Tag Archives: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Disney XD Renews Prinze Jr.’s Lucasfilm-Produced Animated Series “Star Wars Rebels”

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Freddie Prinze Jr. is releasing a Rebels yell…

Disney XD has renewed Star Wars Rebels, which features the 39-year-old part-Puerto Rican actor as part of the voice cast, for Season 3, with production already underway and a plan to air new episodes of the Lucasfilm-produced animated series in 2016.

Freddie Prinze Jr.

The series, which follows a ragtag group of heroes that dare to strike back against Imperial forces, is an original tale based on the Star Wars films that in its first two seasons has incorporated classic characters from the movies while introducing new heroes and villains.

Coincidentally, the rebooted feature film franchise Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters December 18.

The renewal news was announced this morning on Star Wars mothership StarWars.com.

“We’re very proud of our incredibly creative Rebels team,” Lucasfilm SVP Development Kiri Hart said in the announcement. “The show continues to tell fun, heartfelt, exciting new Star Wars stories week after week, and it’s beloved by fans of all ages. Season 3 will see our rebel heroes face new obstacles and find new allies in their fight against the Empire.”

Star Wars Rebels ranks as Disney XD’s No. 2 series in total viewers (1.3 million), kids 6-11, boys 6-11 and boys 2-11, and is the channel’s No. 1 program in adults 18-49 and men 18-49.

Star Wars Rebels is created by Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Simon Kinberg and Carrie Beck.

The Season 2 voice cast includes Prinze Jr., Vanessa Marshall, Steve Blum, Tiya Sircar, Taylor Gray, Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker, David Oyelowo and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Miranda Contributes Cantina Music for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

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The Force has awakened Lin-Manuel Miranda…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican actor, composer and writer, currently earning raves on Broadway for his latest award-winning musical, Hamilton, has partnered with Star Wars’ latest direct J.J. Abrams to make some music.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Theater and sci-fi geeks alike freaked when Abrams let the news slip on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (Nov. 30), revealing that Miranda will be lending his talents to new cantina music for Episode VII, aka Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

“I go to see [Hamilton] with our son and at intermission, Lin-Manuel Miranda comes up to me and says, ‘Hey if you need music for the [Star Wars] Cantina, I’ll write it,” recalls Abrams. He notes that composer John Williams, who helmed the original cantina scene in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, declined to tackle the task this go-round.

Miranda, who’s Hamilton is currently dominating Broadway — and the Billboard charts — with its R&B, pop and rap-influenced take on the story of Alexander Hamilton, described the process via Twitter.

“We did. Worked on it between 6pm & 7:30 on 2 show days for the past 2 months. JJ is the best. Can’t wait to see,” tweeted the In The Heights creator to his followers.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters in three weeks (opening December18).

Miranda is responsible for Disney’s upcoming animated film Moana. His other composing credits include The Electric Company and Sesame Street.

Del Toro to Portray Villain in “Star Wars: Episode VIII”

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May the force be with Benicio Del Toro…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actor has been in talks with Lucasfilm and has now been offered a role in Star Wars: Episode VIII as a new villain, according to Deadline.

Benicio del Toro

No details were released regarding the nature of the role, but other name actors are said to have also been considered.

Could this suggest possible spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens? That film has three confirmed villains: Domhnall Gleeson’s General Hux, Gwendolyn Christie’s Captain Phasma, and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren. That’s a fairly packed slate of heavyweights. The Del Toro casting news makes one wonder if one of that trio doesn’t make it to the end of the movie.

Directed by Looper and Brick helmer Rian Johnson, the still-untitled eighth installment of the new Star Wars trilogy is set for release May 26, 2017.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters December 18.

Del Toro’s next film is Sicario for Lionsgate.