How Disney World will let you take a Star Wars “space cruise”

Some questions about the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser “experience” were revealed today at D23, but not the one everyone is most curious about: The prices. That’s just not very Disney magic, you know.

But Disney did reveal more about the cruise-like Halcyon. It really is being treated more like an actual cruise than your standard Disney hotel: Fans get a two day, two night stay, and everyone boards at the same time. From there, you’re in “space” – though there is a “a planet-side excursion to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu” and your visit becomes “a multi-day story that interweaves with members of the crew, other passengers, familiar Star Wars characters.” You get to visit the bridge, play with lightsabers and “discover hidden spaces deep in the mechanics of the ship.”

So as for how much it’ll cost you, we still only have those rumors. And will non-guests be allowed on-board at all? The “maybe we’ll just get dining reservations” approach seems less likely than ever…

New Rise of Skywalker poster is here, footage coming on Monday

The Rise of Skywalker was first up at the movie panel at D23, and while it was a photo/video free affair, we didn’t have long to wait for an official shot of the cast:

And a new poster:

But there was a reel of some sort, and for those of us playing at home do have to wait until Monday, per EW. Here’s their description of the footage:

Images include a dual between Rey and Kylo Ren amid a stormy sea (hinted at on the poster). There’s a massive fleet of Star Destroyers. There’s a new shot of Darth Vader’s helmet. There’s also a shot of a hooded Rey revealing a new unfolding red double-sided lightsaber (Darth Rey?!).

And the StarWars.com recap.

Kenobi series confirmed, Mandalorian trailer finally drops!

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series with Ewan McGregor is an official go for Disney+, and we finally have a proper trailer for The Mandalorian!

The Obi-Wan series is “close,” with the scripts written, and it will begin filming next year, as will the Cassian series. Obi-Wan is set eight years after Revenge of the Sith.

And we also got a date for The Clone Wars: February 2020.

There’s also a trailer for Disney+ as a whole, which leans heavily on the old heartstrings:

Ming-Na Wen joins The Mandalorian

Ming-Na Wen is in The Mandalorian, we learned today at D23 Expo. Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed her involvement as the Mulan and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star was inducted as a Disney Legend. (Jon Favreau and James Earl Jones were also honored.)

https://twitter.com/SYFYWIRE/status/1164983913170767873

Her exact role is still a secret, but maybe we’ll hear more at the Disney+ panel?

Disney+ gears up as D23 approaches

Ahead of Disney’s D23 Expo this weekend, streaming service Disney+ has launched on Twitter (with an epic thread) and Instagram, plus annouced some interational roll-out dates. Canada and the Netherlands will launch on the same day as the U.S., with Australia and New Zealand following on Nov. 19.

The Disney+ panel at D23 is Friday, August 23 at 3:30 p.m. Pacific. We’re hoping that a trailer for The Mandalorian, which will launch with the service, is finally released, plus details on The Clone Wars revival, the Cassian Andor show and (perhaps most of all) the rumored Obi-Wan announcement.

The Mandalorian gets a D23 spotlight in August

The Mandalorian is going to D23 – it will be part of the Disney+ presentation on Friday, August 23, with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. Lucasfilm will have a pavilion on the con floor, bringing at least a part of their SDCC trooper display.

What this means, basically: 10-20 minutes in the midst of a giant panel (it’ll be all the Disney+ stuff in one) and maybe they’ll release a trailer. It’s a big maybe, given they released none of the footage that was shown at the Celebration panel.

D23 Expo is being held at the Anaheim Convention Center from August 23-25. The first episode of The Mandalorian will launch with Disney+ on November 12.

Episode IX begins filming in the summer

At D23 Expo Japan, Disney Marketing President Ricky Strauss revealed that J.J. Abrams will begin filming Episode IX this coming summer. A special greeting from Abrams and some behind-the-scenes footage from Solo: A Star Wars Story was also shown.

Episode IX is due out on December 20, 2019.