Prepare for a cosmic journey as the much-anticipated documentary, “A Disturbance in the Force,” is poised to grace our screens this December. This captivating behind-the-scenes exposé immerses viewers in the tumultuous production saga of the infamous 1978 “Star Wars Holiday Special,” weaving together anecdotes from a distant galaxy that unveil the hitherto undisclosed challenges and missteps behind this ill-fated venture.
“A Disturbance in the Force” chronicles the making of the bizarre “Star Wars Holiday Special” that aired 45 years ago and never surfaced again. For some context: “Star Wars” was released in theaters in 1977 and became a cultural phenomenon. A year later, filmmaker George Lucas was talked into cashing in on the craze by producing a holiday-themed variety special. Plenty of people (approximately 13 million) tuned in when CBS aired “Star Wars Holiday Special” during the week of Thanksgiving. The only problem? It became a famously terrible two hours of television, never to be shown again.
Gear up for an interstellar odyssey through the creation of a cultural oddity, as the documentary meticulously unravels the cosmic chaos enshrouding the birth of the iconic yet notorious special. With its scheduled arrival in our terrestrial realm this December, the documentary pledges to teleport audiences to a galaxy far, far away, delivering a blend of humor and insight into the events that shaped a peculiar chapter in Star Wars history, forever etching its mark in the annals of the franchise.
Following its premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, “A Disturbance in the Force” is poised to hit digital and Blu-Ray platforms on December 5, aligning with the hallowed occasion of Life Day, a Wookiee holiday canonically celebrated in the Star Wars universe. Directors Jeremy Coons and Steve Kozak are on a mission to enlighten the masses about the campy mayhem, posing the age-old question that has perplexed Jedis and Siths alike for decades: “Can you believe this happened?” Prepare for a deep dive into the cosmic quagmire that birthed a legendary mishap, and join the directors in their quest to decipher the surreal reality of this unique slice of Star Wars lore.
The documentary is directed by Jeremy Coon (Napoleon Dynamite, Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made) and Steve Kozak (Whose Line Is It Anyway?). This pair also serves as producers of the film along with Adam F. Goldberg (The Goldbergs) and Kyle Newman (Fanboys). Collider reports that the documentary will feature Seth Green, Weird Al Yankovic, Taran Killam, Gilbert Gottfried, Bonnie Burton, Paul Scheer, Bruce Vilanch, Lenny Ripps, Donny Osmond, and Miki Herman.