Huge breaking news this afternoon as Deadline is reporting that Rian Johnson, director of Looper, will take over the main Star Wars movies from J.J. Abrams with Episodes VIII.

During The Walt Disney Company quarterly stockholders call, CEO Bob Iger let everyone know that “at least three” Star Wars spin-offs are currently in development. Speculation about them after the jump.

Let the hell-storm begin. It has been in the back of our minds since Episode VII was announced, but now it is actually happening: the Star Wars Expanded Universe is being rebooted.

Most of you are aware that Disney purchased Lucas Films coming up on a year ago and since that purchase Disney decided to cancel the much loved show Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Disney has since announced that a new animated Star Wars show would be created: Star Wars Rebels. The show’s logo and concept art were shown during Star Wars Celebration Europe and now you can view it!

In this issue: A whole lotta Star Wars talk, as we discuss everything from Star Wars 1313 to George Lucas’ retirement, and a bunch of stuff in-between. [podcast]http://traffic.libsyn.com/majorspoilers/msp416.mp3[/podcast] Direct Download Subscribe via iTunes RSS Feed Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends about the podcast, get them to subscribe and, be sure to visit the Major Spoilers site and forums.

Press Release Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and Lucasfilm will continue their collaboration this holiday season when they release never-before-seen outtakes from the highly popular star-studded video clip that urges fans to Use the Force for Good.  The campaign continues to raise funds for groundbreaking cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives.  Just in time for holiday shopping and due to popular demand, SU2C and Lucasfilm have added a fourth design incorporating the iconic image of Darth Vader to their line of co-branded tees, which feature Star Wars™ artwork alongside SU2C’s signature upward arrows

I know it sounds really weird, but LucasFilm has indeed announced that Darth Maul will return to the Star Wars universe this spring on Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  Why is this weird you ask? Because Maul died in Episode One while The Clone Wars takes place between Episode Two and Episode Three.

Press Release The Jedi remain stranded on Mortis, with Anakin Skywalker caught in an epic struggle between the light side and the dark side of the Force. As the Jedi prepare for a decisive confrontation, Anakin must face some shocking visions of his own future in “Ghosts of Mortis” – the climactic chapter in an epic, three-part Clone Wars storyline, airing at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, February 11 on Cartoon Network.

Press Release Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and the ongoing, weekly adventures of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Reed Exhibitions’ PopGroup will partner to produce what’s expected to be one of the largest official Star Wars fan events ever – featuring cast and crew celebrities, fan-run events, costumes, music, live entertainment, screenings, autographs, collectibles, panels and sneak peaks into the future of Star Wars. Star Wars Celebration V will take place August 12-15, 2010, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. A website, www.starwarscelebration.com, is dedicated exclusively

There’s a lot about Star Wars we don’t know about; things left unsaid, information only found in the comic books, but not on the big screen, or simply scenes that were cut from the final release.  Here’s one of those bits featuring Han Solo and his girlfriend.  It’s a short bit, and if you blink, you just might miss it.

Press Release Timed to celebrate the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo, StarWars.com will feature streaming Spanish-language episodes from the popular animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Produced by Lucasfilm Animation and originally airing on Cartoon Network, the weekly series has previously been unavailable online in alternate languages. Five episodes of the hit TV series – Ambush, Trespass, Dooku Captured, The Gungan General and Hostage Crisis – will be available on www.StarWars.com from May 1 through May 7. Also to commemorate the holiday – which celebrates the Mexican army’s 1862 defeat of invading French forces – StarWars.com will feature

The season finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars airs tonight, and Lucas Film has sent another sneak peek (along with a few more images) to tease the series. Count Dooku seeks to spring a Separatist prisoner from Republic captivity, but his profile prevents him from getting close enough to set in motion his malevolent plan. Enter Cad Bane, the galaxy’s most fearsome bounty hunter, as ruthless as he is deadly. He is quintessentially cold, cruel and calculating – and when the price is right, he can’t be stopped. Backed by Dooku and the Separatists, he’s bringing his unique skill

After spanning the galaxy, the conflict comes home in “Innocents of Ryloth,” an all-new episode of the hit animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, premiering at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 6, on Cartoon Network. The second in a three-part saga chronicling the liberation of a Separatist-held planet, “Innocents of Ryloth” looks at the civilians caught in the crossfire of the sweeping galactic conflict. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and his clones are sent to the surface to sabotage a powerful Separatist weapon, they encounter heavy resistance from the droid army – but they also come face to face with the

Since its debut, I’ve become rather hooked on the Star Wars: Clone Wars series on a number of different levels. Lucas Film has sent us a sneak peek of the three part “epic” arc called Storm Over Ryloth. Get the Flash Player to see this player. Storm Over Ryloth Check back tomorrow for more on the first episode. via Lucas Film