HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE LUCAS! (2026)

The rising star of THX!

The man who gave us so many iconic gifts through his stories and movies celebrates another epic birthday today. I think it's time a public holiday was named after him!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO wishes George Lucas a very Happy Birthday!

Honoring Lucasfilm’s 55th Anniversary | ILM.com

'ANDOR': THE FACE OF FREEDOM!

On the eve of fully joining the Rebel Alliance as its leader against the Galactic Empire, the bold Mon Mothma delivers her greatest speech yet within the confines of the Senate, about the Emperor's tyrannic threat to the Galaxy and its people, and how he and his minions must be repulsed at all costs. She's shown courage and bravery in doing this, but, now vulnerable, will she survive long enough to escape Coruscant? 

A classic scene from Andor's second season, part of a massive improvement on the show's opening run, and one that fully utilises the talents of actress Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma.

Looking back on Mon Mothma.

OUT THIS MONTH - 'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU'

Latest official movie poster.

We're only a few weeks away until the latest Star Wars Disney movie arrives in cinemas, of which its stars have been eagerly travelling the world so as to promote it. 

Here's some of the latest images and footage...

Can our TV heroes lure viewers back to the cinema?

On the wild streets, and back in danger!

Jon Favreau talks Mandalorian!

Taking on the AT-AT convoy!

Sigourney Weaver jumps franchises!

Grogu meets the Anzellans.

A fractured Empire wants revenge!

Expanded art by Matt Ferguson.

BEHIND THE SCENES: SHOOTING JAWAS!

At the Salt Flats location in Tunisia, the original Star Wars lensman John Jay captures the main group of Jawas by their Sandcrawler in between takes for this great image, which was apparently one of Jay's favourites taken for the movie way back in Spring, 1976.

John Jay at the location.

EPISODE I: FRIENDS, WARRIORS AND HEROES!

The two Jedi heroes who'd excitingly kick off the Prequel Trilogy of 1999, and help cement a new legacy for worldwide fans and audiences of all ages alongside the existing Original Trilogy, pose for a great image with the iconic Artoo Detoo, taken within one of the Trade Federation vessel corridors at the UK's Leavesden Studios.

 A terrific shot from 1997 for Episode I, one of numerous character publicity images for magazine/media usage, taken by popular US lensman Matthew Rolston.

https://people.com/movies/liam-neeson-recalls-son-hugging-r2-d2-on-star-wars-set-as-2-year-old-it-was-really-touching/

EPISODE IX: THE TIE WHISPER MAKES ITS MARK!

Spanning the galaxy to do Kylo Ren's evildoing as the supreme force of the First Order, the memorable TIE Whisper fighter was a fine addition to the Sequel space craft universe, making its way from the mysterious world of Mustafar to the evil realms pf the Dark Side on Exegol, during the exciting beginning to The Rise of Skywalker.

'THE CLONE WARS': DEADLIER THAN THE MALE!

Her life as a bounty hunter may have been cut off (permanently) by Lando Calrissian, doing the universe a favour in the process, but the legendary, totally deadly Aurra Sing lives on in the historical realms of drama and violence within The Clone Wars animated series.

CLASSIC INDY: AN 'INTOLERABLE' SITUATION!

They've been captured by those damn Nazis, betrayed by a once friend, and now imprisoned in a castle on the Austrian border, where they soon find themselves in an inferno. But through it all, Indiana Jones and his 'dad' will get through such hardship via the pure cinematic adventure and humour that is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!

CLASSIC ART: VOLCANIC CONFLICT!

The George Lucas equivalent of 'Hell' to be realised for the dramatic finale to Episode III, as the volcanic realms of Mustafar unleash their dark and terrifying powers of energy and destruction in this great concept art by Erik Tiemens. which also clearly makes Mustafar a firm part of the originally planned planet-spanning Clone Wars battle montage sequence to have started the film.

'OBI-WAN KENOBI': ALDERAAN BECOMES REALITY!

One of the joys of the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series of 2022 was seeing more of the young Princess Leia Organa's life (as delightfully played by Vivian Lyra Blair) on her adopted home world of Alderaan (beyond the small enticing visuals we saw at the end of Episode III) and its society, sequences well captured in these two great behind the scenes images from the opening episodes.

The ILM Stagecraft technique proves impressive.

EPISODE VIII: FATHIER FAMILIARITY!

Having escaped the rotten core that is the Canto Bight casino realm, Rose Tico gets a memorable goodbye and thank you from one of the liberated Fathier creatures, a moment clearly enjoyed by Kelly Marie Tran too, during a fun day's filming for The Last Jedi. 

'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU' - THE FINAL IMAX TRAILER DEBUTS...

More Sigourney Weaver, more Zeb, more villains, more X-wings, more Walkers! The final IMAX trailer for the TV series to film transfer, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is here, as the Jon Favreau directed adventure approaches its May 2026 release date at cruising speed. Fingers crossed that it all works for cinema audiences!

Art by Matt Ferguson.

CLASSIC ART: THE WEEKLY ADVENTURES CONTINUE...

Our heroes assemble for the climactic action/adventure chapter of the Original Trilogy, as the dominant evil of Darth Vader looms large, in this lovely art I hadn't previously seen before that graced one of the later issues of the MARVEL UK's Return of the Jedi weekly comic back in May 1985, before the saga went fully into limbo. If anyone knows the artist/s of the piece, please let me know, though I suspect Tom Palmer's work on the faces of Lando and Chewbacca.

And does anyone out there still have the free Ewok transfers?

CLASSIC ART: VALORUM MEETS THE COUNCIL!

With the trade routes dispute escalating into chaos throughout the Republic, the harried yet benevolent Supreme Chancellor Valorum liaises with the senior members of the Jedi Council about the expanding crisis, and to get advice, especially with the soon shocking news that a blockade has now been activated by the greedy Trade Federation against the peaceful world of Naboo.  

Terrific art by Chris Trevas showcasing the unseen lead-up to EPISODE I. 

CLASSIC IMAGE: WEDGE TO THE RESCUE!

He'd been elated at taking out Biggs' TIE fighter attacker, but now Luke finds himself in the crosshairs of an experienced Imperial pilot. Thankfully, Wedge delivers a surprise attack, in a classic space action moment from the original Star Wars, coming back to cinemas worldwide for the Fiftieth Anniversary.

ILM & THE OLD SCHOOL VFX OF THE ORIGINAL STAR WARS - Video & Filmmaker magazineVideo & Filmmaker magazine

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO PREVENT A TRAP!

A Wookiee's belly never stops being hungry, resulting in Chewbacca, and the leaders of the Rebels' small  band of heroes newly arrived on on Endor, into an archaic but nonetheless totally effective trap, despite a too late warning from Luke Skywalker, during a fun moment from Return of the Jedi.

'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU' - MARCH 2026 UPDATE

Only two more months to go until fans and box office receipts decide whether the unique pairing of the small screen's famous Disney+ era Star Wars heroes' transition to the big screen ultimately works...

Additional new snippets of footage in the IMAX trailers...

New merchandising stills from the movie.

Rotta the Hutt, now a gladiator!

The recent EMPIRE film magazine cover and inside shoot, exclusively taken by Robert Ascroft.

Empire’s The Mandalorian And Grogu Covers Revealed

The Mandalorian And Grogu Marks ‘A Completely Different Era Of Star Wars’

EPISODE VIII: A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH!

Hip-deep in battle from within her cockpit splinter, Resistance heroine Paige Tico keeps fighting the shock wave of enemy TIE fighters rapidly destroying her bombing squadron comrades, of which she herself will soon prove our heroes only hope in another of their desperate hours.

A memorable scene of bravery and sacrifice, enhanced by another fine John Williams score, marking the beginning to The Last Jedi.

Veronica Ngo as Paige Tico.

BEHIND THE SCENES: 'STAR WARS' BEGINS!

Lucas coordinates with John Stears on the little Astro Droids.

A momentous day in the past and for the future, as March 22nd, 1976 saw the commencement of filming of a certain quirky, so-called low-budget space fantasy adventure called The Star Wars at the out there Salt Flats of Nefta, Tunisia, in which a small group of actors mingled with droids and small Jawas (and a relatively unenthused British crew) to bring writer/director/visionary George Lucas's very special enduring fantasy saga to life.

And the rest is history...

Star Wars: A New Hope Began Filming 50 Years Ago Today | StarWars.com

A sci-fi/fantasy universe like no other begins filming at Nefta.

Conferring with George Lucas on a busy. difficult first day for the film-maker.