Our Star Wars Celebration coverage continues with this breakdown of The Mandalorian panel featuring Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and the cast of the upcoming streaming series. Paul Bateman is back! We talk about everything that happened at the panel along with all the reveals, teases, clues and more. Plus, more Episode IX as we get the Bateman Breakdown of The Rise of Skywalker teaser trailer. 

On day three of STAR WARS CELEBRATION CHICAGO, RFR Patreon members gathered on Chicago’s South Side at Alulu Brewery for an exclusive live episode of Rebel Force Radio. Rancho Obi-Wan’s legendary Stephen J. Sansweet stops by to talk about the history of Star Wars Celebration and the challenges he faced as a member of the Lucasfilm planning committee in charge of the first-ever event back in 1999. It’s always a “celebration” of laugh and song when Steve joins us. Worlds collide! Puppet Lando shared the same space with the real Lando, Billy Dee Williams for a whirlwind photo-op. We provide a play-by-play recount of what was our most insane moment at Star Wars Celebration. Then, Puppet Lando himself joins us to read through the amazing Star Wars-inspired menu provided by Alulu Brewery. We review some hot new STAR WARS headlines including news that J.J. Abrams met with George Lucas while developing the script for THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. Plus, we react to the return of Emperor Palpatine in Episode IX and how it may affect the legacy of THE LAST JEDI. Bob Iger says that Star Wars films will be placed on a hiatus and we try to decipher what that really means. Star Wars artist/entrepreneur Kevin Liell joins us along with audience feedback about THE RISE OF SKYWALKER trailer. The blue milk was spiked by Greedo and flowing all night long at Alulu. Join us for the party!   

More Star Wars Celebration Chicago coverage is coming from us soon including RFR LIVE in CHICAGO from REGGIE’S.

RFR was at the Star Wars: Episode IX panel at Star Wars Celebration Chicago where we saw the first footage from THE RISE OF SKYWALKER in the teaser trailer. We talk about some of the surprises revealed during the panel and break down the trailer shot-by-shot. 

Not only will we be getting more STAR WARS at Disney Parks in 2019, we’ll be getting booze! For the first time ever, alcoholic beverages will be made available at Disneyland...And they will be Star Wars-inspired! We look at the adult beverage menu for STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE and consider how they tie-in to the Star Wars universe. Spoiler Alert! We review recently leaked EPISODE IX poster art and rumored details about characters, planets, and aliens in THE MANDALORIAN. We have highlights from Samuel L. Jackson’s new 60 Minutes interview where he talks about Mace Windu and his purple lightsaber. Adam Goldberg’s “Schooled” paid tribute to THE PHANTOM MENACE. We review the new ABC comedy episode “Darth Mellor” in STAR WARS IN POP CULTURE. Plus, Conan O’Brien recently had a few hilarious things to say about the taxation of trade routes in EPISODE I, and more.

Oscar Isaac is hitting the talk show circuit promoting his new Netflix film, but everyone wants to hear him talk about STAR WARS EPISODE IX. We review the talking points Oscar has been throwing out there in interviews and analyze what he’s saying about the film, most notably, the end of the Skywalker Saga. We’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Star Wars style as Jason quizzes us on Irish actors in the saga. The fallout from the Jedi Coup d’etat debate continues on the RFR Voice Mail Hotline, and we have audio from Dave Filoni and the REVENGE OF THE SITH audiobook to present as evidence. Plus, new info about the opening of  STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE from Bob Iger, Star Wars Resistance Season One winds down, Saw Guerrera, and Shorty Robe Luke.

Mark Hamill is again expressing opinion, perhaps some of his strongest ever, about the use of his character Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. We review his comments and offer opinions of our own. Jason is back to sit on the judge’s bench and Billy Mac returns for the conclusion of our Mace vs Palpatine coup d’etat debate. Plus, we reveal the new Star Wars product reveals from Toy Fair 2019, including Hasbro’s upcoming controversial reproduction of the original vintage action figure line from the 70s and 80s, Oscar Isaac talks about Episode IX, and Mr. Iger once again calls the RFR voicemail hotline.

EPISODE IX filming is complete and J.J. Abrams made his first comments since the shooting wrapped at a recent charity event. We analyze what J.J. had to say and dive deep into STAR WARS references from the Abrams-produced ABC series “Lost”. Is anxiety for the reveals of the Episode IX title and trailer getting to be a little tiresome? We discuss! Also, we review recent interview highlights with Episode IX newcomers Naomi Ackley and Richard E. Grant. Star Wars actors and references populated the Academy Awards this year and we rundown everything we noticed in the network broadcast of the show. STAR WARS ALWAYS is an amazing new trailer compiling footage from every Star Wars film, and we provide a full review of this Topher Grace/Jeff Yorkes produced tribute to the Saga. The RFR Voice Mail Hotline is packed with great listener feedback leading us to discuss and debate such diverse topics like The Clone Wars revival, Episode IX speculation, the Mace Windu/Palpatine confrontation from REVENGE OF THE SITH and more. 

STAR WARS EPISODE IX speculation is kicking in to full gear here at RFR. This week, the spotlight shines on the RFR Voice Mail Hotline and we go heavy with listener feedback. The biggest questions: Will Darth Sidious return? Was Kylo Ren lying to Rey about her parents? Who is (was) Snoke? Our audience guides the conversation on this week’s show as Billy Mac sits in as special guest co-host. With rumors about multiple new STAR WARS live-action series for the upcoming Disney+ streaming service burning like wildfire, we run down some of the rumors and talk about a few we’d like to see. Plus, RFR returns to Twitter, RFR LIVE in CHICAGO tickets go on sale, and more.  

STAR WARS EPISODE IX character reference photos leaked to Reddit this week. We review all the pictures with a very critical eye and talk about what we like...And what we don’t. SPOILER ALERT! We get caught up with the newest rumors about Episode IX and discuss in detail, including teases about a new evil foe. Friend of the show Chris “From Cleveland” Marinin sits in for this episode and we get into deep speculation about what to expect in final chapter of “The Skywalker Saga”, and debate how elements from the old EXPANDED UNIVERSE could be used in the film. The RFR Voicemail hotline once again gets us talking about crying while watching Star Wars. We recall our emotional responses to the saga, and look back at a magical moment that brought us to tears during a George Lucas panel at Star Wars Celebration III, with audio highlights.