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. 

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.

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.

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).

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)!

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!

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! 

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...

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 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… 

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! 

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!   

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 the mysterious 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! 

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.

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! 

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! 

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! 

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!

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! 

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!

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. 

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!   

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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. 

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...

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.

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. 

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.

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'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?

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! 

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. 

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! 

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?

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). 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.