OUT NOW IN THE UK: 'RESISTANCE REBORN'!

The incredible cinematic journey that is the Star Wars saga is almost at an end with December's eagerly-awaited The Rise of Skywalker, as all the plot and character threads from nine iconic and incredible stories come together for a dramatic and highly emotional finale. But before all that, there is still much to reveal about what happened with the new Rebel Alliance in that near extinction time period between the apocalyptic finale events of The Last Jedi and what we'll be seeing with Episode IX. Enter: Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Resistance Reborn, out now in UK hardback and Kindle ebook from Century, as fan favourite Rebecca Roanhose delivers an action-packed story involving our favourite hero characters, led by General Leia Organa, all working at their best together during a time of desperate struggle, alongside one or two special surprises...

Here's the book's publicity info:

In this pivotal prequel to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the heroes of the Resistance―Poe Dameron, General Leia Organa, Rey, and Finn―must fight back from the edge of oblivion.

The Resistance is in ruins. In the wake of their harrowing escape from Crait, what was once an army has been reduced to a handful of wounded heroes. Finn, Poe, Rey, Rose, Chewbacca, Leia Organa―their names are famous among the oppressed worlds they fight to liberate. But names can only get you so far, and Leia’s last desperate call for aid has gone unanswered.

From the jungles of Ryloth to the shipyards of Corellia, the shadow of the First Order looms large, and those with the bravery to face the darkness are scattered and isolated. If hope is to survive, the Resistance must journey throughout the galaxy, seeking out more leaders―including those who, in days gone by, helped a nascent rebellion topple an empire. Battles will be fought, alliances will be forged, and the Resistance will be reborn.

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Resistance-Rebecca-Roanhorse/dp/1780899920/ref=sr_1_1?crid=258UVZJZE3POD&keywords=star+wars+resistance+reborn&qid=1573222012&sprefix=STAR+WARS+RESISTANCE+REBORN%2Caps%2C446&sr=8-1

EPISODE IX: FRONT AND CENTRE!

The Millennium Falcon has led ships into battle before, most notably during the events at Endor, but this assemblage (featuring some other very familiar vessels), to which our favourite smuggling vessel is spearhead, must be the biggest seen yet in a Star Wars film, for what promises to be an epic space battle conflict...

HIGH FIDELITY! 'MAKING WAVES - THE ART OF CINEMATIC SOUND'

For many, the original Star Wars of 1977 wasn't just a breakthrough in re-imagined and revolutionary special effects creation. It also helped re-define and re-establish the incredible diversity, power and importance of sound design, as well as its evolution, creation and mixing/editing in the next wave of movies (of all genre types) post the adventures of Luke Skywalker.

The new documentary film from Midge Costin, Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, which has been in limited UK/US cinema release and has also been available to watch online, celebrates the incredible people past, present and future who make films sound so good and whose talents have become such an important part of the movie-making/movie-watching experience. Importantly, alongside great anecdotes and film showcases, it talks about the legacy these men and women leave for the future.

Featuring noteworthy contributions from George Lucas and accomplished veteran Sound Designer/collector Ben Burtt, check out the movie trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsIE4x3xU0Y

More info here:
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/making-waves-art-cinematic-sound-midge-costin-film-soundtrack-documentary

EPISODE IX: OF PAST HOPE AND HEROISM...

Leia holds Han Solo's medal from the Battle of Yavin.

Holding one of the victory medals she originally bestowed when once a Princess, General Leia Organa mourns in remembrance of both her Force-passed brother and her murdered husband - the legacy of those heroes from the Battle of Yavin and the original 'hope' they brought to that first rebellion, and the galaxy, with the destruction of the dreaded Death Star. Can her new family of Rebels resurrect that hope in their mission against the controlling darkness of the First Order?

A deleted scene from The Rise of Skywalker seen in an early trailer. It also involved the puppet- created version of Maz Kanata, secretly aware of her friend General Leia Organa's diminishing health after the devastating events of The Last Jedi. The scene can be found in Michael Kogge's junior novel adaptation of Rise.

'SOLO': THAT VERY FAMILIAR IMPERIAL!

Jon Kasdan on set at Pinewood.

It was a lifetime dream for him to be able to co-write an entry in a film series that has made such a cultural impact worldwide. Better yet to be lucky enough to have a sweet little cameo in that film, too. And, if you're lucky enough to become a villain, wear a very cool uniform! Jon Kasdan's background scene as part of Han's court martial in Solo: A Star Wars Story may not have made the finished film but it's there to see and enjoy regardless via the Special Features of Blu-ray.

On set with fellow officer (played by second unit director Toby Hefferman), both of whom were social media teased by director Ron Howard as possibly being the comedic comic book characters of Tag and Bink.

On The Force Awakens outdoor set at Pinewood with Lawrence Kasdan and J.J. Abrams.

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/981655-jon-kasdan-reveals-53-facts-about-solo-a-star-wars-story

https://www.indiewire.com/2018/05/solo-a-star-wars-story-cut-cameo-1201965339/

EPISODE IX: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST!

Another compelling lightsaber duel of character drama and intense action awaits fearless Rey and her formidable nemesis in Kylo Ren, this time within the wreckage of a destroyed Death Star, in this great IMAX/AMC cinemas teaser poster art from Dan Mumford.

https://collider.com/star-wars-9-daisy-ridley-rey-kylo-ren-fight/

https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2482501/daisy-ridley-confirms-the-rise-of-skywalker-will-address-the-reylo-relationship

EPISODE VIII: TIME TO LEAVE!

In orbit above their once home base on D'Qar, the surviving fleet ships of the Resistance (the Ninka, Anodyne and Vigil), flanked by the protective Mon Calamari cruiser The Raddus, race against time to evacuate their personnel and tech before the ominous arrival of the First Order, in the opening scene to The Last Jedi.

EPISODE IX: BABU FRIK GETS TO WORK!

BB-8 and the Porgs were the previous scene stealers in the new sequel trilogy, now another diminutive and intriguing character adds its knowledge and quirky nature to the story of The Rise of Skywalker- tech genius Babu Frik, an Anzellan droidsmith helping the Rebels in their time of need on the planet Kijimi, transferring Threepio into some kind of communications hacker (we assume)- a risky and potential life-threatening move, perhaps breaking into some kind of Sith Archive for specialist information (hence the droid's later red eyes seen in one of the trailers).

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-meet-new-alien-babu-frik/

ROGUE ONE: THE UNLIKELY DEFECTOR!

Won over by Galen Erso to defect from the Empire and join the Rebel cause, Bodhi Rook travels back to Jedha, risking his neck to find Saw Gerrera's gorilla forces hiding in the desert, in an introductory scene for the character filmed as part of re-shoots for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Note the photo blow-up background of some of the Jordan location on the Pinewood set, disguised from view by clever use of lighting and hand-held camera work.

EPISODE IX: THE MISSION AHEAD...

On a lush jungle world, long rumoured to be Yavin IV, our heroes, after a year strengthening the new Rebellion, gather together to partake in a special race-against-time mission, during an early scene from The Rise of Skywalker. Note the X-wing fighter in the distance beyond the Millennium Falcon. And where's R2-D2?