• Star Wars: Galactic Racer will feature a combination of vehicle parts "in the trillions"
• Creative Director Kieran Crimmins says the game has "unbelievable depth"
• He adds, "There may not be an arcade racer with that much depth in it ever made"

Fuse Games has revealed that Star Wars: Galactic Racer has a combination of moving parts that is "in the trillions."

Speaking in an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Summer Game Fest (SGF), Fuse Games co-founder and CEO Matt Webster and Creative Director Kieran Crimmins shared how the studio designed a Star Wars racing game with a narrative that balanced what fans are already familiar with while also adding to the universe in a meaningful way.

Webster touched on the accessible planets where the races will take place, such as iconic planets like Tatooine, and others like Lantaana and Jakku, as well as the game's "runs-based" campaign structure and vehicle customization with over 300 parts.

That's a lot of options which will certainly offer a lot of player freedom, but according to Crimmins, the game at large goes beyond that. The creative director said that he spoke to one of the game's designers at SGF and asked how many combinations of moving parts there are in the game, and he was told, "It's in the trillions."

"I can't really calculate it at that point, because the amount of mechanical depth we've got in both the parts, the racer styles, the abilities, the upgrades, and then the different environmental effects that are on the planets, is an unbelievable depth."

"We've never had that much depth in a game we've made," he added. "I would argue there may not be an arcade racer with that much depth in it ever made. This might not be the biggest one possible, and that's something we really wanted to give back to the genre."

Coming back to how the team balanced the new and old of Star Wars, Crimmins explained that it wants people who are familiar with the franchise to have those "touch points," but it also looked at it from "more of a fantasy fulfillment point of view."

"It's like when we watch the movies, we watch the TV shows, or we play the games," he said. "What are the vehicle fantasies that are represented in this universe, which there are a lot of, and then, how do we get the right word, the right worlds, the right parts, the right vehicles? So that we can give as many of those different fantasies as possible."

One of those new vehicles is the skim speeder, which offers fast mobility and is something the Fuse Games knew needed to do a "knife-edge" turn in races.

"We made a vehicle that was able to do that and give, what I feel is a very authentic Star Wars experience, but it is a completely new vehicle, so something new to the Star Wars canon."

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

• Fuse Games CEO Matt Webster confirms Star Wars: Galactic Racer has a runs-based structure in the campaign
• Webster says "consequential decision-making" is built within the campaign
• Creative Director Kieran Crimmins says that when the team prototyped the system, "it felt right" for Galactic Racer

Star Wars: Galactic Racer will feature a runs-based structure within the campaign, which Fuse Games has said will involve "consequential decision-making."

That's according to Fuse Games co-founder and CEO Matt Webster, who told TechRadar Gaming during an interview at Summer Game Fest 2026 (SGF) that while he and the team love arcade racing games, "you can't make one really in the same way as you did all those years ago," because game genres have adapted and evolved.

Webster said the team wanted to bring something fresh to Galactic Racer, and the runs-based structures, which "are built for replayability and racing thrives on replayability," and in other games, the "meta" is car collection. So instead, the team shook things up by bringing back "consequential decision making and consequence back into the experience."

Creative Director Kieran Crimmins added that "consequence" was the "key" for Galactic Racer, saying, "We want every decision to matter, every upgrade to matter, every vehicle to matter, every race to matter, and like the runs-based structure allows us to do that, like we've never done in an arcade racing before."

"Not only have you got to keep on top of the curve with your build and your skill and your track knowledge, but also you get to reset every time," Crimmins continued.

In other arcade racers, the developer explained, cars can be upgraded to max level, but then players will realize they haven't experienced 99% of the other systems. And while they can always be revisited, the runs-based structure "allows you to do that with consequence."

"It gives you a reason to try all those different builds, a reason to experiment, and also a reward if you get your synergies right, you get your build right, and you get your knowledge right," Crimmins said.

"Then that's what actually wins the game, so it was incredibly compelling to us to have a structure that not only changed the way that you play, but changed the way that you play that was advantageous for the feelings that you get in a racing game, and like anything, the way we made it is we prototyped it and it felt right.

"This is an innovation we think we can bring to the genre."

During the interview, Crimmins also revealed that the game will feature a combination of moving parts that are "in the trillions," across racer styles, the abilities, the upgrades, and then the different environmental effects that are on the planets.

"It's an unbelievable depth," the creative director said.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer arrives on October 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

Yes, Star Wars has returned to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu, and on the same day it hit theaters, it landed in two Disney Parks — Disneyland in Anaheim, CA and Disney World in Orlando, FL.

Disney Imagineering and Disney Experiences used the new film — and the fact it was made with the help of Unreal Engine — to rethink and retheme Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. It's now really, really fun, even after more than a dozen rides, and the addition of The Mandalorian and the irresistibly adorable Grogu gives the attraction a shot of energy it genuinely needed.

It's not a one-to-one adaptation of the film, and it didn't require any physical updates to the Falcon itself or the attraction queues. You'll still board the Millennium Falcon and join The Mandalorian and Grogu for a mission — the three roles of pilot, gunner, and engineer remain — but the engineer role has been completely overhauled and is no longer the least exciting seat in the cockpit.

That's because the engineer now picks the planet; Bespin, Endor, or Coruscant — three distinct environments, and guests actually choose where they're going. That variability was the central goal of the entire rethink, according to Morgan McDowell, a senior software project manager for Walt Disney Imagineering.

"We now have three different planets that our guests can fly to and fly through, and all the different variability within the planets that they go to," McDowell said. "It's more like a traditional video game — if I want to go right, I can go right. If I want to go left, I go left."

All three roles still have a variety of buttons and controls to interact with. Pilots get a noticeably smoother experience and the chance to make the jump to lightspeed. Gunners have a critical role in collecting the bounty, with blaster fire that now visibly tracks targets.

But the engineer is the one driving the planet selection and gets near-constant access to Grogu throughout the ride — there's a dedicated button that triggers cutscenes with the character, and taking care of Grogu is woven into the mission from start to finish.

The view outside the cockpit has been upgraded too. It runs at 4K, 60 frames per second — an improvement over the original — and across all three environments it's smooth and vibrant, with none of the jitter or visual inconsistency that can break immersion in a motion simulator. A big part of making that possible is the move to Unreal Engine 5, new show game computers, and all-new Nvidia GPUs powering the attraction.

What makes the technical setup particularly interesting is that Disney Imagineering doesn't run Unreal the way you would at home. Unreal Engine is typically designed to run on a single GPU — but this attraction demands far more than that.

So Imagineering built their own custom version of Unreal Engine capable of running across multiple GPUs simultaneously, which is what allows the attraction to render everything in real time: the main screen, the individual position screens, the lighting package, the audio, and up to six inputs at once during a four-to-five minute ride. That's a tall order.

"We're running all-new Nvidia GPUs powering the graphics, as well as powering the new video game running on Unreal Engine 5," McDowell explained. She wouldn't share the specific GPU model or configuration, but confirmed it's a highly custom setup — and that Disney's version of Unreal, currently tracking alongside the publicly released 5.7 and 5.8 builds, is meaningfully different from what's available off the shelf.

"I think I have some of the smartest people on my team who own and innovate and update our build of the Unreal Engine, and that unlocks so many different things that we're able to do that Unreal offers, but then we can do it in a multi-GPU setting," she said.

The Lucasfilm partnership was central to making the day-and-date launch work. McDowell described teams from both sides working through the Florida install together around the clock, riding the attraction, flagging issues, and iterating on builds in real time.

"We had a lot of our Lucasfilm partners, or their QA lead, out here working with us day and night — getting the new builds on the new hardware in the attraction, and then actually running the game with them, and them doing tweaks, and us doing tweaks all together," she said.

The result is an attraction that feels genuinely fresh. The random events spread across three planets, the role-specific interactions, and the Grogu moments give it a choose-your-own-adventure quality that holds up across multiple rides in a way the original never quite managed. There are also secret modes to unlock, including a Grogu-specific one, and easter eggs that vary depending on which planet you visit and which path you take through it. There's even a trench run moment that, for what it's worth, had me thinking back to flying a Lego X-Wing on the Sphere in Las Vegas — high praise for a theme park ride.

While Rise of the Resistance had arguably eclipsed Smugglers Run as the centerpiece Star Wars experience at both parks, The Mandalorian and Grogu update doesn't just close that gap — it reframes what the attraction is. Less a set-piece ride, more a chance to live your own Star Wars story differently every time you board.

More broadly, rolling out a real-time video game experience across two parks on the same day a film releases speaks to what Unreal Engine is making possible for Disney Imagineering — and how quickly that capability is moving. Smugglers Run isn't even the only attraction running it — Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom is already powered by Unreal — and it's clear Imagineering is thinking about where it goes next.

"We are always looking at the new features that are coming, and we do work with Epic on upcoming things," McDowell said, "and we start to think of how we can use that technology to bring the best guest experience in our parks."

Star Wars: Starfighter will be the next Lucasfilm project to take flight in that famous galaxy far, far away — and we have a long, long wait for its arrival.

Indeed, with this next Star Wars movie not due out until May 28, 2027, you're going to have to sit tight for the Ryan Gosling-fronted sci-fi adventure to land in a theater near you. Thankfully, you can pass the time by reading all the most important information we have so far on one of 2027's most exciting new movies, including its confirmed cast and possible plot details, in this guide. So, read on to learn more about it ahead of launch.

Star Wars: Starfighter release date

As I mentioned above, Star Wars: Starfighter will launch worldwide on May 28, 2027. That official release date was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration 2025.

With principal photography wrapping last December, Starfighter is well on its way to being ready for that date. I wouldn't be surprised if reshoots and/or pickups happen, but I doubt they or the film's lengthy post-production stage will result in a delay.

Star Wars: Starfighter trailer — is there one?

No. An exclusive sneak peek was shown to Star Wars Celebration 2025 attendees, but that footage is yet to make its way online.

Unless a teaser makes a surprise showing at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 in late July, I wouldn't be shocked if we're made to wait until November or December for a trailer to be publicly unveiled. Whenever its first footage officially makes its way online, I'll update this section.

Star Wars: Starfighter confirmed cast

Here's Star Wars: Starfighter's confirmed cast so far:

• Ryan Gosling as TBC
• Flynn Gray as TBC
• Matt Smith as TBC
• Mia Goth as TBC
• Aaron Pierre as TBC
• Simon Bird as TBC
• Jamael Westman as TBC
• Daniel Ings as TBC
• Amy Adams as TBC

As of April 2025, Gosling (Project Hail Mary, Barbie) was the only actor confirmed to appear in a project directed by Stranger Things, Free Guy, and Deadpool and Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy (per StarWars.com).

However, a separate article posted on StarWars.com four months later revealed who'll appear alongside Gosling. That includes relative acting newcomer Flynn Gray (Wednesday), who, judging by the two official behind-the-scenes snaps released, will co-star alongside Starfighter's lead actor.

Gosling notwithstanding, Smith (House of the Dragon, Doctor Who) is arguably the next immediately recognizable face among the film's ensemble. Per Deadline, Smith will portray Starfighter's villain.

Where the rest of its ensemble is concerned, Goth (Pearl, The Odyssey), Pierre (Rebel Ridge, Lanterns), Adams (Invasion, American Hustle), Ings (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Gentlemen), Bird (The Inbetweeners, Friday Night Dinner), and Westman (Hedda, The Essex Serpent) are all set to appear. Like Gosling, Gray, and Smith, though, their character identities are shrouded in secrecy.

Star Wars: Starfighter plot rumors

Public information on Star Wars: Starfighter's story is practically non-existent at this stage. However, as the above X/Twitter post confirmed last April, it'll be set five years after Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, so we know it'll take place in a post-First Order galaxy.

Does that mean it'll be Star Wars Episode X in all but name? No, director Shawn Levy told Collider, before he added: "It's an all-new non-sequel, non-prequel adventure. It's new characters [and] it's a new timeline. It inherits legacy themes, but it's really trying to give Star Wars [fans] — and just movie audiences — something fresh, something new. And, with a spirit of play and big-hearted adventure with moments of real levity that, frankly, A New Hope had in a revolutionary way."

Star Wars wasn't the only, well, star guiding Levy's vision for Starfighter, either. In a chat with Vanity Fair, he reveals he was also told by outgoing Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy to "make it feel like your movies feel". Expect it to have the humor, drama, and action of many of his family-oriented works, then, such as The Adam Project for Netflix.

As the supposedly leaked story brief in the X/Twitter post above suggests, Starfighter won't overlook the iconic sci-fi franchise's most important elements, including the Force.

Unsurprisingly, lightsabers are also part of this movie's narrative framework, with writer Jonathan Tropper telling ScreenRant that the legendary blades used by the Jedi and Sith will have a part to play. Furthermore, in a profile piece for The New York Times, Levy also let slip that none other than Tom Cruise had choreographed a lightsaber duel for Star Wars: Starfighter. It stands to reason, then, that we'll see some Force wielders in this flick.

Given Starfighter takes place after The Rise of Skywalker, could one of those aforementioned Force users include Daisy Ridley's Rey? And will Gray's unnamed character, who teams up with Gosling's protagonist, also be Force-sensitive? I guess we'll have to see.

How will Star Wars: Starfighter impact Lucasfilm's wider galaxy?

We don't know. Right now, Star Wars: Starfighter is being billed as a standalone adventure, so it might not even set up one or more of the many new Star Wars movies and TV shows that are in early or active development.

That said, if — and it's a big if — Ridley's Rey does appear in Gosling's Star Wars movie, the latter might set up some loose plot threads for the Rey-starring film that's currently known as New Jedi Order. There's been very little movement on that project since it was first announced, though — and, with Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan recently replacing Kennedy as Lucasfilm's new co-CEOs, it's unclear how many of the in-development Star Wars productions will actually get made.

Starfighter notwithstanding, the only other Star Wars project that'll be released in the next 12 months is Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2, which is expected to launch on Disney+ sometime in 2027. For more on that show's next chapter, read my guide on everything we know so far about Ahsoka season 2.

• Lego just revealed a new Sandcrawler set themed from The Mandalorian Season 1
• The 1,683-piece set features a Sandcrawler with interactive elements
• It includes Grogu, Mando, Jawas, and Kuiil Minifigures

Alongside the Millennium Falcon, the TIE Fighter, or the AT-AT walker, the Sandcrawler is one of the most iconic vehicles from the wide universe of Star Wars. And while we’ve seen many Lego versions over the years, it’s been a while since the brick-building giant revisited the vehicle.

However, with The Mandalorian and Grogu now on the big screen and a slew of new products themed to the film already available, Lego and Star Wars have teamed up for another set. And TechRadar can now exclusively reveal the Lego Star Wars Offworld Sandcrawler and Mudhorn set.

Even better, this Sandcrawler is themed and detailed to match the same offworld vehicle seen in Season 1 of The Mandalorian, giving longtime fans of the Disney+ series a nostalgic throwback to some of Grogu and Mando’s earliest adventures.

The set is available for preorder now directly from Lego for $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$329.99, and will ship in the coming weeks. For that price, you get 1,683 pieces to build the Sandcrawler, several accessories, a posable Mudhorn with its egg, and a handful of Minifigures.

Included with the Lego Star Wars Offworld Sandcrawler and Mudhorn set are Grogu with a hoverpram, The Mandalorian, Kuiil, an Offworld Jawa Elder, and two Offworld Jawa Minifigures.

The Sandcrawler itself is well detailed, and features a few interactive elements, including a few Technic-style components. By turning the rear dials, you can open or close the front hatch, and you'll build treads to let you move the vehicle.

Two stud shooters are built in, and you can access the cockpit to place a Minifigure inside. You'll also build cargo boxes filled with droid parts and even blue cookies for Grogu to snack on. Doors and windows along the Sandcrawler’s exterior sides let you pose Jawas, Mando, or even Grogu mid-scene.

As the set’s name suggests, you’ll also build a Mudhorn from the 1,683 pieces, letting fans recreate one of the memorable early moments from Season 1 of The Mandalorian.

With all of these elements coming together, fans of the Disney+ series can recreate iconic scenes featuring Mando, Grogu, Kuiil, and the Jawas. It’s certainly a nice addition, and for longtime Star Wars fans, it’s great to see Lego revisiting one of the franchise’s most recognizable vehicles with a throwback to the first season of The Mandalorian, which originally premiered in 2019.

You can check out a full gallery of images, including the box art, for the Lego Star Wars Offworld Sandcrawler and Mudhorn set. And if you’re sold, it’s available for preorder now for $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$329.99 from Lego’s online store.

Star Wars is back on the big screen. Indeed, with The Mandalorian and Grogu finally ending the iconic sci-fi franchise's theatrical hiatus, I suspect many of you will be heading to your local cinema to see what it's all about.

However, if you've been put off by its middling critical reception — read my review of The Mandalorian and Grogu to see what I thought — you might decide to save your money and wait for it to come out on Disney+. So, when could one of 2026's new movies make its streaming debut?

Does The Mandalorian and Grogu have a Disney+ release date yet?

No. The movie sequel to The Mandalorian TV series only arrived in theaters on May 22, so it'll be a while before it's released on Disney+.

When might that be? I have no insider information, but my best guess is it'll drop on one of the best streaming services in early September, with September 2 being the most likely scenario.

Why then? Typically, Disney releases its first-party films on its primary streamer around three months after they launch in theaters. Some have come to the service earlier or later than anticipated, but that's usually the result of them underperforming at the global box office, or are still making money via ticket sales, so they're left in theaters for longer.

For The Mandalorian and Grogu, let's assume that it'll land on Disney+ three months after its theatrical release. That would mean it should be available to watch at home on August 22, right?

Not exactly. You see, new Disney+ movies tend to come out on a Wednesday. This year, August 22 falls on a Saturday, so there's absolutely no chance that the first of many new Star Wars movies and TV shows will launch on that date.

Now, it's possible that The Mandalorian and Grogu could drop on the Wednesday either side of August 22 — those dates being August 19 and 26. However, I believe Disney will withhold its streaming launch until the previously mentioned September 2 date. The reason? Labor Day, one of many holidays observed in the US, is set to take place on Monday, September 7 this year.

With many Americans due to enjoy a three-day weekend around that date, releasing The Mandalorian and Grogu on the Wednesday before Labor Day weekend makes perfect sense. Those who live stateside will likely have a couple of hours to spare at some point over the extended weekend, so loading up Disney+ to check out the latest Star Wars movie is something that millions of them are sure to do.

And, hey, if you don't live in the US, I'm sure you'll have some downtime over the first weekend of September. If you do and you're a Star Wars fan, you're just as likely to sign into Disney+ to see what all of the fuss is about with The Mandalorian and Grogu, too.

How long is The Mandalorian and Grogu?

As you'll have noted by now — if you haven't skipped ahead to this section, anyway — I've said that you'll need to set aside a couple of hours to watch The Mandalorian and Grogu.

That's due to the fact that its runtime is two hours and 12 minutes, including its end credits crawl. That makes its the fourth shortest Star Wars movie of all-time, with only the original film trilogy having smaller runtimes.

Does The Mandalorian and Grogu have an end credits scene?

No. Once Din Djarin and Baby Yoda's latest galactic adventure has come to a close, there isn't a mid- and/or post-credits scene to stick around for.

By all means sit through the end credits sequence to appreciate the sheer number of people who worked on The Mandalorian and Grogu. But, if you stay seated with the hope that you'll get a hint at what's next for that legendary galaxy far, far away, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Full spoilers follow for The Mandalorian. Light spoilers also follow for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Seven years is a long time for a franchise like Star Wars to spend away from the big screen. Sure, the wait for new movie-based entries in Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away has been significantly larger in the past. In an age where entertainment titans are mining everything they can from their money-spinning signature brands, though, it's surreal to think that a whole generation of fans haven't seen a Star Wars movie at their local theater.

Well, now they can. The Mandalorian and Grogu, a film sequel to The Mandalorian, aka the hugely popular Disney+ TV series that stars the aforementioned pair, aims to replicate the success of its parent show and recapture the magic of seeing the legendary sci-fi franchise on the silver screen for the first time. Unfortunately, it achieves neither of its objectives.

Wherever I go, he goes

Picking up sometime after The Mandalorian's season 3 finale, The Mandalorian and Grogu reunites us with the titular duo as they continue to carry out their contractual work for The New Republic. That being, hunting down Imperial warlords still devoted to the Galactic Empire to stop them from reviving the autocratic regime.

To that end, the Mandalorian known as Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his Force-wielding pal are given a specific mission by Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver): rescue Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White) for his crime lord relatives known as the Twins. In exchange, the latter will provide information on the whereabouts of Lord Janu (Jonny Coyne), The New Republic's next target.

Sounds simple, right? I think you already know the answer to that. Long story short: Mando and Grogu get more than they bargained for on a quest that proves to be their most dangerous yet.

Truth be told, they should be used to life-threatening situations as they've embarked on numerous perilous missions before in The Mandalorian.

And this is my first major gripe with The Mandalorian and Grogu, because it has the air of being two hour-long episodes of its parent show that have been smashed together.

It's difficult to explain without getting into major spoiler territory but, despite The Mandalorian and Grogu possessing a narrative throughline, there's a clear disconnect between its two parts that occurs exactly at its midpoint.

Indeed, with Mando and Grogu seemingly completing their Rotta-based search and rescue mission quicker than expected, I fully expected the end credits of this 'episode' to roll before its follow-up chapter began. You can imagine my surprise, then, when I not only realized this wouldn't happen, but also that there was an hour's worth of story left to tell when 95% of the plot's loose ends had seemingly been tied up.

Director Jon Favreau might claim that, rather than repurpose The Mandalorian season 4's scripts for this movie, he had to "start from scratch with The Mandalorian and Grogu's screenplay.

Nevertheless, given the notable split midway through this film's story, I'm of the opinion that some of that unmade season's plot threads have been reused and, whether by design or not, give it the structure of a multi-episode arc that's been stitched together. Think of how The Clone Wars animated series' first few episodes were similarly sewn together to unnecessarily turn it into a big-screen offering, and you'll get the idea.

The light and the dark

The Mandalorian and Grogu does win points for its action sequences, though. They're not wholly original in their makeup but, whether it's large- or small-scale battles, chase sequences, or vehicular- or duel-based combat, each one is as entertaining and well-executed as they need to be.

Speaking of being entertaining, Grogu is — if it even needs saying — the highlight of the show.

Multiple scenes involving Mando's apprentice are played for laughs (and rightly so, because he's an adorable little tyke), but he also gets enough character development that indicates he's not only coming into his own as a protagonist, but also being firmly positioned as Star Wars' next big, well, star. Suffice it to say, newcomers will fall head over heels for the individual affectionately known as Baby Yoda, while established fans will re-fall in love with him all over again.

Of equal appeal is The Mandalorian and Grogu following in the footsteps of its parent show and introducing us to fascinating new corners of the galaxy.

With growing fan criticism that Star Wars was reluctant to move away from exploring desert planets, The Mandalorian has given us new worlds — and the odd old fan favorite, such as Mandalore — to explore since its initial release on Disney+, aka one of the best streaming services.

It's a baton that The Mandalorian and Grogu is only too happy to pick up, too. Indeed, in flying us to new locales like Nal Hutta and Shakari, one of the many forthcoming new Star Wars movies and shows builds on its TV forebear's desire to visit unexplored regions of the galaxy, especially in the lawless Outer Rim. I'll take more of the same with other projects you've got in the pipeline, please, Lucasfilm.

While I'm making requests, it's also time for Star Wars to move past its overreliance on nostalgia bait, of which The Mandalorian and Grogu is as guilty of as its franchise contemporaries are.

Spoilers notwithstanding, it's a film dripping in Easter eggs and callbacks to other Star Wars projects, especially in its back half. That won't be an issue for diehards looking to mimic Captain America's "I understood that reference" line from The Avengers or Leonardo DiCaprio's finger pointing meme from One Upon a Time in Hollywood. Still, to me at least, the sheer number of nods to The Mandalorian and wider Star Wars universe felt more and more self-indulgent with each one I picked up on.

My verdict

The Mandalorian and Grogu is fine. It's an inoffensive and narratively safe addition to Lucasfilm's back catalog that'll still perform admirably at the global box office by virtue of it being a Star Wars movie, and the inclusion of Baby Yoda that's sure to lure in first-time viewers and diehard fans of the adorable green imp alike.

For those who grew up on the original films and/or want Lucasfilm and Disney to take more big creative swings in the vein of Andor, though, The Mandalorian and Grogu will feel like a missed opportunity. After all, this is the franchise's first big-screen outing since incredibly divisive 2019 flick The Rise of Skywalker, and I suspect some will have hoped that Mando and Baby Yoda's latest adventure would help to wash away the aforementioned film's lingering bad aftertaste.

Occasionally enjoyable though it is, The Mandalorian and Grogu fails to do just that and, as much as it pains me to say it, this isn't the way that Star Wars should've returned to the big screen.

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters worldwide on Friday, May 22.

“It’s like a community, right? And it’s a global community that people really love and identify with.”

That’s how Bobby Kim, Global Creative Director at Disney Consumer Products, describes Star Wars fandom. And it’s a framing that feels especially fitting as another May the 4th is behind us and we’re weeks out from a big-screen debut.

For millions of fans, myself included, it’s not just a set of films. It’s something more of a shared language — one that extends far beyond the screen into collectibles, toys, robots, video games, and all sorts of media from films and TV shows to books, comics, and shorts.

Inside Disney, that shift is increasingly shaping how Star Wars comes to life. It’s no longer just about the next movie or series, but rather it’s about how fans engage with the universe in between those major moments — and often, that starts with products.

Over a year into his role at Disney Consumer Products, Kim is still adjusting to the scale. Coming from a background in entrepreneurship and underground culture, he’s used to building within tight communities. At Disney, though, the audience is global, multigenerational, and deeply invested.

That level of connection, he says, comes with responsibility. Fans don’t just watch Star Wars — they identify with it. And that changes what a product is supposed to do.

“What Star Wars taught folks like me and artists and designers and creatives is how to understand a story not just from the perspective of cinema, but through the perspective of product,” Kim explained shortly after leading a conversation with The Mandalorian and Grogu director, co-writer, and producer, Jon Favreau.

It’s a simple idea, but it reframes everything from a product generation discussion to planning for a rollout. For decades, Star Wars has existed beyond the screen through toys, collectibles, and apparel, but nearly 50 years on, these products are becoming the experience itself.

From action figures to roleplay items, people can get closer and feel a connection to a specific character or legion – be it Rebel or Imperial – within the franchise. You don’t need to follow every film or series to feel connected. You can build a Lego Star Wars set, collect figures, or display memorabilia and still participate in the world in a meaningful way. Products aren’t just extensions of the story — they’re one of the main ways fans live with it.

That’s also why Disney is continuing to emphasize its internal design teams, ensuring that what it creates in-house reflects the same storytelling DNA as the films and shows.

Technology is pushing that even further, and no better example is Lego Smart Play, and the first wave of Star Wars sets.

“I love what Lego is doing. Smart Play is technology within a product that has enchanted collectors for, you know, eons. Literally.”

For Kim, the key isn’t reinvention — it’s expansion. “It doesn’t replace anything, it’s additive to me. And it’s just a new way that you can play with Lego Star Wars sets in a way that we maybe couldn’t have thought of before.”

That idea of “additive” design hints at where Star Wars products are heading. They’re becoming more interactive, more flexible, and more open to interpretation — less like static objects and more like platforms that fans can shape themselves.

It’s a natural evolution for a franchise that has always thrived on participation. From collecting to cosplay to fan builds, Star Wars has long encouraged people to make it their own. Now, the products themselves are starting to reflect that same philosophy.

And as technology continues to blur the line between physical and digital, that connection is only getting stronger. At the end of April 2026, Hasbro showed off a fully electronic Grogu – one of the most highly detailed and expensive Baby Yoda toys yet.

“I cannot divorce the two: the creative process from technology. It’s always one and the same.”

For Disney, that means designing Star Wars as something that lives across formats — film, yes, but also objects, experiences, and tools for creativity. For fans, especially on May the 4th, it’s a reminder of why the franchise endures. Star Wars isn’t just something you watch.

It’s something you build, collect, and carry with you.

If you're a 4K Blu-ray fan, listen up! Amazon is having a two for £30 offer on all Disney 4K discs, including titles from Star Wars, Marvel, 20th Century Studios and more.

There are tons of options available, but I've picked nine highlights that are worth checking out, all of which I've tested as part of our Blu-ray Bounty column, where we test the latest 4K releases. Some of these discs have even enter my testing rotation of reference discs for testing the best TVs and best soundbars.

If you're looking for a bright, vibrant extravaganza, you can't go wrong with The Sound of Music and The Rocky Horror Picture Show: two fantastic musicals that look as great as they sound.

I may be a day late to Star Wars Day (belated May the 4th be with you) but all of the Star Wars movies are in this sale, but I've picked the original below.

Reference Dolby Atmos discs including Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and Alien: Romulus are sure to give your home theatre a workout, with their thrillingly detailed and accurate Atmos soundtracks.

Check out the rest of my picks below, as well as what I thought of each one during my testing.

Amazon 2 for £30 4K Blu-ray sale — my picks

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music has become one of my go-to testing discs thanks to its outstanding picture quality. It boasts vibrant, punchy colors and crisp textures, thanks to a superb 4K restoration. The market scene above is a particular standout.

The disc's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also the best way to enjoy the movie's iconic soundtrack at home, with classic tracks like 'Do Re Mi' sounding better than ever before. Vocals are bright and clear and the score itself is delivered with wonderful clarity.

Alien: Romulus

A superb-looking disc with powerful contrast thanks to its deep black tones and punchy bright tones, Alien: Romulus looks amazing on 4K Blu-ray and has again become a reference testing disc for me. Easily one of the best modern discs I've tested.

The 4K disc's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is as spine-chillingly lifelike and detailed as you could hope, capturing every unsettling creek and the pitter patter of face-hugger feet. If you've got a full Dolby Atmos system, don't be surprised if you find yourself looking around the room.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool & Wolverine on 4K delivers seriously impressive colour reproduction, accurately capturing the neon-like saturation of Deadpool and Wolverine's red and yellow costumes respectively. There's also plenty of detail that will look good on any display.

The disc's Dolby Atmos soundtrack does justice to the movie's chaotic nature, capturing every punch with real bass and impact, while mapping every wayward bullet accurately to a full-fledged sound system.

Kingdom of Heaven

Arguably one of the most popular 4K discs in recent years, Kingdom of Heaven looks brilliant in 4K. Textures like weather-beaten skin are presented with lifelike detail, while darker scenes deliver rich, strong contrast perfect for an OLED TV.

Filled with swordfights and large scale battles, Kingdom of Heaven is another action packed blockbuster that will test your sound system thanks to its powerful, detailed Dolby Atmos soundtrack.

Master and Commander

Where Master and Commander really shines is with its Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Delivering shockingly realistic naval battles, this disc had me looking around more than a few times as cannonballs flew through the ship's hull. There's also plenty of bass to test your subwoofer.

Master and Commander is also a great 4K presentation, with rich contrast in the movie's night scenes as well as lush colors and refined textures that have been cleaned up nicely.

Tombstone

A seriously great-looking disc, Tombstone benefits from a fantastic 4K restoration. Colors are bold and accurate, but it's the 3D-like textures that really make this disc shine. People's skin tones, marks and all, are seriously detailed, particularly an ailing Doc Holliday (played brilliantly by the late Val Kilmer).

A DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack is included here and it delivers all the Wild West action you need. Gunfights produce ricocheting bullets and plenty of impactful crashes as stuntmen go flying.

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands may be a gothic film at heart, but this 4K disc really shines in its colours. The gaudy, 1950s-style houses and outfits of the neighbourhood really pop on screen, really capturing the borderline eyesore nature of the area.

The movie's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is immersive and detailed, accurately delivering the spirit of Danny Elfman's score, which is filled with heart-wrenching string and big horns, authentically.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

It may have been Star Wars day yesterday, but any day is a good one to watch a classic. While we're still waiting of the 4K disc of the original, theatrical cut, this disc is the best way to experience the iconic movie at home. Bold colours, refined detail and great upscaling, this is the best Star Wars has looked.

With an uncompressed Dolby Atmos soundtrack included, Star Wars sounds excellent on 4K Blu-ray. from John Williams' legendary score to the Death Star trench run with the whaling sounds of TIE Fighters flying overhead, this disc's soundtrack is immersive and dynamic.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Included with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a treat on 4K Blu-ray. Tracks like 'Time Warp' and 'Dammit, Janet' are delivered with the glitz and gusto you'd want from an Atmos soundtrack, balancing power, detail and accuracy all at once, with crystal clear vocals to boot.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Blu-ray delivers crisp textures with realistic skin textures and tones. Colours are also suitably saturated, but authentic-looking thanks to this excellent restoration which breathes new life into this cult classic musical.

TV

As a big Star Wars fan, I recently curated a massive list of themed home office extras for creating the best Star Wars workspace this side of the Dagobah system. It has everything from Vader-based pen holders and desk mats to starship-style keyboards and R2D2 mini fridges.

But during my hunt, one item stood out to me as the ultimate home office find for any Star Wars fan. And it's the officially licensed posable Millennium Falcon desk lamp, which is currently $49.90 (was $59.99) at Amazon. This ultra-detailed 1:180 scale model of Falcon, which switches on in less than 12 parsecs (probably), is also available for £39.99 (was £49.99) at Amazon.co.uk.

Created by Paladone, who create a lot of Star Wars merch, the USB-powered lamp has got a 4.6 star rating on Amazon, with thousands of reviews praising the design and attention to detail. It might not be as bright as a lightsaber in the dark, so I'd recommend pairing it with another lighting source (there are loads of Star Wars-themed ones on Amazon).

Scroll down for more details, and check out my round-up of the best Star Wars home office gear, gifts, and gadgets.

More Star Wars office gear

• Check out the official Star Wars store page at Amazon.com
• See the official Star Wars store page at Amazon.co.uk

The Force is with you, always. As an avowed Star Wars fan with more R2D2 models in his house than is strictly necessary, I've been eagerly anticipating this year's Star Wars day. To celebrate May the 4th, I've curated the best Star Wars-themed home office finds, whether you're a Jedi, a Sith, or a scruffy-looking nerf-herder when it comes to work.

Easily my favorite trilogy of items here are the posable Millennium Falcon desk lamp (an X-Wing version is also available), the downed AT-AT walker perpetual calendar, and the 'Three Wise Stormtroopers', which adds a touch of humor to your workspace that I think Lucas himself would appreciate. All three are available in the US and UK.

Check out my full list below, whether you're upgrading your home office with the classic sci-fi look or finding some cool gifts and gadgets for the Star Wars fan in your life. I've got a good feeling about these...

US gear

• Check out the official Star Wars store page at Amazon.com

UK gear

• See the official Star Wars store page at Amazon.co.uk

The 2026 blockbuster movie season is almost upon us — and TechRadar's entertainment team needs your help to determine what the most anticipated new film of the summer (or winter, for those of you who live south of the equator) will be!

A host of exciting new movies, covering myriad genres and varied age ranges, are set to hit theaters between now and the start of September. Indeed, with the first Star Wars film in almost seven years, 2026's first Marvel movie, and new sci-fi and historical epics from award-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan, respectively, there'll be plenty to choose from in the weeks and months ahead.

Considering how diverse our reader base is, we know each and every one of you will know which movie you'll definitely be spending your hard-earned cash on. So, vote in our mid-2026 blockbuster film season poll below and tell us what your must-see movie is!

Two things to bear in mind before you proceed: one, you can only vote once, so choose wisely. And, two, the poll will end on Wednesday, May 6, at 10:59pm PT, so make sure you cast your vote ASAP.

It's a lot tougher than you initially expected, isn't it? As a huge Spider-Man fan, I'd go for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is the first of two Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) flicks that'll debut in theaters this year.

However, there are lots of other exciting options that deserve to be picked in May and June, too. Will you go all-in on The Mandalorian and Grogu in late May? How about the next installment in Pixar's long-running Toy Story film franchise? Or, what about plumping for DC over Marvel and checking out Supergirl?

Spider-Man 4 notwithstanding, July will also give us the previously mentioned offerings from Spielberg and Nolan in Disclosure Day and The Odyssey — will you select one of that pair? Or will you wait all the way until August to catch the latest Insidious film, or another animated-live-action hybrid movie in Coyote Vs Acme? The choice, dear reader, is all yours — and, once you've picked one, let us know in the comments, or on our social media channels, why you selected it.

The above options aren't the only silver screen features due to come out before September. So, if there's another movie you're desperate to see more than the 17 mentioned above, dive into the comments section to reveal why it's your #1 choice.

For more on three films I'm particularly looking forward to, find out everything we know so far about The Mandalorian and Grogu, get the full lowdown on Supergirl, and learn what's been revealed about Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

• Star Wars Day 2026 is right around the corner
• To celebrate, four Star Wars films just joined a major Disney+ rival
• Usually, Disney's primary streamer is the only place you can watch them

The 2026 edition of Star Wars Day is almost upon us — and, ahead of the now-annual May 4 celebration of Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away, four of the franchise's best films have landed on one of Disney+'s main rivals.

Ordinarily, Disney's primary streamer is the only place you can watch every Star Wars movie and TV show. However, the House of Mouse has made the surprisingly rare decision to release a few of them on another of the world's best streaming services.

So, who's the lucky platform in question? Hulu, aka Disney+'s sister streamer that's only available in the US.

Okay, Disney was never going to license Star Wars' back catalog to Netflix or Prime Video, so releasing a quartet of the sci-fi brand's films on the other streamer it owns might not be that much of a shock.

Nevertheless, the fact that Hulu has just become home to some Star Wars content is significant because, as I said, Disney+ is the only place that fans have been able to stream the franchise's various offerings. Those of you who are signed up to Hulu but not Disney+, then, should get your fill of these movies while you can — and, hey, if you don't live in the US, you can still stream every Star Wars film and TV show on Disney+.

What Star Wars movies can I watch on Hulu?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, three of the four movies that comprise the franchise's original film trilogy. For anyone who doesn't know, those are 1977's Episode IV: A New Hope, 1980's Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and 1983's Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Considering how highly regarded this trio is, plus the fact that they tell a cohesive, three-part story, it's obvious that they'd be simultaneously added to Hulu's film library — but, what's the fourth? That'll be a movie that's viewed more positively — with critics, anyway — than Return of the Jedi.

Alright, so which film is it? 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, whose 84% Rotten Tomatoes critical rating is a single percentage point higher than Return of the Jedi's. (NB: At this stage, it would be remiss of me to point out that Jedi's 94% audience score is higher than Rogue One's 87%.)

The addition of Rogue One alongside the aforementioned trio makes perfect sense, too, because its ending leads directly into A New Hope's opening sequence. So, if you watched these films back-to-back on Hulu — or Disney+, for that matter — you'll be able to see a key part of the Star Wars timeline play out in chronological order.

Speaking of watching things in order of chronology: if you're planning yet another Star Wars film marathon, be sure to read our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order, especially if you're looking for a new or wildly different way to consume them.

Once you're done there, read our new Star Wars movies and shows article to see what else is in the pipeline for the legendary sci-fi series. Finally, get the full lowdown on The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars film in nearly seven years, ahead of its May 22 launch.

• Fortnite's Star Wars Day celebrations have officially begun
• Three new game modes made by Epic and Lucasfilm have been added, alongside hundreds more made by creators
• New Star Wars cosmetics and events will be released throughout May

Epic Games has released the roadmap for its month-long Fortnite x Star Wars Day celebrations, which includes a "galaxy of new Star Wars games" and more to keep fans busy.

While Star Wars Das officially begins on May 4, three new game modes made by Epic and Lucasfilm, along with hundreds of islands made by creators using the official Star Wars toolkit, are available in Fortnite as of today.

"After years of creating Star Wars experiences with Disney and Lucasfilm, we gave Star Wars’ heroes, worlds and assets to Fortnite creators so they could build the experiences they’ve always dreamed of playing. It’s now possible to create a limitless variety of games in the Star Wars universe that anyone in Fortnite can play," said Adam Sussman, president of Epic Games.

The three designed by Epic and Lucasfilm are Galactic Siege, a Battlefront-like mode featuring large-scale, PvP class-based battles with 10v10 combat across iconic Star Wars planets.

Then there's Escape Vader, a four-player co-op game where you need to hide, run, and survive against Darth Vader, and lastly Droid Tycoon, where players build and customize droids using authentic Star Wars blueprints, manage their workshop and factory systems, and unlock rare components and special missions.

"Interactive entertainment is rapidly becoming one of the defining forces in how audiences experience stories, and Disney is fully embracing that evolution," added Sean Shoptaw, executive VP of Disney Games and Digital Entertainment. "Games offer a uniquely powerful way to deepen engagement, expand our worlds, and connect with fans in real time. As this space continues to grow, we see extraordinary potential to elevate Disney storytelling in ways that are innovative, social, and built for the way people play today."

With the release of these modes also comes new Star Wars Quests, with more to come every week in May, all offering free rewards upon completion.

New The Clone Wars skins and accessories for Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker have also arrived in the Item Shop today, along with the return of more Star Wars Outfits, and players can unlock a free Carbonite Fishstick Back Bling for linking their account to MyDisney.

On May 14, Lego Fortnite Odyssey will get its own Star Wars update with a new Hover Bricker, hover vehicles, the Mandalorian and Grogu, and Star Wars enemies.

Additionally, on May 19, players can log in and join the The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island to see a special message from creator Jon Favreau and get a 10-minute sneak peek of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu ahead of the theatrical release on May 22.

However, players must first collect bounties and defend the city against waves of enemies, find Grogu, and spend 20 minutes exploring Nevarro to unlock the exclusive Mandalorian Sanctuary loading screen.

Finally, on May 26, players can visit the island’s amphitheatre to watch a Q&A with Favreau about the film and making of The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island.

• Piaggio is back with another limited-edition Star Wars robot
• The Grogu gitamini is a custom-skinned cargo-carrying robot
• The $2,875 bot is up for order now ahead of May the 4th and the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu

We’re just six days away from May the 4th — aka Star Wars Day — and only 25 days away from Star Wars returning to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu. So it only makes sense that a trove of brands are launching new products, including plenty of toys, all themed to the iconic universe, and the new film.

Now, nearly a year after Piaggio first introduced a Star Wars-themed cargo-carrying droid, the brand is doing it again. TechRadar can exclusively show off and reveal the Grogu gitamini — with a fresh skin, some stickers, and a surprise under the hood that gives this personal companion robot a bounty hunter feel.

Essentially, the gitamini has two main wheels and a full stack of sensors, including two cameras and a color CMOS camera that works with an onboard platform to lock onto the owner — aka you — and allows the cargo-carrying robot to follow you around.

The cargo bin measures 17.9 x 16.5 x 18.9 inches and has a 20-pound capacity — good enough for a ton of credits, some Beskar-style goods, or a bag or two from a quick run to a convenience store or local grocer.

Piaggio Fast Forward again worked with Disney, Disney Consumer Products, and Lucasfilm to design this custom Grogu edition of the gitamini. That includes a mostly white outer shell with some orange accents and simulated wear and tear. It’s a pretty simple skin, but under the hood, the gitamini does a bit more.

There’s an adorable Grogu graphic that pops off the main build for a 3D effect, ensuring the Force-sensitive creature protects your goods stored inside. The interior cargo bin is orange, matching the exterior accents. Whether you keep the lid open or closed, Grogu will be there to offer protection.

It also features custom LED light effects and custom sound effects — essentially a healthy dose of beeps and boops, just like we saw with last year’s models.

Just like 2025’s G1T4-M1N1, the Grogu gitamini won’t come cheap — it’s available to order now from Disney Store and Piaggio Fast Forward’s own store for $2,875. It’s the same tech under the hood, just with a slightly different design, and still a great addition.

It won’t be featured in the upcoming film like the BDX Droids, and it isn’t necessarily as adorable as they are, but it can help carry up to 20 pounds of items.

• BDX Droid figures and a talking Mandalorian headline Disney Store’s May 4 drop
• Light-up gauntlets, action figures, pins, and more join the lineup
• All items land on May 4, 2026, at the Disney Store

We’re just weeks out from Star Wars returning to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu, and before its May 22, 2026, opening, we’ll be rolling through May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day.

As we saw a few weeks back, there are some impressive new toys and collectibles themed around the film and Star Wars at large. We already knew that the adorable, lovable BDX Droids that have graced Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World — as well as the high seas on Disney Cruise Line — would land as figures, and now TechRadar can exclusively reveal that the BDX Droid figures, along with the other collectibles and toys below, will launch exclusively at the Disney Store on May 4, 2026.

The BDX Droids still look stunning, and considering they’ll be in The Mandalorian and Grogu, it’ll be a perfect fit for fans of Disney Parks and Star Wars. For $49.99, you get a set of four that will look great on a desk, and just like the real-life set, they’re color-matched here. You get a red, blue, green, and orange BDX unit. While these won’t move or emit sounds, they’re highly detailed. The BDX Droids are the latest drop in the Droid Factory Figures line at the Disney Store.

That’s not the only product dropping, though — as teased earlier, Disney Store will also be home to two exclusive collectibles. The first, The Mandalorian Voice-Changing Helmet, looks fantastic and pretty true-to-life compared to what Din Djarin wears in the film and on the show.

It will say iconic lines from the series, and I’d bet “This is the Way” is one of them. If you’re keen to sound like The Mandalorian, there is also a voice-changing mode. This full-size replica, designed for adults, lands on May 4, 2026, and will cost $119.99.

It pairs perfectly with the other collectible drop — the $99.99 Mandalorian Gauntlets, which look highly detailed and even light up. Both of these will be exclusive to the Disney Store.

Nearly as neat as the BDX Droid figures is the 10-inch The Mandalorian Talking Action Figure, which includes scale figures of Grogu and Minch. You’ll also get a jetpack booster and a weapon for Mando in the box. Since it talks, it will say iconic phrases, including some movie-accurate lines. This figure arrives at the Disney Store for $39.99 on May 4, 2026.

If you’re a fan of Klang, Disney Store also has a detailed talking figure of the Anzellan droidsmith. He’ll play a role in The Mandalorian and Grogu, alongside two other droidsmiths, and this figure won’t just speak — it also features a motorized head, eyes, and mouth for a more immersive experience. This figure launches for $59.99 on May 4, 2026, at the Disney Store.

It wouldn’t be a Star Wars toy lineup without some classic figures, and whether you’re excited for the film because of Mando or for the return of Zeb Orrelios — Star Wars Rebels fans know exactly what I’m talking about — this Star Wars Toybox set might be the perfect purchase. You get figures of Zeb, droid R5-D4, The Mandalorian, and Grogu in posable, stylized versions. The Mandalorian and Grogu Action Figure Set — Star Wars Toybox drops for $49.99 at the Disney Store on May 4, 2026.

Pin collectors will be happy to know that the Disney Store has a set of three arriving. The first two retail for $21.99 and are themed around one character each. A Din Djarin Pin and a Grogu Pin both arrive as limited releases with the “Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You 2026” logo. The Mandalorian is standing in an iconic pose, while Grogu is using the Force.

Additionally, for $34.99, Disney Store will drop the impressive Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You Mini Jumbo Pin, which features Ahsoka, Boba Fett, Bo-Katan, Grogu, and The Mandalorian — essentially putting the main characters from Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett onto one pin. There’s also a Mythosaur icon at the bottom.

Puzzles can be pretty relaxing, and I’m especially a fan when they feature excellent artwork. Disney Store isn’t just spotlighting the two main characters here in an affordable set — it’s also a great landscape from the film. The Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Puzzle will be just $24.99 at the Disney Store on May 4, 2026.

Last but not least, you can bring a bit of Galaxy’s Edge home with a mug that will instantly level up any kitchen. The Mythosaur Sculpted Mug looks fantastic and really feels like a prop that could fit perfectly on the big screen, though more likely than not, it would be found at Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge. This mug also lands on May 4, 2026, for $22.99.

There will surely be plenty more Star Wars drops as we approach May the 4th, along with plenty more timed to The Mandalorian and Grogu, so stick with TechRadar as we track them all down. In the meantime, check out what Mark Hamill thinks of the Lego Smart Brick, or a secret free experience you can have at Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland or Walt Disney World here.

• Andor's Adria Arjona has reportedly been cast in James Gunn's Superman sequel
• There's some confusion over which character she'll play
• DC fans are increasingly convinced it won't be Maxima

Adria Arjona has reportedly been cast in James Gunn's Superman sequel — but fans aren't convinced she'll play the character she's rumored to be playing.

The Star Wars actor, who played Bix Caleen in both seasons of the franchise's critically-acclaimed TV show Andor on Disney+, has apparently joined Man of Tomorrow's cast. The follow-up film to 2025's Superman movie, will begin filming next week.

Before the cameras start to roll on the next Gunn-directed DC Universe (DCU) flick, Hollywood's biggest publications — Deadline, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter (THR) — have all claimed that Arjona had won the race to appear Man of Tomorrow.

Just last week, the same outlets indicated that Arjona was one of four stars who had auditioned for a key role in the comic-book movie. Deadline was the first to report on those screen tests, which led Gunn to hit out at what he called "shoddy and incorrect" reporting on social media. Variety and THR soon published their articles on the same subject and, in light of these latest pieces, it seems there was some truth to those initial reports.

Is Adria Arjona playing Maxima or Wonder Woman in Man of Tomorrow?

With Arjona seemingly becoming the latest addition to the DCU Chapter One film's cast, attentions now turn to which character she'll portray.

In their latest reports, Deadline and Variety suggested she'll play Maxima, aka the queen of Almenac who's long been rumored to appear in Man of Tomorrow. in recent times, though, some DC fans have become increasingly convinced that Gunn is cleverly using Maxima as a misdirect to hide the fact that Man of Tomorrow will actually introduce Wonder Woman to the DCU.

THR's piece on Arjona's supposed casting has only further stoked that rumor. Indeed, as part of its own report, the outlet said: "It was previously reported that the character was comic antiheroine Maxima, but it’s unknown if that is correct". With some fans suggesting Arjona would be the perfect choice for Wonder Woman after Gunn announced a new movie starring the Themysciran was in development last June, many more now believe Arjona will play Diana Prince, not Maxima.

"Gunn’s using Maxima to hide Wonder Woman," one fan said in a Reddit thread concerning Arjona's reported casting. "It’s still entirely possible Gunn and his crew told the trades it’s for Maxima, when in reality it’s Wonder Woman," another mused, before adding: "It’s rumored it’ll just be a brief appearance like Supergirl at the end of Superman. Why would he cast Adria of all people to play Maxima just for it to be a brief cameo type scene… hmm…"

"I'm still pretty convinced it's Wonder Woman lol, but we will see," wrote another, before someone else theorized: "With Gunn, these denials are often half-truths, and THR being shaky on confirming it’s Maxima has me leaning towards Wonder Woman (or possibly another character they don’t want to reveal yet)."

Meanwhile, a thread on the ResetEra forums is full of users expressing similar sentiments.

"Yeah, I'm boarding the Wonder Woman train," someone wrote. "She [Arjona] should have been saved for Diana [Prince]," added another. "It's totally Wonder Woman," someone else mused, with another adding: "What a waste if she isn't Wonder Woman."

For what it's worth, Gunn hasn't taken to social media to comment on and/or deny Arjona's rumored casting. It appears, then, that this piece of speculation might have legs. I guess we'll find out for sure if behind-the-scenes images leak out from Man of Tomorrow's set once principal photography gets underway. In the meantime, find out everything we know so far about Man of Tomorrow ahead of its July 2027 launch.

Hoo boy, are you in for a treat this week, ladies and gentlemen. With so many new movies and TV shows debuting on the world's best streaming services, we've done something we've never done before and picked eight entries instead of the usual seven. It's just one of those weeks for must-see new releases, folks.

So, what's launched over the last few days? Among others, The Boys' final season, a new shark-infested Netflix movie, and a returning series whose third season won't debut until Sunday. Even if you watch everything else on this list before that day arrives, then, you'll have another thing to check out before the work week begins once more. Enjoy! — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Boys season 5 (Prime Video)

Oi, it's time. The Boys season 5 has finally premiered on Prime Video, so you can now settle in for some more superhero satire and ultraviolence, plus an overarching narrative that, given the state of things in the US, might hit a bit too close to home for some viewers.

The Boys 5's first two episodes, which are out now on Amazon's streaming service, take place six months after season 2 of live-action spin-off Gen V ended, and find our titular heroes embarking on one last life-threatening mission to stop the authoritarian Homelander once and for all. Will they succeed? And who'll pay the price with their lives on both sides of the Human-Supe divide? Time will tell in typically diabolical fashion. — TP

• Watch The Boys season 5 on Prime Video

Euphoria season 3 (HBO Max)

Euphoria season 3 is almost here but, considering critics have slammed it and labeled it an "unhinged disaster", the four-year wait for the award-winning drama may not have been worth the wait.

Set five years after the HBO Max show's second season, we catch up with the former students of East Highland High, including Zendaya's Rue, Sydney Sweeney's Cassie, and Jacob Elordi's Nate, as they navigate new challenges in their lives.

Want to make up your own mind about the hit show's return? Check out our Euphoria season 3 release schedule guide to see when it'll premiere, so you can determine if it's any good or not. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Euphoria season 3 on HBO Max

Thrash (Netflix)

Sharks meet a category five hurricane in this new looks-so-bad-it-might-be-good thriller movie. Here, unsuspecting locals have to fight off torrential rain, debris, and darkness, as well as the ocean's most fearsome predator.

Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor leads the cast as a pregnant woman who finds herself trapped in a car amid all the chaos. She's joined by Whitney Peak, Djimon Hounsou, and Alyla Browne, who all find themselves trapped in various horrifying scenarios as sharks circle them.

Personally, I can't get enough of shark movies no matter how silly the concept. I also recommend checking out Under Paris if you haven't already. You could even have a shark double bill if you want. — LB

• Watch Thrash on Netflix

Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord (Disney+)

The latest animated offering from Lucasfilm, Shadow Lord reunites us with the former Sith known as Maul around a year after the Clone Wars ended. Here, the fan-favorite Star Wars villain sets out to rebuild his criminal empire on the planet Janix amid the tightening grip of the nascent Galactic Empire on that iconic galaxy far, far away.

Like The Boys 5, the first two episodes of this Disney+ show have dropped on the streaming platform. There'll be plenty more to enjoy in due course, too, with another eight episodes to air in the weeks ahead and a second season already greenlit by the House of Mouse. Time to update our Star Wars movies in order and new Star Wars movies and shows guides, then. — TP

• Watch Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord on Disney+

The Testaments (Hulu/Disney+)

Praise be (or not): we're heading back to a newly reformed Gilead in The Handmaid's Tale spinoff, aka The Testaments.

It's set 15 years after the events of the main show and a lot has changed in the republic. Indeed, Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) has rescued herself from imprisonment after being handpicked to oversee the laws and uniforms governing Gilead's women in the form of a new school. Devout Plum Agnes (Chase Infiniti) completely believes in the regime and what it's trying to achieve, but when she's assigned new 'Pearl Girl' Daisy (Lucy Halliday), the truth finds its way out.

Is it worth watching? Read my review of The Testaments to find out. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch The Testaments on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Outcome (Apple TV)

Jonah Hill's new black comedy movie has landed on Apple TV and, with an A-list cast comprising Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, Laverne Cox, Martin Scorsese, and Hill himself, it's certainly got plenty of star power.

The plot centers around Reef Hawk (Reeves), an actor who finds out that someone is blackmailing him with a video of questionable content. Alongside his lawyer Ira Slitz (Hill), he tries to work out who is behind the blackmailing while trying to make amends with people he's wronged along the way.

I was sold on this prior to what critics said but, with many giving Apple's latest movie terrible reviews, it might only be worth seeing if you're a massive Reeves fan. — LB

• Watch Outcome on Apple TV

Hacks season 5 (HBO Max)

When I tell you that you aren't ready for Hacks season 5, you're not damn ready. We're 10 episodes between now, and Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava's (Hannah Einbinder) final farewell — and I can hardly cope.

This time around, they're making their return to Las Vegas following mistaken reports of Deborah's death. They are determined to cement her legacy with a major comeback, working together to turn a post-gag order scandal into a triumph, as only they can.

The cameos are bigger, the laughs are better, and the emotional range will just about crack you in half. RIP, metaphorically dead Deborah... we hardly knew ye. — JV

• Watch Hacks season 5 on HBO Max

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair (Hulu/Disney+)

Frankie Muniz is an adult now?! In what world?! He's always been Malcom in the Middle to me... and thanks to the new Hulu and Disney+ reboot, he genuinely still is.

In Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, a matured Malcolm, now happily married and a father to a daughter, gets caught up into his family’s dysfunctional, high-energy world once more after spending years creating distance.

Two decades might have passed in between, but it feels like nothing has really changed. If you were a fan of Breaking Bad, it's even more hilarious to get up close and ridiculously personal with Bryan Cranston's Hal all over again. Altogether now: You're not the boss of me nowwwww... — JV

• Watch Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Mark Hamill is a Jedi again. No, not that kind of Jedi. Almost 50 years after playing one of the first known Jedis in our universe, Hamill is now a J.E.D.I., a Junior Executive Director of Information for The Lego Group, which is still celebrating the biggest change to the iconic classic brick since its inception. Hamill was fielding calls this week and sharing tips on getting the most out of Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets.

He was kind enough to break from his official duties as a J.E.D.I. to chat with me for TechRadar, and it’s clear he’s a fan of Lego’s next evolution. “I was just bowled over,” Hamill said.

“The sound effects and the lightsaber sounds and R2... I mean, it's phenomenal what they've done because I'm old school. When my boys were little, we played with Lego back in the 80s.” He shared that he started with basic Lego sets, and “it was something that you could do with your kid that everybody enjoyed. And those are golden moments that you'll treasure forever.”

That summation connects right back to Star Wars as well, which Hamill was clear to note was “multigenerational.” “It's the people that were children when it first came out, now are parents themselves, and the way it's passed on is... because it's a family sort of property,” Hamill said before expanding that “there’s something for everyone in it.”

I asked Hamill if, back when he first signed on for Star Wars, he knew that nearly 50 years later it would still be a persistent part of pop culture – “In terms of it becoming a permanent part of pop culture? No way did I imagine that.”

“I felt like it was going to be successful because it had all the elements that I... you know, when I read the script, even without John Williams' music or without the special effects, the script just popped.”

“It had such a great sense of humor, there was drama, it was dark, it was light, it was everything. And I loved it. I thought, you know what, this is going to make enough money that we are going to make the sequel and the sequel to that.”

He was certainly right on that, as Star Wars, the original trilogy, tripled itself into nine films and countless spinoffs, including films and TV shows — animated and live-action — as well as books, comics, and plenty of other forms… including toys. And Hamill’s been a central part of the Star Wars toy universe as well.

“Somebody told me they've made 70 Luke Skywalker Lego sets over the years. I know, I'm more involved in Lego than I am in the actual movies and stuff,” Hamill said. And he’s right, there are a slew of Luke Skywalker minifigures, including an X-Wing pilot, on Tatooine, training with Yoda, original trilogy, new trilogy, older Luke… countless — well, 70. I have plenty of them in my apartment, and I asked him about the first time he saw himself in that form.

“But the first time I saw myself as a minifigure, I said, ‘Why did they make my hair lemon yellow?’ And then Lego came out and they got the hair color right. I said, ‘See, they are paying attention. They're doing their homework.’ The toys they make are much more authentic to the movies. It's a small thing, but it meant something to me,” explained Hamill.

It’s clear he’s still playing with Lego today and sees a strong link – maybe a Force link – between it and Star Wars. “The only thing that limits the children or anyone playing with Lego is their imagination,” Hamill shared on the notion of the multigenerational theme running through Star Wars and extending to Lego.

The notable thing with Smart Play as a whole is that it doesn’t introduce another screen or any barrier between that notion. It’s a classic-looking brick with a mini computer inside that adds flair — sound effects and LED lights — as you play with it.

As I, and countless others who’ve played with Lego or watched Star Wars, know, imagination is the original special effect. And I asked Hamill how Smart Bricks expand on that theme:

“Well, you don't have to say ‘pew-pew-pew’ anymore. They do it for you. It doesn't mean that you could not augment it with your own sounds, but that's what's so incredible, is the way these Smart Bricks bring the sets to life,” noted Hamill.

He then pointed out the Throne Room Duel Smart Play set — “where you can battle with Vader is amazing. And of course, the sounds bring it all to life.”

Given the love for the Throne Room set, I did ask Mark about those duels, and, reflecting on the filming, he was quick to credit the stunt team behind the scenes, especially for the original trilogy’s lightsaber battles.

“I always give credit to our stunt double, Colin Skeaping. I had to do all of my laser duels with Bob Anderson because Dave Prowse couldn't see out of that mask. They built a special mask [for] the stunt coordinator, Peter Diamond. They make you look good, let me tell you, because you practice over and over and over. When I had days off, they still picked me up at 8:00 in the morning, and I worked till 6:00, just rehearsing the lightsaber duels. And it was repetition over and over and over again.”

All of which makes it fitting that the set he keeps returning to is the one built around that very scene.

Of course, he does have a history with the X-Wing: “You're totally free to fly and be wherever you want.” But Hamill was quick to add, “I have to tell you, the throne room set that [Lego] built is fantastic. I mean, it's got the Emperor with the lasers coming out of his hands, it's got the Gamorrean guards flanking him, Luke versus Vader... I mean, it's just great.”

For Hamill, though, the throughline between Star Wars and Lego still comes back to something simpler: imagination.

It’s what powered those original duels — and what continues to define both franchises today. Even with Smart Play adding lights and sound, the core idea remains the same.

“There’s no limits to what you can do,” Hamill said.

And now, nearly 50 years after Star Wars first hit theaters, that sense of play is still being passed down.

Nearing the end of our chat, Hamill was already thinking about returning to the Throne Room set: “I’m going to play this with my granddaughter, but I know she’s going to want me to play Vader. She’ll be Luke.”

Shop Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets

• Star Wars Day 2026 will take place on May 4
• Disney is slowly rolling out this year's range of toys and merchandise
• TechRadar can exclusively reveal one of 2026's new must-have items

The 2026 edition of Star Wars Day is less than a month away — and you know what that means: new toys and merchandise to spend your money on.

Ahead of the now-annual celebration of Lucasfilm's legendary sci-fi franchise, TechRadar can exclusively reveal one of this year's range of collectables, too.

The item in question? Lando Calrissian's Skiff Guard Disguise Helmet, which will retail for $99.99 / £100.00, and be available to buy from May 4 — aka Star Wars Day — at Disney's online shop and physical stores. Check out official images of the helmet, its display stand, and its packaging below:

"Inspired by Lando Calrissian’s covert mission aboard Jabba’s sail barge, this detailed helmet captures the skiff guard disguise worn during the events above the Great Pit of Carkoon," the official description reads. "Its rugged design reflects the unmistakable look of Tatooine’s outer reaches. Complete with a display stand, it’s a distinctive collectible that commemorates a pivotal moment in the Rebellion’s fight against the Empire."

This item isn't just something that'll just gather dust as part of your memorabilia collection. Indeed, you can actually wear it, too, so why not cosplay as Lando at the next fan convention you go to and show it off in all of its glory?

Long-time fans won't need me to remind them which movie this is from. However, for those who haven't traveled to every corner of that iconic galaxy far, far away, Calrissian wears it during the first act of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

In it, the smooth-talking smuggler is part of the team that — spoilers! — attempts to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. To blend in with Jabba's entourage, Calrissian uses the headgear as part of his disguise. Unfortunately, the original plan to save Han goes awry, which forces Calrissian, Luke Skywalker, and the rest of the crew to not only improvise but fight for their lives. I very much doubt you'll have to contend with anything like that while you wear your own Skiff Helmet, though!

As I alluded to earlier, Star Wars Day 2026 is only a few weeks away, so I imagine you're already gearing up for this year's festivities.

If you're planning your first movie marathon on DVD, Blu-Ray, or Disney+, or looking for a new way to watch them, check out our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.

Once you've read that article, get the lowdown on all of the new Star Wars movies and Disney+ shows set to be released in 2026 and beyond. Finally, read up on what we know so far about The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars film in eight years that'll be released on May 22.

• A new Fortnite Unreal Editor update has been released
• The update adds all-new Star Wars-inspired assets and tools
• Creators can design their own Star Wars islands and publish them from May 1

Epic Games has released a huge Fortnite Unreal Editor update that lets players create their own Star Wars islands.

As of today, Fortnite developers can access a curated collection of assets and tools from Epic Games' "largest IP toolset to date" and build Star Wars-inspired maps in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) and Fortnite Creative.

The toolset includes all-new Star Wars templates and gameplay features, which also means players get access to all available Star Wars characters, like Luke Skywalker, Rey, Princess Leia, and The Mandalorian's Din Djarin, several locations, licensed music, vehicles, and 25 weapons from past Fortnite Battle Royale seasons.

The trailer demonstrates just how creative fans can get, and it looks like you can even go as far as creating a worthy Star Wars Battlefront 2 successor if you know what you're doing.

Four UEFN starter islands are currently available to start with, including the planets Hoth, Tatooine, and Nevarro. Two new Star Wars flat grid islands are also available for Fortnite Creative.

"Bring your island to the next level with Niagara-powered visual effects, making it easier to create large-scale moments from dogfights in asteroid fields to dramatic hyperspace entrance and exit sequences," Epic said.

Developers can also expand environments by adding iconic Star Wars locations, like the Death Star, Tatooine Cantina, and Resistance Base, and use background assets like a Star Destroyer to add scale to their scenes.

You can also customize lightsabers with Scene Graph and access Force powers for gameplay abilities like Push, Heal, and Mind Trick by using a special crafting workbench where players can modify their characters’ Force powers, as well as the appearance of their lightsabers.

There are also Team Conquest and narrative roleplaying templates to try out before building your own island.

Although the tools are available now, creators won't be able to publish their designs until May 1. Until then, Epic Games will continue to introduce more functionality to the toolkit, including first-person support for weapons and custom items and inventories in Beta.

• The Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake is still in development
• Saber Interactive's chief creative officer, Tim Willits, has confirmed the project is still in the works
• He says, "Yes, it is still in development. That's all I can say"

It's been a while since we've heard any updates about Saber Interactive's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake, but the developer has now confirmed that the game is still in the works.

When asked by IGN about the future of the project in a recent interview, Saber's chief creative officer, Tim Willits, said simply, "Yes, it is still in development. That's all I can say."

Willits didn't offer any more details about the remake, but at least we know it's not canceled!

The original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was developed by Dragon Age and Mass Effect studio BioWare. The modern remake was announced back in 2021, so it's been almost five years since the reveal trailer that gave everyone goosebumps.

Willits also commented on the game's status in March 2025, saying at the time that it was "working on numerous games across many different genres" and that "everything that we have talked about is still in development."

According to a Game File report from December 2025, it was confirmed that Aspyr was no longer leading the remake's development, and the project had been moved into the hands of Mad Head Games, the studio behind Hellraiser: Revival.

The same report also claimed that there are plans for a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, too.

In other news, A new Star Wars game set during the Old Republic era is now in development at Arcnaut Studios and will be helmed by Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect trilogy director Casey Hudson.

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic was announced at The Game Awards 2025 with a gorgeous teaser trailer, and Hudson has confirmed that it will be a narrative-driven single-player action role-playing game (RPG) where you step into the role of a Force user.

Amazingly, next year is the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, as the original movie (A New Hope) was first released in theaters on May 25, 1977. While it has become an entertainment juggernaut, spawning movies, TV shows, video games, toys — heck, just about everything — the original trilogy remains the most popular and nostalgic part of this legendary franchise.

Star Wars is a big part of my life, as I’m not only a fan but I also regularly use scenes from across the Star Wars universe to test the best TVs and best soundbars. The throne room lightsaber fight in Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a feast for the eyes, while the Death Star attack run in Star Wars A New Hope is a wonderful audio test, especially with Dolby Atmos.

For physical media collectors, myself included, Star Wars (and all its movies and TV shows) have been released in just about every format you can think of, from VHS to 4K Blu-ray and beyond: and there’s a new release (or re-release) on the horizon. Outlets such as Gizmodo and Comic Book Resources have noted that an advert on Amazon US suggests the infamous Special Edition versions of the original trilogy (first released in 1997) are coming to Blu-ray in April 2026.

The Special Editions were George Lucas’ ‘true vision’ and featured new scenes and CGI implementations, most notably the Jabba The Hutt and Han Solo scene in Mos Eisley (which was cut from the original 1977 version). To say these changes were divisive is an understatement. People mainly took issue with the random, distracting CGI creatures shoe-horned into scenes.

With this new release (re-release) of the Special Editions coming to Blu-ray, it has once again shone a light on what fans really want: the original cut on 4K.

Just give us what we want, Disney

As both a Star Wars and 4K Blu-ray fan, I, like many of my nerd family, have been clamoring for a 4K Blu-ray release of the theatrical cut of the original Star Wars trilogy. No CGI, no extra scenes, no screwed-around-with edits: the original cut. (And ideally I’d like it with upscaled textures, some lovely Dolby Vision HDR and a full-fat Dolby Atmos soundtrack, thanks.)

The original trilogy, along with the rest of the ‘Skywalker Saga’, is already available on 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming. While these do look and sound great, with the Dolby Vision and Atmos flavors I asked for above, these are again edited from the original cut and contain all the padding most Star Wars fans don’t want.

For any non-Star Wars fans reading and wondering why the original trilogy’s cuts haven’t been released, you can (allegedly) thank George Lucas. Reportedly, as part of the sale terms to Disney in 2012, the original, theatrical cut for Star Wars was never to be released on home media: only Lucas’ edited version. As Lucas himself said in 2024: “Sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it, but I want it to be the way I want it to be”. Damnit, George.

It’s gotten to the stage where fans are so rabid for the original cut that some have made what is referred to as ‘despecialized editions’ of the original trilogy, most famous of which is Harmy’s Despecialized Edition from 2011, in which the picture and audio improvements have stayed but all the CGI edits have been removed. The issue is, these editions are very rare and expensive. Anyone wanting the original trilogy on Blu-ray or 4K has to stick with the various cuts from the Special Editions onward. Or so we thought.

A New Hope (literally)

In June 2025, a ballot of BFI members went to a screening of the original cut of Star Wars: A New Hope, remastered and restored. And it’s now been confirmed on Star Wars official website that the original movie, in its theatrical cut glory, will be getting a run in theaters in 2027, first releasing February 19, to celebrate 50 years of the original. Huzzah!

While this isn’t the news of a physical media release I was hoping for, it’s a step in the right direction. We thought the original cut would never see the light of day again, but here it is — even if it is a ‘limited run’. But that’s not the only news.

At the tail end of 2025, several screenshots and video clips of Star Wars being remastered in 4K were leaked onto Imgur (as you’d expect, these are now long gone). This sent places like Reddit into a frenzy, with fans in this thread from r/blurayboutique hoping this was the news of a 4K home release we’d been waiting for.

Cut to 2026 and these could have been leaks from the announced 50th Anniversary theatrical run, but what if they weren’t? What if it was from a planned 4K Blu-ray release? What if Disney has finally decided to say, 'screw George Lucas, let's give Star Wars fans what they’ve been after?'

We’re all looking to new President of Star Wars Dave Feloni, a confessed Star Wars fan who’s worked on projects such as the excellent Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon, for answers on a 4K Blu-ray theatrical cut release. Help us Dave Feloni: you’re our only hope.

The Mandalorian and Grogu isn't too far away from bringing Star Wars back to the big screen. Indeed, with its worldwide launch just around the corner — it comes out on May 22 — we'll finally revisit Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away in theaters for the first time in almost seven years.

Before it's released, you'll want to know all there is to know about it, too. Below, I've rounded up the most important information on the Disney+ show's film sequel, including its various trailers, confirmed cast, and story specifics. Here, then, is the complete lowdown on The Mandalorian's movie follow-up.

The Mandalorian and Grogu release date

As I mentioned above, The Mandalorian & Grogu will be released on Friday, May 22.

The Mandalorian's movie sequel was first announced in January 2024, but it wasn't long until we learned that The Mandalorian and Grogu wouldn't arrive until sometime in 2026. Regardless, we're just weeks away from its arrival now, so all systems are go for its premiere.

The Mandalorian and Grogu trailers

The Mandalorian & Grogu's first trailer landed online last September. However, it didn't tell us anything about the plot, and things didn't get any clearer after a t2026 Super Bowl teaser for The Mandalorian and Grogu was similarly devoid of story details.

Thankfully, Disney and Lucasfilm unveiled The Mandalorian & Grogu's main trailer on February 17. Check it out below:

Finally, Lucasfilm and Disney gave us one final look at the titular duo's first silver screen outing in late April, too, which further assuaged concerns that they weren't doing enough to promote the first Star Wars film since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.

The Mandalorian and Grogu cast

Possible spoilers follow for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Here's the confirmed cast list so far for the upcoming Star Wars flick:

• Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin/The Mandalorian
• Grogu as himself
• Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Ward
• Steve Blum as Garazeb 'Zeb' Orrelios
• Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt
• Johnny Coyne as Lord Janu
• Martin Scorsese as an unnamed Ardennian shopkeeper

As The Mandalorian's leading pair, it wouldn't be a movie sequel to the aforementioned show without Din Djarin and Grogu/Baby Yoda.

They'll be joined by at least one familiar face in this movie, with Blum returning to voice the Lasat known affectionately as Zeb. After making his debut in the animated show Star Wars: Rebels as a member of the Ghost crew, Zeb is now a captain of The New Republic. He'll likely take orders from Colonel Ward, aka the formerly mysterious character that Sigourney Weaver was tapped to play in May 2024.

Weaver isn't the only newcomer to the Star Wars franchise.

For starters, legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese will have a voice-only cameo as the Ardennian shopkeeper whom Mando and Grogu visit to get information on some Hutts, aka the sentient slug-like creatures known for becoming crime lords.

White, who's best known for playing Carmen Berzatto in The Bear (aka the multi-award-winning and critically-acclaimed Hulu TV show), has been cast as one such Hutt, with White hired to play Jabba the Hutt's muscular son Rotta. He's one of three confirmed Hutts we'll see, although it's unclear who'll voice the others. For now, Disney and Lucasfilm are simply referring to them as Rotta's twin cousins.

Additionally, nobody knows who's been hired to play Bai, Clang, and Keeto, i.e., the three Ancellans we see riding with Grogu in the film's trailers and TV spot. The same is true of Embo, a fearsome bounty hunter and Hutt bodyguard first seen during The Clone Wars. Embo was confirmed to be part of the proceedings in The Mandalorian and Grogu's official trailer.

Finally, Coyne will reprise his role as Janu, aka one of the unnamed Imperial Warlords seen in The Mandalorian season 3 episode 7. He's a member of the Shadow Council who met — via Hologram — with Giancarlo Esposito's Moff Gideon in said show.

The Mandalorian and Grogu story synopsis and speculation

Here's The Mandalorian & Grogu's plot brief: "The evil Empire has fallen and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu."

Not much to go on, then, but the trailers have given us some idea about its plot. Potential spoilers immediately follow for The Mandalorian and Grogu, so proceed at your own risk.

Judging by trailer #2, the eponymous duo will seek out Brother and Sister Hutt with a view to acquiring information about the remnants of the Galactic Empire. That way, they can track down anyone still loyal to Emperor Palpatine (who's not dead yet, remember) and, in the words of Mando himself, "take out every bad guy" in The New Republic's "deck of cards."

For Colonel Ward, though, sending Din and Baby Yoda on this mission "isn't about revenge", it's about "preventing another war" from erupting if the Galactic Empire rises from the ashes to try tyranically lauding it over the galaxy once more. Whether the titular pair agrees with that or not is up for debate.

Of course, our intrepid heroes' plans won't be executed without a few hiccups along the way as the film's second trailer reveals they'll get in over their heads. With Din captured by the Hutts, Grogu hunted by Embo, and myriad criminals and monsters out to get them, this could be the pair's most dangerous quest to date.

Then there's the elephant in the room about how The Mandalorian & Grogu might set the stage for the Star Wars crossover movie that new Lucasfilm co-CEO Dave Filoni is leading development on.

One of many new Star Wars films and Disney+ shows in development, the untitled ensemble flick will reportedly see Din Djarin, Grogu, Ahsoka Tano, and other Star Wars heroes team up to do battle with Grand Admiral Thrawn. That's the blue-skinned Big Bad with ambitions to rebuild the Galactic Empire in his own image, and a fan-favorite villain played by Lars Mikkelsen in season 1 of Star Wars: Ahsoka.

Considering some Imperial remnants will show up in The Mandalorian and Grogu, should we expect this film to start sowing the seeds for that team-up movie? Or has it been put on the back burner amid the change of leadership at Lucasfilm? We'll have to wait and see.

Is The Mandalorian season 4 still in development?

The ensemble movie I mentioned notwithstanding, Lucasfilm and Disney would be silly to bring Mando and Baby Yoda's story to an end after The Mandalorian and Grogu. So, the possibility of the pair returning to Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, for another season isn't outlandish.

Will a fourth season of The Mandalorian get made, though? In January 2024, Deadline reported that The Mandalorian season 4 was in development. Some time later, Jon Favreau, co-creator of the Star Wars TV series and director of its upcoming film sequel, told Empire magazine (per Fiction Horizon): "We were planning on doing a fourth season. I had actually written all of that. I still have season 4 sitting on my desk."

More recently, though, Favreau stated (per SFX Magazine) that he couldn't simply rejig those scripts and turn them into The Mandalorian and Grogu. As such, he had to write this movie from scratch, which will have almost certainly impacted the plan for season 4's story.

It's still up for debate whether a fourth season will get made, then. My best guess? If The Mandalorian & Grogu performs well at the box office, their future will remain on the big screen. If it underperforms, though, they might be sent back to their original home on the small screen.

For more Star Wars coverage, find out how to watch the Star Wars movies in order and see what we know so far about Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2.

• Netflix has condemed the use of its IP in Seedance 2.0
• Characters from numerous Netflix-owned properties have recently appeared in AI-generated videos
• Disney, Warner Bros, and Paramount have also hit out at ByteDance over similar incidents

Netflix has joined the chorus of dissenting voices over the use of its intellectual property (IP) in videos created by Seedance 2.0.

Yesterday (February 17), Netflix sent a cease and desist letter to ByteDance, which owns the artificial intelligence (AI) video generator, and threatened to take legal action if ByteDance didn't stop treating "our valued IP as free, public domain clip art."

Netflix's warning comes amid the use of characters from some of its most popular franchises in recent videos created by Seedance 2.0, including characters from Stranger Things, Kpop Demon Hunters, and Bridgerton.

The recreation of the life-threatening games seen in Squid Game — one video sees controversial Tesla founder Elon Musk inserted into one of the games' deadly challenges (per Deadline) — was also mentioned in Netflix's two-page correspondence.

For the uninitiated: Seedance is a generative-AI video maker that allows users to create near-realistic footage from just a few short text prompts.

It wasn't until ByteDance, which also owns the hugely popular shortform video app TikTok, launched version 2.0 of its generative AI tool on February 12, though, that it became a hot topic of discussion. Indeed, the emergence of a video made with Seedance 2.0, which shows Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise fighting on a bridge, went viral 24 hours before the program's latest update went live.

Unsurprisingly, the footage immediately caused concern among many, not least Hollywood studios. In the days since the aforementioned video circulated online, others have similarly gained traction, with users populating AI-created videos with characters from Marvel and Star Wars (both of which are owned by Disney), DC Comics superheroes including Superman and Batman (Warner Bros.), and characters from various Paramount properties.

Furious Disney, Warner Bros. and Paramount executives have already condemned ByteDance for "blatant infringement" of copyright and conducting a "virtual smash-and-grab" of their IPs in their own fiery cease and desist letters. Meanwhile, the Screen Actors Guild of America (SAG-AFTRA) has also called the use of Cruise and Pitt's likeness in the aforementioned Seedance video as "unacceptable".

However, with Netflix now entering the fray — one of the world's best streaming services says it "won't stand by and watch" Seedance use its copyrighted materials — the pressure on ByteDance has only grown in stature. Will the likes of Amazon, Apple, and NBCUniversal eventually join their fellow entertainment giants? If any of their IPs are used in a similar fashion, absolutely.

For what it's worth, the Chinese company has said it'll take steps to protect US studios' biggest franchises. In a statement shared with Deadline on February 16, a spokesperson said: "[ByteDance] respects intellectual property rights and we have heard the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0. We are taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorised use of intellectual property and likeness by users."

The furore over Seedance 2.0 comes amid the ongoing, largely unregulated use of generative-AI models to make, well, whatever a user wants. Hollywood firms have hit out at other similarly marketed programs, including OpenAI's Sora 2, while governments worldwide have been left scrambling over how to deal with such AI tools and, where possible, fast-track new laws to limit how they can be used.

However, with studios like Disney actually agreeing three-year licensing deals with tools like Sora 2, which will allow fans to create shortform videos featuring their favorite Disney-owned characters, the use of AI tools like Seedance 2.0 will continue to operate in a gray area. That is, until governments, companies, and everyday users work out how best to utilize them — and how to respond when they're used in the wrong way.

• A new trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu has been released
• It arrived nine days after its 2026 Super Bowl TV spot divided fans
• The next Star Wars movie will land in theaters on May 22, 2026

Fire up the Razor Crest's engines, Star Wars fans, because the official trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu has finally been unveiled ahead of its May 22, 2026 launch date.

Over a week (at the time of publication) on from The Mandalorian and Grogu's divisive Super Bowl 2026 TV spot, Disney has given us a much clearer look at the forthcoming film. And, unlike The Mandalorian and Grogu's first trailer, which landed online last September, this one gives us some indication about what its story will actually entail.

When does The Mandalorian and Grogu take place? And who is Embo?

Picking up after season 3 of The Mandalorian, which is set between Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the titular bounty hunter and Baby Yoda set out to track down some of the galaxy's sentient slug-like species known as the Hutts for newfound allies The New Republic.

Famously known as crime lords, the Hutts appear to have crucial information that'll allow the New Republic to keep tabs on the remnants of the Galactic Empire, which was apparently destroyed in Return of the Jedi.

As we know from Lucasfilm's sequel film trilogy, that isn't the case. Regardless, it's clear that Din and Grogu get in over their heads during their latest quest. Indeed, whether it's being captured by the Hutts, or pursued by the bowcaster-wielding bounty hunter known as Embo, another intergalactic adventure filled with the kind of high-stakes action and sci-fi sensibilities is on the cards.

Right now, it's unclear who'll portray Embo. For the uninitiated, though: he's a Kyuzo mercenary who was alive at the height of the Clone Wars and is best known for wearing a large-rimmed hat that doubles as a shield and throwing weapon. At this point on the Star Wars timeline, it seems he'll still be at the behest of the Grand Hutt Council, too, which hired Embo to be one of its bodyguards during said Clone Wars.

As for the film's known cast: Pedro Pascal reprises his role as Din Djarin, aka the eponymous Mandalorian, in one of this year's new movies. Joining him are Grogu as, well, himself and The Bear's Jeremy Allen White, who's set to voice Rotta the Hutt.

After Sigourney Weaver joined The Mandalorian and Grogu in a mystery role in May 2024, we've since learned she'll play a New Republic officer in the form of Colonel Ward, too. Steve Blum also returns to voice Garazeb 'Zeb' Orellios, who was originally a member of the Ghost crew in Star Wars: Rebels but is now a New Republic captain.

For more on one of the numerous new Star Wars movies and TV shows that'll arrive over the next few years, read what The Mandalorian franchise overlord Jon Favreau has said about taking 'Mando' and Baby Yoda from the small to the big screen. And, if you still haven't watched The Mandalorian yet, all three seasons are currently available to stream on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.

We’re less than 100 days away from Star Wars’ return to the big screen. And when The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026, it won’t just mark another chapter for the franchise – it will be the first time the iconic Clan of Two makes the leap from streaming to cinema.

The Mandalorian was a launch title for Disney+ and quickly became a global sensation. Din Djarin and Grogu (formerly “Baby Yoda”) are now among the most recognizable characters in Star Wars. But moving from the living room to the multiplex is no small jump, and director Jon Favreau knows it.

Speaking during a fireside chat with Disney’s Chief Creative Officer Bobby Kim at an event celebrating newly revealed toys tied to the film, where TechRadar was in attendance, Favreau reflected on what that transition requires.

“So the challenge becomes okay, we presented a cinematic experience on the small screen, we gotta up our game now for the movie theater.”

The Mandalorian on Disney+ already pushed technical boundaries while maintaining big-screen-level visuals. Much of it was shot on a cutting-edge virtual production stage, helping blur the line between television and theatrical filmmaking.

“Well, I was very fortunate that when we started with The Mandalorian and Disney Plus was starting, that medium allowed us to tell a very cinematic story,” Favreau said. “And we innovated some new technologies for it and we drew upon existing workflows around CG that had been developed as we were doing at the same time as the sequels. So we were plugged into this ILM machine that is extremely good at executing work at a high level, and because it’s Star Wars, we had to execute at that same level.”

Industrial Light & Magic helped ensure that The Mandalorian looked and felt cinematic from day one. But for a theatrical release, the bar rises higher.

“We have to up our game now for the movie theater,” Favreau continued. “And that means taller aspect ratios for IMAX, building sets that take full advantage of that, making visual effects of the quality and caliber that – you know – that we have to notch everything up. And then the storytelling as well.”

IMAX screens, larger builds, and elevated VFX are part of the equation, but Favreau also understands the storytelling side.

“We want to take you on an adventure,” he said. “And that adventure has to fill up the screen.”

In an era when streaming dominates and attention is constantly divided, theatrical films must justify the trip.

“At this moment in time when so much is competing for your attention, you’re going to stop what you’re doing and you’re going to go to a movie theater, and you’re not going to be able to pause it, and you’re not going to be able to eat the food out of your refrigerator, and you have to go there and then you have to have such a good experience that you say, ‘this, this was worth my time, let’s go again, I want to bring you, you should go see it.’”

That’s the real shift from streaming to cinema. At home, you can multitask. In a theater, the story has to command the room.

Favreau, who has now spent seven years working in the Star Wars universe, described the move to a theatrical feature as something more personal.

“To be able to step up to doing it as a film feels like a culmination of what I’ve been working on. It’s been such a great time, and I’m so excited for people to see what we’ve got in store.”

While fans are still waiting on the first full trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu, Favreau did offer a few concrete hints about what’s ahead – and it certainly got the room excited.

“There’s some stuff that people may have gotten clues to,” Favreau began, noting that the Razor Crest is back.

“He’s in the Razor Crest now, which is the ship that he originally had… he’s in the same model of ship.”

In other words, Din Djarin is once again piloting the same model ship that defined the early days of The Mandalorian — and the Clan of Two is traveling together again.

Grogu, meanwhile, has evolved.

“Grogu has leveled up a bit,” Favreau said. “We saw that he trained with Luke, time has passed, so he’s got a little bit of Jedi influence, and then he’s also an apprentice Mandalorian. So now it’s time for Dad and his teacher to bring him on adventures with him.”

More clues, Favreau teased, will surface soon.

Even so, the message is clear: the jump from streaming to theaters isn’t just about scale – it’s about delivering an experience worthy of the big screen.

“Pretty soon there’ll be a few more clues out there in the world,” Favreau said.

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer got a new trailer at the PlayStation State of Play
• It confirms the return of podracing
• The chaotic racer is scheduled to launch sometime this year

Be still, my racing game loving heart; Star Wars: Galactic Racer is looking every bit the unhinged love letter to genre classics like Burnout, F-Zero, Wipeout, and of course the wider Star Wars universe itself.

While initially revealed at The Game Awards, the recent February 12 State of Play gave us an all-new look at Star Wars: Galactic Racer that really emphasized the chaotic nature of its races. Speeders bumped into and destroyed one another, the speed of it looked appropriately tense, and there were even hints of a story mode with growing rivalries within.

It helps that visually, the game looks utterly breathtaking, and appears to run at a clean and stable 60 frames per second - crucial for any arcade-style racer, if you ask me.

Perhaps best of all, the new trailer confirms the return of Episode 1's podracers. There's even a return of an iconic Star Wars weirdo in Ben Quadinaros, as we see right at the end of the trailer.

Thankfully we've learned a few more tidbits about Star Wars: Galactic Racer beyond its trailer, thanks to the updated Steam page. There will be a main story, in which we play as a mysterious racer known as Shade. We'll also be able to pilot various types of iconic Star Wars vehicles, such as landspeeders, skim speeders, and podracers.

Players will also get to "build a ride that showcases your style," hinting at vehicle customization and potentially livery and paint job design. "PvP grudge matches" are also confirmed, seemingly hinting at the game's multiplayer elements which may also include a ranked mode.

Personally, I'm already sold. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer is perhaps my favorite Star Wars game outside of the Rogue Squadron series, and I'm ecstatic to see the franchise return to the racing game genre for the first time in what feels like forever.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches sometime in 2026. Hopefully sooner rather than later, because I can't wait to get my hands on it.

• A new TV spot for The Mandalorian and Grogu was shown during the 2026 Super Bowl
• It's a parody of old Budsweiser Clydesdale adverts
• Star Wars fans have largely reacted negatively to the movie's latest teaser

A new teaser for The Mandalorian and Grogu has been released online – and it seems most Star Wars fans are unimpressed by what they've seen.

The 30-second TV spot initially aired during one of the 2026 Super Bowl's many ad breaks before being uploaded to Star Wars' various social media channels. And, while it's supposed to parody those Budweiser Clydesdale adverts narrated by actor Sam Elliot, who returns to voice this teaser, it hasn't been received well by sections of the sci-fi franchise's fanbase.

Amusing and arguably creative though this TV spot is, long-time fans of the Lucasfilm property have had a lot to say since it dropped, with threads on r/StarWars and r/StarWarsLeaks, plus a quick scan on social media platforms like X/Twitter, showing a swell of negative reactions to the teaser.

Why are Star Wars fans so annoyed by The Mandalorian and Grogu TV spot?

For starters, the movie, which picks up some time after The Mandalorian's third season ended on Disney+, will be out soon.

First announced as a big-screen sequel to The Mandalorian in mid-2024, the Pedro Pascal-starring flick is set to land in theaters on May 23, 2026. However, despite the fact that it's out in just over three months, we've only seen one main trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu – and that came out last September.

You can understand why, then, when Deadline reported that Disney would show new footage for it during this year's Super Bowl, that fans were relieved and/or excited – at least until many of them saw the aforementioned TV spot, which reportedly cost $10 million to show at Super Bowl LX.

Comment from r/StarWarsLeaks

"What's going on with Lucasfilm marketing team?" X/Twitter user Shawn Nicholson wrote. "They're gonna have another Solo on their hands if they don't correct this soon. No one is talking about this, and those that are refer to it as Mando season 4. They need a proper trailer out and one that gets people hyped!"

"The first Star Wars film in 7 years is coming out in three months and this is what they drop during the Superbowl?" Redditor SWFT-YouTube opined, "Like, yeah, it's a funny ad, but come on."

"I like the #TheMandalorianAndGrogu Super Bowl ad," @OutlawNoah mused. "But, it is worrying that they really don’t seem too anxious to reveal more footage. They’re promoting this movie like it’s a Disney+ series. That is NOT the way."

"Well the marketing for this movie continues to be terrible," Reddit user vader602 said, before fellow Redditor billyb311 added: "Movie comes out in 3 months and this is the best we get?"

Back over on X/Twitter, Tom Bacon wrote: "Do Lucasfilm believe Grogu is so big #TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a guaranteed hit, or is the marketing team just asleep at the wheel? SERIOUSLY concerned about that ridiculous Super Bowl slot", while Max Kirchi said: "I don't know what to make of it. It's creative, but it's not something that really sparks hype. As with everything Star Wars, I'll go in with an open mind, but I don't have a good feeling about it [Star Wars:] Starfighter would probably have been the better choice for the Star Wars return."

Comment from r/StarWarsLeaks

There were some who took the teaser at face value and had more pleasant things to say about it, though.

Redditor Acceptable-Slide9024 wrote: "I thought it was funny and was gonna be the Budweiser commercial with the horses", while taco-force said: "I'm kinda here for the audacity of this ad." Meanwhile, on X/Twitter, @ManaByte defended Lucasfilm and Disney, saying: "Jon Favreau directed an original 30-second commercial for #TheMandalorianAndGrogu that references some of the most famous Super Bowl commercials of all time, and Disney spent $10 million to air it during the game. Marketing 'experts' on social media: 'Disney doesn’t know what they’re doing.'"

Summing up those who viewed the ad for what it was, Reddit user macmillianwinduarte simply added: "You guys will hate anything lol."

Want to know what Lucasfilm has in the pipeline after The Mandalorian and Grogu? Read our guide on every new Star Wars movie and TV show in development. Then, check out my thoughts on whether Star Wars' new leadership team can save the spluttering sci-fi franchise.

Following the tech’s debut at CES 2026, Lego has just announced a quintet of new Smart Play compatible Star Wars sets, but be warned, these sets don’t come with the most important piece: the Smart Brick.

While I was initially unconvinced by Lego’s evolution of play, I’ve quickly come around on the tech, which relies on special minifigures and tiles built into sets that can activate lights and sound effects inside the Smart Brick to enhance the toy’s play features.

The fact that it doesn’t require an app, has a big focus on kid-friendly play, and that the components are as Lego system compatible as their non-smart variants has convinced me that Smart Play could be an excellent advancement of Lego rather than a downgrade.

It appears Lego agrees, as its three-set lineup has five new additions – all still in the Star Wars theme.

We have the Millennium Falcon, Luke’s Landspeeder, and Mos Eisley Cantina, as well as sets depicting Yoda’s Hut and Jedi Training, and the AT-ST Attack on Endor. Each build comes with at least one smart tile and one smart minifigure, but crucially, no Smart Brick is included.

And that means you'll still need to pick up one of the Smart Play All-in-One Sets like Luke’s Red Five X-Wing, Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, or the Throne Room Duel & A-Wing.

This naming convention appears to be how Lego will differentiate its sets. All-In-One Smart Play sets have everything you need, while merely Compatible builds lack the Smart Brick – so make sure you don’t get caught out.

Without the Smart Brick, these new Compatible sets are at least a little more affordable, with better piece-to-cost ratios, but as a themed set, there is still a premium to pay.

The cheapest, Luke’s Landspeeder, comes with 215 bricks and costs $39.99 / £34.99 / AU$59.99; meanwhile, the priciest of these new builds is the 885-piece Millennium Falcon at $99.99 / £89,99 / AU$149.99.

Of course, the most interesting of these five sets is the Mos Eisley Cantina one. I can already hear the space jazz filling the bar from the Smart Brick. I'm also excited to listen to the smart Ewok in action from the Attack on Endor set, but gutted that the Jawa included with Luke's Landspeeder isn't able to deliver its iconic Jawanese calls, as it's just a regular minifigure.

I’m still waiting for something under $20 and a collection of just smart pieces to enhance existing sets or creative builds, but these models are a major step in the right direction in my mind, and I’m excited to see more.

If you're sold on these compatible sets and maybe already locked in an order for the core Smart Play sets, Lego is taking preorders now and will begin deliveries on March 1, 2026.

• Lego Smart Play Luke's Landspeeder: $39.99 at Lego
• Lego Smart Play AT-ST™ Attack on Endor: $49.99 at Lego
• Lego Smart Play Yoda's Hut and Jedi Training: $69.99 at Lego
• Lego Smart Play Mos Eisley Cantina: $79.99 at Lego
• Lego Smart Play Millennium Falcon: $99.99 at Lego

It's official: Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as overseer of the Star Wars franchise.

After months of speculation, Kennedy's 14-year spell in charge of the Disney subsidiary – and, by proxy, her time managing its flagship sci-fi property – will soon come to an end. Kennedy's impending departure was first announced on the official Star Wars website last night (January 15).

As well as announcing Kennedy's exit, Lucasfilm and parent company Disney revealed who will succeed her. Dave Filoni, who's been viewed as Kennedy's natural heir for some time, will become Lucasfilm President and Chief Creative Officer for the Star Wars franchise, with Lynwen Brennan also serving as Co-President.

With over 30 years' experience working across various Star Wars and other Lucasfilm-developed projects, Filoni and Brennan are viewed as a safe pair of hands who could lead that iconic galaxy far, far away into new and potentially exciting territory. The big question on everyone's minds now, though, is: will they?

The rule of two

Filoni and Brennan clearly have the talent, dedication, expertise, and fanatical affection for the Star Wars universe that should help to usher in a new era of original storytelling.

There's plenty of evidence to suggest they will. Ever since Filoni joined Lucasfilm to direct Star Wars: The Clone Wars' animated feature film, the avid Star Wars fan has become increasingly involved in steering the direction of the franchise. His influence has been most notable in the era of streaming, with Filoni creating and executively producing numerous Disney+ shows amid the explosion of the streaming sector, and the subsequent race between studios to grab viewers' attention.

Not every project has been a success (more on these later). However, Filoni has helped oversee critically-acclaimed and/or hugely popular small-screen endeavors, including Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and, of course, The Mandalorian.

Brennan's 25-year+ career at Lucasfilm has been less forward-facing than her new studio presidential partner's, but it's nonetheless been an impressive rise through the ranks for the company stalwart. Initially joining Lucasfilm division Industrial Light & Magic in 1999, Brennan became leader of said sub-company in 2009, before being promoted to Lucasfilm General Manager in 2015. Eleven years on from her last career advancement, Brennan is now set to use her evident leadership and business skills to co-run the place she's called home for 27 years.

Will the Force reawaken under Filoni and Brennan's leadership?

Prepared as Filoni and Brennan no doubt are to assume control of Lucasfilm, there's no denying that they're taking charge of an incredibly popular franchise that's lost its way in recent years.

For starters, it's been eight years since the last Star Wars movie – the overly cautious and predictable The Rise of Skywalker – was released in theaters. And, while that big-screen hiatus will come to an end in mid-2026 with the arrival of The Mandalorian and Grogu, it's debatable how well it'll perform – and, perhaps more importantly, if it's the right movie to end the drought.

Indeed, to all intents and purposes, Mando and Baby Yoda's silver-screen debut seems to be a reworked version of what should have been The Mandalorian season 4. Throw in the lack of buzz around the movie, the sluggish nature of its marketing push – it's out in four months and we've only seen one trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu – and the fact that it's coming off the back of the series' worst-rated installment (that being season 3), and the Filoni-Brennan era may get off to an inauspicious start if the movie doesn't hit the ground running.

There are other movie-based issues to be tackled too. The Mandalorian and Grogu and the Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighter, which arrives in May 2027, notwithstanding, all other new Star Wars movies have been trapped in development hell for a while.

In a wide-ranging Deadline interview as part of her farewell tour, Kennedy confirmed that scripts for various films had been turned in by Taiki Waititi, Donald Glover, James Mangold/Beau Willimon, and Adam Driver/Scott Burns/Steven Soderbergh. Given that some of those have been in the works for years with no sign of actually getting made, plus Kennedy's comments that "we’re in an era where companies are so risk-averse" about making original, creatively distinct movies, it's unclear if they'll ever see the light of day.

Then there's the TV side of the money-spinning IP. The rapid rise of the streaming industry saw Lucasfilm pivot away from big-screen offerings in favor of telling stories via Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.

And, for a time, that decision paid off. The Mandalorian was a key driver behind millions signing up in the early days of Disney+. Other TV series have also been popular (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Ahsoka) enough among viewers, and/or rightly earned widespread acclaim and awards for their creative endeavors (Andor, Star Wars: Visions).

There have been notable duds, though. The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew are two such examples that didn't resonate with audiences and, where The Acolyte is concerned, led to accusations from some fans that the franchise had become too woke and no longer appealed to its predominantly white, heterosexual male demographic. Given the backlash and/or poor viewership, neither title got a second season.

Filoni and Brennan's in-trays will be full of other pressing matters that require their attention when they officially replace Kennedy. To me, though, the three biggest problems they need to solve are getting Star Wars back on the big screen, favoring quality over quantity with their movie and TV show output, and – most important of all – greenlighting projects that continue to take big, creative swings that appeal to every Star Wars fan.

Nail those and Kennedy's heirs to the throne might turn this stuttering ship around. Fail, and the Force will no longer be with one of Disney's biggest IPs.

Lego’s first sets with Smart Bricks, Minifigures, and Tags might not be shipping until March 1, 2026, but if you’re already eager to make R2-D2 scream by flipping an X-Wing, hear the Imperial March as Vader approaches his Tie Fighter, or stage an epic lightsaber battle in the Throne Room, fear not, as preorders have started.

Whether you’re in the US, UK, or Australia, you can preorder any of the announced Lego Smart Play sets directly from the retailer. In the United States, preorders are also available on Amazon.

As a reminder, the line starts with the $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99 Tie Fighter, moves to the $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99 X-Wing, and tops out with the $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$249.99 Throne Room Duel and A-Wing.

You can see our deep dive into what Smart Play is here, as well as our first look at the forthcoming Star Wars sets here, but ahead, we’re giving you everything you need to know about how to lock in a preorder.

Lego Smart Play Darth Vader's TIE Fighter

The entry-level Smart Play Darth Vader's TIE Fighter is a pretty nice one that fans of the dark side will likely find most appealing. And this one should be an especially fun one to play with, at least from the demos I had with it.

For $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99, you get one Smart Brick and the wireless charger for it, a Darth Vader Smart Minifigure, and a Smart Tag. You also get an additional Minifigure, and you'll build the durable Tie Fighter – remember, it's designed for play and battles – a Rebel Outpost, and a fueling station. In total, it's 473 pieces.

It's up for preorder at LEGO in the US, UK, and Australia, as well as Amazon in the United States.

Lego Smart Play Luke's Red Five X-Wing

Next is a personal favorite of mine – the Smart Play version of Luke's Red Five X-Wing. For $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99, you'll get a single Smart Brick and charger, two Smart Minifigures – Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker – and five Smart Tags. Those tags are for R2-D2 – the most important one – the X-wing, an Imperial turret, a transporter, and the command center. This set features 581 pieces in total.

It's up for preorder at Lego in the US, UK, and Australia, plus Amazon in the United States.

Lego Smart Play Throne Room Duel and A-Wing

Lego's top-of-the-line Smart Play set at launch comes with a total of 962 pieces and brings a classic Star Wars set back to life. It's of course the Throne Room Duel and A-Wing, and for the $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$249.99 price, you get the most Smart Play pieces as well.

Leading that is three Smart Minifigures – Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader –, two Smart Bricks, and five Smart Tags. The latter ensures you can have a proper Lightsaber battle with two tags, plus ones for the A-wing, throne, and Death Star turret.

It's available for preorder now from Lego in the US, UK, and Australia as well as Amazon in the United States.

New movies continue to arrive thick and fast as we barrel through 2026's summer blockbuster season — and this week's biggest new flick is a doozy.

Indeed, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie and the rest of the gang are back for more misadventures in Toy Story 5, which is out now in theaters worldwide. If you've outgrown Pixar's popular money-making film franchise, though, A24's latest release in The Death of Robin Hood might be right up your alley instead.

Not fussed on either film? There are plenty more fantastic looking new movies coming in late June and beyond (NB: new entries for August to December will be added soon). So, read on to find out what your next trip to the cinema will be!

New movies: June

Toy Story 5

Release date: out now (worldwide)

A movie that didn't need to be made in the eyes of some, especially after the last two Toy Story films appeared to bring down the curtain on Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and company.

Regardless of your feelings on the matter, Pixar and Disney have made Toy Story 5. This time, the iconic toys have to contend with the arrival of new high-tech playthings. Indeed, after Bonnie is gifted a touchscreen tablet named Lilypad, it isn't long before our heroes find themselves on the periphery of playtime once more. Unsure how to handle the villainous Lilypad, Buzz and Jesse reach out to Woody for help — and everyone's favorite cowboy reunites with the group to tackle the new threat.

Before you see it, read my Toy Story 5 review to find out if it lives up to the series' best entries.

The Death of Robin Hood

Release date: out now (most territories); September 4 (UK)

Hugh Jackman can't catch a break on the big screen lately. Indeed, after his character was bumped off as part of The Sheep Detectives' plot, the Aussie actor's latest role sees him to play an aged-up Robin Hood in an A24 historical drama that many people have unsurprisingly likened to his 2019 R-rated X-Men movie in Logan.

In it, Jackman's infamous outlaw seeks shelter at a remote nunnery after being seriously injured during his last battle. While there, he's prevented from leaving by a mysterious woman (played by Jodie Comer), which forces the eponymous bandit to reflect his past actions.

Supergirl

Release date: June 26 (worldwide)

The second DC Universe (DCU) movie to arrive as part of DCU Chapter One, this comic book movie marks the first time that Supergirl will have appeared on the big screen in over 40 years.

Based on the graphic novel Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, it'll follow Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El after she's enlisted to help young warrior Ruthye track down and kill the space pirate who murdered Ruthye's father.

For more on one of this year's most exciting new movies, find out everything we know so far about Supergirl. Then, check out my Supergirl cast and character guide to see who'll join Alcock on-screen.

Jackass: Best and Last

Release date: June 26 (worldwide)

"Hi, I'm Johnny Knoxville, welcome to Jackass!" — a phrase that'll be instantly recognizable to a whole generation of fans, it's one we'll likely hear for the final time when Jackass: Best and Last riotously flies into theaters in late June.

A compilation-positioned installment of the slapstick comedy reality franchise, we'll see Knoxville and the rest of the cast take part in new stunts, and look back on their biggest hits, across Best and Last's runtime. It promises to be a bittersweet farewell for the Jackass crew, but one that'll have us laughing all the way to the end credits.

New movies: July

Minions & Monsters

Release date: July 1 (worldwide)

The babbling, yellow-hued gift that keeps on giving for Universal, Minions & Monsters sees the former return for their next big-screen outing — one that'll likely make over $1 billion globally, too.

Set years before their 2015 self-titled film, the Minions somehow find themselves cast in a monster movie that's seriously short of terrifying creatures. Cue the group embarking on a quest to track down a whole host of colorful beasts to star opposite them in what's set to be an incredibly metatextual movie.

The Invite

Release date: July 3 (worldwide)

Described as a dark comedy, The Invite stars Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen as Angela and Joe, a married couple going through a tough time in their relationship. However, when their neighbors (Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz) invite them to partake in their now-weekly orgies, things quickly spiral out of control.

This A24 flick earned rave reviews at this year's Sundance Film Festival in January. Hopefully, that early positive word of mouth will hope this one to become the increasingly popular studio's next big-screen hit.

Moana

Release date: July 10 (worldwide)

The latest Disney live-action remake that's left people scratching their heads over whoever asked for it, Moana re-teams us with the titular heroine and demigod Maui — once again played by Dwayne Johnson — as they set sail to turn the tide against Te Kā, a volanic demon that threatens Moana's island home.

It's only been a decade since the original animated film wowed audiences worldwide, so it's a bit early for a reimagining of it, right? RIGHT?! Nonetheless, if it brings in the big bucks for Disney, the House of Mouse will certainly be singing "You're welcome" to itself...

Rosebush Pruning

Release date: July 10 (worldwide)

Indie studio Mubi will continue to try and position itself as the new A24 with its latest film offering Rosebush Pruning.

Billed as a satirical tragicomedy thriller, it stars Callum Turner as Jack, who causes something of a ruckus within his immediate family when he brings him new girlfriend Martha (Elle Fanning). The reason? Jack's family is hiding a dark secret that involves the protagonist himself. You won't find spoilers for what that is here, though, so my advice is to go and see one of July's new movies when it hits a cinema screen near you.

The Odyssey

Release date: July 24 (worldwide)

Largely expected to be one of the biggest new movies of 2026, The Odyssey sees film auteur Christopher Nolan step behind the camera for his silver screen adaptation on Homer's ancient Greek epic.

Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, the high fantasy action flick will chronicle the Ithican king's years-long journey to return home to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) following the end of the Trojan War. Jon Bernthal, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, and Mia Goth are among its A-list ensemble. Expect this one to make an aboslute stack of cash at the worldwide box office.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Just two weeks after his major supporting role in The Odyssey, Tom Holland will throw on his Spider-Man spandex once more for the iconic Marvel hero's fourth solo adventure in the MCU.

Set five years after its forebear, Spider-Man: Brand New Day sees Peter Parker grapple with an increasing sense of isolation as he fully throws himself into his friendly neighborhood persona and attempts to keep New York City safe amid the rapid rise of numerous supervillains. Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Sadie Sink, and Mark Ruffalo are part of its starry cast.

For more on Spider-Man 4 ahead of its late July launch, find out everything we know so far about Spider-Man: Brand New Day — including how it might set up this year's only other Marvel Phase 6 film in Avengers: Doomsday.

It’s been a busy few days here in Las Vegas at CES 2026, but I’ve managed to find the time to spend about an hour trying out Lego’s biggest change to its iconic brick since 1958.

That change takes a very familiar form. At first glance, it’s a classic 2 x 4 brick – complete with the familiar studs – topped with a clear, transparent cap and housed in a black shell. But under the hood, it’s packed with technology.

Inside is a custom ASIC chip, alongside a motion sensor, gyroscope, speaker, and LEDs. This Smart Brick serves as the central brain of the new Lego Smart Play system, triggering lights and sounds in response to nearby Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags.

You might notice what I haven’t mentioned: there’s no app. And that’s a key part of this shift. Unlike previous Lego rollouts that leaned heavily on screens, Smart Play is designed as an additive experience. It stacks on top of the traditional Lego build-and-play formula, and if you’re not interested in it, participation isn’t required. After going hands-on with Smart Play, though, I expect most builders will want to explore what it can do.

Smart Play has sparked some debate since its reveal, but after spending time with the new Star Wars Smart Play sets that are launching March 1, 2026 – along with smaller demo builds designed to show the system’s range – I’m confident Lego has a hit on its hands, or at the very least a strong foundation for one.

It's all about play

Lego Smart Play makes one thing clear very quickly: this is for kids, or for anyone who actually plays with their Lego. You can absolutely build the X-Wing, TIE Fighter, or Emperor’s Throne and display them, but Smart Play isn’t optimizing for shelf presence – it’s designed to be picked up, moved around, and actively used.

That intent is especially clear with the X-Wing and TIE Fighter, which feel purpose-built for dogfights. Nothing I handled felt fragile or precious, and the way the Smart Bricks are integrated reinforces that these sets are meant for real play. Lego’s designers clearly factored in the reality of kids flying ships around and smashing imaginary lasers together.

During my hands-on time, I didn’t encounter any misfires. The Smart Brick consistently detected nearby Minifigures and Smart Tags, and everything worked as expected as long as the main brick was charged. There were no moments where I felt like I had to 'teach' the system what I was doing – it simply responded, with lights or sounds.

One of the smartest design choices is how physical Lego play directly enables the tech experience. On the TIE Fighter, for example, a blaster sound is triggered by blocking and unblocking a sensor next to the Smart Brick using an actual Lego element – essentially pushing in a trigger. There’s no button or hidden switch; it’s a classic, tactile interaction.

I didn’t build the Star Wars sets from scratch during the demo, but I spent plenty of time playing with them — including the X-Wing, TIE Fighter, and Throne. I pulled a Smart Brick off its wireless charger, placed R2-D2 – with a Smart Tag on his back – in front of it, and immediately heard his familiar droid tones.

From there, I put R2-D2 in the back of the X-Wing, Luke in the cockpit, and positioned a Smart Brick in the middle of the build – and that’s when the tech stopped being the point.

Without really thinking about it, I started flying the X-Wing through the air. Engine sounds rose and fell as I moved it, and when I flipped the ship upside down, R2-D2 let out a startled scream. There was no setup or instruction – just cause and effect. It felt instinctive, the kind of play that invites you to fill in the story yourself.

Imagination over instruction

Right now, Lego isn’t opening up the underlying tech behind the Smart Bricks, Smart Minifigures, or Smart Tags. What was shown behind the scenes during the demos hints at a broader system, but the experience at launch is intentionally loose.

There’s no predefined story or scripted sequence. Sounds, lights, and reactions are driven by proximity, motion, and placement. In demos, Lego also showed how Smart Bricks can detect color using an ambient light sensor and mirror it with onboard LEDs – even passing those colors to nearby Smart Bricks via Smart Tags – all in real time, with no setup required.

The Smart Bricks can also react to where a Smart Minifigure is in space, whether it’s nearby, above, below, or even across the room, underscoring that while the play feels simple, this system is clearly built on a serious technical foundation.

Put Darth Vader in an X-Wing, and you might trigger something unexpected. Leave R2-D2 on the ground while lifting the X-Wing with Luke inside, and you could hear a panicked droid scream from below.

The system handles sounds and lights quietly in the background, leaving you free to tell new stories with familiar characters.

Battery life, charging, and pricing

Battery life is inevitably part of the Smart Play conversation. Lego says each Smart Brick can deliver around 40 minutes of continuous play, which may sound modest on paper. In practice, the system isn’t designed for constant activation – it’s built around bursts of play, pauses, and rebuilds.

Charging is refreshingly simple. The Smart Bricks charge wirelessly via a bright yellow rectangular charging pad with a USB-C port, which is included in the box. There’s a subtle divot through the center, and you can place the Smart Bricks on it in any orientation – no lining things up or fiddling with contacts.

Lego also told me it isn’t concerned about Smart Bricks remaining dormant for extended periods. When not in use, they enter a low-power sleep state, and waking them is as simple as a shake.

The new Lego Smart Play sets start at $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99. That isn’t cheap, but it’s broadly in line with Lego’s pricing – especially for licensed Star Wars sets, now with electronics baked in. The added interactivity feels meaningful rather than gimmicky, particularly for kids who will actively play with these sets.

Let’s actually break down the three sets, which go up for preorder on January 9, 2026:

• Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter: This set contains 473 pieces to build the TIE Fighter, an outpost, and a fueling station. It includes one Smart Brick, a Darth Vader Smart Minifigure, a TIE Fighter Smart Tag, and a standard Rebel Pilot Minifigure. It’s priced at $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99.
• LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Luke’s Red Five X-Wing: Contains 584 pieces to build the X-Wing, a command center, a transporter, and an Imperial turret. Includes one Smart Brick, two Smart Minifigures (Luke Skywalker and General Leia Organa), five Smart Tags, R2-D2, and standard Minifigures. It’s priced at $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99.
• LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Throne Room Duel & A-Wing: The largest set at 962 pieces, featuring the Death Star throne room with a swiveling chair and an A-Wing fighter. Includes three Smart Minifigures (Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and Luke Skywalker), two Smart Bricks, and five Smart Tags.

Where Smart Play goes next

What stood out most during my time with Smart Play is how little the system demands from you. Within minutes, the technology fades into the background and play takes over – which is where Lego has always shined, especially for kids.

My first impressions are that Smart Play feels genuinely promising. It’s fun, intuitive, and intentionally additive. It doesn’t try to redefine Lego or push technology to the foreground; it quietly gives the imagination more to work with.

This also feels very much like a foundation. Star Wars is an obvious subject for the launch of Smart Play, but it’s easy to imagine how this system could grow – whether that’s more Star Wars sets or Lego’s own worlds like City, Speed Champions, Construction, or Space.

For now, Smart Play does exactly what a first look should: it makes me want to spend more time with it and see where Lego takes this next. It’s also something you really need to experience firsthand.

It won’t be for everyone, but then again, it’s designed for play – and that’s arguably Lego’s roots. I love a display piece, too, but I can easily see myself grabbing these sets and using the Smart Bricks and Tags with other builds.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

Lego’s iconic brick is getting its biggest upgrade since the modern design was unveiled in 1958: meet the Lego Smart Brick.

Crucially, this massive change, which Lego announced at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, doesn’t alter the look or feel of the brick at all, or detract from the building experience, whether you like to follow the instructions or let your imagination run wild – it's an under-the-hood update that puts a chip inside a standard brick, and it's the key to the new Lego Smart Play system.

The chip allows the Smart Brick to detect a nearby Smart Minifigure or Smart Tag, understand the space around it, and deliver an appropriate response: a sound effect, a line of dialogue, or even a light show. Neat, right?

As for the first Lego subject to get the Smart Play treatment… well the choice is obvious, and it's a franchise Lego has been partnering with for 25 years: yep, we’re getting new Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets.

That means you’ll hear an X-Wing or TIE Fighter roar to life, iconic blasters and lightsabers fire off, and other familiar sounds trigger as you move Smart Minifigures like Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader around a spacecraft or building.

We'll take a closer look at the three sets, which launch on March 1, with preorders opening January 9, below – but first, let’s talk tech.

Classic brick looks with tech inside

Lego is powering Smart Play with a chip that’s smaller than a single Lego stud, packed alongside sensors and a speaker inside the Smart Brick.

The Lego Smart Play System is essentially made up of three hardware components that work within the brick system we’ve known for years. The central piece is the Lego Smart Brick, which looks like a standard long brick and is identical in size to a 2 x 4 – where it differs is under the hood.

Inside is a custom mixed-signal 4.1mm ASIC chip, which acts as the system’s brain. It allows the Smart Brick to sense when a Smart Minifigure or Smart Tag approaches, and map its position in space. It runs a proprietary Play Engine that enables this spatial awareness using several pieces of hardware, including a precision copper coil for tag recognition and near-field magnetic positioning.

One of the most interesting elements is what Lego calls Neighbor Position Measurement (NPM). This allows a Smart Brick to determine whether it’s close to another Smart Brick, effectively giving it a sense of its surroundings. While the three sets launching in March only include a single Smart Brick, this clearly lays the groundwork for future expansion and potential customization.

The Smart Brick can also produce audio, which is handled through several modular synthesizers, with a miniature speaker pushing the sound out – in the Star Wars sets, this is what delivers all the familiar effects. There’s also an LED array for dynamic lighting – something Lego has done before – but here, other Lego pieces can trigger those effects based on their position and orientation, which is genuinely exciting.

Each Smart Tag and Smart Minifigure features a unique digital ID that sits within what Lego calls the 'BrickNet'. The Smart Brick reads this ID via near-field magnetic communication, while BrickNet itself functions as a private, local Bluetooth-based protocol.

Yes, it’s seriously high-tech for a Lego brick, but most of this – assuming it works as promised, and we’ll be getting a demo shortly – should just work. For example, if a Minifigure moves quickly past a set and the Smart Brick senses it, that motion can trigger sound and light. It’s not reinventing the Lego wheel, but it does add something new to the play experience without detracting from the imagination-led storytelling Lego has enabled for decades.

Crucially, all connectivity is handled locally, either through BrickNet or positional sensing, meaning there’s no app or additional hardware required. Battery life is an obvious question, but Lego says the Smart Play system is designed for long-term reliability and will work even after years of dormancy during which the Smart Bricks aren’t actively engaged.

As for charging, Lego is doing something that, on paper, feels almost too convenient: Smart Bricks can be placed in any orientation on a wireless charging pad. It’s something we’ll be very keen to see in action.

Lego Smart Play is coming to a Galaxy, Far Far Away first

The first wave of Lego Smart Play launches with three Star Wars sets, each designed to showcase the system in different ways, and, most importantly, all priced affordably.

Luke’s Red Five X-Wing set is a 584-piece set priced at $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99, and it might just be my favorite of the new Smart Play systems. It includes Smart Minifigures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, along with R2-D2, Rebel crew members, and Stormtroopers.

The build combines Rebel and Imperial elements, including an Imperial turret, transporter, and command centre, with Smart Tags triggering blaster effects, engine sounds, lighting cues, and even refueling and repair audio as play unfolds. The focus on play, with everything you need to act out iconic scenes, but also this could work as a display piece for the Star Wars faithful.

Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter is the smallest of the three sets at 473 pieces, and is priced at $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99. It's all about Vader’s iconic fighter, which is paired with a small Rebel outpost and Imperial fueling station. A Smart Minifigure of Darth Vader is key here, with Smart Play focusing on motion-based interaction, including the familiar roar of twin ion engines and other audio cues.

Throne Room Duel & A-Wing is the largest and most ambitious set of the launch lineup at 962 pieces, and costs $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$249.99. This recreates the iconic Emperor’s throne room from Return of the Jedi and includes Smart Minifigures of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Emperor Palpatine.

It also adds an A-Wing fighter with a pilot, Royal Guards, and a Death Star turret equipped with Smart Tags. Here, Smart Play leans heavily into atmosphere, with lightsaber hums, ship engines, and even musical cues triggered by character placement and movement.

Across all three sets Lego isn’t trying to replace traditional Lego or Star Wars play, but quietly enhances it. The Smart Play system adds sound, light, and context without demanding screens or apps, ultimately letting the tech fade into the background while imagination takes the lead as you recreate iconic stories.

A genuinely smart evolution of Lego play

What I like most about Lego Smart Play is how invisible it feels. There’s no app, no screen, and no moment where the tech demands your attention instead of the bricks. Everything reacts naturally to how you’re already playing, which makes the added sound and lighting feel like a genuine enhancement rather than a gimmick.

It also feels deliberately built for the long term. Features like Neighbor Position Measurement suggest this is just the foundation, not a one-off experiment, and the fact that everything runs locally gives me confidence it won’t age out in a few years. This feels like the first step in a much bigger Smart Play roadmap.

I'll be going hands-on with the first Smart Play sets soon to see how it all works in practice, but if you’re already sold, preorders for the new Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets go live on January 9 ahead of their March 1 launch. If this lands the way it looks on paper, this likely won’t be the last we hear about Smart Play.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

2026 looks like it's going to be another year full of epic new movies. Indeed, the world's biggest studios and best streaming services are ready to serve up more terrific looking films for fans of all genres and ages to enjoy, so we've decided to round up our most anticipated ones.

Below, you'll find 33 new movies we're most excited to see in 2026. We've categorized them by their current release dates, too, which will make it easier to see when they'll debut on a big and/or small screen near you.

There are lots of new films set to debut in the weeks and months ahead, plus other flicks that haven't been announced yet, which we didn't have time to cover, so bear in mind this isn't an exhaustive list. Regardless, here are the movies we're looking forward to seeing this year. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

January

People We Meet on Vacation (January 9)

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (January 16)

The RIP (January 16)

February

Goat (February 13)

Wuthering Heights (February 13)

Crime 101 (February 13)

How to Make a Killing (February 20)

Scream 7 (February 27)

March

Hoppers (March 6)

The Bride! (March 6)

Project Hail Mary (March 20)

April

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 3)

Michael (April 24)

May

The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1)

Mortal Kombat II (May 8)

The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22)

June

Masters of the Universe (June 5)

Toy Story 5 (June 19)

Supergirl (June 26)

July

Minions 3 (July 1)

Moana (July 10)

The Odyssey (July 17)

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31)

August

Coyote Vs Acme

September

Clayface

October

The Social Reckoning (October 9)

Street Fighter (October 16)

November

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20)

Narnia: The Magician's Nephew (November 26)

December

Jumanji 3 (December 11)

Avengers: Doomsday (December 18)

Dune: Part 3 (December 18)

Werwulf (December 25)

Columbia Sportswear is back with a new Star Wars collaboration, and this year the brand has shifted its attention from Sith Lords to the forests of Endor for its annual drop. The aptly named Endor Collection is Columbia’s largest Star Wars release yet: a 20-piece lineup that recreates the look and feel of the Rebel Alliance’s mission in Return of the Jedi while still functioning as everyday outdoor apparel.

Unlike previous collaborations, this collection is built entirely around the environment. Endor’s dense woodland – not unlike the Pacific Northwest terrain Columbia regularly designs for – sets the theme. The pieces, including a standout poncho that will make you look right at home at Galaxy’s Edge, are instantly recognizable to Star Wars fans while still practical for daily wear.

Beyond the poncho inspired by Leia and Luke’s Endor disguises, there’s a Han Solo–inspired 3-in-1 trench coat that combines multiple garments into one. Much of the line incorporates Columbia’s familiar technologies: Omni-Heat Infinity lining, Omni-Tech waterproofing, and the Interchange system for modular layering.

Since most previous Columbia X Star Wars collections — including last year’s Darth Vader line — sold out in minutes, timing matters. The Endor Collection launches December 11, 2025, at 6:30am PST / 9:30am ET / 2:30pm BST for Columbia Greater Rewards members, followed by general availability at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST. Membership is free, and much like Lego Insiders, it’s one of the best ways to improve your odds of getting a piece before it disappears.

To unpack the collection, TechRadar spoke with Erin Steele, Special Projects Manager at Columbia. Steele shared that one of the biggest technical challenges was developing the poncho. “We wanted to make sure they were authentic to the original costume, but truly functional, as well,” she said, noting adjustable belts, cinchable sleeves, zippered hand pockets, and the difficulty of recreating Endor’s hand-sprayed camouflage pattern.

“We worked carefully to ensure our versions captured that same imperfect, authentic look. Finally, we leveraged our Omni-Tech waterproof-breathable fabric to make it truly ready for real-world adventures.”

Disney Parks fans may notice the poncho resembles the rain gear worn by Cast Members on Batuu – a subtle touch that makes the design feel right at home both in canon and in the parks.

Some of Columbia’s core technologies also received Star Wars–specific adaptations. “Our Interchange system was perfect for the General Han Solo Trench. It gave us the ability to offer fans both Han’s amazing trench coat and signature vest in one amazing piece,” Steele said. “The inside of the vest also features Columbia’s award-winning Omni-Heat Infinity technology, which we adapted this year to feature Rebel logos throughout the thermal-reflective pattern.”

The same lining appears in the Endor Issue Cargo Vest, continuing the tradition of custom Omni-Heat patterns unique to each annual collaboration.

Footwear gets similar treatment. “The Endor Issue Boot also features some incredible innovation – our Omni-Max advanced cushioning, a TechLite midsole, and an Omni-Grip outsole – creating a truly functional trail-ready boot,” Steele said.

The range extends beyond outerwear, offering vests, shirts, headwear, and accessories such as a cargo backpack and a quilted blanket. A full Ewok-inspired fleece line for kids – including toddler and infant sizing – uses high-pile fleece and concept-art touches to create something playful without crossing into costume territory. It’s easily one of the most charming parts of the collection, and many adults will likely wish for sizing of their own.

As usual, Columbia hid a variety of storytelling details throughout the line. Steele’s favorites include “the inclusion of original concept art on the blanket, the Ewok fleece patch, and the Bright Tree Village tee, along with the actual map of the filming location that appears inside the shoebox and on the back of one of our long-sleeve tees.” She added, “We put so much care into every tiny element of our Star Wars collections… It’s almost like owning a real piece of Star Wars history.”

Columbia’s Star Wars collaborations – now in their tenth year – have become a yearly tradition. Last year’s Vader line focused on interpreting a single character’s aesthetic into functional apparel; this year’s approach is broader, translating an entire setting and its supporting designs into gear meant for real-world use.

That evolution reflects the brand’s deepening creative relationship with Lucasfilm. “We love weaving our best performance technologies into every Star Wars collection so fans are getting pieces that are truly functional, not just collectible,” Steele said.

“The Lucasfilm team is a great partners in helping us deepen the storytelling with each collection. Every drop is different, and getting into the nitty-gritty of Star Wars history and lore with their team is what allows us to create the best products possible.”

For 2025, the design team took cues from the broader Rebel forces on Endor, incorporating “asymmetrical seaming, daisy chains, cargo pockets, rank badges, and custom hangtags,” Steele explained. Jackets also hide storytelling Aurebesh patches for fans to translate.

The collaboration itself is a multi-year, deeply integrated process. “These collections are years in the making, and we’re in constant communication from concept through launch,” Steele said. “After 10 collections together, we’ve built an incredible level of trust between the brands, and we have a blast bringing these collections to life with them each year.”

Columbia Sportswear Endor Collection officially drops tomorrow, December 11, 2025, at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST for everyone, but if you join the Greater Rewards membership – which is free – you can start 30 minutes earlier.

• General Han Solo Trench: $600 / £650 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Poncho: $400/ £500 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Boot: $220 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Cargo Jacket: $200 / £250 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Reversible Jacket: $200 / £230 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Cargo Vest: $150 / £170 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Pullover: $130 / £150 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Pant: $130 / £150 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Cargo Backpack: $120 / £170 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Blanket: $95 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Half Zip: $90 / £100 at Columbia Sportswear
• Kids' Ewok Fleece Jacket: $80 / £80 at Columbia Sportswear
• Toddler Ewok Fleece Jacket: $75 / £80 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Long Sleeve Shirt: $75 / £75 at Columbia Sportswear
• Infant Ewok Fleece Bunting: $70 / £80 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Bottle Sling: $70 / £70 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Camo Short Sleeve Shirt: $70 / £70 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Short Sleeve Shirt: $65 / £70 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Hat: $60 / £70 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue Ball Cap: $45 / £45 at Columbia Sportswear
• Endor Issue 33oz Water Bottle: $25 at Columbia Sportswear

The 2025 Holiday season is officially upon us. Indeed, with December almost here, the countdown is on for those who celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and every other festive holiday.

With a plethora of new Disney+ movies and TV shows set to arrive over the next 31 days, Disney+ is in full celebration mode, too. It's not as strong a line-up as last month, but some heavy hitters are set to land on one of the world's best streaming services before 2025 ends.

So, whether you're hyped for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, want to stream more Taylor Swift content, and/or watch some of the best Christmas movies, Disney+ is the place to be this Holiday season. And, with Black Friday knocking 62% off an annual Disney+ and Hulu bundle subscription – FYI, it's only available in the US – now's as good a time as any to sign up.

Before you read any further, bear in mind that some of the movies, shows, and documentaries listed below are region-specific.

For example, Dancing With the Holidays is only available in the US, while the full first season of FX's The Lowdown will arrive on Disney+ UK. So, you won't be able to watch everything in your world region. With that housekeeping out of the way: happy streaming!

December 1

• Back to the Future film trilogy (movies)
• I Am Boxer episode 2 (TV show)
• Shrek (movie)
• Shrek 2 (movie)
• Shrek The Third (movie)

December 2

• All's Fair episode 7 (TV show)
• Dancing With the Holidays (reality TV special)
• Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular (TV special)

December 3

• Are You Sure!? episodes 1 and 2 (TV show)
• CMA Country Christmas (TV special)
• Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation episode 5 (TV show)
• Miraculous Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir season 6 (TV show)
• Outnumbered Christmas Specials (TV specials)
• RoboGobo Holiday Special (TV special)
• The Roses (movie)

December 4

• The Kardashians season 7 episode 7 (TV show)
• The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 3 reunion (reality TV special)

December 5

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (movie)
• The Great Christmas Light Fight season 13 episode 1 (reality TV)
• Mickey & Minnie’s Holiday Songs: Christmas shorts (TV show)

December 6

• Phineas and Ferb Recap: Percy Jackson season 1 (TV special)

December 8

• Dance Moms: A New Era season 2 (reality TV)
• I Am Boxer episode 3 (TV show)
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures season 3 (TV show)

December 9

• All's Fair episodes 8 and 9 (TV show)

December 10

• Are You Sure!? episodes 3 and 4 (TV show)
• Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation episode 6 (TV show)
• Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas (TV special)
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 episodes 1 and 2 (TV show)
• Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny season 1 (TV show)

December 11

• The Kardashians season 7 episode 8 (TV show)

December 12

• Taylor Swift: The End of an Era episodes 1 and 2 (docuseries)
• Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show (music event)

December 15

• I Am Boxer episode 4 (TV show)

December 17

• Are You Sure!? episodes 5 and 6 (TV show)
• Bob's Burgers season 16 (TV show)
• Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation episode 7 (TV show)
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 episode 3 (TV show)
• SuperKitties season 3 (TV show)
• SuperKitties Holiday Special (TV special)

December 18

• The Kardashians season 7 episode 9 (TV show)

December 19

• Discovered by Disaster season 1 (docuseries)
• Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts (comedy special)
• Taylor Swift: The End of an Era episodes 3 and 4 (docuseries)

December 20

• Inside the Enchanted Waterways (documentary)

December 22

• I Am Boxer episode 5 (TV show)
• The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball season 2 (TV show)

December 24

• Are You Sure!? episodes 7 and 8 (TV show)
• Made In Korea episodes 1 and 2 (TV show)
• Parent Wars season 1 (TV show)
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 episode 4 (TV show)

December 25

• Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (live event)
• The Kardashians season 7 episode 10 (TV show)

December 26

• National Geographic's The Devil's Climb (documentary)
• The Lowdown season 1 (TV show)
• Taylor Swift: The End of an Era episodes 5 and 6 (docuseries)

December 29

• I Am Boxer episode 6 (TV show)

December 30

• Project Runway seasons 5 to 8 (reality TV)

December 31

• Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out season 1 (TV show)
• Little Angel season 8 (TV show)
• Made In Korea episodes 3 and 4 (TV show)
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 episode 5 (TV show)
• Strangest Things season 3 (TV show)

I’ll cut to the chase real fast on this one, as there is no telling when this deal will blast off into hyperspace. We’re just days away from Black Friday kicking off, and Argos might just be offering the best deal we’ll see on one of the most epic Lego Star Wars sets that have ever been released.

• Shop more early Black Friday deals at Argos here

Right now, the Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon UCS set – the one numbered 75192 – is a massive £210.00 down to just £525 flat. That’s an impressive discount on a massive Lego set that’s made from 7,541 pieces and stretches 33 inches (84 centimeters) long. It’s simply the most detailed version of the iconic Star Wars ship that made the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs.

That was accomplished by Han Solo, and fear not, you’ll get a Minifigure for him and several others. Lego bundles two of the Falcon’s historic crews for seven Minifigures in total, plus some droids.

You’ll want to act fast, though – discounts on the Millennium Falcon UCS set aren’t unheard of, but they never last for long. Not to mention this bests the last major discount, which was on Amazon during Prime Big Deal Days, by about £25.

(Not in the UK? See today's best deals in your region below)

Today's best Lego Millennium Falcon Black Friday deal

This is one of the best prices we've seen for a Lego Ultimate Collector Series set in a while, and bests the previous price. But still, for the sum of £525.00, you're getting what will no doubt be a pretty epic build. And be prepared for it to take several days to build the whole Falcon. You may even want to watch all the Star Wars films on Disney+, one of the best streaming services.

Whether you love the originals more than the sequels or prefer it the other way around, you can make the UCS Millennium Falcon fit either. You'll get two radar dishes and two crews in the box. With the latter, you get Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and C-3PO for the classic crew, or a few porgs, Han Solo, Rey, Finn, and BB-8 for the modern crew.

Either route, you'll build everything from the main weapons – lower and upper laser cannons – to the iconic cockpit with several interior components as well. Once built, the UCS Millennium Falcon measures 83 centimeters (32.6 inches) in length, 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) across, and stands over 21 centimeters (8 inches) tall.

So if you've been tracking the Millennium Falcon and waiting to jump into hyperspace when the price is right, look no further than Argos right now, as you can get an epic set for just £525.00.

And if you're in the United States, we're keeping an eye on Amazon and Lego direct to see if a discount arises, but there's nothing to report as of the time of this publishing.

Shop more of today's best Black Friday sales

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

Our final streaming recommendations article for October 2025 is a doozy. Sure, we didn't have to wade through as many options as expected this week. But, given the strength of what's on offer, some new movies and shows didn't make the cut. Sorry, Hazbin Hotel season 2, Robin Hood, and I Love LA...

Hopefully, though, you'll agree that this week's seven suggestions are worthy of inclusion. So, whether you're after some dinosaur-based action, high fantasy, sci-fi or melodrama, we're sure one or more of the below will scratch your streaming itch. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Jurassic World: Rebirth (Peacock)

The latest entry in the blockbuster dinosaur franchise is now streaming on Peacock.

Critics were split on Jurassic World Rebirth, so it's certainly proven divisive. In my equally as mixed Jurassic World Rebirth review, I called it "much better than Jurassic World: Dominion", but acknowledged it does struggle to breathe life back into the franchise.

Anyway, Rebirth follows a new cast as they travel to a former island research facility in search of important samples. Criticisms notwithstanding, sometimes you can't go wrong with a loud, action-packed movie featuring some big stars and even bigger dinosaurs. It's what lazy weekends were made for, right? – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Jurassic World: Rebirth on Peacock

The Witcher season 4 (Netflix)

Doesn't Henry Cavill look remarkably like Liam Hemsworth these days? Now Geralt of Rivia has a new face, The Witcher season 4 can finally begin to wrap up the fantasy story for good.

Before you go any further, I highly recommend reading our Witcher season 3 ending explained piece to remind yourself what happened last time around. The lore is as complex and detailed as it ever has been, and, with Geralt, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and Ciri (Freya Allen) still separated, it's only getting more confusing.

However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Battle of Montecalvo has been fleshed out into a death-defying duel for the ages, while new villain Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley) is more cruel and callous than anyone who has come before him.

For more on the above and Laurence Fishburne's Regis, aka the real hero of the season, read my review of The Witcher season 4. Then, check out our guide on The Witcher season 4 to get the full lowdown before you stream it. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch The Witcher season 4 on Netflix

Hedda (Prime Video)

If you ever read a Henrik Ibsen play and wished it felt more like Emerald Fennell's Saltburn, you're in luck. Director Nia DaCosta has reimagined Hedda Gabler for the modern age, including Bridgerton-style casting, a lesbian love triangle, and a domestic world where women rule all.

It's all incredibly cool and calculated, meaning Hedda might be the most fun I've had with a Prime Video movie all year (read my Hedda review for more). Tessa Thompson might take our lead character to new heights, but it's Nina Hoss' gender-swapped Eileen Lovborg who steals the show. If you loved her in Tár, you're going to love this.

This makes five feature films for DaCosta in as many years, and that alone is incredibly impressive. I can't shake the feeling that we're collective sleeping on her talent and vision, and if her next projects are anything like this Amazon Original, I'll be the first in line. – JV

• Watch Hedda on Prime Video

Star Wars: Vision Volume 3 (Disney+)

The final Star Wars offering of 2025, the third season of this Disney+ anthology series delivers more suspense-filled, funny, and heart-wrenching stories via various gorgeous animation styles.

Like its forebears, Star Wars Visions volume 3 comprises nine episodes – they're all available to watch now, FYI – that span the breadth of Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away. Three of this season's entries are sequels to volume 1 chapters, too, so one of the best Disney+ shows' latest installment won't be entirely made up of standalone tales. Hopefully, volume 3's sequel episodes won't feel too *ahem* Forced from a story standpoint. – TP

• Watch Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 on Disney+

Ballad of a Small Player (Netflix)

Is there anything Colin Farrell can't do? Considering how charming he is as addiction-stricken gambler Lord Doyle in Ballad of a Small Player, aka one of October's final new Netflix movies, I'm voting no.

It's a movie that goes big on visuals, cinematography, and sound design, and I'd expect nothing less from director Edward Berger. If you're expecting something like his previous works in Conclave or All Quiet on the Western Front, though, think again. It's much more personal and meditative, and sees Doyle spiral as his bad decisions catch up with him. It might kill him to try and get himself out of it, which forms the crux of the perspective-shifting drama.

It's also a chance for Tilda Swinton to show off yet another accent in her arsenal as she chases around Macau after Doyle to hold him accountable for his actions. Stick it on Netflix as soon as you've read my Ballad of a Small Player review. – JV

• Watch Ballad of a Small Player on Netflix

Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV)

Slow Horses season 5 may have finished this week, but Apple TV isn't letting fans of British spy shows starve, because it's released the first two episodes of a new eight-part series adapted from another Mick Herron novel.

Storming out the gate with the same wiry humor and crime drama mysteries found in the author's Slough House books, Down Cemetery Road sees Dame Emma Thompson as a foul-mouthed private eye, who's normally tedious case load takes a turn for the thrilling when a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb.

Knowing Herron, I don't doubt there'll be plenty of twists and turns to unpack in the coming weeks, as espionage, kidnappings, coverups and conspiracies converge in what could be another great Apple TV Original. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV

Sorry, Baby (HBO Max)

A24 has a real gift for making me cry and Sorry, Baby is no exception. Even though I've come to expect deep themes and big emotions from the studio, it's a movie still stunned me in the best possible way.

This dark comedy movie, which is out now on HBO Max, follows a reclusive college professor who struggles with depression after a traumatic incident. It's a difficult watch at times, but also very cathartic, and lead actor Eva Victor delivers a standout performance in one of the best-rated movies of 2025. If you're in the mood to feel a lot this weekend, then you should check it out. – LB

• Watch Sorry, Baby on HBO Max

With October 1st in the books, there’s a slew of new Lego sets on the shelves – both digital and physical – but one stands out for its size and price: the long-rumored, finally officially out Lego UCS Death Star, now available for order.

Reimagining the Death Star was less about rebuilding an icon and more about solving a design puzzle – how to capture the most pivotal moments that took place on the battle station from Star Wars within a single structure.

The newly released set – priced at $999.99 / £899.99 / AU$1499.99 and part of the Ultimate Collector Series – pushes the limits of Lego engineering with over 9,000 pieces and debuts a completely new approach to structure for the moon-sized battle station. To explore how it came together, TechRadar spoke with César Soares, a Master Model Designer at the Lego Group, who led the project.

Lego has been developing the moon-sized battle station for over a year at its headquarters in Billund. Soares said he took over the concept model in late summer 2023 and worked on it for about 14 months – by far the longest he’s spent on a single model.

“We had a concept model made during one of our design boosts in the summer of 2023,” he recalls. “I picked it up in late summer that year, and I worked on it for about 14 months. It was by far the model I’ve spent the longest time designing.”

Previous iterations – including the most recent one from 2016 – were fully spherical and significantly smaller, showing only a few rooms per level. This time, Lego reimagined the Death Star as a thick slice.

“From the very start, the idea was the cross-section,” says Soares. “We wanted fans to see all the rooms and all the iconic moments in one view – every scene interacts with another.”

That decision required multiple prototypes and refinements before the team landed on the final version. “I made maybe four or five different iterations, every time building again from scratch and evolving the design,” Soares says. “Once you get to a point where you’re happy, it becomes about refining every detail – room by room, function by function.”

The finished model measures 20.6 inches in height, 18.9 inches in width, and 15.1 inches in depth, featuring six detailed floors. Notably, the ground floor features a large hangar bay, while the Emperor’s Throne Room is located at the top. In between are iconic spaces like the detention block, trash compactor, superlaser control room, conference chamber, and reactor core – all packed with references from both Death Stars.

Considering its sheer size and the likely lengthy build, the designer wanted to ensure the process remained engaging. Soares opted for a modular building approach, where each room is constructed separately before being attached to the main structure. “You start by building room by room,” he explains. “So, you build the trash compactor outside, and when you’re finished, you put it on and then move on to the next room.” He concluded by noting that it makes it “like the ultimate Lego building experience, because you never get bored.”

The method also mirrors how the model was developed internally. Soares started by building physical models, brick by brick, beginning with the bottom and working up, then repeating the process before digitally rebuilding them piece by piece to fine-tune connections and details.

“We physically recreate it piece by piece,” Soares says. “It’s a process of back and forth – you never jump definitely to digital; it’s always both at the same time.”

Hidden throughout are nods to the Lego brand and Star Wars lore – from a tiny Octan power reference in the foundation to a “hot tub Stormtrooper” room near the top that Lucasfilm approved without hesitation.

“We approached Lucasfilm about that, and they were totally on board,” Soares laughs. “They thought the idea was brilliant.” The reference, which began in the Lego Star Wars video games, is just one of many Easter eggs tucked inside the set.

Regarding the collaboration with Lucasfilm – the first Lego Star Wars set was released in 1999 – Soares shared that it has been ongoing for nearly three decades, with regular meetings, idea sharing, and access to Lucasfilm’s vast reference archive. This set will likely make it into that archive, and you can also find it in Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy - Pieces of the Past, which is available to stream on Disney+.

For Soares, part of what makes this Death Star special is how it honors Lego’s longstanding design philosophy. “We Lego designers are very proud of the Lego system in play,” he says. “We always try to use what we already have available to us. For this Death Star, we only created one new element – the Imperial dignitary hat – and I’m very proud of that.”

That small piece was crucial for the included Imperial Dignitary figure, a first for Lego Minifigures and one of 36 included with the set.

That efficiency extends to the build itself. The entire set relies almost entirely on standard Lego System elements, with only minimal Technic integration for the working elevator mechanism – proof, Soares says, that the existing system is still capable of new tricks even at this massive scale.

Ultimately, he believes the project represents the pinnacle of what Lego Star Wars can achieve. “Every major room or scene is there – from both Death Stars. We wanted the definitive version, with everything in one model,” he says.

Even after months of design and testing, and then building and rebuilding, Soares noted that “with this one, I was actually really looking forward to building it again,” he admits. “Which I think says a lot about the building experience.”

I’ve started the process of building the UCS Death Star myself, and while it’s a daunting one, it doesn’t feel as repetitive as I initially feared. The instructions mix things up early – from assembling portions of the hangar floor to building mirrored sections – keeping even the foundation interesting to put together.

If you’re sold on it, the Lego UCS Death Star is available now directly from Lego at $999.99 / £899.99 / AU$1499.99 – though, as of this publishing, it’s already backordered, so expect to wait a few weeks.

Lastly, while Soares can’t reveal what’s next for Lego Star Wars, his passion for the galaxy far, far away remains clear. “I grew up with the original trilogy,” he says. “So everything that I can work from the original trilogy, I will be very, very happy.”

The UCS Death Star might not be the first time Lego has tackled the Empire’s ultimate weapon – or the most affordable set ever released – but its ambitious cross-section design, modular build, and attention to detail make it the most complete version yet.

Amazon Prime Day Lego Star Wars deals in the US

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days shopping extravaganza is officially underway, and there are some excellent deals to be had if you’re a Prime member. But here, I’m using my Lego expertise to round up the best deals on sets across various themes, including Star Wars, Technic, Botanicals, Disney, and F1, among others.

• Shop early Amazon Prime Big Deal Days discounts here

And whether you’re looking to get a smaller build or a massive one, Amazon’s serving up excellent discounts that start as low as $5.59 for a mini City Pizza vs. Fire Truck Race Car set.

You’ll also find savings on the Ghost and Phantom II set, as seen from Star Wars Ahsoka, as well as major discounts on Technic cars and plants of all shapes and sizes under the Botanicals theme.

So let’s dive into all the Lego deals – ahead, I’m sharing my 30 picks for the best Lego deals this Prime Big Deal Days in the United States and the UK.

Amazon Prime Day Lego deals in the US

Amazon Prime Day Lego deals in the UK

More Amazon Prime Day sales in the US

• Amazon Devices: 50% off TVs, Ring & Fire Sticks
• Apple: AirPods + iPads from $99
• Back to school: deals from $5.99
• Beauty: 80% off toothbrushes & skincare
• Headphones: $120 off Bose, Apple & Sony
• Health: electric toothbrushes from $24.99
• Kitchen: 54% off Ninja, Nespresso & Keurig
• Laptops: record-low prices from $175
• Tablets: iPads and Samsung from $54.99
• Toys: 40% off Lego, scooters & Toniebox
• TVs: cheap TVs from $59.99
• Vacuums: Shark, Bissell & Dyson from $49.99

More Amazon Prime Day sales in the UK

• Amazon Devices: from £19.99
• Blink: cameras from £14.49
• Fire TV Stick: from £19.99
• Kindles: up to £70 off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Ring: up to 60% off cameras & doorbells
• Tablets: Fire Tabs from £49.99
• TVs: from £169.99

This might be the best Lego Star Wars deal of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, and you’ll need to be in the UK to get it. And as someone in New York City, I’m especially jealous of this one, as this is one of the best, but also on the more costly side of the equation, Lego Star Wars sets around.

• Shop more Amazon Prime Day deals here

No, it’s not a discount on the brand new Death Star, but rare savings on the long-standing Millennium Falcon Ultimate Collector Series Edition. Right now, it’s down to just £550.90, which is a 25% discount off the £734.99 RRP. That’s a £184.09 instantaneous discount, and just £14 away from the lowest price ever … which we haven’t seen since August 2024.

It’s truly an incredible deal, and while Admiral Ackbar might call this a trap, it’s most certainly not. You’ll get a building experience that I’d dub an adventure, as you’ll build one of the most iconic Star Wars ships on a grand scale out of 7,541 pieces.

Today's best Lego Star Wars Prime Day deal

Once built, the UCS Millennium Falcon will measure in at 83 centimeters (32.6 inches) in length, 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) across, and stand at over 21 centimeters (8 inches) in height. This is the largest Millennium Falcon set that Lego offers and is made from over 7,00 pieces.

You'll build the iconic exterior, complete with a choice of radar dish. But even neater is that you can choose your crew as the Falcon has been a mainstay across Star Wars. Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and C-3PO represent the classic crew, while older Han Solo, Rey, Finn, BB-8, and a few Porgs represent the newer crew.

There is a remarkable amount of detail, including the construction of the cockpit, the boarding ramp that lowers, upper and lower laser cannons, and several rooms inside the Falcon.

At a significant 25% off, there's no telling how long this deal will last, but the odds are that if you're interested, you'll want to add it to your cart before the deal disappears into hyperspace. And, who knows, maybe this deal will make its way to Amazon in the US.

More of today's best Prime Day deals

• Amazon Devices: from £19.99
• Blink: cameras from £14.49
• Fire TV Stick: from £19.99
• Kindles: up to £70 off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Ring: up to 60% off cameras & doorbells
• Tablets: Fire Tabs from £49.99
• TVs: from £169.99

Star Wars: Beyond Victory has the makings of a perfect Star Wars buffet and a contender for one of the best VR games of recent times.

The promise of a VR story delving into the previously one-inch deep lore of podracing is enticing – especially to someone for whom the prequel trilogy was a hallmark of their childhood.

Podracing not only provides the opportunity for exhilarating VR gameplay, but gives storytellers the chance to expand on characters like Sebulba – a key antagonist of the Phantom Menace, who we only spend about 5 minutes with before he's benched in favor of a dual-blade-wielding Sith – and explore the seedy underworld that would facilitate this dangerous and deadly sport.

After plating up, however, you realise Beyond Victory's buffet has gone stale, and there’s not nearly enough of it to satiate your hunger.

Beyond Boring

Like a growing number of titles this generation, Star Wars: Beyond Victory blends virtual and mixed reality elements in its gameplay and storytelling. Unfortunately, every segment you'd want to be in VR is instead relegated to MR, and the remaining first-person segments left me wishing there wouldn't be more.

Effectively cutscenes, the VR sections have you mostly standing around in one of a few tiny locations that you can hardly explore, with the occasional ‘puzzle’ to solve – tedious minigames where you use tools to fix up vehicles, but which require next to no thought to work out.

Everything else plays out in MR via a virtual table you can place in your room. This includes exploration of more expansive spaces (though the exploration wasn't super enjoyable, so I always just made a beeline for the objective) and podracing.

Yes, that's right. In this VR podracing game, you never sit in a podracing cockpit; instead, you look down at the virtual table as you race through a track using your controllers to accelerate, steer, and boost your podracer from a bird's-eye view.

While somewhat enjoyable, the simplistic podracing gameplay feels like it was lifted from a mediocre mobile game – right down to the table offering only a limited view of what's ahead, like a smaller phone screen restricting your vision.

Oh, and there’s only three podraces – and one car chase. You can replay them in arcade mode with unlockable characters, but there's only so much enjoyable replayability to be extracted from repeating the same few tracks over and over.

A Star Wars Short Story

A common theme for Star Wars: Beyond Victory is that its ingredients sound an awful lot more delicious than the final concoction.

Story-wise, things start well. You have a podracer desperate to become a champion to honor his friend, allies who support him but who believe podracing is a vile sport and are willing to face arrest (or worse) to stand up for their beliefs, and Sebulba's criminal crew – led by the former podracing champion looking to raise a champion of his own, and also pull him down into his villainous activities.

The issue here is that the game is far too short – I finished it in about an hour. You don't spend long enough with any of these factions to do anything more than rush through cliché story beats and conflicts that start and resolve in mere minutes.

I would love to have seen our protagonist Volo evolve more gradually over a longer story. Perhaps seeing his racing style adapt to be more aggressive across a series of races to reflect him turning into a true member of Sebulba's crew before eventually standing up for his friends.

Or heck, give us some kind of basic choice-based story for different endings and race abilities based on who we side with.

That way, at least the short experience could be replayable a few times to get different outcomes, and make this game feel more worthwhile.

Unfortunately, lackluster gameplay and story left me frustrated at the time I'd spent reviewing this game – with one of my favorite moments being when the credits rolled and I could finally go back to Hades 2 on my Nintendo Switch 2.

A single star in the night

There was nowhere else in my review to work this in, but I also want to talk about the playset feature. So I'm tacking it on the end here.

This alternative to the campaign and arcade modes is a full MR experience that allows you to move, scale, and place 3D models of Star Wars characters and vehicles in your home to construct static dioramas. You can even add explosive effects to bring your models to life.

I did think the models were well-crafted – with a good level of detail that works with the sculptures at tiny all the way up to human scale – however, while it would be a neat add-on to an already good game, it doesn’t do enough to save Beyond Victory in my books.

If you’re a Star Wars mega fan and see Beyond Victory on sale for a heavily discounted price, then I think playset does just enough to be worth playing around with – it helped me feel like a kid again playing with action figures.

Otherwise, this is still a Star Wars game worth skipping over.

Should you play Star Wars: Beyond Victory

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Accessibility

For everything negative I’ve had to say about Star Wars: Beyond Victory, the game is quite accessible by VR’s standards.

You can enjoy the experience entirely seated, you can turn on settings like teleportation movement and screen shake to make the few VR segments less motion sickness-inducing if you’re still new to the medium, and the mostly mixed reality gameplay is even better for managing your motion sickness.

You could even play the game with only one controller if you need to. I used both, but all of the controls are doubled up across each handset, so you could put one down and still have every button you’d need.

How I reviewed Star Wars: Beyond Victory

I played this game on my Meta Quest 3, using a Kiwi design battery strap and controller grips. I played through the entire story from start to finish in two sessions (as I hadn’t charged my Quest 3 up before diving in for the first time) after completing the tutorial. Afterwards, I went straight into arcade mode and then spent a bit of time in playset mode.

I completed a few achievements to unlock some bonus racers for the arcade, and models for my playset, but decided to call it quits after no more than two and a half hours with this title, as I had sampled everything it had to offer.

First reviewed October 2025

• The Mandalorian and Grogu has an official first-look trailer
• It teases some huge additions such as Rotta the Hutt, Sigourney Weaver's new role, and Babu Frik
• The movie arrives in cinemas on May 22, 2026

Disney has released the first trailer for one of the most anticipated new movies, The Mandalorian and Grogu, today (September 22), and there's plenty for fans to look forward to when it lands in theaters in 2026.

Recently, it was reported that The Bear actor Jeremy Allen White was cast as the son of intergalactic crime boss Jabba the Hutt, and the trailer gives us a very quick first look at him.

Elsewhere, Sigourney Weaver's mysterious role has been revealed as fighter pilot Colonel Ward, and The Rise of Skywalker's best creature, Babu Frik, makes an appearance too. That's a lot to pack into a 1-minute and 30 seconds long trailer, and it certainly kept my interest.

Take a look at the long-awaited trailer below.

What do we know about The Mandalorian and Grogu?

The Mandalorian and Grogu will have a theatrical release on May 22, 2026.

At some point, we should expect to see it on Disney+, though it's far too early for it to potentially make it onto our best Disney+ movies round-up, so those wanting to watch on streaming will have to be patient.

Recently, the movie was featured among the 5 big Disney announcements at D23 Expo 2025, where fans were treated to an exclusive clip. We do know more about the movie now, though, including a plot.

In a press release, Lucasfilm has teased that, "The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu (as himself)."

Ever since The Mandalorian season 3 came to an end, I've really missed this duo, and I'm excited to reunite with them next year.

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• Lilo & Stitch just crash landed on streaming – and it might be the best Disney+ live-action remake yet
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• The long-rumored Lego UCS Death Star is now official
• It's over 20 inches tall and is built from over 9,000 pieces
• Rather than a complete model of the ship, it's a slice highlighting major moments from the franchise

Now, we’ve seen Lego tackle the Death Star – the infamous moon-sized battle station – before, but none of them have measured up or looked like the latest creation from the brick-building brand. The Lego Star Wars Death Star Ultimate Collector Series is now officially official with a hefty $999.99 / £899.99 / AU$1499.99 price tag.

It’s been long rumored, and even leaked, but in the official images released by Lego, you get a sense of the sheer size of the latest Star Wars Ultimate Collectors set. Though I’ll be clear, it’s not the full Death Star; Lego’s design team has basically opted to give us a slice of the iconic figure and spotlight moments inside of it.

The set is still pretty massive at 20.6 inches in height, 18.9 inches across, and 15.1 inches deep. The 9,023 pieces are being put to good use, and Lego is including 38 Minifigures in the box – more on those below.

Within the circular slice of the Death Star that you’ll build, you’ll see more than a couple of iconic moments from the Star Wars universe. Those include the trash compactor – where you might want to place Han, Luke, Leia, and Chewbacca – Emperor Palpatine's throne, an Imperial Shuttle bat complete with the ship, a cell fit for a princess, as well as the giant Tractor Beam and the controls for it.

This Ultimate Collector Series is very much designed for display, and you’ll get a good line of sight at the six or so levels, depending on how you count, and the 14 or 15 dedicated rooms within.

While this is a slice of the circular Death Star, you do build a backing plate and the sides all around it. You’ll want to ensure you have a nice shelf or console to place this one, if you want to build it or even keep it in the box.

In terms of Minifigures, you’ll get six Stormtroopers and plenty of Imperial personnel, as well as the iconic cast, including Han Solo, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and Luke Skywalker as a Jedi and as a Stormtrooper. You’ll be able to play with these or set them in each unique scene aboard the Death Star. If you’re like us and a fan of the Lego Star Wars video games, you’ll be happy to know you get a Stormtrooper ready for a dip in a hot tub as well.

There’s no getting around the sheer cost of the Death Star here. Any way you try to slice it, $999.99 / £899.99 / AU$1499.99 is a huge sum and a really high cost for a Lego. It is the latest Ultimate Collector Series within the Lego's Star Wars lineup, though, and I do like that it aims to spotlight moments from the films. I do similarly wish that it cost a bit less, though, and that it captured more of the ship and let you build it a bit more.

Either route, Lego’s Star Wars Death Star Ultimate Collector Series will be up for order on October 1, 2025, for Lego Insiders – a free-to-join rewards program - and for everyone else on October 4, 2025, from Lego directly. It will be exclusive to the brand’s stores for a good while, but should eventually end up on Amazon.

If you’re looking for a Lego Star Wars set that is a bit more affordable or more readily available without the wait, here are a few of our favorites. We’ll go hands-on with the Star Wars Death Star Ultimate Collector Series closer to launch.

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Star Wars: Starfighter, the installment in the franchise due to be released on May 28, 2027 – that's a year after The Mandalorian & Grogu, if you're keeping up – has finally got its first look straight from the set (you can catch up with it below).

Ryan Gosling will be our next leading man and eponymous Starfighter, with Flynn Gray, Matt Smith and Mia Goth among those previously announced in the cast.

Annoyingly, we've got absolutely no idea what the new Star Wars movie is going to be about aside from some other-world fighting in the starry atmosphere, probably with new creatures and droids.

However, we do have some updates. Amy Adams and Aaron Pierre have also been announced as joining the cast, with Adams set to play Gray's mother (Pierre's role has not been rumored). But as much as I love seeing these two act, it's not the announcement that's got me, a Star Wars dunce, incredibly excited for its release.

It's not Jamael Westman or Daniel Ings, who are also in the ensemble. Oh no. It's Simon Bird, whose name might not mean anything to you if you're based in the US, or anywhere other than the UK. He's best known in Britain for playing Will MacKenzie in sitcom The Inbetweeners, and it's this role that makes his casting incredibly ironic.

Simon Bird's casting in Star Wars: Starfighter is hilarious, actually

I have four words for you: feisty one, you are. If you've ever seen The Inbetweeners, which ran from 2008 to 2010 (not including the movies), you might remember the season 2 episode where Will and the gang head to Swanage for a school field trip, with Will's eye immediately swayed by new girl Lauren (Jayne Wisener).

While Simon (Joe Thomas) tries to take her for himself, Will dusts off his best flirting techniques over lunch, which just happens to be a Yoda impression. Lauren has no idea what's going on, claiming she was worried he had "a problem," and unsurprisingly, she chooses Simon over Will.

This is also the episode where the boys punch a fish in a dingy and set off a distress flare while they're still in the harbor, so Inbetweeners gold, in short. Will's Yoda line is something that's still regularly quoted almost 20 years later, and it took all of 0.5 seconds for fans to pick up on the link.

"From briefcase w**ker to Star Wars pilot, what a glow up," one fan replied to the announcement on X, with another attaching the Yoda clip and adding "This is clearly the reason why they cast him."

Another weighed in, "Star Wars casting weirdly perfect here, he’s gonna own it," with another fan agreeing, "Nah, he’s just gonna crash-land with a 'bumder!' and a Yoda impression!"

While fans are speculating that Bird will play a pilot, no official announcement of his exact role has been made.

With director Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) steering the Star Wars: Starfighter ship, I hope that he at least subtly pays homage to a moment so famous, it's certainly made the UK sitcom Hall of Fame (well, it would if I were in charge).

In the meantime, you can watch the Star Wars back catalog on Disney+ in the US, UK and Australia.

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Hasbro’s Star Wars: The Vintage Collection has been home to many iconic venues, characters, and vessels from the ever-expanding universe. But for San Diego Comic Con 2025, it’s safe to say that the Hasbro team has taken things up another notch, especially if you’re a fan of the Clone Wars.

And as someone who has loved the show, which you can stream on Disney+, the latest Star Wars HasLab fits the bill. Hasbro just revealed the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection LAAT/I Gunship, which lands as a highly detailed and fairly massive set – it’s 28-inches long and 10.6-inch tall when not on the stand – and if it reaches 8,000 backers before the funding period is over, it’ll ship in in Fall of 2026 (think September, October or November).

The LAAT/I Gunship is a pivotal vessel that played a significant role in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, as well as the Clone Wars series. It’s arriving today with an estimated MSRP of $449.99 and is up for funding on Hasbro Pulse right now – that window for funding closes on September 8, 2025, if you’re interested in making it happen.

Speaking to TechRadar, Chris Reiff, Hasbro’s Product Design Manager on Star Wars, told us that "The Petranaki Arena rescue scene in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones is a memorable highlight of the prequel trilogy, and we wanted to honor that moment with a HasLab project that would be a standout piece for collectors."

It really goes back to just how recognizable the ship is, especially in the white and red color scheme. Hasbro did strive, and hit a movie-accurate design from Star Wars Episode II as well.

Here, the LAAT/I features two stand options – one that puts it in flight and one for hovering, allowing Clone Troopers to pop out. To fit the size and scale here, two 3.75-inch Clone Trooper Pilot figures are included. These boast yellow helmet decorations, and each comes with two blaster rifles. You can place these in the cockpit or have them hanging out the side.

If more backer tiers are hit for the project on HasLab, there is the chance of unlocking Coleman Trebor (10,000), Saesee Tiin with a lightsaber (12,000), or Zabrak Jedi Agen Kolar (14,000).

There’s also a ton of details on the ship itself, including missile launchers up-top and under the wings, a fully operable rear-hinge for boarding, a fully designed interior, interchangeable front panels, and optional side panels. You’ll even find hidden storage behind the cockpit.

As is the trend for Hasbro’s Star Wars: The Vintage Collection, the design team conducted extensive research here. Rieff told us, “It’s been a fantastic experience researching and incorporating the latest details shared from our partners at Disney and Lucasfilm to bring this HasLab dream project to life.” The design team here actually worked with Lucas Film to access some upgraded design files from The Mandalorian, as the gunship is featured in a few scenes.

If you’ve been waiting for Hasbro to usher in a Vintage Collection style of the LAAT/I Gunship, or simply wanted a new drop in the series, this one is up for backing on HasLab now. The funding period runs from July 25, 2025, through September 8, 2025, and will need 8,000 backers to be produced.

Assuming that is met, Hasbro expects this project to arrive in Fall 2026, meaning that if you back it, you can expect the LAAT/I Gunship to land with you by then. You can see a gallery of the ship up close below.

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I'm not someone who cries when I watch a highly emotive movie or TV series. Sure, I get teary-eyed but, in the vast majority of cases, I never find myself reaching for a box of tissues to stem the flow of tears cascading down my face after a particularly devastating scene or sequence.

So far in 2025, though, three different shows have somehow cracked my steely resolve and turned me into a blubbering wreck. Is it because I'm getting older and therefore more susceptible to emotionally-loaded productions? Are their stories so well designed that they tug harder at the ol' heartstrings? Or is it simply a big coincidence that three of the most soul-destroying projects have all launched on the world's best streaming services this year? Who's to say.

Regardless, I don't want to be the only softie around here, so here are the trio of TV Originals that have revived my cold, dead heart in the first six months of the year.

Adolescence (Netflix)

Release date: March 13
Episode count: 4
Main cast: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, Erin Doherty, Amelie Pease, and Owen Cooper
Director: Phil Barantini
Rotten Tomatoes (RT) critics score: 99%

Netflix's biggest TV hit of 2025 so far and, at the time of publication, the second most-watched English language TV Original in the streamer's history (take that, Stranger Things season 4!) is an unmissable miniseries.

A story whose individual chapters are all shot as one continuous, long take – a highly-technical process known as a 'oner' – Adolescence tells the tale 13 -year-old Jamie (Cooper) who's arrested on suspicion of murdering a female student at his school. Each episode focuses on different characters during and after the police investigation, too, with the immediate and long-reaching impact of the alleged crime felt keenly by all of those involved.

Hailed by fans and critics alike for its writing, directing, cinematography, tone, and individual and collective cast performances, Adolescence is an emotional powerhouse that deserves a permanent spot on our best Netflix shows list. Its impact has been so great, in fact, that it's sparked multiple nationwide discussions in the UK about youth knife crime, the alarming rise of misogynistic views among male teens, and systemic failures and local and national government levels. A heart-breaking program that'll leave a lasting impression on you long after its final credits sequence has rolled.

Andor season 2 (Disney+)

Release date: April 22
Episode count: 12
Main cast: Diego Luna, Adria Arjona, Genevieve O'Reilly Stellan Skarsgard, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Forest Whitaker, Faye Marsay, and Alan Tudyk
Directors: Ariel Kleinman, Janus Metz, and Alonso Ruizpalacios
RT critics score: 97%

Star Wars is a family-friendly franchise. Sure, it's occasionally pushed the boundaries of what's appropriate for younger members of its worldwide fanbase but, by and large, it hasn't gone out of its way to alienate parts of its global community.

Andor is the one project that dared to be different. A live-action, adult-oriented Disney+ series, it threw out the traditional Star Wars playbook in favor of telling a political and spy thriller-oriented story that not only stars a whole host of morally gray characters, but also tackles difficult topics of conversation around fascism, sexual assault, the human cost of conflict, and the moral complications that arise from revolution.

I really enjoyed Andor season 1 but, whether it's down to its hard-hitting narratives, the show's much more confident second and final season, or a combination of both, season 2 is a whole other beast. You can read more about why it's such a paradoxically entertaining yet heavy watch in my Andor season 2 review, or go and stream one of the best Disney+ shows in its entirety right now. It'll be worth it once you reach Andor season 2 episode 8, i.e. the gut-punch of a chapter that made me sob my heart out.

The Last of Us season 2 (Max)

Release date: April 13
Episode count: 7
Main cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, and Kaitlyn Dever
Directors: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann, Kate Herron, Mark Mylod, Stephen Williams, and Nina Lopez-Corrado
RT critics score: 92%

The Last of Us season 2 was a slight step down in quality compared to its more lauded forebear, but the popular HBO and Max TV Original still had the capacity to emotionally wreck viewers on multiple occasions.

I don't think anyone's gotten over last season's harrowing second or sixth episodes yet, either. I include myself among that contingent, too – and that's as someone who's played The Last of Us Part II, aka the second game in Naughty Dog's video game namesake that The Last of Us TV show's sophomore outing is based on.

With The Last of Us season 3 in early development, there'll be many more distressing moments to come in one of the best Max shows. It might be best to stockpile tissues now, then, before The Last of Us' third installment makes its TV bow and potentially rips out our heart like its predecessors did.

What TV episodes and/or full shows have had you wiping away tears from your eyes? Let me know in the comments!

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• Samsung's Frame, Neo QLED, and QLED TVs can all display art or photos when off
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Samsung already doubled down on its Art Mode and Art Store earlier in 2025 by expanding it to nearly its entire TV lineup, well beyond the Frame TV or Frame Pro. And if you’ve ever wished you could pick an iconic piece of art from the Star Wars universe – maybe an AT-AT on Hoth or an X-Wing – or something from the world of Disney like Snow White, Samsung’s answering the call.

Beyond the thousands of art pieces already available on the Art Store, Samsung has now dropped a collection of pieces in partnership with Disney. The collection goes beyond the iconic classic Disney animated films to include Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic. All of the pieces, be they animated or a wild shot of nature, are in 4K quality to ensure they’ll look their best on your Samsung TV.

Now, it’s not a free drop – you’ll need to be subscribed to Samsung’s Art Store and have an eligible TV. That membership is either $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year in the United States and lets you access all the pieces, including future drops.

While Art Mode and these works of art will look their best on a Samsung Frame TV or Frame Pro, thanks to the special reflection-blocking, matte finish, you’re not limited to that specific family of TVs.

Samsung’s expanded Art Mode support to QLED, Neo QLED 4K, and Neo QLED 8K TVs within the 2025 lineup means you don’t need to opt for a Frame TV or Frame Pro. And that also means you might be able to save a bit, as Samsung’s lifestyle TVs do cost a bit more in some cases.

This also isn’t the first time Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic pieces of art have been available on Samsung’s TVs. In 2023, timed for the Disney 100 anniversary, Samsung dropped the limited-edition The Frame-Disney100 Edition in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch sizes. It was a standard 4K QLED Frame TV with a special, platinum metal bezel, but the real appeal was that it came with 100 pieces of Disney art ready to go out of the box.

No extra subscription needed as you could look through the collections and pick your favorites, and then set them to your Art Mode.

It remains to be seen how many pieces are included in the Art Store and whether they’re the same as what was previously collaborated on. We’ve reached out to Samsung to ask, but for fans of Pixar – Toy Story, anyone? – Star Wars, National Geographic, and Disney at large, it’s certainly a fun addition.

With this latest drop, Samsung’s Art Store offers over 3,500 pieces of art to pick from, and on TVs with Art Mode, you can set your favorites to be shown when the TV is off and even mat them for a more dramatic effect, if you like.

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