WDW Daily News

Walt Disney Records released the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story soundtrack, which features score by Oscar® and Grammy® award-winning composer Michael Giacchino.  The original motion picture soundtrack is available at streaming services and wherever music is sold.  “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” opens in U.S. theaters today, December 16, 2016.

Acclaimed composer Michael Giacchino marks his first-ever feature collaboration with Lucasfilm for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”   Recorded at Sony Scoring Stage, the score features a 110-piece orchestra and 80-person choir conducted by Tim Simonec.

Michael Giacchino said, “It has been a great honor to have been asked to score ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ and I am humbled to have had the opportunity to contribute to the musical universe that inspired me so as a kid.  Back in 1977, long before I knew I was going to be a film composer, I spent countless hours listening to the original ‘Star Wars’ double LP on my small RCA Stereo in my bedroom. In a sense, John Williams was my very first music teacher.  All these years later, John continues to be an inspiration.”

He continued, “As with all the film scores I compose, my goal is to reflect and serve the story and emotions of the film. I have to admit, the 10-year-old part of my brain had a wonderful time composing for this new and exciting set of ‘Star Wars’ characters and the worlds they inhabit.”

Giacchino’s credits feature some of the most popular and acclaimed film projects in recent history, including Marvel Studio’s “Doctor Strange,” Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out,” “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille,” as well as “Star Trek Beyond,” “Jurassic World,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”  His score for Disney•Pixar’s 2009 feature “Up” earned him an Oscar, a Golden Globe®, the BAFTA®, the Broadcast Film Critics’ Choice Award and two Grammy Awards.

From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is directed by Gareth Edwards and stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, with Jiang Wen and Forest Whitaker. Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel are producing, with John Knoll and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The story is by John Knoll and Gary Whitta, and the screenplay is by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy.

The Rogue One: A Star Wars Story original motion picture soundtrack is now available wherever music is sold or streamed.  Purchase here: http://disneymusic.co/RogueOne.  Stream here: http://disneymusic.co/RogueOneWS

For more information on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, please visit http://www.starwars.com.  For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, like us on Facebook.com/disneymusic and follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic and Instagram.com/disneymusic.

Star Wars once had a rich, painstakingly produced canon beyond its three original movies. Hundreds of authors, artists, and game developers drew from the stories told by creator George Lucas, crafting what would be called the Expanded Universe. For decades, they wrote books about the main characters’ descendants, side stories about bounty hunters and the evil Sith, and deep dives into the affairs of the Galactic Empire.

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A new Star Wars Guided Tour, perfect for the ultimate Star Wars fan, is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® starting Jan. 2, 2017. And reservations open now!

This brand-new, seven-hour tour will be led by a Star Wars “all-in-the-know” guide and will include: reserved viewing for “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away,”; a journey on Star Tours – The Adventures Continue; an opportunity to participate in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple (for Guests age 4-12); a guided exploration and character greetings at Star Wars Launch Bay; dinner at a quick-service restaurant featuring Star Wars-themed items; the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party; fireworks viewing and more.

The tour costs $129 per person (tax & gratuity included), Tours will be offered Mondays and Saturdays

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story scored roughly $29 million in its pre-opening Thursday night showings, marking the biggest preview night box office of 2016. And, if the highly-anticipated movie has a decent box office showing this weekend, it will push Walt Disney over the threshold of an all-time box office record.

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A new adventure in Disney dining and the ultimate Star Wars tour are being offered to guests in 2017.

• Disney’s famed monorail is your connection in a movable feast called Highway in the Sky Dine-Around. The new experience gives guests priority boarding on the monorail for a distinctly Disney dining experience with stops for cocktails, appetizers, dinner and dessert. From a welcome cocktail at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, guests call at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (apps), Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (entree) and back to the Contemporary for dessert, cordials and coffee. Offered Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

• For the ultimate Star Wars fan comes the ultimate tour. An all-new Star Wars Guided Tour is a seven-hour immersion in all current Star Wars experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Character greetings, themed dining, ride experiences, insider’s tours, dessert party and VIP viewing of Star Wars: a Galactic Spectacular are among highlights. Offered Mondays and Saturdays, it’s part of several new Star Wars additions announced in December 2016 for the park, including a new onstage sequence in the daytime experience “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away.” Star Wars-themed lands are planned for Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

Even before Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012, there was plenty of Star Wars to be found at Disney theme parks. The Star Tours motion simulator ride has been in operation since 1987, and a small legion of Stormtroopers and other movie characters can be spotted inside park gates.

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Disney will reveal some new “never before seen content” for its upcoming movie, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” exclusively on Twitter later this week.

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While we know that Disney has big plans for Star Wars for the long term, beyond Star Wars: Episode IX, we don’t really know exactly what those plans entail. It turns out, Disney may not be so sure either.

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“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” will light up movie screens on December 16, and the What on Earth catalog (WOE) is proud to announce that it has obtained exclusive rights, for a second year, to produce a variety of select Star Wars^TM items. These fun, timely and exceptional products are also functional which makes them ideal for Star Wars fans. They are available through the WOE catalog, its website, and on the Amazon Marketplace and Amazon Prime.

“We are delighted to work with Disney to offer unique Star Wars merchandise,” said Ken Harris, CEO of What on Earth. “We have concentrated on developing merchandise that has a practical everyday use that can be enjoyed all the time by Star Wars fans. We have also focused on the Star Wars theme and its iconic characters rather than individual movies. We are very pleased with the public’s acceptance of our unique products.”

This year’s exclusive new products include:

Star Wars Rogue One Darth Vader^TM Light Saber Handheld Immersion Blender – this powerful immersion blender features a realistic ABS light saber handle with a metal look and feel. Great for whipping-up smoothies, mayonnaise and sauces. – $49.99

Star Wars Rogue One Death Star^TM Hot Air Popcorn Maker with Removable Bowl – That’s no moon, it’s a popcorn maker from a galaxy far, far away.  Produce popcorn to munch on while viewing your favorite Star Wars films. This product is a hot air popper for quicker and healthier popcorn. The top of the Death Star doubles as a fun serving bowl.   – $49.99

Star Wars Darth Vader Anakin Luke Skywalker^TM Rey and Finn Light Saber Salt & Pepper Mills – These elegant light saber grinders have a ceramic mechanism that provides for adjustable grinding from fine to course. Made from high-quality stainless steel, the exteriors are durable ABS plastic molded to look like your favorite Jedi weapon. Set of two grinders – one red and one blue. – $49.99(This product will be available at the end of November.)

Exclusive Star Wars Rey & Chewie^TM Millenian Falcon Cockpit Hyperspace Heat Changing Coffee Mug – Watch Rey and Chewbacca blaze into hyperspace when you pour your morning coffee into this Star Wars thermal changing mug. As you fill the mug with any hot liquid, a stunning array of light space stars appear through the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit.  This large mug holds 20 ounces. – $14.99 (This product will be available at the end of November.)

Best-selling What on Earth Star Wars items from last year, which are still being offered, include:

Star Wars Death Star Waffle Maker – Designed for fans of the original and rebooted Star Wars saga, this waffle maker creates waffles in the image of the Death Star. A collectible item, it features a regulating thermostat and dual indicator lights that tell you when the iron is hot and when your waffle is ready. A fun way to start the day for kids of all ages. – $39.99

Darth Vader Toaster – This helmet-shaped fun toaster brands the Star Wars logo on each piece of toast. – $39.95

What on Earth’s (http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com) collection appeals to those with a sophisticated sense of humor and a curious mind. The catalog’s buyers strive to introduce customers to unusual and innovative products that are clever, quirky and interesting. All items include an element of surprise as in: “What on Earth is that?”