Darth Vader is set to interview NFL players as part of a new collaboration between ESPN, Disney and Star Wars ahead of the 2027 Super Bowl.
Beginning October 26, an animated version of the iconic Star Wars villain will interview a player competing in that night’s Monday Night Football game, with the segments airing on Disney+.
ESPN announced the unusual crossover on October 20 as part of its plans for Super Bowl LXI, which will receive a special Star Wars-themed broadcast next year.
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The interviews will feature on SC+, ESPN’s daily SportsCenter show available through Disney+, every Monday starting October 26.
The network has not revealed which players will appear opposite Darth Vader or who will provide the character’s voice.
The interviews aren’t the only Star Wars content coming to ESPN, either. Starting October 20, SC+ will also feature “Hyperspace Highlights,” presenting plays from Monday Night Football with a Star Wars visual theme.
Both additions are part of a wider collaboration between ESPN, Lucasfilm, Disney and the NFL, culminating in an animated version of Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.
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Dubbed Star Wars Funday Football, the alternative broadcast will recreate every play of the championship game in real time, replacing the players on the field with animated versions of themselves.
Characters from the Star Wars franchise will also appear throughout the game, occasionally substituting for players during key moments.
Anthony Daniels, who first portrayed C-3PO in the original 1977 movie, will return to voice the character for the broadcast.
The game will be shown on Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney XD, alongside the traditional Super Bowl coverage.
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