On The end of Star Wars Insider
After a run of 40 years, the magazine comes to an end
May the Fourth be with you!
We normally cover horror here at The DeMonster, but today we’re covering the closure of one of the longest-running Sci-Fi magazines, as the legendary run for Star Wars Insider comes to an end with its 237th issue.
The magazine has been a staple for the Star Wars community, rife with celebrity and creative interviews, covering everything Star Wars related from its movies, TV shows, and video games.
We’d never thought it would end, but sadly is bidding an Alderaan adieu as of today, with its final issue available in stores right now in the US and Canada.
Fun facts about Star Wars Insider. It originally was a newsletter called Bantha Tracks in 1978, before changing into a magazine called The Lucas Film Fan Club in ‘87. The title then changed again, re-releasing as STAR WARS INSIDER to coincide with the release of the video game Star Wars: TIE Fighter in 1994–widely considered a space shooter classic in retrospect–and was actually one of the first computer video games I’d ever played as a kid.
I’ve had friends like Mary Fan published in Star Wars Insider. At some point, I was hoping to pitch them too. A few years ago, I was the SEO content manager and an admin at CultureSlate, home to the incredibly popular Star Wars Underworld Podcast, where Star Wars influencer Hannah Raeside got her start covering Star Wars fandom.
So like many, I’ve had fond memories of Star Wars and this magazine, too.
This final issue of Insider (No. 237) features an interview with Kathleen Kennedy reflecting on her tenure as president of Lucasfilm in a look back at how things got done and how the franchise evolved over time. More recently, the magazine gets into some highlights of the upcoming movie Star Wars: Starfighter.
If that wasn’t enough, there are also insights from editor John Gilroy in an interview about his work on Rogue One and Andor that offer a glimpse into the art of storytelling in the cutting room. A lot of special guests contributed to this one, from former contributors, authors, and creatives, talking about how much the magazine has meant to them over the years, with even a comment by actors like Mark Hamill himself.
Finally, if you’re a fan of The Mandalorian, the final issue also has a featured preview of The Mandalorian and Grogu, ahead of its theatrical release.
There’s a lot more, including a final highlights showcase of some behind-the-scenes perspectives from special effects supervisor Dominic Tuohy and a look at the 30th anniversary of Shadows of the Empire.
Honestly, can’t stress how important this magazine was in pop culture and will share it will be missed. Buy it if you’d like to say farewell to a classic piece of media history, and if you’re a collector, yeah–this is one of those must-own collectibles in the future.
STAR WARS INSIDER #237
THE FORCE-FILLED FINAL ISSUE!
ON SALE US, CANADA: May 5, 2026 / ON SALE UK: June 4, 2026