Force Material: A Star Wars Podcast

The highs and lows of The Mandalorian Season 3 Apr 22, 2023

The galaxy's most mercurial Star Wars podcast is back with a new episode to break down the third season of The Mandalorian and all the news that's fit to print from Star Wars Celebration.
Join us as we discuss what we loved (and didn't love) about the third season of The Mandalorian (3:07); share some wild Ahsoka theories (1:06:48); look ahead to the new films announced at Star Wars Celebration (1:16:41); and figure out what happened to the films that weren't discussed at Star Wars Celebration (1:27:30).
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Rix Rolled: Andor Aftershow Parts 11-12 w/ Catherine Kneen Nov 26, 2022

We take a stroll down Rix Road with Andor superfan Catherine Kneen and break down a season finale for the ages.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Kino Way Home: Andor Aftershow Parts 7-10 Nov 12, 2022

We discuss the greatest Star Wars monologue ever, the fate of Kino Loy, Dedra Meero's girl power gone wrong, the love life of Syril Karn and much more in our breakdown of Andor's latest arc.
We'll see you again in two weeks for the finale!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Yes, Andor: Andor Aftershow Parts 4-6 Oct 14, 2022

Join us for a chat about the second arc of Andor, as we break down the two things this arc gave us that we haven’t seen in Star Wars before.

From 50:15, we also throw in some bonus Rings of Power talk, because why not?
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Andor Drinking Game: Andor Aftershow Parts 1-3 Sep 24, 2022

Somehow, Force Material has returned… again. We’re back to play the Andor Review Drinking Game, and discuss whether or not the first three episodes of the long-awaited show left us feeling so fat and satisfied.
We also talk about our favourite Easter eggs in the show with “no Easter eggs”, and share our thoughts on all the Star Wars news that’s gone down since we last got together.

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Goodbye There: Kenobi Finale Aftershow Jun 23, 2022

We come to terms with the end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series and ponder whether or not we'll ever see these characters again.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Reva-lations: Obi-Wan Kenobi Parts 4 & 5 Aftershow Jun 20, 2022

Baz and Rohan catch up on the last two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and talk Reva's revelations; the odds of surviving a gut shot in the Star Wars universe; the 40-year-old Padawan and more.
We'll be back later this week to break down the epic finale!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Darth Star: Obi-Wan Kenobi Part 3 + Star Wars Celebration Aftershow w/ Josh Chapman Jun 05, 2022

Josh Chapman (Star Wars Spelt Out) joins us to give us his report from on the ground at Star Wars Celebration, and help us break down this week's massive episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Josh shares his experiences from an unforgettable Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, before we jump into our discussion of the third episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi (from 26:42 onwards).
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

A Friend Like Ben: Obi-Wan Kenobi Aftershow Parts 1 & 2 May 29, 2022

Somehow, Force Material has returned. The boys are back to talk about the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi; Star Wars Celebration FOMO; and becoming canon.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Fett Finale: The Book of Boba Fett Chapter 7 Spoiler Discussion Feb 10, 2022

It all comes to a head as we break down the final episode of The Book of Boba Fett (for now) and look ahead to what could be coming up in Season 2.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Waiting for Grogu: The Book of Boba Fett Chapter 6 Spoiler Discussion Feb 04, 2022

Well, that was a lot to take in. Mysteries are explored and history is made in the latest episode of The Book of Boba Fett, and we're back to break it all down – and look ahead to next week's finale.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Guess Who's Coming To Din: The Book of Boba Fett Chapters 4-5 Spoiler Discussion Jan 28, 2022

Whose Book is it anyway? We're back to break down the fourth and fifth chapters of The Book of Boba Fett.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Black Krrsantan Motorcycle Club: The Book of Boba Fett Chapters 2-3 Spoiler Discussion Jan 14, 2022

From space Vespas to baby Rancors, we break down the second and third chapters of The Book of Boba Fett.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Boba Tea: The Book of Boba Fett Chapter 1 Spoiler Discussion Dec 31, 2021

The band gets back together to break down the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett!
In our first episode for quite some time, we're back to dissect the first episode of the latest Star Wars series on Disney+.
We talk about what we loved, what we didn't love, and where we think the show is going next.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Force Material x Talking Bay 94: Shadows of the Empire turns 25 May 26, 2021

Talking Bay 94 host Brandon Wainerdi joins us to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Shadows of the Empire!
Shadows of the Empire, the 'movie without a movie' that returned Star Wars to the public consciousness a year before the release of the Special Editions, began to be rolled out 25 years ago this month.
The multimedia blitz included an iconic N64 game, as well as a book, a comic, a toy line, a soundtrack and more – and we're exploring all of it this episode!
From our memories of 1996 to our picks for a live-action Dash Rendar, this is a heartfelt celebration of an ambitious experiment that continues to impact the franchise today.
For more of Brandon's work, listen to Talking Bay 94!
For more on Shadows of the Empire, revisit our interview with LucasArts legend Jon Knoles and our in-depth blog post on the project's origins.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Bad Batch Processing w/ Clayton Sandell May 09, 2021

Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Clayton Sandell joins the show to discuss the first two episodes of The Bad Batch!
Known for his work on shows like Good Morning America, World News Tonight and Nightline, and for his long stint as ABC's resident Star Wars fan, Clayton joins us to answer some burning questions about the show, including:

Who – or what – is Omega?
Is Crosshair a villain or a victim?
How do this show's themes resonate with Dave Filoni's other Star Wars work?
Does it matter if everything doesn't 'count' in continuity?
Why do kids shows need kid characters?
Which character do we want to see next?

To see more of Clayton's work, including his portfolio of Star Wars coverage, visit claytonsandell.com and follow him at @clayton_sandell on Twitter.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Lucas List May 04, 2021

One director. Six films. Two podcasters. This year, we celebrate Star Wars Day – and Lucasfilm's 50th anniversary – by ranking the films of George Lucas!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The battle over The Battle for Endor May 02, 2021

Baz and Rohan watch the second Ewok movie, and debate which one is best!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Caravan of Dutch Courage Apr 14, 2021

It had to happen eventually. This week, Rohan watches Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure for the first time!
Caravan of Courage, the 1984 television special starring the Ewoks, has been added to Disney+, which means it's finally time for Rohan to watch it.
This episode, we discuss our thoughts on the film, the story of how it came to the screen, and the history of Star Wars on television in the '80s.
If you enjoy the show, we've been nominated for Your Money Geek's Top 10 Star Wars Podcast Awards – go vote for us here!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Did The Mandalorian ruin Wandavision? Mar 14, 2021

Has the Luke Skywalker cameo in The Mandalorian made it impossible for fans to enjoy shows on their own merits? Do fan theories and expectations add to our enjoyment, or spoil the experience?
This episode, we break down the finale of Wandavision, discuss the comparisons with The Mandalorian, and consider the future of fan theories.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Poster boy Mark Raats on painting Star Wars, Indiana Jones and more Feb 23, 2021

His art hangs in the home of George Lucas himself – and this week, artist Mark Raats joins us to talk about his decades-long career painting pieces for Lucasfilm and Disney.

Mark has created, among his other beautiful completely hand-drawn and painted pieces, a 2008 teaser poster for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a 30th anniversary poster for Return of the Jedi and a 40th for A New Hope, the cinema poster for the 2012 IMAX release of Raiders of the Lost Ark and, recently, some very special pieces for the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Rise of Skywalker.

The Johannesburg-born artist joins us from his base in Perth, Australia to discuss his work, including:

His Sunday newspaper comic strip influences
How he found out George Lucas was trying to hunt down and acquire his artwork
Some Star Wars movie poster 'hand model' secrets
A brush with death on Skywalker Ranch
And much more!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

High Republic High Jan 30, 2021

What's the deal with The High Republic? Baz is here to Bazsplain everything you need to know about this new era in Star Warsstorytelling.
This week, Baz dives into Charles Soule's Light of the Jedi, the first book in the High Republic publishing campaign. Does it live up to the hype, and will Rohan ever read it? Find out this episode!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 16 Spoiler Discussion w/ David Whiteley Dec 19, 2020

Was that episode real, or did we just dream it? Filmmaker and broadcaster David Whiteley joins us to discuss and decompress from that spectacular Mandalorian season finale!

David spent 23 years at the BBC, where he presented the popular BBC One current affairs programme Inside Out. He’s also a Star Wars super fan, and the creative force behind the documentaries The Galaxy Britain Built and Toy Empire. He’s just launched his own production company, Galaxy Productions.
This week, David joins us to geek out over Chapter 16 of The Mandalorian – ‘The Rescue’!
Follow David at @david_insideout on Twitter, and stay tuned for the announcement of his next Star Wars doc next week!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 15 Spoiler Discussion Dec 12, 2020

Old beliefs are challenged and new friendships are formed in Chapter 15 of The Mandalorian, ‘The Believer’.
It’s hard to believe that there’s just one episode left this season – join us next week as we break down the finale!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Disney Investor Call Emergency Reaction Pod Dec 11, 2020

So, that happened. Here’s our instant reaction to all the news from that massive Disney Investor Call, including Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron movie, a live-action Ahsoka series and more!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 14 Spoiler Discussion w/ Roger Christian Dec 08, 2020

Oscar-winning Star Wars legend and Mandalorian fan Roger Christian joins us to break down all the insanity of Chapter 14!

Roger might be the most overqualified guest ever to appear on a Mandalorian recap show. He won the Oscar for Best Art Direction for his work on the original Star Wars, and played an integral role in the creation of the galaxy far, far away.

He built Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber and Han Solo’s blaster; he decorated the Cantina and the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon; and he turned Blue Milk blue. More than anyone outside of George Lucas himself, Roger is the man responsible for the grimy, lived-in, ‘used future’ aesthetic of Star Wars that The Mandalorian has gone to such great lengths to recapture.

This week, Roger joins us to talk about his thoughts on the show and its faithfulness to the original trilogy’s aesthetic; his role in the history of Boba Fett’s killer gaffi stick; why Stormtroopers can’t use the weapons he gave them; the mythological underpinnings of The Mandalorian and much more!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 13 Spoiler Discussion Nov 28, 2020

We react to all the reveals and revelations from Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian!

Be warned — this episode is chock-full of spoilers for 'The Jedi', the 13th chapter of The Mandalorian, so if you haven’t had a chance to watch it, skip this episode for now. It'll still be here waiting for you when you're ready!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 12 Spoiler Discussion w/ Kristina Morss Nov 21, 2020

What’s in the tubes? Kristina Morss from The Closing Credits Podcast joins us to break down the latest episode of The Mandalorian!

We share our theories for what Moff Gideon and Dr Pershing are up to with those tubes; how The Mandalorian can expand on the backstory of the sequel trilogy; and what the deal is with the Dark Troopers.

Then we dive into the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, what it tells us about the status quo of the galaxy after The Rise of Skywalker, and how it compares to the infamous 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special.

You can follow Kristina on Twitter, and subscribe to The Closing Credits Podcast to learn about all the different jobs involved in making your favourite movies!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 11 Spoiler Discussion w/ Blue Bantha Milk Nov 14, 2020

Star Wars YouTubers Blue Bantha Milk join us to break down all the big reveals and moments from an instant-classic episode of The Mandalorian!
You can follow Blue Bantha Milk on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Empire State of Mind w/ Mike Chen Nov 11, 2020

Author Mike Chen tells us how he got inside the Emperor’s head for his story in the new Star Wars anthology, From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back.

The author of acclaimed science fiction novels Here and Now and Then and A Beginning at the End, as well as the upcoming We Could Be Heroes, Mike is one of 40 scribes featured in From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the film, it features stories told from the points of view of 40 different characters, from obscure cult favourites to major players in the saga.

Mike’s story, Disturbance, is told from the point of view of Emperor Palpatine himself. It explains Palpatine’s thought process leading up to his first on-screen appearance, and answers one of the biggest lingering questions in the saga – how did the Emperor find out about Luke Skywalker?

A longtime friend of the show, Mike tells us about writing this iconic Star Wars villain; introducing his daughter to Star Wars; having his prose voiced by Sam Witwer and much more!

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back is available now wherever you buy books, in print, ebook and audio.

Follow @MikeChenWriter for more of his work.

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 10 Spoiler Discussion w/ Paul Sun-Hyung Lee & Clayton Sandell Nov 08, 2020

The Mandalorian guest star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and ABC News correspondent Clayton Sandell lock their S-foils into attack position to break down the latest episode of the show!

Two-time Force Material guest Paul Sun-Hyung Lee went from talking about Star Wars to being in Star Wars this week, when the Kim’s Convenience star made his debut as heroic X-Wing pilot Carson Teva. Naturally, we had to bring him back to the podcast for a third time to tell us all about it!

We’re also joined by ABC News correspondent Clayton Sandell. Known for his work on shows like Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, This Week and Nightline, Clayton is ABC’s resident Star Wars expert, and the producer of The Force of Sound, an acclaimed documentary about the sound design of The Last Jedi.

Paul and Clayton join us to break down all the developments of the latest episode, as Paul shares on-set stories from behind the scenes!

Check out Clayton’s documentary, The Force of Sound, and Paul’s YouTube channel, Bitterasiandude Inc, and follow Clayton and Paul for more of their work.

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 9 Spoiler Discussion w/ Josh Chapman Nov 02, 2020

Josh Chapman (host of the Star Wars Spelt Out podcast) joins us to break down the Season 2 premiere of The Mandalorian!

Our first Australian guest ever joins us to talk accents, character reveals and a kinder, gentler Mando.

Come back every week to hear us discuss each new episode of The Mandalorian with a new guest!
Follow Josh @StarWarsSpelt and be sure to subscribe to Star Wars Spelt Out on your podcast platform of choice.

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Star Wars movie theatre memories Oct 22, 2020

As cinemas continue to struggle, we look back at our favourite memories of seeing Star Wars in theatres.
This episode, we talk about:

What's next for movie theatres
Could Star Wars have become a phenomenon in a world without cinemas?
Our favourite big screen Star Wars memories
The time Harrison Ford made Rohan cry
The Nic Cage movie Baz saw nine times in theatres
And much more!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Season 2 Preview and Predictions Sep 24, 2020

The Mandalorian is back to save 2020, and we’re here for it.

This episode, we dive into the trailer for The Mandalorian Season 2 and make our predictions about what we’ll see on the show this time around!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Episode 100: From the Adventures of Alan Dean Foster Aug 31, 2020

For our 100th episode, we interview the man who introduced the world to Star Wars way back in November of 1976 – the one and only Alan Dean Foster.
Alan Dean Foster ghostwrote Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, the original novelisation of Star Wars, released six months before the film and a month before the first teaser. It was Foster’s prose that introduced the world to Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO, R2-D2, Governor Tarkin, Emperor Palpatine, the Jedi, the Sith and more.

He went on to write the first Star Wars novel with an original storyline, 1978’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, before returning to the franchise for a prequel-era novel, 2002’s The Approaching Storm, and the much-hyped novelisation of The Force Awakens in 2015.

He’s a storyteller, a world traveller and an athlete – he’s got more than 100 books to his name, as well as a world record in powerlifting, and he even studied karate with Chuck Norris!

In this episode’s wide-ranging discussion, we talk to Alan Dean Foster about:

Ghostwriting the original Star Wars novelisation for George Lucas
The one question he asked George while writing the novelisation, and George’s answer
The influence of Scrooge McDuck on George Lucas
The evolution of Darth Vader and the Empire
Building the Expanded Universe on a budget in Splinter of the Mind’s Eye
The intriguing differences between The Force Awakens script that he novelised and the finished film
His backstory for the Journal of the Whills
His alternative take on Episode IX
His must-do travel recommendations
His rejected Batman script
How home video has changed the business of novelisations
Breaking a powerlifting world record and studying karate with Chuck Norris
Where he thinks Star Wars should go next
And much more!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Daniel Wallace on The Art of Star Wars Rebels Aug 29, 2020

Daniel Wallace, the author of The Art of Star Wars Rebels, joins us to reminisce about the beloved animated series.

Daniel Wallace is the author of countless Star Wars books and articles. His latest, The Art of Star Wars Rebels, is a beautiful hardcover volume showcasing concept art and process pieces from the series, along with exclusive commentary from the creative team behind the show.

This episode, Daniel joins us to talk about:

The influence of Ralph McQuarrie art, Kenner toys and West End Games on Star Wars Rebels
Our favourite Rebels moments and episodes
How the show developed over the course of its four seasons, and how established Star Wars characters were incorporated into Rebels
The wisdom of Dave Filoni
How Rebels compares to Clone Wars, and how Rebels has taken on new resonance after the Clone Wars finale
His stance on lightsaber helicopters
And more!

The Art of Star Wars Rebels, published by Dark Horse Books, is available now.

This is Day 3 of our virtual Star Wars celebration – don’t miss our episodes from the last two days with Charles de Lauzirika and Charmaine Chan, and tune back in tomorrow for our 100th episode spectacular with original Star Wars novelist Alan Dean Foster!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Charmaine Chan on the magic of The Mandalorian Aug 28, 2020

ILM's Charmaine Chan takes us behind the scenes of The Mandalorian's groundbreaking visual effects!
Charmaine Chan is the Virtual Production Technical Director on The Mandalorian. She's also worked on a string of massive feature films, TV shows, theme park rides and VR experiences in her time at Industrial Light & Magic, including The Last Jedi, Star Tours, Black Panther, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and more.
She's also the creator of Women in Visual Effects, a video series that gives voice to women working in the industry and seeks to inspire future generations of women to enter the field.
In this episode, Charmaine discusses:

How the Spice Girls started her on her career path
How ILM's revolutionary StageCraft tech brought The Mandalorian to life
How her experience as a gamer prepared her for working on The Mandalorian
The first time she saw Baby Yoda
What being on the set of The Mandalorian has taught her about filmmaking
Working on Luke Skywalker's climactic duel with Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi
Her goals for the Women in Visual Effects project
The biggest challenges facing the VFX industry
And more!

This interview is part of our virtual Star Wars celebration, with four new episodes in four days. Don't miss our discussion with special features guru Charles de Lauzirika from yesterday, and tune back in tomorrow for our interview with author Daniel Wallace, before our 100th episode spectacular on Sunday with original Star Wars novelist Alan Dean Foster!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Charles de Lauzirika on the first Star Wars convention Aug 27, 2020

Filmmaker Charles de Lauzirika joins us to talk conventions, Special Editions, the ultimate Star Wars box set and more!
If you’re the type of person who watches special features on DVDs and Blu-Rays – and if you listen to this show, you probably are that type of person – then you know Charles de Lauzirika is the maker of Making Ofs.

He’s the award-winning filmmaker responsible for directing classic behind-the-scenes documentaries like Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner, Wreckage and Rage: Making Alien³ and Secrets From Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks. He also produced feature-packed DVD and Blu-Ray box sets for each of those franchises, and has overseen numerous restorations and new cuts that have become beloved by fans, including Blade Runner: The Final Cut and Alien³: The Assembly Cut.

But his first love was Star Wars – and today, on what should have been the first day of Star Wars Celebration 2020, he joins us to share his memories of the very first official Star Wars convention – 1987’s Starlog Salutes Star Wars!

In a wide-ranging episode, Charles talks about:

The magic moment when George Lucas met Gene Roddenberry
The ‘dark times’ of Star Wars fandom
How Star Wars sparked his love of filmmaking
His thoughts on the highs and lows of the Special Editions, and how they influenced his approach to Blade Runner: The Final Cut
What he’d want to see in the ultimate Star Wars box set

Tune back in over the next three days for the rest of our virtual Star Wars celebration, as we drop new episodes with ILM’s Charmaine Chan on the magic of The Mandalorian; author Daniel Wallace on the art of Star Wars: Rebels; and our 100th episode spectacular with the man who introduced the world to Star Wars in 1976 – Alan Dean Foster!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Paul Hirsch on editing Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back Aug 17, 2020

Oscar-winning editor Paul Hirsch shares his memories of working on Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, the films of Brian De Palma and more!
Film editor Paul Hirsch won an Oscar for his work on Star Wars alongside Richard Chew and Marcia Lucas, and was the sole editor of The Empire Strikes Back.
Hirsch has also edited 11 Brian De Palma films – including Carrie, Phantom of the Paradise, Blow Out and Mission: Impossible – as well as classics like Footloose, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Falling Down, Ray, Source Code, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and many more over the course of a career that has spanned five decades and counting.
This week, Hirsch joins us to discuss his autobiography, A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away, in a wide-ranging conversation that covers:

Cutting his teeth on Brian De Palma's early films
Working for George Lucas, a director with an editor's sensibility
The sequence you won't believe the studio wanted to cut from Star Wars
How wipe transitions became a Star Wars tradition
What really happened at the infamous early screening of Star Wars for Brian De Palma, Steven Spielberg and co
Paul's thoughts on the sequel trilogy and The Mandalorian
And much more!

A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away is available now through Chicago Review Press.

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

A Celebration of Ralph McQuarrie w/ David Mandel, Brandon Alinger & Wade Lageose Aug 03, 2020

The authors of Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie join us to pay tribute to cinema’s most beloved and influential concept artist.
David Mandel is an Emmy– and Writers Guild Award–winning writer and producer who first made his mark on pop culture as a writer for Saturday Night Live (1992-95) and Seinfeld, where he wrote the all-time classic ‘Bizarro Jerry’ episode. He served as a writer and producer on Curb Your Enthusiasm, before becoming the executive producer and showrunner of HBO's Veep. He’s also a serious collector of film props, production art and original comic art.
Brandon Alinger is the author of Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy, and was a research assistant for the great JW Rinzler on The Making of Return of the Jedi. He’s also the chief operations officer of the Los Angeles branch of Prop Store, a company specialising in film props and costumes.
Wade Lageose is a graphic designer and artist whose clients have included the likes of Lucasfilm and Walt Disney. He first met Ralph McQuarrie in 1997, and enjoyed 15 years of friendship with the great man before McQuarrie passed away in 2012.
David, Brandon and Wade join us to discuss a range of topics, including:

The unmade film that brought George Lucas and Ralph McQuarrie together
McQuarrie's commitment to concepts that 'work'
The unused McQuarrie designs that have resurfaced in the Disney era, and the ones that haven't
How McQuarrie felt about the fame that came with Star Wars
How McQuarrie's life experiences informed his work
Why McQuarrie walked away from Star Wars
What McQuarrie thought of the prequels
The process of creating Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie
The most impressive McQuarrie pieces in David, Brandon and Wade's collections

David, Brandon and Wade are the authors of Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie, a two-volume set published by Abrams Books in 2016.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Ivan Manzella on designing Babu Frik, Snoke and more Jul 20, 2020

Creature designer and sculptor Ivan Manzella discusses the influences and creative processes behind Babu Frik, Snoke and more!
Ivan Manzella is responsible for some of the cutest – and some of the most terrifying – creatures in a galaxy far, far away. He joins us to chat about how he got his start working for Jim Henson; how he came to design memorable creatures like Babu Frik, Snoke, Bor Gullet, Bistan, Lady Proxima, Grummgar, Rothgar Deng and more; and how Steven Spielberg saved Babu Frik's life!
For more of Ivan's art, visit krop.com/ivanmanzella.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

A Celebration of Jaws w/ JW Rinzler, Matt Taylor & Paul Sun-Hyung Lee Jul 04, 2020

We hit the beach for the Fourth of July weekend with Matt Taylor, JW Rinzler and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee to celebrate Jaws, the movie that changed everything!
Matt Taylor is a 15th generation resident of Martha's Vineyard, where Jaws was filmed, and the author of Memories from Martha's Vineyard, the definitive book about the making of Jaws.
JW Rinzler is the best-selling author of The Making of Star Wars, The Making of the Empire Strikes Back, The Making of Return of the Jedi, The Complete Making of Indiana Jones and more, as well as the upcoming All Up, a fictionalised history of the Space Age. He's also the author of The Jaws Blog, a detailed analysis of the film.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is the star of Kim's Convenience and a two-time Canadian Screen Awards winner. He's also a big-time geek who rates Jaws as his favourite film of all time.
This week, this talented trio joins the show to dive deep into Jaws, and explain how it set the standard for all the blockbusters that would follow – including Star Wars.
Matt even brings in a special guest who actually worked on the film to share his stories, and explain what it was like to be in the water with Jaws!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Jake Lunt Davies on designing BB-8, Porgs and more Jun 22, 2020

Jake Lunt Davies – the concept artist behind the sequel trilogy's most iconic droids and creatures – talks creativity, inspiration and design.
Jake Lunt Davies has worked on every Disney Star Wars film so far. This episode, we talk to Jake about:

The inspirations and creative processes behind all of his most iconic designs, including:
- BB-8
- Porgs
- Caretakers
- D-O
- Rey's speeder
- Rathtars
- Kylo Ren's repaired helmet
- Constable Zuvio
- The Aki-Aki
- Boolio
- The Eye of Webbish Bog
How he came to work for Lucasfilm
How concepts evolve from page to screen
Stepping into the Snaggletooth suit for The Rise of Skywalker
His future in the Star Wars galaxy
And much more!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Benton Jew on Star Wars and Martial Arts Movies Jun 08, 2020

Benton Jew joins us to talk about storyboarding the Duel of the Fates in The Phantom Menace,illustrating The Glove of Darth Vader,and the martial arts films that influenced George Lucas!
Dave Filoni recently made headlines when he explained why the lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace is actually one of the most important scenes in all of Star Wars – and this week, the man who storyboarded that epic sequence joins us on the podcast.
A professional illustrator, storyboard artist and comic artist who spent 13 years at ILM, Benton brought his extensive knowledge of Hong Kong martial arts movies to his work on The Phantom Menace.
This episode, we talk to Benton about the art of storyboarding; the martial arts films that influenced The Phantom Menace; the unlikely Hong Kong stars who were considered for the role of Darth Maul; and his work on The Glove of Darth Vader – the illustrated novel that hooked me on Star Wars in the first place!
To see more of Benton's incredible work – which includes storyboards for Wonder Woman, Logan, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the upcoming live-action remake of Mulan and more – visit bentonjew.com and follow him on Instagram!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Phil Szostak on The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker May 25, 2020

Lucasfilm Creative Art Manager Phil Szostak takes us inside the creative process of The Rise of Skywalker and the sequel trilogy!
Phil Szostak is one of the few people who was involved with the development of the sequel trilogy from the beginning to the end, both in his day job as Lucasfilm's Creative Art Manager, and in his role as the author of The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and his latest book, The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The man responsible for documenting the making of the sequel trilogy joins us to talk about:

The designs that were too secretive to be included in The Art of The Rise of Skywalker
Why sticking to a 'roadmap' can be a dangerous thing
The influence of George Lucas and Dave Filoni on the sequel trilogy
The influence of Akira Kurosawa and Studio Ghibli on the Lucasfilm visualists
The hardest secret he's ever had to keep at Lucasfilm
Defining the visual aesthetic of Star Wars
His favourite fan theories
And much more!

The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, published by Abrams Books, is available now wherever books are sold.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The ESB we'll never see May 21, 2020

On the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, we look back at Leigh Brackett's wild first draft of the film!
The Empire Strikes Back was the first Star Wars film for screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, who later returned for The Force Awakens and Solo. But before Kasdan came onboard, George Lucas hired the legendary Leigh Brackett (The Big Sleep, Rio Bravo, The Long Goodbye) to write the first draft of the film, which she completed just one month before she died of cancer in 1978.
This week, we discuss Brackett's draft of the film, which differs in some major ways from the film that made it to the screen.
Are you ready for an epic adventure with Clone Lando, Class Tourist Han Solo, Luke Skywalker's Ghost Dad, psychedelic battles on the astral plane, and an awkward dinner with Darth Vader? Then strap yourself in for Leigh Brackett's The Empire Strikes Back!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Roger Christian on building George Lucas' galaxy May 18, 2020

The Oscar winner behind Star Wars' most iconic weapons and sets joins us to talk about making cinema history and getting his hands dirty with George Lucas.
As the Academy Award-winning Set Decorator of Star Wars, Christian helped turn George Lucas' dreams into reality, and defined the grimy 'used future' aesthetic that made the galaxy far, far away feel so authentic.
Christian went on to earn another Oscar nomination as the Art Director of Alien, before directing the second unit on Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace and carving out a career as a director in his own right.
The industry legend joins us to talk about:

Making the first lightsaber
Building Han Solo's blaster
Giving Chewbacca his bowcaster
Bringing the Millennium Falcon's cockpit to life
Taste-testing Blue Milk
Shovelling salt and supergluing props with George Lucas
Woodworking with Harrison Ford
Directing the cult classic Black Angel and the notoriously ill-fated Battlefield Earth
His upcoming Star Wars documentary, Galaxy Built on Hope
And much more!

For more of Roger Christian's incredible life story, you can read his memoir, Cinema Alchemist.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Jon Knoles on Shadows of the Empire, Episode I Racer and the legacy of LucasArts May 04, 2020

LucasArts legend Jon Knoles joins us on Star Wars Day to share secrets from the making of Shadows of the Empire, Episode I Racer, Revenge of the Sith and more!

Today, Jon Knoles is a Design Director at Turn 10 Studios, where he works on the popular Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon games. But in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, he was the resident Star Wars guru at LucasArts.

He worked on a huge array of classic titles, including the Super Star Wars series, Dark Forces, Rebel Assault II, X-Wing and TIE Fighter, and led the development of blockbuster games like Shadows of the Empire, Episode I Racer and Bounty Hunter.

Knoles joins us for a very special May the 4th episode of Force Material to discuss all things LucasArts and Lucasfilm, including:

The creation of Dash Rendar and the origin of his infamous shoulder pads
The epic Darth Vader game that George Lucas rejected
The unlikely inspiration for the physics of podracing
How the Revenge of the Sith video game inspired an iconic Revenge of the Sith scene
The original plan for Shadows of the Empire to star Boba Fett
Why Han Solo is a “boring video game character”
How Shadows of the Empire almost shipped without its signature moment
The dread he felt before the release of The Phantom Menace
Designing the worlds of Episode I Racer
The influence of Lone Wolf & Cub on Jango & Boba Fett
The legacy of yesterday’s LucasArts on today’s Lucasfilm
And much more!

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

JW Rinzler on Lucasfilm, Disney and the Space Age Apr 28, 2020

Best-selling author and former Lucasfilm Executive Editor JW Rinzler joins us to talk about working with George Lucas, leaving Lucasfilm, his thoughts on the Disney era and more!

JW Rinzler worked closely with George Lucas for 15 years, on classic behind-the-scenes books like The Making of Star Wars, The Making of Empire Strikes Back, The Making of Return of the Jedi, The Making of Revenge of the Sith, The Complete Making of Indiana Jones and more, as well as the best-selling graphic novel The Star Wars and two episodes of The Clone Wars.

Outside of George Lucas himself, Rinzler has had more of an influence on Force Material than anyone else, and he’s long been a dream guest of the podcast. We were thrilled to talk to him about a wide range of topics, including:

The making of The Making of Star Wars
The creative process of George Lucas
How the Disney sale changed Lucasfilm, and why he eventually left the company
The cancellation of The Making of The Force Awakens
Delving into the history of the Space Age for his upcoming debut novel, All Up

JW Rinzler’s All Up will be released on July 14, with The Making of Aliens set to follow on September 1. For more on the man and his books, visit jwrinzler.com.

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee: When Mr Kim met Baby Yoda Apr 20, 2020

Kim's Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee joins us to talk about visiting the set of The Mandalorian, holding Baby Yoda, making his own Star Wars costumes, the power of Rose Tico and much, much more!
Paul is a two-time Canadian Screen Awards winner and a Toronto Theatre Critics Award winner. As well as starring as Mr Kim in the hilarious Kim's Convenience, Paul is a major Star Wars fan, and even builds his own props and costumes.
He joins us this episode to talk about his Star Wars fandom, the importance of representation, his on-screen son Simu Liu's transformation into a Marvel superhero, and what's next for Mr Kim!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Duel of the Fates Script Review Apr 13, 2020

It's the Episode IX we'll never get to see. This week, we look at Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly's unproduced script for the finale of the Skywalker Saga!
Colin Trevorrow was announced as the writer-director of Star Wars: Episode IX in August 2015, with writing partner Derek Connolly in tow. At the time, Lucasfilm was riding high on the success of The Force Awakens, and Trevorrow and Connolly had hit a home run at the box office with Jurassic World. But in September 2017, they were removed from the project, and JJ Abrams returned to direct what would become The Rise of Skywalker.
A leaked script purporting to be an early draft of Trevorrow and Connolly's Episode IX, which would have been called Duel of the Fates, has been doing the rounds online for the last few months, but Baz and I hadn't taken the time to read it – until now.
Now, with nothing but time on our hands, we sat down to read this alternate version of Episode IX and discuss what we liked, what we didn't like, and what we would have missed the most if The Rise of Skywalker didn't exist.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Attack of the Star Wars Clones: Battle Beyond the Stars Apr 06, 2020

Journey with us back to 1980, as we revisit one of the most notorious Star Wars rip-offs of them all – Roger Corman's Battle Beyond the Stars!
To celebrate the new season of The Clone Wars, we're taking a look back at some of our favourite Star Wars clones – the films that tried their hardest to recreate the magic and replicate the success of Star Wars, even if they didn't always succeed.
A blatant attempt by B-movie mastermind Roger Corman to cash in on the success of Star Wars, 1980's Battle Beyond the Stars essentially takes Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai – which had, of course, already been remade for the West in The Magnificent Seven – and sets it in space.
This week, we discuss how this relatively obscure 'classic' helped launch some of the biggest names in film, and how the movie holds up today against Baz's starry-eyed childhood memories.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Attack of the Star Wars Clones: Star Trek (2009) Mar 23, 2020

This week, we look back at JJ Abrams' first Star Wars movie: 2009's Star Trek.
To celebrate the new season of The Clone Wars, we're taking a look back at some of our favourite Star Wars clones – the films that tried their hardest to recreate the magic and replicate the success of Star Wars, even if they didn't always succeed.
In our first 'socially distanced' episode, we explain how Abrams infused his Star Trek reboot with the style and storytelling tropes of Star Wars, and how the highs of Abrams' Star Trek and the lows of Star Trek Into Darkness should have prepared us for the trajectory of his Star Wars movies.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Attack of the Star Wars Clones: The Black Hole Mar 09, 2020

Long before Disney bought Star Wars, it tried to make its own. This week, journey with us into the heart of 1979's The Black Hole!
To celebrate the new season of The Clone Wars, we're taking a look back at some of our favourite Star Wars clones – the films that tried their hardest to recreate the magic and cash in on the success of Star Wars, even if they didn't always succeed.
Our series begins with a controversial entry, as Baz is adamant The Black Hole is a Star Wars clone and Rohan isn't convinced – hit us up @ForceMaterial on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to let us know where you stand!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Clone Wars Before The Clone Wars Feb 24, 2020

Journey back with us to a time before 2002, as we explore everything we thought we knew about the Clone Wars before Attack of the Clones!
It may be hard to believe now, when we’ve had 7+ years worth of animated content and ancillary material covering a three-year-long war, but for a long time, the Clone Wars were a mystery.

We know now that they were a conflict staged by Chancellor Palpatine for his gain, with the Separatists and their droid army on one side and the Republic, the Jedi Order and an army of clone troopers on the other side.

But was that the plan when the Clone Wars were first mentioned on screen in 1977? What did people think the Clone Wars were before the truth was revealed in Episode II? This week, we’re exploring the history of the Clone Wars… before The Clone Wars.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

Mustafar From The Madding Crowd Feb 10, 2020

We explore the history of Mustafar and Fortress Vader, from Ralph McQuarrie to The Rise of Skywalker.
Did you know The Rise of Skywalker’s first scene opens on the volcanic planet of Mustafar? Did you know the Sith Wayfinder was apparently found by Kylo Ren in the ruins of Darth Vader’s Castle?
We didn’t — until we read the TROS Visual Dictionary. And that inspired us to get into the details behind Fortress Vader in this week's episode.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Rise of Skywalker Revisited + The Best of 2019 Jan 13, 2020

Somehow, Force Material has returned. This week, we delve back into The Rise of Skywalker and talk about our favourite films of 2019!
Last time we talked about The Rise of Skywalker, we had just stumbled out of a midnight screening — so now that we've had a few weeks to think about it, how have our opinions changed?
We also break down our favourite films of 2019. Will The Rise of Skywalker make the list?
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Season 1 Finale Spoiler Discussion Jan 06, 2020

The first season of The Mandalorian has come to a close! Can we offer you a libation to celebrate the closing of our shared narrative?
Be warned — this episode is chock-full of spoilers for 'The Reckoning' and 'Redemption', the seventh and eighth chapters of The Mandalorian. We also discuss spoilers for The Rise of Skywalker. So if you haven't seen The Mandalorian or The Rise of Skywalker and you're trying to remain unsullied, skip this episode for now. It'll still be here waiting for you when you're ready!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Rise Of Skywalker Spoiler Review Dec 19, 2019

Finally! No more theories and speculation — The Rise of Skywalker is here, and we’re here at 3am to talk about it!

Recorded straight after the midnight screening, here's our frantic and feverish discussion of the film we've all been waiting for.

We're talking about EVERYTHING, so there will be MAJOR SPOILERS — proceed at your own peril!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 6 Spoiler Discussion w/ Mike Chen Dec 15, 2019

This week's episode of The Mandalorian is part-heist, part-horror movie, and all awesome. Acclaimed sci-fi novelist Mike Chen joins us to discuss 'The Prisoner'!
Be warned — this episode is chock-full of spoilers for 'The Prisoner', the sixth chapter of The Mandalorian, so if you don't have access to Disney+ and you're trying to remain unsullied, skip this episode for now. It'll still be here waiting for you when you're ready!
For more of Mike's work, follow @MikeChenWriter and order his books, Here and Now and Then and the upcoming A Beginning at the End, at mikechenbooks.com!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 5 Spoiler Discussion w/ The Blockade Runner Podcast Dec 10, 2019

This week, the Mando teams up with a rookie bounty hunter — and we've got four grizzled veteran podcasters here to talk about it.
Be warned — this episode is chock-full of spoilers for 'The Gunslinger', the fifth chapter of The Mandalorian, so if you don't have access to Disney+ and you're trying to remain unsullied, skip this episode for now. It'll still be here waiting for you when you're ready!
For more of John and Ryan, listen to The Blockade Runner podcast and follow @blockaderun on Twitter!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 4 Spoiler Discussion w/ DorkLair Dec 02, 2019

The Lone Wolf and Cub in space get themselves caught up in a classic Seven Samurai story, and we're here to talk about it with DorkLair host Bill Drewnowski!
Be warned — this episode is chock-full of spoilers for 'Sanctuary', the fourth chapter of The Mandalorian, so if you don't have access to Disney+ and you're trying to remain unsullied, skip this episode for now. It'll still be here waiting for you when you're ready!
For more of Bill, you can follow @DorkLair on Twitter, listen to the DorkLair podcast and subscribe to his YouTube channel!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Mandalorian Chapter 1-3 Spoiler Discussion Nov 26, 2019

It's time to witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station, as Disney+ launches in Australia and we've got three episodes of The Mandalorian to discuss!
Be warned — this episode is chock-full of spoilers for the first three chapters of The Mandalorian, so if you don't have access to Disney+ and you're trying to remain unsullied, skip this episode for now. It'll still be here waiting for you when you're ready!
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The Rise of Skywalker Prediction Jam w/ Blast Points & Talking Bay 94! Nov 19, 2019

Two of our favourite Star Wars podcasters, Jason Gibner (Blast Points) and Brandon Wainerdi (Talking Bay 94), join us to put our predictions for The Rise of Skywalker on the record!

We’re asking and answering all of the big questions, including:

How will the crawl begin?
What’s the deal with Dark Rey?
Why are C3PO’s eyes red?
Is Matt Smith in The Rise of Skywalker?
Is Hayden Christensen in The Rise of Skywalker?
Will Kylo Ren be redeemed, and will he survive?
Who are Rey’s parents?
Reylo?
And much, much more!

We’re laying it all on the line — so if you want to make fun of us for how wrong we were about everything when the movie drops in December, this is the episode to listen to now!

For more of Jason and Brandon, listen to Blast Points and Talking Bay 94!

Warning: This episode contains minor spoilers for Resistance Reborn, the new book by Rebecca Roanhorse.

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.

The best Star Wars TV series never made Nov 04, 2019

This week, we descend into the Underworld for a look back at the unmade TV series that set the table for The Mandalorian!
Star Wars: Underworld would have explored the seedy underbelly of the Galaxy Far, Far Away, covering the early years of Sheev Palpatine, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian and more in an an ambitious series from George Lucas and the writers of The Favourite, Broadchurch, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Lucas worked on the series for years, but it never came to be — although elements of the show found their way into The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Clone Wars and more.
Now, with a slew of upcoming Disney+ shows on the way that seem to share DNA with Underworld, we thought it was the perfect time to look back at what might be the best TV series never made!

Heavy Metal Star Wars w/ Galactic Empire Oct 28, 2019

YouTube sensations Galactic Empire tell us how they turn classic John Williams themes into heavy metal bangers!
Galactic Empire are bringing their fully armed and operational battle station to Australia in November, so we got frontman Dark Vader (aka Chris Kelly) on the phone to talk about the band's unique Star Wars covers and music videos; how the music of the sequel trilogy compares to the scores we grew up with; the future of Star Wars music after John Williams; and his fan expectations for The Rise of Skywalker.
Galactic Empire will play the following dates in Australia:
Friday 1 November — Supanova (Adelaide)
Sunday 3 November — 170 Russell (Melbourne)
Tuesday 5 November — The Basement (Canberra)
Thursday 7 November — Factory Theatre (Sydney)
Friday 8 November — Supanova (Brisbane)
Sunday 10 November — Coolangatta Hotel (Gold Coast)
For tickets, visit tickets.destroyalllines.com.

The Rise of Skywalker Final Trailer Breakdown Oct 23, 2019

Ready or not, the end of the Skywalker Saga is almost here. From the Emperor's new groove to the Reylo bait, we break down every shot in the final Rise of Skywalker trailer!
Earlier this week, tragedy/idiocy struck when I forgot to hit 'record' on our live Rise of Skywalker trailer reaction, and we talked into the void for an hour and a half without realising.
But it's not all bad news — now we've had some time to cool off, mull the trailer over and come up with a more measured response. Think of this as our 'delayed reaction' episode, as we break down every shot in the trailer and try to figure out what it's all going to mean in December!

The Mandalorian With No Name Oct 07, 2019

This week, we explore how Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars could influence The Mandalorian!
Leo Tolstoy once said there are really only two plots — "a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town".
Most of the Star Wars stories we've seen have been variations on the "man goes on a journey" story, but in The Mandalorian, it looks like a stranger is coming to town.
Pedro Pascal, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have said that the work of Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone is set to have a major influence on The Mandalorian.
This week, we're looking back at two of their most iconic films — Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Leone's A Fistful of Dollars — to discuss their relationship to each other; how they've influenced Star Wars; and how they might influence The Mandalorian.

Is Star Wars better off without George Lucas? Sep 30, 2019

Was Disney right to reject George Lucas' sequel trilogy story treatment? This week, we compare what George had planned to the films we got!
Disney CEO Bob Iger has written about George Lucas’ disappointment in The Force Awakens in his new memoir, The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.
Of course, that's not new information — we've known George had his misgivings ever since he called Disney "white slavers" in 2015 — but we thought it was a good opportunity to pull together everything we know about the Lucas story treatment that Disney moved away from, and compare it to what ended up on screen.
From shocking differences (like a central role for forgotten EU femme fatale Darth Talon) to fundamental elements that were present from initial conception to execution, it's a look at how the story of the sequel trilogy has evolved — and how there might be more of Lucas' DNA in the sequel trilogy than you think!

Triple Force Feige Sep 28, 2019

We discuss the blockbuster Kevin Feige news and everything we learned from the Triple Force Friday reveals on this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!
We begin this week's show by discussing The Hollywood Reporter's 'Star Wars shocker' — Marvel mastermind Kevin Feige is taking his talents to a galaxy far, far away!
Then, we share our favourite announcements from the Triple Force Friday live stream event, as new toys and details were revealed for The Rise Of Skywalker, The Mandalorian and Jedi: Fallen Order. In particular, we attempt to piece together all the new information we gleaned about The Rise Of Skywalker — is Kylo Ren on a mission to turn back time and resurrect Han Solo? Maybe! (I mean, probably not, but maybe!)
Let us know what you think of the Kevin Feige news and tell us your favourite Triple Force Friday reveals by emailing forcematerial@gmail.com or hitting up @ForceMaterial on Twitter and Facebook!

The Lore of Mandalore Sep 16, 2019

Is Boba Fett a Mandalorian? Is Jango Fett a Mandalorian? Is anyone a Mandalorian? This week, we take a deep dive into the head-scratching lore of Mandalore!
With The Mandalorian just under two months from debuting on Disney+, it's the perfect time to delve into this fascinating — but often confusing — corner of the galaxy.
From the origins and earliest appearances of Boba Fett and Mandalore to the current status quo heading into the new series, we attempt to explain it all in under an hour!

A Long Time Ago in Hollywood Sep 02, 2019

Take a wild ride with us back to 1969, as a young George Lucas comes of age as a filmmaker, starts a rebellion with Francis Ford Coppola, and crosses paths with the Hells Angels!
From his marriage to Marcia Lucas, to the rise and fall of American Zoetrope, to the notorious Altamont Free Concert, 1969 was a wild year in the life of George Lucas.
This week, we take a trip back in time to this formative year for the Maker — and take a detour to share our thoughts on the new film from Quentin Tarantino set in this time period, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood!

D23 Recap w/ The Rise of Skywalker Trailer Breakdown Aug 28, 2019

Skywalkers and Mandalorians and Kenobis, oh my! We're breaking down all the news that's fit to pod from D23!
From a shot-by-shot dissection of the new Rise of Skywalker footage to our thoughts on The Mandalorian trailer, Ewan McGregor's return as Obi-Wan Kenobi and the rest of the Disney+ slate, we're celebrating all the Star Wars announcements from Disney's wild weekend!

John Carter of Mars Aug 05, 2019

Our look at the history of space opera continues with John Carter's journey from the page to the big screen.
He’s the grand-daddy of them all. The man who not only inspired Star Wars, but also Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon - and, in a roundabout way, even cleared the path for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it.
Join us as we meet the wild west hero who went to Mars, and handed Disney one of their biggest box office flops ever...

Flash Gordon Part Two Jul 22, 2019

He'll save every one of us! Our deep dive into the history of Flash Gordon continues with the cult classic 1980 movie (and Queen soundtrack), animated adventures, and the future of the franchise!
From the troubled production of the film to Stan Lee's contributions to the Flash Gordon mythos, we break it all down.
Finally, we peer into our (faulty) crystal ball and try to guess what Taika Waititi has in store for us with his animated Flash Gordon reboot!

Flash Gordon Part One Jul 08, 2019

This week, we begin exploring the most important Star Wars influence of them all — Flash Gordon!
Our deep dive into the creation and legacy of a sci-fi icon begins with an examination of the Flash Gordon newspaper strip and movie serials, and how they eventually inspired a young George Lucas to make Star Wars.
Next time, we'll be back with a look at the history of Flash Gordon after the release of Star Wars — including the infamous 1980 film!

Buck Rogers Jun 24, 2019

Take a trip to the 25th century with Buck Rogers, one of the pioneering heroes of science fiction!
Before Luke Skywalker, before Flash Gordon, there was Buck Rogers.
This week, we explore how Buck Rogers shaped the space opera genre and influenced Star Wars — and how Star Wars influenced Buck Rogers!

The Fan Theory of Everything Jun 10, 2019

Are there two Luke Skywalkers? Is the Emperor a dad? Was Obi-Wan a clone? This week, we're breaking down the best and worst Star Wars fan theories of all time!
As we build towards The Rise of Skywalker, the speculation is reaching fever pitch — so this episode, we're diving into the history of Star Wars fan theories!
We talk about our favourite and least favourite theories; the ones that came true and the ones that definitely didn't come true; and the most likely outcomes heading into The Rise of Skywalker!

Alien w/ Brandon Wainerdi May 25, 2019

In a galaxy far, far away, no one can hear you scream. This week, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ridley Scott's masterpiece by explaining how Star Wars influenced Alien!
This week's episode is a special crossover event, as we're joined by Brandon Wainerdi — host of the great Talking Bay 94 podcast, and the VP of Marketing at legendary horror and cult film magazine Fangoria — to explore the connections between Star Wars and Alien.
We also break down all the other influences that make up Alien's recombinant DNA, from Dune and The Dark Star to HP Lovecraft and The Who!
Finally, we rank our favourite Alien films — and our lists might surprise you.

Knights of the Old Republic w/ Alex Kane May 13, 2019

Pop culture writer Alex Kane joins us to discuss the development and legacy of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic!
Alex Kane has written for Rolling Stone, Variety, Polygon, StarWars.com and more, but for his first book, he's taken a deep dive into the making of one of the most beloved Star Wars video games of all time, Knights of the Old Republic.
This episode, Alex joins us to talk about how KOTOR bridged the gap between film and tabletop role-playing games; the influence of KOTOR on contemporary Star Wars storytelling; and how the characters and settings of KOTOR could be brought to the big screen!
Alex's book, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, is available now through Boss Fight Books.

Avengers: Endgame Spoiler Discussion Apr 29, 2019

This week, we're taking a break from the Galaxy Far, Far Away to take a deep, spoiler-filled dive into Avengers: Endgame!
We begin this week's spoiler-heavy pod by discussing our favourite moments from the film, before we explore what life is like for the citizens of the MCU after Endgame, what the events of this film mean for the MCU going forward, and whether the MCU will ever resemble the world outside our window again.
Finally, we debate whether The Rise of Skywalker has any chance of clearing the bar set by Endgame!

The Rise of Skywalker Teaser Trailer Breakdown Apr 19, 2019

The Rise of Skywalker is upon us, and the speculation is on! This episode, we break the trailer down shot-by-shot and dive deep into what it might all mean for the future of our favourite franchise.
Is Rey connected to Palpatine? Will Kylo be redeemed? Is JJ's vision compatible with Rian's? And which Skywalker is rising, exactly?
From haunted helmets to Japanese arts and craft, we go all-in with the answers and share our wildest theories in this special episode of the Force Material podcast!

The Phantom Menace Commentary Apr 08, 2019

This week, we're partying like it's 1999 with our feature-length commentary track for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace!
The 20th anniversary of The Phantom Menace and the upcoming reunion panel at Star Wars Celebration had us feeling nostalgic, so we decided to strap in and break down the good, the bad and the ugly of this landmark film.
We discuss our earliest memories of The Phantom Menace; how public sentiment turned against the film (and eventually turned back); the influences that shaped the film; the influence of The Phantom Menace on today's blockbusters; the great Star Wars vs The Matrix debate of 1999; and much, much more!

Triumph of the Will Mar 25, 2019

This week, we break down how the Nazis have influenced the Empire, the First Order —and the Rebellion.
This episode is all about how Triumph of the Will — an infamous propaganda film made by Nazis, for Nazis, starring Nazis — influenced George Lucas in the creation of Star Wars, and the wider influence that Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany have had on the Star Wars films over the years.
We begin by discussing Triumph of the Will; director Leni Riefenstahl's relationship with Hitler; and the enduring power of the film as an effective piece of propaganda (02:05).
Then we move on to the impact of Triumph of the Will and the Nazis on George Lucas and his portrayal of the Empire (08:21) and the Rebellion (17:45); and their influence on The First Order (22:31).
Finally, we look at the parallels between Emperor Palpatine and Adolf Hitler's rise to power (27:52).

2001: A Space Odyssey Mar 11, 2019

This week, we explore how 2001: A Space Odyssey influenced Star Wars — and what separates these two classic films from each other.
We begin with George Lucas' thoughts on 2001 (04:34), before breaking down the shared influences that Lucas and Stanley Kubrick had in common (05:34).
Then we lay out the influence that 2001 had on Star Wars (10:24), before we talk about the crucial differences between these two classic movies (20:30).
Finally, we chat about our experiences of watching 2001: A Space Odyssey over the years, and attempt to unpack some of the mysteries of Stanley Kubrick's enigmatic sci-fi masterpiece (26:39).

Emperor Nixon Feb 25, 2019

Star Wars has always been political. This week, we explore how President Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War inspired George Lucas to create Star Wars!
We discuss how close George Lucas came to serving in Vietnam (02:52), and how the Vietnam War and Lucas' aborted attempt to make Apocalypse Now influenced Star Wars (03:51).
We look at Richard Nixon's opinion of Return of the Jedi, and how the disgraced President influenced the creation of Emperor Palpatine (10:30), and the parallels (or lack thereof) between the Emperor and Donald Trump (13:00).
Finally, we consider how the Emperor is viewed by the denizens of the galaxy far, far away, and how that compares with history's view of Nixon (23:27).

2019 State of the Galaxy Address Feb 11, 2019

We're back from hiatus to catch up on all the news, rumours and meltdowns that went down while we were away!
We begin by addressing the Episode IX title speculation (01:33), whether the frustration of fans is justified, and our initial reactions to previous Star Wars titles.
In our spicy 'sealed section' (16:37 - 33:35), we discuss a slew of possible Episode IX leaks and spoilers. Skip this part of the podcast if you want to go into the film unsullied!
Then we round up all the news that's fit to pod about The Mandalorian (34:54) and Galaxy's Edge (40:57), before we rip into EA over their handling of the Star Wars license (43:33).
A chat about Claudia Gray's upcoming novel, Master and Apprentice, turns into a discussion of the Liam Neeson situation (51:40), before we wrap things up by taking a look at the Star Wars Celebration guest list (01:00:45), and the much-ballyhooed Vader fan film (01:03:28).
Force Material will return...

The Knight Before Christmas Dec 24, 2018

In our final episode of 2018, we take a peek at the presents Lucasfilm has placed under the tree for 2019!
There's plenty we can't wait to unwrap in 2019, and we're getting a head start this episode with our Episode IX predictions; a look ahead at The Mandalorian and Cassian Andor; and Galaxy's Edge and Star Wars Celebration hype!
Finally, we look even further into the future to consider the big question — will there be a new Star Wars movie in 2020?
Thanks for listening — we wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we'll see you in 2019!

Superman: The Movie Dec 10, 2018

In honour of Superman: The Movie's 40th anniversary, we explore the connections between Star Wars and Superman!
This week, we discuss the actors (and one memorable prop) that appeared in both Star Wars and Superman (02:07); Darth Vader's contributions to Superman: The Movie (05:12); how both films endeavoured to bring credibility to the genre (10:33); and how Count Dooku missed out on a key role in Superman (18:06).
We look at the way Star Wars production designer John Barry brought Krypton to life (21:08); the influence of Norman Rockwell on Smallville and the parallels between Smallville and Tatooine (24:25); and the magic of John Williams (26:14).
We talk about how Superman: The Movie depicts journalism and fits into wider cinematic trends of the '70s (29:58) and the influence of Superman: The Movie on modern superhero films (38:04).
Finally, we hash out whether or not Superman: The Movie still holds up 40 years after its release (40:37); celebrate the genius of Christopher Reeve (50:02) and Margot Kidder (52:55); explain the original ending of the film (01:02:32); debate Superman's notorious trip back through time (01:07:26); rate our favourite versions of Superman, Lois Lane and Lex Luthor from other media (01:14:47); and have our say on who should play Superman next (01:22:33)!

Minisode: Galaxy of Adventures Dec 05, 2018

Bonus content! We stop in for a quick chat about the new Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures shorts, on the new Star Wars Kids channel!
You can watch the shorts here if you live in the States, and here if you live outside the States.
Our next 'real' episode, exploring the connections between Star Wars and Superman: The Movie, will drop this weekend!

The Adventures of Robin Hood Nov 25, 2018

We're in like Flynn on this week's episode of the Force Material podcast, as we explore how The Adventures of Robin Hood has influenced Star Wars!
With yet another telling of the Robin Hood legend in theatres, we decided to venture into Sherwood Forest to revisit the classic 1938 version, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains and Basil Rathbone!
First up, we talk about all the Star Wars news that's gone down since our last episode, including Mark Hamill's wild Boba Fett theory (01:25), the announcement of the Cassian Andor TV series (04:49), the casting of Pedro Pascal in The Mandalorian (08:39), and the latest Galaxy's Edge developments (10:21)!
Then it's onto our feature presentation (16:35), as George Lucas discusses the influence of Errol Flynn's swashbuckling films on Star Wars (32:51), and we explore the influence of The Adventures of Robin Hood on Ben Burtt (36:41) and the influence of Olivia de Havilland's Maid Marion on Princess Leia (38:07).
We look at the truth behind the Robin Hood legend (45:43), the time Errol Flynn fought Count Dooku (52:16), the immense influence of composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold on John Williams (53:43), the link between Errol Flynn and Darth Vader (57:37) and the time Star Wars literally became Robin Hood - in miniature (01:00:12).
Finally, we take a brief look at Disney's live-action Robin Hood movie, directed by a man with a very interesting name (01:03:01), and we ask the question - does the world need yet another Robin Hood movie (01:10:11)?

The Hidden Fortress Nov 11, 2018

This week, we're going back to the Sengoku period to explore how The Hidden Fortress influenced Star Wars!
We start this week's episode by going back to the beginnings of George Lucas' love affair with Akira Kurosawa (01:37), and explaining what Kurosawa was motivated by when he made The Hidden Fortress (02:39).
Then we break down the specific ways The Hidden Fortress helped to shape Star Wars, from the influence of Tahei and Matashichi on C-3PO and R2-D2 (06:00), to the influence of General Rokurota Makabe and General Hyoe Tadokoro on Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader (11:29), and the influence of Princess Yuki on Princess Leia, Padme Amidala and Rey (20:45)!
Finally, we take a look at the early Star Wars treatments that bore a much closer resemblance to The Hidden Fortress (26:52), and the influences Akira Kurosawa drew on himself when he made The Hidden Fortress (31:19)!

The Promised Lando Oct 28, 2018

Lando's not a system, he's a man — and everything you've heard about him is true. In this week's episode, the spotlight shines on the saga's suavest swindler!
Billy Dee Williams is set to make his return to the Star Wars saga in Episode IX — so this week, we're looking back at the creation of the character, and George Lucas' original plans for the old scoundrel.
We begin the episode by discussing all the Mandalorian details and directors announced while Rohan was overseas (03:55).
Then it's onto our Lando chat, as we break down the earliest concepts for Lando as a "riverboat gambler" (13:45) and as a clone (16:01)!
We look at Billy Dee Williams' pre-Star Wars career (30:15), Donald Glover's performance in Solo: A Star Wars Story (40:34), and the Calrissian-Casablanca connection (50:15).
Finally, we discuss when Lando stopped being viewed as a traitor and became a hero in the eyes of fans (51:42), what Episode IX might have in store for Lando (01:01:29), and our thoughts on Colt 45 (01:09:13).

Norman Rockwell Sep 23, 2018

This is the story of how the great American illustrator inspired the great American filmmaker — and his best friend. It’s the story of George, Steven, Norman, and many, many Benjamins. This week we examine — in broad strokes — the connections between Star Wars and Norman Rockwell.

We begin this week's episode by explaining how Norman Rockwell's Shuffleton's Barbershop became one of the star attractions at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (00:03:05), currently under construction in Los Angeles' Expo Park!

Then we rewind to look at Rockwell's career as the great American illustrator (00:06:58); how George Lucas and Steven Spielberg started collecting Norman Rockwell paintings as if they were baseball cards (00:07:52); and how Lucas and Spielberg fell in love with Rockwell's work in the first place (00:14:16).

We examine how Norman Rockwell has influenced George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's work (00:19:03); Rockwell's working methods (00:30:57); and the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles episode that made Rockwell canon (00:33:54).

Casablanca Sep 09, 2018

Of all the podcasts on all the topics in all the world... you've walked into ours. This week, we explore how Casablanca has influenced Star Wars!

We begin this week's episode with a look at the Star Wars headlines and an update on Baz's Clone Wars rewatch (00:01:05), before we move on to our feature presentation (00:08:26) — our breakdown of the 1942 classic Casablanca!

We share a Casablanca confession (00:12:41); we offer up a brief refresher on the plot and the political situation at the time (00:17:31); and we take a look at the influence of Rick Blaine and Rick's Cafe on Han Solo and the Cantina (00:20:47).

We look at neutrality and isolationism in Casablanca and Star Wars (00:29:32); the journey of Rick Blaine's suit to Canto Bight (00:36:00); Sydney Greenstreet's influence on Jabba the Hutt (00:37:00); and the influence of Casablanca on the plot of Solo: A Star Wars Story (00:44:40).

We break down the development and production of Casablanca (00:50:58); the timeliness of its release (01:11:25); the importance of the refugees and exiles that make up its international cast (01:14:05); and the film's initial response and enduring legacy (01:21:32).

We take a look at the plot holes in Casablanca (01:33:19); attempts to revive the 'franchise', including a failed TV show starring David Soul, Scatman Crothers and Ray Liotta (01:42:48); and the controversial colourisation of Casablanca, and the young director who took the fight against altering classic films to Congress (01:46:25).

Finally, we debate what's more loved (01:53:19) — Casablanca or Citizen Kane?

Willow Aug 26, 2018

30 years before they teamed up on Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ron Howard and Lucasfilm created a fantasy epic for the ages. This week, we look back at the highs and the lows of Willow!

We explore the origins of Willow and the DNA the film shares with Star Wars (00:12:32); how Lucasfilm changed Memorial Day Weekend forever (00:26:13); and the mindset of producer George Lucas when he made Willow (00:31:14).

We look at the risks involved in making Willow amid an inhospitable landscape for fantasy films in the '80s (00:39:06); how The Lord of the Rings influenced Willow (00:45:26); and the film's groundbreaking special effects (00:56:34).

We also share our thoughts on whether or not the film holds up (01:05:04); analyse how critics responded to the film (01:11:13); and discuss the other films that inspired it (01:21:26).

Finally, we explain how Willow might be part of the Star Wars universe (01:25:27); remember the brief wave of Willow merchandise (01:28:04); and break down the likelihood of a Willow sequel (01:29:38).

For more on Willow, we recommend listening to screenwriter Bob Dolman's interview on the State of the Empire podcast.

Clone Wars Commentary Aug 14, 2018

Ten years ago, begun, these Clone Wars did.

A decade ago this week, the first animated Star Wars feature film arrived in cinemas!

This episode, we're going to watch the 2008 animated feature The Clone Wars along with you, and examine how a film cobbled together on a whim and poorly received by critics managed to open the door to one of the most beloved corners of the Star Wars franchise!

Episode IX Begins! Jul 29, 2018

Sound the Death Star alarm! We're back with another emergency episode to process the Episode IX casting announcement!

Star Wars Episode IX begins filming on August 1, so Lucasfilm has finally confirmed the movie's cast and crew - and there's a lot to take in.

We begin by discussing the confirmation that Episode IX will be the "end of the Skywalker saga", and what that means for Kylo Ren (00:01:24).

We break down the returning cast members and the most notable omissions (00:05:33); the new cast members coming aboard for Episode IX (00:18:13); and Baz's crackpot Ahsoka Tano theory (00:25:03).

Then we discuss the return of Mark Hamill (00:31:15), and Rohan's crackpot Luke Skywalker theory (00:35:50).

We celebrate the news that Carrie Fisher will appear in the film and how this impacts the 'time jump' theory (00:53:23), and the chances of Leia's story continuing past Episode IX in other media (01:06:12).

We also discuss the return of the crew that made The Force Awakens, including unsung hero Rick Carter (01:08:36), explain why 2019 is going to be a great time to be a Star Wars fan (01:16:26), and place our bets on when the teaser trailer will drop (01:23:27).

Finally, Baz talks about his recent interview with George Miller (01:26:15), and we recap the response to our Jar Jar Binks episode (01:28:00).

Next time: We go back to the beginnings of The Clone Wars!

Clone Wars Saved! Jul 23, 2018

We celebrate the return of the Clone Wars and round up all the Star Wars news you might have missed from San Diego Comic-Con!

We begin our SDCC recap with an upcoming project that was conspicuous by its absence - where is Star Wars: Resistance? (00:06:07)

We move on to discuss the Clone Wars trailer that broke the internet (00:13:02), and our favourite non-Star Wars trailers from the weekend (00:30:52), before we get into an in-depth discussion about Disney's shock decision to fire James Gunn (00:33:21).

Finally, we round up all the news you might have missed, from exciting publishing announcements (00:53:44) to upcoming toys (01:06:16) and details about the Solo Blu-Ray release (01:19:43)!

The Tragedy of Jar Jar Binks Jul 21, 2018

He's the most hated character in the Star Wars universe - and the backlash almost killed the actor who played him. This week, we revisit and reevaluate Jar Jar Binks.

Long before toxic fans turned their attention towards Rian Johnson and Kelly Marie Tran, actor Ahmed Best was fandom's whipping boy - but there's more to this talented performer than you know.

We begin this week's Jar Jar-centric episode by discussing Best's revelation that the backlash against Jar Jar Binks led him to consider suicide (00:05:29); our earliest memories of The Phantom Menace (00:07:00); and how the toxicity in today's fandom compares to the response to The Phantom Menace (00:11:58).

We break down the early designs for Jar Jar and the animal sidekick he almost had (00:18:21); the inspiration for his name (00:23:47); and Ahmed Best's career before he landed the role of Jar Jar Binks (00:25:52).

We discuss the high-profile competition Best had to beat to land the part (00:30:48), the critical response to Jar Jar (00:32:12), and the overexposure of the character (00:33:37).

We look at how Best has responded to claims that Jar Jar is a racist caricature (00:37:38); the fate of the character after The Phantom Menace (00:52:35); the insults hurled Jar Jar's way by Lucasfilm itself (00:57:52); and Ahmed Best's life after Jar Jar (01:05:43).

Finally, we consider Jar Jar Binks as an omen for our times (01:07:15); whether or not Jar Jar gets the respect he deserves as a motion capture pioneer (01:10:37); the role of humour in Star Wars (01:15:14); the ever-popular Darth Jar Jar theory (01:21:27); what we love about Jar Jar (01:24:40); what we want to see from Ahmed Best's one-man show (01:30:37); and whether or not Jar Jar Binks really ruined anybody's childhood (01:33:57).

Stay tuned for our SDCC recap episode dropping soon!

The Secret Origin of the Force Jul 08, 2018

We reveal the secrets of the Force in this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!

We begin this week's show by discussing the Star Wars In Concert experience (1:30), the new artwork from Star Wars: Resistance that just hit the web (3:18), and Keri Russell joining the cast of Episode IX (6:32).

Then it's on to our deep dive into the Force! We discuss how George Lucas defines the Force (10:02), the significance of the numbers '2187' to Lucas (10:46), the experimental films of Arthur Lipsett (14:44), how the Force originated in Lipsett's work (19:46), and Lucas' earliest reference to the Force (21:40).

We explain the belief system of George Lucas (22:42), the influence of Arthur Lipsett on Lucas' early experimental films (26:38), Lipsett's influence on the central theme of Star Wars (30:14), how Darth Vader became the main character of Lucas' Star Wars saga (35:57), and the story in the new Disney canon that might be the most faithful to Lucas' work (37:21).

Finally, we discuss the life of director Roman Kroitor, and provide an incredible example of how the Force binds the galaxy together (40:46).

George Lucas' Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Jun 25, 2018

A long time ago, under a corporate structure far, far away, George Lucas had his own plans for the Star Wars sequel trilogy — and they were very different to what we've seen on screen so far!

On this week's episode of the Force Material podcast, we break down everything we know about George Lucas' ever-evolving plans for the Star Wars saga — from his earliest sequel ideas in the '70s, to his recent revelations about the microbiotic world of the Whills!

We begin the episode by discussing the status of Lucasfilm's Star Wars spin-off films (1:22) and the absurdity of the #RemakeTheLastJedi campaign (07:26).

Then we dig into George Lucas' Star Wars sequel trilogy plans (12:56) by discussing the fluid nature of Lucas' storytelling process (19:35); Lucas' ambitious plans for sequels and prequels before Return of the Jedi (24:59); the dramatic scaling back of Lucas' plans during the production of Return of the Jedi (36:58); the status of Lucas' sequel trilogy plans in the prequel era (47:11); and Lucas' decision to revisit his Star Wars sequels before the Disney sale (1:01:43).

Finally, we discuss the nature of the Whills (1:06:52); how the Whills relate to Midichlorians (1:16:03); whether or not there should be a scientific explanation for how the Force works (1:24:09); the role of free will, destiny and prophecy in Star Wars (1:39:05); why Lucas' sequel trilogy didn't get made (1:49:29); and whether we'll ever get to see it in any form (1:54:58)!

The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story Jun 10, 2018

We see how Phil Szostak's latest Star Wars art book stacks up in this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!

Written by Lucasfilm Creative Art Manager Phil Szostak and published by Abrams Books, The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story explores the production of Solo through a collection of sketches, concepts, production paintings and more.

We discuss our favourite revelations from the book on this week's show, including the wild concepts and plot lines that didn't make it to the screen!

We also discuss the connections Lawrence Kasdan weaved between Solo and The Force Awakens; the films that inspired the makers of Solo; one major change we'd like to see to the art books in future; and the last-minute change to a major character that's inadvertently revealed in The Art of Solo!

Is it time for Lucasfilm to expand beyond Star Wars? May 28, 2018

Since Lucasfilm was sold to Disney in 2012, the studio has been completely synonymous with Star Wars — but it doesn't have to be that way. This week, we make the case for Lucasfilm to expand beyond Star Wars!

As Solo underwhelms at the box office and news of a Boba Fett movie fails to set fandom on fire, we ask the question — is it time for Lucasfilm to spread its wings and prove that it's got more to offer than Star Wars?

We explain how Lucasfilm can avoid franchise fatigue and become the A24 of the Saturday matinee!

Solo: A Star Wars Story Spoiler Review May 23, 2018

You might wanna buckle up, baby. Our no-holds-barred, spoiler-heavy reaction to Solo: A Star Wars Story is here!

This episode is strictly for those of you who have seen Solo: A Star Wars Story. As soon as you leave your midnight screening, cue this episode up and join us for a breakdown of our favourite (and least favourite) moments, reveals and surprises in the film!

If you're looking for a spoiler-free review, turn back! We posted that one last week.

If you're ready to talk Solo freely, push play.

But remember — if you come with us, you're in this life for good...

Solo: A Star Wars Story Spoiler-Free Review May 17, 2018

Listen to two guys who usually have no chill about Star Wars try to exercise a bit of chill about Star Wars in our totally squeaky clean and SPOILER-FREE review of Solo: A Star Wars Story!

We've seen the film a whole week out from release, but couldn't wait to share our initial thoughts with you: is it any good? Is Alden Ehrenreich any good? What about that Donald Glover guy? Who is Enfys Nest? Just kidding about that last one. Did we mention this is SPOILER-FREE?

If you have a ticket to a midnight screening in your hot little hand, you can listen to this safely as we discuss in only the vaguest and most circumspect of terms what worked, what didn't and how the cast held up. Consider this a whetting of your appetite.

We've saved the big spoiler-y guns for next week's podcast, which will drop on release day and be a no-holds-barred chat for people who've seen the film. But for now — enjoy!

The Big Lebowski May 07, 2018

The Dude abides. This week, we explore how The Big Lebowski has influenced Star Wars: A Solo Story!

Screenwriters Lawrence and Jon Kasdan say The Big Lebowski is a big influence on Solo: A Star Wars Story, so on this week's episode, we're breaking down what makes the Coen brothers' classic crime comedy tick.

It's a deep dive into The Dude, Raymond Chandler, Robert Altman, John Milius, Leigh Brackett and more!

We also discuss this week's headlines from a galaxy far, far away, including Solo box office tracking and potential sequels, John Boyega's Episode IX update, and a pair of action figures that might just give away Solo's biggest secret.

Let's go bowling…

Treasure Island May 01, 2018

X marks the pod as we explore how Treasure Island has influenced Solo: A Star Wars Story!

Screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan say Treasure Island is a major influence on Solo: A Star Wars Story, so on this week's episode, we're breaking down how Disney's 1950 adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale could influence Ron Howard's film.

The first completely live-action Disney film (and the first Disney pirate film), Treasure Island holds a special place in the Disney canon.

It's probably also the only Disney film in which a child shoots a man in the face at close range.

We dive into the film's visionary viral marketing campaign, child star Bobby Driscoll's sad downward spiral, Orson Welles' notorious Treasure Island film, the inspirations behind Stevenson's original story and much more!

Also this week — our reactions to the Star Wars: Resistance announcement, and idle speculation about the future of Alden Ehrenreich's Han Solo!

Heat Apr 15, 2018

The relationship between Han Solo and Tobias Beckett in Solo: A Star Wars Story will take inspiration from Michael Mann's 1995 heist saga.

Heat is one of five films named as an influence on Solo by screenwriters Lawrence and Jon Kasdan.

"We talked about the relationship between Val Kilmer and Robert De Niro in Heat," Lawrence Kasdan told Entertainment Weekly, "where there’s a sort of older, wiser criminal, and then someone who’s learning the ropes from them. We wanted this movie to have that flavor and that swagger."

This week, Baz and I revisit Heat to find out what makes it such an enduring crime classic, from the historic showdown between Robert De Niro and Al Pacino to the amazing real-life story that inspired the film.

Baz also gets way too hung up on the size of televisions in 1995. It's a whole thing.

Also this week, we talk about the excitement surrounding Force Friday (or the complete lack thereof); Mark Hamill's latest comments on his role in the franchise; and Solo's chances at the box office against Infinity War!

Solo Trailer 2 Reaction Apr 09, 2018

It looks good! A little rough around the edges, but good.

Lucasfilm saw fit to bless us with a new Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer today, so you know we're breaking that down.

From Wookiee romance to the secret identity of themysterious villain, Enfys Nest (potential spoiler warning ahoy!), we pull out all the highlights of the trailer and figure out what it all means. Well, we try to, anyway.

But the Solo trailer isn't the biggest news in our world this week — it's time to welcome Gulliver McAlister to the world! Baz tells us all about his bouncing baby boy and the lengths he went to in order to make sure he shared a birthday with a Star Wars legend.

We also discuss screenwriter Tony Gilroy's candid revelations about his work on the Rogue One reshoots; Solo's upcoming Cannes premiere; and the latest twist in the behind-the-scenes saga of Rey's parentage.

All this and more, on this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!

The Last Jedi Blu-Ray Reaction Apr 01, 2018

The Last Jedi has finally come home, and we're discussing all the special features in this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!

We open this week's show with a look at the latest Star Wars news, including a Solo status update and some 'fake news' being peddled by Vulture.

Then it's onto our look at the long-awaited home release of The Last Jedi, starting with the epic documentary, The Director and the Jedi!

We offer up our commentary on Rian Johnson's commentary, and we break down which of the deleted scenes should actually have been deleted.

Along the way, we talk about which actors really got a raw deal feel in The Last Jedi (it's not Mark Hamill); Baz points out a whole new plot hole for fanboys to kvetch about; and I share my insane theory for making the Canto Bight sequence more popular by... making it longer?

All this and loads more, on this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!

Gangster No. 1 Mar 25, 2018

Discover the origins of Paul Bettany's mysterious Solo: A Star Wars Story character in this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!

This week, we're going back to the year 2000 to watch the bloody and violent British crime drama Gangster No. 1, and break down how its influence might be felt in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story.

We pull together everything we know so far about Dryden Vos, Paul Bettany's character in Solo, and how he was inspired by Bettany's breakout role in Gangster No. 1.

Gangster No. 1 is one of five films named as an influence on Solo by screenwriters Lawrence and Jon Kasdan. Last week, we looked at Unforgiven, and we'll be talking about the other three films — Heat, Treasure Island and The Big Lebowski — in the lead-up to Solo's release!

Unforgiven Mar 18, 2018

Solo: A Star Wars Story is set to take inspiration from one of the greatest films of all-time — Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven.

Screenwriters Lawrence and Jon Kasdan say Eastwood's 1992 revisionist Western is one of five films that served as a major influence on their Solo script.

Over the next five weeks, we'll be breaking down these five films, starting with this stone-cold classic — the high point of Eastwood's career, and perhaps of the entire Western genre.

We discuss what sets Unforgiven apart from Eastwood's previous films; why Gene Hackman's Little Bill is one of the all-time great movie villains; and, of course, how we think Unforgiven's influence will actually be felt in Solo!

Star Wars Rebels Finale Reaction Mar 11, 2018

Four years after Rebels first ushered in the Disney era of Star Wars, it's time to say goodbye to the Ghost crew.

On this week's spoiler-heavy show, we break down the epic Star Wars Rebels finale, and all the lingering questions it left us with.

We look back at the highs and lows of the show over the last four years — from lightsaber helicopters to space whales, and everything in between.

Of course, we also weigh in on the Star Wars news of the week, including that major Jon Favreau announcement!

We'll be back next week for the start of our Solo film camp series, kicking off with Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven!

More American Graffiti Mar 04, 2018

This week, we're looking back at George Lucas' first (and least successful) sequel, More American Graffiti!

Today, the Star Wars franchise is an unstoppable juggernaut, setting new box office records and creating new fans with virtually every new entry in the series.

But times weren't always so good for Lucasfilm.

George Lucas' first attempt at a sequel, 1979's More American Graffiti, was a major disappointment — the critics savaged it, and in the words of Lucas himself, "it made 10 cents".

On this week's show, we take a look at what went wrong with More American Graffiti, and how its failure affected George Lucas' approach to the Star Wars sequels and left him fearing for the future of his company.

We also discuss how an American Graffiti sequel could have succeeded — in the hands of another young writer-director.

We'll be back next week with our Rebels recap extravaganza!

American Graffiti Feb 25, 2018

Where were you in '62? This week on the Force Material podcast, we're celebrating the film that first brought together Ron Howard and Lucasfilm!

When George Lucas was challenged by his mentor Francis Ford Coppola and wife Marcia Lucas to make something more warm and commercial after the failure of THX-1138, he delivered in spades with American Graffiti — his most human, and perhaps most atypical, film.

On this week's episode, we discuss George Lucas' fast and furious teenage years; Ron Howard's initiation into the Lucasfilm family; the unsung heroes who helped make American Graffiti great; and the connections between American Graffiti and Lucas' even bigger hit, Star Wars.

We also explain how a film released in 1973 and set in 1962 sparked a full-blown 1950s revival, and why American Graffiti isn't just a 'nostalgia' film!

We'll be back next week with More American Graffiti!

The Han Solo Adventures Feb 19, 2018

Our Daley Double wraps up with a fond look back at some of the greatest Star Wars novels ever written, The Han Solo Adventures!

It's been 22 years this month since legendary author Brian Daley passed away. Last week, on the anniversary of his death, we paid tribute to his classic Star Wars audio dramas, and this week, we're remembering his beloved trilogy of Han Solo novels.

When Brian Daley pitched a trilogy of Han Solo and Chewbacca novels to Del Rey Books in the 1970s, he was just casually looking to make some fast cash. How very Han Solo of him.

But once Brian started out on this journey, the galaxy opened up to him. Not allowed to use The Force, Vader, the Empire, TIE fighters, the Rebellion, or any established characters save Han and Chewie, he used his ingenuity instead in a trilogy of books that saw Han and Chewie face gunslingers, slavers, corrupt bureaucrats and murderous droids in a colourful backwater of space.

Join us this week as we explore how these books helped shape Han Solo’s character in the early days of the Expanded Universe, and helped shape the childhoods of many a Star Wars fan.

We also discuss the lost art of the movie novelisation; the single worst line in Raiders of the Lost Ark; the surprising ways in which Woody Allen, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope inspired Han Solo; and loads more!

This week's episode refers frequently to an interview Brian Daley gave Alex Newborn at Star Wars Collector in 1995, which can be read in full here.

Star Wars on the Radio Feb 11, 2018

In a week where the internet is aflame with debate about whether Alden Ehrenreich could possibly play Han Solo, let’s take a moment and remember that he’s not the first ‘other guy’ to muscle in on the role made famous by Harrison Ford.

Way back in the 1980s, actor Perry King stepped into Ford’s knee-high boots in a cracking and successful series of radio dramas based on the film series. And he was amazing!

Join us as we explore the surprising history of the project, which started life as a whim of a college theatre director looking for a scandal. We’ll tell you how they scored the rights for the princely sum of $1, how US President Ronald Reagan derailed the project, and more crazy tales from the origin story of NPR’s Star Wars audio dramas!

We also tried to track down the mysterious identity of the other other guy who played Han Solo in a half-hour spinoff audio drama called Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell – the cast list of which has been lost for decades. We made contact with a key figure in the making of that LP – listen in to find out what he had to share.

But perhaps most of all, this podcast is about the late Star Wars scribe Brian Daley – the writer of all these audio dramas, and perhaps the man who knew Han Solo best in the early days as author of the novels Han Solo at Star’s End, Han Solo’s Revenge and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy.

Brian died of pancreatic cancer 22 years ago this week, never getting to hear the last words he wrote committed to tape by his audio drama cast.

This episode of Force Material is dedicated to his memory.

Solo Trailer Reaction Feb 05, 2018

Hey, don't everybody thank us at once... but the first Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer has arrived, and we've got your emergency reaction pod right here!

By now, you've probably watched the trailer more than once — and why wouldn't you? Just look at those chase scenes! The Corellian Graffiti hot rod landspeeders! The (probable) Kessel Run! Pimpin' Childish Landino! Double-sided Snowpiercer! So much cool stuff!

So join us as we nervously wait for the trailer to drop while talking about the 30 second teaser, watch the full trailer live, and then segue into wild speculation about the chequered past of everyone's favourite smuggler.

Was the Solo trailer all you were hoping for? Let us know at forcematerial@gmail.com!

Hamilton Jan 29, 2018

This week, we're explaining how Broadway smash Hamilton left its mark on the Star Wars universe. Godspeed, revolutionaries!
Since its debut on Broadway in 2015, smash hit musical Hamilton — based on the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton — has been one of the few cultural events that could stand toe-to-toe with the return of Star Wars.

On this week's show, we discuss how Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda came to be involved with The Force Awakens!

Naturally, we're also talking Shaggy, Toto, Figrin D'an, Max Rebo, Rick Rubin, NSYNC, Joseph Campbell, Ben Solo fan theories, intergalactic linguistics and much, much more!

Rashomon Jan 21, 2018

This week on the Force Material podcast, we're breaking down an Akira Kurosawa classic that's all about the truth... from a certain point of view.
The first Japanese film to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Rashomon (1950) introduced the world to Japanese cinema at the perfect time, just as director Akira Kurosawa was coming into his own as a force to be reckoned with.

One of the most influential films of all time, it tells the tale of a shocking murder and rape from the very different perspectives of four unreliable narrators.

This week, we look at what makes Rashomon an enduring classic, and explain how it influenced The Last Jedi!

Last Day of Film Camp Jan 07, 2018

We're saying farewell to Rian Johnson's Film Camp with a wrap-up of how each film actually influenced The Last Jedi!
In the lead-up to the release of The Last Jedi, we watched (and podcasted about) seven films recommended by director Rian Johnson — Three Outlaw Samurai, To Catch A Thief, Gunga Din, Twelve O'Clock High, Sahara, The Bridge on the River Kwai and Letter Never Sent.

Of course, we speculated wildly about how each film would influence The Last Jedi — but now that Rian Johnson's film is out there in the wild, we don't need to guess anymore.

The man himself has finally explained the influence of each film in an interview with Mike Ryan at Uproxx and in the pages of Phil Szostak's fantastic book, The Art of the Last Jedi, and we're breaking down his comments in this week's show!

Three Lessons of The Last Jedi Dec 31, 2017

We're digging deeper into three key themes of The Last Jedi on this week's Force Material podcast.
We've given you our instant, post-midnight screening reaction to The Last Jedi, but now that we've had time to let it marinate, we wanted to break down some of the key themes of the movie that we didn't get into the first time around.

Since teachers and lessons are so prominent in The Last Jedi, and George Lucas always intended the Star Wars films to teach life lessons, we decided to take a leaf out of Luke Skywalker's book this week and examine three lessons of The Last Jedi.

Listen on to find out what Finn and Rose's adventure, Rey's origin and Luke Skywalker's failure can teach us about apathy, birthrights and meeting your heroes!

Christmas in the Stars Dec 21, 2017

Find out why Jon Bon Jovi owes his career to C-3PO in this very festive edition of the Force Material podcast!
Did you know that without Star Wars, there would have been no Slippery When Wet? We’d never have heard of Tommy and Gina’s hardscrabble lives in Livin’ On a Prayer? One of the world’s most legendary recording studios would never have existed? And the musicals Nine and Titanic would never have made it to Broadway?

If you are in desperate need of respite from the raging social media wars being waged over the reception of The Last Jedi, we can offer you an (almost) safe space. Pour yourself an egg nog and join us by the fireside this week on a festive Force Material podcast and we’ll spin you the almost-unbelievable tale of Christmas in the Stars.

It’s the story of two plucky risk-taking record executives, a frustrated Broadway wannabe playwright, a fame-seeking actor confined to an uncomfortable golden suit — and an ambitious young man with a broom in his hand who gazed up at the stars, knowing he was destined for something greater. His name was Jon Bon Jovi. You may have heard of him.

Come with us on a journey back to 1980s Manhattan and discover how a schmaltzy, kitschy Star Wars-themed concept album about C-3PO and R2-D2 running Santa’s workshop got made – just two years after George Lucas swore he’d never attempt to make any connection between his galaxy far, far away and Christmas, EVER again.

For more on Christmas in the Stars, check out CBC Music's oral history of the album and Forbes' interview with Bon Jovi himself.

The Last Jedi SPOILER Reaction & Review Dec 13, 2017

Finally! No more theories and speculation — The Last Jedi is here, and we're here at 3am to talk about it!
Recorded straight after the midnight screening, here's our frantic and feverish review of the film we've all been waiting for.

We're talking about EVERYTHING, so there will be MAJOR SPOILERS — proceed at your own peril!

Letter Never Sent Dec 11, 2017

For our last episode before the release of The Last Jedi, we're taking a look at the last entry in Rian Johnson's film camp!
Yes, The Last Jedi has begun screening at premiere events around the world, but there'll be no spoilers in this episode. Instead, we'll be talking about a Soviet survival drama from 1960.

Letter Never Sent tells the intense story of three men and a woman as they head deep into a Siberian forest on the hunt for precious diamonds.

The group has its tensions, but the real ‘enemy’ is nature — they almost starve to death in the forest, before finding a stash of diamonds; and before they can bring the diamonds home, they're trapped in a forest fire. And that's just the beginning of their problems...

This was one of six films that director Rian Johnson required the cast and crew of The Last Jedi to watch before they began production of Episode VIII, so naturally, we're taking this classic of Soviet cinema and boiling it down to the only question that really matters - how will it affect Star Wars?

We'll be back later this week straight after a midnight screening of The Last Jedi with our reaction pod, so stay tuned for updates!

The Bridge on the River Kwai Dec 09, 2017

Madness! Madness! We're revisiting one of the all-time great war films for clues about The Last Jedi and making our final predictions in this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!
This episode will be our last before The Last Jedi premieres and renders all of our idle speculation moot, so first up this week, we're putting it all on the table and making our final Episode VIII predictions.

Who are Rey's parents? Is she just a random, or is the Force strong with her family?

Is Snoke just a bloke, or is he actually a classic character back from the dead?

How will it all end? What will the state of the galaxy look like heading into Episode IX?

Bookmark this episode so you can see just how wrong all our guesses turn out to be when the film opens next week!

Then, in our feature presentation, we're going back to director Rian Johnson's film camp to watch another of the films he made his cast and crew watch before they began shooting The Last Jedi.

Directed by David Lean, The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) tells the story of a British officer and POW, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson (played by Old Ben Kenobi himself, Sir Alec Guinness), who forms an unlikely working relationship with his Japanese captor, Colonel Saito (played by the utterly fascinating Sessue Hayakwawa).

We're breaking down how Kwai relates to the other films in Johnson's program, and which recurring themes and scenarios pop up again here.

And, mostly, we're just marveling at how bloody brilliant this 60-year-old film continues to be - especially that electrifying finale.

Sahara Dec 03, 2017

Join Rohan, Baz and Humphrey Bogart on a perilous journey through the Libyan desert in this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!
There's only a few days left to speculate about The Last Jedi before the first real spoilers will start hitting the web, so we're starting off today's show by breaking down all the revelations from Rolling Stone's Last Jedi cover story.

What does Daisy Ridley's departure after Episode IX mean for the future of the franchise? How will Carrie Fisher's passing be handled on-screen? Why is Adam Driver being cagey about Kylo Ren's age? When will we find out who Rey's parents are? And is there really a master plan behind the new canon, or are they just making it all up as they go along?

Then, in our feature presentation, we're going back to director Rian Johnson's film camp to examine another film that Johnson required the cast and crew of The Last Jedi to watch before they began production.

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Sahara (1943) tells the unforgettable story of the American tank Lulu Belle, and the man who loved her as if she were a woman.

It's about 10 men, lost in the desert; men with parched tongues and tortured minds, searching frantically for life-giving water, surrounded by a hostile army, and fighting treachery from within.

We think it'll have a big influence on the scenes set on Crait in The Last Jedi, as The Resistance makes its valiant last stand...

Gunga Din Nov 26, 2017

This week’s Force Material podcast is all about two-fisted tomfoolery and problematic poetry, as we break down why 1939’s Gunga Din is actually part of the Star Wars universe!
This week’s Force Material podcast is all about two-fisted tomfoolery and problematic poetry, as we break down why 1939’s Gunga Din is actually part of the Star Wars universe!

Oh, sure, it may not get Pablo Hidalgo’s official tick of approval - but we’re pretty sure Gunga Din is canon, and we explain why on this week’s episode!
Our breakdown of the 1939 RKO classic marks the fourth entry in our series on director Rian Johnson’s ‘film camp’, the range of classic films Johnson required his cast and crew to watch before they began filming The Last Jedi.
We discuss why the film could never be made today, its deep ties to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Lucasfilm lore, and the hints that it offers us about the events of The Last Jedi!
The film also gives us an opportunity to dig into the origins of the Gungans, and the connection that Jar Jar Binks has with our very own hometown of Brisbane!
We also give our takes on the recent announcements of an all-new trilogy of Star Wars films and a live-action Star Wars TV series!
The Force Material podcast - come for the Star Wars analysis; stay for the surprisingly moving dramatic readings of 19th-century colonialist poetry.

If you liked this episode, check out our earlier entries in the Film Camp series on Three Outlaw Samurai, To Catch A Thief and Twelve O’Clock High!
The episode of DorkLair with the sweet Snoke theory that we reference in this week’s show can be found here.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Nov 19, 2017

Luc Besson's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is out on DVD and Blu-Ray this week, so we're exploring the film's connections to Star Wars on this week's Force Material podcast!
Much has been made of the debt that Star Wars supposedly owes to writer Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mézières' Valerian and Laureline, which ran in French comics magazine Pilote from 1967 to 2010.

Christin and Mézières have both been vocal about the influence they believe their work had on George Lucas' saga, as has director Luc Besson, who brought the long-running sci-fi strip to the silver screen earlier this year.

George Lucas, on the other hand, has never acknowledged Valerian as an inspiration for Star Wars.

This week on the Force Material podcast, we attempt to weigh up the evidence and determine what impact Valerian really had on Star Wars!

We also share our thoughts on Besson's film, and grapple with the question nobody can answer — why does Hollywood keep trying to make Dane DeHaan happen?

For a visual comparison between the Valerian comics and the Star Wars films, check out Six ways Valerian (might have) influenced Star Wars.

Twelve O'Clock High Nov 12, 2017

On this week's Force Material podcast, we're going back to Rian Johnson's film camp to break down how Twelve O'Clock High could influence The Last Jedi!
The 1949 film, directed by Henry King, tells the story of a US Bomber unit stationed in England during the darkest days of World War II.

Gregory Peck, as Brigadier General Frank Savage, is tasked with getting "maximum effort" out of the unit's pilots, and leads them on increasingly daring raids — at no small cost to his own health.

Twelve O'Clock High was one of six films that director Rian Johnson required the cast and crew of The Last Jedi to watch as part of his 'film camp' before production began.

Johnson told Empire that Twelve O'Clock High was "a big touchstone" for The Last Jedi, "for the feel and look of the aerial combat, as well as the dynamic between the pilots".

This week, as we count down to the release of The Last Jedi, Baz and I watch Twelve O'Clock High to dissect how its pioneering depiction of post-traumatic stress disorder could influence what happens next to Poe Dameron, Paige Tico and the rest of Black Squadron!

We Need To Talk About Kylo Nov 05, 2017

We're exploring the origins and influences of the galaxy's most toxic fanboy, Kylo Ren, in this week's Force Material podcast!
The spotlight falls on Han Solo and Leia Organa's wayward son in this episode, as we drill down into the cultural and artistic inspirations for this fascinating (and often misunderstood) villain.

We discuss how Kylo sets the sequel trilogy apart from the original films, as he reflects contemporary fears about radicalised and isolated young men.

We break down the parallels between Kylo Ren and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, school shooters and toxic keyboard warriors, and explain how Kylo Ren and Rey represent different types of Star Wars fans.

We also dig into the design choices that made Kylo instantly iconic, and the Shakespearean and Arthurian influences on his complex character arc.

Finally, we lay out our thoughts on where we see Kylo Ren going in The Last Jedi and beyond. Can he be redeemed, or are some sins just too terrible to be forgiven?

When You Wish Upon A Death Star Oct 29, 2017

This week on the Force Material podcast, we're celebrating the fifth anniversary of Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm!

It was five years ago today that George Lucas shocked the entertainment world by selling his company — and the rights to make more Star Wars films — to The Walt Disney Company.

In that time, we've heard plenty from disgruntled fans about the 'Disneyfication' of Star Wars, but in this week's podcast, Baz McCalister and I explore the connections between George Lucas and Disney that go back much, much further than 2012.

We also explain how it was Indiana Jones, not Star Wars, that made the Disney sale possible, and we rate the smartest decisions and worst missteps of the Disney era's first five years.

Finally, we share our Force visions for where we think the franchise will be five years from now!

To Catch A Thief Oct 21, 2017

Cary Grant, Grace Kelly and the French Riviera star in this week's episode of the Force Material podcast.

The Last Jedi will see the introduction of the casino planet Canto Bight, which director Rian Johnson calls "a Star Wars Monte Carlo-type environment, a little James Bond-ish, a little To Catch A Thief."

Johnson has also called To Catch A Thief "a great film to rewatch" before The Last Jedi, "for the romantic scale and grandeur".

So on this week's episode of Force Material, Baz McAlister and I are sitting down to watch this classic Hitchcock confection.

We're exploring the ways that Hitchcock's cat thief caper might influence the next chapter in the Star Wars saga, as well as the connections between To Catch A Thief and another beloved franchise.

Porg Life Oct 15, 2017

We're talking Porgs, Porgs and more Porgs on this week's episode of the Force Material podcast!
Ever since they made their debut in the behind-the-scenes reel for The Last Jedi that was shown at D23 in July, Porgs — the cutest inhabitants of Ahch-To, if not the entire Star Wars galaxy — have taken their rightful place at the centre of the saga.

The old, tired questions about Rey's parentage, Snoke's identity and Leia's fate have simply ceased to matter in the wake of the arrival of the Porgs, who are experiencing a level of popularity even BB-8 can't hope to compete with.

In this week's episode of the show, we're rounding up everything we know so far about the Porgs, as well as the adorable real-life seabirds — the puffins of Skellig Michael — who inspired their design!

We also delve into the history of cute Star Wars creatures to discuss why the much-maligned Ewoks are actually the purest expression of the franchise's most important theme, and why Hoojibs — the telepathic bunnies from the '80s Marvel Star Wars comic — are ripe for a comeback.

All this and more, in this week's episode of the Force Material porgcast!

The Last Jedi Trailer Reaction & Breakdown Oct 10, 2017

In this emergency episode of the Force Material podcast, we're breaking down the enigma that is the Last Jedi trailer!
Join us as we attempt to answer all the questions the trailer raises, including but not limited to:

Is Rian Johnson the master of misdirection, or is the real misdirection that there is no misdirection?

Should Luke train Rey?

Is Kylo Ren a great pilot or not, and what would be truer to his character?

Will Kylo kill another one of his parents?

Why doesn't Kylo wear his mask anymore?

Can Kylo be redeemed?

Was Darth Vader ever really redeemed?

Is Poe Dameron the son Leia never had?

Is Leia an underrated Force user?

Are Porgs the most adorable creature in the history of the franchise?

Does the Jedi Order that established itself on Ahch-To bear any resemblance to the Jedi Order that established itself on Coruscant?

Will Phasma finally live up to the hype?

Is Kylo pulling Rey to the dark, is Rey pulling Kylo to the light, or are they teaming up to fight an even bigger bad?

Is Rian Johnson trying to send us a meta-message?

Where are Holdo, Rose and DJ?

And will any of this footage actually end up in the film, anyway?

Three Outlaw Samurai Oct 08, 2017

Grab your s'mores, because we're off to Rian Johnson's film camp in the second episode of the Force Material podcast!
Our weekly deep dive into the influences and inspirations behind the Star Wars saga continues with an examination of director Hideo Gosha's pulpy 1964 classic, Three Outlaw Samurai.
This was one of a number of films that director Rian Johnson required the cast and crew of The Last Jedi to watch as part of his 'film camp' before production began.

In the lead-up to December, we'll be discussing each of these films, breaking down what makes them special, and taking a few educated guesses at how they might influence The Last Jedi.

This episode, we're taking a look at the cultural influences that have made Star Wars 'big in Japan'; how the swordplay of Three Outlaw Samurai could inspire all-in brawls with the Knights of Ren and the Praetorian Guard in The Last Jedi; why Obi-Wan's duel with Darth Vader in A New Hope is actually awesome; and whether or not the cynicism of Three Outlaw Samurai is compatible with Star Wars.

Three Outlaw Samurai is available as part of the Criterion Collection here (but please note that, if you live outside North America, you'll need a multi-region Blu-Ray player to watch the film).

The Secrets of Skellig Michael Sep 28, 2017

Discover the real-life story behind Luke Skywalker's island home in the first episode of the Force Material podcast!
Welcome to our weekly deep dive into the secrets and source material of Star Wars, with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister.
We'll be delving into the influences and inspirations behind the Star Wars saga, from films and folklore to history, politics and geography. These are the stories behind the prequels, the sequels, and everything in between!

In our first episode, we explore Skellig Michael, the filming location for Luke Skywalker's place of exile in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

What was life really like for the Gaelic Christian monks that built a monastery on this desolate rock in the 6th century, and which creatures might they have encountered?

Was George Bernard Shaw the first location scout for Lucasfilm?

And what does it even mean to be religious in a galaxy where magical space wizards are actually, objectively, real?

All this and more, in the first episode of Force Material!

In the coming weeks, we'll break down the movies that make up Rian Johnson's Star Wars Film Camp, and begin to explore the creative building blocks of the Saga we all love so much.

If you love samurai, space ships and saloons, you've come to the right place.

Who knows? You might even end up finding something new that you'll love just as much as Star Wars.

Well... almost as much, anyway.

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