SWBC: 'The Phantom Menace' 25th, Skywalker saga marathon, blue milk and more Star Wars news
Friday news dump, meet Thursday Star Wars news dump.
Imperial March
Oh my Maker, there was a lot of Star Wars news on Thursday.
It’s mostly all part of Imperial March, which has been a month-long celebration of Star Wars villainy. There have been plenty of new merch reveals as part of the “March to May the 4th” Star Wars holiday in a couple of months.
There was also a Star Wars-themed light show at the Empire State Building featuring Darth Vader himself, Hayden Christensen.
Thursday’s Imperial March drop was a smorgasbord of merch, from Hasbro collectibles and a Stormtrooper popcorn bucket to blue milk and a Darth Maul lightsaber that plays “Duel of the Fates.”
Here are my top picks.
Vanilla-flavored blue milk arrives in stores on April 17 from TruMoo.
I’m not usually a figuring collector, and Hasbro’s Black Series is full of slight variations of the same characters. But this three-pack includes my favorite babygirls General Grievous (concept art design!) and Thrawn (with an Ysalamir!).
Arriving on Jan. 1, 2025, and available to preorder now.
This new reference book from Insight Editions explores Darth Vader’s story through the Skywalker saga. Star Wars Icons: Darth Vader arrives on Nov. 5, 2024.
Cavan Scott’s beloved Vader’s Castle stories are collected for the first time in this deluxe library edition. The collection includes comics from Tales from Vader’s Castle, Return to Vader’s Castle, Shadow of Vader’s Castle, Ghosts of Vader’s Castle, and the 2019 Free Comic Book Day “Droid Hunters” short story.
Vader’s Castle: The Deluxe Library Collection arrives on Sept. 24, 2024, and is available to preorder now.
Darth Maul’s iconic double-hilted lightsaber arrives at the Disney Store and Disney Parks in a new collector’s edition box set. The lengthy lightsaber arrives in a wooden box that plays a segment of “Duel of the Fates.” Snag two red blades for the full Sith apprentice effect.
The lightsaber arrives on May 4 at DisneyStore.com and at the Disney Parks.
Speaking of Maul, there’s a new Phantom Menace collection coming on May 4. One of the items is this sick Darth Maul hoodie with “25” on the pocket. The collection drops on DisneyStore.com and at the Disney Parks.
Find more reveals and new merch at StarWars.com.
See Star Wars in theaters
This year’s Star Wars Day is shaping up to be a historic one.
Starting May 3, The Phantom Menace will be back in theaters to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The screening also includes an exclusive look at The Acolyte, the newest Star Wars show to hit Disney+ in June.
The next day, on top of The Phantom Menace screenings, all nine Skywalker saga films will be back in theaters on May 4. The most dedicated fans will get to watch all of the Star Wars films in chronological order — from the prequels to The Rise of Skywalker.
Tickets for both screenings go on sale at noon on Friday, March 22.
You know I will be there — at least for The Phantom Menace.
This week’s Star Wars releases
March 19
Star Wars Insider: The High Republic: Tales of Enlightenment
March 20
Jango Fett #1
Visions: Takashi Okazaki #1
The High Republic (2023) #5
Thrawn: Alliances #3
I'm debating if I can do 24 hours of Star Wars. I did the OT back to back to back at a theater in 2016. Halfway through Jedi I was like "please just blow up the Death Star so I can go home. My butt is numb."