Force Material

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.

We discuss the greatest Star Wars monologue ever, the fate of Kino Loy, Dedra Meero's girl power gone wrong, the love life of Syril Karn and much more in our breakdown of Andor's latest arc. We'll see you again in two weeks for the 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.

Join us for a chat about the second arc of Andor, as we break down the two things this arc gave us that we haven't seen in Star Wars before. From 50:15, we also throw in some bonus Rings of Power talk, because why not? 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.

Somehow, Force Material has returned… again. We're back to play the Andor Review Drinking Game, and discuss whether or not the first three episodes of the long-awaited show left us feeling so fat and satisfied. We also talk about our favourite Easter eggs in the show with “no Easter eggs”, and share our thoughts on all the Star Wars news that's gone down since we last got together. 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 come to terms with the end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series and ponder whether or not we'll ever see these characters again. 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 catch up on the last two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and talk Reva's revelations; the odds of surviving a gut shot in the Star Wars universe; the 40-year-old Padawan and more. We'll be back later this week to break down the epic 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.

Josh Chapman (Star Wars Spelt Out) joins us to give us his report from on the ground at Star Wars Celebration, and help us break down this week's massive episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Josh shares his experiences from an unforgettable Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, before we jump into our discussion of the third episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi (from 26:42 onwards). 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.

Somehow, Force Material has returned. The boys are back to talk about the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi;  Star Wars Celebration FOMO; and becoming canon. 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 all comes to a head as we break down the final episode of The Book of Boba Fett (for now) and look ahead to what could be coming up in Season 2. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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're celebrating 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.

His art hangs in the home of George Lucas himself – and this week, artist Mark Raats joins us to talk about his decades-long career painting pieces for Lucasfilm and Disney.Mark has created, among his other beautiful completely hand-drawn and painted pieces, a 2008 teaser poster for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a 30th anniversary poster for Return of the Jedi and a 40th for A New Hope, the cinema poster for the 2012 IMAX release of Raiders of the Lost Ark and, recently, some very special pieces for the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Rise of Skywalker. The Johannesburg-born artist joins us from his base in Perth, Australia to discuss his work, including: His Sunday newspaper comic strip influencesHow he found out George Lucas was trying to hunt down and acquire his artworkSome Star Wars movie poster 'hand model' secretsA brush with death on Skywalker RanchAnd much more!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.

What's the deal with The High Republic? Baz is here to Bazsplain everything you need to know about this new era in Star Wars storytelling. This week, Baz dives into Charles Soule's Light of the Jedi, the first book in the High Republic publishing campaign. Does it live up to the hype, and will Rohan ever read it? Find out this episode! 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.

Was that episode real, or did we just dream it? Filmmaker and broadcaster David Whiteley joins us to discuss and decompress from that spectacular Mandalorian season finale! David spent 23 years at the BBC, where he presented the popular BBC One current affairs programme Inside Out. He’s also a Star Wars super fan, and the creative force behind the documentaries The Galaxy Britain Built and Toy Empire. He’s just launched his own production company, Galaxy Productions. This week, David joins us to geek out over Chapter 16 of The Mandalorian – ‘The Rescue’! Follow David at @david_insideout on Twitter, and stay tuned for the announcement of his next Star Wars doc next week! 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.

Old beliefs are challenged and new friendships are formed in Chapter 15 of The Mandalorian, ‘The Believer’. It’s hard to believe that there’s just one episode left this season – join us next week as we break down the 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.

So, that happened. Here’s our instant reaction to all the news from that massive Disney Investor Call, including Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron movie, a live-action Ahsoka series and more! 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.

Oscar-winning Star Wars legend and Mandalorian fan Roger Christian joins us to break down all the insanity of Chapter 14! Roger might be the most overqualified guest ever to appear on a Mandalorian recap show. He won the Oscar for Best Art Direction for his work on the original Star Wars, and played an integral role in the creation of the galaxy far, far away. He built Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber and Han Solo’s blaster; he decorated the Cantina and the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon; and he turned Blue Milk blue. More than anyone outside of George Lucas himself, Roger is the man responsible for the grimy, lived-in, ‘used future’ aesthetic of Star Wars that The Mandalorian has gone to such great lengths to recapture. This week, Roger joins us to talk about his thoughts on the show and its faithfulness to the original trilogy’s aesthetic; his role in the history of Boba Fett’s killer gaffi stick; why Stormtroopers can’t use the weapons he gave them; the mythological underpinnings of The Mandalorian and much more! 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 react to all the reveals and revelations from Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian! Be warned — this episode is chock-full of spoilers for 'The Jedi', the 13th chapter of The Mandalorian, so if you haven’t had a chance to watch it, skip this episode for now. It'll still be here waiting for you when you're ready!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.

What’s in the tubes? Kristina Morss from The Closing Credits Podcast joins us to break down the latest episode of The Mandalorian! We share our theories for what Moff Gideon and Dr Pershing are up to with those tubes; how The Mandalorian can expand on the backstory of the sequel trilogy; and what the deal is with the Dark Troopers. Then we dive into the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, what it tells us about the status quo of the galaxy after The Rise of Skywalker, and how it compares to the infamous 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special. You can follow Kristina on Twitter, and subscribe to The Closing Credits Podcast to learn about all the different jobs involved in making your favourite movies! 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.

Star Wars YouTubers Blue Bantha Milk join us to break down all the big reveals and moments from an instant-classic episode of The Mandalorian! You can follow Blue Bantha Milk on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel. 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.

Author Mike Chen tells us how he got inside the Emperor’s head for his story in the new Star Wars anthology, From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. The author of acclaimed science fiction novels Here and Now and Then and A Beginning at the End, as well as the upcoming We Could Be Heroes, Mike is one of 40 scribes featured in From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the film, it features stories told from the points of view of 40 different characters, from obscure cult favourites to major players in the saga. Mike’s story, Disturbance, is told from the point of view of Emperor Palpatine himself. It explains Palpatine’s thought process leading up to his first on-screen appearance, and answers one of the biggest lingering questions in the saga – how did the Emperor find out about Luke Skywalker? A longtime friend of the show, Mike tells us about writing this iconic Star Wars villain; introducing his daughter to Star Wars; having his prose voiced by Sam Witwer and much more! From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back is available now wherever you buy books, in print, ebook and audio. Follow @MikeChenWriter for more of his work. 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 Mandalorian guest star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and ABC News correspondent Clayton Sandell lock their S-foils into attack position to break down the latest episode of the show! Two-time Force Material guest Paul Sun-Hyung Lee went from talking about Star Wars to being in Star Wars this week, when the Kim’s Convenience star made his debut as heroic X-Wing pilot Carson Teva. Naturally, we had to bring him back to the podcast for a third time to tell us all about it!We’re also joined by ABC News correspondent Clayton Sandell. Known for his work on shows like Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, This Week and Nightline, Clayton is ABC’s resident Star Wars expert, and the producer of The Force of Sound, an acclaimed documentary about the sound design of The Last Jedi. Paul and Clayton join us to break down all the developments of the latest episode, as Paul shares on-set stories from behind the scenes!Check out Clayton’s documentary, The Force of Sound, and Paul’s YouTube channel, Bitterasiandude Inc, and follow Clayton and Paul for more of their work. 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.

Josh Chapman (host of the Star Wars Spelt Out podcast) joins us to break down the Season 2 premiere of The Mandalorian!Our first Australian guest ever joins us to talk accents, character reveals and a kinder, gentler Mando. Come back every week to hear us discuss each new episode of The Mandalorian with a new guest! Follow Josh @StarWarsSpelt and be sure to subscribe to Star Wars Spelt Out on your podcast platform of choice. 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.

As cinemas continue to struggle, we look back at our favourite memories of seeing Star Wars in theatres. This episode, we talk about: What's next for movie theatresCould Star Wars have become a phenomenon in a world without cinemas? Our favourite big screen Star Wars memoriesThe time Harrison Ford made Rohan cryThe Nic Cage movie Baz saw nine times in theatres And much more! 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 Mandalorian is back to save 2020, and we’re here for it. This episode, we dive into the trailer for The Mandalorian Season 2 and make our predictions about what we’ll see on the show this time around! 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.

For our 100th episode, we interview the man who introduced the world to Star Wars way back in November of 1976 – the one and only Alan Dean Foster. Alan Dean Foster ghostwrote Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, the original novelisation of Star Wars, released six months before the film and a month before the first teaser. It was Foster’s prose that introduced the world to Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO, R2-D2, Governor Tarkin, Emperor Palpatine, the Jedi, the Sith and more. He went on to write the first Star Wars novel with an original storyline, 1978’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, before returning to the franchise for a prequel-era novel, 2002’s The Approaching Storm, and the much-hyped novelisation of The Force Awakens in 2015. He’s a storyteller, a world traveller and an athlete – he’s got more than 100 books to his name, as well as a world record in powerlifting, and he even studied karate with Chuck Norris! In this episode’s wide-ranging discussion, we talk to Alan Dean Foster about: Ghostwriting the original Star Wars novelisation for George LucasThe one question he asked George while writing the novelisation, and George’s answer The influence of Scrooge McDuck on George LucasThe evolution of Darth Vader and the EmpireBuilding the Expanded Universe on a budget in Splinter of the Mind’s Eye The intriguing differences between The Force Awakens script that he novelised and the finished film His backstory for the Journal of the WhillsHis alternative take on Episode IX His must-do travel recommendations His rejected Batman script How home video has changed the business of novelisations Breaking a powerlifting world record and studying karate with Chuck Norris Where he thinks Star Wars should go next And much more! 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.

Daniel Wallace, the author of The Art of Star Wars Rebels, joins us to reminisce about the beloved animated series. Daniel Wallace is the author of countless Star Wars books and articles. His latest, The Art of Star Wars Rebels, is a beautiful hardcover volume showcasing concept art and process pieces from the series, along with exclusive commentary from the creative team behind the show. This episode, Daniel joins us to talk about: The influence of Ralph McQuarrie art, Kenner toys and West End Games on Star Wars Rebels Our favourite Rebels moments and episodes How the show developed over the course of its four seasons, and how established Star Wars characters were incorporated into Rebels The wisdom of Dave Filoni How Rebels compares to Clone Wars, and how Rebels has taken on new resonance after the Clone Wars finale His stance on lightsaber helicopters And more! The Art of Star Wars Rebels, published by Dark Horse Books, is available now. This is Day 3 of our virtual Star Wars celebration – don’t miss our episodes from the last two days with Charles de Lauzirika and Charmaine Chan, and tune back in tomorrow for our 100th episode spectacular with original Star Wars novelist Alan Dean Foster! 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.

ILM's Charmaine Chan takes us behind the scenes of The Mandalorian's groundbreaking visual effects! Charmaine Chan is the Virtual Production Technical Director on The Mandalorian. She's also worked on a string of massive feature films, TV shows, theme park rides and VR experiences in her time at Industrial Light & Magic, including The Last Jedi, Star Tours, Black Panther, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and more. She's also the creator of Women in Visual Effects, a video series that gives voice to women working in the industry and seeks to inspire future generations of women to enter the field. In this episode, Charmaine discusses: How the Spice Girls started her on her career path How ILM's revolutionary StageCraft tech brought The Mandalorian to lifeHow her experience as a gamer prepared her for working on The Mandalorian The first time she saw Baby YodaWhat being on the set of The Mandalorian has taught her about filmmaking Working on Luke Skywalker's climactic duel with Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi Her goals for the Women in Visual Effects project The biggest challenges facing the VFX industryAnd more! This interview is part of our virtual Star Wars celebration, with four new episodes in four days. Don't miss our discussion with special features guru Charles de Lauzirika from yesterday, and tune back in tomorrow for our interview with author Daniel Wallace, before our 100th episode spectacular on Sunday with original Star Wars novelist Alan Dean Foster!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.

Filmmaker Charles de Lauzirika joins us to talk conventions, Special Editions, the ultimate Star Wars box set and more! If you’re the type of person who watches special features on DVDs and Blu-Rays – and if you listen to this show, you probably are that type of person – then you know Charles de Lauzirika is the maker of Making Ofs. He’s the award-winning filmmaker responsible for directing classic behind-the-scenes documentaries like Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner, Wreckage and Rage: Making Alien³ and Secrets From Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks. He also produced feature-packed DVD and Blu-Ray box sets for each of those franchises, and has overseen numerous restorations and new cuts that have become beloved by fans, including Blade Runner: The Final Cut and Alien³: The Assembly Cut. But his first love was Star Wars – and today, on what should have been the first day of Star Wars Celebration 2020, he joins us to share his memories of the very first official Star Wars convention – 1987’s Starlog Salutes Star Wars! In a wide-ranging episode, Charles talks about: The magic moment when George Lucas met Gene Roddenberry The ‘dark times’ of Star Wars fandom How Star Wars sparked his love of filmmaking His thoughts on the highs and lows of the Special Editions, and how they influenced his approach to Blade Runner: The Final Cut What he’d want to see in the ultimate Star Wars box set Tune back in over the next three days for the rest of our virtual Star Wars celebration, as we drop new episodes with ILM’s Charmaine Chan on the magic of The Mandalorian; author Daniel Wallace on the art of Star Wars: Rebels; and our 100th episode spectacular with the man who introduced the world to Star Wars in 1976 – Alan Dean Foster! 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.

Oscar-winning editor Paul Hirsch shares his memories of working on Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, the films of Brian De Palma and more! Film editor Paul Hirsch won an Oscar for his work on Star Wars alongside Richard Chew and Marcia Lucas, and was the sole editor of The Empire Strikes Back. Hirsch has also edited 11 Brian De Palma films – including Carrie, Phantom of the Paradise, Blow Out and Mission: Impossible – as well as classics like Footloose, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Falling Down, Ray, Source Code, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and many more over the course of a career that has spanned five decades and counting. This week, Hirsch joins us to discuss his autobiography, A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away, in a wide-ranging conversation that covers: Cutting his teeth on Brian De Palma's early filmsWorking for George Lucas, a director with an editor's sensibility The sequence you won't believe the studio wanted to cut from Star Wars How wipe transitions became a Star Wars tradition What really happened at the infamous early screening of Star Wars for Brian De Palma, Steven Spielberg and co Paul's thoughts on the sequel trilogy and The Mandalorian And much more!A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away is available now through Chicago Review Press. 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 authors of Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie join us to pay tribute to cinema’s most beloved and influential concept artist.David Mandel is an Emmy– and Writers Guild Award–winning writer and producer who first made his mark on pop culture as a writer for Saturday Night Live (1992-95) and Seinfeld, where he wrote the all-time classic ‘Bizarro Jerry’ episode. He served as a writer and producer on Curb Your Enthusiasm, before becoming the executive producer and showrunner of HBO's Veep. He’s also a serious collector of film props, production art and original comic art. Brandon Alinger is the author of Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy, and was a research assistant for the great JW Rinzler on The Making of Return of the Jedi. He’s also the chief operations officer of the Los Angeles branch of Prop Store, a company specialising in film props and costumes.Wade Lageose is a graphic designer and artist whose clients have included the likes of Lucasfilm and Walt Disney. He first met Ralph McQuarrie in 1997, and enjoyed 15 years of friendship with the great man before McQuarrie passed away in 2012.David, Brandon and Wade join us to discuss a range of topics, including: The unmade film that brought George Lucas and Ralph McQuarrie together McQuarrie's commitment to concepts that 'work' The unused McQuarrie designs that have resurfaced in the Disney era, and the ones that haven'tHow McQuarrie felt about the fame that came with Star Wars How McQuarrie's life experiences informed his work Why McQuarrie walked away from Star Wars What McQuarrie thought of the prequelsThe process of creating Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie The most impressive McQuarrie pieces in David, Brandon and Wade's collections David, Brandon and Wade are the authors of Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie, a two-volume set published by Abrams Books in 2016. 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.

Creature designer and sculptor Ivan Manzella discusses the influences and creative processes behind Babu Frik, Snoke and more!Ivan Manzella is responsible for some of the cutest – and some of the most terrifying – creatures in a galaxy far, far away. He joins us to chat about how he got his start working for Jim Henson; how he came to design memorable creatures like Babu Frik, Snoke, Bor Gullet, Bistan, Lady Proxima, Grummgar, Rothgar Deng and more; and how Steven Spielberg saved Babu Frik's life! For more of Ivan's art, visit krop.com/ivanmanzella. 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 hit the beach for the Fourth of July weekend with Matt Taylor, JW Rinzler and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee to celebrate Jaws, the movie that changed everything! Matt Taylor is a 15th generation resident of Martha's Vineyard, where Jaws was filmed, and the author of Memories from Martha's Vineyard, the definitive book about the making of Jaws. JW Rinzler is the best-selling author of The Making of Star Wars, The Making of the Empire Strikes Back, The Making of Return of the Jedi, The Complete Making of Indiana Jones and more, as well as the upcoming All Up, a fictionalised history of the Space Age. He's also the author of The Jaws Blog, a detailed analysis of the film. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is the star of Kim's Convenience and a two-time Canadian Screen Awards winner. He's also a big-time geek who rates Jaws as his favourite film of all time.This week, this talented trio joins the show to dive deep into Jaws, and explain how it set the standard for all the blockbusters that would follow – including Star Wars. Matt even brings in a special guest who actually worked on the film to share his stories, and explain what it was like to be in the water with Jaws! 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.

Jake Lunt Davies – the concept artist behind the sequel trilogy's most iconic droids and creatures – talks creativity, inspiration and design. Jake Lunt Davies has worked on every Disney Star Wars film so far. This episode, we talk to Jake about: The inspirations and creative processes behind all of his most iconic designs, including:BB-8PorgsCaretakersD-ORey's speederRathtarsKylo Ren's repaired helmet Constable ZuvioThe Aki-AkiBoolioThe Eye of Webbish BogHow he came to work for Lucasfilm How concepts evolve from page to screen Stepping into the Snaggletooth suit for The Rise of Skywalker His future in the Star Wars galaxy And much more! 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.

Benton Jew joins us to talk about storyboarding the Duel of the Fates in The Phantom Menace,illustrating The Glove of Darth Vader,and the martial arts films that influenced George Lucas!Dave Filoni recently made headlines when he explained why the lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace is actually one of the most important scenes in all of Star Wars – and this week, the man who storyboarded that epic sequence joins us on the podcast. A professional illustrator, storyboard artist and comic artist who spent 13 years at ILM, Benton brought his extensive knowledge of Hong Kong martial arts movies to his work on The Phantom Menace. This episode, we talk to Benton about the art of storyboarding; the martial arts films that influenced The Phantom Menace; the unlikely Hong Kong stars who were considered for the role of Darth Maul; and his work on The Glove of Darth Vader – the illustrated novel that hooked me on Star Wars in the first place! To see more of Benton's incredible work – which includes storyboards for Wonder Woman, Logan, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the upcoming live-action remake of Mulan and more – visit bentonjew.com and follow him on Instagram!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.

Lucasfilm Creative Art Manager Phil Szostak takes us inside the creative process of The Rise of Skywalker and the sequel trilogy! Phil Szostak is one of the few people who was involved with the development of the sequel trilogy from the beginning to the end, both in his day job as Lucasfilm's Creative Art Manager, and in his role as the author of The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and his latest book, The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The man responsible for documenting the making of the sequel trilogy joins us to talk about: The designs that were too secretive to be included in The Art of The Rise of SkywalkerWhy sticking to a 'roadmap' can be a dangerous thing The influence of George Lucas and Dave Filoni on the sequel trilogyThe influence of Akira Kurosawa and Studio Ghibli on the Lucasfilm visualists The hardest secret he's ever had to keep at Lucasfilm Defining the visual aesthetic of Star Wars His favourite fan theories And much more! The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, published by Abrams Books, is available now wherever books are sold.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 the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, we look back at Leigh Brackett's wild first draft of the film! The Empire Strikes Back was the first Star Wars film for screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, who later returned for The Force Awakens and Solo. But before Kasdan came onboard, George Lucas hired the legendary Leigh Brackett (The Big Sleep, Rio Bravo, The Long Goodbye) to write the first draft of the film, which she completed just one month before she died of cancer in 1978. This week, we discuss Brackett's draft of the film, which differs in some major ways from the film that made it to the screen. Are you ready for an epic adventure with Clone Lando, Class Tourist Han Solo, Luke Skywalker's Ghost Dad, psychedelic battles on the astral plane, and an awkward dinner with Darth Vader? Then strap yourself in for Leigh Brackett's The Empire Strikes Back! 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 Oscar winner behind Star Wars' most iconic weapons and sets joins us to talk about making cinema history and getting his hands dirty with George Lucas. As the Academy Award-winning Set Decorator of Star Wars, Christian helped turn George Lucas' dreams into reality, and defined the grimy 'used future' aesthetic that made the galaxy far, far away feel so authentic. Christian went on to earn another Oscar nomination as the Art Director of Alien, before directing the second unit on Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace and carving out a career as a director in his own right. The industry legend joins us to talk about: Making the first lightsaber Building Han Solo's blaster Giving Chewbacca his bowcaster Bringing the Millennium Falcon's cockpit to lifeTaste-testing Blue Milk Shovelling salt and supergluing props with George Lucas Woodworking with Harrison Ford Directing the cult classic Black Angel and the notoriously ill-fated Battlefield Earth His upcoming Star Wars documentary, Galaxy Built on Hope And much more! For more of Roger Christian's incredible life story, you can read his memoir, Cinema Alchemist. 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.

LucasArts legend Jon Knoles joins us on Star Wars Day to share secrets from the making of Shadows of the Empire, Episode I Racer, Revenge of the Sith and more!Today, Jon Knoles is a Design Director at Turn 10 Studios, where he works on the popular Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon games. But in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, he was the resident Star Wars guru at LucasArts. He worked on a huge array of classic titles, including the Super Star Wars series, Dark Forces, Rebel Assault II, X-Wing and TIE Fighter, and led the development of blockbuster games like Shadows of the Empire, Episode I Racer and Bounty Hunter. Knoles joins us for a very special May the 4th episode of Force Material to discuss all things LucasArts and Lucasfilm, including: The creation of Dash Rendar and the origin of his infamous shoulder pads The epic Darth Vader game that George Lucas rejected The unlikely inspiration for the physics of podracing How the Revenge of the Sith video game inspired an iconic Revenge of the Sith sceneThe original plan for Shadows of the Empire to star Boba Fett Why Han Solo is a “boring video game character” How Shadows of the Empire almost shipped without its signature moment The dread he felt before the release of The Phantom Menace Designing the worlds of Episode I RacerThe influence of Lone Wolf & Cub on Jango & Boba FettThe legacy of yesterday’s LucasArts on today’s LucasfilmAnd much more! 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.

Best-selling author and former Lucasfilm Executive Editor JW Rinzler joins us to talk about working with George Lucas, leaving Lucasfilm, his thoughts on the Disney era and more! JW Rinzler worked closely with George Lucas for 15 years, on classic behind-the-scenes books like The Making of Star Wars, The Making of Empire Strikes Back, The Making of Return of the Jedi, The Making of Revenge of the Sith, The Complete Making of Indiana Jones and more, as well as the best-selling graphic novel The Star Wars and two episodes of The Clone Wars.Outside of George Lucas himself, Rinzler has had more of an influence on Force Material than anyone else, and he’s long been a dream guest of the podcast. We were thrilled to talk to him about a wide range of topics, including: The making of The Making of Star Wars The creative process of George Lucas How the Disney sale changed Lucasfilm, and why he eventually left the company The cancellation of The Making of The Force Awakens Delving into the history of the Space Age for his upcoming debut novel, All Up JW Rinzler’s All Up will be released on July 14, with The Making of Aliens set to follow on September 1. For more on the man and his books, visit jwrinzler.com. 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.

Kim's Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee joins us to talk about visiting the set of The Mandalorian, holding Baby Yoda, making his own Star Wars costumes, the power of Rose Tico and much, much more! Paul is a two-time Canadian Screen Awards winner and a Toronto Theatre Critics Award winner. As well as starring as Mr Kim in the hilarious Kim's Convenience, Paul is a major Star Wars fan, and even builds his own props and costumes. He joins us this episode to talk about his Star Wars fandom, the importance of representation, his on-screen son Simu Liu's transformation into a Marvel superhero, and what's next for Mr Kim! 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's the Episode IX we'll never get to see. This week, we look at Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly's unproduced script for the finale of the Skywalker Saga! Colin Trevorrow was announced as the writer-director of Star Wars: Episode IX in August 2015, with writing partner Derek Connolly in tow. At the time, Lucasfilm was riding high on the success of The Force Awakens, and Trevorrow and Connolly had hit a home run at the box office with Jurassic World. But in September 2017, they were removed from the project, and JJ Abrams returned to direct what would become The Rise of Skywalker. A leaked script purporting to be an early draft of Trevorrow and Connolly's Episode IX, which would have been called Duel of the Fates, has been doing the rounds online for the last few months, but Baz and I hadn't taken the time to read it – until now. Now, with nothing but time on our hands, we sat down to read this alternate version of Episode IX and discuss what we liked, what we didn't like, and what we would have missed the most if The Rise of Skywalker didn't exist. 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.