Lucasfilm, ESPN, Disney, and the NFL are teaming up to bring a galaxy far, far away to Super Bowl LXI, staging an animated alternate telecast set in the Star Wars universe for the championship game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The Bottom Line
- Disney+, Disney Channel, and Disney XD will carry the Star Wars Funday Football altcast on Sunday, February 14, alongside the main broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and Disney+.
- Anthony Daniels returns to voice C-3PO, leading a roster of animated characters while real-life NFL players transform into digital avatars during key plays.
- The production relies on data visualization technology from Sony’s Beyond Sports, following previous sports altcasts featuring Toy Story, The Simpsons, and Monsters Inc.
Star Wars Altcast Joins Disney’s Big Game Lineup
The upcoming championship presentation marks the first time Disney has brought its animated altcast format to the Super Bowl. Previous iterations of “Funday Football” ran during regular-season NFL games, beginning with a Toy Story-themed matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars in October 2023. Subsequent broadcasts featured characters from The Simpsons in December 2024 and Monsters Inc. in December 2025.
For the Super Bowl LXI altcast, the broadcast will capture every play in real time. Real-life athletes will appear as animated avatars on the screen, while iconic figures from the Lucasfilm franchise step in for key plays alongside Easter eggs hidden throughout the virtual stadium. Original franchise cast member Anthony Daniels will reprise his role to voice C-3PO.
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
Broadcast Distribution and Language Options
Fans tuning into the alternative stream can watch across multiple platforms in the United States. Disney+ and the ESPN app will stream the game digitally, while Disney Channel and Disney XD carry the linear television feed. Additional alternate presentations will air simultaneously on ESPN2, ESPNU, and NFL Network, according to deadline.com.
International audiences will also have access to the altcast. The stream goes live in Canada via TSN+, alongside Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, sub-Saharan Africa, Japan, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Other global territories will receive the broadcast shortly after the game concludes.
| Altcast Theme | Featured Matchup | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Toy Story | Falcons vs. Jaguars | October 2023 |
| The Simpsons | Bengals vs. Cowboys | December 2024 |
| Monsters Inc. | Eagles vs. Chargers | December 2025 |
| Star Wars | Super Bowl LXI | February 14, 2027 |
Regular Season Buildup on SC+
Disney’s promotional rollout for the crossover begins well before kickoff at SoFi Stadium. Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20, the streaming version of SportsCenter known as SC+ on Disney+ will introduce “Hyperspace Highlights,” presenting regular-season Monday Night Football clips with a distinct Star Wars visual theme, deadline.com reported.
The integration expands further on October 26. Starting with that week’s Monday Night Football contest, SC+ will feature weekly segments where an animated Darth Vader conducts interviews with participating NFL players.
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
More on Monsters Inc
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
Are you ready for some football? (In a galaxy far, far away?)Star Wars Super Bowl LXI: Funday Football, a live-alt animated telecast of the Super Bowl, premieres Sunday, February 14th on Disney Channel, Disney+, the ESPN app, and Disney XD! pic.twitter.com/7YIOGrXQKH
FRESH DROP!Funday Football returns for Super Bowl LX, now with a Star Wars theme. February 14 on the Disney channels (DC and DXD), Disney+, and the ESPN app https://t.co/fHOZygr2KS
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- Super Bowl LXI to Feature Star Wars Funday Football Animated Broadcast (time.news)
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