Latest news with #StarWars:EpisodeIII-
Forbes
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Star Wars' Music Dominates The Billboard Charts
As Star Wars Day renews interest in the franchise, multiple Star Wars soundtracks return to ... More Billboard's Classical charts, with one new debut among them. CANNES, France: Soldiers of the Empire stand guard at the entrance of the Festival Palace as photographers wait for US director George Lucas and his cast to come out, at the end of the screening of their film "Star Wars : Episode III - Revenge of the Sith", 15 May 2005 at the 58th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival. The seminal sci-fi saga "Star Wars" comes to a rousing close 15 May when the final episode in the six-part series gets its international premiere at the Cannes film festival. The Cannes film festival, the world's top showcase of cinema, started 11 May with a slew of veteran auteurs lining up for the prestigious Palme d'Or prize, and Hollywood muscling in to promote this year's blockbusters. AFP PHOTO GERARD JULIEN (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP via Getty Images) May 4 is internationally recognized as Star Wars Day, as the date is a play on the iconic phrase "May the force be with you," which is a hallmark saying of the hugely successful franchise. Each year, fans honor the vision of George Lucas vision by rewatching the many films — and, apparently, by returning to the music that accompanied them. This renewed interest is reflected on the Billboard charts this week, as several collections from the brand become hits again. As Star Wars surges in popularity again, multiple albums have returned to various charts — and there's even a new arrival. John Williams: The Star Wars Trilogy debuts on two Billboard rankings this frame. The full-length, credited to Varujan Kojian and the Utah Symphony Orchestra, opens at No. 4 on both the Classical Albums and Classical Crossover Albums charts. It's the second-highest rising new title this frame, landing just behind Gems by Josh Groban, which leads both lists. Several other projects from the Star Wars universe return to both tallies this frame. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back reappears at No. 11 on the Classical Crossover Albums list and No. 12 on the Classical Albums chart. Star Wars: A New Hope is only a few spaces further down, landing once again at No. 13 on the Classical Crossover Albums ranking and No. 16 on the all-encompassing Classical Albums roster. In total, Star Wars music fills four spaces on both Classical Albums charts this frame. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith dips slightly from where it stood last time. That film — and its accompanying score — has returned to the spotlight following a theatrical re-release in celebration of its twentieth anniversary. While fans continue to support the score, there's more competition now as Star Wars becomes a trending topic all over again. Except for the brand new arrival, all three albums are credited to both John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra. Star Wars Episode III also credits a group called London Voices. Though Williams doesn't earn a new win on the charts with the debut, his name remains front and center in the album title, as it's his music that fuels this lasting success.
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How ‘Star Wars' Tapped Into Audience Enthusiasm In $25 Million Weekend
Writer-director George Lucas' Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith blasted its way into theaters for a 20th anniversary re-release that defied odds to become the weekend's second-highest grosser, with more than $25 million domestic in the final weekend before summer movie season gets underway next weekend. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith's impressive North American cume came in behind only the acclaimed $45-million-grossing Sinners from writer-director Ryan Coogler, and ahead of new arrival The Accountant 2 and The Minecraft Movie's fourth weekend at $24.5 and $22.7 million, respectively. Most surprising in all of this math is that despite Sinners beating estimates by nearly doubling them and Revenge of the Sith overperforming with a high second-place tally, and this being a typically slow weekend at multiplexes, The Accountant 2 and Minecraft didn't suffer from suppressed attendance. There were just more than enough people out looking for a movie to watch, and the crop of current releases was more than enough to make everyone happy. But there's more than merely renewed enthusiasm among moviegoers and some obvious pre-summer excitement that has many folks trying to get a jump on festivities – even if only to take their minds off rising prices, economic concerns as supply chains strain and freight comes to a stop in many places, and other such daily concerns. That all matters, as does the fact theater prices are comparatively cheap at a time other entertainment options see rising prices that make a family outing or friends-night-out less affordable. But similar or equally valid pressures – not the least of which was Covid and global shutdowns – were keeping folks away from cinemas for the past several years, with even beloved tentpole franchises suffering or outright falling flat on their faces. Audiences are responding to themes and familiar faces, to escapism but also with relevance, and when that's wrapped in the cinematic comfort food of franchises and performers the public welcomes (especially, again, at times like these), you've got a recipe for what we're seeing this past weekend and – I'm betting – what we'll see through summer months. If, that is, the films deliver the goods. But nobody doubts Star Wars delivers the goods. Well, some folks do, but they've always been a small minority of viewership and haven't stymied the films' ability to deliver blockbuster results. Few franchises prove themselves worthy of the price of admission to premium viewing experiences like a Star Wars film. Revenge of the Sith is, in my opinion, not only the best film of the prequel series but also the second-best Star Wars film of the entire franchise, behind only The Empire Strikes Back. I think Revenge of the Sith might also be the 'most Star Wars' of all Star Wars movies, in terms of symbolizing and including so much of the mythology, characters (even Luke and Leia show up!) expectations, and themes, as well as spectacle and transition between not only trilogy eras but technological eras and centuries. And being the most of something that's already popular helps, and has done much to boost Revenge of the Sith's reputation in the series amid so much negative hyperbole about the prequels. Watch the exceptional Lights & Magic series' two seasons on Disney+, if you need to gain better perspective and insight into how much work and love and brilliance went into all of these films, including the prequels. It also helps that Andor season 2 just dropped on Disney+, widely hailed as one of the best things on TV and best things related to Star Wars. Promotion of that show, it's proximity storywise to the prequels (coming between them and the original trilogy), and the 20th anniversary framing all served to boost Revenge of the Sith's profile and gross. Star Wars is one of, if not the, greatest cinematic franchises of all time. Only a few – including notably Marvel's MCU – can compare to the scope, longevity, popularity, quality, and thematic resonance of these films.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sarah Jessica Parker's son James, 22, and daughter Loretta, 15, dress up as Star Wars characters
The Force was strong two of Sarah Jessica Parker 's children as they shared a rare photo from a public outing over the weekend. The And Just Like That star, 60, and her husband Matthew Broderick, 63 are parents to son James Wilkie, 22, and twins Loretta and Tabitha, who will turn 16 in June. In honor of the 20th Anniversary of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, James Wilkie and sister Loretta went all out to mark the occasion. A photo of the two shared by Loretta on social media shows the teen wearing a hooded brown robe like the one the hero-turned-villain Anakin Skywalker wore in the 2005 action adventure. She paired it with a vintage T-shirt from the film. James Wilkie looked fierce in a black kimono-style Sith robe. The siblings were not the only ones anxious to re-live the adventure. Revenge of the Sith won the number two spot over the weekend, earning more than $25 million domestically and another $17 million internationally for a global take of $42.2 million. Fans who didn't get to see the beloved Star Wars film over the weekend have until Thursday to catch a showing. As a special treat to fans, it will be available in multiple formats, including 4DX. This new format features high-tech motion chairs that sync with more than 21 effects, all designed to complement the narrative of the film, according to Lucasfilm. James Wilkie has followed in his parents footsteps and is pursuing a career as an actor. He has had some small parts already, including an episode of Elsbeth, in which he co-starred with his dad. 'I think he is gonna try, yeah. He's very smart,' Broderick told People at a recent event. James Wilkie recently co-starred with his dad in an episode of Elsbeth. ''He has a really good education too, so he has a lot of different things he can do, but I think right now he likes acting,' Broderick told People 'He has a really good education too, so he has a lot of different things he can do, but I think right now he likes acting.' The budding young actor can be see next in Days Ending in Y with Sam Nivola, the son of actors Alessandro Nivola and Emily Mortimer. As for his daughters, one of them definitely is not looking for a job under the bright lights. Broderick did not identify who it was but said one of the girls is 'repelled' by the idea of performing. 'If you say, "What about you?" She says "Nope, no absolutely not,"' the doting dad explained.
Perth Now
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Star Wars Palpatine actor Ian McDiarmid ‘thought he'd gone much too far' in Revenge of the Sith duel
Ian McDiarmid 'thought [he'd] gone too much too far' during his Palpatine vs Mace Windu duel in 'Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith'. The 80-year-old actor - who has portrayed Emperor Palpatine in the sci-fi saga since 1983's 'Return of the Jedi' - battled Jedi master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) during director George Lucas' 2005 prequel blockbuster, though has now admitted he thought he had overdone it during the fight. He told Variety: 'I thought I'd gone much too far, and George said, 'No, no, you can go much further.' It's the moment when the monster becomes available and he is ecstatic with delight because he can lose the hypocritical face. 'When we were doing 'The Phantom Menace', George said, 'You should think of your face as a carapace' - as if we'd made me up, and underneath was the real person. That was great, because to believe that my own face and voice were utterly manufactured was a huge help.' McDiarmid added he found playing Palpatine in 'Revenge of the Sith' to be 'more satisfying', as he got to work more closely with Anakin Skywalker actor Hayden Christensen and featured more in the story. He said: 'I had more to do in 'Revenge of the Sith' - I had more screen time, more time with Hayden - so that was more satisfying. 'I also had no idea that Palpatine would have power with a weapon, so to find that he was very good - to give my stunt double full credit - with a saber was interesting.' Even so, McDiarmid recalled Palpatine's arc from a scheming senator to the authoritarian galactic dictator 'wasn't mapped out at all' when he was brought back for the 'Star Wars' prequel trilogy with 1999's 'The Phantom Menace'. He explained: 'When I first got the part, I had no idea what the world was that I'd be in charge of as the Emperor. 'So it started off as a big mystery. I had no idea that Palpatine would figure [into the story so heavily]. But by then, it so happened that I was young enough to play the younger senator. 'When I first met George about it, he said, 'Do you know anyone who wants to play an Emperor?' I said, 'I think you know the answer to that question.' 'And then I got the script and realised that he was more than one character, which made it even more fascinating to play - an ordinary, everyday, fairly hypocritical politician with a monster hiding inside his body.' After 'Revenge of the Sith', McDiarmid returned again in 2019's 'The Rise of Skywalker' to do battle with Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Ben Solo (Adam Driver), though the Sith Lord's unexpected comeback was met with backlash from some fans. While McDiarmid 'thought there might be a bit of a fuss about bringing [Palpatine] back' after his apparent death in 'Return of the Jedi', the actor insisted 'it seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had a plan B'. Speaking about the controversy. The actor said: 'Well, there's always something, isn't there? I don't read that stuff and I'm not online. So it'll only reach me if someone mentions it. 'I thought there might be a bit of a fuss about bringing him back. But as I said, mine and Palpatine's logic was entirely reasonable. This man who was horribly maimed thought maybe one day it might happen to him, and we've got to have a plan B. 'I loved the whole idea that he should come back and be even more powerful than he was before. Though this time, he had to be utterly destroyed. So I think he's dead.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen surprise 'Star Wars' fans at 'Revenge of the Sith' screening: 'Mace lives!'
The Force was strong at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday. Star Wars castmates Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson surprised fans when they showed up at a special 20th-anniversary screening of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Christensen first took the stage at the historic Hollywood cinema while wielding a red lightsaber, telling the crowd that he had "so many amazing memories of making" the final Star Wars prequel, in which Anakin Skywalker embraces the dark side as he becomes Darth Vader and aids Palpatine in his hostile takeover of the Galactic Republic. "I see a lot of lightsabers out here," Christensen said to the audience. "I see a lot of red lightsabers, which truth be told is my personal favorite lightsaber color." He was then interrupted by the voice of an unseen visitor. "Hold on, Skywalker," Jackson said from off stage. "This party ain't even over." Christensen then introduced his former costar. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage Mace Windu himself, Samuel L. Jackson." Jackson seemed thrilled by the audience's thunderous applause. "This is so, so, so awesome," he said. "Twenty years later, I can hardly believe that we're still as popular — as happenin' — as we are. I haven't seen Hayden in a while, but so, so, so happy to come back, see him, and see all of you at the same time. Thank you all so much. We had a great time making the film down in Australia. We were hangin' out, doin' stuff." The Pulp Fiction star then joked about the final scene for his Star Wars character, Jedi Master Mace Windu, who meets his untimely end after unsuccessfully trying to arrest Palpatine and getting hurled out a window in Coruscant. "I hope you enjoy the effort that went into this and watching me do my 'I move almost all backwards' fight with Palpatine," Jackson said. "Before my unexpected exit. And for the record — Mace lives!"That last quip harkens back to Jackson's insistence that Windu could still return for a new Star Wars project, with him declaring "he's not dead!!!" in an Empire story in 2024. Jackson has expressed interest in reprising the role for a Disney+ series, and his voice can be heard in an audio cameo as Windu's unseen ghost in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. But despite the frequency of resurrections within the Star Wars universe, Windu remains canonically dead — for now. At the end of their appearance at the El Capitan, Jackson and Christensen told the fans in unison, "May the Force be with you." Christensen recently revealed that he will return to play Anakin once more in Ahsoka season 2. He previously reprised the role on the show's first season, as well as on the 2022 series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
