What the hell is going on with Kylo Ren’s pants?

Here’s one of those sentences no one ever dreamed of typing: The Wall Street Journal is covering Kylo Ren’s high-waisted pants, complete with one of their classic stipple portraits. (And an official still from Lucasfilm. No more need for fuzzy pirated screenshots!)

It’s mostly about the #KyloRenChallenge meme, but we do get word from from the film’s costume designer:

“The world of Star Wars is not our world,” Michael Kaplan, costume designer for “The Last Jedi,” wrote in an email. “Kylo Ren is not some hipster in hip-hugging jeans. Think Errol Flynn swashbuckling coolness as a point of departure. Hide that navel!”

We get something of the history of high-waisted pants, and a Bruce Lee shoutout as well. I guess Kylo finally gets one up on grandpa Anakin in at least one area: His waistband.

Behind The Last Jedi: Story, effects, costumes, and more

And now that we’ve all had a chance to take the movie in, the behind-the-scenes stuff has started flowing in… There are several Rian Johnson interviews out and about, with the best perhaps being at the Los Angeles Times. There he talks about introducing new Force powers, Rey and Kylo, and the whole purpose of the shirtless scene. Also: Business Insider, a Variety podcast and The Director’s Cut podcast.

Continue reading “Behind The Last Jedi: Story, effects, costumes, and more”

Star Wars costume exhibit going to New York City

The Force Awakens costumes, BB-8 on display at Celebration Anaheim.
The Force Awakens costumes, BB-8 on display at Celebration Anaheim.

The Smithsonian’s Star Wars traveling exhibition is heading to New York next, StarWars.com has announced. Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen, Star Wars and the Power of Costume, which debuted in Seattle last year, will open at Discovery Times Square in November.

They’re also adding “select costumes” and a BB-8 from The Force Awakens. We’ve previously seen a number of costumes from the new film at Celebration Anaheim and D23 Expo.

Out this week: Star Wars Costumes, Shakespeare Star Wars box set

It’s likely today is our last big release day of the year, with Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy dropping, along with two reprints: The ‘Royal Imperial Boxed Set’ of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Trilogy and the paperback of Martha Wells’ Razor’s Edge.

These aren’t our final release of the year – there’s still James Luceno’s Tarkin on November 4.

UPDATE: A trailer for Star Wars Costumes!

Rinzler details upcoming Star Wars costume book

storyboardJ.W. Rinzler takes the release of Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy as occasion to take a look at some of Lucasbooks’ other upcoming nonfiction (and humor) releases. He has a bit to say on one of the new books James spotted last month, Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy. It will include new photos of the costumes and interviews with costume designers John Mollo, Aggie Rodgers, and concept artist Nilo Rodis-Jamero. We even have a release date: October 28.

He also talks about the next Jeffrey Brown Star Wars book, Goodnight, Darth Vader, which we’ll start hearing more about soon – and Rinzler confirms there’s a fourth book in the pipeline as well.

Interactive Imperial Handbook and original trilogy costume book coming this year

Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide (Not final, but it gives you an idea.)
Imperial Handbook: A Commander’s Guide (Not final, but it gives you an idea.)

Becker & Mayer, producers of the awesome books-with-cool-electronic-cases such as The Jedi Path and Book of Sith, have a few new offerings for later in 2014, showcased in their catalog. The Imperial Handbook: A Commander’s Guide will have a deluxe edition, written by Dan Wallace, with illustrations by Chris Trevas & Chris Reiff.

Like the previous guidebooks, it will include a mechanized case with lights and sound, and the book will have annonations from various characters, including a introduction note by Luke Skywalker, and several items, including a die-cast Imperial military medal. Here’s the official blurb:

As the Imperial Empire expands, high-ranking officials from each branch of the Imperial Military have set down tactical guidelines and procedures for all newly ascending commanders. Set in-universe, this compendium of ordinance, mission reports, and Imperial philosophy was intercepted by members of the Rebel Alliance, some of whom also left commentary scribbled in the margins. Housed in a deluxe case that opens with lights and sounds, this never-before-seen Imperial Handbook is perfect for Star Wars fans—no matter which side of the Civil War they’re on.

Also coming up:

Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy (Mockup cover)Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy, by Brandon Alinger. Here’s the details on this 266-page hardcover gem:

Who can forget the first time they saw Darth Vader with his black cape and mask? The white hard-body suit of the stormtroopers? Or Leia’s outfit as Jabba’s slave? These costumes—like so many that adorned the characters of that galaxy far, far away—have become iconic. For the first time, the Lucasfilm Archives has unpacked the original costumes to be revealed in breathtaking detail.

Featuring all-new photography, Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy affords both new and longtime Star Wars fans the opportunity to examine the stormtrooper armor and discover how it changed from movie to movie; explore Boba Fett’s suit and inspect the rarely seen details of his blaster and jetpack; compare the helmets and jumpsuits of the rebel fighters; and study the details of the Hoth fighter uniforms.

This lavish large-format book not only showcases high-quality photography of each costume, it also pairs these stunning images with original sketches, behind-the-scenes photographs, production notes, and stories.

It seems like a perfect reference for the costumer on your gift list!

Also listed in the catalog:

  • A new slipcase edition of the trade versions of The Jedi Code and Book of Sith
  • An enhanced eBook version of The Jedi Path
  • Trade version of The Bounty Hunter Code
  • Build Darth Vader, a new papercraft book
  • Pablo Hidalgo’s latest Head-to-Head book, this time based on Star Wars Rebels