Star Wars

CHICAGO – On September 9th 2024, the world lost an icon of acting, voice work and pop culture stardom. The great James Earl Jones passed away at age 93, after a career of prominent statute, memorable characters and a voice to a generation through Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King” (both versions). Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took an Exclusive Portrait of Jones in 1993 during a Chicago book tour.

CHICAGO – The force was with the Chicago Fan Expo on August 16th … what the heck else can be said? Mark Hamill is making a rare appearance and fan meet/greet all this weekend at the Expo, which runs until Sunday, August 18th. Photographer Joe Arce was at his live panel event and captured two Exclusive Portraits.

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Oscar Winner Mira Sorvino.

CHICAGO – One of the greatest celebrity shows and entertainment gatherings in the country is coming to Chicagoland this week, and includes a rare appearance by Mark Hamill of “Star Wars.” FAN EXPO Chicago takes place from August 16-18, 2024. For tickets and information, click FAN EXPO Chicago.

CHICAGO – Theatrical satires of the Star Wars Universe are like the number of TV series the universe has wrought … too many to figure out if anything is worthwhile. But “Trade Federation” (subtitled “Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels”), presented by Otherworld Theatre in Wrigleyville Chicago, gets it right on.

AUSTIN, TX – The best film I saw at SXSW 2023 was “A Disturbance in the Force,” a new documentary about one of the most infamous TV programs in the medium’s history … “The Star Wars Holiday Special.” In a precise narrative with celebrity commentary, the history and mystery of this CBS-TV holiday event is unspooled.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 19th, 2023, reviewing “New Gods: Yang Jian” another in a series of animated features by director Ji Zhao. In select theaters beginning January 20th.

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Lana Parrilla of TV’s ‘Once Upon a Time’ and ‘Why Woman Kill.’

CHICAGO – The fan gathering conventions are coming back, and a new one has emerged. The 2022 Fan Expo is the new name for the former Wizard World, which had met in pre-pandemic Chicago for years. The Fan Expo offers the same celebrity meet-and-greets, including Joel McHale (“Star Girl”), Carl Weathers (“Rocky”), Ron Perlman (“Hellboy”), Anthony Daniels (“Star Wars”), Jonathan Frakes (“Star Trek; TNG”) and director Kevin Smith (“Clerks”).

CHICAGO – The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) opens today (December 10th-12th, 2021). For three days, the best in the comic book, entertainment, TV and movie world will gather at the McCormick Place convention center on the near south side of Chicago, with epic cosplay on display.

CHICAGO – Most likely Peter Mayhew stepped into movie history because he could fit into a costume. The seven-foot-three actor was the perfect size for a new character in a little film called “Star Wars,” and so he became the once and future persona of Chewbacca. Mayhew died in Texas on April 30th, 2019. He was 74.

CHICAGO – The internet we know today is a fairly young invention full of some of the greatest conveniences known to man, but also some of the greatest distractions and nuisances currently in our lives. “Ralph Breaks the Internet” embodies just that, and while it doesn’t quite reach the high score of its predecessor, the maturity and wisdom displayed in it more than makes up for it.