Author Archives: Jacob Burdis

Star Wars: The Old Republic “Galactic Strongholds” Trailer

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Earlier today the Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) official Youtube channel released a trailer for a new expansion of the game. The expansion, Galactic Strongholds, introduces personal bases in the game on four different planet. Here is the official description via the SWTOR youtube page (found here):

Watch the Galactic Strongholds GamesCom Trailer and see how you can get your own Stronghold on four iconic planets including Tatooine and Coruscant! Express your creativity and personal style by customizing and showing off your Stronghold to friends. Plus rally your guild aboard your own Guild Flagship and conquer planets across the galaxy in the new Free-to-Play Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Digital Expansion: Galactic Strongholds!

Subscribe today and move into your own Nar Shaddaa Sky Palace early when you join Subscriber Early Access beginning August 19th. Welcome Home!

“A New Dawn” to be featured in Star Wars Insider #152

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via Star Wars Books Facebook page

via Star Wars Books Facebook page

Earlier today Del Rey Books, via their Star Wars Books Facebook page, made an exciting announcement. They released information that John Jackson Miller’s upcoming novel, Star Wars: A New Dawn, will be featured in the upcoming issue of Star Wars Insider (Issue #152). The talented artist, Doug Wheatley, will also have three original illustrations featured that tie into the novel. Check out the full announcement below or here:

“The next issue of Star Wars Insider Magazine will feature an excerpt from John Jackson Miller’s upcoming novel STAR WARS: A NEW DAWN, a prequel to the new REBELS animated series. Accompanying the excerpt will be three original illustrations from the novel’s cover artist, Doug Wheatley. Many Star Wars fans will recognize Doug’s gorgeous work from the Dark Horse Comics series, STAR WARS: DARK TIMES. Star Wars Insider issue 152 is due to hit news stands on September 6 and the novel debuts on September 2 (in eBook and audio as well). Here’s a peek at one of Doug’s awesome illustrations from the magazine.”

Yoda’s Take: A review of ‘Ezra’s Gamble’ by Ryder Windham

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Ezra's Gamble via Disney Publishing

Ezra’s Gamble via Disney Publishing

Today marked the  release of the Star Wars: Rebels tie-in, Ezra’s Gamble. Ezra’s Gamble, written by Star Wars author Ryder Windham, is junior novel that serves as a prequel for Rebels, coming in October. This is our first real look into the people and places of Rebels, and while only a junior novel, did have several expectations. It easily accomplished those goals and then some. Ezra’s Gamble is an exceptionally well-crafted book that gives readers a detailed look into life on Lothal and provides an entertaining adventure for our protagonist, Ezra.

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An In-depth Look at Ventress and Quinlan Vos

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Amid a galactic amount of exciting Star Wars news at San Diego Comic Con this year, Del Rey Books announced an exciting new project slated for 2015. During their various panels and events held at Comic Con, the Star Wars website provided fans with a live blog feed that covered the exciting content. One such feed covered the Star Wars: A New Dawn panel held on July 25th, 2014. A New Dawn is an upcoming Star Wars novel, penned by author John Jackson Miller, that will tie-in to the upcoming Star Wars Rebels television show.

The following post was added to the official Star Wars website at 2:33 PM PT, “New reveal! An Asajj Ventress novel (featuring Quinlan Vos) by Christie Golden!” Dave Filoni, Executive Producer of Star Wars Rebels commented on the project, “Ventress had become one of the most interesting characters…we had all this material, we had all these designs…This is based on scripts we had written with George Lucas…I’m super excited about this book.” Jennifer Heddle, Senior Editor of LucasBooks, also commented that the book will be targeted towards an adult audience. Pablo Hidalgo, a member of the famed “Story Group,” notes that this novel will be able to surpass some of the limitations presented by The Clone Wars (TCW) television show, effectively going “deeper” into the narrative. A beautifully crafted cover art was revealed as well that shows an enraged Ventress lunging at the silhouette of, presumably, Quinlan Vos.

Image via StarWars.com

Image via StarWars.com

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“Star Wars: Force for Change” nears conclusion

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Eight weeks ago J.J. Abrams announced a brand new initiative call “Star Wars: Force for Change.” This program is a brand new charity that is part of a collaborative effort by Disney, Lucasfilm, and Bad Robot. Its goal is to find creative solutions to some of the biggest problems our world faces. Its first campaign aims to raise both funds and awareness for UNICEF’s Innovation Labs, which is responsible for many projects that benefit children in need across the Globe. In an effort to get the Star Wars community involved, Force For Change offered several prizes that you could win if you donated money to their cause.

These prizes include appearing in Star Wars: Episode VII, being a VIP on the set of the movie at Pinewood Studios in London, and a fully paid flight and hotel accommodations. Now, with just four days left in the campaign, J.J. Abrams released another video with an additional incentive to donate. You can now also win an advanced screening of Star Wars: Episode VII, before it hits theaters. All you have to do to be entered to win is make a donation through the charity website Omaze. Donation levels start at just $10 and follow in various increments. In addition to being entered into the grand prize giveaway, different donation levels assure smaller prizes as well.

We encourage our readers to watch the video below (which includes an x-Wing!) to learn more about the program and then make a donation, here. Its a great way for Star Wars fans to help children in need and possibly appear in Star Wars: Episode VII. You can also check out the official “Force for Change” website, here.

 

(Video via official Star Wars Youtube Chanel)

‘Rebels Visual Guide’ Reveals Major Details About Upcoming Series

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spoiler

Article contains possible spoilers for “Star Wars: Rebels”

 

Today, July 21st, marks the release of  DK Publishing’s highly anticipated Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide. We here at Yoda’s News just couldn’t stand to wait and were able to obtain an early copy, due to the gracious folks over at DK. Here is a quick summary by the publisher on what to expect in the visual guide for the upcoming TV show:

“Travel the galaxy far, far away and experience Star Wars® Rebels firsthand with the companion to the new Star Wars animated series, Star Wars® Rebels. Featuring key scenes and iconic moments, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the rebel legion. With tons of interesting facts and information about your favorite characters, weapons, vehicles, and locations from the new TV show, Star Wars® Rebels: The Visual Guide is the ultimate guide for the ultimate fan!”

The book promised to be full of information on Rebels and what our heroes will encounter in just a few short months. It went above and beyond, giving us an inside look at what is arguable the biggest project to come from Star Wars since Disney took over. A review for this type of book is somewhat tricky, as opposed to regular adult fiction.

The book opens with a forward by Dave FIloni. As many fans of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars know, Filoni has been apart of the community since 2007. He was the supervising director and the lead collaborator with George Lucas on The Clone Wars. When news of  Rebels was first disseminated, it came with the announcement that Filoni would be back as the executive producer for the series (alongside Greg Weisman and Simon Kinberg). The forward is a short, inspiration letter from Filoni that gives some emphasis as to what he loves about Star Wars. It is filled with passion and really lets you get Filoni’s perspective on the Star Wars universe. While not every fan might agree with how Filoni has portrayed certain aspects of The Clone Wars, you cant deny that he truly does love that galaxy far, far away.

 

Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide by Adam Bray

Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide by Adam Bray

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Greg Weisman talks ‘Rain of the Ghosts’

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This week, Yoda’s News’ very own Alex Rybak sat down to conduct an interview with Greg Weisman. Weisman is currently an executive producer on Star Wars: Rebels, coming this fall. While details about Rebels are under lock and key, Weisman was able to chat about his exciting, on-going book series, Rain of the Ghosts. Rain of the Ghosts is the first installment in Weisman’s series that follows the adventures of Rain Cacique. Rain is a young teen who lives in the Prospero Keys. She is forced to face many adventures once she learns she has the ability to see ghosts.

 

Rain of the Ghosts
Rain of the Ghosts

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Jason Isaacs to hunt down the Jedi, this fall

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For months, actor Jason Isaacs has been rumored to be involved in the upcoming ‘Star Wars: Rebels.’ Today Isaacs (known for his work in ‘Awake,’ ‘The Patriot,’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ series) was finally confirmed to be voicing The Inquisitor in the upcoming series. The Inquisitor will be the main antagonist for our heroes, as he does the Emperor’s bidding. Lucasfilm released an informative video that gives us our first real look at The Inquisitor via the official ‘Star Wars’ Youtube page. The Inquisitor, the video revealed, isn’t a Sith Lord like Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Nevertheless he draws on the Dark Side of the Force, wields a red lightsaber, and hunts down the last remaining Jedi. Check out the full video below for more details.

 

What are your thoughts on the talented Jason Isaacs joining the ‘Star Wars’ franchise? Share your thoughts with us online and on Twitter. We can be found at @arybak89 (Alex Rybak) and at @yodasnews (official Yoda’s News account).