Star Wars Insider to end in 2026

Star Wars Insider will cease publication after over 30 years in early 2026.

The official magazine will officially cease publication early next year with its 237th issue, Lucasfilm announced.

“Insider has been a big part of my Star Wars experience for a very long time, both as a fan and professionally,” editor Christopher Cooper shared in a statement. “It’s been an honor to explore the galaxy far, far away with our readers during my eight year tenure. But publishing has changed immeasurably since the Lucasfilm Fan Club magazine, and we live in an increasingly digital age, which sadly means that this chapter in Star Wars Insider‘s history is coming to an end.”

The publication began life as the Lucasfilm Fan Club magazine in the 1980s, following the closure of Bantha Tracks! In a world without broadband internet and iPhones, it was an invaluable official resource for fans (myself included). For years, I subscribed and was published in the letters page in 1993.

In 1997, I responded to an advert in Star Wars Insider. I was interviewed for a BBC Radio 1 documentary, Skywalker, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Star Wars. Lucasfilm decided to drop the fan segment, but it was fun to share my Star Wars story with the director. At the time, my workstation was surrounded by Power of the Force II action figures, Micro Machines and copies of Star Wars Insider.

Before Disney acquired Lucasfilm from George Lucas in 2012, Titan Entertainment approached me about an official partnership with this blog. Whilst it never came to pass, I was grateful for the opportunity.

The decision to shutter Star Wars Insider is not entirely surprising. However, with the 50th anniversary of Star Wars in 2027, the publication may return in a new guise.

Star Wars Insider issue #237 will be the magazine’s last with Titan.

What are your memories of reading Star Wars Insider? Let me know in the comments below.

Michael teaser trailer thrills

Lionsgate has released a teaser trailer for Michael, the long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic from director Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the titular King of Pop.



Read the official synopsis:

"MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins."

The teaser trailer has become a blockbuster online, garnering 116 million views in 24 hours. It perfectly distils the high-octane energy of Michael mania during the eighties in the wake of Thriller, before controversy would overshadow his career in later life.

Growing up, my late mum introduced me to the music of the Jacksons. In my teens, I was obsessed with Doctor Who, Star Wars and Michael Jackson. Jackson embraced science fiction and fantasy in groundbreaking videos such as Can You Feel It, Disney's Captain EO and the prophetically titled Thriller. I saw him twice with friends, live in concert at the old Wembley Stadium, and it was an unforgettable experience, eclipsing everything.

The movie's production woes have been documented elsewhere, but Lionsgate is teasing the possibility of the Michael biopic being split into two parts.

Michael is exclusively in cinemas on 24th April 2026.

Have you watched the teaser trailer? Do you think it will be the most successful music biopic of all time? Are you looking forward to seeing Michael? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Star Trek boldly goes on Black Friday

On Thursday, the LEGO Group, in partnership with Paramount Products & Experiences, unveiled the highly-anticipated LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D. This intricate model invites Star Trek and LEGO fans (myself included) to embark on a galactic voyage of creativity, building a detailed replica of Starfleet’s legendary flagship.

Speaking about the reveal of the LEGO Icons Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise set, actor Jonathan Frakes said, “As Commander Riker, I spent a lot of time on the bridge of the Enterprise, and now fans can take the helm themselves… in LEGO brick form!"

Additionally, shoppers who purchase the LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D (10356) between 28th November to 1st December will receive LEGO Icons Star Trek: Type-15 Shuttlepod as a Gift with Purchase, available while supplies last.

Embark on a creative voyage with this LEGO Icons Star Trek: Type-15 Shuttlepod model kit for adults and fans of the Star Trek: The Next Generation series. This minifigure-scale support craft comes with opening wing doors and a rear hatch. Exterior details include the vehicle name, Onizuka, and the interior features a depiction of an LCARS system display with the Stardate 45076.3 and a schematic of a Romulan spacecraft. This set also includes an Ensign Ro Laren minifigure.

LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D to your collection on Black Friday? Let me know in the comments below.

Bob Iger on The Rest Is History

Deadline exclusively announced Bob Iger, Disney CEO, is a guest on The Rest Is History podcast.

The two-part special, presented by historian and translator Tom Holland and historian and author Dominic Sandbrook, focuses on Walt Disney's legacy.

Iger, who returned after Bob Chapek was fired as CEO during the pandemic, will also offer up reflections on his own time at Disney ahead of his planned exit in 2026. He oversaw the successful acquisition of Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, as well as the launch of Disney+.

The outgoing Disney CEO is currently in dispute with YouTube TV and is facing fallout from the cancellation of the Doctor Who deal on Disney+.

Watch or listen to The Rest Is History wherever you get your podcasts.

Stranger things in IT: Welcome to Derry

My earliest memory of IT, the supernatural horror franchise from American author Stephen King, is ABC’s award-winning televisual adaptation shown on Sky One in the early nineties. It's available to stream on NOW (formerly NOW TV).

Fast forward to today. Sky Atlantic is showing where IT (see what I did there?) all began in this terrifying prequel series, tracing the origins of the murderous, shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise the Clown (Bill Skarsgård) in 1962 Derry.

King’s IT explores the horrors of childhood trauma, racism behind suburban picket fences and the omnipresent threat of nuclear war, all through the lens of the supernatural. As a coping mechanism, I immersed myself in science fiction following a life-changing injury in primary school and the subsequent fallout.

So, I found myself empathising with the children, relatives of members of the Losers’ Club, who could have been plucked from Stranger Things. The Derry kids are a great bunch of misfits to spend time with.

There are parallels with the Doctor Who episode Lux and DC Comics Easter eggs to find. The showrunners aren’t afraid to subvert expectations, and by the end of the first episode, all bets are off.

Set in the holiday season, Christmas is as much a time for ghost stories as Halloween, with Gremlins and Krampus creating chaos in the shadow of Santa Claus.

Have you watched IT: Welcome to Derry? Let me know in the comments below.

Vecna strikes back in Stranger Things 5

On Thursday, Netflix released an official trailer for the final season of Stranger Things.

“I think what's unique about this season is that it starts a little bit in chaos because our heroes ultimately lost at the end of Season 4,” series co-creator Ross Duffer tells Tudum. “We usually set up their normal life and how they’re going about school, and then we introduce the supernatural element. But in this case, this season is sprinting from the start.”



Read the official synopsis:

"The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time."

The cast of Stranger Things 5 includes: Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Brett Gelman (Murray), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), Amybeth McNulty (Vickie), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Jake Connelly (Derek Turnbow), Alex Breaux (Lt. Akers), and Linda Hamilton (Dr. Kay).

Stranger Things 5 releases with the first four episodes on 26th November, followed by three episodes on Christmas, and the finale episode on New Year’s Eve. It has not yet been confirmed whether the finale will be released in any UK cinemas.

Are you looking forward to the final season of Stranger Things on Netflix? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who spin-off makes waves this Christmas

Doctor Who may not be returning until Christmas 2026, but a spin-off series emerges from the deep this holiday season with The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, Writer and Executive Producer says: “This is a huge, spectacular Christmas treat, with heroes and monsters and battles and romance, in a world on the edge of disaster. And remember. Watch the seas!”

The five-part series will showcase how the world reacts when a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity and triggering an international crisis. Featuring a star-studded cast including Russell Tovey as Barclay, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Ann Bingham, Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce.

Other previously announced cast members include Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu, and Ann Akinjirin.

The upcoming Doctor Who spin-off series is darker in tone, similar to Torchwood, and features a soundtrack composed by Lorne Balfe (His Dark Materials). This is great news, as I was hoping Balfe would work on seasons one and two of Doctor Who on Disney+.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to The War Between the Land and the Sea? Let me know in the comments below.

Spielberg and Williams reunite for UFO movie

Director Steven Spielberg (Jaws) and Hollywood composer John Williams (Star Wars) have a storied history spanning decades.

A lifelong love of movie soundtracks began with Williams' score for Star Wars, and soon I amassed a collection of his works from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Jaws. To say Williams' soundtracks have played a pivotal role in my life's turbulent journey would be an understatement. His music remains inspirational in the darkest of times.

There’s a profound resonance with Spielberg's and my own childhood (overshadowed by a life-changing trauma) and escaping into a darkened theatre to watch Spielberg’s movies and those of his friend and longtime collaborator, Star Wars creator George Lucas. At the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 6-year-old me desperately wanted to board the mothership with Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss).

The creative duo are reuniting for their 30th movie, Spielberg's untitled UFO project starring Josh O'Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson.

Spielberg's UFO movie is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026. I'll be standing in line.

Doctor Who returns Christmas 2026

Following months of speculation, the BBC and Disney+ have parted ways after two seasons of Doctor Who.

Lindsay Salt, Director of Drama at the BBC, said: “We’d like to thank Disney+ for being terrific global partners and collaborators over the past two seasons, and for the upcoming The War Between the Land and the Sea. The BBC remains fully committed to Doctor Who, which continues to be one of our most loved dramas, and we are delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026. We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course, which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.”

With Disney+ no longer involved, will another streamer materialise? See what I did there, fellow Whovians? Rumours continue to surround Prime Video and Netflix. What about Apple TV? The Cupertino-based streamer has established itself as a home to prestige sci-fi, and the $4 trillion tech titan has money.

Before next year’s Christmas special, fans of the beloved series still have much to enjoy with The War Between the Land and the Sea heading to BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year, as well as a brand-new animation series for CBeebies, which is in development.

The Doctor Who Christmas special will be produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Ideas The Goonies

Hey You Guys! On Friday, the LEGO Group, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, announced the long-awaited LEGO Ideas The Goonies set for November.

Ke Huy Quan, the Oscar-winning actor who played Data, comments: “Revisiting Data after all these years - but this time in LEGO form - has been such a joyful experience. The Goonies was all about heart, adventure, and friendship, and this set captures that spirit in fantastic detail. From the booby traps to the treasure room, it’s like stepping back into the tunnels with the gang - only now, I get to share that magic with a whole new generation of fans.”

Additionally, shoppers who purchase the LEGO Ideas The Goonies set (21363) between 1st to 7th November will receive LEGO Ideas The Goonies: The Walshes’ Attic (40773) as a Gift with Purchase, available while supplies last.

LEGO Ideas The Goonies is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Ideas The Goonies to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.