Oscar Isaac might dad it up in the new Dune

Oscar Isaac may be headed to another space opera – Denis Villeneuve’s new adaptation of Dune. Variety reports that he’s entered early negotiations to play Duke Leto Atreides, father of protagonist Paul Atreides, who’s being played by Timothee Chalamet. Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgard, and Charlotte Rampling are also among the cast.

This will be the third major adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel. David Lynch made the first movie in 1984, while the then-Sci-Fi Channel made it into a 2000 miniseries. (They also adapted sequels Dune Messiah and Children of Dune in a second miniseries in 2003.)

Another familiar Star Wars name, author Kevin J. Anderson, is serving as creative consultant on the film. He wrote several Dune novels with Brian Herbert.

Even more Batuu coming in Galaxy’s Edge comic

Galaxy’s Edge isn’t even open yet and I’m starting to get a little Batuu fatigue. The latest entry in pimping the upcoming Star Wars theme parks at Disneyland and Disney World is a Marvel comic series. Galaxy’s Edge will be a five-issue minseries written by Ethan Sacks with art from Will Sliney and covers by Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm artists. The Ithorian is Dok-Ondar, a “collector of rare antiquities,” was designed by Karl Lindberg and Iain McCaig.

The series launches in April, while the first of the parks to open will be Disneyland’s, in June.

Alphabet Squadron now a trilogy with a comic tie-in

The Alexander Freed novel Alphabet Squadron is the first of a trilogy, Lucasfilm announced today, alongside a cover reveal. And it’s also getting a comic tie-in from Marvel. The TIE Fighter miniseries will be written by Jody Houser (Thrawn, Rogue One adpatations) with art by Rogê Antônio and covers by Darth Vader’s Giuseppe Camuncoli and Elia Bonetti.

Del Rey had identified the Alphabet cover character as Yrica Quell, an Imperial defector who flies an X-wing… And who the squadron gets their orders from: Rebels‘ Hera Syndulla.

Both are set after Return of the Jedi. The comic will feature Shadow Wing, “an elite squadron of TIE fighter pilots,” with a mission to “protect Imperial interests.”

The comic begins in April, while Alphabet Squadron is due out June 4.

Star Wars out this week: Hondo meets Han and Chewie (allegedly)

For Star Wars fans, one young reader book, three new comics and a trade collection are coming to stores this week. On Tuesday, January 8, the Flight of the Falcon series concludes with Pirate’s Price from Lou Anders and Annie Wu. Han and Chewbacca meet up with the notorious Hondo Ohnaka – or so claims Hondo. There’s an excerpt up at StarWars.com.

Meanwhile, Wednesday, January 9 brings Star Wars #58, Age of Republic: Jango Fett, Destroyer Down #3 and Doctor Aphra volume 4 to the comic stores.

Continue reading “Star Wars out this week: Hondo meets Han and Chewie (allegedly)”