With Avatar having beat out most of the top-grossing films of all time in a mere matter of weeks, the press is sniffing around those old rerelease rumors, digging up comments from various directors and basically? A big fat maybe. What else is new? The relevant bit:
George Lucas, the director, spent $13m filming the original in 1976, added special effects in 1997 and 2004, and will now spend another $10m to change it into a 3-D spectacular.
“George cannot leave it alone,” said an associate. “He is salivating at the opportunity to play with it again. This time the Death Star is really going to explode all over the audience and leave them gasping.”
At the moment there are only half a dozen companies that can turn reels of celluloid into 3-D digital movies.
Our first rumor of the new year! Rich Johnston of the comic site Bleeding Cool claims that Lucasfilm, Dark Horse and DC Comics will be “getting into bed for crossovers with epic proportions.” Okay? It certainly seems like Dark Horse has been keeping something under wraps, but that could mean anything… (via)
It’s getting to be that time again… StarWars.com posted their own mammoth Best of 2009 this morning. Below is my personal list. Since it is personal, it’s clearly missing some things. (As always, I don’t speak for all of Club Jade. I just post a lot.) So let’s get to it: (more…)
A slight correction about the Lucas thing that my friend Paul Sebastien pointed out to me: he’s actually not aware of any movie plans, and was just talking about the live action TV show that George had talked about in an interview with an Australian TV station a while back. Paul is only working on the games side, and I know from past experience that he’s very professional and discrete, and would never leak confidential secrets, even to a close friend.
Even as I roll my eyes at these things, I gotta say I prefer them to the super-ignorant pre-prequel ‘They’re going to make a movie based on the Zahn trilogy,’ stuff, though. No one ever forgets that ‘third trilogy’ comment, even back in the dark ages. (via)
Another month, another movie rumor… Should you believe it? I’m going to go with a flat out no. TV show? Eventually. Games? I have not a doubt. (Speaking of, here’s the latest rumor on that front.) But a movie? Nah.
GalacticBinder is reporting that ‘reliable sources’ have confirmed a Celebration 5 date and location to them: Mid-August 2010 in Orlando. With all respect to GalacticBinder, I’m not ready to believe quite yet. Alas, I have to hit the hay early tonight, but you may want to keep a weather eye on StarWars.com (Protip: No flash in the archives) and/or @starwars just in case. Or, as they say themselves:
FYI: unless you hear #StarWars Celebration news on @starwars or Starwars.com, it’s NOT official.
Though judging by how far and wide that has been retweeted in the few minutes since it was posted, we’re all far too cynical to believe anyone but LFL themselves at this point.
AICN got a denial out of Lucasfilm on the very day the rumor ‘broke,’ but Movie Geek Feed got a statement out of Steve Sansweet himself at Fan Days III. It’s at the tail end (2:58) of the video above. But first, he talks about 1000 Collectibles. (via)
So there’s a blog out there claiming that George is looking into making a sequel trilogy in 3-D because Cameron’s Avatar might make him – gasp – jealous. Sci Fi Wire has called bullshit, and I agree.
They’re pitching it next week for an August 2010 date, information procured by TheForce.Net says:
A presentation is being prepared for Lucasfilm and Reed Exhibitions next week and the group plans to narrow down the candidate cities to (2) by October 10th. From there, site visits will commence for the rest of the month with a tentative decision to be made by November 1st.
Perhaps just as interesting, is that a second bid is listed for an additional Celebration in August of 2014.
This does not mean Orlando will get the convention(s,) just that they’re trying for it, but I’ve done a bit of research on my own and I believe they could be a leading candidate. But August in Florida? Heat, humidity, and hurricanes? I’m not so sure about that, but at this point it may be their only opening. (I’m still crossing my fingers for Baltimore or Chicago.)
TFN also points out that Reed Exhibitions has been organizing New York Comic-Con. Of course, this is all unconfirmed!
Pirates 4 to go steampunk? Disney gave Johnny Depp a (anti?) hero’s welcome at D23 last week and announced the film’s name – On Stranger Tides – but the most interesting thing I’ve heard in connection with the movie is a rumor that the villian may be cribbing from Captain Nemo. On the one hand that could be kind of cool. On the other hand… It’s Pirates of the Caribbean 4. Not sick of steampunk yet? If there’s any truth to this, you will be.
Just like old times. J.J. Abrams and Roberto Orci hint that the next Star Trek movie will deal with “modern-day issues.”
Twilight.New Moon actually has enough of a plot for it to be given away entirely in the trailer? Kristen Stewart actually attempts to act? Dakota Fanning is in it! Wow, my standards are low for this one…
Pirates 4 to go steampunk? Disney gave 
