The Empire Strikes Back premiered 40 years ago today

Premiering at the Kennedy Center this day 40 years ago just before its theatrical run on May 21, 1980, The Empire Strikes Back is without a doubt one of the biggest sequels to come out and make a scene in the world of cinema and popular culture. It's significance in progressing the Star Wars saga cannot be understated, and there were plenty of things fans took in and found out first hand once they saw the film - primarily the continuing journey of Luke Skywalker, his heritage and Jedi training with Yoda, and the shocking revelation made by Darth Vader in the end.

1980 Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford at premier of Empire Strikes Back.
Everything else is pretty much history and well documented through the years, but there's nothing wrong with taking a trip back to the past and revisiting some memories - of a time when Star Wars just got BIGGER and more wilder as George Lucas delivered his middle entry in his "Original Trilogy" of films. Above is a feature with Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford - being interviewed promoting the release of the film.

Happy 40 Years, The Empire Strikes Back!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi comes to digital and home video this March

After making an impact in theaters last Christmas and bringing the second chapter of the "New Trilogy" to fans worldwide, Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm Ltd. have released the announcement trailer for the upcoming digital and home video releases of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" - which features the return of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver reprising their roles as Rey and Kylo Ren respectively, and the final appearance of the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa.


In addition to announcing the release dates, the list of special features have also been detailed - including featurettes, commentaries, and deleted scenes, which you can read up at Comic Book.com.

STAR WARS: The Last Jedi Blu-ray Trailer (2017)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi will come out on digital on March 13, and on Blu-Ray and DVD on March 27.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: IMAX Poster released

Set to hit theaters in one month and hyping up the continuation of the current "New Trilogy" that began with 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" - Disney, Lucasfilm, and IMAX have released the new IMAX Poster for Star Wars: The Last Jedi - which features Rey front and center with the rest of the cast behind her, including Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker, and the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters on December 15.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: New "Awake" TV Spot released

As the film inches closer to release in a month and a half's time, Walt Disney Pictures and LucasFilm Ltd. have released a new TV Spot/ Short Trailer for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"  -which picks up right after the events of 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and sees Rey training to learn the ways of The Force under the long lost Jedi Master - Luke Skywalker.

In the new spot "Awake", new scenes and footage feature moments like Luke stepping back into the Millennium Falcon, and facing off seemingly against his apprentice Rey.


Star Wars: The Last Jedi "Awake"
Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released in theaters on December 15.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: New Luke Skywalker image and Rian Johnson interview video

Set to be released at the end of the year and continuing the "New Trilogy" storyline where Rey finally gets trained by the long lost Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, USA Today (via Comic Book Movie) has released a new image for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" showing Mark Hamill back in his signature role as an aged Luke - looking like he's worried and feeling a great disturbance in The Force as his former mentors Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda did.

Also via USA Today's Twitter, here's a new video interview with director Rian Johnson on where The Last Jedi takes Rey, Finn, Poe, and the rest of the characters through the film, as well as featuring the late great Carrie Fisher, aka Princess/ General Leia Organa.

See this exclusive new behind-the-scenes video from #StarWars with the late Carrie Fisher: https://t.co/QOPhwXIfP0 pic.twitter.com/16vGw5waZY

— USA TODAY Life (@usatodaylife) October 24, 2017

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released this December worldwide.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: New Poster and Trailer released

Hitting theaters in time for the holidays and giving fans of a galaxy far, far away more time to wonder and be hyped for what's to come next in the "New Trilogy" era of Star Wars films, Walt Disney Studios and LucasFilm have released the brand new poster and trailer to "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" - which features Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver back as Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Kylo Ren respectively, as well as the return of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, and the late Carrie Fisher in her last performance as General Leia Organa.

Now, besides seeing that a legendary Dark Lord of the Sith has a "presence" in the poster (thanks Whatculture), here is the trailer to "The Last Jedi" - which is above and beyond all things EPIC.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer
Star Wars: The Last Jedi will open in theaters on December 15.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi graces the cover of Empire Magazine

Set for release during holiday season this year and continuing the story of the "New Trilogy" that began with 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", Empire Magazine has released the first new look at the cover to their upcoming October 2017 issue spotlighting "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" - which features a holographic cover with the new "Student and Master" dynamic of Daisy Ridley's Rey and Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker. Rey of course is brandishing the blue Jedi lightsaber that once belonged to Anakin Skywalker in the prequels and then passed on to Luke in the original Star Wars trilogy... How it will fair with its new owner under Luke's training will be depicted on the Episode VIII, aka "The Last Jedi" in a few months time.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released on December 2017.

Star Wars: Episode VIII title officially revealed as "The Last Jedi"

With the release of the first spin-off film in "Rogue One" now in the rear view mirror, Star Wars fans have turned their attention to the impending release of the next numerical installment in the franchise... And that is Episode VIII. Thanks to the official Star Wars Facebook page, we now have a title to that chapter, and that is "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"!

Via the official FB post itself, the description reads as:

"We have the greatest fans in this or any other galaxy. In appreciation of the fans, we wanted them to be the first to know the title of the next chapter in the Skywalker saga: STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI. 

THE LAST JEDI is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski."

From the title alone, it sounds like Episode VIII will deal with the Jedi legacy - specifically Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill), who was last seen at the end of The Force Awakens and found by Rey.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released in December 2017.

R.I.P Carrie Fisher: Princess Leia actress passes away at 60

The world mourns the loss of one of sci-fi and pop culture fandom's most recognizable talents, as actress and writer Carrie Fisher - better known as Princess Leia Organa from the original Star Wars Trilogy - passed away at the age of 60 after complications from suffering a heart attack. A lot of news outlets, including The Guardian, have reported the news... And co-stars and fellow actors like Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill and the official Star Wars FB page, have expressed their sadness and tribute for the passing of a true royal icon of cinematic history.

no words #Devastated pic.twitter.com/R9Xo7IBKmh

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 27, 2016

Fisher reprised her role as Leia for 2015's "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens". A young CGI version of her character appeared in this year's "Rogue One", which connects to her first appearance of the character in 1977's original "Star Wars" film. Before she passed, Carrie was able to complete her scenes for Episode VIII - marking the true final appearance of the actress in the role that helped define her star in Hollywood history.

In honor of the Princess, I made a personal tribute from a cosplay my friends and I did last year during a special The Force Awakens screening

R.I.P Carrie Fisher. You gave us hope and continue to be a guiding presence now that you are part of The Force now.

HAPPY NEW YEAR~!!! Prepare for 2016~!!!

Much like how I posted on last New Year's Eve, a collage from my FB page highlighting the different events that transpired throughout the entire year of 2015 is placed here... And I can only imagine "The Best Is Yet To Come" as we prepare for 2016!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: New Theatrical Poster and Trailer TV Spot released

Not wasting any time in promoting the long awaited new chapter in a saga that happens in a galaxy far, far away, Disney and LucasFilm have released the brand new poster to "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" - which pretty much features every prominent cast member from the new film set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi - with the poster featuring old Rebel Alliance heroes such as Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca, as well as the newbies in Rey, Finn, and the new red lightsaber wielding character Kylo Ren. Missing in the poster is Luke Sywalker... But that is possibly an intentional thing to draw mystery... And the looming presence of a new weapon that "surpasses" the Death Star is in the background as well.

EDIT: Designed by Star Wars fan and Anakin Skywalker cosplayer Bryan Morton (which LOOKED like a Drew Struzan work), this new theatrical poster is the second one released, and coincides with the coming of a brand new trailer that hits with ESPN Monday Night Football. For now, a teaser has been released, found and featured thanks to Comic Book.com.

The Force Awakens Monday Night Football TrailerTV Spot
Update: TWO More teaser spots have been released HERE and HERE.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, hits theaters on December 18, 2015.

Star Wars: Episode VII Cast officially announced and First Pic of the team revealed!

Looks like the return to "A Galaxy Far, Far Away" is now in full swing, as J.J. Abrams and his team behind the next installment of the infamous "Star Wars" film franchise have officially unveiled the cast for Episode VII!!!

Via the official Star Wars website, an official press statement, accompanied by the first cast pic, has been released showing the lineup of actors new and old reigniting the classic space saga George Lucas started, and here it is:

"The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film. 

Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud." 

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015."

So there you have it... STAR WARS Episode VII has it's cast, with new characters joining Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and the old gang in theaters on 2015!

Star Wars: The Force officially joins Instagram

Those who own Instagram accounts, rejoice, for A Galaxy, Far, Far Away has officially made its mark on the social network photo/ video sharing website.

Thanks to a post from ComicBook.com, Disney and LucasFilm have extended their reach with the Star Wars franchise... By posting a Darth Vader taking a selfie of himself and starting the Instagram photo chain.

The next photo has a behind-the-scenes shot of the Luke Skywalker and Vader duel from their epic battle from "The Empire Strikes Back".

Who knows what else will be posted soon? For more, visit the official Star Wars Instagram page.

Star Wars: Original Trilogy characters will return for Episode VII

Since the BIG acquisition news of LucasFilm Ltd. by Disney for $4.05 Billion Dollars, the very next project and priority for the new merger is the next trilogy of Star Wars films. Confirmed for release on 2015, "Episode VII" already has a screenwriter on board in the form of Michael Arndt, who's credentials include Toy Story 3 and the next installment of The Hunger Games film series, Catching Fire. What was also rumored was that three of the key characters involved with the original Star Wars trilogy (Episode IV, V, and VI) were in talks to appear in the new "Disney era" film series, namely Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and Han Solo. News from ENewsi and the Hollywood Reporter confirms that 2/3 of that trio will return.