Star Wars fans end three year wait as Andor final season lands on Disney+

Excitement has been building among
Star Wars
fans over recent weeks as the highly anticipated second season of Andor comes after a three-year wait.
The new series drops on
Disney+
today (April 22), and the new
TV
instalment has 12 episodes to conclude the prequel to 'Rogue One' and picks up where the first season left off.
The previous season ended with Andor, played by Diego Luna, aiding his close friend Bix, played by Adria Arjona, in her daring escape from the Empire-controlled planet Ferrix. A pivotal meeting between Andor and Luthen, portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård, showcased Andor's transformation from a lone rebel to a true hero.
However,
Star Wars
fans eager to binge-watch the entire season might be left disappointed, as the new episodes will be released in batches of three every Wednesday, before finally concluding with the finale on May 14.
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Andor series two comes in twelve episodes , before it concludes on May 14
(Image: (Image: Lucasfilm/Disney))
The anticipation for the latest series has been high, with fans expressing their excitement on social media. One fan wrote: "I fear we're all going to be a mess later and by later i mean in like 12 hours." Another shared: "WHEN I WAKE UP IN 9 HOURS ANDOR SEASON 2 WILL BE OUT JWJEBDJWBSWJSB.." A third posted, "it's andor day! ! !" T
The release coincides with Lucasfilm's announcement of a new animated series, Maul: Shadow Lord, further fueling the enthusiasm among Star Wars enthusiasts.
The new announcement was made during the 20th Anniversary of Star Wars Animation panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025, where it was revealed that the new animated TV series would bring back the feared Sith villain in a storyline partially inspired by George Lucas' original vision for a sequel trilogy.
However, the new animation hasn't been warmly received by fans, with many calling on Disney to address what they perceive as years of mismanaging the Star Wars timeline.
The upcoming show, spearheaded by longtime Star Wars creative Dave Filoni, will focus on Darth Maul as he heads a crime syndicate during the Empire era.
This is the final season of the Rogue One prequel series, which fans have waited since 2022 for
(Image: (Image: Disney/Lucasfilm))
Filoni shared that Maul will mentor a dark side apprentice, a pink and red-skinned Twi'lek who bears a striking resemblance to Darth Talon, a character from the now non-canon Star Wars Legends.
Sam Witwer is set to return to voice the intimidating Sith, with the series slated to premiere in 2026 on Disney+.
An exclusive teaser clip shown at the event offered fans a sneak peek of Maul training his new apprentice, sparking immediate online debate. However, some fans expressed cautious optimism, citing the animation division's impressive track record with shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels.
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Yahoo

13-06-2025

• Yahoo

Meet the 'Project Runway' season 21 designers and judges

Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Jesus Estrada; Yuchen Han; Joan Madison; Ethan Mundt a.k.a. Utica Queen on Project Runway season 21. Project Runway is back, back, back again — this time on a new network, a different lineup of main judges and mentors, and a sickening cast of designers sewing for their lives. The stakes have never been higher, and longtime fans of the show are excited to see how this turns out. Will Project Runway season 21 make it work? Here's everything you need to know about the new season. Project Runway season 21 will air on Freeform, the Disney-owned cable network formerly known as ABC Family. For longtime fans of the series, let's make this clear: Project Runway will not air on Bravo. Beyond Freeform, season 21 will also be available on Disney-owned streaming services such as Hulu and Disney+. Heidi Klum is back as the main host of Project Runway season 21. She'll be joined be a panel of judges that includes Nina Garcia and Law Roach. Otherwise, Project Runway winner and fashion superstar Christian Siriano will serve as a mentor for the designer contestants — a role assigned to Tim Gunn in past seasons. This new season of Project Runway on Freeform has a truly star-studded lineup of guest judges. Check out the full list below. Christian CowanHarris ReedJenna LyonsJoan SmallsMichael KorsMickey GuytonNikki GlaserSara FosterSofia VergaraTyra BanksZac Posen The Project Runway season 21 cast features 12 designers. Between contestants from past seasons returning for another chance, siblings competing against each other, and a fierce RuPaul's Drag Race alum, the girls, gays, and theys are gagging for this cast. Keep scrolling to learn more about the season 21 designers. Tune in to watch the new season when it premieres on Thursday, July 31 with a special two-episode premiere at 9 p.m. ET on — also available for streaming on and . Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Alex Foxworth Growing up in Greensboro, NC, sharp and opinionated designer, Alex Foxworth, is the juxtaposition of Southerner meets New Yorker. Inspired by her Japanese grandmother from Nagasaki, she incorporates traditional kimono techniques into timeless, mindful designs. Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Angelo Rosa A proud single dad and passionate streetwear designer from Providence, RI, Angelo Rosa fuses his Dominican heritage with his New York grit. His designs blend luxury streetwear with bold, edgy details that reflect his creativity and resilience. Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Antonio Estrada After designing alongside his twin, Jesus Estrada, Antonio Estrada is ready to own his voice as a designer and put the spotlight on his own intuitive couture. Born in Mexico and raised in California, Antonio is a self-taught designer known for his bold, versatile designs that blend glamour with a touch of playful rebellion. Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Belania Daley Known for her fearless and feisty personality, Belania Daley, elevated streetwear designer, is ready to put her signature pattern-mixing and color-blocking designs into the spotlight. Growing up on Long Island, Belania learned how to sew at the age of 13 and has since honed impressive technical skills. Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Caycee Black Project Runway season 19 alum and Houston, TX native Caycee Black, returns and is bringing her out-of-this-world designs back to the runway. Caycee is known for her hand-painted prints, gender fluid designs, and love for breaking traditions in the chicest way possible. Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Ethan Mundt, a.k.a. Utica Queen Otherwise known as RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 star Utica Queen, Ethan Mundt is now bringing his fierce fusion of high fashion, avant-garde artistry, and theatrical storytelling to Project Runway. He aims to bring drama, sophistication, and a touch of surrealism to everything he creates. Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Jesus Estrada Project Runway season 7 alum, Jesus Estrada, is back, alongside his twin brother Antonio, to reclaim his narrative and show the world the designer he's become. Born in Mexico and raised in California, Jesus Estrada is a charismatic designer known for vibrant queer designs that blend old Hollywood Glamour with a modern edge. Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Joan Madison A vibrant and high-energy designer from Queens, NY, Joan Madison brings optimism, creativity and bling to everything she touches. Known for her big, dramatic designs and theatrical style, she's ready to make her dreams come true. Courtesy of Disney/Heidi Gutman Joseph McRae Charlotte, NC native Joseph McRae is a self-taught designer and electrical engineer known for his southern charm and sass. 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Forbes

13-06-2025

• Forbes

Marvel's ‘Thunderbolts*' Will Lose Millions At Box Office, Report Says

"Thunderbolts" partial movie poster. Disney Enterprises, Inc./Marvel Studios Marvel Thunderbolts* is reportedly going to end its theatrical run in the red, making the film the latest big financial disappointment for its studio, Disney. Thunderbolts* — aka The New Avengers — is the second of three Marvel Cinematic Universe releases for Disney this year. Captain America: Brave New World opened in theaters on Feb. 14, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps will open on the big screen on July 25. Starring Florence Pugh, David Harbor, Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Thunderbolts* — which follows a group of misfit antiheroes akin to DC's The Suicide Squad — snapped up $76 million in opening weekend May 2-4 to kick off the 2025 summer movie season. However, ticket sales waned from there. To date, Box Office Mojo reported, Thunderbolts* has earned $187.3 million domestically and nearly $190.6 million internationally for a worldwide tally of nearly $378 million. While a $378 million global gross would be welcome by most film releases, the amount falls in the lower tier of films released in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe of movies, which kicked off in 2008 with Iron Man. Worse yet, the domestic gross of Thunderbolts* as of Thursday is in the bottom 25% of all 36 films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at No. 29, per Box Office Mojo. Just ahead of Thunderbolts* and its $187.3 million domestic take on MCU list is Captain America: Brave New World, which earned $200.5 million during its North American theatrical run to currently hold the No. 28 spot. In a report published by Variety on Thursday, the industry trade publication broke down the financials for Thunderbolts*, noting that the film had a production budget of $180 million and a marketing budget of close to $100 million. Numbers-wise, a global gross of $378 million against a film that cost $280 million to make and market outwardly gives the appearance Thunderbolts* will be a profitable title. However, since half of any given film's ticket sales go to theater owners — plus, studios have other expenses including the payout of residuals — the financial picture for Thunderbolts* isn't so rosy. According to Variety, Thunderbolts* will have to make $425 million in theaters globally just to break even, which means the studio stands to lose millions of dollars once all of the numbers connected to the film's theatrical release are tallied. Sure, Disney still has time to make up a little more ground since Thunderbolts* is still in 1,955 theaters domestically as of Thursday, but not nearly enough to make the film whole considering the film finished at No. 10 at the June 6-8 box office with a domestic gross of $2.4 million. Even if Thunderbolts* manages to eke out $385 million to $390 million in global ticket sales before the final curtain closes, it stands to lose — using Variety's break-even estimate fo $425 million — anywhere from $35 million to $40 million. Lucky for the studio, Thunderbolts* will have access to more revenue streams once the film heads to the home entertainment through digital streaming purchases and rentals, streaming service and TV earnings, and physical media (4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs) sales. Only time will tell, however, if those earnings will help Thunderbolts* zap the negative figures from Disney's ledgers. If there's any saving grace, at least Thunderbolts* isn't near to being the box office disasater that was Disney's Snow White, which ended its run in theaters last week after opening on the big screen on March 21. Thunderbolts* is still playing in theaters.

Geek Tyrant

12-06-2025

• Geek Tyrant

THUNDERBOLTS* Fails to Break Even at the Box Office; Is Marvel Studios Recalibrating Its Playbook? — GeekTyrant

Well, the numbers are in for Marvel's Thunderbolts* , and they don't look great. Despite strong reviews and being framed by Disney CEO Bob Iger as the poster child of Marvel's "quality over quantity" comeback, the film is now officially set to not break even at the global box office. That's got to be a big sting for Marvel and Disney, and it also raises a bigger question… is Marvel Studios finally recalibrating its playbook? After Captain America: Brave New World stumbled earlier this year following a rocky post-production process, (and expensive reshoots), all eyes turned to Thunderbolts* to stabilize Marvel's current trajectory. Iger even called it the 'first and best' example of Marvel's refreshed focus, so the stakes were high. Six weeks in, though, the movie has only pulled in $371 million worldwide, and to break even, it needed to hit $425 million. To be fair, Marvel did scale things down here. According to Variety, the studio was cautious going in: the cast was largely composed of characters from Black Widow and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , both of which were released in that weird pandemic-era blur of streaming and theatrical uncertainty. The production budget was trimmed to $180 million, and the marketing spend capped at $100 million, which was lower than Marvel's usual blockbuster budgets. Still, it wasn't enough. Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock points out the core issue: 'These lower-tier comic book movies aren't cinematic slam dunks anymore. Thunderbolts* wrapping up after just a month in theaters is also a concern. These films aren't legging out like previous iterations.' That might be the most telling sign of where superhero fatigue is landing hardest, on the characters who aren't household names. Marvel dominated the Infinity Saga era with 19 of its 22 films crossing the $500 million global mark. Now? Only 6 of the 13 Multiverse Saga entries have done the same. That's a major drop-off. So what's next? The article hints at a strategic pivot, and it looks like Marvel's done playing it safe with B-tier characters. The studio's upcoming slate is stacked with heavy hitters: The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 2026) Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 (2026) Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) A mystery film in July 2027 Plus, development continues on X-Men and Black Panther sequels Meanwhile, solo projects like Blade are still stuck in development purgatory. As Variety puts it: 'Marvel seems to be embracing a go-big-or-go-home mentality.' The global box office isn't what it used to be. Superhero saturation is real. And audiences are showing up for the icons, not the ensemble leftovers. I understand that, but at the same time, not ever Marvel movie needs to have a $100 million budget! They could be making great smaller scale film for far less that will pull in a profit. Regardless, Marvel has built a machine that doesn't rely on just box office numbers. Between Disney+, merchandise, and home release markets, the studio can weather a few misfires. But, unfortunatley, this may scare off Marvel from experimenting with mid-tier team-ups and deep-cut solo runs might be winding down. I just think that can and should still make those movie, but with lower budgets. Also, they don't have to connect with the larger universe. They can be one and done stories. The Multiverse Saga still has some big swings ahead, but I imagine things are going to change with the kinds of films they make and the characters they play with,, and I'm not excited about it. What are your thoughts?