We already know you live Star Wars - you're listening to this podcast after all. But c'mon, you've always wanted to LIVE IN Star Wars, right? Maybe not for life, but at least just for a visit? Well, folks, the universe doesn't get anymore lived in than this! ILMxLAB and The Void have teamed up to create a virtual reality experience the likes of which you've never seen before. Seriously! We've seen, heard, smelled, touched, and blasted through Star Wars. Throw out any preconceived notions...

Here at State of the Empire, we make it a habit of staring into the abyss and divining secret Star Wars truths; but when we heard a rumor that this was going to be the most decisive Star Wars movie of all-time... we shrugged it off. We're shocked to say that the prophecies came to pass and that we've found ourselves caught in the middle of the true star war: was this movie good or bad? This Last Jedi review is one forged from years of speculation, fan love, sharply-honed critical skills, and...

We're mere days away from the release of Episode VIII and the full-fledged return of Luke Skywalker. Compared to The Force Awakens it's shocking how little we know going in... or at least it was. After months of rampant speculation, Bothan spies have provided a juicy dossier filled to the brim with insights on the film: The Last Jedi Visual Dictionary. But fear not of spoilers friend! They're locked safely behind the blast doors. In this episode we talk the latest news on Solo and Star Wars...

The release of The Last Jedi looms large - and we're shocked by how little we know about what's to come. One thing's for sure: Disney is IMPRESSED. In this episode we share reactions and discuss the ramifications of director Rian Johnson being given his own standalone Star Wars trilogy. We also use some ancient Jedi secrets to uncover possibilities of what might be in store for us in the new film. No, really - We consult an early draft of The Empire Strikes Back which shares some eerie...

Star Wars novels have long been the heart of the galaxy far, far away. This "lived in" sci-fi universe is inevitably left fans dying to know more about its mysteries and covet action figures of obscure aliens from the back ground of Mos Eisley. Now that so much of the expanded universe has been swept away, the pressure is on for new books to step up and fill in the blanks! In this episode Cap, Matt, and Doug discuss the latest Star Wars novels and how they've build on the bigger themes being...

The suspicious shakeups in the Star Wars Universe keep on coming! In this episode we discuss Colin Trevorrow being booted off Episode IX and the return of JJ Abrams. Along with this more-publicized director change is a promising switch of writers and the reoccurring suggestion that this pivotal film is even more serious than we know - wrapping not just this new trilogy, but uniting and concluding this trilogy of trilogies. Cap, Matt, and Doug also recap all the social media teases spinning...

The final theatrical trailer for The Last Jedi is here - and we are overwhelmed. Join us as we unpack all that we know... or think we know... about the forthcoming Star Wars sequel. Unlike The Force Awakens, this film still has us grasping at straws for determining story beats and gleaning insight into character arcs. However, between this and the behind-the-scenes featurette, we're beginning to see the big picture. Rumors have been confirmed and the ominous conflicts between light, dark, and...

One of the most exciting things to come from Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm was the chance to tell new Star Wars stories on the big screen - stories beyond the ever-continuing the episodic saga. Films exploring The Old Republic, Boba Fett finally having a chance to really earn that fan following, tales of smugglers, scoundrels, and smarmy aliens - anything is possible. The debut spin-off film, Rogue One, was a ballsy first foray into a bigger cinematic universe; and with that risk came a...

In the era of fake news, no quadrant of the galaxy is safe from mind tricks. Yes, State of the Empire is your wacky, zany source for absurd rumors, but if we smell bantha poodoo, you'd better believe we're gonna call it out so you don't step in it. So forget all you know... or think you know about the Han Solo film and Lord and Miller's firing. Let Cap, Doug and Matt set you straight. In addition to tackling the new murmurs coming from the smouldering crater of the Han Solo implosion, we've...

There's been a great disturbance in the force. As if two bright voices in pop cinema set about making a Han Solo movie and were suddenly silenced. This week we received the shocking news that Phil Lord and Chris Miller had been fired from the young Han Solo film with only three weeks left to shoot. Changing creative directions early into a film is one thing, but a firing this late in production is catastrophic and highly unusual. We discuss this baffling development at length - why it might...

If you're watching Star Wars Rebels, then chances are good you're anticipating episodes of this show more than the new films. It's a key component to establishing the galaxy as we know it when our Original Trilogy heroes come onto the scene in A New Hope, where the few good things to come from the Prequels live on, and a place for pieces of the lost Expanded Universe to live again. It's also home to an incredible cast of characters whose fates are 100% up in the air once the films take...

We were on-site at Star Wars Celebration 2017 - both in the room for the most coveted panels and experiences, and in the trenches wading through the most merciless lines in the galaxy. As with any Celebration there were thrills and tears; like when George Lucas, Harrison Ford, and John Williams all appeared unannounced and presented a stirring tribute to Carrie Fisher. We saw unseen clips from The Clone Wars, an all-new episode of Rebels, and other assorted goodies, but surprisingly the...

Star Wars Celebration is in less than a week, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is eight months away, the Han Solo anthology film is in nearly a year... and all that's just the visible half of this veritable Star Wars sarlaac pit. Lucasfilm has a plan for us all; and that's to be blissfully digesting space stories for over a thousand years. Or... not? We've got some hot new intel about what's to come - intel that could very well be confirmed in this coming week - and not only does that involve...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. At long last, we've seen it! Welcome to our Rogue One review! Ever wondered what it would be like if there was more "wars" in "Star Wars"? Wonder no more. The first "Star Wars Story" or "Anthology Film" or "Spin-Off" or whatever you want to call it is out, and it sets the pace for things to come in more ways than one. We're fresh from an opening night screening, and teeming with...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. Rogue One is mere days away and the State of the Empire crew might as well be hopped up on spice, given their anticipatory euphoria. We've watched countless TV spots, international trailers, and taken in every shred of content leading up to the release. We've got a list of neat expanded universe tie-ins and details to look for and we've learned a lot about the film, but at this late...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. Like the Death Star, Rogue One looms ominously just beyond our atmosphere. We're starting to see the shape of it, but the film's air of mystery persists, even with new trailers and teasers. While there's still new news about the film to share, it's the rest of the Star Wars universe keeping us busy as we eagerly anticipate December 15th. Between the novel Ahsoka and the happenings...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. If you've been raving like a rathtar for Rogue One merch, your day has come! Last year we had Force Friday, this year it's Rogue Friday - a time of midnight releases, swarms of fans, and a mad dash for the latest action figures etc. Or is it...? No, this year's Star Wars shopping spree was much more subdued - not just in turnout, but also in plot insights that could be gleaned new...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. Season 3 of Star Wars Rebels is here and with it the return of one of the most revered characters in the series: Grand Admiral Thrawn. Hear our thoughts on how this Star Wars legend fared in his on-screen debut and reintroduction to the cannon. But Thrawn is only one facet of the changes and troubles facing the Rebellion: a mysterious Force-sensitive creature, a Sith holocron,...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. The time has come: the Rogue One trailer is finally here! Not a teaser, not a sizzle reel, not a behind-the-scenes promo - and honest-to-God, fully-loaded trailer, Sith Lord and all. There's a lot to take in, so let the crew of State of the Empire navigate you through the proverbial asteroid belt of what's going on and what nuances we can glean from this sexy and revealing...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. Star Wars Celebration 2016... The annual expo for all things far, far away and some looming sooner than seem possible. This year, the shadow of the Death Star descended on London as hype for Rogue One gave way to looks behind the scenes, surprise slip-ups, and enough cryptic info to ensure that this debut "Star Wars Story" is going to have us guessing right up until opening night....

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. The veil of mystery concealing the first Star Wars spin-off, Rouge One, is finally being lifted, but amidst character reveals, plot details, and other minutia comes extreme scrutiny. The promise of a film that truly puts the "war" in Star Wars is an exciting prospect - one that many now worry could be too good to be true. There's controversial rumors of executive interference and...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. For those of us who were burnt by the Prequel Trilogy, the last thing we wanted were more stories from that era. But whether we wanted it or not, between 2008 and 2014 George Lucas and Dave Filoni's The Clone Wars was the definitive Star Wars output. Taking place between Episode II and III, the series offered some much-needed character development for Anakin as well as the addition...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. The Rogue One trailer took the world by storm and tantalized with its Original Trilogy mystique. Even though we've now seen it in action, much about the inaugural "Star Wars Story" is just as shrouded in mystery as it was before. Meanwhile, info, photos and speculation for the still-to-be-named Episode VIII keep pouring in; as does further analysis of the New Trilogy based on clues...

State of the Empire is Nerdy Show’s Star Wars speculation podcast where we “look for news in Alderaan places”. The Force Awakens has come and gone, but State of the Empire's quest is never-ending! The world is a-blaze with hype for 2017's Episode VIII but what about 2016's Star Wars film, Rogue One? It's only nine months away and we hardly know anything about it! We might not even see a teaser trailer for another month! Join Cap, Doug, and Matt as we pour over everything we know about Rogue...

We interrupt State of the Empire's regularly scheduled Star Wars news and updates for an event that's been years in the making: our first full-length installment of Willow Watch and an interview Willow screenwriter Bob Dolman! Yes, the bones have spoken. Our ongoing investigation into the 1988 Lucasfilm fantasy epic, Willow, has led us on an incredible journey. What began as a flight of fancy that we might someday see a Willow 2 from Disney has become a mad quest to track down the full story...