Star Wars exclusive: New Disney+ Lego holiday special pays homage to its kitschy 1978 predecessor – USA TODAY

With a brand-new holiday special, “Star Wars” is tapping into its gaudy Yuletide past with irreverence and “A Christmas Carol” design.
Premiering Nov. 17 on the Disney+ streaming service, “The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special” brings cherished heroes like Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron back together to commemorate Life Day, the “Star Wars”- y holiday presented way back in the infamous “Star Wars Holiday Special” that first aired on CBS November 17, 1978.
The brand-new job functions animated building-block variations of characters throughout “Star Wars” history and pays tribute to the unique sdisco-era predecessor, which has actually become a so-bad-its- great cult preferred as fans have actually found it through video-sharing websites and bootleg videos.
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” We wished to provide a nod and a wink to the initial,” executive producer Josh Rimes states, including the brand-new 45-minute vacation special was motivated by “Its a Wonderful Life,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Christmas Vacation” and old Burl Ives musical cheer.
The Lego vacation unique, which Rimes teases will include a couple of “Star Wars” film actors reprising their roles, captures up with the cast after the occasions of in 2015s saga-closing “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Rey and droid friend BB-8 avoid on a quest to get a much deeper knowledge of the Force, however their visit to a mystical Jedi Temple sends them careening through time and area. Rey communicates with Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and other characters in a few of the franchises most cherished moments, as they try to return in time for a Life Day feast with her buddies on Chewbaccas Wookiee house world of Kashyyyk.
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” Its an event of the legend,” Rimes says. “A great deal of characters will be communicating with various characters and maybe even various variations of themselves at various ages.”
Lego variations of Emperor Palpatine, Vader and Kylo Ren get to hang out together: ” Its really hilarious with whats going to occur with those guys,” Rimes says. The heart and soul of the unique is Reys relationship with Luke– not the old Jedi master she knew however instead the novice Rebel variation from George Lucas initial 1977 “Star Wars” movie. “It ends up being a much different take on a teacher and apprentice with the more skilled Rey and a more youthful Luke,” Rimes includes.
Its quite bad. “Thats one of those things that happened, and I just have to live with it,” Lucas said in a 2002 Maxim interview.
The redemption tour started with a Life Day reference in 2015 in Disney+s popular live-action “The Mandalorian” series and continues with the upcoming special. “Life Day was a simple sell with Lego and Star Wars because it provides you the license to be a bit more playful and comedic,” Rimes says.
He includes that Lego versions of some of the Wookiee characters from the 70s unique will appear in the upcoming upgrade. Any opportunity of Lego Bea Arthur? “Well, you can see and wait. I do not wish to ruin anything.”
Rimes hopes that “The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special” becomes “as precious as something like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ” for fans. “Itll bring a little happiness to this world in this really, very crazy year were having.”
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Rey and android friend BB-8 head off on a quest to gain a much deeper understanding of the Force, but their see to a strange Jedi Temple sends them careening through time and area. The heart and soul of the unique is Reys relationship with Luke– not the old Jedi master she understood however rather the rookie Rebel variation from George Lucas initial 1977 “Star Wars” movie. “It ends up being a much various take on a teacher and apprentice with the more experienced Rey and a younger Luke,” Rimes adds.
He adds that Lego variations of some of the Wookiee characters from the 70s unique will appear in the upcoming upgrade. Any opportunity of Lego Bea Arthur?