March 2021 Star Wars News Roundup

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Note from the author: I’m just getting started with this and still working out how I want to present the month’s news, from next month there will be links to the original news sources and more images, so bear with me and let me know what you think of the format!


Kathleen Kennedy to head Lucasfilm for foreseeable future

In a Disney Shareholder call Bob Chapek confirmed that Kathleen Kennedy would continue to lead Lucasfilm saying:

"We've been absolutely thrilled that we can have the creative talent in our company the likes of Kathleen Kennedy. We look forward to having Kathleen directing Lucasfilm activities for years to come." 


On-Screen News

Two days ago Star Wars official accounts released the cast list for the forthcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi DisneyPlus limited series which is due to start filming in April. Ewan MacGregor and Hayden Christensen head a cast which also includes Joel Edgerton & Bonnie Piesse who will return as Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.



Moses Ingram (The Queen’s Gambit)

Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Silicon Valley, Marvel’s Eternals)

Indira Varma (Luther, Game of Thrones, Mission Impossible 7)

Rupert Friend (Pride & Prejudice, Homeland, The Death of Stalin)

O’Shea Jackson Jr (Straight Outta Compton, Godzilla: King of Monsters)

Sung Kang (Fast & Furious film series)

Simone Kessell (Terra Nova, Of Kings & Prophets)

Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems - writer & director)


On Tuesday a full trailer for new animated series The Bad Batch was released, along with a poster, the trailer showed that two surprise characters in Clone Commander Rex and Saw Gerrera will appear in the series which debuts on DisneyPlus on May 4th with a 70 minute premiere.



Aladdin actor Mena Massoud, rumored back in February to have been cast as Ezra, posted an Instagram picture with an Ezra Bridger quote “Hey, just so you know, when I escape I won’t hurt any of you” seeming to add fuel to the rumors.


In a surprising move it was announced that on April 2nd (this Friday!) DisneyPlus will add the 2 Ewok TV Movies (Caravan of Courage & The Battle for Endor), both seasons of the Ewoks cartoon and Tartakovsky’s animated Clone Wars series as well as the animated portion of the holiday special.


Publishing News

At the beginning of the month it was announced that the Mandalorian Visual Guide and supporting novel had been cancelled, it was reported that author Adam Christopher would still be working on other Star Wars projects and it is unclear whether these books will still happen at a later date.


Three Star Wars comics have been announced for Free Comic Book Day in August, High Republic Adventures, a manga adaptation of Guardians of the Whills and first the first chapter of High Republic: The Edge of Balance manga.


Del Rey Publishing announced a new novel, Ronin by Emma Mieko Candon, connected to the forthcoming Visions DisneyPlus anime series, which appeared to confirm that the series will air in 2021:

“This year, #StarWarsVisions will bring all-new, creative takes on Star Wars from the world’s best anime creators. Coming Oct 12th, an original novel inspired by one of those animated tales. A #StarWars book quite unlike any before it. RONIN By Emma Mieko Candon”.


The first High Republic audiobook was revealed to be forthcoming this Autumn, the project by Cavan Scott (author of the Dooku: Jedi Lost audiobook) is entitled Tempest Runner and will be focused on Nihil leader Lourna Dee.


Toys & Merch Headlines

- Hot Toys unveil Bo-Katan Kryze Sixth Scale figure.

- Funko announce a new connecting Bounty Hunter series as well as new Qui-Gon Jinn & 

Obi-Wan Pop Vinyls (already available in the US) and a Gamestop SW Gaming Legends box. 

- Lego Darth Vader & Scout Trooper helmet sets and 600+ piece Imperial Probe Droid Unveiled.

- Black Series Lucasfilm 50th anniversary Legends wave, in special “book cover” packaging the wave will include Heir to the Empire Luke, SW Adventures Jaxxon, Maul comic series Darth Maul and Crimson Empire Carnor Jax.

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