This week, we're raiding the RFR Vault to present you with a rare, professional-grade recording of Mark Hamill's full panel from Star Wars Celebration Japan 2008. Coverage from this event is sparce and this is the only opportunity to hear the full, unedited panel complete with Japanese translations and fan questions. Our recording will give fans who are traveling to Japan in April for the next Star Wars Celebration at taste of what the panels will be like. Plus, we're showcasing some highlights from our Patreon exclusive show RFR Q&A, including a deep discussion about The Balance of The Force and The Dark Side, plus a fun quiz about General Grievous and more!

If someone asked you who the artist was that originally conceived the iconic look of Star Wars vehicles like the TIE Fighter, The X-Wing, and The Death Star, you might think of famous names like Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston. But before those legends were enlisted to work on STAR WARS, George Lucas first worked with Colin Cantwell. Colin’s partner Sierra Dall joins us “In the Cantina” to discuss Colin’s life, his artwork and she sets the record straight about his contributions to STAR WARS. We check out interview highlights featuring Tony Gilroy and some of the cast of ANDOR as they discuss the upcoming second season. Plus, listener feedback sends us down-the-rabbit-hole as we try to define what a “Bokken Jedi” really is.

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As George Lucas was in his final years at Lucasfilm, he had some projects in the pipeline and on the verge of release, but they never happened. Via new interview highlights with producer Rick McCallum and writer Ronald D. Moore, we learn more about STAR WARS UNDERWORLD, the live-action STAR WARS TV show that had 50-60 fully written scripts ready-to-go, but was eventually abandoned. And Seth Green recently shared info about the fully-produced, but never-released animated comedy series STAR WARS DETOURS. These key creatives discussed their experiences working with Lucas on those shows and why fans will never get the chance to see them. In other news, we review interview clips of Daisy Ridley and screenwriter Stephen Knight talking about the ever-in-development “New Jedi Order” film featuring Rey. Plus, we discuss potential STAR WARS animated projects that may be in the works, “Star Wars in Pop Culture” features Mark Hamill on “Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast", and we have a huge announcement about the next RFR LIVE event happening later this year. It’s one you won’t want to miss!

We react to Kathleen Kennedy’s response to last week’s reports claiming she will be stepping down as president of Lucasfilm and clarifying what was true in the reports and what wasn't. Kathleen also discussed several STAR WARS projects currently in the pipeline. More footage of ANDOR season two dropped this week as the hype for next month’s season premiere ramps up. We breakdown the "Special Look" footage and search for hints of what’s to come. We discuss the STAR WARS presence in the 2025 Oscars including nominees and presenters, some film editing flubs in the Original Trilogy and more!  

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NOTE: As we were prepping this podcast for release, Kathleen Kennedy responded to, but didn’t deny, the reports about her stepping down as president of Lucasfilm. We will discuss her recent statements on next week’s RFR. 

Reports have emerged this week regarding Kathleen Kennedy eventually stepping down as Lucasfilm president at some point in the next year or so. We discuss the rumor and review Kathy’s reign as STAR WARS head honcho with a report card featuring all of her highs and lows. ANDOR is returning to Disney+ in April with its second season and a new trailer dropped this week. We go through the trailer shot-by-shot and discuss all the visuals and the music. We follow-up on Mark Hamill’s recent comments about singer Terri Nunn’s screen test for the original STAR WARS film with highlights of Terri recounting the audition via a rare radio interview.

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SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, so we take a look back at several of the great STAR WARS celebrity cameos, jokes and sketches from the past five decades of SNL. Will Baby Yoda say his first words in the upcoming MANDALORIAN AND GROGU film? We discuss the possibilities and consider what his first words will be. We continue our review of the 1980 U.S. press conference for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, Warwick Davis received a big honor early this week in London so we celebrate his career, and we also have audio highlights from recent interviews with Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill. Speaking of Hamill, the Luke Skywalker actor takes center stage in our "Outrageous and Unthinkable Story of the Week" as he redefined the term “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2025 Bafta Awards and more!

We’ve heard from so many listeners who say they love it when we feature rare interview footage from the Original Trilogy era so in this week’s RFR, we feature cool audio highlights from the official 1980 press conference for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. You’ll hear from Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Irwin Kershner, Anthony Daniels, and Gary Kurtz. Fast forward to the present, we discuss all the latest STAR WARS headlines, including new quotes from Daisy Ridley discussing her upcoming “New Jedi Order” film along with comments from Sigourney Weaver who reveals  Baby Yoda “kicks ass” in upcoming THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU. We react to a recent Lucasfilm executive shakeup and new rumors about a possible pair of unannounced all-new STAR WARS animated series. Plus, listener feedback, Luke Skywalker at STAR WARS GALAXY’S EDGE, and Harrison Ford’s new Jeep commercial.

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www.patreon.com/rebelforceradio 

The screenwriter for the in-development “New Jedi Order” film featuring Daisy Ridley - George Nolfi - addressed some questions about the script in a recent interview. We look at quotes from Nolfi about his influences, along with the politics and history that may be inserted into the story. We provide a first blush review of the early chapters from the upcoming novel STAR WARS: REIGN OF THE EMPIRE: THE MASK OF FEAR. We continue our discussion about Marvel Comics’ “Legacy of Vader” and the death of Watto, we review highlights from recent interviews with Bill Burr, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford, a RETURN OF THE JEDI-era “Outrageous and Unthinkable” story, listener feedback presents the question: Will Finn return as a Jedi?

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The hot trend of STAR WARS casting rumors and leaks continue with recent reports of “Superman” actor Henry Cavill having a meeting with Lucasfilm. We discuss and also break down more reports about Natalie Portman’s potential return to STAR WARS. We look at new info about Rotta the Hutt in THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU, and the latest screenwriter assigned to work on Daisy Ridley’s “New Jedi Order” film. A recent tease from Marvel Comics for the upcoming “Legacy of Vader” revealing the death of Watto at the hands of Darth Vader has the internet buzzing, and us too. And, we analyze disappointing viewership numbers for STAR WARS streaming shows on Disney+ and offer solutions to get the franchise back on track. Plus, listener feedback and more!

Lots of leaked casting news and rumors for upcoming STAR WARS projects have been flying around lately with names like Ryan Gosling, Chris Pine and Sigourney Weaver being connected to future films. True or not, we break them all down. Fans are still buzzing about SKELETON CREW and so are we with interview highlights from Jaleel White and an actress who revealed via social media that all of her scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. Plus, clips from a recently rediscovered vintage STAR WARS interview from 1977 featuring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford provide a cool and fun flashback to the earliest days of STAR WARS.