The Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter: August 16, 2024
Clearing up any Max Rebo misconceptions
Hello there
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter. It is a fairly short newsletter this week, I’ve been getting caught up from being out of town last week. There’s a lot to get through though. Disney had their D23 fan event so we got some new info on Skeleton Crew, Rebuild the Galaxy, Andor season 2, and The Mandalorian & Grogu. We’ve got some trailers and updates for all those things, along with all the usual nonsense you’ve come to expect from Death Star HR.
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This Is Where The Fun Begins
From long time real-life friend and Death Star HR reader, Obi-Wan Kenippy.
Somehow…Palpatine has returned I never get tired of these kind of memes.
Note From the Desk of the Editor
Of course many people are asking is there actually an editor at Death Star HR? Technically yes, but that’s not the point here.
Important announcement from Death Star HR HQ. I was talking to a friend and co-worker - a man known only as a crazy old hermit who lives out beyond the Dune Sea - who told me that he hoped I wouldn’t shit on Max Rebo this week. I rather indigently replied this wasn’t the case, I love Max Rebo. And he did admit that he may have had a few snifters of Corellian brandy before reading Death Star HR so there could have been some misinterpretation.
In the interest of transparency, let it be known that the Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter has a pro-Max Rebo agenda.
The big blue guy here? We love him. “Lapti Nek” is an absolute banger and those fat cats at Lucasfilm did Max dirty by changing the song to “Jedi Rocks” in the Special Editions. #JusticeForMax!
Let it be known across the galaxy, if you mess with Maximus J. Rebo1, you’re messing with Death Star HR.
The Skeleton Crew: Now With Moving Pictures
Last weekend while record shopping, a buddy bought a bunch of Rush on vinyl so I’ve got Moving Pictures on the brain. Last week was D23, billed as “the ultimate Disney fan event.” You don’t quite get a Star Wars Celebration level of announcements but there’s always some new stuff. First off, we got the first trailer for Skeleton Crew.
There’s a reason why Disney has been trying to advertise Skeleton Crew as “Goonies in space.” And that’s because it looks exactly like Goonies set in a galaxy far far away. A group of kids on an adventure. It might be a nice change of pace from the super serious series like Ahsoka and The Acolyte. Both those shows have some moments of humor or lightness but overall are kinda brooding (the former) and arguably the darkest2 Star Wars show (the latter).
One thing we very rarely see is how normal people live in the Star Wars universe. Andor has probably come the closest to showing that. But again there’s very little childhood whimsy in Andor, a show about how fascism infects every layer of society and that feels like a warning we’re not heeding. At least from the trailer, these appear to be regular kids who get sucked into some kind of adventure. My biggest worry is Disney will get too cute and try to make Baby Max Rebo another Palpatine clone or something silly.
I Can Now Die a Happy Man
Moving along with the D23 reveals, we got the first full trailer for LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. We had a teaser for it back in May and I wrote about it. for one very specific reason.
Darth Jar Jar.
As the self-declared Bombad General of the Darth Jar Jar Truther movement, I’m always on the lookout for anything that suggests our favorite Gungan is secretly a Sith Lord. Well, I know it’s not canon, but Disney delivered here.
Just look at this poster. Yousa look at it!
Ahmed Best himself is back to voice Darth Jar Jar. He’s joined by names you know like Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Kelly Marie Tran, Billy Dee Williams and Dee Bradley Baker. I’ve only ever seen some bits and pieces of LEGO Star Wars, they always look like they are silly fun but I’ve just never made time for them. But you can be sure I’ll be watching on September 13th when Rebuild The Galaxy is released. Yousa should be watchin’ too!
Old Friends Return for D23
Two other big announcements from D23 but no trailers to post. Or at least not one I have found easily. I’ve read some leaked trailers are out there but I’m sure the army of lawyers that Disney keeps employed have been churning out C&D’s faster than Sebulba running the Boonta Eve Classic.
Just the occasional reminder that Death Star HR posts spoilers. And things are about to get spoiler-y. So if you don’t want to know some points on Andor season 2 and The Mandalorian and Grogu movie, you should probably skip this.
First off, we got some confirmation of what was always suspected for Andor season 2, and that’s Orson Krennic will be back. Once it was revealed that Cassian and the prisoners on Narkina 5 were building parts for the Death Star, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Krennic would return. I’m secretly hoping we get a cameo of Tarkin complaining about the Death Star budget and scheming to take all the credit.
Possibly more exciting than Krennic is that we’ll get K-2SO in the flesh…err..in the metal. Am I wrong in saying K-2 was the real star of Rogue One? I don’t think I’m that far off. It has been confirmed that Alan Tudyk will be back to provide K-2’s trademark mix of snark and sass. No wonder I love that droid so much. He reminds me of me.
And finally, we’re going to see the rebel too rebellious for the Rebellion. Forest Whitaker returns as Saw Gerrera with his trusty sidekick Two Tubes. I know we got some of Saw’s backstory in Rebels. Are there any canon books that feature him? I’ve always liked his character.
One final note on Andor season 2. There’s going to be 12 episodes and it’s going to cover 4 years of Cassian’s life. I’m going to guess it will be like the last season of The Clone Wars, where we get 4 mini-stories, each one 3 episodes long. Certainly a change of the format from season 1, but at this point I think Tony Gilroy and the rest of the team on Andor have earned the benefit of the doubt. No official reason date for season 2, but I saw one article that suggested it will be August 2025.
Switching from the small screen to the big screen, fans at D23 got to see a trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu. Filming is underway and the movie has a release date of May 26, 2026. Screen Rant has a good run down of what’s in the trailer, so I’m just going to touch on two points that I’m excited about.
Zeb Orrelios is back. I honestly was surprised Zeb didn’t show in some capacity in
Rebelsseason 5Ahsoka. Even if he just got a cameo at New Republic HQ like 3PO did. It will be fun to see the big purple guy back on the big screen. Per Screen Rant: “Zeb is seen with Din Djarin and Grogu, which is thrilling enough on its own, considering the two didn't interact when Zeb made his cameo in The Mandalorian. It appears as if he's dropping them off for a mission, presumably the one that the rest of the footage portrays, as he utters "Good luck" to the two of them.”Grogu is going to have a bigger part of the action. Again from the article: “Din and Grogu appear to be in an Imperial base of some kind, and at some point, they split up while inside. Din walks through the base on his own, taking down stormtroopers and other Imperial personnel. It looks as if Grogu is crawling through the base's ventilation while Din does that, likely on his way to assist Din by using whatever's strapped to him.” Grogu is strong with the Force and at least has some Jedi training. Let the little green guy show off his Force powers.
This Day in Star Wars History
Three birthdays to celebrate on August 19th.
Voice actress Barbara Goodson was born in 1949. She’s probably best known for her voice work in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, but here in the galaxy far, far away she voiced Nightsister Mother Talzin for seven episodes of The Clone Wars and in LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales. According to her Wikipedia page, she is a pretty prolific voice actress. The credit that jumped out to me was “High Fashion Log Girl” on Ren & Stimpy.
Taika Waititi was born on this day in 1975. If you’re not familiar with Waititi, stop what you’re doing and go watch What We Do in the Shadows, both the movie and the TV show. I’ll wait. You’re done? OK good. Waititi. directed the season 1 finale of The Mandalorian and voiced IG-11 and IG-12 as well. In addition he has a still unnamed Star Wars project that hasn’t been cancelled but we know nothing about. Also, he will not return any of my emails with my proposal for a Star Wars/WWDITS mashup.
Finally in 1993, Cameron Monaghan was born. Monaghan was the body and the voice for Cal Kestis in the video games “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” and “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.” There were plenty of rumors and internet speculation that Cal Kestis might show up in Ahsoka, including the idea he was Marrok, but so far Cal’s appearances have been limited to books and video games.
From the Depths of Wookieepedia
It’s well established Death Star HR canon that Wookieepedia articles about food are my favorite for FTDOW. Even better if there’s a random picture. But I also love the “unidentified dude” genre of articles. It’s a character that we have no information on, not even a name. But somehow they get an entry. I’m still trying to figure that one out. And lucky us, this week we have the Unidentified Dractuvian warrior.
So what’s the deal with this guy? Glad you asked.
Sometime during the Clone Wars, this warrior was assigned by his chief to help a Besalisk adventurer named Dexter Jettster find some Dractuvian cave slugs in order to make a meal out of them.
Oh shoot, we started out with an “unidentified” entry and it turned into a “food” entry. This might be the best FTDOW yet.
News From the HoloNet
I’ve come around on Solo and like it more than I did initially. Make Solo 2, why not.
Star Wars: Diego Luna Teases Possible Andor Theatrical Release
Yes please. I’ve thought for a while Disney should do theaterical releases of streaming shows. Set it up so you can go watch a season of The Mandalorian in the theater for May the 4th or something like that.
I Think One Mandalorian Star May Have Just Hinted She's In The Next Star Wars Movie
I’m sure the writer didn’t do the headline and I’m not going to dog them, but saying Bo-Katan might be in The Mandalorian & Grogu is not exactly a surprise.
15 Years Later, This Fan-Favorite Star Wars Character May Finally Make His Live-Action Debut
Give the people what they want. And what they want is a live-action Hondo Ohnaka.
That’s it for this week. If you like what I’m doing, please subscribe. I’ll catch you next week, and may the Force be with you.
Probably not his full name but we’re going with it.
The Acolyte is the darkest, but Andor is the bleakest of the Star Wars shows.
I've never checked out any of the Lego Star Wars movies out. Never had any interest. Yet how can you turn down Darth Jar Jar!!!! I can't wait
Any more Andor 2 insights?