We all should’ve assumed this would happen someday, but if there’s anything more indicative of how the public perception of what is worthy of the Star Wars name has changed, it’s this: Disney+ is bringing back the Star Wars Holiday Special, the much-derided 1978 TV event that featured Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher (plus Bea Arthur and Jefferson Starship!) joining Chewbacca for a trip to his home planet’s “Life Day” celebration. The special has been officially buried and ignored by Lucasfilm for decades, though that hasn’t stopped various Star Wars stories from making winking references to it every once in a while, and now it looks like the Star Wars people are finally ready to formally acknowledge the series’ most infamous misstep—well… no, The Holiday Special is worse than that one movie, right?
Anyway, rather than an HD rerelease of the original Holiday Special, which would be cool, Disney is actually working with Lego to create some kind of modern remake that involves a Lego version of the new Star Wars cast—Rey, Rose, Finn, and Poe—heading to Kashyyyk for Chewie’s Life Day celebrations. Disney hasn’t said if the original cast is returning to voice their Lego counterparts, but Variety does say “a few” Star Wars actors will appear (which we’re going to assume means Anthony Daniels at least). A press release adds that this will take place immediately after The Rise Of Skywalker, with Rey going to a Jedi Temple to learn more about the Force and getting swept up in some kind of time travel adventure that teaches her about “the true meaning of holiday spirit,” which somehow makes the idea Bea Arthur showing up as a Mos Eisley bartender actually seem more appealing than it did before. Is it possible they could awkwardly bring her back with old footage like they did with Carrie Fisher? Everyone’s already a Lego, it can’t be too hard.
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special will be released on Disney+ on November 17 of this year, the 42nd anniversary of when the original aired on CBS.
18 Comments
Will they remake the commercials too?
I somehow don’t think Disney will allow a bunch of people to start singing about how great unions are
Walt wouldn’t have liked them but to be fair, they have Newsies on Disney+.
For real. That’s about all that’s left after this. Between the state of Star Wars and their other gutless franchise ventures, Disney couldn’t possibly make it any more clear at this point that they have zero creative ambition left. All they know how to do is vacuum money and crack the whip. Just cancelled Disney+, and I kinda feel dirty for having subscribed in the first place.
Instead of watching a Wookie jerk-off to porn I assume this time we’ll watch Palpatine fuck?
“Stay tuned for a special holiday message from Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor live from the beaches of Scarif!”
Can’t wait to see how they LEGO-ize the “Fighting the frizzies, at 11″ newscaster.
Sure the internet laughs about it now but the war with the Frizzies was no joke in 1979!
I’ve never watched any of these Lego Star Wars specials, but doing jokes about that newscaster would be totally in line with the humor of the Lego games.
My kids love these Lego movies and shows. Not just the four theatrical movies but all the direct to stream and TV shows. And there are a million of them spanning every franchise. Its kinda insane how Lego can play in everyone elses world.
Go home, Disney+; you’re drunk.
Here’s an episode of Newcomer – a Star Wars conten podcast w/Nicole Byer and Lauren Lapkus-wherein they discuss their approval and enjoyment of the original special. And the special is available on YouTube. https://art19.com/shows/newcomers-star-wars/episodes/8721cf1a-a2ac-47bd-9e75-9025b57950f2
The only appropriate way to be able to enjoy the special is while totally fucked up on something and with friends. And I still couldn’t make it through. I humbly advise anyone who can enjoy it sober to seek treatment immediately.I’ll bite though, I have to hear their justification for this.
I was pretty high when I watched it for a HDTGM episode. And then revisited it when listening to the Newcomers podcast. It’s entrancing in a very uncomfortable way. I love the Bea Arthur number and the Diahann Carroll disco song.
Fuck off.
Youtube had it with the Rifftrax crew. That’s how I watched it. It was on a old video cassette so they left in the 70s ads as well. Don’t think I could have sit thru it without them riffing on it. One thing I took from it was Chewbacca’s family especially his creepy son Itchy no wonder he was always traveling.
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Bea Arthur may be gone, but Betty White is still with us. There’s your bartender.