Tag: live action series

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Rumor: Disney already casting for Star Wars live-action TV?

STAR WARS RUMORS: Take seriously at your own risk.Cinelinx reports today that Star Wars casting people weren’t just looking for folks for Episode VII, but for unannounced projects including “specials and mini-series.” (via)

Their speculation that includess the Darth Vader special we heard of seems off-base – I’d guess that’s more of a documentary/existing footage thing.

A live-action show is certainly not outside of the realm of possibility, though Disney and Lucasfilm have claimed that they’re focusing on Episode VII (and Rebels) right now. Waiting until the new movie era is firmly established – as Marvel did – would be the smart thing, I think.

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Roundup: Disney and Lucasfilm still brainstorming live-action series possibilities

STAR WARS RUMORS: Take seriously at your own risk.Live-action series. There’ s been at least one sign of hope that Disney may let the Star Wars live-action series see the light of day. Now Blue Sky Disney’s Honor Hunter reports that the success of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot may lead to more internal development (see also: Peggy Carter,) and that the Star Wars show may get retooled – not only to bring the ratings to a more ABC-friendly level, but perhaps to shift the time period of the show may shift as well – from the current intertrilogy era to between Return of the Jedi and the new films.

Time will tell – Hunter suspects we won’t even hear anything official until 2014 at the earliest, and I myself wouldn’t be shocked if such a thing doesn’t go into production until we’re looking at a mostly-completed sequel trilogy, for much the same reasons we’re getting Rebels as opposed to a post-ROTJ show. But in any case – no one’s forgetting about a live-action show, and we may see some version of Underworld after all. Of course, it’s all rumor – but it’s something.

Meanwhile, in Britain… Jedi News’ Episode VII spy says that the Pinewood stages currently being used for Cinderella will be handed over to Lucasfilm in November, with principal photography to start on February 24.

Your moment of zen. And here’s something totally solid: ThinkGeek is selling some of the Celebration Europe exclusives, so if you’re yearning for a Darth Vader beer stein, Death Star Soccer Ball, talking tauntaun or futball scarf, it’s your lucky day.

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ABC “having conversations” about Star Wars TV series

IGN’s Eric Goldman asked ABC’s Paul Lee about seeing Star Wars make the jump to TV today. His answer was a bit roundabout, naturally:

“I certainly have a glint in my eye. They have a lot on their plate when you look at the features that they’re planning on rolling out for the next few years, but we’ve started conversations with them.”

He went on to say “It would be nice to use other strong Disney IP” and that “It’s an amazing world.” I wouldn’t count on seeing or hearing much soon, but at least we know a live-action option is still on their minds.

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Rick McCallum producing new sci-fi film

Rick McCallumProducer Rick McCallum, who worked on the Star Wars prequels and Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, has revealed his next project to The Hollywood Reporter: R’Ha, a “high-concept sci-fi feature.” The film’s script is being written by Life on Mars co-creator Matthew Graham, who THR says was one of the lead writers on the shelved Star Wars live action series. (He was reported as working on the show in 2011, but it was never, to my knowledge, confirmed.)

R’Ha was created by Kaleb Lechowski, who will be directing the film based on his short of the same name.

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Stand down, scaredy geeks: Disney and ABC are not planning to ignore the Star Wars live-action series

ABC entertainment president Paul Lee tells Entertainment Weekly that the network isn’t going to be ignoring the live-action series.

“We’d love to do something with Lucasfilm, we’re not sure what yet,” Lee exclusively told EW. “We haven’t even sat down with them. We’re going to look at [the live-action series], we’re going to look at all of them, and see what’s right. We weren’t able to discuss this with them until [the acquisition] closed and it just closed. It’s definitely going to be part of the conversation.”

Some of the financial concerns that Lucasfilm faced producing the series on their own are moot under the Disney deal, the article points out. Lee compares it to the Joss Whedon’s S.H.I.E.L.D. show that ABC is also working on.

They also have what might be the most detailed summary we have yet to see… From ‘sources,’ mind:

Sources say the live-action series centers on the story of rival families struggling over the control of the seedy underside of the Star Wars universe and the people who live within the subterranean level and air shafts of the metropolis planet Coruscant (the Empire’s urban-sprawl-covered home planet). A bounty hunter may be the main character.

And apparently some of the concept and character designs are being used in 1313…

They also, I think, are the first to reveal that Ron Moore (Battlestar Galactica) may be involved…

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Episode VII roundup: Kennedy in, McCallum out

Behind the scenes. IGN’s Lucy O’Brien has a nice profile of Kathleen Kennedy, “Star Wars’ new Emperor,” and her film-making resume.

Meanwhile, shuffling up into the spotlight is the news that Rick McCallum has retired from Lucasfilm. The big question seems to be where this leaves the live-action series, which McCallum has been the main ambassador for and which hasn’t been much mentioned since D-Day. Honestly, given what’s been said of it so far, it’s one project that I don’t really mind staying on the back burner for a while longer.

Outside looking in. Scott Myers looks at some of the recent information and surmises that Disney may be taking the Pixar approach to Star Wars story development.

Actors. The real question is who doesn’t want in on Star Wars, but thus far we’ve heard from Derek Jacobi, David Tennant, plus Thor’s Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston.

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McCallum: Lucasfilm hasn’t forgotten about Star Wars live-action series, cost remains an issue

Rick McCallum talked to IGN about – what else – the live-action series. He reiterates the cost and technical issues with doing the series, saying, “They’re so complicated. Each hour has more visual effects, digital animation, than any of the films we’ve done.” He also clarifies his previous comments on ‘underworld,‘ saying that while the term has plenty of meaning for the series, it’s not a working title. Also: A Star Wars theme park and Joe Johnston’s hopes to helm a Boba Fett movie, and what’s on the horizon for George Lucas. And the interview ends when ‘1313’ is brought up. Curious! (via)

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Live-action series rumor du jour: There’s time travel!

It’s been a while since we’ve had a silly rumor about the Star Wars live-action series to giggle over, but thankfully there’s Ain’t It Cool News to get things going. Today: Time travel! No, really:

Daniel tells us that one of the series’ first episodes will involve a group of bandits acquiring the capability of time travel, and using it to travel back in time to stop Darth Vader from ever existing.

Sounds like someone’s been watching a bit too much Terminator! Thanks, AICN. Glad to know you’re there when we need a laugh. (via)

P.S.: It’s Expanded Universe. Not Extended. Expanded.

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EW seeks updates from McCallum on Star Wars TV projects

Entertainment Weekly caught up with Rick McCallum at last night’s Red Tails premiere to follow up on the IGN interview. McCallum confirmed that ‘Underworld’ is indeed the show’s working title (read: not likely to make the final cut,) and reiterated the show’s theme of “smugglers, gangsters, bounty hunters, and a few Wall Street-type power brokers.”

More revealing was his talk of the technological factors, and how it’s likely even further off than the “three or four years” he said back in June.

When I asked McCallum if the show is still three or four years off, he said, “Even longer. Because I think we don’t have the technology yet to be able to do it for the level of money that it would have to be done. Plus, the world of television is imploding. No one knows whether you should make a network show or a cable show. I’m really excited about it though, and I hope George does do it. I really do.”

As for Seth Green’s comedy show:

Closer on the horizon is Seth Green’s Star Wars comedy series. “That’s coming along great,” McCallum says. “I’ve seen a few of their little skits. They’re great.”

‘Skits’ is quite revealing, implying that the show’s format may indeed resemble the Robot Chicken specials. McCallum said we may see that one as soon as 2013.

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The Star Wars live action series has a working title

In this interview today, Rick McCallum told IGN that the live-action show’s working title is Star Wars: Underworld. He goes on to talk in some detail about the reasons that the series is on hold (“Each one-hour episode is bigger than the prequels were.”) which is rather fascinating in and of itself.

(You’re very lucky that I’m too tired to photoshop anyone’s head onto Kate Beckinsdale’s body.)