Hasbro extends Star Wars deal

Star Wars: The Black Series and Star Wars: The Vintage Collection collectors (myself included) can rejoice.

Hasbro has extended its long-running Disney partnership, securing Star Wars and Marvel licenses for years to come.

"It’s an honor to be able to deepen our relationship with Disney Consumer Products to create even more magical play experiences for consumers across the globe," said Tim Kilpin, Hasbro's President, Toys, Board Games, Licensing and Entertainment. “Star Wars and Marvel provide an extensive array of captivating content that gives us an unlimited trove of fresh ideas to create from. Our collaboration spans more than half a century, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship by bringing consumers everywhere brand-new play experiences tied to the exciting universes and characters of Star Wars and Marvel.”

With this extension, Hasbro doubles down on fan-favourite franchises and deepens its powerhouse partnership with Disney.

"We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Hasbro to evolve our expansive portfolio of Star Wars and Marvel toys that bring these iconic adventures into daily life,” said Paul Gitter, Executive Vice President of Global Brand Commercialization at Disney Consumer Products. "From must-have collectibles to Lightsaber toys, we aim to push the boundaries of creativity to deliver innovative products and engaging play experiences that bring our fans closer to their favorite stories and characters.”

Growing up as an only child with a disability in the wake of a life-changing injury, Star Wars toys were a welcome distraction from years of rehabilitation. My favourite toys included a 12" Boba Fett action figure, All Terrain Armoured Transport (AT-AT), Millennium Falcon, Jabba the Hutt action playset and an Imperial Shuttle. Special mention for R2-D2 as that little droid was the first Star Wars action figure I owned before seeing the movie in 1978.

Let's pretend Star Wars Bend-Ems never happened in the early nineties!

30 years ago, following the purchase of Kenner, Hasbro launched Star Wars: The Power of the Force. These were the first new toys worth collecting after Kenner ended the original vintage toy line in 1985.

2027 marks the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, so expect to see plenty of action-packed products to celebrate.

Are you happy Hasbro has extended its deal with Disney to produce more Star Wars products? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: The Well

The Well, a chilling sequel to Midnight, is a masterclass in tension, drawing parallels with one of my all-time favourite classic serials, Earthshock. Like that seminal story featuring the shock return of the Cybermen after almost a decade, The Well has a squad of ill-fated troopers on a mission into darkness, and there is no happy ending.

Returning Doctor Who series showrunner Russell T Davies has brutal form; look no further than Years and Years. The Well is the antithesis of Space Babies.

There are homages to another sequel, Aliens. A famous quote from Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is used, and the troopers’ weapons are inspired by the iconic M41-A Pulse Rifle used by the Colonial Marines. Apt, as The Well dropped on Alien Day.

Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE takes centre stage as Aliss (a play on Lewis Carroll's Alice), and her performance is profoundly moving. Her repeated plea, not to stand behind her, works on myriad levels. Personally, I was reminded of family and friends who are deaf or have hearing loss and their fight to be heard and accepted by mainstream society (something I can empathise with as a disabled person with a brain injury). Also, a teenage memory of a deaf student signing to her tutor how much she loved my artwork during an A-level Fine Art class brought me to tears. I’ve been critical of too many tears in season one of Doctor Who, but here we are. These tears are earned.

Shaya Costallion's (Caoilfhionn Dunne) selfless sacrifice reminded me of Commander Shepard in the original Mass Effect trilogy and Ripley's death in Alien 3. But it was all for nothing, and the enigmatic threat, first faced by the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), escaped.

The rich dynamic between Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) and the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) defines the second season in a way that season one squandered with Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). Sethu, appearing in Doctor Who and Star Wars on Disney+ in the same week, is the new first lady of sci-fi!

What has happened to the Earth, and why do I have a bad feeling about Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson)? Since her introduction in The Church on Ruby Road, I'm convinced she's the Rani, a renegade Time Lord first played by Kate O'Mara! The Rani had a penchant for dressing up as previous companions, and Mrs Flood has borrowed clothes from Clara Oswald and Romana Mk I's wardrobes.

Doctor Who season two continues to deliver some of the best episodes since the revival in 2005. The Well is one of the all-time greats since the BBC's beloved sci-fi series began in 1963.

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched The Well? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien: Earth delivers monster crate on Alien Day

Alien fans (myself included) are eating well on Alien Day. FX has released a new teaser trailer for Noah Hawley's (Fargo) live-action spin-off series, Alien: Earth, set two years before the ill-fated crew of the Nostromo encountered the titular Alien.



Read the official synopsis:

"When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s highly anticipated TV series Alien: Earth from creator Noah Hawley.

Alien: Earth is set in 2120 when five corporations – Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold – wield the power of nations, and proprietary advancements in technology provide the promise of a new tomorrow.

Lead by Chandler, the series showcases an expansive international cast which includes Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille and Moe Bar-El."

Alien: Earth premieres this summer only on Hulu on Disney+.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Earth? Let me know in the comments below.

Predator: Badlands teases Alien vs. Predator

On Wednesday, 20th Century Studios dropped a teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands from the director of Prey.



Read the official synopsis:

"Predator: Badlands, which stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary."

The film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg and produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor.

Like Prey, the design of the titular Predator has been met with derision on social media. It looked goofy out of context, but like Prey before it, I'm sure Predator: Badlands will become an acclaimed entry in the fan-favourite franchise.

The trophy wall, a franchise staple since Predator 2, reveals a T-Rex and an alien from studio stabelmate Independence Day. A xenomorph is conspicuous by its absence.

Thia is a Weyland-Yutani synthetic android. Is Trachtenberg teasing an Alien vs. Predator reboot in all but name? Both Alien and Predator franchises are experiencing a renaissance since Disney took over. Alien: Earth and Predator: Killer of Killers are coming to Hulu on Disney+ later this year.

Predator: Badlands opens exclusively in cinemas on 7th November in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX, and premium screens everywhere.

Have you watched the teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands? Let me know in the comments below.

50th anniversary of Star Wars in Los Angeles

For the first time since 2006, Star Wars Celebration returns to Los Angeles for the 50th anniversary of Star Wars.

The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025.

Star Wars Celebration Los Angeles 2027 will run from 1st to 4th April, 2027. Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, will be in cinemas on 28th May, 2027.

Are you hoping to attend Star Wars Celebration Los Angeles in 2027? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: Lux

After The Robot Revolution, Doctor Who goes meta in a Silly Symphony filled with creepy animated magic that plays as a sequel to The Devil's Chord.

The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) promises to take Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) home, but they find themselves in 1950s America during an era of racial segregation. They become hostages of Mr Ring-a-Ding (voiced with glee by Alan Cumming) inside an abandoned picture house and transformed into cartoon characters who need the help of Whovians to escape a trap set by Mr Ring-a-Ding AKA the titular Lux, one of the same pantheon of gods as the Toymaker, Maestro and Sutekh.

Like many fans, I amusingly likened the two-part season one finale to Scooby-Doo, and there are overt references to the beloved franchise. Returning series showrunner Russell T Davies doesn't miss a trick in the driving seat of his mystery machine as he leans into the negative narratives surrounding the long-running sci-fi series.

In a timey-wimey twist of perfect synchronicity, there’s a reference to Somewhere in Time. Last week, I stumbled across the cult classic time travel romance starring Christopher Reeve (Superman: The Movie) and Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) on Prime Video. A rewatch of Battlestar Galactica on Pluto TV had rekindled a childhood crush on Ms Seymour that culminated in a tale from the TARDIS. Who knew?

Sometimes, silence is golden.

Lux is an ambitious adventure that is one of the best episodes since the revival began twenty years ago. If there are any flies in the technicolour ointment, it's the seemingly rapid resolution of the conflict between Belinda and the Doctor and the use of Murray Gold's music (love the Easter eggs), which feels misplaced during scenes such as those in the all-night café.

Let there be light.

Minor misgivings aside, the fourth wall breaking exploration of Whovians as a found family had me misty-eyed. Tears are a recurring motif. Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) is a harbinger of doom with her warning the show ends on 24th May!

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched Lux? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

The Force is with Star Wars Celebration Japan

Star Wars Celebration Japan is underway this weekend, and I'm living vicariously via friends' social media posts.

There are enough announcements for Star Wars fans (myself included) to fill a Corellian light freighter.

Sigourney Weaver (Alien) is joining the cast of The Mandalorian and Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man), which is the first new Star Wars movie since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.



And Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord from Lucasfilm Animation is coming to Disney+ with Sam Witwer reprising the iconic villain for animation. Darth Maul was seemingly killed by a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, but returned in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Both stellar spin-offs drop in 2026.



The biggest surprise announcement so far is Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy (Stranger Things). The upcoming standalone movie, which stars Ryan Gosling (Barbie), will be released in 2027. This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the original Star Wars.



Speaking at Star Wars Celebration Japan in Tokyo, Gosling said: "The reality is that this script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters. It’s filled with so much heart and adventure, and there just really is not a more perfect filmmaker for this particular story than Shawn."

In related news. Our friends at Hasbro have shared the latest product reveals for Star Wars: The Black Series and Star Wars: The Vintage Collection. Whilst collecting is a luxury during a cost of living crisis, I've pre-ordered the Bantha & Tusken Raider 2-Pack as part of Hasbro's return to Tatooine campaign in 2025. This set will pair with Luke's Landspeeder for toy photography.

Are you excited for The Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord and Star Wars: Starfighter? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Star Wars celebrates May the 4th

Star Wars Celebration Japan starts today, and there are nine new LEGO Star Wars sets for May the Fourth.

Sets include UCS Jango Fett's Starship, Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle, Rebel U-Wing Starfighter and Chopper (C1-10P).

"We're thrilled to unveil our latest LEGO Star Wars collection just in time for May the 4th, offering new and exciting sets for fans. Our talented team have outdone themselves, creating a wide range of models from across the galaxy. There's something for every fan to enjoy - from the most detailed collector's items for display to fun, adventurous sets inspired by the galaxy far, far away.... We can't wait to see LEGO Star Wars fans first impressions at Star Wars Celebration in Japan very soon!" said Mike Ilacqua, Head of Product, LEGO Star Wars Products at the LEGO Group.

Order the LEGO Star Wars UCS Jango Fett’s Starship set from 1st to 5th of May and receive a free LEGO Star Wars Kamino Training Facility minibuild gift with purchase (GWP) while stocks last. LEGO Insiders will also receive a free Jango Fett's Starship keyring while stocks last.

Discover LEGO Star Wars on LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

What are your favourite LEGO Star Wars sets announced? Are you looking forward to Star Wars Celebration Japan? How will you be celebrating Star Wars Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution

Doctor Who and Star Wars are back on television, and Varada Sethu is starring in both sci-fi franchises on Disney+.

Given an unconfirmed third season of Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa’s second season at the helm of the TARDIS has been preceded by months of speculation regarding the series' cancellation or hiatus. As it's the 20th anniversary of the revival, returning series showrunner Russell T Davies will surely have some big surprises in store for Whovians (myself included).

The Robot Revolution delivers a much stronger opening episode than season one’s divisive Space Babies, introducing us to a new companion, Belinda Chandra, played brilliantly by Varada Sethu, with a refreshingly different dynamic challenging the Doctor in a way that recalls Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding), a classic companion of the Fourth and Fifth Doctors.

The Doctor is searching for Belinda in a London hospital where she works as a nurse. However, he's too late, red robots rock up to her home and take her away to their homeworld to resolve a conflict overseen by artificial intelligence (AI) - a theme explored in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Introduced in The Church on Ruby Road, Anita Dobson reprises the enigmatic role of Mrs Flood as Belinda's nosey neighbour. Who is she? An ally, an enemy or someone or something else?

The retrofuturism of Missbelindachandraville pays homage to Forbidden Planet, Dan Dare, and Cloud City from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Once the big bad is defeated with the help of Scoot, a cute cleaning robot, Belinda resists the Fifteenth Doctor's clarion call for a timey-wimey adventure aboard the TARDIS, insisting the Time Lord get her home immediately! However, the TARDIS seemingly malfunctions, and that's where the fun begins.

It is a season opener that balances adventure, character development, social commentary and intriguing mystery (why does the Doctor tell Belinda about her familial connection to Mundy Flynn in Boom?) in a way that bodes well for the season ahead, regardless of the series' future. That being said, please have fewer tears from the Doctor!

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched The Robot Revolution? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

BFI to screen original Star Wars

This will be a screening long remembered by Star Wars fans (myself included).

The British Film Institute (BFI) will screen the original Star Wars from 1977 this summer at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX from 12th to 15th June.

"An unmissable treat for Star Wars fans. A long time ago, George Lucas’s original space fantasy set in a galaxy far, far away was released in 1977, captivating countless imaginations for generations to come and forever shifting popular culture. Film on Film presents Star Wars exactly as experienced by audiences on its original release, screening from one of the precious handful of dye transfer IB Technicolor prints produced for the first British release, preserved in the BFI National Archive.

On display to coincide with the opening night screening there is also a rare opportunity to view material from the original continuity script for Star Wars, which includes rare on-set Polaroids, annotations and deleted scenes. The script is from the collection of Ann Skinner, script editor on the original film, and is now cared for by the BFI National Archive."

Before the special editions, prequels, and social media.

The last time I saw the theatrical releases of the original Star Wars trilogy on the big screen was with college friends at The Elstree Star Wars Day in 1994. I regret not taking a camera with me to capture the memories. However, there were film props, and I met David Prowse (Darth Vader) and Warwick Davis (Wicket). This was one of Davis' earliest appearances at a Star Wars-related event before the first Star Wars Celebration in 1999.

Star Wars is the defining film of my life, and June marks the 18th anniversary of my mum's death. It's going to be emotional.

Tickets go on sale on 9th May.

Murderbot goes rogue on Apple TV+

On Wednesday, Apple TV+ released the first official trailer for Murderbot.



Read the official synopsis:

"Based on Martha Wells' best-selling, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, “Murderbot" is sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe."

Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood) plays the titular Murderbot who doesn't murder. The series is being helmed by brothers Chris and Paul Weitz (who previously co-directed About a Boy and worked together on the original American Pie), with David S. Goyer serving as an executive producer. The rest of the cast includes Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, and Tamara Podemski.

Murderbot will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on 16th May.

Have you watched the first official trailer for Murderbot? What did you think? Are you looking forward to it? Let me know in the comments below.

Predator: Killer of Killers first look

On Tuesday, Hulu released a first look at Predator: Killer of Killers, an original animated action-adventure film from the director of Prey set in the Predator universe.



Read the official synopsis:

"The anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge; a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession; and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent — the ultimate killer of killers."

Predator: Killer of Killers is directed by Dan Trachtenberg, with Josh Wassung, from animation company The Third Floor, serving as co-director. The film is written by Micho Robert Rutare and the story is by Trachtenberg Dan and Rutare, based on characters created by James Thomas & John Thomas. John Davis, Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, and Ben Rosenblatt are the producers, with Lawrence Gordon, James E. Thomas, John C. Thomas, and Stefan Grube serving as executive producers.

Predator: Killer of Killers premieres only on Hulu on Disney+ on 6th June.

Have you watched the first look at Predator: Killer of Killers? What did you think? Are you looking forward to it? Let me know in the comments below.

Nintendo Switch 2 launches this June

Launched in 2017, the Nintendo Switch was the Kyoto-based video game company's attempt to bridge the divide between handheld and home consoles following the mixed reception of the Wii U.

The hybrid console was a runaway success, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the video game the world needed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nintendo has announced the launch of the Switch 2 on 5th June. To combat scalpers, pre-orders will be by invitation only.

“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. “With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”

Nintendo Switch 2 comes with the following:

Nintendo Switch 2 console
Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)
Joy-Con 2 Grip
Joy-Con 2 Straps
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
USB-C Charging Cable

Pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 from Amazon (affiliate link).

After the pandemic, I traded my original Switch for the OLED model and am tempted to upgrade to the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle. The majority of Nintendo Switch games will be backwards compatible with the Switch 2, and some titles offer enhanced performance on the console. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom. However, upgrading will cost extra. As an early adopter, I've been burned before by price drops for the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS.

Are you getting the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch or are you holding off? Let me know in the comments below.

Worlds collide in Tron: Ares

On Saturday, Disney dropped the first official trailer for Tron: Ares.



Read the official synopsis:

"Tron: Ares follows a highly sophisticated program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings."

The upcoming sequel to Tron: Legacy is directed by Joachim Rønning and stars Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, Gillian Anderson, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, and Cameron Monaghan.

Christmas 1982 was all about the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K, Horace Goes Skiing and Disney's Tron! The franchise is synonymous with innovative visual effects and soundtracks from Wendy Carlos, Daft Punk and now Nine Inch Nails (NIИ). So, I'm excited for the third instalment in the Tron trilogy, which sees Leto's titular program crossing over from the digital into the real world.

Tron: Ares arrives only in cinemas on 10th October.

Have you watched the trailer for Tron: Ares? What did you think? Are you looking forward to it? Let me know in the comments below.

Get her home with Doctor Who season two

Doctor Who returns in one week and fans (myself included) can pre-order the season two Blu-ray set.

Read the official synopsis:

"The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) meets Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) and begins an epic quest to get her back to Earth. But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-travelling TARDIS team must face great dangers, bigger enemies and wider terrors than ever before."

Joining Gatwa, Sethu, and Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) for the second season are Rose Ayling-Ellis, Anita Dobson, Christopher Chung, Michelle Greenidge, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruth Madeley, Jemma Redgrave, Susan Twist, Bonnie Langford, Rylan Clark and Alan Cumming as the voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding.

This release includes all 8 episodes and the holiday special Joy to the World:

The Robot Revolution: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Peter Hoar
Lux: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Amanda Brotchie
The Well: Written by Russell T Davies & Sharma Angel Walfall, directed by Amanda Brotchie
Lucky Day: Written by Pete McTighe, directed by Peter Hoar
The Story & the Engine: Written by Inua Ellams, directed by Makalla McPherson
The Interstellar Song Contest: Written by Juno Dawson, directed by Ben A. Williams
Wish World: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai
The Reality War: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai

Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Doctor Who's second season premieres on 12th April on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

Are you looking forward to season two of Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

Landspeeder revealed at Star Wars Fanstream

Our friends at Hasbro have sent over the latest reveals from the Hasbro Pulse Star Wars Fanstream! The Star Wars team announced new products from Star Wars: The Black Series and Star Wars: The Vintage Collection.

Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder piqued my interest as I missed out on the original Kenner vehicle in 1978 and The Power of the Force 2 rerelease in 1995.

STAR WARS: THE VINTAGE COLLECTION LANDSPEEDER VEHICLE

(HASBRO | Ages 4 years & up | Approx. Retail Price: $59.99 | Pre-order now on Hasbro Pulse and fan channel retailers; available Summer 2025)

Luke Skywalker owned a battered but speedy X-34 Landspeeder, racing the sand-faded craft across the desert. Celebrate the legacy of STAR WARS with premium vehicles, playsets, and action figures from STAR WARS: THE VINTAGE COLLECTION. Based on STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, this 3.75-inch-scale Landspeeder includes a Luke Skywalker (Tatooine) figure that features photoreal deco and a soft goods poncho. Comes with 7 accessories for dynamic poseability on fan shelves, including his signature Lightsaber™, hat, and droid caller. Calling back to the original 1970s and 1980s vintage toys, figure and vehicle feature Kenner branding and package design, with a unique VC number on the figure for collectability (VC #344A). Reimagine favorite scenes with other THE VINTAGE COLLECTION figures and vehicles from the STAR WARS galaxy (each sold separately, subject to availability).

Build out your scene with the Streets of Mos Eisley (affiliate link) action figure playset and Jawa. In the future, I'd like to see a Patrol Dewback and Sandtrooper added to the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection. It may be announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan or on Star Wars Day as part of Hasbro's return to Tatooine campaign in 2025.

Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Will you be adding Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld

On Wednesday, Disney+ released the trailer, key art, and stills for Lucasfilm Animation’s Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, an all-new anthology series of animated shorts from creator Dave Filoni, premiering exclusively on Disney+ just in time for the ultimate Star Wars holiday, May the 4th.



The popular series, which began in 2022 with Tales of the Jedi and continued in 2024 with Tales of the Empire, this time focuses on the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy through the experiences of two iconic villains. Former assassin and bounty hunter Asajj Ventress is given a new chance at life and must go on the run with an unexpected new ally, while outlaw Cad Bane faces his past when he confronts an old friend, now a Marshal on the opposite side of the law.

Dave Filoni created the series and is the supervising director. He is also an executive producer along with Athena Yvette Portillo and Carrie Beck. Josh Rimes serves as co-executive producer, Alex Spotswood is the senior producer, and Matt Michnovetz is the writer.

The talented voice cast includes Nika Futterman, Corey Burton, Artt Butler, Lane Factor, AJ LoCascio, Clare Grant, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Eric Lopez.

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld joins an expansive collection of Star Wars films and series on Disney+, just in time for May the 4th.

Are you looking forward to Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Uncharted adventure in Fountain of Youth

Apple Original Films goes full Indiana Jones and Uncharted in director Guy Ritchie’s upcoming action-adventure film Fountain of Youth, starring John Krasinski (A Quiet Place), Natalie Portman (Star Wars), Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, Arian Moayed, Laz Alonso, Carmen Ejogo and Stanley Tucci.



Read the official synopsis:

"Fountain of Youth follows two estranged siblings (Krasinski and Portman) who partner on a global heist to find the mythological Fountain of Youth. They must use their knowledge of history to follow clues on an epic adventure that will change their lives … and possibly lead to immortality."

Portman told Entertainment Weekly (EW): "I'd never been to Cairo or Vienna before and was blown away by both cities — some of the most special places I've ever been.

"We also had a crazy chase sequence we shot in Liverpool, which was some really wild car work, and an incredible sunken ship sequence we shot on stage in London. It was always an epic day with wild stunts and scenarios to tackle."

Fountain of Youth is released on Friday 23rd May on Apple TV+.

What do you think of the Fountain of Youth trailer? Let me know in the comments below.

Sean Astin celebrates Middle-earth with LEGO

Travel to Middle-earth with LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set.

Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, the breathtakingly detailed Shire set recreates the festive atmosphere of Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday celebration.

From Bilbo's hobbit-hole, complete with its iconic round green door and richly appointed interior, to the nine included minifigures - Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey - the set brings this iconic scene to life.

Sean Astin, who portrayed Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, comments: "Not all those who wander are lost... especially when travelling through the astonishing detail of the Shire made out of LEGO bricks! From the smallest hobbit-hole to the grandest fireworks, building this set brought back so many fond memories of Middle-earth. Now fans can journey there themselves and build their own adventures."

Order the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set from 2nd to 8th April and receive a free LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol minibuild gift with purchase (GWP) while stocks last.

Discover LEGO The Lord of the Rings on LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding the Shire set to your collection? Which LEGO The Lord of the Rings sets would you like to see released in the future? Let me know in the comments below.

20 years of Doctor Who revival

Doctor Who is back on television and streaming screens in two weeks.

This past week celebrated twenty years of the beloved BBC sci-fi series' return to teatime television on a Saturday in March. Returning showrunner Russell T Davies rebooted the titular Time Lord for old and new generations.

When Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) and Billie Piper (Rose Tyler) formed the new team TARDIS, it was a dark time in my personal life. My late mum was living in a nursing home after an NHS disaster, and it was traumatic.

Doctor Who is my all-time favourite television series, so I had serious reservations about the then-new series after a sixteen-year hiatus. Doctor Who: The Movie failed to launch a series in the mid-nineties. Would it be good? Battlestar Galactica had been rebooted to critical acclaim, but the BBC's budget was never on par with shiny US imports until the current Disney+ era. All fears were wiped away with the first appearance of the TARDIS and the chemistry between Eccleston and Piper.

My reviews for Rose and Dalek were published in the letters pages of Starburst magazine, which I had religiously read since the Marvel UK era.

Eccleston exited after one series and was followed by David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker and now Ncuti Gatwa at the controls of the TARDIS console. Doctor Who spawned spin-off series Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Class. The War Between The Land And The Sea is coming soon from the BBC and Disney+.

To mark the anniversary, here are ten of my favourite episodes (in no particular order):

Dalek
The Girl in the Fireplace
Blink
The Day of the Doctor
The Time of the Doctor
The Magician's Apprentice
Hell Bent
The Haunting of Villa Diodati
The Power of the Doctor
73 Yards

What are your memories from the past twenty years of the revival? What are your favourite episodes? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition

May the bricks be with you! Embark on an epic hands-on and immersive journey through the galaxy's first LEGO Star Wars exhibition.

LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition will make its galaxy-first debut at Melbourne Museum, Australia, in May 2025!

This world-first exhibition brings two of the world’s most beloved brands together with renowned LEGO Certified Professional Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught at the controls.

LEGO fans and Star Wars enthusiasts (myself included) will experience the Force like never before, with iconic characters and scenes brought to life in stunning LEGO brick detail. Step into a world of epic battles, gargantuan spaceships and stunning landscapes from a galaxy far, far away. Using over 8 million LEGO bricks and taking more than 25,000 hours to complete, LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition is built right here in Melbourne at The Brickman headquarters.

Visitors are also invited to help build massive LEGO Star Wars landscapes brick by brick, take part in hands-on build activities, and see their LEGO Star Wars builds digitally come to life as they choose their allegiance and face-off against their friends. From building starfighters to creating custom lightsabers out of LEGO bricks, there will be interactive elements and engaging experiences for fans of all ages! 

Build, battle and explore the galaxy – only at Melbourne Museum.

Discover LEGO Star Wars on LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Are you excited about LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition? Will you be attending the exhibition? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who gets animated in season two

20 years ago, Doctor Who returned to Saturday teatime television on this day.

Russell T Davies rebooted the BBC's beloved Time Lord for generations of fans (myself included) and returned as showrunner for the 60th anniversary and beyond. I wrote about the poignant timing of Rose in March 2005, which was published in the letters pages of Starburst magazine.

The BBC and Disney+ have dropped a second official season two trailer and episode titles.



Read the official synopsis:

"The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) meets Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) and begins an epic quest to get her back to Earth. But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-travelling TARDIS team must face great dangers, bigger enemies and wider terrors than ever before."

Joining Gatwa, Sethu, and Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) for the second season are Rose Ayling-Ellis, Anita Dobson, Christopher Chung, Michelle Greenidge, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruth Madeley, Jemma Redgrave, Susan Twist, Bonnie Langford, Rylan Clark and Alan Cumming as the voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding.

Russell T Davies, showrunner says: “Excitement mounts as the new season gets closer, and there's nothing a Doctor Who fan loves more than facts! So here’s a whole bunch of them, with titles and writers, everything you need to get ready for transmission!”

The Robot Revolution: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Peter Hoar
Lux: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Amanda Brotchie
The Well: Written by Russell T Davies & Sharma Angel Walfall, directed by Amanda Brotchie
Lucky Day: Written by Pete McTighe, directed by Peter Hoar
The Story & the Engine: Written by Inua Ellams, directed by Makalla McPherson
The Interstellar Song Contest: Written by Juno Dawson, directed by Ben A. Williams
Wish World: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai
The Reality War: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai

The War Between The Land And The Sea — a new five-part spin-off series starring Jemma Redgrave and written by showrunner Russell T Davies and Pete McTighe — is on the way from the BBC and Disney+.

Doctor Who's second season premieres on 12th April on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

Are you looking forward to season two of Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

5 years of Disney+

5 years ago, the UK went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic and Disney+ serendipitously launched on this day followed by the closure of DisneyLife a month later.

Streaming services saw a surge in subscribers whilst we all stayed at home (key workers notwithstanding).

The Mandalorian debuted to critical acclaim on Disney+. Baby Yoda (before his name was revealed as Grogu in season two) became a pop culture sensation as Star Wars fans (myself included) clamoured for merchandise - I was lucky enough to be sent review samples from Lucasfilm licensees for the 2020 holiday season.

From Disney's press release celebrating the fifth anniversary of Disney+:

"As Disney+ celebrates its fifth birthday this March, the streaming service unveils an exciting lineup of titles set to premiere in the UK and Ireland in 2025. Titles include FX’s highly anticipated “Alien: Earth,” the new limited series FX’s “Dying for Sex” starring Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate, star-studded UK Original “The Stolen Girl” - a five-part psychological drama starring Denise Gough, Holliday Grainger and Ambika Mod, alongside Lucasfilm’s “Andor” season 2 returning for its long-awaited conclusion, and Searchlight Pictures’ Award-winning “A Real Pain”. Not to mention critically acclaimed and multiple Emmy® award-winning series returning including FX’s “The Bear”, “Only Murders in the Building” and the latest season of “The Simpsons” now streaming exclusively on Disney+ in the UK."

In related news. The Disney+ app has been updated with a long-requested feature. If you want to edit your Continue Watching list, you can do so now on Disney+ on the web, iOS devices, and Apple TV. It will be rolling out to other platforms in the coming weeks.

Subscription fatigue is a thing, and cancelling services has been therapeutic in the midst of a cost of living crisis! However, I'm enjoying Daredevil: Born Again, and my dad's an avid fan of NCIS, so renewing Disney+ was a no-brainer.

Are you subscribing to Disney+? What are you looking forward to watching in 2025? Let me know in the comments below.

Adam Savage stunned by Star Wars garage kit

Growing up, Star Wars model kits gave fans (myself included) an insight into how Lucasfilm's award-winning Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) division made movie magic.

After school, I would spend countless hours assembling and painting detailed replicas and dioramas from MPC/Ertl and Revell, which informed a lifelong love of the creative arts.

Adam Savage (MythBusters) painstakingly examines the original AT-ST, affectionately known as the "chicken walker", from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.



Read the official synopsis:

"Star Wars model kit time! After building and painting the incredible studio scale AT-AT Walker garage kit from Merlin Models, Adam tackles the new 1/24 scale AT-ST Scout Walker as seen in the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. But this is no ordinary garage kit--Adam and Norm find a combination of cast and machined parts that recreate the posable metal armature the ILM Model Shop built for the original stop-motion puppet!"

This is a must-see for fellow Star Wars fans and anyone with a modicum of interest in moviemaking. Of particular note is the AT-AT attack, which uses stop-motion animation pioneered by Ray Harryhausen.

Are you collecting Star Wars garage kits from Merlin Models? Let me know in the comments below.

Pedro Pascal dances away the blues with AirPods

Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) stars in Someday, a short film directed by Spike Jonze (Her) promoting Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.

After playing the titular Mandalorian in the successful Star Wars live-action spin-off series on Disney+, Pascal is no stranger to wearing advanced technology.



The dancing evokes the iconic iPod campaign of the early noughties.

Pascal stars next in the second season of The Last of Us and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

What did you think of Someday? Will you be buying AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation? Let me know in the comments below.

Worlds of Doctor Who at Comic-Con Museum

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder: Where Science Meets Fiction opens today at the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego.

US-based Whovians (including our own Nick Smith) can see and interact with a timey-wimey collection of props and sets from the beloved BBC sci-fi series streaming on Disney+.

“We are delighted to be working with BBC Studios and Sarner International to bring this fascinating exhibition that merges the worlds of science, fiction, and the popular arts through such a celebrated show,” said Comic-Con Museum Executive Director Rita Vandergaw. “This is the first time it will ever be shown in the country, and we can’t wait for fans to experience it.”

Although the exhibition will delight Doctor Who fans (myself included), attention was paid to making it approachable, said Steven Swaby, the curator.

“You don’t have to know everything about the show to enjoy this exhibition,” Swaby said. He added: “Making it accessible and inclusive is really, really important because we know museums and science centers have a very broad audience. So, it’s not just for Doctor Who fans, but you certainly get a lot out of it if you are a fan.”

The exhibition at the Comic-Con Museum is scheduled to run through March 2026.

Are you excited about Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder? Will you be attending the exhibition? Let me know in the comments below.

Andor season one with Tony Gilroy

In anticipation of season two of Andor on Disney+, creator and executive producer Tony Gilroy and other special guests take Star Wars fans (myself included) behind the scenes of the critically-acclaimed first season.



Andor is widely regarded as one of the best Star Wars spin-offs on Disney+, taking the franchise in a darker direction and forgoing lightsabers in favour of political intrigue under the auspices of Gilroy.

Andor Season 2 stars Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, and Alan Tudyk, with Ben Mendelsohn and Forest Whitaker. The series was created by Tony Gilroy, who also serves as an executive producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna, Luke Hull, and John Gilroy.

Experience the three-episode second season premiere exclusively on Disney+ on 22nd April.

Are you looking forward to the second and final season of Andor? Let me know in the comments below.

The Last of Us cast at SXSW

South by Southwest (SXSW) hosted a panel at the Austin Convention Center on Saturday featuring the cast and creators of HBO’s Emmy-winning series The Last of Us.

Cast members Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced and Young Mazino attended the panel, alongside showrunners and directors Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin.



An official trailer for season two was dropped during the panel.



Read the official synopsis:

“After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.”

Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal and Gabriel Luna are back, and we also see Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.

The Last of Us returns this April on HBO and Sky Atlantic.

Are you looking forward to the second season of The Last of Us? Let me know in the comments below.

Masters of the Universe first look

Nicholas Galitzine shared a first look at the upcoming Masters of the Universe live-action film, based on Mattel's iconic multimedia franchise, produced by Mattel Films and Amazon MGM Studios. In 1982, He-Man and Skeletor were unleashed on toy aisles! I was off sick from school when my late mum surprised me with these amazing action figures that had seemingly stepped off the pages of Fighting Fantasy...

The film will follow 10-year-old Prince Adam who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword - the only link to his home on Eternia. After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe!

It is directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee) from a script by Chris Butler, and 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 scheduled to be released in cinemas on 5th June 2026.

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

Andor season two special look

Andor and Skeleton Crew have brought balance to Star Wars on Disney+! Lucasfilm has released a behind-the-scenes special look at Andor's second season.



Andor is widely regarded as one of the best Star Wars spin-offs on Disney+, taking the franchise in a darker direction and forgoing lightsabers in favour of political intrigue under the auspices of Tony Gilroy.

Andor Season 2 stars Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, and Alan Tudyk, with Ben Mendelsohn and Forest Whitaker. The series was created by Tony Gilroy, who also serves as an executive producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna, Luke Hull, and John Gilroy.

Experience the three-episode second season premiere exclusively on Disney+ on 22nd April.

Are you looking forward to the second and final season of Andor? Let me know in the comments below.

Daleks invade Peterborough exhibition!

The Daleks are invading Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery from May to November.

As Doctor Who celebrates its 20th anniversary since returning to Saturday teatime television in 2005, the Adventures In Time And Space has been put together to give visitors a special look at a timey-wimey collection of props, including a full-scale replica of the TARDIS itself!

Read the full press release:

"The Daleks are coming…

and they’re not alone!

Cybermen, Sontarans, Robots, Sea Devils, Silurians and Weeping Angels are just a few of the monsters being showcased at a brand new exhibition coming to Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery this spring.

This must-see exhibition, entitled Adventures in Time & Space, will feature one of the largest displays of both restored and surviving props from the Doctor Who series for over a decade, meticulously brought back to life by collectors and special effects technicians. From spaceship models, masks, clothing and weapons to life-size monsters, police boxes and even a replica Tardis console, Adventures in Time & Space, will give visitors the chance to see them up close and learn about how they were created and in some cases recreated from surviving blueprints.

Opening at the start of May and running through to November, organisers promise a sci-fi extravaganza with a continually evolving series of displays and special events planned throughout the six-month run, to include celebrity appearances, guest speakers, book signings and the unveiling of the Tardis console.

Sarah Wilson, Heritage Manager at Peterborough Museum; “this exhibition is going to be huge and we are expecting visitors from across the country and even overseas. Doctor Who is a global institution with an unprecedented fan base that spans decades. The independent collection of restored and surviving props and costumes we have to display is immense – how amazing that we can do this in our iconic museum, in itself a time machine with a fascinating history. Peterborough Museum will open 6 days a week from May to ensure we can accommodate the anticipated visitor numbers, so we advise people to book in advance if they don’t want to miss out”.

To accompany Adventures in Time & Space, the museum will delight visitors with the work of two esteemed artists in the adjacent gallery. The Art of Jeff Cummins will open in June, Jeff has produced album covers for greats such as Led Zeppelin and David Bowie along with Doctor Who novel covers. In August, the gallery will host legendary Radio Times photographer Don Smith, who with the support of the Radio Times archives, will share iconic images from magazine covers over the years."

To book tickets, please vist the Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery.

Doctor Who season two teases chaos

The BBC and Disney+ have dropped an official season two trailer for Doctor Who.



Read the official synopsis:

"The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) meets Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) and begins an epic quest to get her back to Earth. But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-travelling TARDIS team must face great dangers, bigger enemies and wider terrors than ever before."

Joining Gatwa, Sethu, and Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) for the second season are Rose Ayling-Ellis, Anita Dobson, Christopher Chung, Michelle Greenidge, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruth Madeley, Jemma Redgrave, Susan Twist, Bonnie Langford, Rylan Clark and Alan Cumming as the voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding.

Doctor Who's second season premieres on 12th April on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

Are you looking forward to season two of Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien: Earth makes impact at SXSW

Alien: Earth crashes down to South by Southwest (SXSW) with an immersive experience to promote the upcoming Alien spin-off series on Disney+. Step into a mysterious wreckage site to unearth new details, plus exclusive merch and photo opportunities.



Read the official synopsis:

"When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s highly anticipated TV series Alien: Earth from creator Noah Hawley.

Alien: Earth is set in 2120 when five corporations – Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold – wield the power of nations, and proprietary advancements in technology provide the promise of a new tomorrow.

Lead by Chandler, the series showcases an expansive international cast which includes Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille and Moe Bar-El."

Alien: Earth premieres this summer only on Hulu and Disney+.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Earth? Let me know in the comments below.

Revenge of the Sith returns to cinemas

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Lucasfilm is rereleasing the final instalment of George Lucas' prequel trilogy in cinemas. Once again, renowned UK-based artist Matt Ferguson has created stellar poster art. Ferguson previously worked on reissues of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

Fans (myself included) can see Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) become Darth Vader and execute Order 66 in selected cinemas on the 25th of April for one week only.

The film stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz as Yoda, Jimmy Smits, Peter Mayhew, Ahmed Best, Oliver Ford Davies, Temuera Morrison, Anthony Daniels, Silas Carson, and Kenny Baker, with Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu and Christopher Lee as Count Dooku. The film was written and directed by Star Wars creator George Lucas.

Are you looking forward to seeing Star Wars: Revenge on the Sith back on the big screen? Let me know in the comments below.

Rebellion rises in Andor

On Monday, Lucasfilm dropped the first official trailer for Andor season two.



Andor is widely regarded as one of the best Star Wars spin-offs on Disney+, taking the franchise in a darker direction and forgoing lightsabers in favour of political intrigue under the auspices of Tony Gilroy.

“One of the great thrills of making Andor is the scale of the story and the number of characters we’re able to meet — ordinary people, Imperial overlords, passionate revolutionaries,” Gilroy says. “They are real people making epic decisions, all of them staring down questions with terrifying consequences. Cassian’s journey is the soul and spine of our story, but it’s the choir that makes the show. I’m so excited for audiences to see where we go in Season 2.”

Andor Season 2 stars Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, and Alan Tudyk, with Ben Mendelsohn and Forest Whitaker. The series was created by Tony Gilroy, who also serves as an executive producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna, Luke Hull, and John Gilroy.

Experience the three-episode second season premiere exclusively on Disney+ on 22nd April.

Are you looking forward to the second and final season of Andor? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who returns this April

An updated teaser trailer for season two of Doctor Who was shadow-dropped during coverage of the Six Nations and it included when the new series starts.

The teaser trailer teases the return of Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and the introduction of a new TARDIS companion for the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu). Sethu first appeared as Mundy Flynn in season one's Boom!

Doctor Who returns on 12th April on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

Are you looking forward to season two of Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

Murderbot first look

Apple TV+ is home to prestige sci-fi series and Murderbot is the latest adaptation on the Cupertino-based tech titan's streamer.

Read the official synopsis:

"Based on Martha Wells' best-selling, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, “Murderbot" is sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe."

Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood) plays the titular Murderbot who doesn't murder. The series is being helmed by brothers Chris and Paul Weitz (who previously co-directed About a Boy and worked together on the original American Pie), with David S. Goyer serving as an executive producer. The rest of the cast includes Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, and Tamara Podemski.

Murderbot will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on 16th May.

Are you looking forward to Murderbot? Let me know in the comments below.

Is the Force with AI Star Wars fan film?

An AI-generated Star Wars fan film from Kavan Cardoza, AKA Kavan the Kid, has garnered a lot of attention in the mainstream media, from Forbes to The Mirror. The 11-minute short film took 14 days to complete using AI tools like Google's Veo, Midjourney, and Runway.



Read the official synopsis for Star Wars: The Ghost's Apprentice:

"A century after the Skywalker saga, a new chapter unfolds. Jace Moon, a young Jedi, has spent the last decade training under the spectral guidance of his uncle, Orin, a Force Ghost. Now, as a rising darkness emerges—the High Imperium—Jace must step forward to face this growing threat and shape the future of the galaxy."

As an ethical debate continues to surround artificial intelligence (AI), it affords a glimpse into a possible future. From deepfake technology to smartphones, AI is deeply embedded in our daily lives.

What did you think of the AI-generated Star Wars fan film? Let me know in the comments below.

BBC responds to Doctor Who rumours

With just over a month to go until the 20th anniversary of Doctor Who's return to Saturday teatime, the future of the beloved BBC sci-fi series appears in doubt depending on which media source(s) you may use.

This toxic trope began during the classic era and continues to this day. When it was announced that Christopher Eccleston would leave after only one season to be replaced by David Tennant, some fans speculated whether the series would be cancelled. Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker. Rinse. Repeat.

The Sun, a British tabloid newspaper, suggests the BBC's deal with Disney+ has ended, Ncuti Gatwa is keen to exit the series to pursue a career in Hollywood and filmed a regeneration scene, and Sony's Bad Wolf Studios has laid off staff.

The BBC said the Sun report was incorrect. A spokesperson said: “Doctor Who has not been shelved. As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs.”

Like many fans, I was excited when the original deal was announced with returning showrunner Russell T Davies back at the helm ahead of the 60th anniversary.

“The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes – and exactly half of those still have to transmit. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.”

A bigger budget and utilising state-of-the-art technology developed for the Star Wars spin-off series on Disney+ suggested a shiny reboot for the TikTok generation. Season one wasn't the home run it needed to be, culminating in Scooby Sutekh going for TARDIS walkies. However, it boasted Boom, 73 Yards and Dot and Bubble.

The fly in the ointment is that a shorter season means not everything feels entirely earned in an era dominated by streaming services. I wanted to spend a little more time with the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and fabulous friends (old and new) before the big bad arrived with a nightmarish flourish worthy of Steven Moffat.

Amidst all the speculation, Tennant is tipped to return again as the titular Time Lord. Let's wait and see.

Doctor Who returns later this year on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

Do you think the Disney+ deal will end? How will it affect the future of Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

The Ninth Doctor and Rose return!

March marks the 20th anniversary of Doctor Who's return to Saturday teatime telly on BBC One!

Is it really 10 years since Andrew Lewin wrote about the 10th anniversary in my absence?

Russell T Davies rebooted the BBC's beloved Time Lord for generations of fans (myself included) and returned as showrunner for the 60th anniversary and beyond. I wrote about the poignant timing of Rose back in 2005, which was published in the letters pages of Starburst magazine.

Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are reprising their fan-favourite roles as the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler, respectively, for Big Finish.

Christopher Eccleston said: “I am so happy to be back recording more adventures for the Ninth Doctor with Billie. I don't think my Doctor exists without Rose. He's a 'one man, one companion' kind of alien. We've explored him on his own at Big Finish, as a loner. But there's a resilience and a bravery and a deep empathy to Billie as Rose, that's why I do this. They complete each other.”

Fantastic!

Billie Piper added: “I can’t think of a better time for Rose to reunite with her first Doctor than now. Twenty years after she first ran into the TARDIS and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe – and the monsters – together.”

Are you looking forward to the return of the Ninth Doctor and Rose on Big Finish? Let me know in the comments below.

Exodus is a spiritual sequel to Mass Effect

Had it not been for PlayStation's State of Play and Earl Barker, a friend and fellow video gamer, I wouldn't have known about Exodus (other than hearing a brief mention of it during an episode of Podcast Unlocked and then forgetting all about it)!

The upcoming sci-fi action-adventure role-playing game (RPG) starring Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar) is developed by Archetype Entertainment, a division of Wizards of the Coast (a subsidiary of Hasbro renowned for properties like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering). BioWare and Bungie veterans are spearheading the space odyssey, which has piqued my interest. The dream team have worked on Halo and Mass Effect.



Read the official synopsis:

"Having fled a dying Earth, humanity has found a new home in a hostile galaxy.

Here, we are the underdogs, fighting our final battle for survival.

You are the Traveler, humanity’s last hope."

It's impossible to ignore the original Mass Effect trilogy overtones, and I'm here for it.

I was very late to the Mass Effect party! After winning an Xbox 360 S from LOVEFiLM (Prime Video), I bought Mass Effect 3 in 2012. This was tantamount to watching Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, first!

So, finally, I began FemShep's hero's journey from the beginning in the lead-up to the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda in 2017. It would cement Mass Effect's status as one of the greatest space operas in any medium. Combining the Battlestar Galactica reboot with Star Trek and Star Wars to peerless effect.

I laughed, I cried and didn't want to say goodbye to Shepard's found family as the end credits rolled! Character-driven storytelling was front and centre throughout a hundred hours or more. And, for the first time, there was a disabled character I could empathise with in a video game...

During the pandemic, I played Mass Effect Legendary Edition on Game Pass. I will replay it ahead of Exodus as and when it's released sometime in the future for PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X|S.

Are you looking forward to Exodus? Let me know in the comments below.

Skeleton Crew at MegaCon

MegaCon returned to Orlando at the weekend and A Couple Of Park Hoppers covered the Star Wars: Skeleton Crew panel featuring Jude Law (Jod Na Nawood), Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Fern), Kyriana Kratter (KB), Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Wim), Robert Timothy Smith (Neel) and a special guest appearance from director Bryce Dallas Howard (The Mandalorian).



Read the description from A Couple Of Park Hoppers:

"The cast of the hottest show on Disney+ right now, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, paid a visit to MegaCon Orlando for their first convention visit! They discuss some behind the scenes moments, their favorite memories from set, all with very special guest, Bryce Dallas Howard!

These kids are going to be megastars, and it's so great to see them getting their flowers with the success of the show. The cast that appeared this weekend is:

Jude Law (Jod Na Nawood)
Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Fern)
Kyriana Kratter (KB)
Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Wim)
Robert Timothy Smith (Neel)
Bryce Dallas Howard (Special Panel Guest/Episode Director)

Huge thanks to MegaCon Orlando for having us out this weekend to cover the event, and treating us to this very fun interview with host Victor Dandridge."

Read Nick Smith's glowing review of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the most fun Star Wars live-action spin-off series since The Mandalorian on Disney+!

Have you seen Star Wars: Skeleton Crew? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.