Star Wars Funday Football planned as animated Super Bowl LXI alternate telecast

ESPN and Lucasfilm plan an animated “Star Wars Funday Football” presentation of Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, 2027. ESPN lists Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and the ESPN App as destinations. The Hollywood Reporter says this alternate version will run alongside the main broadcast on ABC, ESPN and Disney+ and other alternate presentations.

Variety reports that the planned telecast will recreate each play as it happens, turning players on the field into animated avatars. Star Wars characters are expected to substitute at key moments, TheWrap reports. Variety says the production will combine NFL Next Gen Stats player-tracking data with Sony Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking. The Hollywood Reporter identifies Sony’s Beyond Sports as the supplier of visualization technology.

Anthony Daniels will voice C-3PO, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The outlet says earlier animated Funday Football broadcasts featured Toy Story, The Simpsons and Monsters Inc. characters during regular-season NFL games. Variety says Disney expects to share more about visual settings, commentators and characters in the weeks ahead.