WookieeLeaks: ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Spills Secrets While ‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ Keeps Them

ScreenCrush’s WookieLeaks is a weekly roundup of everything 'Star Wars'! From 'Episode 7,' to the upcoming spinoffs and the TV shows, if it pertains to that long ago, far away galaxy, we’re covering it here, bringing you our expert analysis. This week, 'Star Wars Rebels' officially introduces its big bad, a genre veteran joins 'Star Wars: Episode 7,' and two incredible comedians battle for fan supremacy.

'Star Wars Rebels' Kicks Into Gear

With 'Star Wars Rebels' poised to represent the entire franchise at Comic-Con, the show has started to creep into every corner of existence. If you're a 'Star Wars' fan (especially a young fan), you know it exists.

First, this new video featurette arrived, giving us our first look at the villain known as The Inquisitor in action. This video also confirms the previous rumors that the fantastic Jason Isaacs will be providing the voice of the character. Yes, that means Isaacs has now played a 'Star Wars' villain, a 'Harry Potter' villain, and Captain Hook.

Speaking of villains, an image of one of the series' other bad guys has creeped online and he'll look like this:

Leaked pages from the series' upcoming visual guide confirms that his name is Cikatro Vizago and that he's a criminal kingpin whose catchphrase is "Business is all that matters." In typical 'Star Wars' fashion, it looks like our heroes will be battling a wretched hive of scum and villainy in addition to the Imperial forces.

Disney has introduced a new 'Star Wars Rebels' themed game on their official site, but if you're an old school fan, you'll probably be more interested in a first look at the series' new action figures, which will include characters from the show as well as classic heroes and villains from the films.

Examining the New 'Episode 7' Characters...

In a scoop that was first revealed by Latino Review and later confirmed by Variety, we've learned that '24: Live Another Day' and 'Doctor Who' actress Christina Chong has joined the cast of 'Star Wars: Episode 7.' Like the rest of the new cast, her character remains a complete and total unknown at the moment ... but like her co-star Pip Andersen, she just so happens to have a parkour showreel. Coincidence? Maybe ... but it's just as likely that 'Episode 7' will feature a few highly acrobatic warriors.

And although other new cast member Crystal Clarke doesn't have a parkour reel, she does have this glowing mini-profile, which includes tons of breathless praise for her acting abilities by one of her first directors.

Elsewhere, a rumor sprang up that Daisy Ridley's character is named -- wait for it -- Kira! The source is some fairly compelling behind-the-scenes evidence ... but other sources have now denied this. Yes, this is how hungry for new info we are at this point: we're getting worked up over a new character's first name!

And finally, Andy Serkis spoke with The Independent about his role in the film and once again revealed nothing. To be fair, J.J. Abrams probably planted a bomb in his neck that will go off if he says the wrong thing. He's only protecting himself! However, Serkis did jokingly confirm one thing: his mysterious character will not be related to Boba Fett.

...and Pondering a Few 'Star Wars' Veterans

A while back, we heard the rumor that Ian McDiarmid had secretly joined 'Star Wars: Episode 7,' reprising his role as Emperor Palpatine, who would appear as a Force ghost from beyond the grave. And then we heard nothing. And then McDiarmid participated in a Q&A about his career and addressed the subject directly:

If you don't want to wade through the whole video, here's the relevant bit:

“As you know they’re filming Episode Seven. I’m not in that. I’m not being coy. I’m definitely not in that. As you know he’s dead, right then. I know that we believe in reincarnation and holograms and all the rest of it ... But you know they’re going to take many twists on the story as the years go on, both spinoffs and new. And I guess they may go back to a time — and I’ve got no clues, I’m just speaking off the top of my head — when the Emperor ran the universe. I don’t want anyone else to play him, do I? So, um, it might happen. But I’m not being coy. I’ve got no more idea than you do.”

Unless he's really trapped in J.J. Abrams' devious mystery box (which may involve snipers watching him at all times), we're prepared to take McDiarmid at his word on this one. Still, we'll leave ourself open to being pleasantly surprised!

And while we're on the subject of iconic villains returning from beyond the grave, Johnathan Rinzler of the LucasFilm story group participated in a Reddit AMA and dropped some fairly important news: Boba Fett survived the Sarlacc Pit! Although the feared Bounty Hunter had previously survived the events of 'Return of the Jedi' in the 'Star Wars' extended universe, Disney's decision to hit reset on everything outside of the movies threw his fate into question. But it looks like they were wise enough to keep this ever-popular character alive and well and ready to pop up in his own solo film (possibly directed by Gareth Edwards?) in the next few years.

'Star Wars' Rules Social Media

Although the 'Star Wars: Episode 7' set is locked down tighter than Fort Knox, the actors involved in the production still have access to social media and can't help but occasionally tweet or post pictures to Instagram.

Cue: nerds like us obsessing over every single post and trying to squeeze something out of it.

But we can see one of those potentially brilliant people she's surrounded by over on John Boyega's Instagram feed. Candid photos like this from the original trilogy are a blast to discover. With 'Episode 7,' we're seeing them in real time.

A Grab Bag of Fun Stuff

Comedy greats Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert teamed up to make an amusing video to promote the Star Wars: Force for Change charity. In addition to raising money for UNICEF, the campaign will also send one lucky fan to the 'Star Wars: Episode 7' set where they will get to play an alien extra. Charity and a contest and a funny video featuring two of the funniest men alive? This is all good.

Sideshow collectibles has begun teasing a few more of their Comic-Con exclusives. If you're a 'Star Wars' fan who will be in San Diego for the biggest event in Geekdom, make sure you swing by their booth and check out their new C-3PO and Luke Skywalker figures. These vague images have us hungry for more...

And speaking of C-3PO, the lovable droid's original hands are going up for auction soon. If you have deep pockets (or are simply prepared to go into debt), acting accordingly.

If you can't afford to drop thousands of dollars on memorabilia, you can make yourself feel a little better by purchasing the upcoming omnibus collecting the earliest 'Star Wars' comics. So Marvel, who is now owned by Disney, is collecting and reprinting comics based on 'Star Wars,' which is now owned by Disney. Disney will own you and me pretty soon. Anyway, this book is going to be a must-buy for comic and 'Star Wars' fans alike.

If $100 for a hardcover comic omnibus is still a little too expensive, there's always this new Millennium Falcon toy, which will retail for $59.99. Unfortunately, it's a Wal-Mart exclusive. So just pretend you're venturing into Mos Eisley to buy some power converters when you swing by to pick it up when it hits shelves in November.