Few things are more intimidating than facing an NFL defense on Monday Night Football. One of them might be explaining a costly interception to Darth Vader.
Starting Monday, October 26, the Dark Lord of the Sith will trade his lightsaber for a microphone as ESPN introduces an animated Darth Vader to interview NFL players ahead of Monday Night Football games.
Vader’s first assignment comes as the Dallas Cowboys face the Philadelphia Eagles, a rivalry that already has enough hostility to rival the Empire versus Rebel forces. Rest assured, his only job here is to interview the players, not blow things up—at least, that we’re aware of.
On second thought, does anyone have eyes on Nick Siranni?
According to ESPN’s official announcement, the interviews will appear Mondays on SC+, the daily SportsCenter program available through Disney+. The network has also introduced “Hyperspace Highlights,” which gives Monday Night Football plays a Star Wars-inspired makeover.
We can only imagine how Vader might handle the usual postgame clichés. “We just have to execute better” honestly sounds way more threatening coming from someone with a history of Force-choking employees who aren’t performing plays the way he drew them up.
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The Force Is Strong With ESPN’s Super Bowl Plans
The interviews are essentially the opening crawl for a much larger production.
On February 14, ESPN, Disney, Lucasfilm and the NFL will present Star Wars Funday Football, an animated alternative broadcast of Super Bowl LXI. The game will recreate live action using animated NFL players, familiar Star Wars characters and settings from a galaxy far, far away.
Anthony Daniels, who originated the role of C-3PO in 1977, will return to voice the famously anxious droid.
It’s the latest experiment in ESPN’s animated football universe, following previous collaborations featuring Toy Story, The Simpsons and Monsters, Inc.
For Disney, it’s another opportunity to introduce its franchises to football audiences. For the NFL, it’s a chance to reach viewers who might care more about Jedi than jet sweeps.
And for the millions of fans who grew up debating both quarterback rankings and lightsaber battles, it’s a rare moment when two obsessions finally occupy the same galaxy.
And if I may, players, remember that when Vader asks about your lack of conviction, he might mean something entirely different.
