Star Wars Universe Thread: May The 4th Be With You

CP1708 said:

SoleByThePound said:

CP I've read each of your replies and I can feel the enthusiasm pouring out, but I feel you are setting yourself up for a letdown in regards to the story line being connected with the expanded universe.

 

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I just wish I knew what the plan was, and if the EU would ever be in play. 10 years from now, 20 years, I don't care, just will it at some point be used? That's all I wanna know.

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K2theAblaM said:

lol, you forgot ESPN, and America's Brocasting Company... and all its subsidiaries.
but I feel you though. The mouse is out of control at this point.

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LakersUscTrojan said:

No matter what Disney does to the franchise, it will make some serious $$$. It's gonna take a lot of effort to %$^& this up. Disney will do good with it, then the nerds will come out and complain about every little thing and how it does not live up to the original trilogy. Will any new Star Wars trilogy live up the original? Probably not so just accept it for what it is and enjoy.

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TheGreatMutato said:

I am extremely excited for the possibilities. I'm 31 and grew up with the original trilogy. I watched episode 1-3 in the theaters but have no experience with the EU. If any of you guys that really know the EU want to be nice can you layout a guide for how/where to start with the books? I always knew there were books but didn't know how they fit in and if they carried the stories on.

Thanks!

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Oscar-Winning Scribe Michael Arndt Penned Treatment For Next Three ‘Star Wars’ Fims; Will Work On ‘Episode VII’
By DOMINIC PATTEN | Thursday November 8, 2012 @ 2:06pm PST
Tags: Big Deals Film, Disney, Lucasfilm, Michael Arndt, Star Wars

Michael Arndt has written a treatment for not just one but the next three Star Wars films coming from Disney, Deadline has learned. The Oscar-winning Little Miss Sunshine screenwriter, who also penned Toy Story 3 and the upcoming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, is also in line to work on the script for Star Wars Episode VII next year.

Arndt was brought on board by Lucasfilm months ago to put together ideas to take the franchise forward, a source with knowledge of the situation says. This was before the October 30 $4 billion sale of George Lucas’ company to Disney was finalized, The result was the “pretty extensive and detailed treatment for what would be the next three movies, the trilogy,” that Disney CEO Bob Iger referred to when the company’s acquisition of Lucasfilm was announced. Iger also announced plans for the new series of Star Wars films that day. “We’ve got a lengthy treatment that comes with this that we feel really good about and the film is in what I’ll call early-stage development right now,” the Disney boss said. Arndt is repped by the Verve Talent and Literary Agency.

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CP1708 said:

Rumors that after this new trilogy featuring Luke, Han, Leia release in 2015, 2017, and 2019 they might set the next trilogy back to between III and IV and focus on Darth Vader as he adjusts to his new body parts and hunts for loose Jedi in the galaxy. (Which we were promised but never given with the prequels)
It could also include Han Solo and Lando as younger men joining the Imperial Navy before turning into scoundrels. This would mean casting new younger actors for these prequels, a fantastic idea that I hope they follow thru with. This would start to release in 2021 or 2022.

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illmatic34 said:

CP1708 said:

Rumors that after this new trilogy featuring Luke, Han, Leia release in 2015, 2017, and 2019 they might set the next trilogy back to between III and IV and focus on Darth Vader as he adjusts to his new body parts and hunts for loose Jedi in the galaxy. (Which we were promised but never given with the prequels)
It could also include Han Solo and Lando as younger men joining the Imperial Navy before turning into scoundrels. This would mean casting new younger actors for these prequels, a fantastic idea that I hope they follow thru with. This would start to release in 2021 or 2022.

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Where did you get the rumors about the 2021 trilogy?

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CP1708 said:

Site that I follow on Twitter. Can't remember the name, I follow a few of them, but I retweeted it. Sounded like they had some sort of source.

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DARTH VADER TO BE RESURRECTED


David Prowse played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films

Tuesday November 13,2012

By Lizzie Catt, Lisa Higgins and Jack Teague

ICONIC space villain Darth Vader is to be brought back from the dead for a new trilogy of Star Wars films.
Following news that Disney has bought the rights to the lucrative sci-fi franchise and plans to make at least three more movies, industry insiders say the evil Vader will grace the big screen again.

“He’s an integral part of the franchise. Replacing him is virtually impossible,” explains a film mole.

“The plan is for him to return and play a significant role in the new films.”
Former bodybuilder turned actor David Prowse donned the black body armour in the original three films but the character was voiced by James Earl Jones.
Actor Hayden Christensen, who starred in the subsequent Star Wars prequels, was the last actor to appear in the suit following his character Anakin Skywalker’s descent to the Dark Side.

Writer Michael Arndt is already working on the new Star Wars scripts.
The plan is for Darth Vader to return and play a significant role in the new films.
Fellow old favourites Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia – played by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher – have already been tipped to reprise their respective roles.
While Vader seemingly met his end in the 1983 film The Return Of The Jedi it seems this will not stop his comeback.
“This is science fiction remember,” we’re told. “Darth Vader will rise from the ashes.”

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Fourth Star Wars Trilogy to Possibly Revolve Around Darth Vader

Fourth Star Wars trilogy may revolve around Darth Vader. It wouldn't be a new day in the Star Wars Universe without a bit of news regarding the impending films that will seemingly continue long after you're dead. As of now, Walt Disney Pictures plans to release an original Star Wars adventure once every two years beginning with Star Wars: Episode VII in 2015.

Star Wars: Episode VII is said to kick off the third trilogy, which will take place quite a few years after the events seen in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Michael Arndt is currently set as the sole writer of the screenplay, and he will be working off original ideas and themes created by George Lucas. Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C3P0, and R2D2 are all rumored to be returning in some capacity. And the fact that both Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher have slimmed down considerably since taking a lunch meeting with George Lucas last summer seems to point to their eventual involvement.

So, we have a vague idea where this is headed. Michael Arndt's story is going to work in setting up Star Wars: Episode VIII, which arrives in 2017, and Star Wars: Episode IX, which will arrive in 2019. But what about the movies after this?

Well, a sneaky spy, also known as an "industry insider" with close ties to Lucasfilm has let it slip that the fourth trilogy will revolve around Darth Vader's early years under Emperor Palpatine. It's also possible that within this timeline, we will see a teenage Han Solo and Lando Calrissian who join the Imperial Army as new recruits. Basically, Lucasfilm wants to use classic characters in new ways, because that's what the fans want, right?

The Lucasfilm insider had this to say about Darth Vader's eventual resurrection.


"He's an integral part of the franchise. Replacing him is virtually impossible. The plan is for him to return and play a significant role in the new films. This is science fiction remember. Darth Vader will rise from the ashes."


There is no word on whether or not Hayden Christensen has taken any lunch meetings with George Lucas in regards to reprising the role of Darth Vader. By the time 2021 rolls around, the actor might be just the right age at 40 to play a Darth Vader coming to grips with his robotic outer shell. You know who else will be the perfect age to play Darth Vader? Jake Lloyd. As the film is nearly ten years away from production at this point, its impossible to guess who'll play a young Han and Lando.

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It’s time for your daily dose of Star Wars: Episode VII rumblings. With the official confirmation that Toy Story 3 scribe Michael Arndt will be handling script duties on the Return of the Jedi sequel, all eyes are now on which filmmaker LucasFilm will choose to direct the highly anticipated follow-up. Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, and Zack Snyder have all taken themselves out of the running (though they were all unlikely candidates to begin with), and we recently heard from J.J. Abrams, Jon Favreau, Guillermo del Toro, and Colin Tervorrow about the prospect of helming the follow-up.

Now producer Frank Marshall, husband of new LucasFilm President/Star Wars overseer Kathleen Kennedy, has spoken briefly about the project, revealing that the director search is now down to “a couple of candiates.” Moreover, Captain America director Joe Johnston has also chimed in with his thoughts on possibly taking over the franchise. Hit the jump for much more.

Speaking with MTV News, Marshall revealed that he’s got the inside scoop on what’s going on with the director search, but he’s unable to reveal anything:

“I do [have some inside info on the director] but I can’t reveal it, or I won’t be alive tomorrow.”

Marshall did say, however, that the search has been whittled down to “a couple of candidates, but I don’t know how soon that will be revealed.”

Recently a snippet from an interview with Kennedy and George Lucas was released in which they talked specifically about the director search for Episode VII. In that video, Kennedy revealed that they were looking at a number of people, including directors that she’s worked with in the past. Many then brought up the prospect of Joe Johnston possibly stepping in, as he previously took over the Jurassic Park franchise with Jurassic Park III (produced by Kennedy) and has a great eye for adventure as evidenced by films like The Rocketeer and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Moreover, he worked on the original Star Wars trilogy as part of the effects unit.

Spurned by a recent editorial by Movies.com editor Erik Davis in which Johnston was heralded as a great choice to helm Episode VII, Huffington Post reached out to the director for his thoughts on directing “it”:

“A lot would depend on what ‘it’ is. I am very glad to see LucasFilm cranking up to get productive again, regardless of who ends up doing it.”

That’s not an outright “no,” so fans of Johnston can take heart in knowing that the filmmaker hasn’t specifically ruled the prospect out. Hopefully LucasFilm makes an announcement regarding the Episode VII director soon, though, before every single director in town is asked to give his or her thoughts on possibly helming the franchise.

Watch the video interview with Marshall below, in which he also says that there’s nothing new to report about Indiana Jones 5 and promises that there will be another Bourne movie.

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Why Joe Johnston Should Direct 'Star Wars: Episode VII'
By Erik Davis Nov 12, 2012

Now that Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) has been confirmed as the screenwriter on Star Wars: Episode VII, all eyes have turned toward the as-yet-announced director. As of today a number of big, nerdy names have been mentioned, but nothing concrete has emerged... yet. Folks like Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, J.J. Abrams and Zack Snyder have already taken themselves out of the running, with Jon Favreau expressing excitement (and potential interest in directing). Meanwhile, newcomer Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) was rumored to have met with George Lucas regarding the gig, and hasn't denied it. Yet, with all these names being thrown around, one man surprisingly hasn't been mentioned yet: Joe Johnston.

Yup, that Joe Johnston -- the one who successfully launched Captain America last year, but who also began his career working for George Lucas on the original Star Wars trilogy. Johnston, a storyboard and conceptual artist at the time, is credited with developing the look of Boba Fett for The Empire Strikes Back. As Lucas paid for him to go to film school in the early '80s, Johnston remained a part of Lucasfilm, spending much of his time alongside Lucas in the editing room as he pieced together the first three Star Wars movies.

In the second installment of that roundtable discussion between George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy on the Star Wars sequels, they talk a little bit about what they're looking for in a director. Kennedy says they're meeting with directors they've worked with in the past, and they obviously want a lover of the franchise; someone who holds the movies and characters close to their heart. Well Johnston is both close to Lucas and the franchise (specifically the original trilogy), and he's worked with Kennedy before on Jurassic Park III.

Not only that but Johnston brings the sort of diversity needed for the next Star Wars movie. He's been successful with the big blockbusters (Captain America), and he also knows how to deliver family movies with fantastical elements (Jumanji; Honey, I Shrunk the Kids). Sure, the guy has had a few missteps (Hidalgo, The Wolfman), but who hasn't? And in terms of selling a director to the fan base, you can't really go wrong with the guy who designed Boba Fett.

I mean, out of all these big names (Jon Favreau, J.J. Abrams, Brad Bird), none of them worked directly with Lucas on the original trilogy. None of them learned how to make movies while sitting in the editing bay watching Lucas cut those first three Star Wars movies. If you're looking for a director who can handle the pressures of a modern blockbuster and has direct, nerdy ties to the original trilogy, Joe Johnston is it. He's the guy who makes the most sense. He's the guy who best knows how to deliver a Star Wars sequel that's infused with the charm and excitement of those original movies because he worked on them. He was there.

He's the guy no one is talking about right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if that changes real soon.

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CP1708 said:

He seems like the guy. Fits in with Disney having already done Captain America, now you're tellin me he gets credit for Boba freaking Fett?

Yeah, it's his job, he's involved.


One of the very first things I asked for, a fan of the franchise, someone that would bring new energy and vision to the table, no more Lucas ideas. He fits that bill. Raised by Lucas in the industry, knows it, loves it, has done other projects that have worked, he seems like a solid fit to me. Hope he gets it.

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Joseph Eggleston "Joe" Johnston III (born May 13, 1950 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a well-known American film director, responsible for such films as The Rocketeer , Hidalgo, Jurassic Park III, October Sky, Jumanji, and Captain America: The First Avenger amongst others.

Johnston was educated at California State University, Long Beach, as well as the Art Center College of Design. Johnston responded to an ad looking for a storyboard artist at college, which turned out to be for George Lucas's Lucasfilm Ltd. company. Johnston began working at the company, eventually promoted to a head storyboard position that frequently teamed him with Lucas in the editing room. Johnston later referred to working for Lucas as the best film school he could ever have when he watched Lucas do the editing for the original trilogy. Eventually, Johnston became disillusioned with his job and decided to leave Lucasfilm with his earnings to travel the world. But Lucas had other ideas when Johnston came to leave his notice. Lucas advised Johnston that he move him to the front line of applicants of his alma mater University of Southern California's Film School with Lucas paying for his tuition and keeping him on at half salary. Johnston said he didn't think twice when accepting Lucas' proposal, which he did in 1984.

During pre-production for Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Johnston was responsible for the design of Boba Fett's distinctive armor and equipment. He worked alongside artist Ralph McQuarrie to develop the unique look for the bounty hunter, which was in fact derived from the early concepts of Darth Vader.

Johnston played an Imperial gunner and a backpacked Spacetrooper in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and in that costume he was made into a Hasbro action figure in 2009.[1]

In July 2011, Johnston stated that he was "trying to get George [Lucas] to make a feature based on Boba Fett." A Facebook campaign has begun to Make a Boba Fett movie.

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