Friday, May 22, 2026

This isn't the way! - Watch This Space - May 2026

This isn't the way! | Can 'Star Wars' ever feel like a big-screen event again? | Why bringing back 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' isn't the way for 'Star Wars'
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May 22, 2026
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I think it's safe to say there is too much Star Wars now.

Between the myriad of TV shows and spin-off movies that Disney has concocted over the past decade, I'm just tired. It's not even that it's bad; it's that there's too much of it, which left us asking the question:
Can 'Star Wars' ever feel like a big-screen event again?

 

As to the movie that sparked all this musing — "The Mandalorian and Grogu" — we're left feeling that it's broadly fine, but it isn't the way for the future of "Star Wars". Although one "Star Wars" thing did give us some joy this month, as a YouTuber remade the original movie using cardboard. It's honestly brilliant, and well worth an hour of your time. Oh, and we also finally got a release date for "Star Wars: Galactic Racer". I know, I know, I said there's too much "Star Wars" already, but this is a podracing game, and I always have room in my heart for more podracing.

 

Elsewhere in the gamingverse, three hotly anticipated space games dropped this month — roguelite shooter "Saros", space horror flick "Directive 8020", and FTL-inspired strategy title "Battlestar Galactic: Scattered Hopes". We checked out all three, so be sure to drop in and see our thoughts (and share your own if you've been playing).

 

Want to feel old? The original "Thor" movie is 15 years old. I know, I felt myself crumbling to dust when that article pitch came in, but it's a fascinating article, so it was worth the momentary existential dread it caused me. We had three more great retrospectives this month, looking back at James Gunn's underrated comedy-horror "Slither", Superman-prequel "Smallville", and the infamous "Doctor Who" TV movie. All great reads if you want to sink into nostalgia for a few moments.

 

Speaking of great reads, we also chatted to "The OA"'s Damien Ober about his weird new space fantasy novel, "Voidverse". When I say weird, I mean really weird. After a short hiatus, our short-story book club, "Strange New Words", is back with a bona fide classic: "We can remember it for you wholesale" by Philip K. Dick, aka the book that "Total Recall" is based on. 

We'll be doing our video chat about it next week, so you've still got time to read the story and submit any questions or feedback you have (either in the comments here, or via community@space.com).

 

Alright, that's enough yacking from me, I'm off to build a podracer out of spare parts. Have a great weekend, everyone.

 

See you out there,

Ian Stokes, Entertainment Editor, Space

P.S. Got any feedback for us? Drop us an email at community@space.com. Be nice, or we'll send your bounty puck to Din Djarin.

 
 
 
 
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