Galaxy of 'Star Wars' talent uniting to unleash merchandise and info about new film, game and TV series

J.J. Abrams has so far managed to keep his cards pretty close to his chest when it comes to plot specifics of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but all that is about to change.

Generations of Star Wars talent will come together this Thursday for a global livestream event on YouTube kicking off a weeklong countdown to Triple Force Friday.

The now annual event sees new products - inspired by this year’s highly anticipated Star Wars movie, live-action series and gaming launches - hitting shelves worldwide on midnight 4 October.

As well as seeing new characters like Zorii, Jannah, The Mandalorian, Cal Kestis and the new droid D-O in product form for the first time, fans will get their first look at the wide array of new products spanning toys, apparel and accessories, books, gaming, tech and home goods.

The news was announced by a new teaser video (above) for the livestream featuring The Rise of Skywalker’s Daisy Ridley, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, John Boyega, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s Cameron Monaghan, and The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano digging into the new merch.

Beamed live from Pinewood Studios in London where The Rise of Skywalker was filmed, Star Wars veteran Warwick Davies will host the livestream which kicks off on 26 September at 7p.m on the Star Wars YouTube page.

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Via live and recorded vignettes, an ensemble of veteran and new Star Wars talent will reveal new products that will roll out globally for Triple Force Friday on 4 October.

Livestream viewers will also be treated to the worldwide premiere of a new trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, along with other special surprises from across the Star Wars galaxy.

Star Wars talent participating in the global reveal will include: Daisy Ridley (‘Rey’); John Boyega (‘Finn’); Oscar Isaac (‘Poe’); Anthony Daniels (‘C-3PO’); Billy Dee Williams (‘Lando Calrissian’); Joonas Suotamo (‘Chewbacca’); Keri Russell (‘Zorii Bliss’); Naomi Ackie (‘Jannah’); Kelly Marie Tran (‘Rose’); Pedro Pascal (‘The Mandalorian’); Gina Carano (‘Cara Dune’ in The Mandalorian) and Cameron Monaghan (‘Cal Kestis’ in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order).

Livestream viewers will also be treated to the worldwide premiere of a new trailer for EA’s hotly-anticipated video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, along with other special surprises from across the Star Wars galaxy.

Force Friday is an anticipated event for Star Wars fans worldwide, commemorating merchandise introduced in advance of the episodic saga films. Past iterations, including a live unboxing event that rolled through 15 cities worldwide in 2015 and a global in-store digital scavenger hunt in 2017, brought out fans around the world who shared their experiences.

As always, fans are invited to join the conversation on social using Triple #ForceFriday, as well as to participate in real-world retail celebrations around the globe. Select retailers in major markets around the world will open at midnight on 4 October, featuring the new range of products from all three properties as well as a selection of limited-edition commemorative products.

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Throughout the weekend, retailers including Smyths, The Entertainer, Sainsbury’s and Argos, will join in to celebrate Triple Force Friday.

Throughout the weekend, retailers including Smyths, The Entertainer, Sainsbury’s and Argos, will join in to celebrate Triple Force Friday.