This Documentary Takes You Contained in the Very Actual World of Aggressive Lightsaber Duels (Unique)

Each Star Wars fan has their favorite Star Wars thing. Possibly it’s the area battles. Possibly it’s the bizarre creatures. Possibly it’s the commerce routes. For a lot of, although, their favourite issues are lightsabers and lightsaber battles. Which, apparently, is particular adoration that may be was championship glory.

io9 is worked up to solely debut the primary trailer for Saber, a brand new documentary about aggressive lightsaber battling. Directed by Matthew Wiatt, the movie follows members of a gaggle referred to as the Saber Legion as they battle their method in the direction of the lightsaber preventing world championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. The movie may have its world premiere in February on the 51st Boston Sci-Fi Movie Competition, and it seems to be like a singular mix of an underdog sports activities story, inspirational actuality, and a heavy dose of hardcore Star Wars fandom. Test it out.

To accompany the trailer, io9 requested Wiatt a couple of questions by way of e mail concerning the movie, its manufacturing, and extra.

Germain Lussier, io9: How did you discover out about this world and determine to make a documentary about it?

Matthew Wiatt: I first got here throughout the Saber Legion (TSL) by way of TikTok. The fight instantly grabbed me. It was aggressive, cinematic, and hit a powerful nostalgic chord. What actually stood out was the neighborhood behind it. Once I attended my first occasion, it was clear this was about greater than a sport. Folks had been constructing an area centered on connection, help, and belonging, and that felt like a narrative value telling.

io9: How did you discover the topics?

Wiatt: The primary video on TikTok I noticed was posted by Alec, so I reached out to him immediately. I used to be shocked to study he lived about an hour away, and he invited me to attend a TSL event being held in Orlando, FL. At that very same occasion, I additionally met Kat, who turned one other central voice within the movie.

io9: How lengthy have you ever been capturing, and the way lengthy did you shoot?

Wiatt: We shot over roughly three years. We accomplished post-production in the summertime of 2025.

io9: What was the most important problem in bringing this world to the massive display screen?

Wiatt: This can be a really impartial movie, and with that come some actual challenges. Money and time are the plain ones. I’m lucky to work with a manufacturing firm and crew who assist navigate these realities and absolutely imagine within the challenge. Creatively, the most important problem comes within the edit. We’re working with 10 to fifteen terabytes of footage and must form it right into a centered, character-driven 90-minute movie.

io9: What shocked you most about this world if you had been making the movie?

Wiatt: I used to be genuinely shocked by how open and welcoming the Saber Legion neighborhood is, particularly towards us as filmmakers. It’s by no means straightforward to comply with folks round with a digital camera and microphone, but everybody was beneficiant with their time and belief. That generosity prolonged effectively past the digital camera. Since ending the movie, I’ve even began taking part in TSL myself, and it’s been a blast to expertise the neighborhood from the within.

io9: Absolutely Star Wars followers and non-fans alike can take pleasure in this, however how far more will a Star Wars fan get out of it?

Wiatt: Whether or not or not you’re a Star Wars fan, I hope the movie encourages folks to search for communities and teams the place they really feel supported and accepted as they’re. At its core, Saber is about discovering connection, one thing lots of people really feel they’re lacking proper now. For Star Wars followers, there’s an added layer: visible nods, cultural references, and small Easter eggs drawn from Star Wars and broader nerd tradition are all through the movie.

For extra on Saber, visit its official site. 

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