Darth Vader to Conduct ESPN Postgame Interviews

An animated version of the iconic Star Wars villain will begin hosting postgame interviews on ESPN starting this October.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Football

Darth Vader to Conduct ESPN Postgame Interviews

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Beginning October 26, 2026, an animated version of Darth Vader will join ESPN to conduct postgame interviews. This new programming will be available for streaming on SportsCenter+ on Disney+.

Why it matters

The integration aims to blend sports broadcasting with popular entertainment franchises owned by the Walt Disney Company. Future initiatives will include re-themed Monday Night Football segments and a special Star Wars-themed Super Bowl broadcast in 2027.

The initiative launches with scheduled animated segments on October 26, 2026, followed by a full Star Wars-themed Super Bowl broadcast in 2027. Both Lucasfilm and ESPN are currently under the ownership of the Walt Disney Company.

The players

Darth Vader

An animated version of the iconic Star Wars villain will serve as a guest interviewer for ESPN sports coverage.

ESPN

The major American sports cable network is owned by the Walt Disney Company and will air the new animated segments.

Disney+

The streaming service will host SportsCenter+ where the new animated interviews will be broadcast.

Lucasfilm

This production company is a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company and manages the Star Wars franchise intellectual property.

Walt Disney Company

The multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate owns both ESPN and Lucasfilm.

The details

Daily ESPN programming will feature specific Monday Night Football plays reimagined with Star Wars visual elements. These segments serve as a precursor to a larger collaborative effort between the sports network and its parent company's film studio.

October 26, 2026: Darth Vader begins conducting animated interviews on ESPN.
2027: Disney presents an animated Star Wars Super Bowl telecast.

Season Trajectory

This move signals a broader shift toward integrating high-value intellectual property into live sports to capture diverse demographics. The strategy follows the pattern set by Disney's previous alternative broadcasts, using proprietary animation technology to redefine the traditional viewing experience.

Viewers can access the new interviews by tuning into SportsCenter+ on the Disney+ platform starting in late October. Those following Monday Night Football will also see updated visual themes incorporated into game analysis segments throughout the season.

The takeaway

This collaboration marks a significant evolution in how major entertainment studios leverage their content libraries to drive engagement for sports properties. Viewers should expect more cross-branded telecasts as companies continue to seek ways to differentiate their streaming offerings.

What happens next

Darth Vader is scheduled to begin his interview duties on October 26, 2026. Following this debut, Disney is set to present its animated Star Wars-themed Super Bowl telecast at some point in 2027.