Star wars

Star Wars Andor filming takes place in Dorset quarry

A set, at Dorset's disused Winspit Quarry near Worth Matravers, is for the latest Disney+ Star Wars series, Andor.

The series is a prequel to the 2016 spin-off film Rogue One, and follows main character Cassian Andor.

Filming started in the UK last week with lead actor Diego Luna and stormtroopers spotted on a beach in Cleveleys, Lancashire.

     

Star Wars' Boba Fett actor Jeremy Bulloch dies aged 75

He died in hospital on Thursday from health complications after living with Parkinson's disease for many years, his agent said.

"He had a long and happy career spanning more than 45 years," a statement said.

"He was devoted to his wife, three sons, and 10 grandchildren and they will miss him terribly."

Bulloch was best known for playing bounty hunter Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

The character has since featured in the second season of Star Wars spin-off series, The Mandalorian.

Dave Prowse: Darth Vader actor dies aged 85

Prowse was cast as Vader for his imposing physique, even though the role was voiced by James Earl Jones.

But the weightlifter-turned-actor was most proud of playing the Green Cross Code Man. The role, promoting road safety in the UK, earned him an MBE.

"May the force be with him, always!" said his agent Thomas Bowington.

"Though famous for playing many monsters - for myself, and all who knew Dave and worked with him, he was a hero in our lives."

Taika Waititi to make new Star Wars film

Waititi won an Academy Award earlier this year for World War Two film Jojo Rabbit, and is also known for making Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok.

He will write the unnamed film with Scotland's Krysty Wilson-Cairns, who was nominated for an Oscar for 1917.

Meanwhile, US writer Leslye Headland is creating a new series for Disney+, the service's fourth small-screen spin-off.

The Mandalorian is already streaming, and gave Waititi his introduction to the Star Wars universe when he directed the series one finale and voiced the droid IG-11.

Another hit for Star Wars despite falling sales

The Rise of Skywalker's US sales were down nearly 30% on the first movie in the saga, The Force Awakens.

Still, the latest instalment ranked as one of the best December openings in North America.

It is expected to end a strong year for distributor Disney, with a string of hits grossing more than $1bn.

Starring Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, the film is the final chapter in the Skywalker saga begun by George Lucas in 1977. It is set one year after its predecessor.

Star Wars and Beauty and the Beast help UK box office to record high

Film fans spent £1.38bn on tickets last year, up 3.6% on 2016.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Beauty and the Beast were the year's most popular films, followed by Dunkirk, Despicable Me 3 and Guardians of The Galaxy Vol 2.

Box office trackers ComScore said fans still wanted the cinema experience despite the popularity of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon.

ComScore executive director Lucy Jones said: "Audiences want the right content on the right platform.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi takes $450m on opening weekend

The total for The Last Jedi includes $220m (£165m) from box offices in the US and Canada, placing the film second in the all-time list for North America.

It trails behind the 2015 release Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opened with a record-breaking $248m (£167m).

But the sum dwarfs that of its nearest rival, the computer-animated comedy Ferdinand which took $13m (£10m).

In third place, the Disney/Pixar animation Coco brought in just over $10m (£7.5m) during its fourth weekend in North American cinemas.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi has critics in raptures

The Last Jedi, writes the Telegraph's reviewer, is "enormous fun" and "will leave fans beaming with surprise".

The LA Times agrees, calling it "the first flat-out terrific Star Wars movie since 1980's The Empire Strikes Back".

Variety, though, swims against the tide, calling it "the longest and least essential chapter in the series".

Rian Johnson's film, says Peter Debruge, is "ultimately a disappointment" that "gives in to the same winking self-parody that is poisoning other franchises of late."

Disney unveils footage of 'Star Wars,' 'A Wrinkle in Time,' 'Lion King

A TV legend front and center in an adaptation with a modern twist, and an adorable lion cub were the stars of the live-action presentation at Disney's D23 event, at which the studio unveiled multiple highly anticipated sneak peeks on Saturday.

Among the most anticipated first looks was that for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Director Rian Johnson was joined by cast members Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro to show a new behind-the-scenes featurette with looks at the upcoming film.

'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' teaser trailer lands in our galaxy

Disney (DIS) released the first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated next chapter in the "Star Wars" saga, "The Last Jedi," Friday.

The trailer followed a panel with the film's stars, director Rian Johnson and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy that took place at the massive "Star Wars" fan gathering, Star Wars Celebration, in Orlando, Florida.