Disney publicity onslaughts continue, but not for anything actually new (yet)

The Rise of Skywalker (D23 sizzle)

If you haven’t heard enough about Disney+ or Galaxy’s Edge, boy are you in for a treat… Anyone who didn’t sign up for the streaming service during D23 can get in on the action now. At least one commercial was aired during the Emmys last night (where Star Wars alum Phoebe Waller-Bridge and her show Fleabag took home 3 awards – comedy actress, directing, and best comedy series).

As for Galaxy’s Edge, it’s full court press time now that it’s open on both coasts (though the second ride is still months out) and it’s getting an ABC “takeover” and a two-hour primetime TV special on Freeform. (If you can stand the chipperness, there’s a sneak peek at EW.)

As for that other big event coming up in December – remember movies?!? – things are slowly progressing. A spot for The Rise of Skywalker (the new D23 footage, sans flashback intro) was shown during Sunday night’s NFL game, and there’s apparently a spot based on the first trailer in circulation as well. An Empire cover with Kylo Ren has been spotted, not to mention a ton of toy leaks I won’t even get into. With Force Friday coming on October 4 we don’t have long now… No matter how long it feels.

Resistance nabs an Emmy nomination

Star Wars Resistance is up for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Children’s Program. It’s up against A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Carmen Sandiego, Song Of Parkland and When You Wish Upon A Pickle: A Sesame Street Special. Rebels was nominated in the same category in 2017 and 2018.

Star Wars alumni up for Emmys this year include Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Actress in a Comedy and Writing for Fleabag; Drama Writing for Killing Eve, plus both shows are up for Outstanding Series in their respective categories), Emilia Clarke (Lead Actress in a Drama for Game of Thrones), Gwendoline Christie (Supporting Actress in a Drama, also Game of Thrones), and Benicio Del Toro (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series for Escape At Dannemora.)

The Emmys are given out on September 22.

Solo’s L3-37 is “a completely different kind of droid”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s droid L3-37 in Solo: A Star Wars Story is “a self-modified droid,” co-writer Jon Kasdan tells Entertainment Weekly. “The idea is that she’s sort of a mutt, if you will, of various parts of different kinds of droids who has improved upon herself.”

“She’s a complete individual in the galaxy,” Jon Kasdan says. “We wanted to have it be a completely different kind of droid than you’ve ever seen in the movies. And we definitely wanted it to be a female. We thought it was more than time for that.”

She has a “working relationship with Lando” that is “very sophisticated” and has evolved over the years, Lawrence Kasdan says.

She’s very smart and advanced for a droid, “and Phoebe is hilarious and brilliant and really helped bring that character to life in ways that are funny and surprising,” Ron Howard says.

Principal photography begins on Han Solo standalone, release date is still May

StarWars.com has annouced that principal photography has begin on the Han Solo standalone, along with confirming rumored cast members Thandie Newton and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It’s also the first time they’ve mentioned the release date in quite a while – and surprisingly, it’s still May 25, 2018.

If it does indeed remain May, this would be our first non-December release since Disney bought the franchise, and could signal a permanent move back to spring for Episode IX and beyond. The May release date will put Han just on the heels of Episode VII, The Last Jedi, which is out December 15, 2017.

The film stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca along with Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are directing, from a script by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan.