Just when we thought we found all the actors who’ve played Darth Vader, another emerges. Tom Bewley was the first actor to portray the Dark Lord of the Sith on screen after Return of the Jedi. He appeared in the Frank Oz-directed 1985 film, The Indian in the Cupboard.

In his very first podcast interview, Tom opens up with never-before-heard stories from behind the mask. He shares what it was like stepping into Vader’s boots for The Indian in the Cupboard, his duel with the Energizer Bunny in a now-legendary commercial, memories from the Star Wars 10th Anniversary convention preshow with George Lucas, and plenty more surprises.

48 years ago...
ABC aired The Making of Star Wars as Told by C-3PO and R2-D2, an hour-long special hosted by R2-D2 and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO. Coming in the same month as Donny & Marie, Richard Pryor, and Saturday morning Star Wars previews, the special stood out by placing R2 and 3PO in a futuristic Star Wars setting to share behind-the-scenes stories. It was a clever move—fans didn’t have to wait for The Empire Strikes Back to get “new” Star Wars, all thanks to Charlie Lippincott’s promotional vision.

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Never Land on Alderaan!

Have you, like us, been eagerly awaiting the Star Wars Marvel comics issue that introduces the telepathic, energy-eating Hoojibs?Join us and our special guests in a breakdown of Marvel’s 1981 comic Star Wars #55: “Plif!” — one of the most beloved issues from the original Marvel Star Wars run. You can also listen and read along in 1983’s read-along record Planet of the Hoojibs Read Along Storybook.

Recorded live from Rebel Scum Con, this special presentation features special guests Anna Graves (voice of Duchess Satine Kryze in The Clone Wars) and Jeff Caffrey (VCN Network), who bring the story to life with dramatic flair.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the comic — the vibrant art by Walt Simonson and Tom Palmer will be projected for all to enjoy.

Happy 40th Anniversary to Ewoks and Droids!
Both animated series premiered on September 7, 1985, as The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour on ABC-TV. We've even had executive producer Miki Herman on the show to dive into their creation — including that unforgettable Ewoks theme by Taj Mahal!

🖖 And a special shoutout to Star Trek, celebrating 59 years since the debut of the original series (September 8, 1966)!

• Release Date: October 20, 1981
• Writer: David Michelinie
• Art: Walt Simonson, Tom Palmer
• Cover: Walt Simonson
• Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Princess Leia leads a Rebel survey team to the forest planet Arbra, hoping to establish a new base after evacuating Hoth. There, they meet the Hoojibs—small, telepathic creatures who feed on electricity and accidentally drain the Rebels’ power. Their leader, Plif, reveals they’ve been displaced by a monstrous creature called the Slivilith. To reclaim the cave and power crystals, the Rebels and Hoojibs must join forces.

We take our Facebook Group Comments on the cover into account as we analyze this issue. Become a part of our Facebook Group to contribute!

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Join us every week on YouTube for a behind-the-scenes look at our show. We also bring you to Disneyland, Red Carpet Events and Theme Park Openings.

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In Part 4 of our Rebel Scum Con experience, we go behind the scenes with MORE talented artists who gave life to a few of our favorite Star Wars characters.

We sat down with Toby Philpott, one of the puppeteers behind the massive Jabba the Hutt. From controlling Jabba's grotesque expressions to (maybe?) licking Princess Leia, his stories from the set are not only fascinating but filled with tips and tricks for any aspiring puppeteers out there.

Next up, Femi Taylor, who played the ill-fated (but always fabulous) Oola, shares her experience on the set of RETURN OF THE JEDI. She dives into what it was like returning to the role years later and how the character still connects with fans today..

And if that wasn’t cool enough, Howie Weed gives us a detailed look at his time inside the suit of the terrifying Wampa, and shares his experience with George Lucas directing! Howie even drops a hint or two about the Wampa’s survival odds after that little run-in with Luke Skywalker.

Each guest was incredibly generous with their time and insights, offering a mix of behind-the-scenes stories, performance techniques, and even a dash of "what if" when it comes to the fate of their characters. We couldn’t get enough.

Each interview is also available separately on our YouTube channel—subscribe here.

Rebel Scum Con, held August 8-10, 2025 is a fan-run event which means the organizers knew exactly what we wanted! Throughout the next month we are sharing ALL that content, so look up episode 525 to and 526 for more interviews.

11 years ago...
Star Wars: A New Dawn, written by John Jackson Miller with a foreword by Dave Filoni, was released by Del Rey. Serving as a prequel to Star Wars Rebels, it holds the distinction of being the very first novel in the official new Star Wars canon.

We celebrated the book’s 10th anniversary back in episode 481—well worth a listen if you missed it!

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CONTACT US

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Never Land on Alderaan!