Review: 1985 "RED SONJA" is Charming and Fun

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 11 of 2026 (No. 2059) by Leroy Douresseaux

Red Sonja (1985)

Running time:  89 minutes (1 hour, 29 minutes)

Rating:  MPAA – PG-13

DIRECTOR:  Richard Fleischer

WRITERS:  Clive Exton and George MacDonald Fraser (based on the character created by Robert E. Howard)

PRODUCER:  Christian Ferry

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Giuseppe Rotunno

EDITOR:  Frank J. Urioste

COMPOSER:  Ennio Morricone

FANTASY/ACTION

Starring:  Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brigitte Nielson, Sandahl Bergman, Paul Smith, Ernie Reyes, Jr., Ronald Lacey, Janet Argen, and Tad Horino

Red Sonja is a 1985 American action-fantasy, sword-and-sorcery film from director Richard Fleischer.  The movie focuses on a fearless warrior who sets out to avenge the murder of her family and to rid the kingdom of the evil queen who had them killed.

Red Sonja is female high fantasy and sword and sorcery comic book character that first appeared in Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated: February 1973) and was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith.  They loosely based Red Sonja on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a character who appeared in a short story written by Robert E. Howard (1906-36), the creator of pulp character, Conan the Barbarian.

Red Sonja the movie introduces a young, red-haired woman named Sonja (Brigitte Nielson)  She watches as the soldiers serving Queen Gedren (Sandahl Berman) murder her parents and her brother.  Seeking revenge, Sonja trains under the warriors of the sword-master called “The Grand Master” (Tad Horino), although she has come to distrust nearly all men.  Sonja sets off to avenge herself against Gedren and to end the Queen's tyrannical rule over the kingdom.

Assisting Sonja – whether she likes it or not – are the swordsman, Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger); the boy prince of Hablock, Tarn (Ernie Reyes, Jr.); and his servant-bodyguard, Falkon (Paul Smith).  Together the four must enter Berkuban, the “Land of Perpetual Night,” and stop Gedren from using the mysterious relic, “the Talisman,” to destroy the world.

I've been putting off seeing Red Sonja for decades, but because I want to see director M. J. Basseet's Red Sonja (2025), I thought it was time to finally see the 1985 film.  Red Sonja was directed by Richard Fleischer (1916-2006), who also directed the second of the Conan the Destroyer (1984), the sequel to Conan the Barbarian (1982).

Red Sonja is a charming, even quaint sword-and-sorcery and film.  Brigette Nielson is not a strong or particularly talented actress, and her performance gets no favors from this film's stilted dialogue.  Still, Nielson is quite a trooper here and gives her all in her performance.  I was definitely sold on the notion not only that she was Red Sonja, but also that Red Sonja was a real person.

Back when this film was initially released to theaters, a few of my friends saw it and hoped that Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in this film, Kalidor, would be revealed to be Conan.  Apparently, contractual obligations and rights issues meant that Schwarzenegger ended up as “Kalidor,” essentially a Conan substitute-character.  I really like Kalidor because Schwarzenegger plays the character in a somewhat lighthearted manner and also because in the 1980s, we got peak physique Schwarzenegger.

I was surprised that Red Sonja has attractive production values.  The costumes by designer Danilo Donati and the work of the “Costume and Wardrobe Department” deliver costumes that were certainly worthy of some kind of contemporary awards recognition.  I love them.  Ennio Morricone's score for Red Sonja, while not among his best work, blends the sweep of forceful action with a surprising sense of romantic adventure that tells a story as much as it delivers cues.

Red Sonja is not a great film, and it did not need to be then or now.  It is a true B-movie delight.  Red Sonja is what it is, and that is a delightful cult film for those who want it to be that.

6 of 10

B

★★★ out of 4 stars

Friday, October 16, 2026

The text is copyright © 2026 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: Todd Solondz's "HAPPINESS" Remains Objectionable, Thankfully (Happy B'day, Todd Solondz)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 7 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux

Happiness (1998)

Running time:  136 minutes (2 hours, 16 minutes)

Rating:  MPAA – NC-17 (rating surrendered and film released “unrated”)

WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Todd Solondz

PRODUCERS:  Ted Hope and Christine Vachon

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Maryse Alberti

EDITOR:  Alan Oxman

COMPOSER: Robbie Kondor

DRAMA/COMEDY

Starring:  Dylan Baker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jane Adams, Lara Flynn Boyle, Cynthia Stevenson, Rufus Read, Louise Lasser, Ben Gazarra, Camryn Manheim, Molly Shannon, Jon Lovitz, Justin Elvin, Jared Harris, and Dan Moran

Happiness is a 1998 drama and black comedy film from writer-director Todd Solondz.  Happiness follows the lives a several individuals who live unique lives and who also engage in acts that society as a whole find disturbing and criminal in their desperate searches for human connection.

In Happiness, three sisters are the center point or nexus of a large group of unhappy people.  Joy Jordan (Jane Adams) is the least successful of the three Jordan sisters.  Andy Kornbluth (Jon Lovitz), a would-be suitor, kills himself after Joy dumps him, and she spends the rest of the film looking for a compatible mate.

Her sister, Trish (Cynthia Stevenson), seemingly has it all – a husband with a great job, a big home in a posh suburban neighborhood, and three children.  However, Trish won’t have sexual relations with her husband, Bill Maplewood (Dylan Baker).  Bill is a pederast who preys on prepubescent boys, and their 11-year old son, Billy (Rufus Read), is obsessed with ejaculating for the first time.

Helen Jordan (Lara Flynn Boyle) is a successful writer who is desperate to make contact with a sexual partner who can really satisfy her, as none of her numerous male companions have to this point.  Allen (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a computer data analyst and engages in chronic masturbation.  He makes prank phone calls to women and masturbates while he gets them to talk about their underwear, and he is infatuated with Helen – often calling her and hanging up.  After 40 years of marriage, the Jordan sisters’ parents, Mona (Louise Lasser) and Lenny Jordan (Ben Gazarra) are divorcing because Lenny wants to live as a hermit in Florida.

Todd Solondz’s Happiness takes the lives of several, ordinary middle class characters and shows how warped and abnormal their lives really are.  The film is so relentlessly matter-of-fact that it almost makes those characters seem normal, but the truth is that abnormality is their norm, and that if you get to look behind the façade, you will find that it is indeed a façade.  Some of the characters struggle to be normal (Allen and Joy Jordan), while others are hopelessly stuck in aberrant or deviant behavior (Bill and Trish Maplewood).

Happiness is frank in its depiction of sexual dysfunction, dissatisfaction, deviancy, and desire.  No matter the sexual disorder, the characters are stuck with it.  They are trapped, feeding a need, and never really seriously looking for help.  One wonders if they really don’t want more healthy sex lives or if they’re feeding the beast of sick and unusual behavior because it’s old habit.

It’s hard to tell, and the film just throws sexual failure and abnormality in your face.  There are shots of ejaculate hitting a wall and later a railing, and in one case the ejaculate belongs to Billy Maplewood, a child, who is masturbating while watching a sunbather.  So what’s the point of all this?  I think Solondz is simply saying that such abnormality or dysfunction exists, whether we deny it, hide it, or overreact to it.  He provides no solutions; in a way Happiness is a hybrid family drama and quasi-documentary about the still waters of American sexuality – whether it is a boy on the verge of sexual discovery or an old man who can no longer feeling anything, physically or spiritually, when he has sex.  If the film has a major weakness, it’s that the characters are too married to their dilemmas; only the character of Billy Maplewood comes across as three-dimensional.

The ensemble cast gives great performances, but two stand out from the rest.  Dylan Baker gives a riveting performance that is both scary and rich.  He manages a balance of fantasy and verisimilitude that is a work of performance art in creating a sick man who is despicable in his attempts to have sex with young boys.  Philip Seymour Hoffman, as he does so often, personifies the outsider scratching and clawing to get in with the straight crowd.  His Allen is pitiful and pathetic, but he possesses kindness and understanding that only shines through in rare moments of beauty, no matter how ugly the situation is.

Lara Flynn Boyle gives a surprisingly marvelous turn as the pretentious, self-absorbed, and unsatisfied Helen.  These performances and Todd Solondz’s boldness in tackling this subject matter the way he does make Happiness a winner and a must-see for moviegoers with guts who will not turn away from subject matter that repulses them.

8 of 10

A

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Thursday, January 12, 2006

RE-EDITED:  Saturday, October 10, 2026

The text is copyright © 2026 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 1st to 10th, 2026 - UPDATE #10

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links to join Prime Video, or to shop at my MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

STAR TREK - From Deadline:  "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" Season 2 will debut in March 2027.  Bill Nighy and Rosemarie DeWitt will be guest stars in the second season.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Blumhouse has released the first trailer for the new film in "The Exorcist" franchise, "The Exorcist: Martyrs."  The film is from writer-director Mike Flanagan, the film stars Scarlett Johansson and is due March 12, 2027.

TELEVISION - From TheGrio:  Black actress Victoria Rowell has been revisiting the mistreat she says she experienced while performing on the long-running CBS daytime soap opera, "The Young and the Restless."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Andre Holland (2016's "Moonlight") is joining stars Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler in "Miami Vice '85." His role is currently secret.

BUSINESS - From Deadline:  It's official. Paramount has merged with Warner Bros. Discovery, both under the umbrella of the beast known as Skydance.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:  The winner of the 10/2 to 10/4/2026 weekend box office is Amazon MGM Studios' "Verity" with an estimated take of 32.6 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner, Aaron Sorkin, says that it never occurred to him that Jessie Eisenberg, the star of his film, "The Social Network" (2010), would not want to return for the sequel, "The Social Reckoning."  Oscar-nominee and Emmy-winner Jeremy Strong is replacing Eisenberg as "Facebook" CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the new film, which due in theaters Oct. 9th, 2026.

MOVIES - From THR:  Hot off her turn in "One Battle After Another," actress Chase Infiniti will star in the horror film, "Portrait of God."  Dylan Clark will direct from a script he co-wrote with Joe Russo.  Sam Raimi and Jordan Peele are producing.

MOVIES - From THR:  Edi Gathegi (2025's "Superman") is joining stars Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler in "Miami Vice '85." He will reportedly play a "small-time crook with big-time ambitions."

AMAZON - From Deadline:  After Amazon gave its "Prime Video" series, "Reacher" an early Season 6 renewal just after the release of Season 4, it has as given the "Reacher" spinoff, "Neagley," an early Season 2 renewal.

NETFLIX - From WorldofReel:  Director Zack Snyder says "Rebel Moon Part 1" and "Rebel Moon Part 2" need to get more popular before their is a "Rebel Moon 3."

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Negromancer's Marvel Studios Link-o-Rama 2026 - UPDATE #25

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

Support Leroy on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: Looking for a delicious treat? Try AnotherCookie.

NEWS: 

AVENGERS - From Variety:  Thanks to the release of the "Encore" edition, "Avengers: Endgame" (2019) is now the highest grossing movie in box office history with an estimated gross of 2.925 billion dollars, which surpasses "Avatar's" (2009) 2.923 billion dollars.

From THR:  "Avengers: Endgame" returns to movie theaters over seven years after its original release in an "Encore" edition, and it tops the 9/25 to 9/27/2026 weekend box office.

DAREDEVIL - From THR:  The upcoming Season 3 of "Daredevil: Born Again" will be its last. Marvel Studios also reportedly parted ways with Season 2's showrunner, Dario Scardapane."

X-MEN - From Deadline:  Actor Asa Germann ("Scream 7," Prime Video's "Gen V") is rumored to be Marvel Studios' pick for the character, "Warren Worthington III/Angel," in its "X-Men" film reboot.

AVENGERS - From Deadline:  Actor Noah Jupe ("Hamnet") has been cast in a secret role in Disney/Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Secret Wars" (2027).

SPIDER-MAN - From USAToday:  "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has become the eighth film to cross the 2 billion dollar mark in global box office (unadjusted for inflation).

AVENGERS - From THR:  At Disney's "D23 2026," Marvel unveiled new "Avengers: Doomsday" footage that emphasized Robert Downey Jr.'s "Doctor Doom."

X-MEN - From THR:  Marvel Studios has finally revealed the cast of its "X-Men" reboot (or at least some of it) at Disney's "D23 2026."  The movie will star Sadie Sink ("Jean Grey"), Kit Connor ("Cyclops"), Christopher Abbott ("Prof. X"), Samara Weaving ("Emma Frost"), Inde Navarrette ("Rogue"), and Maya Boyd ("Storm").  Adam Driver is also among the cast as the villain, "Mr. Sinister," with the film landing a release date of May 5, 2028.

From Deadline:  "Insiders" have told "Deadline's" Justin Kroll that Marvel Studios has found the Cyclops of its planned X-Men reboot.  He is Kit Connor.

SPIDER-MAN - From Deadline:  The final estimates for the 7/31 to 8/2/2026 weekend box office have rolled in, and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has grossed 360 million dollars.  This is now the all-time highest debut weekend in domestic box office history.  This surpasses the 357.1 million dollar debut of "Avengers: Endgame" (2019).

From Variety:  "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has a 355 million-dollar debut weekend at the domestic box office. That is the second largest of all-time behind the 357 million dollar debut of "Avengers: Endgame" back in 2019.  When the final numbers come out on Monday (Aug. 3rd), "Brand New Day" could hold the record.

From Variety:  So actress Sadie Sink is playing iconic X-Men character "Jean Grey" in the smash-hit, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."

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BLADE - From THR:  Two-time Oscar-winner, Mahershala Ali, confirms that he is not doing Marvel Studios-planned "Blade" movie.  He says that if Marvel really wanted to do the movie, it would have been done by now.

BLACK PANTHER - From ComicBookMovie:  By now, dear readers, you know that David Jonsson ("Alien: Romulus") is the new "Black Panther."  There is a rumor that Jonsson will make his debut as Black Panther in 2027's "Avengers: Secret Wars" before he begins his reign in December 2028's "Black Panther III."

DOOMSDAY - From Deadline:  Disney has dropped the first official trailer for its upcoming blockbuster, "Avengers: Doomsday," which is due in theaters December 18, 2026.

AVENGERS - From CBR:  In a CBR interview, Oscar-winner Robert Downey, Jr. talks about the pressure of returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and delivering on playing "Doctor Doom."

SPIDER-MAN - From ComicBookMovie:  See the new "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" trailer that hit YouTube today (Wed., June 17th).

From CBR:  The Russo Brothers (Joe and Anthony) officially confirms why Spider-Man's MCU origin is different from Spider-Man's traditional origin.

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X-MEN - From ComicBookMovie:  Rumors suggest that "Beef" Season Two (Netflix) star, Charles Melton, is being considered to play the "X-Men" character, "Hank McCoy/The Beast."

From MensHeath:  Lee Sung Jin, the creator Netflix's "Beef," gave "Men's Health" an interview about the series.  Lee is also working on Marvel Studio's planned "X-Men" movie and he talks about that film's focus on characters.

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ENDGAME  - From Variety:  The 2019 Marvel Studios blockbuster, "Avengers: Endgame" will get a September 25th, 2026 re-release that will include brand new footage that ties it into the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday," which is due December 2026.

WONDER MAN - From THR:  The Disney+ Marvel Studios streaming series, "Wonder Man," will return for a second season.  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will return as "Simon Williams/Wonder Man" and Sir Ben Kingsley will return as "Trevor Slattery."

SPIDER-MAN - From ComicBookMovie:  A trailer of some sorts for the upcoming Sony/Marvel Studios film, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," may debut as soon as next week.

AVENGERS DOOMSDAY - From YouTube:  The latest "Avengers: Doomsday" (#4) teaser trailer is now on YouTube.  This one features Shuri, M'Baku, Namor and others from the world of the "Black Panther" and also Ben Grimm of the "Fantastic Four."  "Avengers: Doomsday" arrives December 18, 2026.

From YouTube:  The latest "Avengers: Doomsday" (#3) teaser trailer is now on YouTube.  This one features Professor X, Magneto, and Cyclops.  "Avengers: Doomsday" arrives December 18, 2026.

From YouTube:  The latest "Avengers: Doomsday" (#2) teaser trailer is now on YouTube. It focuses on the Avenger, "Thor."  The film arrives in theaters December 18, 2026.

From YouTube:  The first of four "Avengers: Doomsday" teaser trailers is now officially on YouTube. This one focuses on Steve Rogers/Captain America.

BLADE - From DarkHorizons:  Rumors abound that Marvel is no longer developing a solo feature film starring its vampire hunter, "Blade," who was supposed to be played by Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. Rumors also say "Blade" will make his debut in a "Midnight Sons" feature film.

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AVENGERS - From CinemaBlend:  Rumors abound that Disney/Marvel will release four teaser trailers for "Avengers: Doomsday."  Each one will appear at the head of "Avatar: Fire and Ash" on a rotation of one week each.

From ComicBookMovies:  After joining "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," actress Sadie Sink will reportedly joining "Avengers: Secret Wars," according to various reports and rumors.

SPIDER-MAN - From Deadline:  Sources tell "Deadline" that actor Marvin Jones III has been tapped for the role of "Tombstone" in Sony/Marvel's 2026 film, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."  He also performed the voice of Tombstone in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018) and will reprise the role in "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" (2027).  Jones is also known as the rapper, "Krondon," a member of the rap trio, "Strong Arm Steady."

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MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (MCU):

Review: Iron Man (2008)

Review: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Review: Thor (2011)

Review:  Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Review:  Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Review: Iron Man 3 (2013)

Review: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Review:  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Review: Ant-Man (2015)

Review: Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Review: Doctor Strange (2016)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Review:  Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Review: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Review:  Black Panther (2018)

Review:  Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Review:  Captain Marvel (2019)

Review: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Review:  Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Review: Black Widow (2021)

Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Review: Eternals (2021)

Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Review: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (2023)

Review: The Marvels (2023)

Review: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Review: Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Review: Thunderbolts* (2025)

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Click here for the 2025 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2024 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2023 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2022 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2021 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2020 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2019 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2018 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

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Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

A Negromancer October 2026

Welcome to October 2026. Welcome to Negromancer 2.0.  This is the rebirth of the Negromancer, the former movie review site, as a movie review and entertainment and culture news blog.

All images and text appearing on this blog are © copyright and/or trademarks of their respective owners.

While you're at it, have AnotherCookie.

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Also, my first original graphic novel, THE WRATH OF KARAPACE: A BIG SPIRITS EPIC, which is published by Candle Light Press.  Co-created by Carter J. Allen, (Warning Comics), The Wrath of Karapace is now on sale at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.

Other online shops that are selling "The Wrath of Karapace" include the following:

- AmazonUK;

- Bookshop.org;

- ElmStreetBooks;

- the German book shop, OrrellFussli;

- Powells.com;

- Russell Books.com;

- SuperBookDeals.com;

- Walmart online.

Of note, The Wrath of Karapace is also available on eBay from a few different sellers.

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"The Wrath of Karapace" also a "Google Books" listing.

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Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 20th to 30th, 2026 - UPDATE #10

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links to join Prime Video, or to shop at my MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

-------------------

NEWS:

DISNEY - From Variety:  Disney began another round of layoffs, the third this year. The axed employees came from human resources and IT departments.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Amazon Prime Video has renewed "Reacher" for a sixth season as a smash hit Season 4 comes to an end.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  The winner of the 9/25 to 9/27/2026 weekend box office is Disney/Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame Encore" with an estimated take of 26 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Sabrina Carpenter and Margaret Qualley are joining Tom Holland in his biopic of the legendary Hollywood star, Fred Astaire.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  There is a teaser for "Gremlins 3," as word comes that the film has been delayed to an October 2028 release.  The film will be directed by Chris Columbus and not by Joe Dante, who directed "Gremlins" and "Gremlins 2."

OSCARS - From Variety:  Universal Pictures will begin an Oscar campaign for Anne Hathaway in the "Best Supporting Actress" category for her performance as "Penelope" in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 9/18 to 9/20/2026 weekend box office is Sony Pictures' "Resident Evil" with an estimated take of 60 million dollars.

DISNEY - From Variety:  Disney has hired its first CTO - chief technology officer.  It's Karendeep Anand, who was CEO of the generative AI chatbot company, "Character.AI."

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American actor, Dennis Haskins, has died at the age of 75, Sunday, September 27, 2026.  Haskins was best known for the role of "Principal Richard Belding" in the former NBC teen sitcom, "Saved By the Bell" (1989-93); its spinoff, "Saved By the Bell: The New Class" (1993-2000); and in various related series.  Haskins also appeared in numerous TV series, including "The Dukes of Hazzard" and "Good Morning, Miss Bliss," the Disney Channel series, in which he originated the role of Richard Belding.

From Deadline:  English singer-songwriter and recording artist, Pete Byrne, has died at the age of 74, Monday, September 14, 2026.  Byrne was best known for being the lead singer of the 1980s synth-pop band, "Naked Eyes."  The band had four "Billboard Top 40" hits.  That includes 1982's "Always Something There to Remind Me" (No. 8 on Billboard), a reworking of the Burt Bacharach-Hal David song, "(There's) Always Something to Remind Me" and 1983's "Promises, Promises" (No. 11 on Billboard).  Byrne was also a member of the early 80s New Wave band, "Neon," which would split up into the Naked Eyes and the English pop-rock band, "Tears for Fears."

From THR:  Stage, film and television actor and voice performer, James Sloyan, has died at the age of 85, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.  His family announced his passing over the 9/18 to 9/20/2026 weekend  Sloyan may be best known for playing four "Star Trek" species over three "Star Trek" series (''The Next Generatin," "Deep Space Nine," and "Voyager") during the 1990s.  He also appeared in such TV series as "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman," "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," "Quantum Leap," and "The X-Files," to name a few.  Sloyan also provided the voiceover for "Lexus" commercials for almost two decades.

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Negromancer's "STAR WARS" Link-O-Rama 2026 - UPDATE #15

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

--------------------------------------

NEWS AND RUMORS:

SKYWALKER SAGA- From Deadline:  Director Jon Watts ("Spider-Man: Homecoming") and writer Simon Kinberg are developing a new trilogy that extends the "Skywalker Saga." Neither Disney nor Lucasfilm have confirmed "Deadline's" report.

STARFIGHTER - From THR:  At Disney's 2026 edition of "D23," director Shawn Levy and star Ryan Gosling reveal footage from their upcoming "Star Wars" film, "Star Wars: Starfighter."  It is due May 28, 2027.

THE MANDALORIAN - From Variety:  "Star Wars: The Mandarian and Grogu" will arrive on Disney+ September 2nd, 2026.

MARVEL/STAR WARS - From EW:  The world of Star Wars and the world of Marvel Comics will come together for the first time.  They will do so in the five-issue comic book miniseries, "Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles."  Filmmaker Kevin Smith will write and artist David Marquez will draw the comic book.  "Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles #1" will launch in January 2027.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  "BleedingCool" has a five-page preview of Marvel Comics' "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Echoes of the Empire #4."  The preview includes a look at that issue's three covers.  It arrives in comic book stores this coming Wednesday (July 15th).

From BleedingCool:  "Bleeding Cool" has a five-page preview of Dark Horse Comics' "Star Wars: Hyperspace Tales: The Bad Batch - Rogue Agents #4." It arrives Wednesday, July 15th in comic book shops at the cover price of $4.99.

From BleedingCool:  "BleedingCool" has a five-page preview of Marvel Comics' "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Echoes of the Empire #3."  The preview includes a look at that issue's four covers.  It arrives in comic book stores this coming Wednesday (June 24th).

OBIT - From Variety:  American film editor, Marcia Lucas, has died at the age of 80 Wednesday, May 27, 2026.  Marcia is best known for her work with her ex-husband, George Lucas, to whom she was married from 1969-83.  Marcia was on the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for "Star Wars" (1977), sharing it with Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew.  Marcia's work on "Star Wars" is often credited as being what saved the film.  She was also Oscar-nominated for editing editing George's 1973 film, "American Graffiti."  Marcia would later edit "Return of the Jedi" (1983) for the film's director Richard Marquand.  Marcia edited three films for director Martin Scorsese, including "Taxi Driver" (1976).

OBIT - From Collider:  American voice actor, Tom Kane, has died at the age of 64, Monday, May 18, 2026.  Kane was best known for his voice work in the Star Wars franchise, mainly for animation and video games.  He provided the voice of "Yoda" in the 2003 "Star Wars: Clone Wars" animated shorts for Cartoon Network.  He voiced Yoda again in the 2008 "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" animated film.  For Cartoon Network's "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" animated series, he voiced a number of characters, including Yoda, and he provided the narration for each episode.  Kane's extensive list of credits in film, TV, and video games stretch over three decades and include voice performances in "The Powerpuff Girls" (Cartoon Network) and "The Wild Thornberries" (Nickelodeon), to name a few.

OBIT - From TheWrap:  Star Wars actor, Michael Pennington, has died at the age of 82. His family announced his death Sunday, May 10, 2026.  Pennington played "Death Star Commander Moff Jerjerood," who was in charge of the construction of the new Death Star, in "Return of the Jedi" (1983).  Pennington was a writer, director, and actor known for his work on the English stage, including his performance with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

DARTH MAUL - From YouTube:  Disney+ has released the first official trailer for its new animated series, "Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord." The first two episodes debut April 6th.

THE MANDALORIAN - From YouTube:  Disney has released an official trailer for "The Mandalorian and Grogu" film.  It is due in theaters and IMAX May 22, 2026.

DARTH MAUL - From StarWars:  Disney+ has released the first teaser trailer for its upcoming Lucasfilm animated series, "Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord."  The series set for an April 6th debut on Disney+.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics unveils "Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge - Echoes Of The Empire," a five-issue comic book miniseries launching April 2026.  Set on Batuu, the comic connects to Disney’s "Galaxy’s Edge Park," and also expands the "Star Wars" timeline with classic heroes.  Readers should expect appearances from Luke Skywalker, Leia, and Chewbacca facing the Empire over a dangerous relic.  It is written by Ethan Sacks and drawn by Jethro Morales and Roi Mercado.

DAVE FILONI - From TheWrap:  As Kathleen Kennedy steps down as President of Lucasfilm and Dave Filoni becomes Chief Creative Officer comes a report that Filoni did not like Lucasfilm's Emmy-winning hit, "Andor." Lynwen Brennan is also announced as co-president.

From Forbes:  Reports state that Lucasfilm, Chief Creative Office (CCO), Dave Filoni, will become president of Lucasfilm when current president Kathleen Kennedy steps down.  A director, producer, and screenwriter, Filoni is known for directing the 2008 animated film, "Star Wars: Clone Wars" and the upcoming live-action film, "The Mandalorian and Grogu."  Filoni was also the writer, director, and executive producer on Lucasfilm/Disney+ television series like "The Mandalorian," "The Book of Boba Fett," and "Ahsoka."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  "Star Wars: Shadow of Maul" is a five-issue comic book miniseries that will act as a prequel to upcoming Disney+ animated series, "Maul - Shadow Lord."  The comic book is written by Benjamin Percy and drawn by Madibek Musabekov, and the first issue arrives March 2026.

FRANCHISE - From YahooTotalFilm:  Despite working on Star Wars properties since "The Phantom Menace," Lucasfilm design director Doug Chiang says that only George Lucas truly knows what Star Wars design is. "I don’t always get it 100 per cent right."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Artist Taurin Clarke is Marvel Comics' "Star Wars Black History Month" cover artist for February 2026.

From BleedingCool:  Ahmed Best, the voice actor best known for the role of "Jar Jar Binks" in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, will co-write an official Star Wars Jar Jar Binks comic book for Marvel Comics.  The one-shot comic book is due February 2026 and will be co-written by Marc Guggenheim and illustrated by Kieran McKeown and Laura Braga.

From FlickeringMyth:  Dark Horse Comics has announced that it will return to the High Republic era of "Star Wars" next year with the six-issue limited series, "Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Pathfinders."  The series will be written by George Mann ("Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories – Qui-Gon") and drawn by Partha Pratim, Jagdish Kumar, and Michael Atiyeh ("Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch").  The first issue is scheduled to arrive March 11, 2026.

THE MANDALORIAN - From YouTube:  Lucasfilm has released the first official trailer for "The Mandalorian and Grogu," which is due in theaters May 22, 2026.

STARFIGHTER - From IGN:  Lucasfilm offers a new set photo from "Star Wars: Starfighter," featuring cast members, Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray. The film is due May 28, 2027.

From THR:  The latest Star Wars movie, "Star Wars: Starfighter," started shooting on Thursday (Aug. 28th) in the U.K.  Lucasfilm marked the ocassion by releasing an image of star Ryan Gosling and new cast member, Flynn Gray, in front of a speeder.  Lucasfilm also revealed the latest additions to the cast.  Including Flynn Gray, they are Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams.  The film is being directed by Shawn Levy and stars Ryan Gosling. Mia Goth and Matt Smith were already revealed to be in the cast, playing villains.

From Deadline:  Matt Smith ("Doctor Who") will star alongside Ryan Gosling as a villain in the "Star Wars" film, "Star Wars: Starfighter," which is scheduled for a 2027 release.

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Link-o-Rama 2025.

Link-o-Rama 2024.

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STAR WARS Movie Reviews:

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars"
From Negromancer:  "The Empire Strikes Back"
From Negromancer:  "Return of the Jedi"

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace"

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones"

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith"

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Force Awakens
From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008 animated film)
From Negromancer:  "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"
From Negromancer:  "Solo: A Star Wars Story" 

I Reads You "Star Wars Central" comics and graphic novel review page is here.

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