Just about one year to the day since Disney Television Animation's Phineas and Ferb enjoyed a visit from the heroes of Marvel Comics -- or an epic crossover event, if you like -- Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh' critically acclaimed and very popular musical comedy series will be the first to mashup with Star Wars since creator George Lucas' company was acquired by Disney last year.

Premiering next Saturday, July 26, on Disney XD, Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars takes place in what the studio actually terms "an alternate universe" in which the title characters and their supporting players inhabit the iconic roles of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

For those of you unfamiliar with the harrowing legend of Phineas and Ferb, the series is one of the most unconventionally structured and idiosyncratically directed of Disney TV Animation's current slate -- which includes Gravity Falls, so that's saying something. Each episode typically follows step-brothers Phineas and Ferb on some kind of adorably outlandish adventure -- like constructing the most dangerous roller coaster in history in their back yard -- while the bros themselves remain eminently chill throughout. Their older sister Candace is something of a narc, always trying to get them busted for not obeying the rules and generally panicking and freaking out constantly. But while all that goes on -- and this is where it gets really weird -- the boys' pet... platypus... who is called Perry, sneaks off to pursue his true nature as... an undercover spy... working to bring down a mad scientist Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz (think Dexter from Dexter's Lab all grown up and hilariously inept) ... in a subplot that has nothing to do with what Phineas and Ferb are even doing... until they crash into each other in the end in such a way that nullifies all evidence of whatever Phineas and Ferb were doing and make Candance look insane to their mom.

Like I said, it's wild.

I don't think I need to explain what Star Wars is, so let's just dive into the crossover synopsis:

In "Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars," Phineas and Ferb are living just one moisture farm over from Luke Skywalker on the planet of Tatooine when R2-D2 and the Death Star plans inadvertently fall into their speeder. With the fate of the galaxy thrust upon their shoulders, they hire pilot Isabella, Han Solo's rival, to help them return the plans to the Rebel Alliance. Complicating matters, low-ranking Stormtrooper Candace is intent on busting the Rebels and chases them across the galaxy in hopes of retrieving the Death Star plans.

Meanwhile, intergalactic chaos erupts on the Death Star when Perry the Rebelpus is trapped in carbonite while trying to stop Darthenshmirtz from using his new "Sith-inator."  The saga takes a turn for the worse when Ferb is accidentally caught in the crossfire of the "Sith-inator," changing him into a full-fledged Sith and leading to an epic first-time battle between the brothers.

The Phineas and Ferb special is not the first time we've seen the Lucasfilm universe collide with that of animated comedy. Numerous Family Guy and Robot Chicken crossovers have been produced over the years, but those shows are of course decidedly adult. The Phineas and Ferb special is the first of what we can expect to be many all-ages Star Wars interactions with the broader Disney catalogue, particularly the generally excellent work currently produced by the TV animation studio.

Featuring Simon Pegg as the voice of C-3PO (in what must be a rare Star Trek/Star Wars actor exchange), Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars premieres July 26 on Disney Channel. It will be represented August 4 on Disney XD as part of a block of Star Wars programming that includes an "extended look" at Disney TV Animation's Star Wars: Rebels, a new adventure series set in the saga's official canon.

Phineas and Ferb creators and executive producers Povenmire and Marsh, along with voice actors Vincent Martella and Alyson Stoner, will be on hand at the series' Comic-Con panel in San Diego next Saturday to talk about the show, the Star Wars special, and preview new series coming to Disney XD.  That's 10:00 a.m., Room 6A on Saturday July 26.

 

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