Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast

<div>The start of 2026 means we’re only a few months away from the first <em>Star Wars</em> movie since <em>The Rise of Skywalker</em>. And speaking of the final film in the sequel trilogy, we thought it would be a good time to look back at the original plan for Episode IX: Colin Trevorrow’s “Duel of the Fates” script. In this episode, Haley’s friend Jack Merritt joins us to discuss the highs and lows of Trevorrow’s story, from a worthy role for Finn to a controversial take on the dark side. We also cover Trevorrow’s portrayal of Luke Skywalker, his plan for Kylo Ren, and his use of Coruscant and Mortis. If you like imagining what could have been, this is the episode for you.</div>

<div>Between <em>Andor</em> and the upcoming Mandalorian and Grogu movie, <em>Star Wars</em> is currently leaning into stories about the “regular” people of the galaxy. But what about the Jedi and the Sith, the people at the core of the Skywalker saga that started it all? In this episode, <em>Wired</em>’s Lily Hay Newman joins Eric and Haley to discuss the Jedi and the Sith stories we want to see, the challenges of superhero protagonists, and the value of the Force as a storytelling concept in an increasingly rational world. We explore how <em>Star Wars</em> should balance fantasy and relatability in its portrayal of Force-users, with special praise for some of the franchise’s weirdest Force-adjacent characters and creatures.</div>

<div>The teaser trailer for <em>The Mandalorian and Grogu</em> makes it pretty clear that the first <em>Star Wars</em> movie in seven years will be a popcorn flick for Baby Yoda fans of all ages. But how much will hardcore fans get out of the film? Will it meaningfully expand the universe or shed light on the state of the galaxy? And if not, is that even a bad thing? Politico’s Bill Kuchman joins Eric and Haley to analyze the teaser trailer and discuss what we want and expect from the movie. We talk about the challenges of transmedia storytelling, Grogu’s inconsistent maturity, Disney’s marketing strategy, and tiresome nostalgia cameos.<br><br><br></div>

<div>With few <em>Star Wars</em> film or television projects on the horizon, it’s time to think about how we would fill the void if we were in charge. In this episode: three pitches for revitalizing the Star Wars franchise on the big and small screens. Eric offers a redemption story for an <em>Andor</em> villain, Haley proposes a subversive culinary journey, and Grace imagines a better sequel trilogy. Our ideas lead to conversations both silly and profound, with a lore connection that no one could have seen coming.</div>

<div>Star Wars is in a strange place right now. Many movies have been abandoned, several TV shows have ended or been canceled, and it’s unclear how the projects on the horizon will mesh together. By all accounts, Lucasfilm doesn’t have an overarching vision for the franchise. But does it need one? In this episode, Eric’s old friend Justin Bolger joins him and Grace to discuss the direction of the <em>Star Wars</em> franchise and whether it needs a storytelling czar. We also discuss the way the franchise feels now compared to its pre-Disney heyday, the tradeoffs of socially relevant storytelling, and whether stories with more synergy would exacerbate audiences’ “<em>Star Wars</em> fatigue.” Plus, Grace and Justin bond over their favorite underappreciated TV shows.</div>