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In an on-set video promoting Omaze's Star Wars: Force for Change campaign to raise money for UNICEF innovation labs and programs, "Star Wars: Episode VII" director J.J. Abrams reveals the brand new X-Wing starfighter ship that will appear in the upcoming film. In the clip, Abrams stands in front of the war-torn ship while talking about their fundraising efforts. "We cannot tell you how grateful we are for your support," he says. "People from over 119 countries have already participated and that's incredible and we're so grateful. But we're still going, we have one week left. So for this final...

It’s all wrong from the word go. Princess Leia lying awkwardly on the floor like a drunk belly dancer, dirty clothes and manky old wigs. Those visiting the Stars Wars exhibition in Wolfsburg, Germany, would have been forgiven for mistaking it for the set of a budget porn film. The force was definitely not strong in this awful display of creepy mannequins, terrible lighting and all-round lameness. Take Chewie for example – obviously just a wig glued to a doll head.

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George Lucas, creator of "Star Wars," announced this week that he had chosen Chicago as the home of his new museum. Here's how the city and the movie series are remarkably alike: 1. An invisible power influences events, sometimes with negative results. In "Star Wars," it's The Force. In Chicago, it's The Clout. 2. Robots engage in predictable, often inane dialogue. In "Star Wars," there are R2-D2 and C-3PO. In Chicago, there are TV news anchors. 3. Story of a father and a son has great significance. In "Star Wars," it's Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. In Chicago, it's the...

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas has selected Chicago over Los Angeles and San Francisco as the future home of his collection of art and movie memorabilia, according to a spokeswoman for the museum. The museum's board Wednesday is expected to vote on a name change — from the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art — and destination. Pending approval by the Chicago Plan Commission, Lucas' institution would be built on what are now parking lots between Soldier Field and McCormick Place and would open in 2018. Architectural renderings will be presented to city officials in...

Harrison Ford has been injured on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII. The actor injured his ankle on Thursday, and was taken to a local hospital. "Harrison Ford sustained an ankle injury during filming today on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII. He was taken to a local hospital and is receiving care. Shooting will continue as planned while he recuperates," said a statement from Disney. A source tells THR that the actor, who reprises his role as Han Solo from the original franchise, was injured by the door of the Millennium Falcon, the spacecraft that his character...

It continues to be the year of Lupita Nyong'o. The Oscar-winning actress has joined the cast of "Star Wars: Episode VII," it was announced on Monday. Following the announcement Nyong'o tweeted "I can finally say it out loud and proud: I'm going to a galaxy far far away!" along with an Instagram picture of the "Star Wars" logo.

Chicago’s lakefront museum campus is the recommended spot to house a project with blockbuster box office potential: an interactive museum spearheaded by movie mogul George Lucas to house his formidable collection of artwork and film-making memorabilia. While a mayoral taskforce has suggested the site, Lucas — the Star Wars mastermind — has not made a final decision about whether Chicago will be home to the museum. Lucas’ hometown of San Francisco remains in the running — even after a federal panel rejected the picturesque Presidio site that was the filmaker’s top choice.

Hollywood actor Denis Lawson has turned down the chance to appear in the new Star Wars films because they would have “bored him”. The Crieff-born star said he had been approached by Disney, which bought Lucasfilm in 2012, but turned them down. The 66-year-old played X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles in all three films of the original trilogy. In 2001, he provided the voiceover for the character’s appearance in a Nintendo computer game. Lawson made the revelation at a screening of his most recent film, The Machine, at Strathearn Artspace in his home town. When asked if the next new Denis...

For decades, Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)—an ambitious ground- and space-based “shield” to protect the United States from nuclear ballistic missiles—has been mocked and criticized. First proposed by the president in 1983, it was immediately dubbed “Star Wars” by the mainstream media and dismissed as unscientific, infeasible and even counter-productive. The Union of Concerned Scientists, 100,000 members strong, was fierce in its opposition. The Arms Control Association declared that SDI would end arms control, while some Soviets felt SDI would end the world. Domestic critics became furious, and the Kremlin went ballistic. But while Reagan’s critics might not have...

Now that the cast of the seventh "Star Wars" movie has been announced, you can imagine the anticipation among the millions of fans of the film franchise. And why not? The six "Star Wars" films have been enormous successes: they have grossed over $2 billion domestically at the box office, spawned scores of books, comic books and merchandise (how many kids have their own light saber?) and made household names of characters like Darth Vader, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker.

If you have often imagined yourself piloting your X-Wing fighter on an attack run on the Death Star, you'll be reassured that University of Leicester students have demonstrated that your shields could take whatever the Imperial fleet can throw at you. The only drawback is that you won't be able to see a thing outside of your starfighter. In anticipation of Star Wars Day on 4 May, three fourth-year Physics students at the University have proven that shields, such as those seen protecting spaceships in the Star Wars film series, would not only be scientifically feasible, they have also shown...

The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Luke. Leia. Han. Chewie. Artoo. Threepio. All present and accounted for as StarWars.com unveiled the official cast of "Star War: Episode VII" Tuesday. Here's the full release: The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film. Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars:...

Which stories are included in the official Star Wars canon has been a source of debate for years, but in light of the new upcoming films, Lucasfilm has made a statement regarding what it considers to be the true timeline. In short, all of the Expanded Universe – including video games, comics, and novels – didn't really happen.

The announcements about Star Wars: Episode VII were made by Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn during a panel at Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television in Los Angeles on April 2. He also acknowledged that there had been problems with the script, but he’s confident in the version director J.J. Abrams and co-writer Lawrence Kasdan have worked on, which is based on a previous draft written by Toy Story 3 scribe Michael Arndt. “It’s all about the screenplay,” Horn said. “It has to be screenplay, screenplay, screenplay.”

Sith lord runs for president as candidate of Ukrainian Internet party, vowing to 'make an empire out of a republic' As Ukraine battles to stave off dark forces of its own, the Star Wars villain Darth Vader announced at the weekend he was running for president in a bid to restore glory to the downtrodden nation. The Sith lord, or at least an unnamed costumed protester often seen on Kiev's Independence Square flanked by his loyal stormtroopers during the winter protests, has been chosen as the official candidate of the Ukrainian Internet party (UIP) which has become known for its...

The highly anticipated next installment of the "Star Wars" franchise will be set 30 years after "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi," Walt Disney Co.'s chief executive officer Bob Iger said on Tuesday at the company's annual shareholders meeting. Disney purchased "Star Wars" production company LucasFilm for $4.05 billion in 2012 and announced it would release three new films in the popular sci-fi series. Fans have been avidly awaiting details of the next film, "Star Wars: Episode VII."

Full title: Are You A ‘Yoda,’ ‘Luke Skywalker,’ Or Maybe A ‘Princess Leia?’ Take The ‘Star Wars’ Personality Test Let’s push the “pause” button on the hard news for a few minutes and have a little fun. The crew at Zimbio.com has posted an entertaining personality profile test that asks 14 questions and, based on your answers, tells you which Star Wars character most matches up with you.

There was a powerful description given by Pope Emeritus Benedict to describe the modern stance of a world that has abandoned any notion of objective truth to which it is accountable. The phrase was “The tyranny of relativism.”In effect the expression describes what happens when there is no standard outside ourselves to which reasonable people can and should appeal in order to square their views or opinions. In such a setting, appeals to reason and agreed upon standards cannot hold the day and resolve disputes.Thus who “wins”? Whose view prevails? The sad answer is that those with the most money,...