Final issue of Star Wars Insider this May

Star Wars Insider #237, the final issue of the official magazine, will be available from 6th May, 2026, and will feature three variant covers, all celebrating the publication’s 38-year run, with an exclusive final interview with Kathleen Kennedy, short fiction and more.

The three variant covers include the Direct Market Edition featuring vintage Ralph McQuarrie artwork, a foil variant featuring Han Solo in Carbonite, and a Fan Club foil variant paying homage to The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine #1 released in the Fall of 1987.

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.

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

Brian May on Masters of the Universe soundtrack

Sir Brian May, the legendary lead guitarist and songwriter for rock band Queen, announced he's performing on the soundtrack to the upcoming Masters of the Universe live-action movie. May brought along vintage action figures and Castle Grayskull, which belonged to his son, Jimmy.

Growing up, I would often listen to Queen's Flash Gordon soundtrack before going to school.

Masters of the Universe is directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee) from a script by Chris Butler. It stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, alongside Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Morena Baccarin as The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Malcolm/Fisto, and Jared Leto as Skeletor.

Masters of the Universe is released in cinemas on 5th June 2026.

Are you looking forward to Masters of the Universe? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Galactic Tales of Terror

In time for the spooky season from Dark Horse Comics, Star Wars: Galactic Tales of Terror collects Tales from the Rancor Pit, Tales from the Death Star and Tales from the Nightlands!

Read the official synopsis:

"Shiver at these terrifying tales from a galaxy far, far away…

Three anthologies of spooky Star Wars comics stories are collected in this one deluxe hardcover edition!

Deep in the Outer Rim, far from the light of the Jedi, strange creatures trade chilling stories that would terrify even the cruelest Sith Lord!

As the twin suns set over Tatooine, Captain Vaclav finds himself dangling above Jabba the Hutt’s rancor pit! To bargain for his freedom, Vaclav regales the crime boss with three blood-curdling tales of phantom droids, alien lycanthropes, and ice-planet serpents! Is it possible to scare the cold-hearted Hutt?

On the dark and stormy coast of Kef Bir, a cloaked figure warns a young maverick named Fry about the horrors that lurk in the ruins of the Death Star: trash compactor terrors, ghostly pilots, and Imperial zombies! Will Fry heed the warning?

And during long nights on Ryloth, Twi’leks speak in hushed tones about the Nightlander. This shadowy entity haunts three generations of legendary heroes in its quest to bring despair to the galaxy! How will Anakin, Luke, Leia, and Rey quell this dark power unlike any other?

Written by Master of the Macabre Cavan Scott, the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader’s Castle, and rendered in ghastly detail by award-winning illustrators, including Soo Lee, Nick Brokenshire, Vincenzo Riccardi, Fico Ossio, and more!"

Pre-order Star Wars: Galactic Tales of Terror at Amazon (affiliate link).

Disney+ presents a Hulu Original on ITV

The Walt Disney Company and ITV have announced an expanded strategic deal in the UK.

Building on the innovative collaboration between Disney+ and ITVX, the new deal will bring two Hulu Original series from Disney+ to ITV1 in exclusive primetime linear slots.

The first title, The Stolen Girl, will premiere on ITV1 on 25th February. The gripping psychological drama, produced by Quay Street Productions with Brightstar, made its debut on Disney+ in April 2025 and will now receive its free-to-air premiere in the UK. The series follows the emotional fallout of every parent’s worst nightmare, when their young daughter goes missing after a sleepover, unfolding into a tense story of deception, family secrets, and betrayal.

Later this year, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox will also air on ITV1. The compelling drama explores the extraordinary real-life case that captivated global audiences, examining themes of media scrutiny, justice and public perception.

Karl Holmes, General Manager, Disney+ EMEA, said: “This marks an exciting next step in our collaboration with ITV. We’re thrilled that two of our most compelling original series will air on ITV’s powerful primetime platform, introducing millions more viewers to Hulu Originals on Disney+.”

The extension reflects the continued evolution of the Disney-ITV relationship.

Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, said: "We are delighted to be deepening our relationship with Disney. Bringing these premium Original series into our primetime linear schedule is fantastic for ITV audiences. This extension perfectly complements our existing relationship and showcases the strength of the content-sharing model we established last summer.”

What are your thoughts on the expanded Disney-ITV deal? Is it a good thing for viewers? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who’s streaming future on HBO Max?

With the end of the Disney+ deal and a confirmed Christmas special starring Billie Piper and written by Russell T Davies later this year, the BBC has teased a potential new streaming partner for Doctor Who!

HBO Max. The streamer has a storied history with Doctor Who.

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC drama, was asked whether a new HBO partnership could extend to Doctor Who?

Salt told Deadline, “There are different ways of setting up a show. We just need to make sure we do it in the right way and make sure we take the right time to do it. Ultimately it’s one of the BBC’s most treasured brands, so it’s not going anywhere.”

One of the biggest questions now hanging over the BBC's beloved sci-fi series in the wake of the Disney+ deal ending is how it can continue with a significantly reduced budget.

Salt reflected on stepping into the role during a turbulent co-production market post-pandemic. “I managed to walk into this job when the co-pro market imploded and I’ve learned a lot about the tenacity of producers and writers to make things at all budget levels,” she said. “Things are getting funded in so many different ways now.”

"We’ll wait and see how we figure it out. HBO have been great partners creatively. There’s a lot of stuff that is changing out there."

In related news. HBO Max launches in the UK and Ireland on 26th March.

What do you think about Doctor Who on HBO Max? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer gameplay trailer

Somehow, Ben Quadinaros returned. The iconic podrace in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace spawned the fan-favourite video game Star Wars: Episode I: Racer. In the spirit of that seminal racing game from 1999, Lucasfilm Games announced Star Wars: Galactic Racer at The Game Awards last December.

Lucasfilm Games has subsequently shared an official gameplay trailer that has piqued fans' (myself included) interest during Sony's recent State of Play.



Read the official synopsis:

"Star Wars: Galactic Racer™ is a high-stakes, high-octane reinvention of racing born in the lawless Outer Rim of the Star Wars™ galaxy. Coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2026.

A new racer has arrived to the Galactic League: an unsanctioned racing circuit where only the bold survive.

For Shade, a lone racer with a dream of glory and revenge, the League isn’t just a race; it’s a shot at reclaiming destiny.

Wishlist today!"

Are you looking forward to Star Wars: Galactic Racer? Let me know in the comments below.

Steven Soderbergh on The Hunt for Ben Solo

Ever since Adam Driver first spoke about The Hunt for Ben Solo, Star Wars fans (myself included) have been clamouring for the scrapped movie to be revived at Lucasfilm with Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh at the helm.

“We were all frustrated,” Soderbergh said. “You know, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [writer] Rebecca Blunt. When Adam and I discussed him talking about it publicly, I said, ‘Look, do not editorialize or speculate about the why. Just say what happened, because all we know is what happened.’ The stated reason was, ‘We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.’ And that was all we were told. And so there’s nothing to do about it, you know, except move on.”

When Lucasfilm took the idea to Disney, they said no.

“I’d kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it,” the director continued. “I thought the conversation was strictly going to be a practical one—where they go, what is this going to cost? And I had a really good answer for that. But it never even got to that point. It’s insane. We’re all very disappointed.”

With new leadership at Disney and Lucasfilm, could The Hunt for Ben Solo begin anew?

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: The Movie remastered in 4K

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Doctor Who: The Movie has been newly restored from the original 35mm film elements, bringing this beloved adventure back to life like never before.



In 1996, Paul McGann debuted as the Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who, a feature-length co-production between the BBC and the American Fox network, more commonly known as The TV Movie.

This 90-minute feature was shot on film, and now, for the first time, all 219 reels of original film (totalling almost 200,000 feet!) have been pulled from deep storage in the US and meticulously scanned over 21 days, then restored by Paul Vanezis to provide a definitive 4K experience.

The TV Movie has never looked or sounded so good, with a 24-frame transfer to match the original film rushes, and immersive surround sound, rebuilt from the original raw sound elements.

Also starring Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor), Daphne Ashbrook (Grace), Eric Roberts (The Master), and Yee Jee Tso (Chang Lee), The TV Movie sees the Doctor’s regeneration triggered on an operating table, with surgeon Grace Holloway accompanying the new Doctor on an epic adventure to prevent the Master from stealing the Doctor’s future lives.

This 4K UHD edition will contain the 90-minute TV Movie in 4K, plus special features:

The ‘uncensored’ UK version.
The USA broadcast version.
Soundtrack in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and stereo.
Sylvester McCoy and Janet Fielding featurette.
3 New Featurettes with Daphne Ashbrook, Eric Roberts and Yee Jee Tso.
Two audio commentaries.
Isolated music score.
Production info text.
The Seven Year Hitch making-of documentary.
Paul McGann’s audition tape.
Alternate takes.
Electronic press kit and behind-the-scenes footage.
TARDIS tour.
BBC Trails.
And much more.

Upon original broadcast, The TV Movie was divisive amongst fans (myself included)! I was in my final year as an undergraduate and haven't watched The TV Movie since. However, McGann has subsequently reprised the role of the Eighth Doctor for Big Finish and on television, most memorably in The Night of the Doctor and The Power of the Doctor.

Pre-order Doctor Who: The Movie in 4K at Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to watching Doctor Who: The Movie in 4K? Let me know in the comments below.

Martin Scorsese plays an alien in Star Wars

Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver) stars in The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Lucasfilm confirmed this on X (formerly Twitter) following fan speculation that a familiar voice can be heard in the latest trailer for the upcoming movie based on the fan-favourite Star Wars spin-off series on Disney+.

Absolute cinema.

Scorsese plays an Ardennian fry cook.

Read the official synopsis:

"The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu (as himself)."

The Mandalorian and Grogu, an all-new family-friendly Star Wars adventure filmed for IMAX, opens exclusively in cinemas on 22nd May 2026.

Are you looking forward to The Mandalorian and Grogu? Let me know in the comments below.

The Mandalorian and Grogu go to war

Following a controversial Super Bowl spot, Lucasfilm has dropped a new trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu.



Read the official synopsis:

"The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu (as himself)."

The Mandalorian and Grogu, based on the fan-favourite characters from The Mandalorian on Disney+, embark on their most thrilling mission yet in The Mandalorian and Grogu, an all-new family-friendly Star Wars adventure filmed for IMAX and opening exclusively in cinemas on 22nd May 2026.

“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” director Jon Favreau (Iron Man) said when the movie was first announced. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”

For over half a decade, Star Wars has been on the small screen with animated and live-action spin-off series on Disney+. Will The Mandalorian and Grogu be more than a feature-length episode that should have been released on Disney+, making way for Star Wars: Starfighter to blast onto the big screen for the franchise's 50th anniversary in 2027?

Are you looking forward to The Mandalorian and Grogu? Let me know in the comments below.