Entertainment
Emmy-Winning Writer Tried Saving Star Wars With The Most Hated Character
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Previously, we hadn’t had a new Star Wars movie in theaters since 2019, when The Rise of Skywalker redefined just how stupid a galaxy far, far away could really be. Disney wanted The Mandalorian and Grogu to be the big comeback film for the franchise, but that didn’t work. Not only did it earn less money than any live-action Star Wars movie before it, but it has been hailed by some critics as a new low for the Disney era. For both the haters and the fanboys, this leaves one very provocative question: can anything actually save Star Wars?
Amazingly, the answer to that question may involve one of the franchise’s most controversial characters. Rey was the popular protagonist of the Sequel Trilogy, but some fans really hated her because of how she was written (she was basically a Mary Sue from the beginning) and her creepy connection to Emperor Palpatine (who did the monster mash with her grandmother). However, Emmy-winning writer Damon Lindelof was hired to write a new Rey movie that would use the character to do the impossible: bring the fractured fandom back together again. Unfortunately, Disney killed this film, and in doing so, they may have doomed Star Wars altogether.
A Rey Of Hope
Over half a decade ago, Damon Lindelof began working on a solo Rey movie for Disney. This was exciting because Lindelof was famously the co-creator and showrunner of Lost, one of the most engrossing shows from the Golden Age of Television. Later, he became co-creator and showrunner of Watchmen, one of the best superhero shows ever made. After two years of writing for a galaxy far, far away, however, he was fired, and his movie joined the growing pile of canceled Star Wars films. Until recently, fans could only speculate on the deeper details of what his Rey/New Jedi Order movie would have been about. But in a recent interview with the House of R podcast, he spoke candidly about the movie’s plot.
During the interview, Lindelof described the Rey movie in the most fascinating way. “What we were attempting to do was to have this conversation in the movie,” he said, “Which is to say there is a force of nostalgia and there is a force of revision and they are at odds with one another. And let’s do the Protestant Reformation inside ‘Star Wars.’” These statements are both cryptic and compelling, as befits the creator of Lost. But like a bunch of fans seeing the Smoke Monster for the first time, we have to figure out what the heck Damon Lindelof is saying with this mystery box mambo jumbo.
Our Only Hope?
The first part seems clear enough. He wants to take the metatextual discourse over franchise direction and somehow make it textual. What would that look like? We know that Rey was going to rebuild a new Jedi Order. If so, she might be torn between following the traditions of the Prequel Trilogy Jedi Masters and kickstarting her own, brand-new traditions. What’s up with the Protestant Reformation bit? This is likely an indicator that Rey would forge a new path for the Jedi, effectively splintering this ancient religion between the old guard and the new guard. This would presumably sway the fandom to support Rey doing what Star Wars heroes always do: rebel.
Why did the project die? After first noting simply that “it didn’t work,” Damon Lindelof later admitted that Disney may have fired him because “the writing was really hard. It was slow. Like the tone, getting it right, where it was inside of the canon, what its relationship was with to episode nine,” he said. “Is it starting a new trilogy? Is it like all of those things? They’re so massive. They’re so big.” He regrets getting fired because “the conversation that the fandom is having without winking and looking at the audience … that didn’t necessarily feel that risky.”
There Is Another (Skywalker)
In other words, it wouldn’t hurt for Disney to acknowledge (to borrow Lindelof’s adorable phrasing) “the bantha in the room.” The Star Wars fandom is divided, and the franchise is delivering diminishing returns. Lindelof wanted his movie to fix the fan schism, effectively winning over fans who were driven away by The Rise of Skywalker. To counter that film’s simplicity, Lindelof wanted a smart, metatextual film that pushed the boundaries of the franchise, but Disney wanted to play it safe. That’s why The Mandalorian and Grogu (our first Star Wars film since TROS) is just a collection of fight scenes and explosions, with nothing (including character development or coherent plotting) that might offend the audience.
However, it seems that Disney backed the wrong horse. The Mandalorian and Grogu had the weakest opening weekend of any live-action Star Wars film. Furthermore, its middling quality disappointed critics and large swathes of the fandom. Given this film’s failure, it won’t be surprising if the studio later cribs from Damon Lindelof and makes a film intended to unify the fandom. However, that effort may be too little, too late because the last two Star Wars movies have been messy commercial and critical disappointments. When the smoke clears on this latest theatrical disaster, Disney may discover a bitter truth: there’s no fandom left to unify.
Entertainment
Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on May 31
It’s the Full Moon tonight, and the second this month. This means it is a monthly Blue Moon, which occurs roughly every two or three years.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Sunday, May 31, the Moon phase is Full Moon. Tonight, 100% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.
Tonight, with just your naked eye, you’ll be able to spot the Mare Vaporum, Copernicus Crater, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars you’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Grimaldi Basin, Posidonus Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. Finally, if you really want to see more, a telescope will help you see the Apollo 14 landing spot, the Linne Crater, and the Caucasus Mountains.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through a repeating pattern of eight distinct phases. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the portion illuminated by the Sun changes as it moves around the planet. This is what creates the different shapes we see in the night sky, from thin crescents to half Moons and the full Moon. Together, these phases form the lunar cycle:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
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Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Entertainment
How to watch Germany vs. Finland online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Finland in a 2026 International Friendly for free on ZDF. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Preparation time is almost over. The 2026 World Cup kicks off next month, meaning participating sides need to build momentum and gain clarity on their best 11. That’s the situation Germany find themselves in as they face off against Finland — it’s all about coming into this summer’s tournament with confidence.
If you want to watch Germany vs. Finland in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Germany vs. Finland?
Germany vs. Finland kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on May 31. This fixture takes place at the MEWA Arena.
How to watch Germany vs. Finland for free
Germany vs. Finland is available to live stream for free on ZDF.
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ZDF is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can access free live streams on ZDF from anywhere in the world.
Lve stream Germany vs. Finland for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Germany
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Visit ZDF
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Stream Germany vs. Finland for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Germany vs. Finland without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for ZDF?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ZDF, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Germany
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to eight simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Germany vs. Finland for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
Until May 31, get Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT for life for $70
TL;DR: 1min.AI gives you lifetime access to AI models like GPT, Claude, and Gemini, but instead of charging you every month, it’s only $70 for life if you buy before May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Most AI tools do one thing well. The problem is that most workflows need more than one thing, and paying separately for a writing tool, an image editor, an audio platform, and a video tool adds up to a lot of monthly bills fast. 1min.AI new all-in-one AI platform that gives you access to the same popular AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, but instead of paying for them every month, you can get them all for life for $69.97 (reg. $540).
1min.AI gives you access to a wide range of AI models so you’re not locked into one tool’s strengths or blind spots. On the writing side, you’ll get access to AI for blog generation, keyword research, rewriting, summarizing, paraphrasing, grammar checking, and social media comment generation across LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
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Image tools go well beyond a basic generator, with editing and manipulation capabilities that cover tasks even a professional designer would reach for a separate app to do. Audio handles voice, music, and translation work. Video covers both creation and editing, including tools specifically for YouTube content. Documents can be chatted with, translated, or turned into presentations without leaving the platform.
The Advanced Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits per month, which works out to roughly 1,112,500 words, 1,186 images, or 37 videos monthly. On top of that, you can earn up to 450,000 additional free credits per month through daily logins, reviews, and referrals, and those credits never expire.
Stop paying every month for apps you can get for life.
Mashable Deals
Through May 31, it’s only $69.97 to get a 1min.AI advanced Business Plan.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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Artificial Intelligence
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