Super Bowl LXI is heading to a galaxy far, far away on Feb. 14, 2027, as ESPN, Lucasfilm, and the NFL roll out the first-ever fully animated alternate broadcast of the big game. The project transforms live player movements into 3D characters set against iconic franchise backgrounds, anchored by original cast member Anthony Daniels returning to voice C-3PO.
The broadcast, titled Star Wars Funday Football, will stream live on Disney+ and the ESPN App, while also airing on Disney Channel and Disney XD. The production marks a major milestone for the media conglomerate as it fields its first-ever Super Bowl production from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
In a galaxy far, far away…🛰️Star Wars Funday Football is coming to Super Bowl LXI!📺 Feb. 14 | Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/mjVSrbPet3
Real-Time Data Transforms Live Gameplay Into Animation
Behind the galactic visuals lies heavy-duty sports technology. The alternate telecast relies on Beyond Sports platform, which merges NFL’s Next Gen Stats with optical tracking from Hawk-Eye Innovations. This system converts every live play on the field into an animated avatar in real time.
As Collider notes, key art released alongside the announcement hints at familiar settings like the desert planet Tatooine, complete with stormtroopers, droids, and custom Easter eggs scattered throughout the gridiron action. Lucasfilm character avatars will substitute into the game during critical drives and red-zone stands.
This creative direction builds on a deliberative process regarding Disney’s deep content vault, with the NFL showing immediate enthusiasm for a galactic theme once the alternate broadcast was discussed. When ESPN reached out to its sister divisions, Lucasfilm and Industrial Light and Magic happened to be working on animated cartoon character interpretations of the original 1977 release of A New Hope referred to as “Lils,” which fit the concept seamlessly.
Animated Broadcast Reaches More than 155 Markets Worldwide
The animated broadcast will reach more than 155 markets worldwide. Live streaming coverage extends to Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Canada via TSN+, the Netherlands, sub-Saharan Africa, Japan, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, with on-demand viewing available shortly after the game in regions like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and South Korea.
A ‘STAR WARS’ themed telecast of the Super Bowl will air on February 14 on Disney+The telecast will use NFL player-tracking technology to recreate every play of the game in real time, transforming NFL players into animated Star Wars avatars. pic.twitter.com/uEq2cwGSZE
International fans can also access traditional coverage, as ESPN networks will carry the Super Bowl in more than 130 countries and territories, while Disney+ streams the main feed in over 55 international markets including Brazil, the Caribbean, South Africa, and Australia and New Zealand.
The timing coincides with Lucasfilm’s celebration of 50 years of Star Wars. Just five days after the Super Bowl, a newly restored print of the original 1977 film hits theaters on Feb. 19, including an IMAX 70mm presentation at select venues.
Darth Vader and Hyperspace Highlights Lead the Lead-Up
The crossover footprint expands well before kickoff. Beginning Oct. 20, SC+, the daily SportsCenter show on Disney+, introduced Hyperspace Highlights
featuring Monday Night Football plays wrapped in Star Wars visual themes.
Starting Oct. 26, the programming scales up further on Mondays as an animated Darth Vader conducts weekly sit-down interviews with NFL players participating in that night’s game. Variety reported that the broad multi-feed strategy stems from a 2021 rights agreement keeping Monday Night Football on ESPN through 2033, which subsequently deepened ties between the league and Disney, including the league taking a 10% stake in ESPN alongside integrating NFL Network and NFL RedZone into the network umbrella.
Coming to a galaxy far, far away….@ESPN is adding a final alt-cast for @SuperBowl LXI, with a @StarWars animated version set for @DisneyChannel, @DisneyXD and @DisneyPlusESPN's animated telecast guru talked to @SBJ about why Star Wars made sense:https://t.co/cEgxk9Js1a
Super Bowl LXI Viewing Options Across Disney Properties
- Main Telecast: Traditional coverage called by Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge on ESPN, ABC, and Disney+.
- ManningCast: Peyton and Eli Manning hosting their alt-cast on ESPN2.
- Field Pass: Hosted by Pat McAfee on ESPNU.
- Playbook: Statistics-focused telecast on NFL Network driven by Next Gen Stats.
- Language Feeds: Spanish-language presentation on ESPN Deportes and Disney+, alongside a separate broadcast on Univision.
LaughingPlace points out that this follows three previous iterations of the Funday Football franchise: Toy Story Funday Football in October 2023, The Simpsons Funday Football in December 2024, and Monsters Funday Football in December 2025.
It’s almost hard to believe that you get to do something like this, quite honestly.
Szykowny, via Sports Business Journal
More on Super Bowl
In a galaxy far, far away … 🛰️Star Wars Funday Football is coming to Super Bowl LXI!📺 Feb. 14 | Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/Mtz5jNc15M
NEW: Disney will bring Star Wars Funday Football to Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14. The alternate presentation will stream on Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and the ESPN App. pic.twitter.com/LJ4yvyhlME