Roundup: What do we know about the Star Wars live action TV show?

November 12th, 2009 by Dunc · 18 Comments

Yeah, not so much. The live action series is a hot topic among fans, but what do we really know? Turns out… Not a whole lot. Let’s just say when I went to update this, most of the new stuff is still unconfirmed. Head on under the cut to see it in all its thrilling glory.

(The image above was part of a poster that debuted at Toy Fair 2007. It’s still the only promotional item we’ve seen.)

Confirmed plot information

It will be set between the two movie trilogies, and the Skywalkers will not appear. [4]
The series will be “much darker, much more character-based… much more adult.” [3]
Boba Fett will be an “instrumental part” of the series, and not the only bounty hunter we’ll see. [7]
Currently there are no existing EU characters involved. [6]

Confirmed production information

According to reports, Steve Sansweet mentioned 2012 as a possible date at Dragon*Con 2009.
“Probably won’t start until 2010″ and is currently “in the script stage” [11]
The series will be at least 100 episodes, but they hope to go up to 400. [3]
It will shoot in Sydney and casting may start this summer. [3]
There are six writers: Two English, one Australian, and three Americans. McCallum hoped to have the first season scripts done by June. [7]
Four concept artists are working on the show, including Erik Tiemens. [7]

Unconfirmed production info

Sci Fi Australia reports that Rick McCallum has approached some local writers, while SciFiNow throws Australian TV producer and writer John Edwards into the ring.
I’ll let TFN round up the filming location speculation.
Jay Laga’aia tells New Zealand paper that he’s talked to George about a role.
Rose Bryne (Attack of the Clones) says that LFL is auditioning, but reps told Entertainment Weekly that they’re still doing “preliminary ground work.” She’s back at it in July.
Perth Now reports that the show will feature music by Malcolm Luker.
Jim Marquand, son of ROTJ director Richard Marquand, might direct an episode. [9]
LFL talked to (at least) writers from Battlestar Galactica, Lost and Heroes. [1] Doctor Who’s Russell T. Davies turned down a chance to talk with Lucas.

Unconfirmed plot info

The tone of the show will be “Deadwood meets The Sopranos.” [10]
Familiar names that may show up: Bib Fortuna, Oola, Baron Papanoida, Thall Joben, Naberrie, Durron. [5]

Tie-ins

Confirmed: Book contracts for the series will be separate. [2]
Unconfirmed: A new MMO might be in development based on the series. [8]

Interesting…

Both Lucas [4] and MacCallum [7] are on record having praised the HBO shows Deadwood and Rome, among others.

Sources

Originally published March 18, 2008.

→ 18 CommentsFiled: swtv
Tagged: live action

18 responses so far ↓

1 EU Cantina.net » Wonderful Live-Action News Roundup // Mar 18, 2008 at 8:22 am

[...] official and rumored aspects of the show. From episode lengths to tie-ins, be sure to check it out here. Also, for the latest Star Wars show news, be sure to check out their Star Wars The Clone Wars [...]
2 jawajames // Mar 19, 2008 at 1:38 am

good roundup…
3 Dunc // Mar 19, 2008 at 4:01 am

Thanks. :)
4 » Roundup: What do we know about the Star Wars live action TV show? // Oct 5, 2008 at 7:33 pm

[...] Club jade has gathered old news reports and features to compile what is known about the Star Wars live action series, thus far. Check out the full story here. [...]
5 d.bristow // Dec 31, 2008 at 6:14 am

I love star wars and I hope that this coming live action tv series is going to the the revelotion of sci fi tv shows. I do hope that we get to see the odd jedi, as well as the Alliance forming into a small and successful force. I hope that we will see Princess Leia grow up, please note that she is not officially a Skywalker. And I hope that we will see more of Alderaan and know more about this planet that was destroyed in ANH.

I also hope that more star wars tv series come out and more of the star wars universe is revealled.

D.Bristow
6 Jordan // Feb 21, 2009 at 11:44 pm

SO EXCITED FOR THIS. Bioware is currently working on an MMO which will take place during the The Old Republic era (Star Wars: The Old Republic) so I sort of doubt that they will make an MMO tie in with this series. Star Wars Galaxies is still going so you might see some tie ins there.

Good post!
7 FredH // Mar 10, 2009 at 12:50 pm

They hope for 400 episodes? Assuming about 22 weekly episodes a season, that would run for 18 years!
8 Andy // Aug 7, 2009 at 1:24 pm

I just hope that they don’t screw it up like theydid with that crappy clone wars cartoon.I think they would have done much better with a
movie of the Force Unleashed.
9 Caedus_Ruccaz // Nov 12, 2009 at 1:42 pm

where’s the casting at!
10 Threepwood // Nov 12, 2009 at 8:51 pm

This is a great roundup. We still know very little, but all of the unconfirmed stuff is still very exciting.
11 Threepwood // Nov 12, 2009 at 8:52 pm

Also, no Star Wars Galaxies tie ins for the love of all things holy.
12 Mark Newbold // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:18 am

Grrr, I have some stunning live action info but have been NDA’d to secrecy…well worth the wait though!
13 Mark Newbold // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:19 am

Regarding the 400 episodes, I would bet my bottom dollar on the live action show being similar to the Star Treks – there’ll probably be a Star Wars: Underworld, and a Star Wars: Smugglers, that kind of idea with shows running concurrently like DS9 and TNG.
14 izikavazo // Nov 13, 2009 at 4:11 pm

I just hope they bring in some EU characters some day. Quinlan Vos and Aurra Sing are at the top of my list.
15 Carla Lute // Nov 14, 2009 at 10:37 am

“The series will be “much darker, much more character-based… much more adult.”

There are some great adult oriented sci-fi shows, and I’ll still give the SW TV series a chance. But honestly this sentence bums me out a bit. One of the great things about the original SW trilogy is that you can watch it with the kids in your life. STNG was our family show when I was growing up. I don’t really want a kids show, but I am hoping this isn’t so dark and so adult. Cause I’m not so crazy about the darker turn of the universe in general.
16 Dunc // Nov 14, 2009 at 12:37 pm

This again, Carla?

First of all, I’d guess that by “more adult,” they mean ‘geared towards fans who are adults,’ as opposed to The Clone Wars. I don’t think we’re going to get naked HBO-style Hutt-on-Hutt action, here. But if the show IS really going to focus on gangsters and the underworld, you can’t expect Joan of Arcadia.
17 Radich T // Dec 23, 2009 at 10:01 pm

I truly hope, that “more adult” doesn’t mean nudity & sex scenes.
If that’s the case, how do I tell my 7 year old, that he isn’t allowed to watch the new Star Wars show on TV with his father?
We both watch the films and the Clone Wars on CN, which we both love, now he’s beside himself because there’s a series coming and I don’t want to have to tell him he can’t watch it because there’s two people having sex in bed or some crap.
18 Plagueis // Jan 20, 2010 at 2:30 pm

I really do hope that they deliver on the “more adult” concept. Star Wars has long ceased to be a children’s-only franchise. The EU is living proof of that.

In addition, even in the kid-oriented clone wars series the best episodes are the ones that dispense with or tone down the inane battle-droid humor and take up more adult themes. Take the recent “Deserter” episode for instance.

P.S. I am a 22yo college student. I am overall very happy about the darker turn of the EU.

Club Jade

Shamelessly indulging in melodramatic space trash since 1995