Fran Ruiz

Fran Ruiz

Fran Ruiz is our resident Star Wars guy. His hunger for movies and TV series is only matched by his love for video games. He got a BA of English Studies, focusing on English Literature, from the University of Malaga, in Spain, as well as a Master's Degree in English Studies, Multilingual and Intercultural Communication. On top of writing features and other longform articles for Space.com since 2021, he is a frequent collaborator of VG247 and other gaming sites. He also serves as associate editor over at Star Wars News Net and its sister site, Movie News Net.

Latest articles by Fran Ruiz

Still from the video game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. A Na'vi (blue humanoid with long dark hair) is riding on top of large flying beast off into the sunset.

How 'Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora' expands the exotic alien world of the movies

By Fran Ruiz published

The video game "Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora" presents a stunning recreation of Pandora as seen in the movies. But how does it expand on what we already know?

Space Games & Toys
Still from a Terminator movie. A close up of a metal skull with piercing red eyes and teeth. In the background you can see a horde of metal skeletons firing big guns.

The Terminator franchise should take a break from the big screen in order to evolve

By Fran Ruiz published

The Terminator will surely be back soon, but maybe the long-running sci-fi franchise should avoid cinemas for a while and evolve somewhere else.

Space Games & Toys
Still from the movie ' Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' (2024). A chimpanzee with a falcon perched on his arm.

Everything we know about 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes'

By Fran Ruiz published

Caesar is gone, but ape civilizations are emerging in 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.' Here's everything we know about this new start for the movie series.

Space Movies & Shows
Close up image of Predator, a terrifying hunter humanoid-like alien with dark dreadlocks and sharp claws. They are holding a long spear and wearing armor, spikey shoulder pads and a helmet. They are standing on a street lined with tall buildings.

The Predator franchise is due for a big comeback following the success of 'Prey'

By Fran Ruiz published

The last Predator movie, Prey, was a hit last year on Hulu and Disney Plus. However, the legendary sci-fi IP isn't getting the same attention as Alien.

Space Movies & Shows
Image from the Marvel T.V. show Loki, season 2 episode 6. Close up of a man with dark slicked back hair who looks sad but determinedly into the distance. He is wearing a dark jacket, light shirt and black tie.

'Loki' season 2 episode 6 review: Finding a glorious purpose

By Fran Ruiz published

The sixth and final episode of Loki season 2 wraps up a fantastic character arc and literally gives the Marvel Cinematic Universe a second chance.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from The Marvels (2023) movie. All The Marvels all standing together looking upwards in the same direction. From left to right: Ms. Marvel (teen with long dark hair wearing a red, white and blue supersuit), Captain Marvel (long blonde hair wearing a blue and red supersuit with a giant gold star-like emblem on the front) and Monica Rambeau (dark tightly curled hair down to her shoulders and wearing a black and white supersuit with a smaller silver teardrop-shaped emblem on her chest).

'The Marvels' review: A chaotic cosmic headache

By Fran Ruiz published

Marvel Studios' latest movie, The Marvels, exhibits all the symptoms of a rusty creative process. Despite some sparse bursts of charm, it lacks quality control.

Space Movies & Shows
a man in a suit looks up, forlorn

'Loki' season 2 episode 5 review: An unexpected solution

By Fran Ruiz published

The fifth episode of Loki season 2 charts a surprising path forward that might rewrite the God of Mischief's role in the larger Multiverse Saga.

Space Movies & Shows
Image from the Marvel T.V. show Loki, season 2 episode 4. In front of a wooden desk are two men wearing suits. The man on the left has dark slicked back hair. The man on the right has thick dark hair, round, gold glasses and is holding opening an orange notebook on the desk. Behind the desk we can see the side of another man who is wearing black glasses and a jumpsuit.

Loki season 2 episode 4 review: Fixing the system

By Fran Ruiz published

The fourth episode of Loki season 2 subverts expectations and sends the show (and maybe the entire MCU) into the unknown again.

Space Movies & Shows
Image from the Marvel T.V. show Loki, season 2 episode 3. Here we see a close up of a man with round gold glasses, a black moustache and black hair. He has a stern expression on his face.

Loki season 2 episode 3 review: Timely but not elegant

By Fran Ruiz published

The third episode of Loki season 2 brings back major players, teases the creation of the Time Variance Authority and is a bit convoluted.

Space Movies & Shows
Image from the Marvel T.V. show Loki, season 2 episode 2. Two men sitting at a table, each enjoying a slice of pie.

'Loki' season 2 episode 2 review: Time to flex the acting muscles

By Fran Ruiz published

The second episode of Loki season 2 puts the plot on pause for the majority of the runtime and gives the stellar cast plenty of space to play around.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the space game Starfield. On the left there is a small spaceship with 6 boosters approaching a planet to the right.

'Starfield' is an inspiring odyssey that could rekindle mainstream interest in space exploration

By Fran Ruiz published

Bethesda's latest open-world video game 'Starfield' takes us for a fantastic ride among the stars and plants seeds of curiosity and belief in science.

Space Games & Toys
images from Loki season 2

'Loki' season 2 episode 1 review: A new hope for Marvel in the TV realm

By Fran Ruiz published

Loki returns with a season premiere full of exposition and set-ups that still manages to make us care and remind us of the great times.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka (season 1, episode 8). Thrawn plotting his next move.

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 8 review: A finale that sticks the landing without flourish

By Fran Ruiz published

The final episode of Ahsoka's first season doesn't take a whole lot of risks and leaves many doors open, but it's the conclusion you were looking for.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the adult animated superhero T.V. show Invincible. Here we see 17-year-old superhero Invincible. He has short black hair slicked back. He has opaque lens over his eyes. He is wearing a skin-tight yellow suit with blue/green shoulders and dark gray arms. He is bleeding from the nose and it is dripping onto his clothes. In the background is a tree-lined field with 5 knocked out monsters.

Everything we know about Invincible season 2: release date, plot, cast & more

By Fran Ruiz published

Season 2 of Robert Kirkman's hit animated superhero show Invincible hits Prime Video soon. Here's everything you need to know about it.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the movie Dune: Part 2. Paul Atreides is standing in the foreground, his cloak billowing out behind him in the wind. Far off in the distance. In between there is a large, floating shiny sphere.

Everything we know about Dune: Part 2

By Fran Ruiz last updated

Paul Atreides' journey continues on the big screen next year in Dune: Part 2. Here's everything we know about Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic so far.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka (season 1, episode 7). Ezra and Sabine face an enemy.

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 7 review: Fast-paced action in the vein of Rebels ahead of the big finale

By Fran Ruiz published

The seventh episode of Ahsoka sets up a race against time for the season finale and mostly plays out like a classic Star Wars Rebels episode.

Space Movies & Shows
Press image for the video game Homeworld 3. Here we see a whole fleet of different spaceships in formation, from one large spaceship filling the top half of the image, and then 4 medium -sized spaceships and then lots of smaller scout-like spaceships.

Everything we know about Homeworld 3: Release date, platforms, gameplay, trailers

By Fran Ruiz published

It won't be long before we can finally return to the legendary Homeworld universe. Here's everything we know about Homeworld 3 ahead of its 2024 launch.

Space Games & Toys
three robed figures kneel in the center of a series of spires arranged in a circle

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 6 review: Myths and legends

By Fran Ruiz published

The sixth episode of Ahsoka expands the "Star Wars" universe with new bits of mythology and iconography that support long-awaited returns.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka, season 1, episode 5. Ahsoka faces her master.

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 5 review: The trip down memory lane fans were waiting for

By Fran Ruiz published

The fifth episode of Ahsoka evades cheap fan service and focuses on a meaningful, nostalgic journey of our heroine.

Space Movies & Shows
Screenshot from the animated T.V. show Star Wars Rebels. Here we see Ezra Bridger (male, short dark hair, thick eyebrows) holding a green lightsaber just in front of his head in a defensive position. He has 2 scratches on his cheek.

Who is Ezra Bridger?

By Fran Ruiz published

As the Star Wars: Ahsoka series on Disney Plus continues, you might be wondering why Ezra Bridger is such a big deal. Meet the lost Padawan.

Space Movies & Shows
Screenshot from the Marvel T.V. show Loki. Here we see several character walking around his head in an abstract design.

Everything we know about Loki season 2: release date, plot, cast & more

By Fran Ruiz last updated

Get ready for more mischief! Here’s what we know about Loki season 2 so far.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka, season 1, episode 4. Baylan Skoll awaits his opponent.

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 4 review: Fateful encounters and a return

By Fran Ruiz published

The fourth episode of Ahsoka is an excellent midpoint chapter packed with gorgeous duels and leads into an unpredictable second half of the season.

Space Movies & Shows
XCOM Enemy Unknown - Best alien invasion games

Best alien invasion games of all time

By Fran Ruiz published

Do we stand a better chance against alien invaders in the realm of video games? These are the best alien invasion games of all time.

Space Games & Toys
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka, season 1, episode 3.

Ahsoka season 1 episode 3 review: Democratizing the Force

By Fran Ruiz published

The third episode of Ahsoka reminds us of George Lucas' stance on the Jedi Order and the Force without sacrificing the sense of adventure and wonder.

Space Movies & Shows
Artwork for the Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora video game. Here we see a Na'vi (tall, slender, blue humanoid) with dark hair in a braid, green cat-like eyes, and a white smudge across their forehead. They are riding on winged green, reptilian creature.

Everything we know about Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

By Fran Ruiz published

While we wait for Avatar 3 to arrive in 2025, James Cameron and Ubisoft plan to keep us busy with the open-world video game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Space Movies & Shows
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