Star Wars Bits: Hyper Toy Drive 2020, Star Wars Squadrons, Guardians Of The Whills, Dark Troopers, And More!
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In this edition of Star Wars Bits:
Hyper Toy Drive 2020
Toys for Tots, the charitable organization known for bringing gifts to children in need has been hit especially hard by COVID, and the people they help need them more than ever this year. This is why twelveStar Warspodcasts – includingAround the GalaxyandBeyond the Blast Doors Live– are forming an alliance to collect toys this holiday season.
Donating a toy is easy! Select toys from the AmazonHyper Toy Drive link, place your order, and select the BTBD Toy Drive address to ship to, and it will be delivered to the Beyond the Blast Doors collection point in New Jersey. Once the collection has ended, all the gifts you’ve donated will be delivered to the Toys For Tots team in central New Jersey in time to be given to children in need.
The Amazon list can be foundhere, and orders must be completed by midnight EST, June 29, 2025. Share the magic ofStar Warswith the next generation. This is the way.
Star WarsPodcast Round-UpBlast Points Podcastis celebrating Saga Year with an in-depth look atRian Johnson’s audio commentary forStar Wars: The Last Jedi.
Saga Year continues and its finally time for this little movie that nobody ever talks about, THE LAST JEDI. Join us as we take a look at writer / director / king / wizard Rain Johnson’s insightful and fascinating commentary for the film and all the secrets that it holds. From force connections, the hero’s journey, Luke’s role to Young Ones references, this is the commentary that is spark that’ll light the fire of your TLJ love!Listen here.
Talking Bay 94has an interview with Industrial Light & Magic digital artist and compositing supervisorTodd Vaziri,who has worked on everyStar Warsmovie since 2002, beginning withAttack of the Clones.
Skytalkershas an excellent episode about the 2004 documentaryEmpire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy, which is currently streaming onDisney+.
The Resistance Broadcastis the officialStar Warspodcast ofStarWarsNewsNet.com. Theirrecent episodes include a discussion on Katee Sackhoff breaking new ground as the firstStar Warsvoice actor to jump from animation to live-action playing the same character.
We also give our takes on the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, and take a look at Daisy Ridley’s recent comments about the sequel trilogy, the future of Rey, and her thoughts on Baby Yoda’s eating habits. We close things out by discussing your submitted questions in #AskTheResistance. The Resistance base is open to all, so spread the word about our Star Wars podcast and join us!Listen here.
The Imperial Senate Podcastdiscusses the latestStar Warsnews, including discussion about fandom,Star Wars Squadrons, Minecraft, The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special,and more.
We continue our journey through the second Alphabet Squadron book, discussing chapters 10-12 of Shadow Fall by Alexander Freed.Listen here.
The Rogue Podron crew also has a spinoff show,Podralorian,where they discuss the latest episode of the live-action streaming series.
OnBespin’s Other Bits (BOB The Podcast)–Star WarsscooperBespin Bulletindiscusses whatever he feels like with co-hostIsaac Pevy. Topics includeStar Wars, video games, and pop culture in general.
In this episode: Star Wars (The Mandalorian, Ochi of Bestoon’s appearnace in the Darth Vader comic series, and The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special) as well as bits on Thor: Love and Thunder, The Avengers video game, and an epic rant about Zack Snyder and his precious littleJustice Leaguecut.Listen here.
Star WarsYouTube Round-Up
You can always count onAlex & Mollie DamonatStar Wars Explainedto keep you up to date on all the latest news from that galaxy far, far away. Check out their recent videos on Bo-Katan and Dark Troopers and what their appearance means for the future ofThe Mandalorian.
Noah Outlaw,Corey Van Dyke,and friends discussThe MandalorianChapter 12: The Siege over atKessel Run Transmissions.
StarWarsNewsNet.com’sJohn Hoey, James Baney,andLacey Gillerandiscuss the state of Star Wars in 2020 onThe Resistance Broadcast:
Check out this awesome tribute to Ahsoka Tano byThe Warleader Productions.
Official Star Wars Art & Decor by Regal Robot
Lucasfilm and Regal Robot have teamed up to offer official Star Wars furniture, art, decor, and life-sized characters and busts. You can purchase a replicaMythosaur Skull fromThe Mandalorian, a mini-sculpture based on the awesome metal-look skull seen over the Armorer’s doorway in the Disney+ series. Also available, a sweetBantha magnet, as well as someKenner-inspired wall plaques.
Into a Larger World: Star Wars Art & Zines
“Into a Larger World” is a Star Wars fanzine made byKara DJ(@sacredsomethingbykara), a collage artist from New Jersey. Each issue combines different mediums in a classic fanzine style, examining and celebrating a different part of the Star Wars universe and fandom.
Amy Richau’sI Love You. I Know.: Lessons in Love and FriendshipAmy Richau, founder of365Star Wars– an awesome website that highlights the incredible efforts of women inStar Wars– has a new book coming out,Star Wars: I Love You. I Know.:Lessons in Love and Friendship. Here’s the official synopsis:
The book, which isavailable for pre-order at Amazon, is described as the perfect Valentine’s Day or anniversary gift for your scruffy-looking nerf herder,Star Wars: I Love You. I Knowis a lighthearted guide to relationships with quotes, classic moments, and characters from theStar Warsgalaxy.
Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills– The Manga
The manga adaptation of the novelStar Wars: Guardians of the WhillsbyGreg Ruckarevisits beloved fan-favorite characters Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe before joining the Rebel Alliance inGareth Edwards’Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Here’s the official synopsis:
Residing over the Kyber Temple on Jedha, the Guardians of the Whills, Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe, had hoped to maintain a peaceful balance despite the growing presence of the Empire in their Holy City. Yet they struggle to stay true to the Force as stormtroopers threaten to take over. When a rebel named Saw Gerrera appears offering them a chance to help Jedha, Baze and Chirrut must decide if they’re willing to compromise for peace, or if Saw’s plan is too dangerous to risk?
John Boyega’s “Transparent, Honest” Conversation with Kathleen Kennedy
In an interview with theBBC,John Boyegaopened up about a “really nice” conversation he had with Lucasfilm presidentKathleen Kennedythat was “beneficial to both of us”:
“These types of conversations, you can go into the realm of sounding like you’re just trying to save your own career, but what is great now is that it is now a conversation that anyone has access to,” he said. “Now people can express themselves about this knowing that any character we love, especially in these big franchises, the Marvels or the Star Wars, we love them because of the moments they are given, we love them because of those moments, and they’re heroic moments that these producers all decide for these characters. So we need to see that in our characters that may be Black and from other cultures.”
Boyega previously stated that while the white stars of the recentStar Warsmovies, specificallyDaisy RidleyandAdam Driver, were given characters with “nuance,” other actors weren’t as well served.
“What I would say to Disney is do not bring out a black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side,” he said in back in September. “Like, you guys knew what to do with Daisy Ridley, you knew what to do with Adam Driver. You knew what to do with these other people, but when it came toKelly Marie Tran, when it came to John Boyega, you know f*** all.”
Star Wars: SquadronsUpdates
Have you been playingStar Wars: Squadrons? If so, there’s an incoming supply drop in the form of a free, two-part content update. A new multiplayer map, Fostar Haven, and four new ship components will be added this month, and two new starfighters (the B-wing and TIE Defender) and custom matches will be deployed in December.
The B-wing fighter stands out from the fleet as New Republic pilots take the helm of the starfighter with a gyroscopic control system. The pilot stays upright in the cockpit as the wings swivel around them, creating a one-of-a-kind experience inSquadrons. “It will work the same whether you’re in VR or in a traditional display,” Mir says. “It’s a fun and unique mechanic.”
Learn all about the upcoming updates in an interview with producerThomas MiratStarWars.com.
Joshua Izzo’s CustomStar WarsAction FiguresJoshua Izzois an illustrator, writer, entertainment licensing executive, and children’s television producer who not only lovesStar Warstoys but making them as well. Check outJosh’s Instagram (@joshuaizzo)where he displays his incredible talents for action figure customization. I want. Every. Single. One.And I have a feeling you will too!
And that’s it for this edition of Star Wars Bits! If you have something cool from the Star Wars Universe that should be included in this column, justreach out on Twitter!
