Attendees of the studio showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event were excited to see the first trailer for “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew”. Fans welcomed star Jude Law to the stage and heard new details about the coming-of-age series that begins streaming on Disney+ on Dec. 3, 2024, with the first two episodes. Check out the new trailer now.

“Skeleton Crew” follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy, crossing paths with the likes of Jod Na Nawood, the mysterious character played by Law. Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined.

Starring Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon and Nick Frost, episodes of the original live-action series are directed by Jon Watts, David Lowery, the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard and Lee Isaac Chung. The executive producers are Christopher Ford, Jon Watts, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

Disney/Lucasfilm celebrate the upcoming release of the Ojibwe dub of the original iconic 1977 sci-fi blockbuster “Star Wars: A New Hope” by offering complimentary tickets to see the film. As of today, fans can claim up to four tickets to see the movie when it opens exclusively for a limited run at select Cineplex theatres on August 10. Visit Cineplex.com for more info.

The project brought together a wide range of talent and multigenerational Anishinaabe speakers to bring this version to life. The dubbing was done over a 10-day period in early May in Winnipeg with the final mix completed at Skywalker Sound and is supported in part by the Government of Canada through the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program from Canadian Heritage. Dougald Lamont helped launch this initiative in 2021 after proposing it to Pablo Hidalgo, a former Winnipegger and Lucasfilm executive as a language revitalization project in support of reconciliation.

The Ojibwe dub was directed by Ellyn Stern Epcar, produced by Michael Kohn and stars Aandeg Jedi Muldrew (Luke Skywalker), Ajuawak Kapashesit (Han Solo), Theresa Eischen (Princess Leia), Dennis Daminos Chartrand (Darth Vader), Dustin Gerald Morrow Aagimewikamig (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Tomantha Sylvester Nimi Anungo Kwe (C-3PO), Jeff Monague Myiingan Minaakwhe (Grand Moff Tarkin), John-Paul Chalykoff (Uncle Owen), and Wanda Barker Giwedinoonz (Aunt Beru).

Partners in the project include Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council (DOTC), the University of Manitoba (UM), Disney/Lucasfilm, and APTN. Maeengan Linklater, Director of Operations (DOTC) and Cary Miller, Associate Professor, Department of Indigenous Studies (UM) served as project leads. Patricia Ningewance, Assistant Professor (UM)/Lead Translator, Dennis Daminos Chartrand, Associate Translator, Brian Cochrane with Albert Owl regional translators led the translation.

“Gi-ga-miinigoowiz Mamaandaawiziwin” (“May the Force be with you”).

The second season of “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,” Lucasfilm’s original animated series, will debut on Disney+ on Wednesday, August 14 and Disney Jr. on Saturday, August 17, with the second half of the season coming early 2025. In addition, a series of shorts from “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” Season 2 will debut on Disney+ on August 2 and Disney Jr. on August 8.

Set 200 years before “The Phantom Menace,” during the High Republic era, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” follows Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way.

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” Season 2 follows the younglings as they continue their training and embark on even bigger missions across the galaxy. Helping to lead the younglings on these missions is Master Zia’s new Padawan, Wes Vinik, and his astromech R0-M1. As they continue their training and grow in the ways of the Force, the young Jedi will travel to new planets with new and old friends and encounter adversaries like The Ganguls, who are growing in their pirate ranks…

Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Jr., “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” is executive produced by Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes. Michael Olson is showrunner and executive producer; Elliot M. Bour is Supervising director and Co-Executive Producer; and Lamont Magee is consulting producer. Production services by Icon Creative.

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” stars JeCobi Swain as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Trey Murphy as Taborr/Cyrus Vuundir, Nasim Pedrad as Master Zia Zanna, Gunnar Sizemore as Wes Vinik, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda.

Plus, a new 2D-animated digital series entitled “Fun with Nubs” is now available on StarWarsKids.com and Youtube.com/StarWarsKids. The series follows the comedic misadventures of Nubs and RJ-83, as they take on tasks across Tenoo.

THE FALL GUY flies in its debut, taking $28 million from 4,002 theatres for Universal Pictures. Reviews have been strong for the Blockbuster starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, garnering 83% on the Tomatometer.

In second is CHALLENGERS with $8.7 million from 3,477 theatres, taking its two week tally to $30.5 million for Warner Bros.

STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 – THE PHANTOM MENACE gets a special May 4th (Star Wars Day) re-release, good enough for third with $8.5 million for Disney.

Horror TAROT debuts in fourth with $6 million from 3,104 theatres for Sony Pictures. It gets 8% on the Tomatometer.

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE rounds out the Top Five with $3.8 million for Warner Bros., a total of $187 million to date in North America.

Today, Disney+ announced “May the 12th Be With You,’” a new promotional short from “The Simpsons,”’ will launch May 10, 2024, exclusively on Disney+. In the upcoming short, it’s Mother’s Day and Marge Simpson joins the moms of Disney+ on a special holiday outing that turns into an epic galactic adventure filled with heroes, villains and a surprising old friend.

“May the 12th Be With You” is the latest in a collection of shorts from “The Simpsons” created exclusively for Disney+. The previously released shorts “Maggie Simpson in ‘Rogue Not Quite One’” (2024 Webby Winner), “The Simpsons meet the Bocellis in ‘Feliz Navidad,’” “Welcome to the Club,” “When Billie Met Lisa” (Emmy® nominated), “Maggie Simpson in ‘The Force Awakens from Its Nap’” (Emmy® nominated), “The Good, The Bart, and The Loki” and “The Simpsons in Plusaversary” are currently available on Disney+. All of these and more can be found in “The Simpsons” collection on the streaming service here: https://www.disneyplus.com/franchise/the-simpsons.

Today, Disney+ released the trailer for Lucasfilm’s upcoming, original animated series “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire.”  The new series, which is the second installment of the “Tales” series, stylistically follows 2022’s critically acclaimed “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi.”   

“Tales of the Empire” launches exclusively on Disney+ on Star Wars Day, May 4, 2024 with all six episodes.

“Star Wars: Tales of the Empire” is a six-episode journey into the fearsome Galactic Empire through the eyes of two warriors on divergent paths, set during different eras. After losing everything, young Morgan Elsbeth navigates the expanding Imperial world toward a path of vengeance, while former Jedi Barriss Offee does what she must to survive a rapidly changing galaxy. The choices they make will define their destinies.

The talented voice cast includes Diana Lee Inosanto (Morgan Elsbeth), Meredith Salenger (Barriss Offee), Rya Kihlstedt (Lyn aka Fourth Sister), Wing T. Chao (Wing), Lars Mikkelsen (Thrawn), Jason Isaacs (Grand Inquisitor) and Matthew Wood (General Grievous).

Dave Filoni created the series and is the supervising director. He is also an executive producer along with Athena Yvette Portillo and Carrie Beck. Josh Rimes serves as co-executive producer and Alex Spotswood is the senior producer.          

Today, Disney+ debuted the first trailer and key art for Lucasfilm’s new, original series “Star Wars: The Acolyte.” The thrilling, live-action series launches on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 with the first two episodes, exclusively on Disney+.

In “Star Wars: The Acolyte,” an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems…

The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

Leslye Headland created the series, based on Star Wars by George Lucas, and serves as an executive producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King and Jason Micallef. Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana are the co-executive producers. Rayne Roberts, Damian Anderson, Eileen Shim and Rob Bredow are the producers.

Headland also directed the premiere episodes (Eps. 101 & 102). Directors Kogonada (Eps. 103 & 107), Alex Garcia Lopez (Eps. 104 & 105) and Hanelle Culpepper (Eps. 106 & 108) round out the directing duties on the series.

Award-winning composer Michael Abels, known for his work on “Get Out” and “Us,” scored “Star Wars: The Acolyte.”

Disney+ has released the highly anticipated trailer and teaser poster for the final season of acclaimed Lucasfilm Animation series “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” This is the third season of the critically acclaimed animated series, which is a fan- favourite spinoff from the Emmy® award-winning series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”

In the epic final season of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” the Batch will have their limits tested in the fight to reunite with Omega as she faces challenges of her own inside a remote Imperial science lab. With the group fractured and facing threats from all directions, they will have to seek out unexpected allies, embark on dangerous missions, and muster everything they have learned to free themselves from the Empire.

“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” showcases a talented voice cast, including Dee Bradley Baker (“American Dad!”), Michelle Ang (“Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462”), Keisha Castle-Hughes (“Whale Rider”), Jimmi Simpson (“Westworld”), Noshir Dalal (“It’s Pony”) and Wanda Sykes (“The Upshaws”).

“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” is executive produced by Dave Filoni (“Ahsoka,” “The Mandalorian”), Athena Portillo (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Star Wars Rebels”), Brad Rau (“Star Wars Rebels,” “Star Wars Resistance”), Jennifer Corbett (“Star Wars Resistance,” “NCIS”) and Carrie Beck (“Ahsoka,” “The Mandalorian”), with Josh Rimes (“Star Wars Resistance,” “Star Wars: Visions”) as co-executive producer and Alex Spotswood (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Star Wars Rebels”) as senior producer. Rau is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer.

“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” debuts with the first three episodes on Wednesday, February 21, exclusively on Disney+.

Season 3 Episode Schedule:

· 2/21: Episode 301 “Confined,” Episode 302 “Paths Unknown,” Episode 303 “Shadows of Tantiss” (debut)

· 2/28: Episode 304 “A Different Approach”

· 3/6: Episode 305 “The Return”

· 3/13: Episode 306 “Infiltration” & Episode 307 “Extraction”

· 3/20: Episode 308 “Bad Territory”

· 3/27: Episode 309 “The Harbinger”

· 4/3: Episode 310 “Identity Crisis” & Episode 311 “Point of No Return”

· 4/10: Episode 312 “Juggernaut”

· 4/17: Episode 313 “Into the Breach”

· 4/24: Episode 314 “Flash Strike”

· 5/1: Episode 315 “The Cavalry Has Arrived” (finale)

The Mandalorian and Grogu are embarking on a newadventure—to movie theaters. Directed by Jon Favreau, and produced by Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni, this new chapter in the Mandalorian and Grogu’s journey will go into production in 2024. 

“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created. The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting,” Favreau shared.  

Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, added, “Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.” 

“The Mandalorian & Grogu” will lead Lucasfilm’s ongoing feature-development slate, which includes films helmed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold and Dave Filoni, who is also currently developing “Ahsoka” Season 2, among those in the works.

This news was first announced on www.starwars.com.

Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council and the University of Manitoba announced today that they have an alliance with Disney/Lucasfilm to create an official Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) version of Star Wars: A New Hope. Auditions for voice actors are expected to take place during 2024 in Winnipeg, Man. For more information, please visit https://starwarsojibwe.com/.

Partners in the project include Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council (DOTC), with Maeengan Linklater, Director of Operations, as the project lead; the University of Manitoba; Disney/Lucasfilm; and APTN.

The project is supported in part by the Government of Canada through the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program from Canadian Heritage. Additional support will be provided by Disney/Lucasfilm and APTN.

“A New Hope, one of the most iconic movies of all time, being available in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) will help showcase this language to the world,” says the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “It is my hope that this is just the beginning of many projects where stories are made available in First Nations, Métis and Inuit languages. Our government will always be there for communities in their efforts to cherish and revitalize their languages because they are an integral part of culture and identity and contribute to a sense of belonging.”

“Language is how knowledge is kept and handed down to future generations, within language we can hear our history and hopes for the future,” says the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor. “Our government, together with our partners, are acting to remedy the damage that colonization has caused to Indigenous languages. Projects like this are crucial to revitalizing Indigenous languages and bringing them to new audiences so Indigenous Peoples can see themselves and their languages have a place at home and in a galaxy far, far away.”

Script translation, auditions for Anishinaabemowin voice actors and sound recording will take place in Winnipeg, with sound mixing and post-production scheduled to occur at Skywalker Sound in California. Plans are to have a Winnipeg premiere as well as showings at theatres across Canada and the intent is for this version of the film to air on APTN. Further details and timelines will be announced as the project progresses.

“This is an exciting project that seeks to restore the Anishinaabe language to the galaxy,” says Maeengan Linklater, “and, DOTC gets to say it did the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.”

“Like the Force, our language surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds our communities and culture together,” says Cary Miller, Associate Vice-President Indigenous Scholarship, Research and Curriculum at the University of Manitoba. “Projects like this that make our language more accessible are foundationally important to encouraging our youth to carry on our knowledge – including that of science and technology – which are embedded in our Anishinaabe language.”

“Working on the Navajo version of Star Wars: A New Hope was a highlight of my career,” says Lucasfilm Senior Manager of Distribution Operations Michael Kohn. “I am very excited to revisit this type of project again and hopefully preserve and expand the Ojibwe language for future generations.”

“APTN is proud to partner on this project, which will help make a classic film more accessible to our Anishinaabe audience,” says Mike Omelus, executive director of content and strategy at APTN. “Language revitalization is fundamental to our work as an Indigenous broadcaster. This is an incredible way to celebrate Anishinaabe culture, language and identity.”

While there are many Indigenous languages in Canada, Anishinaabemowin, or Ojibwe, was chosen because it has about 320,000 speakers in Canada and the U.S., and is the most spoken Indigenous language in Manitoba, Ontario and Minnesota.

“Gi-ga-miinigoowiz Mamaandaawiziwin” (“May the Force be with you”).