Review: Star Wars Insider #216 Builds up the Hype for ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3
The latest issue of Star Wars Insider hits shelves on February 7th (US) and February 9th (UK), and is set to get fans ready for the upcoming third season of The Mandalorian with interviews, story recaps, and more. Beyond our hero in silver, there is a feature on The Bad Batch, behind-the-mask interviews, and an exclusive piece of short High Republic fiction.
Read on for an overview of all the content you can get when the full magazine releases!
The Making of a Mandalorian
Katee Sackoff talks through her love of sci-fi from an early age, which has drawn her to other roles in the genre, touching on her well-known characters Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica and Niko in Netflix’s Another Life. The interview looks at the roles she is drawn to and how she enjoys playing strong and complicated women, each with their own unique motivations.
I smiled reading about her love of Star Wars (including a most impressive Grogu collection!) and how Star Wars inspired her as a child. Katee talks through her journey playing the character of Mandalorian warrior Bo-Katan Kryze, recalling how she was first cast in the role for The Clone Wars animated series and the “crazy” experience of playing the character in live-action.
The Journey of Din Djarin
Sticking with The Mandalorian, the full journey of Din Djarin across the first two seasons (plus his appearances in The Book of Boba Fett) is covered in a feature article recapping his transformation from bounty hunter to adoptive father as well as wielder of the infamous Darksaber. All the key moments in the Mandalorian’s journey are covered and accompanied by gorgeous stills and concept art from the series. For fans wanting a quick refresher, or for newcomers planning to jump on board, this article has you covered ready for March 1st!
Also, don’t forget to check out our own weekly ‘Countdown to the Mandalorian season 3’ series — starting all the way from Chapter 1.
Forces of Nature
From the deserts of Tatooine to the oceans of Kamino, Star Wars Insider takes an in-depth look at how the natural world and the wide variety of environments encountered by our heroes have shaped the stories of a galaxy far, far away. The article explores how George Lucas’ idea of “symbiotic balance” is played out in locations like the swamps of Dagobah and in characters like the Bendu.
Anthony Forrest Interview
Canadian actor and director Anthony Forrest talks about how he played two roles in A New Hope, both of which have gained cult status. Cast as Luke’s friend Fixer, he talks about his time in Tunisia and working with George Lucas and Mark Hamill. While Fixer’s scenes were left on the editing room floor, Forrest enjoys talking about his time as the character and his popularity, which recently led to Fixer making an appearance in The Book of Boba Fett with actor Skyler Bible getting roughed up by some Nikto thugs at Tosche Station.
Though Fixer was cut, Forrest recalls his last-minute casting as the unfortunate stormtrooper who is mind-tricked by Obi-Wan Kenobi into saying some of the most memorable lines in Star Wars.
The Best of the Batch
A look back at some of the key moments from season 1 of The Bad Batch, tracing the journey of Clone Force 99 and Omega, and recalling their boldest missions and the evolution of the characters, their allies, and their enemies.
Full time Fabricator, part time Rodian
Legacy Effects creature designer Dawn Dininger shares stories of her time working on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. Dawn shares her insights into creating and operating legendary costumes and animatronics, such as Krrsantan and Frog Lady. She also recalls the time she was put into one of her costumes, playing the unfortunate Rodian who was chained up to Boba Fett as well as some other characters and creatures well-known to fans.
‘The Unusual Suspect’ – High Republic fiction by George Mann
In an exclusive short story for Star Wars Insider as part of the ‘Tales of Enlightenment’ series, George Mann takes readers back to Jedha in the days of the High Republic. Focusing on the ordinary citizens of the galaxy, two regulars of the Enlightenment bar encounter a suspicious shadowy figure lurking in the corners of their favourite watering hole. While connecting to Mann’s audio drama The Battle for Jedha, the story is easily accessible to readers who may not be familiar with the High Republic era.
The latest issue also offers reviews and updates on the latest and upcoming books and comics, as well as reports from the fandom around the world
A teacher from Wales in the UK, Aled has loved Star Wars ever since that Star Destroyer flew over his head and blew his mind.
