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NFL and Disney announce Star Wars animated Super Bowl telecast
The NFL, ESPN, Lucasfilm, and Disney have announced ‘Star Wars Funday Football,’ a real-time animated alternate telecast for Super Bowl LXI. Scheduled for February 14, 2027, the broadcast will stream on Disney+, the ESPN App, Disney Channel, and Disney XD.
Using data visualization technology from Sony’s Beyond Sports, the production will combine NFL Next Gen Stats with Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking to transform live players into animated avatars. Star Wars characters will appear during key moments, and the broadcast will include various franchise Easter eggs. Anthony Daniels will return to voice C-3PO.
The animated presentation will run alongside the traditional broadcast featuring Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge. The event, held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marks the first time an animated alternate presentation will be used for a Super Bowl. This follows previous NFL ‘Funday Football’ installments themed around Toy Story, The Simpsons, and Monsters, Inc.
In addition to the Super Bowl, Disney+ will feature Star Wars-themed ‘Hyperspace Highlights’ for Monday Night Football starting October 20, and an animated segment featuring Darth Vader interviewing players starting October 26.
Entities
Anthony Daniels · Disney · ESPN · Lucasfilm · NFL
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The animated broadcast will run alongside the traditional game presentation. seat42f.com · www.hollywoodreporter.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The event is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027. seat42f.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] ESPN, Lucasfilm, Disney, and the NFL announced Star Wars Funday Football. seat42f.com · www.hollywoodreporter.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Anthony Daniels will return to voice C-3PO in the presentation. seat42f.com · www.hollywoodreporter.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sony’s Beyond Sports will provide the data visualization technology used to translate the live game into animation. seat42f.com · www.hollywoodreporter.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Starting October 26, SC+ will feature animated Darth Vader interviews with players during Monday Night Football. www.hollywoodreporter.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The telecast will have expanded live availability in international markets including Canada, Australia, Japan, and several others. www.hollywoodreporter.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Star Wars Funday Football will be a real-time animated presentation of Super Bowl LXI. seat42f.com · www.hollywoodreporter.com