Is Celebration’s opening panel going to be broadcast worldwide?

abrams-kennedyAccording to the official French Star Wars website (via Dork Side of the Force,) the opening panel with J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy at Celebration Anaheim is called Rise of the Force, and it’ll be simulcast worldwide at 35 theaters in 23 countries. The likewise official @StarWarsUK account posted about a showing at London’s Leicester Square, but as of yet there’s nothing on StarWars.com or from @StarWars.

A worldwide broadcast – even if only at 35 locations – does hint we’re going to get something big. Naturally, everyone is expecting a new trailer – and the rumors about it being attached to The Avengers: Age of Ultron were making the rounds again today, something backed up by a now-deleted tweet from the habitual butterfingers at @RegalMovies.

The Celebration Anaheim schedule is here!

celebration-anaheimThe Celebration Anaheim schedule went up today, and man is it packed! There’s even a Tribute to Aaron Allston scheduled for Saturday… You bet I’ll be at that! Sorry, Rebels.

Here are a few of my picks:

Thursday: Not much for me, aside from the obligatory J.J. Abrams and Producer Kathleen Kennedy event, which will be simulcast in multiple rooms. But you should totally play the Bounty Hunt. Hint hint.

Friday: Star Wars Journalism and One Big Story: Working Within the Star Wars Canon.

Saturday: Full of Sith, Star Wars Comes Home to Marvel, and Star Wars at Del Rey.

Sunday: Tosche Station Radio, From a Certain Point of View (with our own James!) Novelizing Star Wars, What Princess Leia Means to Me and of course the Closing Ceremony.

There are also some worrying panels that are yet to be announced, though… They could very well be The Force Awakens or Rogue One-related.

That’s just what I really want to see, though: How about you?

More penguins to squeeze: Mary Franklin on leaving Lucasfilm for ReedPOP

mary-franklinWe learned yesterday that Lucasfilm event lead Mary Franklin is heading to ReedPOP. And while we’ll still see her at Celebration – they produce the con and are under contract at least through Anaheim – it’s still a little bittersweet. Mary herself wrote about it today.

In addition to Celebration, ReedPOP puts on NYCC, C2E2, Emerald City Comicon and a wide selection of international events.