Star Wars Funday Football Will Recreate Super Bowl LXI Live in an Animated Galaxy
Lucasfilm, ESPN and the NFL have announced a Star Wars-themed alternate telecast for February 14, 2027, with Anthony Daniels returning as C-3PO.
Quick read: Star Wars Funday Football is scheduled for February 14, 2027 on Disney+, the ESPN App, Disney Channel and Disney XD, with real NFL plays re-created in an animated Star Wars environment.
The 2027 Super Bowl is getting a second, animated presentation
Lucasfilm, ESPN, Disney and the NFL announced on October 20 that Super Bowl LXI will receive a Star Wars-themed animated alternate telecast called Star Wars Funday Football. It is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027, alongside the ordinary broadcast from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Viewers in the United States will be able to find the animated presentation on Disney+, the ESPN App, Disney Channel and Disney XD. The regular live game will continue separately on ESPN, ABC and Disney+.
The production will use tracking information from the actual game to render animated versions of the players on a fictional Star Wars field. It is not a prerecorded parody, a replacement for the NFL broadcast, or a new Star Wars narrative film. Its planned appeal lies in seeing a real sporting contest interpreted through franchise characters and settings as the play develops.
C-3PO returns, but many visual details remain undisclosed
The announcement and teaser identify C-3PO and R2-D2 as early participants. Anthony Daniels has recorded new C-3PO dialogue, extending a performance associated with the 1977 film. Lucasfilm said other characters from across Star Wars will enter the broadcast at selected moments, with references and visual details placed throughout the animated action.
ESPN plans to rely on Sony's Beyond Sports visualization technology, NFL Next Gen Stats and Sony Hawk-Eye player tracking. The technology has also supported earlier animated football presentations themed around Toy Story, The Simpsons and Monsters. The precise Star Wars stadium, commentator arrangements and complete character roster were not announced on October 20. Those details should be treated as pending rather than guessed.
Where it fits in the anniversary calendar
Star Wars Funday Football is planned five days before the February 19, 2027 theatrical return of the restored 1977 Star Wars film. Lucasfilm is presenting the year as the franchise's fiftieth-anniversary period, with Star Wars Celebration scheduled for April and Star Wars: Starfighter set for May 28. The crossover reaches viewers who may follow professional football more closely than film or television news.
The Disney press release also states that themed Hyperspace Highlights began appearing on SC+ on October 20. A Darth Vader interview segment involving Monday Night Football players is scheduled to begin October 26. These associated programs should not be confused with the live animated Super Bowl itself.
Source trail
What this report is based on
- Lucasfilm: Star Wars Funday Football Takes on Super Bowl LXI ↗Official October 20, 2026 announcement and telecast details.
- Disney+ Press: Star Wars Funday Football ↗Partner press release confirming distribution, production method and supporting segments.
IDS labels unconfirmed information explicitly and updates stories when official information materially changes the status.