I love #TheMandalorian and I’ve been looking forward to seeing #TheMandalorianAndGrogu on the big screen—but I’ll admit I had a few worries. Was this hitting theaters just because Disney needed a Star Wars movie out? Would it feel like a couple of Disney+ episodes edited into a 132 runtime? Could it actually live up to a theatrical Star Wars release? After seeing it at an early press screening, I’m happy to say those concerns were mostly put to rest. They took everything I love about the show and leveled it up. The effects, the sets, the sheer number of characters on screen—none of it feels like a streaming production. The budget increase is immediately apparent, and the visual language is strong throughout. At its core, this is a fun father‑son adventure with Din Djarin and Grogu. It’s not the “biggest” Star Wars film (there are no galaxy‑changing events/twists, massive villain reveals, or Scarif‑scale set pieces), but not every movie needs to be. Sometimes it’s enough to spend time with characters we love. It's more akin to Solo in that respect, but even better. It’s not a perfect film (hard to explain why without spoilers), but it’s an undeniably fun one. I'd give it a solid B+. I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to seeing it again. Tune into @IonCannonCast for my spoiler-free initial impressions, and stay tuned for the full review with spoilers on Sunday!

Just got out of an early press screening of The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it feels so good to have Star Wars back in theaters after a six-year hiatus! They took everything I loved about The Mandalorian and leveled it up — the effects, sets, number of characters on screen, and more. And there's a ton of aliens. It's much bigger than a Disney+ production, even if it doesn't quite reach the scale of most Star Wars theatrical releases (except maybe Solo). That said, it does a phenomenal job giving us a father-son story with characters we love. You don't need to have ever watched the series to enjoy the movie. Stay tuned for my spoiler-free review on @IonCannonCast very soon!

Season 2 of Light & Magic is now available, chronicling the evolution of digital effects and the groundbreaking innovations ILM pioneered to revolutionize moviemaking. The series explores how the rise of digital technology impacted practical effects and the mixed reactions from audiences as the industry embraced CGI—both its triumphs and growing pains. This season focuses heavily on the Star Wars prequels, from the creation of Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace to CGI Yoda and the development of digital cameras for Attack of the Clones. For Star Wars fans and anyone fascinated by visual effects, it's an absolute must-watch. Hopefully, a third season will follow, exploring the latest advancements like The Volume and AI-driven effects.

Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, 18 films have been announced or reported on in the news. Of these... • 28% were released • 56% were released, are in production, or are likely to be released • 44% were canceled or have an uncertain future • 22% were canceled