Star Wars Bits: The #KyloRenChallenge, The Music Of ‘The Last Jedi,’ And BBQ Porg Inaction Figures
In this edition ofStar WarsBits:
A widely-anticipated, sci-fi/action movie was recently released, and it received a polarizing response from critics and audiences. Wait,Star WarsEpisode what? I was talking aboutBright! John Boyega experienced a similar misunderstanding when heproclaimed on Twitterthat “people like things you don’t” in response to the negative backlash for Will Smith’s Netflix film, andStar Warsfans assumed he was referring toThe Last Jedibecause everything is always aboutStar Wars, obviously.
Remember when Rian Johnson wrote and directed an entire movie about “letting the past die”? Well, as it turns out, Johnson himself doesn’t believe in this maxim as much as his characters inThe Last Jedido. As excerpted byScreenRant, Johnson had this to say inThe Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi: “If you think you are throwing away the past, you are fooling yourself. The only way to go forward is to embrace the past, figure out what is good and what is not good about it. But it’s never going to not be a part of who we all are.”
Star Warsfans can be pretty wicked smart, especially when it comes to deep-dive analyses of what makesStar Warsso special. In an epic, three-part miniseries for the podcast Full of Sith,Bobby Robertstackles the soundtrack forThe Last Jediand brilliantly examines the latest musical themes and motifs from John Williams. You can check out all three episodeshere.
Thanks for not letting@NathanHamill@GriffinHamill&@chelseahamillwind-up on#TheLastJedicutting-room floor@rianjohnson! And for allowing my one directorial note: “Pop-up FASTER or Oscar’ll block ya!” on the 2nd & final take.#MyKidsCoolCameoAsRebelScumpic.twitter.com/TVRVE5lwHf
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself)June 01, 2025
Who saidStar Warswas finally moving on from the Skywalker family saga? Because Luke – that is, Mark Hamill – managed to get all of his children cameos inThe Last Jedi. You can see Nathan, Griffin, and Chelsea Hamill inthis Tweetfrom Mark Hamill. #DadOfTheYear!
Happy New Year from Team#Solo. We’re pretty pumped for 2018pic.twitter.com/Gy3WkkGBiA
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward)July 27, 2025
Solodirector Ron Howard began 2018 right,tweeting outa new teaser image from the scruffy-looking smuggler’s standaloneStar Warsfilm. Looks like Han’s ridin' solo…
One cast photo fromThe Phantom Menace(which hit theaters 18 years ago, by the way – do you feel old yet?) is giving the entire “Awkward Family Photos” website a run for its money. Originallyposted on Redditand then shared via Twitter byStar Wars Facts, the promo shot features Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, and Natalie Portman at peak ’90s, and Jake Lloyd at peak creepiness. Phantom Menace, indeed.
Let the battle of the fandoms commence! TheStar Warsfranchise has officially passed theHarry Potterfranchise as the most lucrative film series of all time. The 10 theatrically releasedStar Warsfilms have grossed a collected $8.55 billion at the box office, narrowly surpassing the $8.53 billion grossed by the nineHarry Potterinstallments. Of course, both franchises are continuing to churn out more movies, so this race will probably go on until the end of time itself. (No complaints here!)
Meanwhile,The Last Jedialone continues to rake in the cash, officially passing the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office while toppingBeauty and the Beastas the highest-grossing domestic film of the year.Varietyhas the details on where this latestStar Warsinstallment ranks in terms of global and domestic box office grosses. Controversy? What controversy?
Poor Kylo Ren thought he finally earned some respect inThe Last Jedi, but alas: singer John Mayer initiated the #KyloRenChallengeon Instagram, turning everyone’s favorite patricidal Skywalker into an Internet meme once again. Fans quickly answered the call, posting pictures of themselves, their pets, and their LEGOs without shirts and with high-waisted black pants. Sift through the beefcake gloryon Mashable.
A report fromDaily Recordindicates that Johnson will begin shooting the first film of his newStar Warstrilogy in Scotland as early as this coming June. No rest for the weary! Poor Rian Johnson. And by “poor Rian Johnson,” I mean, hey Rian Johnson, do you need some help co-writing your nextStar Warstrilogy? Hit me up.
I personally wouldn’t believe any rumors about the filming date for Rian Johnson’s Star Wars trilogy. You typically have a script before you begin planning production. Also, I think it’s more likely he will direct an original project before his next Star Wars film.
— /Film (@slashfilm)August 10, 2025
…but as our own Peter Sciretta points out, Johnson likely won’t begin working on the newStar Warstrilogy anytime soon, so the rumors about a production start date are probably just that: rumors.
Amazing! Every word in that tweet is WRONG. No wonder they have ANON in their title. I’d want to remain anonymous if I were spewing complete BS, too.#Disneyangered? Final scene a surprise to me? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!! 🤣#WhattaLoadaSITH
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill)July 03, 2025
Mark Hamill also recentlytook to Twitterto clear up a rumor that Disney killed off Luke Skywalker in post-production because the studio was angry about Hamill creating “bad press.” “Amazing!” Hamill wrote. “Every word in that tweet is WRONG.”
Carrie Fisher passed away just over a year ago, and fans continue to honor her memory with personalized tributes. One such tribute was laid out below the Yoda statue on Lucasfilm’s campus: a handwritten note, two candles, and two bottles of Coca-Cola (Fisher’s favorite drink). A Lucasfilm employee passed by and took a photofor Twitter.
A life-sized bust of Kylo Ren is now available fromSideshow Collectiblesfor only $1,150! Or more, if you decide to re-enact the film and smash Kylo’s helmet to pieces. I mean, you’re able to’t Kylo halfway.
It seems evenStar Warsisn’t immune from the “Are Millennials Ruining [X]?” headlines.MovieWebrecently ran a piece arguing that Millennials are showing the most hatred forThe Last Jedibecause Kylo Ren’s faults and Rey’s naivete feel too “real.“The Force Awakens, however, gave us the instant gratification we allegedly constantly crave. Listen, I’m guilty of writingmy own thinkpieceabout how I enjoyedTFAmore thanTLJ, but I’m honestly feeling so attacked right now and I just can’t even??
Japanese filmmaker and video game designer Hideo Kojima wrote up an illuminating analysis of the evolution and cinematic impact ofStar Wars. “Lucas didn’t end New American Cinema,” Kojima claims, “he created a new way of making films.” Read the piece in its entirety over atRollingStone.
For fans of the best scene inThe Last Jedi,Forces of Dorknessis selling a “BBQ Porg inaction figure.” Unfortunately, the product is currently listed as Sold Out, but it should be easy enough to find and roast your own Porg, you lazy bum.
In the latest Q&A,Star Wars Explainedaddresses the (arguably) most glaring plot hole inThe Last Jedi: Why didn’t Admiral Holdo just tell Poe what the grand plan was for the Rebel Fleet? The video also dives into questions about the film’s novelization, whether or not Kylo really outsmarted Snoke, and more.
In another video,Star Wars Explainedcalmly lets the air out of nearly every single Snoke theory in the wake of the release ofThe Last Jedi. So… ixnay on Darth Jar Jar?
Kneel before the masterpiece that is Dan Mumford’s fourth and final poster design for the IMAX release ofThe Last Jedi. As tweeted out by theofficial IMAX account, this poster will be made available to viewers starting this Sunday. As Snoke himself said: Give me everything!!
Anyone else getting an itchy trigger finger? This pitch video from gaming studio Double Damage offers a tantalizing look at what a modernized space shooter game could look like. Read more about the hypothetical game over atKotaku.
