Rebel Force Radio: Star Wars Podcast

RFR LIVE returned this week and we took your calls to hear what you think about The Rise Of Skywalker and the future of STAR WARS. The phone lines were open all night and you guys brought some amazing conversation. Bill Burr revealed he will be joining THE MANDALORIAN cast, and we have some audio highlights revealing his disconnect from the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Dan Spindle, morning news anchor from Salt Lake City NBC affiliate KSL, gives us a report from his recent encounter with Hayden Christensen and Ian McDiramid, The Yoda Questionnaire Returns, cool Snoke theories and more.

We're looking forward towards the launch of THE MANDALORIAN with new comments from Filoni and Favreau, along with action figure leaks. What is the Offworld Jawa? We try to figure it out! In STAR WARS news this week, Ian McDiarmid & Hayden Christensen were not allowed to participate in a convention panel due to a last-minute restriction by Disney. We look between the lines to decipher what this cancellation might mean for THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. We look back at the classic KENOBI novel by John Jackson Miller and discuss Gaffi Sticks, Krayt Dragons and Kenobi Keychains. And we're probably the only fans on the internet to acknowledge a mundane anniversary for the Droids/Ewoks Hour from the eighties.

We go back to the future this week on RFR! In our post-D23 review, we review THE MANDALORIAN trailer shot-by-shot and speculate about plot points and character motivation. We have interview highlights from the convention with the shows bad guy Moff Gideon, Giancarlo Espositio. Plus, more production updates from THE RISE OF SKYWALKER via comments from director J.J. Abrams and composer John Williams teases the end of Episode IX. Historian W.R. Miller joins us IN THE CANTINA to talk about his book THE STAR WARS HISTORICAL SOURCEBOOK, the first of a multi-volume collection preserving the history of Star Wars via an incredible collection of interview excerpts spanning the years in books, newspapers and magazines. Volume One is available now! Also this week, we take a sound effect from RETURN OF THE JEDI into the RFR Soundlab and compare it to audio heard in the TROS Sizzle Reel footage with surprising results. And, we have the latest Mr. Iger voicemail and its packed with exclusive info not revealed at D23.

FR went live this week to review the big STAR WARS news coming out of D23 Expo in Anaheim. In honor of the big event, we opened up our switchboard to hear what you think of THE MANDALORIAN trailer, the big KENOBI announcement, and the latest reveals from THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. And of course, the vision of a Rey with a reticulated red blade was nothing short of thrilling. Plus, panel and interview highlights from the event with cast and crew and more.

As D23 begins, we speculate about a KENOBI series for Disney+, we get pumped up for THE MANDALORIAN, and ramp up towards THE RISE OF SKYWALKER with new information about the John Williams soundtrack and new books. We go IN THE CANTINA with STAR WARS artist Otis Frampton to discuss his pitch for THE JAWA ADVENTURES. Plus, a little Star Wars collecting talk, a few laughs, and sand. It gets everywhere.

Some wild rumors erupted this week claiming George Lucas still owns the rights for STAR WARS characters he created and Disney is sending him checks to use them. We wade through the rumors and present a case that we hope determines whether or not these reports are valid. We got our first look at the second and final season of STAR WARS RESISTANCE in a new trailer that dropped this week. We discuss some of the highlights and info revealed. And is a well-known actor from ABC's THE GOLDBERGS appearing in THE RISE OF SKYWALKER? The answer is YES and we will tell you who it is! We look forward to STAR WARS announcements potentially coming next weekend at D23, including confirmation of a KENOBI series on Disney+ starring Ewan McGregor. Plus, more on the definition of Lucasian, a Rancho Obi-Wan update, and Jimmy Mac's Artoo vs BB-8 Facebook debate.

Earlier this week, Disney's Bob Iger addressed the reality of lowered attendance at Disneyland in the wake of opening STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE during his third quarter shareholders conference call. We review Iger's comments and provide our own commentary with Jimmy Mac's perspective after recently visiting the park. We discuss what is Disney doing right and try to evaluate what they are doing wrong. On THE MANDALORIAN front, Jon Favreau talked about advice given to him by George Lucas and revealed some more hints about the show's plot in recent interviews. We have the highlights. Plus, a review of the Scum And Villainy Cantina in Hollywood, recent Kevin Smith comments about visiting the RISE OF SKYWALKER set, a shout-out for RFR in a venerable England magazine from a UK comedian, and we learn about THE JAWA ADVENTURES.

We take a deep dive into the new "Star Wars Land" at Disneyland as Jimmy Mac has returned from STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE with a full report. From Oga's Cantina to Savi's Workshop to the cockpit of The Millennium Falcon, we cover it all with Billy Mac sitting in. What about the much-reported attendance numbers at the park? We get Jimmy's perspective on the crowds and wait times, along with in-depth reviews of the drinks, food, merch, sites, sounds and overall vibe. Plus, we follow up on our ongoing investigation: Is the STAR TOURS ride still featuring Lucas-Era content? All this plus Hyperspace Mountain and Swank on a beach!

Danny Bonaduce, best known from starring in the sit-com classic THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY, also shared screentime with Mark Hamill in his first post-STAR WARS film, 1978s CORVETTE SUMMER. Danny joins Jimmy Mac IN THE CANTINA to share stories about his experiences with Mark Hamill, along with a wild story about the first time Danny saw Star Wars on it's opening night in 1977. You have to hear it to believe it. Plus, Star Wars in Pop Culture spotlights STRANGER THINGS season three, we explore the physics of The Lightsaber in THE RISE OF SKYWALKER based on recent comments by Daisy Ridley, rare audio from RETURN OF THE JEDI, and what are the possibilities Disney will someday remake THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY?

THE RISE OF SKYWALKER is a hot topic as Daisy Ridley continues to drop hints during interviews and the Sith Trooper debuted this week. We have highlights of Daisy's latest comments, including clues about the Kylo Ren vs Rey duel, and commentary on the new Episode IX Red Stormtrooper. Mark Ramsey, host of the new eight-part audio dramatization INSIDE STAR WARS, joins us IN THE CANTINA to talk about his popular show and his own fandom. And of course, we run Mark through the famous Yoda Questionnaire. Is Disneyland beginning to suppress the Original Trilogy content at Star Tours now that Galaxy's Edge has opened? We open up a new RFR Investigative Report! Plus, Star Wars actors rapping and Puffer Pig gets a theme song.