🚀 'Starfighter' News!
Plus, Life Day Merch and new figure announcements!
Good Morning, Youtinians. It’s an exciting week at Youtini, with Adam Christopher’s Master of Evil out today, plus exciting updates from Starfighter and (just in time for the festive season!) the world of merch. What are we waiting for? Let’s dive in!
— JG Carse, Emmi Conner, and Doc B
Latest Starfighter Updates
We know 2027 will be an absolute cracker of a year for Star Wars, and we cannot wait! Star Wars: Starfighter is back in the news, and we can’t help but get even more excited!
Shawn Levy Update: In interviews for Stranger Things Season 5, Shawn Levy fielded some questions about Starfighter. According to Levy:
The movie is just over halfway through filming.
Ryan Gosling “is a beast of an actor and a dream collaborator, and it’s going great.”
“Every day, I am bringing my ten-year-old self to set with me ... it is joyous, every day.”
Matt Smith Update: Meanwhile, Matt Smith also shed some light on the production in an interview available on YouTube:
He says they’re currently developing the “look” for his role and that he’ll begin filming his scenes next month.
He explains, “sometimes you don’t know if you’re going to love a costume until you have worn it for a couple of days… and then you wear it and you start to go, oh here I am, that’s it, and then it kinda feels like yours and there’s a sense of ownership.”
Aaron Pierre Update: The Rebel Ridge star sat down with Esquire recently. While he couldn’t share too many details yet, he talked about his experience with Star Wars and what it was like to join the universe:
Of his first Star Wars experience: “I just remember being in awe of everything I was seeing. It was so larger-than-life, cinematic, engaging, thrilling, and very emotional, especially as a five-year-old.”
“The fact that I still remember details of something that happened 26 years ago, that’s very telling of just how massive Star Wars is and how much of a beautiful impact it has on people.“
About his upcoming role: “All I can say is Shawn is so very wonderful. He’s so passionate. He cares so very much, as does everyone who is involved in this. And we’re really doing our best to bring the very best version of this film to the fans and the supporters, and to those who will be introduced to the world for the first time. We understand the magnitude of this, so we’re very excited.”
We’re all fine here now — how are you? These lovely moments from incredible actors just keep coming, and they are so welcome! How amazing it is to read and dream, to ponder and imagine just what will happen in this first film to take place after the Skywalker Saga. Join us on Discord (now free for everyone to join!) and let us know what you think about Pierre and Smith’s roles, and how incredible it is to have Levy directing. Read you there!
Life Day 2025 Merch
The day that Wookiees revere above all others is upon us, my friends, and Disney has dropped a terrific array of merch, available at the parks and the online Disney store, to help you celebrate as hard as Chewie at a Porg BBQ! (Too soon?)
The merchandise: The Life Day 2025 collection includes quite a range of goodies to mark the occasion!
Special edition ear headband: Combining Star Wars lore with Disney theme park tradition, this headband features simulated leather with “life day” text on one ear and an image of Chewie and his family holding their orbs in the other. Perfect for any Mouseketeer headed to Kashyyk for the celebrations!
Life Day 2025 T-Shirt: There’s always room for another Star Wars t-shirt in the rotation, isn’t there? This one features a design very similar to the image on the ears, with Chewie and family celebrating in their robes.
Chewbacca Life Day Talking Action Figure: This amazing Chewbacca figure is just awesome, featuring his celebratory robes and motion-activated lights and sounds!
Life Day Pin: Amazingly, these are already sold out and hopefully awaiting restocking. The enamel pin features a full color representation of Chewie holding an orb emblazoned with “Life Day 2025, surrounded by Aurebesh text saying “Family / Joy / Harmony.”
Adopt a Loth Cat just in time for Life Day: Now this is seriously awesome! It’s the sixth addition to the Star Wars Galactic Archive Series.
Murley burst onto the screen in Ahsoka Season 1 as Sabine Wren’s endearing little companion.
Once only found on Lothal, now you too can enjoy having a Loth-cat in your own home!
The screen-accurate Murley will be ready to come home on Life Day, November 17th, and comes with a Galactic Archive Series box designed to look like a space kennel.
He features touch-activated sound effects, using sound files from Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka for an authentic Loth-cat voice! The legs, tail, and head are all poseable.
If you just can’t wait (understandable!), head over to the Star Wars YouTube channel and Murley will keep you company as long as you need [while you’re editing a newsletter, for example. - Ed.]
We’re all fine here now — how are you? We wish you all the best in securing one of these wonderful collectibles, and don’t forget to jump into our FREE Discord‘s collection channel and share your images! See you there. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for Youtini’s gift-giving guide hitting the website later this week!
Hasbro Reveals Figures Galore at MCM London
MCM London, held just before Halloween, had a wealth of exciting announcements for collectors! Hasbro unveiled several amazing Vintage Collection and Black Series figures available now for pre-order!
The Vintage Collection: 3.75-inch-scale figures with Kenner-inspired packaging recalling the original 1970s and 1980s Star Wars toy line, all available March 1st.
The Stranger (Qimir): Featuring screen-inspired deco and design, this figure has multiple articulation points and comes with short and long red lightsabers, an unlit hilt, and his unmistakable helmet. Available March 1st in Kenner-inspired cardback packaging.
Maul (Shadow Lord): Based on his appearance in the upcoming animated series, this version of Maul includes two different red lightsabers, a detailed sculpt (including non-spidery artificial legs), and multiple articulation points.
Shaak Ti: Inspired by the Togrutan Jedi’s appearance in Attack of the Clones, this figure features a soft material for her regal robes and a detailed sculpt capturing her distinctive montrals. Available March 1st.
Darth Vader (Emperor’s Wrath): This epic figure captures the moment of Anakin Skywalker’s redemption at the end of Return of the Jedi. It includes his red-bladed lightsaber, an unlit hilt, an interchangeable forearm, and removable sculpted Force lightning! A translucent helmet reveals a skull, recreating the memorable effect the Emperor’s lightning had on Vader’s armor.
Padmé Amidala (Geonosis Battle): This figure is inspired by the Senator’s appearance at the end of Attack of the Clones, in her all-white attire. It includes a removable, soft cape and two different blasters.
The Black Series: These six-inch-scale figures come with lightsaber-swinging effects and window-box packaging.
Quinlan Vos: Featuring premium design and deco as well as a sculpt based on his appearance in The Clone Wars, Quinlan Vos includes a green-bladed lightsaber.
Jedi Master Dooku: Capturing his look as a distinguished Jedi Master before his fall to the dark side, this Dooku figure includes his blue lightsaber (and iconic curved hilt) and two different heads, one with a beard and one clean-shaven.
Seventh Sister Inquisitor: Based on the Star Wars Rebels character voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar, this figure includes a two-piece removable helmet, an ID-9 seeker droid, and the Inquisitor-style double-bladed red lightsaber.
Kyle Katarn: An extra-exciting announcement: this figure is based on the classic 1990s video game Dark Forces! It includes both a blaster and a blue-bladed lightsaber.
We’re all fine here now — how are you? WOW! What an amazing line of characters and awesome additions for our collections! Be sure to drop by Discord and let us know when you add one of these upcoming releases to your shelves. Then maybe even have a go at predicting the 2026 batch! Happy collecting!
🛰️ In the Youtiniverse
🎙️ Check out Eric’s interview with Master of Evil author Adam Christopher!
🎙️ The Cosmic Force follows Kylo Ren to Mustafar and his grandfather’s castle.
🎙️ Trev and Jose take a look at all the Star Wars content that’s come out in 2025 on The Star Wars Archives.
✏️ Our review of Master of Evil is online!
✏️ Anthony shares a reflection on whether Darth Vader represents a tragic hero or a ruthless villain.
✏️ Oz reviews Legacy of Vader #10.
✏️ Doc takes a look at all the different characters from the Star Wars: Jedi video game series you can add to your Funko Pop! collection!
🧭 Smuggler’s Finds
Fresh Star Wars treasures, hand-picked by the Youtini crew.
This entry in Hallmark’s 2025 Star Wars Keepsake ornament collection is perfect for fans and collectors alike! The 1978 action figure inspires this Luke Skywalker Vintage Figure ornament and replicates the original cardback packaging.
This stormtrooper tankard features a design that resembles the iconic armor and a handle based on their blaster. The hand-painted tankard features a stormtrooper poised to miss his next target on each side.
Let the galaxy know who’s driving by with a Jedi Master license plate frame! Made from durable ABS plastic, it’s designed to weather the rigors of defending the Republic across the galaxy!
📆 Releasing This Week
November 11th
Master of Evil by Adam Christopher. Haunted by the promises of the dark side and craving the ultimate power he believes his master promise, Vader crosses the galaxy and faces the shadows within.
Path of the Lightsaber, Vol. 1, by Kenny Ruiz
November 12th
Hyperspace Stories - Tides of Terror, by George Mann
Han Solo: Hunt for the Falcon #3, by Rodney Barnes
