“Star Wars” films, as well as “Indiana Jones.”
“That music
follows me everywhere I go... that music was playing on the speakers in the
operating room when I had my last colonoscopy,” joked Ford.
“I passed,” he
added, to laughter and loud cheers.
Ford, himself
79, said the fifth “
Indiana Jones” film was “almost completed” and confirmed it
will premiere in June 2023.
Meanwhile
outside the convention center, thousands of hardcore “
Star Wars” fans waved
multi-colored lightsabers, exchanged gossip on the upcoming shows, and posed
for photos dressed as their favorite bounty hunters, droids, and Jedi warriors.
“Star Wars Celebration”
runs through Sunday.
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