LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales - What We Know So Far
Once again, Disney+ and LEGO are teaming up to bring "Star Wars" fans of all ages a new original special to the streaming platform. Fans may remember the "LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special," which was released in November 2020. The animated short brought together both classic and modern characters from the Lucasfilm universe, as Rey, Finn, Poe, R2-D2, Chewbacca, and more came together to celebrate Life Day. The animated special was 48 minutes of fun for the whole family, bringing a little bit of seasonal warmth at a time when we all needed it most. It also more than made up for the travesty that was the infamous "Star Wars Holiday Special" of 1978.
On Tuesday, August 3, Disney+ announced a brand new "LEGO Star Wars" special coming soon — and this time, viewers can expect a few seasonal thrills and chills, along with the brand of self-aware humor that LEGO fans have come to know and love. It's called "LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales," and it will be released on the streaming service just in time for the Halloween season. Disney+ released a teaser poster for the latest installment, which shows a blocky hand rising from a grave while holding a red light saber, and a tombstone behind it that reads "Rest in Pieces."
So what does this creepy new special have in store? Here's what we know so far.
When is LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales coming out?
The "LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" of 2020 was centered around Life Day, a fictional holiday that originated on the Wookie planet, Kashyyyk. Life Day is a time when Wookies (and others) gather together with family to celebrate a time of love and life. The holiday was created for the premise of the 1978 "Star Wars Holiday Special," and is similar to the winter holidays of Earth.
In "LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales," there is no holiday celebration to speak of, but it's clear from the special's title — and its release date — that Disney+ intends to give its fans a fun and family-friendly "spooktacle" to enjoy during the Halloween season. The official release date for "LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales" is set for October 1, giving both LEGO/"Star Wars" fans and fans of scary stories something to enjoy during the month of goblins and ghouls (or sarlaccs and sith).
Who is in the cast of LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales?
You can't have a "Star Wars" special without including the franchise's favorite characters, and it looks like "LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales" has a plethora of notable cast members in its roster. Jake Green, who provided the voice for Poe Dameron in "LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special," will return to play the ace X-wing starfighter pilot, and Trevor Devall will reprise his role as Emperor Palpatine.
Making their first appearances in the "LEGO Star Wars" universe are two noteworthy actors who have been added to the cast. Christian Slater will lend his vocal talents as Ren, a character from the Star Wars comics who will be making his first appearance on screen. Ren is a big part of Kylo Ren's backstory in the comics and was the former leader of the Knights of Ren. Also joining the cast as Vanee is Tony Hale, who recently appeared in the original Disney+ series, "The Mysterious Benedict Society," in which he plays both protagonist and antagonist while also producing the show.
Other voice actors who will be featured in "LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales" include Dana Snyder (Graballa the Hutt), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (NI-L8), and Raphael Alejandro (Dean).
What is LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales about?
Although the "Star Wars" universe has showcased some pretty terrifying monsters, the legendary space opera is hardly a horror franchise. However, Disney+ possibly hopes to make their newest special a new Halloween tradition. "LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales" will use classic horror tropes, such as the exploration of a haunted house, and the telling of scary stories by an ominous narrator. The official synopsis for the special reveals what fans can expect in the upcoming special, including an emergency landing on the planet Mustafar where Poe and BB-8 meet "greedy and conniving" crime boss Graballa the Hutt. Later on, while Poe, BB-8, Graballa, and the latter's young mechanic Dean are inside Darth Vader's castle, Vader's servant Vanee shares "three creepy stories" across every "Star Wars" era.
"As Vaneé spins his tales and lures our heroes deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the castle, a sinister plan emerges," the synopsis continues. "With the help of Dean, Poe and BB-8 will have to face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends."
The official premise for "LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales" certainly raises a few questions. What "sinister plan" does Vanee have in store for the heroes? What sort of ancient artifacts will we find in Darth Vader's abandoned castle? Will the amenities for the Sith luxury hotel include a jacuzzi? Perhaps these questions will be answered when "LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales" hits Disney+ on October 1, 2021.