The start of 2026 means we’re only a few months away from the first Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker. And speaking of the final film in the sequel trilogy, we thought it would be a good time to look back at the original plan for Episode IX: Colin Trevorrow’s “Duel of the Fates” script. In this episode, Haley’s friend Jack Merritt joins us to discuss the highs and lows of Trevorrow’s story, from a worthy role for Finn to a controversial take on the dark side. We also cover Trevorrow’s portrayal of Luke Skywalker, his plan for Kylo Ren, and his use of Coruscant and Mortis. If you like imagining what could have been, this is the episode for you.

Between Andor and the upcoming Mandalorian and Grogu movie, Star Wars is currently leaning into stories about the “regular” people of the galaxy. But what about the Jedi and the Sith, the people at the core of the Skywalker saga that started it all? In this episode, Wired’s Lily Hay Newman joins Eric and Haley to discuss the Jedi and the Sith stories we want to see, the challenges of superhero protagonists, and the value of the Force as a storytelling concept in an increasingly rational world. We explore how Star Wars should balance fantasy and relatability in its portrayal of Force-users, with special praise for some of the franchise’s weirdest Force-adjacent characters and creatures.

The teaser trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu makes it pretty clear that the first Star Wars movie in seven years will be a popcorn flick for Baby Yoda fans of all ages. But how much will hardcore fans get out of the film? Will it meaningfully expand the universe or shed light on the state of the galaxy? And if not, is that even a bad thing? Politico’s Bill Kuchman joins Eric and Haley to analyze the teaser trailer and discuss what we want and expect from the movie. We talk about the challenges of transmedia storytelling, Grogu’s inconsistent maturity, Disney’s marketing strategy, and tiresome nostalgia cameos.

With few Star Wars film or television projects on the horizon, it’s time to think about how we would fill the void if we were in charge. In this episode: three pitches for revitalizing the Star Wars franchise on the big and small screens. Eric offers a redemption story for an Andor villain, Haley proposes a subversive culinary journey, and Grace imagines a better sequel trilogy. Our ideas lead to conversations both silly and profound, with a lore connection that no one could have seen coming.

Star Wars is in a strange place right now. Many movies have been abandoned, several TV shows have ended or been canceled, and it’s unclear how the projects on the horizon will mesh together. By all accounts, Lucasfilm doesn’t have an overarching vision for the franchise. But does it need one? In this episode, Eric’s old friend Justin Bolger joins him and Grace to discuss the direction of the Star Wars franchise and whether it needs a storytelling czar. We also discuss the way the franchise feels now compared to its pre-Disney heyday, the tradeoffs of socially relevant storytelling, and whether stories with more synergy would exacerbate audiences’ “Star Wars fatigue.” Plus, Grace and Justin bond over their favorite underappreciated TV shows.

Strong women have been part of the Star Wars saga from the very beginning, but the franchise has often struggled with how it portrays them. In this episode, we compare and critique how storytellers have written Leia Organa, Padme Amidala, Ahsoka Tano, Rey No Surname, and other female characters; share our disappointments about these and other women’s narrative arcs; and explore how the franchise has become so inhospitable to female creators and actors. Plus, we find reasons for optimism in a few recent TV shows, and we celebrate the portrayal of one particularly great maternal leader.

Andor season 2 is over, and we have strong feelings about it! Join us as we debate and disagree about Cassian’s destiny, Bix’s trauma, Luthen’s amorality, and Mon’s eye-opening escape, plus two other, very different relationships. Andor raised important questions about the balance between idealism and pragmatism in a rebellion, but how well did it address this tension? Did the second season get too dark, or did it effectively follow up on themes from the first season? And what do Cassian and Dedra’s storylines reveal about the core differences between democracy and fascism? We’ll tackle these and other big issues as we bid farewell to the most revolutionary project in Star Wars history.

With the premiere of Andor season 2 just a few days away, we’re sharing our hopes and predictions for the long-awaited return of Cassian Andor and company. We discuss the show’s increasing political relevance, its unconventional release schedule, and our excitement about everything from Rebellion tensions to weird aliens and cool food. We also talk about whether Andor should stay away from the Force, which characters might make cameo appearances, and how we hope to see Cassian evolve in the lead-up to Rogue One. Plus: Eric has a theory he hopes is wrong, and Haley sets herself up for wedding disappointment.

Inspired by one of our favorite TV shows, we’re diving into the world of alternate universes and unexplored possibilities. Eric and Grace each pitch several ideas for “what if?” storylines that explore Star Wars’s most tantalizing roads not taken. From the end of the Clone Wars to the Sequel Trilogy, these alternate storylines have our imaginations running wild. Plus, with the Andor season 2 teaser trailer fresh on everyone’s minds, we take a few minutes to voice our concerns about Andor’s marketing strategy.

With Skeleton Crew, Disney told a Star Wars story unlike any other, but still rooted in the themes that make the franchise so successful and endearing. In this episode, we discuss our favorite storylines, analyze the characters at the heart of the series, and consider its depiction of morality, obedience, and bravery. We also share our favorite jokes, speculate about the show’s future, and debate the concept of “unclaimsies.”