With a new holiday special, “Star Wars” is tapping into its kitschy yuletide past with irreverence and “A Christmas Carol” style.
Premiering Nov. 17 on the Disney+ streaming service, “The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special” brings beloved heroes like Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron back together to celebrate Life Day, the “Star Wars”-y holiday introduced way back in the infamous “Star Wars Holiday Special” that first aired on CBS Nov. 17, 1978.
The new project features animated building-block versions of characters throughout “Star Wars” history and pays homage to the special’sdisco-era predecessor, which has become a so-bad-it’s-good cult favorite as fans have found it via video-sharing sites and bootleg videos.
“We wanted to give a wink and a nod to the original,” executive producer Josh Rimes says, adding the new 45-minute holiday special was inspired by “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Christmas Vacation” and old Burl Ives musical cheer.
The Lego holiday special, which Rimes teases will feature a few “Star Wars” movie actors reprising their roles, catches up with the cast after the events of last year’s saga-closing “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Rey and droid pal BB-8 head off on a quest to gain a deeper knowledge of the Force, but their visit to a mysterious Jedi Temple sends them careening through time and space. Rey interacts with Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and other characters in some of the franchise’s most beloved moments, as they try to return in time for a Life Day feast with her friends on Chewbacca’s Wookiee home world of Kashyyyk.
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“It’s a celebration of the saga,” Rimes says. “A lot of characters will be interacting with different characters and perhaps even different versions of themselves at different ages.”
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