Disney's Star Wars sequels certainly have their fans, but Marcia Lucas doesn't count herself among them. The Oscar-winning editor behind the original trilogy (and ex-wife to George Lucas) makes her thoughts on the sequels very clear in a scathing foreword to the book Howard Kazanjian: A Producer's Life.

In the foreword, Lucas slams Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams, arguing "they don't have a clue about Star Wars" and criticizing the decision to kill off franchise icons Han Solo and Luke Skywalker.

"They don't get it," Lucas writes. "And J.J. Abrams is writing these stories — when I saw the movie where they kill Han Solo, I was furious... Absolutely, positively there was no rhyme or reason to it. I thought, You don't get the Jedi story. You don't get the magic of Star Wars. You're getting rid of Han Solo? And then at the end of this last one, they have Luke disintegrate. They killed Han Solo. They killed Luke Skywalker. And they don't have Princess Leia anymore. And they're spitting out movies every year."

Lucas seems to have little love for Daisy Ridley's Rey either, pointing to the many unanswered questions surrounding the character and her background pre-Episode IX (when this foreword appears to have been commissioned).

"And they think it's important to appeal to a woman's audience, so now their main character is this female, who's supposed to have Jedi powers, but we don't know how she got Jedi powers, or who she is. It sucks. The storylines are terrible. Terrible. Just awful."

And perhaps to set the record straight, Lucas also directs her wrath at her ex-husband's prequel trilogy, revealing her disappointment in Episode I literally brought her to tears in 1999.

"I remember going out to the parking lot, sitting in my car and crying," Lucas writes. "I cried. I cried because I didn't think it was very good. And I thought [George] had such a rich vein to mine, a rich palette to tell stories with... There were things I didn't like about the casting, and things I didn't like about the story, and things I didn't like — it was a lot of eye candy. CG."

Lucas is probably best known for her work editing the original three Star Wars movies. She won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing in 1977 for Star Wars, having previously been nominated for 1973's American Graffiti. Lucas also won a BAFTA for her work on 1976's Taxi Driver.

Lucas' contribution to the Star Wars franchise is the subject of the YouTube mini-documentary "How Star Wars Was Saved in the Edit," which reveals just how pivotal a role she played in shaping her then-husband's rough cut into a global blockbuster.

Abrams seemingly acknowledged the lingering controversy surrounding the Star Wars sequels in 2020, admitting he's "learned the hard way" to always go into new projects with a clear plan.

As for what's next for the franchise, we recently learned the upcoming anime anthology Star Wars Visions will be the first project set after the events of The Rise of Skywaker, though it's unclear whether the series is meant to be part of the official canon.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Star Trek – The Original Series: A Celebration is a brand new 256-page coffee table book that dives deep into the making of the original adventures of Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, and IGN has a preview of the chronicle that features rare and never-before-seen images from the show that boldly went where no show had gone before.

The book will be available on September 21, 2021 - the same month as Star Trek’s 55th anniversary - and its pages are filled with new and archival conversations and over 200 photos and sketches that, according to the publisher, "shine a fresh light on the actors, writers, directors, production and costume designers, composers, prop builders, visual effects and makeup artists, and more, who brought Star Trek to life."

It also celebrates the fans who helped save the show in its early days, gives a glimpse of the earliest Star Trek conventions, and breaks down 12 of the most important episodes from the series.

You can check out a few pages of the new book below alongside the cover jacket:

This new hardcover book comes with an MSRP of $34.95 USD/$44.95 CAD and follows Star Trek: Voyager - A Celebration as the second release in Hero Collector’s Celebration line.

Star Trek – The Original Series: A Celebration is written by both Ben Robinson and Ian Spelling. Robinson is in charge of Eaglemoss’ official Star Trek Starships collection and was not only the launch editor of the Star Trek Fact Files reference work, but also was an editor for the US Star Trek: The Magazine. Spelling is an entertainment journalist who has interviewed such Star Trek legends as Gene Roddenberry, George Takei, James Doohan, and more. He was also an editor of StarTrek.com from 2010-2019 and has made a couple guest appearances on Star Trek itself.

“Our goal was to craft a book that was the written and visual equivalent of a great convention,” Spelling says. “We’ve brought fresh eyes to everything and tried to strip the myths away from the reality and we’ve discovered new stories that had never been told. We tracked down actors and crew whom people hadn’t heard from much – or ever – and are thrilled to include them in A Celebration.”

“Fans have read and seen bits and pieces of Star Trek’s production history, but A Celebration gathers everything in one place and puts it in context,” Robinson added. “We tracked down some incredibly rare pictures and artwork that have never been printed before. However well you think you know Star Trek, there’s something new for you. It’s really the Star Trek book I’ve always wanted to add to my collection.”

You can order a copy of Star Trek – The Original Series: A Celebration right here.

For more on Star Trek, check out the biggest news from Star Trek Day 2021, including a new look at Picard Season 2, the premiere date of Star Trek: Discovery’s fourth season, and the newest cast members of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a list that includes younger version of classic Star Trek: The Original Series characters like Cadet Nyotah Uhura.

Also, be sure to also check out our interview with William Shatner on the occasion of the first four Trek films hitting 4K.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Star Trek – The Original Series: A Celebration is a brand new 256-page coffee table book that dives deep into the making of the original adventures of Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, and IGN has a preview of the chronicle that features rare and never-before-seen images from the show that boldly went where no show had gone before.

The book will be available on September 21, 2021 - the same month as Star Trek’s 55th anniversary - and its pages are filled with new and archival conversations and over 200 photos and sketches that, according to the publisher, "shine a fresh light on the actors, writers, directors, production and costume designers, composers, prop builders, visual effects and makeup artists, and more, who brought Star Trek to life."

It also celebrates the fans who helped save the show in its early days, gives a glimpse of the earliest Star Trek conventions, and breaks down 12 of the most important episodes from the series.

You can check out a few pages of the new book below alongside the cover jacket:

This new hardcover book comes with an MSRP of $34.95 USD/$44.95 CAD and follows Star Trek: Voyager - A Celebration as the second release in Hero Collector’s Celebration line.

Star Trek – The Original Series: A Celebration is written by both Ben Robinson and Ian Spelling. Robinson is in charge of Eaglemoss’ official Star Trek Starships collection and was not only the launch editor of the Star Trek Fact Files reference work, but also was an editor for the US Star Trek: The Magazine. Spelling is an entertainment journalist who has interviewed such Star Trek legends as Gene Roddenberry, George Takei, James Doohan, and more. He was also an editor of StarTrek.com from 2010-2019 and has made a couple guest appearances on Star Trek itself.

“Our goal was to craft a book that was the written and visual equivalent of a great convention,” Spelling says. “We’ve brought fresh eyes to everything and tried to strip the myths away from the reality and we’ve discovered new stories that had never been told. We tracked down actors and crew whom people hadn’t heard from much – or ever – and are thrilled to include them in A Celebration.”

“Fans have read and seen bits and pieces of Star Trek’s production history, but A Celebration gathers everything in one place and puts it in context,” Robinson added. “We tracked down some incredibly rare pictures and artwork that have never been printed before. However well you think you know Star Trek, there’s something new for you. It’s really the Star Trek book I’ve always wanted to add to my collection.”

You can order a copy of Star Trek – The Original Series: A Celebration right here.

For more on Star Trek, check out the biggest news from Star Trek Day 2021, including a new look at Picard Season 2, the premiere date of Star Trek: Discovery’s fourth season, and the newest cast members of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a list that includes younger version of classic Star Trek: The Original Series characters like Cadet Nyotah Uhura.

Also, be sure to also check out our interview with William Shatner on the occasion of the first four Trek films hitting 4K.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director behind The Last of Us, will seemingly direct at least a portion of the upcoming HBO TV series based on the game.

An updated production list on the Directors Guild of Canada lists Druckmann as one of five directors for the show's first season.

Listed alongside Druckmann as directors for the series are co-writer and showrunner Craig Mazin, as well as Jasmila Zbanic, and Peter Hoar. They are joined by Kantemir Balagov, who recently wrapped up directorial duties on the show's pilot episode.

While it was already known that the Naughty Dog co-president would feature as an executive producer and writer on the show, it is currently unclear whether Druckmann's role as a director will span a single episode or more.

Since its initial announcement last year, HBO's The Last of Us has since confirmed a number of casting choices for the post-apocalyptic series. The Mandalorian and Narcos' Pedro Pascal was previously confirmed to be undertaking the role of series protagonist Joel while Bella Ramsey (of Game of Thrones fame) is set to play Ellie.

Since then, the show's most recent addition to its cast comes in the form of Fringe's Anna Torv, who will take on the recurring role as Joel's smuggling companion, Tess.

While many of the details surrounding the show have been kept closely under wraps, back in July it was said that the TV adaptation of The Last of Us would have a budget that "exceeded the eight-figure per episode mark" likely making it "the largest project shooting in Canada".

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director behind The Last of Us, will seemingly direct at least a portion of the upcoming HBO TV series based on the game.

An updated production list on the Directors Guild of Canada lists Druckmann as one of five directors for the show's first season.

Listed alongside Druckmann as directors for the series are co-writer and showrunner Craig Mazin, as well as Jasmila Zbanic, and Peter Hoar. They are joined by Kantemir Balagov, who recently wrapped up directorial duties on the show's pilot episode.

While it was already known that the Naughty Dog co-president would feature as an executive producer and writer on the show, it is currently unclear whether Druckmann's role as a director will span a single episode or more.

Since its initial announcement last year, HBO's The Last of Us has since confirmed a number of casting choices for the post-apocalyptic series. The Mandalorian and Narcos' Pedro Pascal was previously confirmed to be undertaking the role of series protagonist Joel while Bella Ramsey (of Game of Thrones fame) is set to play Ellie.

Since then, the show's most recent addition to its cast comes in the form of Fringe's Anna Torv, who will take on the recurring role as Joel's smuggling companion, Tess.

While many of the details surrounding the show have been kept closely under wraps, back in July it was said that the TV adaptation of The Last of Us would have a budget that "exceeded the eight-figure per episode mark" likely making it "the largest project shooting in Canada".

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Sony Pictures has released four new character posters for Venom: Let There Be Carnage, including one for Michelle Williams' Anne Weying that teases the return of She-Venom.

The official @VenomMovie Twitter shared a new batch of posters, highlighting the duality of the characters in Andy Serkis' upcoming Venom sequel. The images spotlight the characters' symbiote-fuelled transformations, with portraits of Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock/Venom, Woody Harrelson's Cletus Kasady/Carnage, and Naomie Harris' Frances Barrison/Shriek.

Michelle Williams' Anne Weying also gets her own poster, featuring a silhouette that teases the return of She-Venom. The tagline in the tweet accompanying the poster also points to Williams officially suiting up as She-Venom in the sequel. "She's back in black," the tagline revealed. Take a closer look at her poster along with all of the others in our gallery below:

Williams previously spoke of her desire to have more screen time as She-Venom in Let There Be Carnage, having briefly spawned into her symbiotic counterpart in the 2018 movie. The actress said she hoped that she would be able to assume her alternate identity for "equal time" in the sequel to the blockbuster anti-hero superhero film.

Fortunately, we don't have too long to wait to find out. Venom: Let There Be Carnage was recently moved up on Sony's release calendar, with the PG-13 rated sequel now expected to hit theaters on October 1. Some fans are speculating that Venom might make another appearance this year too, in Spider-Man: No Way Home when it's released in December.

Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Sony Pictures has released four new character posters for Venom: Let There Be Carnage, including one for Michelle Williams' Anne Weying that teases the return of She-Venom.

The official @VenomMovie Twitter shared a new batch of posters, highlighting the duality of the characters in Andy Serkis' upcoming Venom sequel. The images spotlight the characters' symbiote-fuelled transformations, with portraits of Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock/Venom, Woody Harrelson's Cletus Kasady/Carnage, and Naomie Harris' Frances Barrison/Shriek.

Michelle Williams' Anne Weying also gets her own poster, featuring a silhouette that teases the return of She-Venom. The tagline in the tweet accompanying the poster also points to Williams officially suiting up as She-Venom in the sequel. "She's back in black," the tagline revealed. Take a closer look at her poster along with all of the others in our gallery below:

Williams previously spoke of her desire to have more screen time as She-Venom in Let There Be Carnage, having briefly spawned into her symbiotic counterpart in the 2018 movie. The actress said she hoped that she would be able to assume her alternate identity for "equal time" in the sequel to the blockbuster anti-hero superhero film.

Fortunately, we don't have too long to wait to find out. Venom: Let There Be Carnage was recently moved up on Sony's release calendar, with the PG-13 rated sequel now expected to hit theaters on October 1. Some fans are speculating that Venom might make another appearance this year too, in Spider-Man: No Way Home when it's released in December.

Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Nvidia has officially confirmed that the PC version of Deathloop has support for its Reflex software tech.

Nvidia notes that Reflex will benefit Deathloop's single-player experience as the software tech will reduce system latency by up to 40%. The tech does this by reducing the time it takes for your computer to process your input.

Nvidia Reflex is a toolkit that measures and reduces system latency. Unlike other Nvidia tech such as DLSS, Reflex does not require an RTX graphics card and supports older Nvidia cards, starting with the GTX 900 series or newer. Nvidia Reflex was released last year, and more than 20 games currently support the software tech, including Fortnite, Destiny 2, Splitgate, and the soon-to-be-released Battlefield 2042.

An interesting thing to note is that Nvidia Reflex is commonly implemented in competitive games. While Deathloop is not a competitive game like others on the list, the game does include an invasion mechanic. In this PvP multiplayer feature, players have the option to have their session invaded by another player controlling Juliana or join another session controlling the character. But, Nvidia also notes that the software tech will also benefit players that are playing the single-player mode, as you can disable human-controlled invasions.

While Relfex support is now available, Deathloop does not support Nvidia DLSS. The game does support FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), though, AMD's supersampling tech released last June.

Ahead of Deathloop's release last week, the game was met with critical acclaim, including IGN's 10/10 review score. Yet, the PC version has been criticized for stuttering issues. While players initially thought it had something to do with Denuvo Anti-Piracy software, it was later revealed by multiple sources, including Digital Foundry, that those stuttering issues are actually tied to framerates and mouse input controls.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Nvidia has officially confirmed that the PC version of Deathloop has support for its Reflex software tech.

Nvidia notes that Reflex will benefit Deathloop's single-player experience as the software tech will reduce system latency by up to 40%. The tech does this by reducing the time it takes for your computer to process your input.

Nvidia Reflex is a toolkit that measures and reduces system latency. Unlike other Nvidia tech such as DLSS, Reflex does not require an RTX graphics card and supports older Nvidia cards, starting with the GTX 900 series or newer. Nvidia Reflex was released last year, and more than 20 games currently support the software tech, including Fortnite, Destiny 2, Splitgate, and the soon-to-be-released Battlefield 2042.

An interesting thing to note is that Nvidia Reflex is commonly implemented in competitive games. While Deathloop is not a competitive game like others on the list, the game does include an invasion mechanic. In this PvP multiplayer feature, players have the option to have their session invaded by another player controlling Juliana or join another session controlling the character. But, Nvidia also notes that the software tech will also benefit players that are playing the single-player mode, as you can disable human-controlled invasions.

While Relfex support is now available, Deathloop does not support Nvidia DLSS. The game does support FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), though, AMD's supersampling tech released last June.

Ahead of Deathloop's release last week, the game was met with critical acclaim, including IGN's 10/10 review score. Yet, the PC version has been criticized for stuttering issues. While players initially thought it had something to do with Denuvo Anti-Piracy software, it was later revealed by multiple sources, including Digital Foundry, that those stuttering issues are actually tied to framerates and mouse input controls.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Ahead of its September 21 launch, Kena: Bridge of Spirits developer Ember Labs has announced that the game will feature a photo mode.

Revealed in an article on the PlayStation Blog, Kena: Bridge of Spirits' photo mode will include one or two functions not typical of the more 'standard' versions of the feature seen in many games.

Instead of simply stopping time to allow players to take a quick freeze-frame of the action, Bridge of Spirits grants players the option to bring its characters to life as they look to set up the perfect snap. While moving the camera in photo mode, Kena and the game's other characters will keep their attention on you; readjusting their positions to cater for more personality-fueled intimate shots.

In addition, the photo mode also comes with its own "Cheese" function. Once you've pinned down your angle and you're ready to add another shot to the album, selecting the function will cause the characters in the photo to say "CHEESE" and strike a pose. According to Ember Labs, many characters in the game come with multiple poses, meaning that you can take various shots at any location within the game without it feeling repetitive and unmemorable.

Ember Labs producer, Thomas Varga, spoke a little further about why the team wanted to flesh out their photo mode for Kena: Bridge of Spirits. "Developing photo mode and the Cheese function were exciting animation opportunities for us," he said in the PlayStation Blog post. "Not only does this function introduce another entertaining element for players, it also allowed us to showcase character personalities as we developed each unique pose."

For more, make sure to check out our Kena: Bridge of Spirits preview, which looks at how the game looks to weave together features of different PlayStation hits like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn to create an intriguing blend of Pixar-style animated combat and exploration.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.