In this edition of Cantina Banter, the crew gathers to break down the massive news shaking up the galaxy: Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from her role at Lucasfilm. We dive deep into what this transition means for the franchise, speculating on how the studio might pivot under new creative leadership and the watchful eye of Dave Filoni. While we have already released a quick Lightspeed episode and a Star Wars Launchpad update covering the breaking headlines, join us here for the full, unfiltered conversation as we debate the legacy of the current era and what lies ahead! Check out the Star Wars Archives link in our description for a database of all 400+ episodes!

Orbitkey Disney Collection Add a sprinkle of Disney magic to your everyday carry. The Disney x Orbitkey Collection features fun, functional accessories inspired by Disney characters, designed to make staying organised feel like magic. https://www.orbitkey.com/pages/disney?srsltid=AfmBOorl0UJrj6Skr7fWecL5ZzpxJ6tt757WShCMY3XcCGsLaXPwzBUw

———————————————————————— Star Wars Escape Pod

🖥️ Website: https://starwarspodcast.ca 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/SWEscapePodcast 🦋 B.Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/swescapepodcast.bsky.social 📲 Swell: https://www.swellcast.com/swescapepodcast 📧 Email us or voice messages to: swescapepodcast@gmail.com 🗃️ Podcast Archives: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRiF_icUbgNiufSItYBMLCdXc2dPtlQPHrNeDcEHmHS6z0yFduND-BLC_3czuY-YY6kpNtRM1uMppts/pubhtml

Have you checked out our flashcast called Star Wars Launch Pad? https://www.youtube.com/@SWLaunchPad

https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0naAAJZMW0nig3OkFToJ?si=8014aef1647f4da5 Found on any platform in the galaxy!

As Kathleen Kennedy steps down from Lucasfilm leadership to return to producing, Dave Filoni will lead the studio as President and Chief Creative Officer alongside Lynwen Brennan as Co-President. Lucasfilm announced today that after 14 years of leading the studio, President Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from her role. Kennedy will return to full-time producing, including the studio’s upcoming feature films The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter. https://www.starwars.com/news/lucasfilm-leadership

Orbitkey Disney Collection Add a sprinkle of Disney magic to your everyday carry. The Disney x Orbitkey Collection features fun, functional accessories inspired by Disney characters, designed to make staying organised feel like magic. https://www.orbitkey.com/pages/disney?srsltid=AfmBOorl0UJrj6Skr7fWecL5ZzpxJ6tt757WShCMY3XcCGsLaXPwzBUw

———————————————————————— Star Wars Escape Pod

🖥️ Website: https://starwarspodcast.ca 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/SWEscapePodcast 🦋 B.Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/swescapepodcast.bsky.social 📲 Swell: https://www.swellcast.com/swescapepodcast 📧 Email us or voice messages to: swescapepodcast@gmail.com 🗃️ Podcast Archives: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRiF_icUbgNiufSItYBMLCdXc2dPtlQPHrNeDcEHmHS6z0yFduND-BLC_3czuY-YY6kpNtRM1uMppts/pubhtml

Have you checked out our flashcast called Star Wars Launch Pad? https://www.youtube.com/@SWLaunchPad

https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0naAAJZMW0nig3OkFToJ?si=8014aef1647f4da5 Found on any platform in the galaxy!

Kick off the new year with a casual night in the galaxy's favorite hangout! In this episode of our Cantina Banter sub-series, host Josh is joined by Blake and Darian for a chill, wide-ranging discussion on all things Star Wars as we head into 2026. In this episode, we dive into: - A New Era of Cinema: Looking ahead to 2026, the year that finally brings Star Wars back to the big screen after a long theatrical hiatus. - Retro Gaming Deep Dive: We take a nostalgic trip back to the "janky" but beloved era of 2000s gaming, discussing the Bounty Hunter relaunch, the rushed brilliance of KOTOR 2, and the latest rumors surrounding the Knights of the Old Republic remake. - The State of the Fandom: From the bittersweet end of physical Star Wars Insider magazines to Warwick Davis's honorary knighthood, we cover the latest headlines affecting the community. - Film & Theory: A deep dive into filmmaking styles, featuring a spirited debate on Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi and speculation on the future of the franchise-including the Dawn of the Jedi project and the mysterious Shadow Lord Maul storyline. Recent Recaps: We touch on our Andor Season 2 After Show, the Al experiment Star Wars Launchpad, and merchandise highlights from Orbit Key. دی Whether you're here for the technical talk on first-person vs. third-person shooters or just want to hear some "daily bread" Star Wars conversation, grab a drink and join the banter. Check out the Star Wars Archives link in our description for a database of all 400+ episodes!

Orbitkey Disney Collection Add a sprinkle of Disney magic to your everyday carry. The Disney x Orbitkey Collection features fun, functional accessories inspired by Disney characters, designed to make staying organised feel like magic. https://www.orbitkey.com/pages/disney?srsltid=AfmBOorl0UJrj6Skr7fWecL5ZzpxJ6tt757WShCMY3XcCGsLaXPwzBUw

———————————————————————— Star Wars Escape Pod

🖥️ Website: https://starwarspodcast.ca 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/SWEscapePodcast 🦋 B.Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/swescapepodcast.bsky.social 📲 Swell: https://www.swellcast.com/swescapepodcast 📧 Email us or voice messages to: swescapepodcast@gmail.com 🗃️ Podcast Archives: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRiF_icUbgNiufSItYBMLCdXc2dPtlQPHrNeDcEHmHS6z0yFduND-BLC_3czuY-YY6kpNtRM1uMppts/pubhtml

Have you checked out our flashcast called Star Wars Launch Pad? https://www.youtube.com/@SWLaunchPad

https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0naAAJZMW0nig3OkFToJ?si=8014aef1647f4da5 Found on any platform in the galaxy!