Star Wars Weekly: Patience (10/02/25 to 16/02/25)

Rey movie updates, Celebration Japan, and more...

One of the least talked about Star Wars anniversaries came and went this week without much fanfare. Last Monday, the 3D re-release of The Phantom Menace celebrated 13 years since its release on February 10th, 2012.

You’re forgiven for not noticing. The re-release, meant to kick off yearly 3D re-releases of the six George Lucas Star Wars movies, failed to make much of a splash. It underperformed at the box office, and all subsequent re-releases were ultimately cancelled (though that had more to do with Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm and the announcement of new movies). As such, The Phantom Menace’s brief return to cinemas in 2012 remains an odd footnote in Star Wars history.

I bring this up because, on Friday, I published a piece about how much I love seeing Star Wars movies in the theatres. I went into great detail about some of my best experiences seeing the movies with an audience on the big screen. But I left out my worst: The 2012 3D re-release of The Phantom Menace. And I felt I should tell you about it now.

To be clear, this was entirely on me. My disappointment with the experience had nothing to do with The Phantom Menace or 3D (both of which I am a big fan of). No, this is a tale about the folly of letting your expectations get out of hand.

I was introduced to Star Wars in early 2004. In the rush of joy of discovering my new love for this series, I learned as much as I could about all things Star Wars. And I quickly realized that the “last” Star Wars movie was being made.

I saw Revenge of the Sith on opening weekend with my family, believing it would be the only time I saw a Star Wars movie in theatres. It was exhilarating to experience the conclusion to the saga, but also a little bittersweet thinking it wouldn’t happen again.

In the years that followed my passion for Star Wars ebbed and flowed. I still loved the stories but figured it was something you were meant to grow out of, so I tried to leave it behind.

Spoiler alert: I failed.

Around 2010, I discovered the world of online fandom and my passion for Star Wars reignited. I started watching The Clone Wars, picked up Expanded Universe novels, and even started collecting action figures (something I never did as a child!) And I listened to Star Wars podcasts where the hosts reminisced about the fun of seeing the prequels and Special Editions in theatres. It sounded like a magical experience.

But it also made me a little sad that I would never experience anything like it. George Lucas was adamant that there would be no more Star Wars movies. His focus seemed to be on television, so if there were to be more stories set in the galaxy far, far away, I assumed they would have to be on the small screen.

Then, in September 2010, Lucasfilm announced that the entire Star Wars saga would be coming back to theatres in 3D, starting with The Phantom Menace in 2012. I was elated. It may not be a new movie, but it was a chance to experience Star Wars again in theatres. This, I thought, would be my generation’s version of the Special Editions.

I probably looked forward to The Phantom Menace 3D more than anyone else. I was counting down the days, seeking out every little tidbit of information about the 3D conversion process, and buying up all the merch with the sweet new Maul packaging. When the first trailer was released in theatres, I went to see The Three Musketeers just to see it. And then I was devastated when it didn’t play in my theatre!

For opening night, I convinced my Dad, my brother, and my friend Phil that we should get tickets to the midnight screening. I had heard all the stories and seen all the old news reports about how rowdy theatres were for midnight screenings of Star Wars movies. People came in costumes, had lightsaber duels in the parking lot, and cheered when the movie started. I was beyond ready to finally experience this for myself.

It didn’t happen, of course. To call the theatre half full would be generous. Most people wore Star Wars shirts and there was a smattering of applause when the movie started, but it was not the rock ‘n roll experience I hoped for. I left the theatre disappointed.

I saw The Phantom Menace 3D two more times during its run. The second time was actually less than 24 hours after that midnight showing. It was closer to what I had imagined for the first viewing. The cinema was mostly full and everyone was pretty excited to see 3D lightsabers and podracers. It would have to do as my great Star Wars theatrical experience.

My third viewing was towards the end of its run. I went just because I could. There was a Star Wars movie in theatres, and I thought I might as well enjoy it. As I left the theatre after that third viewing, I reflected on my disappointment. I had totally set myself up for it. I knew that The Phantom Menace was nowhere near as popular in 2012 as A New Hope had been in 1997 for the Special Editions. Nowadays, people talk about the prequels with great reverence, but in 2012 the cool thing to do was talk about how much you hated them. Not to mention the fact that people were already writing off 3D conversations as a “gimmick.”

I knew I needed to keep my expectations in check going forward, especially for Attack of the Clones which was due out the following year. I would still try to go to midnight screenings, I decided, but I wouldn’t expect much. I would enjoy the re-releases for what they were, and not try to make them into something they were not. And no matter what, I would have fun with them.

But even as I prepared for the future, the disappointment of the recent past still lingered. I was convinced that I would never experience the excitement and build-up that came with a new Star Wars movie. It was always going to be something I heard about from before my time—like travelling by horse and buggy or the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Stanley Cup.

Then, on October 30th, 2012 two major announcements were made about the future of Star Wars. George Lucas was selling Lucasfilm to Disney, and they would be making new Star Wars movies, starting in 2015 with Episode VII.

As I celebrated the news, I thought back to my disappointment barely ten months earlier. I had tried so hard to treat the 3D re-releases as my chance to recapture the magic of experiencing new Star Wars, but now here was the real deal. I would get to experience a whole new trilogy—and then some—in theatre.

It’s funny how these things go. You build something up in your mind so much that it becomes impossible for it to live up to that mental image. And then you're disappointed and don’t fully appreciate it for what it is. Meanwhile, the thing you actually want is out there; you just don’t know it yet.

All I needed was a little more patience.

Top Story

Daisy Ridley Teases ‘New Jedi Order’ Movie While Keeping Tight Lips About The Plot

If there’s a movie that’s had more attention on who is writing it over the last two years than the Daisy Ridley-led, ‘New Jedi Order’ movie, I would be stunned.

George Nolfi is the most recent writer hired to take a crack at the script, replacing Steven Knight who replaced Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson. Though the film has retained its director, Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinnoy, and star, Ridley, who returns as Rey for the first time since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, throughout the process.

Ridley has become the film’s de facto spokesperson and gets asked about it whenever she is promoting another project. Right now, she’s spreading the word about her new film Cleaner and naturally is talking loads about Star Wars too.

During an interview with Collider, she went out of her way to reassure fans that even though there has been a revolving door of writers, there have also been consistent creative voices—herself included—on the movie.

“I don’t know that I’d be a producer on it,” she explained, “but I certainly have been very involved. I’m involved in, well, not very involved, but I’m involved in as much as I know what’s going on, I know the story, I know what’s going on with the script, so I’m aware of all that. And I think what’s been really wonderful over the last few years is being more involved from the start to finish, really coming to set knowing this is the absolute best way we can tell this story. These are the best actors for the job. This is the best crew for the job. Having that confidence is so lovely.”

In another interview, this time with Inverse, she spoke about how Star Wars films have always been political and that she expected this new one would be no different with Nolfi on board as writer.

“I feel like [the Star Wars films] are all political,” Ridley said. “I feel like it's the individual versus the big corporation or the big group, so I think they always have been. And ultimately I think the films are emotional in that it's good and evil, which we all can relate to very specifically in our day-to-day lives. But yes, I do feel those conversations are woven within the story, and I'm very excited to see what George does.”

Nolfi, for his part, agrees. In an interview with Film Stories, he went into great detail about how Star Wars has always delved into politics. He said,

“If you think about George Lucas, the six movies that he did, and the universe that he created, it’s actually very steeped in broad notions of politics. It’s not talking about today, per se, but there’s the Empire’s Nazism slash Roman Empire. The democracy of the Roman Empire collapsing and becoming an empire and the perennial story of human beings organizing themselves and against chaos, and then the tools that help human societies tamp down on chaos becomes oppression.

So that is really very core to what I think George Lucas was trying to talk about. And one of the wonderful things about science fiction and Star Wars – which is more almost science fantasy or space opera – is that you can raise the deepest issues without it feeling like a philosophy class, or a political science class, or something I read in the newspaper today…

It can be about real things, deep things.”

I believe that Star Wars is at its best when it taps into what the audience is feeling about the moment they’re living in. It will be interesting to see how Nolfi, Obaid-Chinnoy, and Ridley approach this—especially given how willing Disney (along with other corporations) has been to capitulate to Trump and his whims. It wouldn’t shock me if they face more headwinds from Disney now than they might have previously, even during Trump’s first administration.

To be clear, I am by no means saying that this movie should be a direct response to the current president. Just that if the movie is to be successful, it can’t be afraid to “go there” with big ideas or themes that may be controversial.

Headlines

Rumour: Two New Star Wars Movies To Shoot Next Year

Noted insider DanielRPK reported on his Patreon this week that two new Star Wars movies will start shooting next year. Interestingly, they are the Daisy Ridley/Sharmeen Obaid-Chinnoy “New Jedi Order” film and Dave Filoni’s The Mandalorian/Ahsoka/etc crossover movie.

The report is nothing surprising in itself. Both films were announced in 2023 at Celebration London, and it’s actually a little surprising that neither has started filming yet. The delays, though, are understandable. The New Jedi Order film has gone through several writers (see above), while Filoni’s movie is waiting on the completion of at least two other projects (The Mandalorian & Grogu and Ahsoka season two) before it can be released.

The one wrinkle is where the Shawn Levy/Ryan Gosling movie fits in. Gosling’s involvement seemingly moved Levy’s film to the front of the line. If I were to guess, I would say that the hope is for Levy’s movie to start filming this year, with Filoni and Obaid-Chinnoy following suit in 2026.

Regardless, it sounds like The Mandalorian & Grogu will reopen the floodgates for Star Wars movies when it hits theatres next year.

Sophie Thatcher Wants To Return As Drash

When Dave Filoni’s movie comes out, it will be fascinating to see how many characters from the various shows connected to The Mandalorian are featured. There are a few obvious ones like Din Djarin, Grogu, and Ahsoka, but there are many others that feel on the bubble when it comes to the movie.

One of those characters is Drash, played by star Sophie Thatcher in The Book of Boba Fett. Drash is one of the “Mods” that Boba and Fennec enlist to help drive the Pykes off of Tatooine. At the end of the series, she and her cohorts seem to have reached an agreement with Fett to help maintain order on the desert planet.

As with most characters from The Book of Boba Fett, we have not seen her since the series wrapped in early 2022. But Thatcher recently revealed she’s eager for a return.

“I would love to do that,” she told Inverse. “The Star Wars universe is so vast and so dense and so interesting, and Jon Favreau made it feel very political and very timely. It's such a cool universe. I would do it in a heartbeat.

Despite being one of the most watched Star Wars series on Disney+, The Book of Boba Fett received a lukewarm reception amongst fans and critics. While Boba and Fennec seem like obvious picks to include in the movie, the supporting cast may not be a priority.

Thatcher, for her part, is a talented performer, with plenty more she can bring to Star Wars. It would be a real missed opportunity not to bring her back, be it for Filoni’s movie, another season of The Book of Boba Fett, or something else entirely.

Celebration Japan Updates

The next Star Wars Celebration is just over two months away (April 18th-20th), meaning the announcements about what we can expect at (and around) the convention are ramping up.

To start things off, the final badge designs were revealed, showcasing classic Star Wars moments and characters in a classic Japanese art style. The badges were designed by the artist TAKUMI, and can be seen below,

Additionally, two other announcements relating to the convention, though not specifically part of it, were made this week.

For those looking to experience some Japanese baseball, the Chiba Lotte Marines announced they are hosting a Star Wars Night on April 16th (two days before the convention kicks off). They’ll be taking on the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham at 6 pm JST at the ZOZO Marine Stadium. Expect plenty of Star Wars-themed fun throughout the evening, along with a great ballgame! Tickets to the game go on sale on February 26th.

And for those planning on hitting Tokyo Disney, the theme park announced this week that from April 8th until June 30th all Star Tours rides will feature the new content inspired by Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, and Andor. If you’re heading to Celebration and want to experience the new addition to Star Tours, this sounds like your best bet.

From The Archives

Episode IX Wraps Filming, February 15th, 2019

It was a bittersweet moment for all involved in the production of the Sequel Trilogy six years ago this week when principal photography on The Rise of Skywalker finished.

The news was shared on Twitter by director JJ Abrams, who tweeted a photo of Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac on location in Jordan. They were all in costume and giving each other a group hug. Abrams captioned the photo,

“It feels impossible, but today wrapped photography on Episode IX. There is no adequate way to thank this truly magical crew and cast. I’m forever indebted to you all.”

Reshoots would take place throughout 2019 to finesse the final film, but wrapping principal photography is still a key milestone in any production. And it was all the more impactful since it was the end of a trilogy. They weren’t just marking the end of one film, but all three shot from 2014 to 2019.

In Other News

ILM Showcases the Visual Effects of Wicked

When it comes to visual effects, there is no bigger name than Industrial Light & Magic. Ever since their groundbreaking work on Star Wars in 1977, the Lucasfilm division has set the standard for what can be accomplished with visual effects. First with model building, then with digital effects, and now merging the two.

One of the 2024 movies ILM had a major hand in bringing to life was the musical Wicked, which earned an Oscar Nomination for Best Visual Effects. This week ILM released two videos on their YouTube channel showcasing the incredible work by their world-class artists.

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of ILM, the docuseries Light & Magic on Disney+ is a fantastic watch!

Podcast Corner

This week’s episode of The Star Wars Underworld Podcast went a little off the rails—in the best possible way! We were joined by our friend Din of the band F-105 to take some listener questions about all things Star Wars. We wound up covering what special edition style changes we would make to the prequels, if we’ve reached a point where there’s too much Star Wars, and kinda-sorta created a new theme song for the show. It’s a wild ride!

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch above on YouTube!

Coming Soon…

Always in motion is the future, but here’s a look ahead at what we can expect in Star Wars over the next seven days:

• The High Republic Marvel series returns with its fourth and final relaunch! The High Republic: Fear of the Jedi #1 by Cavan Scott hits shelves on February 19th, and features Kelnacca from The Acolyte joining the crew!

• And if you are looking to experience the first season of Ahsoka in comic form, Marvel also has you covered with Ahsoka #8 by Rodney Barnes. The final issue in the series adapts the season one finale, “The Jedi, The Witch, and the Warlord” (truly one of the best single episode titles in all of Star Wars).

With so much news about what’s coming up and what might happen in the future, I’m reminded of Master Yoda’s wise words, “Patience! For the Jedi it is time to eat as well.”