Author Archives: Matt

What happens to Star Tours after Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disneyland?

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Via mercurynews.com:

The imminent arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland has left many longtime fans of the Star Tours attraction worried that the venerable 1987 flight simulator might soon be departing for Yesterland.

But have no fear. Star Tours is not going anywhere in the immediate future. Except on an intergalactic journey to Hoth, Tatooine or Naboo.

Disneyland plans to continue operating the Star Tours ride and the Star Wars Launch Bay attraction in Tomorrowland after Galaxy’s Edge opens at the Anaheim theme park, according to Walt Disney Imagineering officials.

“Our other Star Wars offerings — Star Tours and other things that we have in the park — those are not going away,” Imagineering portfolio creative executive Scott Trowbridge said. “We have no plans right now. We’re not announcing any changes to any of that stuff right now.”

Click here or below for the full story at mercurynews.com

Natalie Portman Says Star Wars Backlash Was Tough

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Via postbulletin.com:

Natalie Portman admitted the ‘Star Wars’ prequel backlash was “a bummer”. The 37-year-old actress became a household name after her starring role as Padme Amidala in ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’, which has been heavily criticized by fans along with its sequels ‘Attack of the Clones’ and ‘The Revenge of the Sith’, and for Portman it was tough to take.

Speaking to Empire, the actress – who was a teen when the first of the prequel trilogy movies came out in 1999 – said: “It was hard. It was a bummer because it felt like people were so excited about new ones and then to have people feel disappointed.

“Also to be at an age that I didn’t really understand that’s kind of the nature of the beast. When something has that much anticipation it can almost only disappoint.”

However, Portman noted that some fans have “re-evaluated’ their initial reaction to the films, which were scorned for a perceived overuse of CGI and dislike for comedic alien Jar Jar Binks.

She added: “With the perspective of time, it’s been re-evaluated by a lot of people who actually really love them now.

“There’s a very avid group of people who think they’re the best ones now! I don’t have enough perspective to weigh in.”

Click here for the full story at postbulletin.com

Avengers: Endgame beats The Force Awakens

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Via THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — “Avengers: Endgame” is crushing the competition by setting multiple records at the box office a day after its release.

The Walt Disney Co. says domestically the film opened Friday with a record $156.7 million (including Thursday previews), besting “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($119 million in 2015, though it played on fewer screens) and “Avengers: Infinity War” ($106 million in 2018).

Outside the U.S., “Avengers: Endgame” broke another record by grossing an estimated $487 million at the end of Friday, surpassing “The Fate of the Furious” aka “Fast & Furious 8” ($443 million in 2017).

The Marvel Comics superhero film also broke the record for the highest opening weekend globally of all time with $644 million at the end of Friday. The previous record holder was “Infinity War” with $641 million.

Galaxy’s Edge Announces Reservations Dates

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Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is opening on May 31 at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California and August 29 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. If you are planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at the Disneyland Resort between May 31 and June 23, 2019, a reservation and theme park admission are required. There is no additional cost to make a reservation, but reservations are subject to availability.

Specific details on how to make reservations will be available on the Disney Parks Blog and Disneyland.com on May 2 at 8 a.m. PT. You must have a Disney Account to register for a reservation so be sure to create one before registration opens at 10 a.m. PT.

Guests looking to guarantee a reservation to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge today can get one by staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel between May 31 and June 23, 2019.

 

First visitors to Galaxy’s Edge will get just four hours to see it all!

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Via LATimes.com:

The first visitors to Disneyland’s highly anticipated new Star Wars attraction will each be given a four-hour window to take in the $1-billion expansion — but how that deadline will be enforced is still unclear.  With six weeks to go before the May 31 opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland sent out emails over the weekend to fans who were guaranteed access to the land by making reservations at any of the resort’s three hotels.

The Anaheim theme park also revealed that fans who have not booked a room at a resort hotel can visit the Star Wars land by making reservations via the Disneyland website, starting May 2.

The time limit and the reservation system may be a way for Disneyland to avoid the type of gridlock and social media backlash that often come with the opening of other blockbuster attractions, such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016.

“What they are doing are two different things: designing an attraction for the ages, but also getting out in front of managing expectations,” said Bill Coan, president and chief executive of Itec Entertainment, an Orlando, Fla.-based attraction designer and producer.

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The Mandalorian Reportedly Already Renewed For Second Season?

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Via CBR.com:

Ahead of its debut, a new report suggests the Star Wars show The Mandalorian has already been renewed for a second season.  According to HN Entertainment, Disney is already aiming to give the show a second season. The Disney+ exclusive series is set to premiere later this year and stars Pedro Pascal as a bounty hunter, though other details about the title character are still being kept under wraps. The show will have an eclectic cast that includes Werner Herzog and Nick Nolte. The show will also feature Thor:Ragnarok’s Taika Waititi and Jurassic World’s Bryce Dallas Howard, among others, as directors.

Click here for the full story at CBR