Los Angeles — November 17, 2023 (Life Day) — September Club and Giant Pictures bring home A Disturbance In The Force on December 5 from a galaxy far far away to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the most infamous story in the history of Star Wars. The acclaimed documentary made its debut at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and chronicles the making of the bizarre (and buried) Star Wars Holiday Special as well as a specific bygone era of 1970s event television. Discover the “hilarious secrets behind Star Wars’ iconically awful Holiday Special” (The Daily Beast) when A Disturbance In The Force arrives on digital platforms, DVD, and Blu-ray on December 5 via Giant Pictures.
From the filmmakers behind Napoleon Dynamite and Raiders! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made, comes A Disturbance In The Force, the documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry,...
From the filmmakers behind Napoleon Dynamite and Raiders! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made, comes A Disturbance In The Force, the documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry,...
- 11/20/2023
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Why did George Lucas allow the Star Wars Holiday Special to take place? A Disturbance in the Force does a deep dive into the 1978 special watched by millions and then locked away in a vault, never to be screened again.
“After almost 45 years of being the butt of jokes, we had to unlock all the secrets behind the Holiday Special. Its influence on pop culture has only increased over the last two decades and, also, add the fact that it is a part of the Star Wars filmography – and a hidden one at that – only adds to its mystique. Now is finally the time after all these years to get answers about how the Holiday Special happened,” explained co-directors and producers Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak.
A Disturbance in the Force features interviews with Seth Green, Weird Al Yankovic, Paul Scheer, Taran Killam, Patton Oswalt, and Donny Osmond. Plus, Gilbert Gottfried,...
“After almost 45 years of being the butt of jokes, we had to unlock all the secrets behind the Holiday Special. Its influence on pop culture has only increased over the last two decades and, also, add the fact that it is a part of the Star Wars filmography – and a hidden one at that – only adds to its mystique. Now is finally the time after all these years to get answers about how the Holiday Special happened,” explained co-directors and producers Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak.
A Disturbance in the Force features interviews with Seth Green, Weird Al Yankovic, Paul Scheer, Taran Killam, Patton Oswalt, and Donny Osmond. Plus, Gilbert Gottfried,...
- 11/17/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Star Wars fans will truly get to feel A Disturbance in the Force when a documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special — which debuted 45 years ago today, on CBS — is released.
Having premiered back in March at the SXSW Film Festival, A Disturbance in the Force will be released on digital and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Dec. 5, our sister site Variety reports. The 86-minute docu will also play in select theaters across the U.S. ahead of its digital release.
More from TVLineThe Late Ray Stevenson Was Terrific on Disney+'s Ahsoka Series - But Now His Role Should Be...
Having premiered back in March at the SXSW Film Festival, A Disturbance in the Force will be released on digital and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Dec. 5, our sister site Variety reports. The 86-minute docu will also play in select theaters across the U.S. ahead of its digital release.
More from TVLineThe Late Ray Stevenson Was Terrific on Disney+'s Ahsoka Series - But Now His Role Should Be...
- 11/17/2023
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Get ready for the unbelievable, untold story of... how and why did the "Holiday Special" get made. Yes, that bizarre, disastrous, infamous Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. A Disturbance in the Force is a nerdy documentary premiering at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival this month in the Documentary Spotlight section. Produced by mega Star Wars nerd Kyle Newman, the film is an investigation into the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special telling the behind-the-scenes story of how it got made. Featuring appearances by Seth Green, Weird Al Yankovic, Paul Scheer, Taran Killam, Gilbert Gottfried, Bonnie Burton, Bruce Vilanch, and Steve Binder. "Travel back to a galaxy far, far away — the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. Dive into the mystery of how it happened and why 45 years later it has become, much to the chagrin of George Lucas, the ultimate cult classic among Star Wars fans." This sounds like it'll be a blast...
- 3/2/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
It’s the much talked about Christmas special that you’re not allowed to talk about. It’s interesting to think that right after the cinema-changing release of 1977’s Star Wars, the immediate follow-up would be a dud. And I’m not talking about The Empire Strikes Back. In 1978, to capitalize on the success of the smash hit from George Lucas, director of such films as Thx 1138 and American Graffiti, there was a TV Christmas special that brought in all the stars of the movie. That special became the first big misstep of the franchise that was so bad that George Lucas won’t even speak about it.
The Hollywood Reporter has the details on a new documentary that goes behind the scenes of the much-maligned TV program, including a teaser trailer. A Disturbance in the Force is a new film from Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak that is...
The Hollywood Reporter has the details on a new documentary that goes behind the scenes of the much-maligned TV program, including a teaser trailer. A Disturbance in the Force is a new film from Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak that is...
- 3/2/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
It is downright impossible for many of us to imagine a world without "Star Wars," but people who were born before 1977 did, indeed, live in that world. However, there is simply the world before George Lucas changed it with his brilliant sci-fi masterpiece, and the world after. The world after was unbelievably hungry for more, and that resulted in one of the most infamous trainwrecks in history known as "The Star Wars Holiday Special." Now, a new documentary is going to uncover the secrets behind this infamous disaster.
"A Disturbance in the Force" is directed by Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak, with the filmmakers doing a deep dive to discover just how this special -- which aired once and only once -- managed to come about in the first place. The doc is set to premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, next week but, for now, we've got a trailer...
"A Disturbance in the Force" is directed by Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak, with the filmmakers doing a deep dive to discover just how this special -- which aired once and only once -- managed to come about in the first place. The doc is set to premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, next week but, for now, we've got a trailer...
- 3/2/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
There was a disturbance in the Force on Nov. 17, 1978. Eighteen months after Star Wars became a phenomenon, CBS aired the Star Wars Holiday Special, one of the more infamous chapters in the franchise’s lore. Now, a new documentary seeks to explain what really happened.
The Hollywood Reporter has the trailer for Disturbance in the Force, ahead of the doc’s debut at South by Southwest on March 11.
The Star Wars Holiday Special, seen by 13 million people, starred the original cast and centered on Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) flying to the Wookiee home planet to celebrate a holiday called Life Day.
The special was so reviled that it never aired again and was denounced by Star Wars creator George Lucas, who was only minimally involved. As he said a year later at an Australian convention, “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track...
The Hollywood Reporter has the trailer for Disturbance in the Force, ahead of the doc’s debut at South by Southwest on March 11.
The Star Wars Holiday Special, seen by 13 million people, starred the original cast and centered on Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) flying to the Wookiee home planet to celebrate a holiday called Life Day.
The special was so reviled that it never aired again and was denounced by Star Wars creator George Lucas, who was only minimally involved. As he said a year later at an Australian convention, “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track...
- 3/2/2023
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dolly Parton just got her Covid vaccine and in a fun full circle moment, it’s also a dose of her own medicine — literally, as the country music icon helped fund the research for the Moderna vaccine with a $1 million donation last year.
Dolly’s shot was administrated at Vanderbilt Health by her friend Dr. Abumrad, and during the process she taped an encouraging PSA she clearly hopes will appeal to people who might be wary of getting their own shots. “I’m old enough to get it and I’m smart enough to get it,” Parton said.
Of course, the highlight of the clip was when Dolly pitched vaccination to her fans by singing her classic song “Jolene” with the word for “vaccine” substituted in for a fun, and societally good pun. It’s as adorable as it is awesome and you can see for yourself below.
Dolly gets...
Dolly’s shot was administrated at Vanderbilt Health by her friend Dr. Abumrad, and during the process she taped an encouraging PSA she clearly hopes will appeal to people who might be wary of getting their own shots. “I’m old enough to get it and I’m smart enough to get it,” Parton said.
Of course, the highlight of the clip was when Dolly pitched vaccination to her fans by singing her classic song “Jolene” with the word for “vaccine” substituted in for a fun, and societally good pun. It’s as adorable as it is awesome and you can see for yourself below.
Dolly gets...
- 3/3/2021
- by Andrea Towers
- The Wrap
It’s been almost 30 years since Bill S. Preston Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan rocked out in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, but Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves are back in this summer’s Bill & Ted Face the Music as the iconic duo, spurred to action once more when a visitor from the future tells them one of their songs can save the world and bring harmony to the universe.
Was it worth the wait? Here’s what critics are saying about the long-awaited comedy threequel, as it’s finally released in the U.S. today…
Katie Rife – Av Club
“While the high stakes couldn’t be higher, the film simply takes too long to find its focus. It’s not the most excellent of outcomes, but not a total bummer, either.”
John DeFore – THR
“Imagining the return of the time-traveling Messrs. Preston and Logan, Dean Parisot’s Bill & Ted...
Was it worth the wait? Here’s what critics are saying about the long-awaited comedy threequel, as it’s finally released in the U.S. today…
Katie Rife – Av Club
“While the high stakes couldn’t be higher, the film simply takes too long to find its focus. It’s not the most excellent of outcomes, but not a total bummer, either.”
John DeFore – THR
“Imagining the return of the time-traveling Messrs. Preston and Logan, Dean Parisot’s Bill & Ted...
- 8/28/2020
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Post Modern Frog hopped — zing! — on the Vandal Eyes bandwagon and added some much needed levity to these absurd 'O' face character posters. In case you're not familiar with the Vandal Eye movement, it was started by geek extraordinaires Bonnie Burton and Anne Wheaton. The concept is simple enough. Take any inanimate object and turn it into an anthropomorphic personification with googly eyes. Or! Take any serious piece of media, such as these posters, and give them a silly makeover. The trend is so popular online, it's even spawned a series of shirts! Photo Credit: Post Modern Frog Photo Credit: Post Modern Frog Photo Credit: Post Modern Frog Photo Credit: Post Modern Frog...
- 3/7/2014
- by Donna Dickens
- Hitfix
The purpose of this roundup is to put the highlights of all things Star Wars from the last week in one location. If you read this each week, you should be able to converse fluently with any Star Wars fan on everything from the latest Star Wars: Episode VII developments to the latest toys. And maybe you'll even share with them something that they might have missed. Let's get to it! Best #StarWars Photo Evar! Little Han Solo & Chewie!
- 2/28/2014
- Comingsoon.net
The Geekie Awards are created for Geeks, by Geeks, with Seth Green Presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Stan “The Man” Lee on August 18th. This is the first live broadcast geek-genre awards show supporting indie artists and creators.
The Geekie Awards was created by über geek girl, Kristen Nedopak, in order to celebrate the most talented independent creators, artists, and filmmakers in the geek genre. This awards show stands alone as one that will showcase the multitude of genres within the geek world to an international audience of industry leaders and fans who may not otherwise discover it, via a live broadcast event.
Presenters confirmed to date include: Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), Grant Imahara (Mythbusters), Brea Grant (Dexter, Heroes), Kevin Shinick (Mad, Robot Chicken), Andrew Bowen (Rock Jocks, Mad), Winner Twins (award winning sci-fi authors), Ashley Esqueda (host of Techfoolery), Bonnie Burton (Star Wars Craft, Geek Diy), and...
The Geekie Awards was created by über geek girl, Kristen Nedopak, in order to celebrate the most talented independent creators, artists, and filmmakers in the geek genre. This awards show stands alone as one that will showcase the multitude of genres within the geek world to an international audience of industry leaders and fans who may not otherwise discover it, via a live broadcast event.
Presenters confirmed to date include: Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), Grant Imahara (Mythbusters), Brea Grant (Dexter, Heroes), Kevin Shinick (Mad, Robot Chicken), Andrew Bowen (Rock Jocks, Mad), Winner Twins (award winning sci-fi authors), Ashley Esqueda (host of Techfoolery), Bonnie Burton (Star Wars Craft, Geek Diy), and...
- 8/2/2013
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Welcome back to the series of posts here at SciFi Mafia that we’re calling Web Series Wednesday where we devote a space to the wonderment of the web series. Every Wednesday we’ll cover two awesome web series shows and give you all the info to get into them.
If you’ve got a favorite web series you’d like us to cover, head on over to the Contact Us page and shoot us your request. To catch up on past Web Series Wednesday posts click here.
This week we’re covering Nobility and Geek Diy with Bonnie Burton.
Ever wanted to hear about the cool new web series before it became a really cool web series? Well this is your chance! Nobility is the fledgeling series you’re looking for. The creators are calling it Firefly meets The Office. Here’s a little blurb from their press release.
If you’ve got a favorite web series you’d like us to cover, head on over to the Contact Us page and shoot us your request. To catch up on past Web Series Wednesday posts click here.
This week we’re covering Nobility and Geek Diy with Bonnie Burton.
Ever wanted to hear about the cool new web series before it became a really cool web series? Well this is your chance! Nobility is the fledgeling series you’re looking for. The creators are calling it Firefly meets The Office. Here’s a little blurb from their press release.
- 7/24/2013
- by Jess Orso
- ScifiMafia
This will be our second week doing a new series of posts here at SciFi Mafia that we’re calling Web Series Wednesday where we devote a space to the wonderment of the web series. Every Wednesday we’ll cover two awesome web series shows and give you all the info to get into them.
If you’ve got a favorite web series you’d like us to cover, head on over to the Contact Us page and shoot us your request. To catch up on past Web Series Wednesday posts click here.
This week we’re covering The Guild and The Doctor Puppet.
The Guild is one of the best known web series, so if you’re familiar with its awesomeness you can go on and skip to the next series. The Guild is the brainchild of Felicia Day and has just completed its Sixth Season. It’s won...
If you’ve got a favorite web series you’d like us to cover, head on over to the Contact Us page and shoot us your request. To catch up on past Web Series Wednesday posts click here.
This week we’re covering The Guild and The Doctor Puppet.
The Guild is one of the best known web series, so if you’re familiar with its awesomeness you can go on and skip to the next series. The Guild is the brainchild of Felicia Day and has just completed its Sixth Season. It’s won...
- 7/17/2013
- by Jess Orso
- ScifiMafia
With Sdcc 2013 kicking off soon, Preview Night details and the full schedule for Day 1 have arrived. We have some tough decisions to make as The Walking Dead comics take on "The X-Files" reunion and then the "Dexter," "Hannibal," and "Teen Wolf" panels go head-to-head.
Per usual, the abovementioned choices are just the tip of the iceberg for genre fans with panels running all day and evening on July 18th for paranormal novels, sexy steampunkers, horror gaming, horror novels, horror comics, horror journalists (including our own Heather Wixson!), composers, the ever present and popular zombies, The Goon feature film, and - in the last panel of the night - horror sitcom "Holliston." Check out our picks below, and be sure to visit the official San Diego Comic-Con 2013 website for the full lineup.
Preview Night: Wednesday, July 17, 2013
6:00pm - Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings
Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Night tradition,...
Per usual, the abovementioned choices are just the tip of the iceberg for genre fans with panels running all day and evening on July 18th for paranormal novels, sexy steampunkers, horror gaming, horror novels, horror comics, horror journalists (including our own Heather Wixson!), composers, the ever present and popular zombies, The Goon feature film, and - in the last panel of the night - horror sitcom "Holliston." Check out our picks below, and be sure to visit the official San Diego Comic-Con 2013 website for the full lineup.
Preview Night: Wednesday, July 17, 2013
6:00pm - Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings
Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Night tradition,...
- 7/5/2013
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Chances are if you frequent this site, then you might like sci-fi, and if you like sci-fi then you are probably familiar with the upcoming holiday this Saturday, May the 4th. For those who don’t know, May the 4th is a Star Wars fan holiday. Check out this video by Bonnie Burton where she interviews several fans on the street while giving us the rundown.
Featurette: Star Wars Day – May the 4th: How Will You Celebrate?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Bonnie Burton is StarWars.com Senior Editor, staff writer for Star Wars Insider Magazine, and lead writer for The Official Star Wars Blog and is also widely known and loved for her Star Wars craft books if you’re looking for something to do to celebrate the occasion.
Maybe you want to decorate for a Star Wars themed party? Here are two friendly Jawas with some decorating tips for your home.
Featurette: Star Wars Day – May the 4th: How Will You Celebrate?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Bonnie Burton is StarWars.com Senior Editor, staff writer for Star Wars Insider Magazine, and lead writer for The Official Star Wars Blog and is also widely known and loved for her Star Wars craft books if you’re looking for something to do to celebrate the occasion.
Maybe you want to decorate for a Star Wars themed party? Here are two friendly Jawas with some decorating tips for your home.
- 5/2/2013
- by Jess Orso
- ScifiMafia
Continuing our coverage of the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con comes the programming for Thursday. For the full run down, go to the con’s website. Thursday is the first full day of the Comic-Con and is filled with awesome panels about zombies, monsters, The Walking Dead, Dexter, The Hobbit and others. Including our very own panel at 7:30 Pm in 24Abc in Hall H. We hope to see you there.
For the events that cater more to the sensibilities of FM, check the highlights below:
10:00-11:00 The Witty Women of Steampunk— The Victorian era was one marked by constraints on behavior, morals and bosoms. When you add a bit of sci-fi to the mix, however, those corset laces begin to loosen. The steampunk genre has allowed a new wave of female creators and personalities to explore how liberating, sexy, and adventurous the age of steam can be. Robin Blackburn...
For the events that cater more to the sensibilities of FM, check the highlights below:
10:00-11:00 The Witty Women of Steampunk— The Victorian era was one marked by constraints on behavior, morals and bosoms. When you add a bit of sci-fi to the mix, however, those corset laces begin to loosen. The steampunk genre has allowed a new wave of female creators and personalities to explore how liberating, sexy, and adventurous the age of steam can be. Robin Blackburn...
- 7/2/2012
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Comic-Con 2012 is so close we can taste it! The epically badass geek convention is set to invade San Diego from July 11th to July 15th, and we can't wait to get over there and get crazy!
Comic-Con International has released the full schedules for Wednesday July 11th and Thursday July 12th, and there's a ton of stuff going on! It's going to kick off with a great first couple of days that will give you plenty of stuff to do! Wednesday looks like it's going to be an awesome day of pilot screens and Thursday has got stuff like Twilight... (fart) and Disney will be holding their big panel, along with a ton of other great stuff to check out!
I've gone through the schedule and put a *** next to all the event's we hope to be able to cover. If there's anything on the list you would like information on please let us know,...
Comic-Con International has released the full schedules for Wednesday July 11th and Thursday July 12th, and there's a ton of stuff going on! It's going to kick off with a great first couple of days that will give you plenty of stuff to do! Wednesday looks like it's going to be an awesome day of pilot screens and Thursday has got stuff like Twilight... (fart) and Disney will be holding their big panel, along with a ton of other great stuff to check out!
I've gone through the schedule and put a *** next to all the event's we hope to be able to cover. If there's anything on the list you would like information on please let us know,...
- 6/28/2012
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
The schedules for the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con Preview Night and Day 1 (July 11 and July 12) are now live, and we have the horror highlights for you here (along with a few panels of general interest). As always, though, be sure to check the official Sdcc site for updates!
We also recommend downloading the Sdcc app if you have a smart phone.
Preview Night - Wednesday, July 11
6:00-9:45 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings— Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Night tradition, with exclusive world premiere screenings of the pilot episodes of five of the most highly anticipated TV series pilots of the 2012–13 television season: 666 Park Avenue, Arrow, The Following, Revolution and Cult. More info can be found here. Ballroom 20
Day 1 - Thursday, July 12
10:00-11:00 The Witty Women of Steampunk— The Victorian era was one marked by constraints on behavior, morals and bosoms. When you...
We also recommend downloading the Sdcc app if you have a smart phone.
Preview Night - Wednesday, July 11
6:00-9:45 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings— Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Night tradition, with exclusive world premiere screenings of the pilot episodes of five of the most highly anticipated TV series pilots of the 2012–13 television season: 666 Park Avenue, Arrow, The Following, Revolution and Cult. More info can be found here. Ballroom 20
Day 1 - Thursday, July 12
10:00-11:00 The Witty Women of Steampunk— The Victorian era was one marked by constraints on behavior, morals and bosoms. When you...
- 6/28/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
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