This week we have a lot to cover. Some Rogue One reactions and first look at the toy packaging, Rian Johnson’s new photo from the set and Pablo Hidalgo answering more interesting questions from the fans. So let’s get straight to it.

First the just released Rogue One toy packagng:

Revealed! Powerful packaging for the toys, collectibles, and more of #RogueOne: A #StarWars Story. In stores this fall! A photo posted by Star Wars (@starwars) on Apr 8, 2016 at 1:13pm PDT

Also StarWars.com has just revealed that Rogue One director Gareth Edwards, co-producer John Swartz and executive producer John Knoll will be the judges of the 2016 Star Wars fan film awards!

Then some reactions on the Rogue One teaser trailer.

Forest Whitaker is excited for Rogue One!

Hope everyone’s loving the new @StarWars teaser for #RogueOne! Such a fun project to work on. Can’t wait for Dec 16! https://t.co/YEQDON0UZs — Forest Whitaker (@ForestWhitaker) April 7, 2016

Rogue One writer Gary Whitta loves it:

Can I just say. Gareth frickin’ Edwards, man. 👏👏👏👏👏 — Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) April 7, 2016

Rian Johnson loves the Rogue One trailer as well.

Garrrrrreeeeeetthhhhhh

Also: DP Greig Fraser shot Killing Them Softly & Zero Dark Thirty. https://t.co/z9RdQfuszi — Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 7, 2016

Dave Filoni, who has the incredibly hard task to connect the dots between live action and animation movies:

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Gareth Edwards and the entire #RogueOne team on the release of their first trailer! WAY TO GO, TEAM REBELS!!! — Dave Filoni (@dave_filoni) April 7, 2016

We at SWNN support Peter Mayhew’s statement:

NEW Teaser Trailer! Anyone else think that calender companies should just add @starwars to December indefinitely? https://t.co/jlJeRuAVfD — Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) April 7, 2016

And some brilliant art by Phil Noto inspired by the new trailer:

Surprisingly to everyone Mark Hamill reveals that he doesn’t have any lines in Rogue One.

The LEGO Movie (and Han Solo spin-off) director jokes about Ben Mendelsohnn’s cape:

And now some Episode VIII buzz:

Rian Johnson posts picture with Maz Kanata from Episode VIII. Lupita Nyong’o has already been officially mentioned in the Episode VIII cast, so this is really nothing new, but it’s always nice to see a new render of the character, right?

And in case anyone had any doubts that Maz is in Episode VIII, here’s Lupita with Mark and Oscar. It would be cool to see Poe and Maz together in Episode VIII, right?

Cuddling adorable Lupita-who’s seeking a little fatherly advice(as Oscar kindly provides bunny ears) #PhotoBomberPoepic.twitter.com/JBorN3Nel0 — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 4, 2016

…and General Leia of course:

Mark Hamill continues to troll us, and we love it!

As promised!#Ep8SPOILER Plot:GoodvsEvil-Set in past-In Distant Solar System-Luke’s part TWICE as big as in #Ep7! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/tsQ5mVyXvz — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 6, 2016

More training from Daisy:

First time doing that three jump thing over the box… It got better! Never having done sports at school I love doing exercises that make me feel like an athlete 😄😄😄 props to @gravzy12 for keeping me fit/top bants/camera skills #fitnessfriday #instavideosgotlongerohemgee A video posted by @daisyridley on Apr 1, 2016 at 5:29am PDT

Probably the best thing you’ve seen from TFA cast – John and Daisy rapping. This special feature is only available on the Target exclusive edition of the Blu-ray.

New Elstree trailer!

In the summer of 1976, STAR WARS was shot in suburban North London. Nobody involved had any idea how big the film would become, many couldn’t even remember the title. Yet, for the extras and actors in smaller roles, their faces hidden in masks and helmets, this seemingly insignificant job would go on to color their lives even four decades later. ELSTREE 1976 explores the lives of the actors and extras behind one of the most celebrated franchises in cinematic history.

Some Disney Parks announcement is coming soon:

And now here are some really interesting comments by Lucasfilm’s Pablo Hidalgo himself! Beware, they are many, but all very interesting 🙂

Most of these really don’t need comment:

@FrolickingFiz @FelixAzrael I get a sense that as the “Jedi killer” he feels he alone is heir to their legacy not some lowly scavenger. — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 3, 2016

On Maul and Vader. Have they crossed paths before?

@adamgoodwin He knows of him, but I don’t think they’ve crossed paths. Maul wants to destroy the Sith but knows he can’t do it alone. — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 3, 2016

On KOTOR:

@JSPirateBoy @geekgirldiva Anything’s possible. But SWTOR is still going. That is that era. No need to restart it. — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 2, 2016

@JSPirateBoy @geekgirldiva true. I have a hard time imagining any narrative that spans 1000s of years and people speak the same language. 🙂 — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 2, 2016

@layne_rice @JSPirateBoy @geekgirldiva see my pinned tweet. That’s the definition I use. By that definition, no it isn’t. — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 3, 2016

On the accuracy of some credits (this is about the forceback scene where a guy got stabbed by Kylo)

@artofstu Or, the credits aren’t right. (Side-eyes Korr Sella’s misspelled name…) — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 5, 2016

@artofstu By the script, I don’t see him as a Knight. And I don’t see him attacking her as she’s not really ‘there’. But that’s just me. — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 5, 2016

@artofstu Well, the bit with her 5 year old self is. Except for her seeing it in third person, I suppose. — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 5, 2016

On the Jyn Erso name.

@RufusStroud@starwars@HolocronKeeper I believe John Knoll coined Jyn Erso. That’d be a great Celebration question if you’re going! — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 7, 2016

On Sith and Knights:

@layne_rice@anthonytaylor_ It’s light side / dark side. Jedi and Sith don’t have a monopoly on that. There are other schools. Dagoyan4ever! — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 6, 2016

On the Han Solo spin-off movie:

@DarthFarce Gonna go out on a limb and say I don’t think you have access to the same research as a studio, — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 7, 2016

@ConcordJohn @DarthFarce We’re getting one because it was one of the standalone ideas George Lucas left before he retired. — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 8, 2016

On the stand alone movies:

@JediBrian he left a few. All are in development. Rogue One came from John Knoll and was the most fully formed idea out of the gate. — Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) April 8, 2016

And some longer discussions that are best used as screenshots:





On when the Sith were formed.

On Lucas and the EU:

On the connection between Rebels and Rogue One:

Stay tuned for the next recap next week!