So, there was no Super Bowl trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX, despite relentless anticipation and hunger for one. Yet, considering things are quiet—suspiciously, painfully quiet—in the galaxy far, far away right now, that's not terribly surprising. Seriously, what is going on? It's like there are plans being put into place for the building of a cultural Death Star that no one is fully aware of just yet. The next Star Wars movie is 10 months away, and for now let's just appreciate the fact that the world is not fully submerged in Lucasfilm lore just yet. It really only is a matter of time.
These Are the Droids You're Looking For (Well, Droid)
The Source: Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau
Probability of Accuracy: All things being equal, this looks pretty likely.
The Real Deal: While so much of upcoming Disney+ series The Mandalorian remains under wraps, showrunner Jon Favreau is clearly relishing the chance to tease fans with glimpses of familiar iconography and characters in preparation for the show's debut later this year. The latest such tease? That would be R5-D4, a droid seen only briefly in the original Star Wars but immortalized in many fans' minds since it was included in the movie's toy line way back when. Whether the droid will actually play an important role in the series or, indeed, appear at all—Favreau didn't offer any caption to his Instagram, so it's not as if he claimed this was anything more than him finding a prop in the back room at Lucasfilm—remains to be seen, but it's possible. What's next, a cameo from Prune Face or Amanaman?
The Mandalorian Will Have Some Behind-the-Scenes Help
The Source: Online rumormongering from an anonymous source
Probability of Accuracy: It’s genuinely difficult to tell, but there’s a ring of truth no matter what.
The Real Deal: Elsewhere in the world of The Mandalorian, the site Making Star Wars posted a rumor earlier this month that the show's title character will be just one of a number of Mandalorians, with another being an armorer who will be upgrading the protagonist's suit throughout the series, with the character being likened to Q from the James Bond movies. That's an unusual connection to make and posits the question, just what exactly is the Mandalorian going to be doing in this new show? Wasn't the Cassian Andor show supposed to be the spy mission series? If nothing else, fans should at least be happy to know—well, suspect—that the Mandalorian won't go cold if his armor gets destroyed on whatever escapades he gets up to.
Don't Ask What the Movie's About, Unless You Want to Get Punked
The Source: Everyone's favorite former First Order stormtrooper, John Boyega
Probability of Accuracy: Can jokes really be "accurate," per se?
The Real Deal: As if to demonstrate both how wonderful John Boyega is and how humorless Star Wars fans can be, the real-life Finn—or Moses from Attack the Block, if you’re feeling nostalgic—decided to answer a fan's question on Twitter last week.
Of course, this answer didn't sit well with everyone.
Some jokes are just lost on people. Similarly, perhaps there are some questions that should never be answered with a quip for fear of the response even an obvious joke will provoke. On an unrelated note, if anyone does fancy telling us how Star Wars: Episode IX actually ends, I promise we'll receive it with exactly the right level of seriousness and respect. (Are there Ewoks involved, at least? Just tell us if there are Ewoks involved.)
Farewell to a Beloved Friendroid
The Source: Anthony Daniels, the man with the shiny gold body
Probability of Accuracy: It seems pretty accurate, unless this whole thing is a particularly elaborate ruse. Which … it’s not, right?
The Real Deal: One thing that is known about Episode IX is that Anthony Daniels will reprise his role as C-3PO for the movie, a fact made clear when he told everyone he had finished shooting the movie on Twitter. "We're so proud to have worked with such a lovely, talented cast & crew lead by J.J. [Abrams] & Kathy [Kennedy]," he wrote. If this is, indeed, the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, Daniels will go down as the only actor to appear in every single chapter of the series. Guess there's something to be said for playing a robot, after all.
Journey to a Faraway Land (or World) Sooner Than You Thought
The Source: Marvel Comics
Probability of Accuracy: It's an official announcement, so this is definitely spot-on.
The Real Deal: For those wondering how to properly prepare for the new Star Wars attractions opening at Walt Disney World and Disneyland later this year, Marvel has the answer for you: a new five-issue Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge comic book, set in the location of the parks and featuring characters that visitors will meet for themselves. Written by Ethan Sacks with art by Will Sliney, the first issue connects Dok-Ondar—one of the new characters from the attraction—to Han Solo and Chewbacca, via a never-before-revealed story that will help bring everything together into something approaching canon. Feel the synergy!