Star Wars fans, get excited because Disney is back with another series titled LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. The four-piece animated special throws us into the action when the galaxy they know gets completely turned upside down when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), discovers a powerful artifact from a hidden Jedi temple. He finds himself in a wild adventure in a new and twisted version of the galaxy where the good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of all depends on Sig becoming the hero who can put all the pieces back together.
To make matters worse, Sig’s brother, Dev (Tony Revolori), has no memory of the two being related, further sending him on a mission to restore the world he once knew. Sig then teams up with his crush, Yesi (Marsai Martin), and Jedi Bob, voiced by SNL’s Bobby Moynihan, who help him along the way. During their journey, they stumble across Luke Skywalker, voiced by none other than the original Jedi himself, Mark Hamill, who embodies a personality much different than what fans will be used to.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pokémon Detective Pikachu writers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit take on the script with Chris Buckley in the director’s chair for the mini series. This collab comes to us through the longtime team-up of Lucasfilm and the Danish toy manufacturing company, the LEGO Group. In a recent press release, executive producer James Waugh said, “It’s hard to believe that it’s been twenty-five years since the ground-breaking collaboration… in that time, LEGO Star Wars has given our fans the unique power to unlock their imaginations and play with the galaxy’s elements in any way they can conceive… and build. It’s with that playful spirit in mind that we set out to Rebuild the Galaxy like never before.” If you’re new to the LEGO and Star Wars animated projects, Hernandez and Benji insist you’re joining at the perfect time, stating, “For new fans, this will be an exciting place to enter the world of LEGO Star Wars, and for lifelong fans, you’re going to see some things that you never thought possible.”
With only four episodes ranging between 22 and 23 minutes each, there is a lot to unpack and enjoy in such a short period of time. The combined runtime plays out like a regular animated film if you were to cut the end credits. The story moves quickly and could have been a fun release for the Disney+ platform had the team opted to make it into a feature film. With the way the fourth episode concluded, it’s clear there are plans to continue, leaving the door open for a possible film pending the way audiences receive it.
The voice cast does a stellar job at bringing life to the characters, with Revolori being the stand out as the villain. His character in particular sees the biggest change from being an optimistic fan of Jedi’s to a rage-filled leader of the dark side. From his days bullying Peter Parker in the Spider-Man trilogy, Revolori is building towards making a name for himself in a sea full of other talented actors in his generation. After all, not many can say they have worked on projects in two major franchises such as Marvel and Star Wars. Another subtle and notable tidbit is the underlying biracial romantic interest between Sig and Yesi. Matarazzo’s character is in awe of Martin’s, as she is depicted as a strong woman who lives life to the fullest, with her motto throughout the series being “go fast.”
Black Girl Nerds had the opportunity to speak with some of the Rebuild the Galaxy voice cast and writers. With the recent passing of the one of a kind and talented James Earl Jones, we asked them what he meant to their lives as he was the original voice for the iconic villain, Darth Vader. After all, there is no conversation about Star Wars that could exist without mentioning the legend himself. Revolori, who plays a variation of Vader in the series, said, “He means so much. He’s an incredible artist who’s conquered really on-camera, theater, and voiceover. The thing that I’ll always remember fondly of him was… obviously Darth Vader is an incredible and amazing performance, but it’s Mufasa for me.”
Many have voiced their distaste for the recent flood of Star Wars projects, but the fan base is so loyal and massive that there is always consistent viewership to projects worthy of diving into. This will be the first release from the studio since announcing The Acolyte would be canceled without moving forward with a Season 2.
LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy is a fun tale of what happens when Jedi’s meet a multiverse-type scenario. It could have been longer, as it feels right when you get excited to see what more can transpire between the Greebling brothers the series ends, leaving you wanting to see more. With many laughs and notable Star Wars characters popping in left and right, it’s sure to be a hit with young and even older fans alike.
All episodes will begin streaming on Disney+ September 13, 2024.