Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
Guests Today’s addition to the guest list is the Emperor himself, Ian McDiarmid. It’ll be his third Celebration; His first was the original Celebration Europe in 2007.
Attractions. Steve Sansweet, is another high profile guest, and he’s bringing the Rancho Obi-Wan Experience to Germany. The Experience was extremely popular at Celebration VI; We hope they get a bigger space at CE!
Panels. And, naturally, the collecting track is back!
It’s been a while since we checked in with progress on Celebration Europe, so here’s what’s been happening.
Warwick Davis will be the con’s Celebrity Host, overseeing the “the show’s biggest events” and guests. Thus far only Dave Filoni has been confirmed, but there’s sure to be more big names on the way.
And on that note, Pablo Hidalgo continues his wildly successful run as host of the Behind-The-Scenes Stage.
They’ve also announced the art show lineup, which includes Joe Corroney, Hugh Fleming, Tsuneo Sanda, Chris Trevas and many more.
And if you’re wondering, yes, it looks like there are still VIP tickets available.
Tickets for Celebration Europe will be going on sale Thursday at 6pm in Germany, 12pm in New York, and 9am in San Francisco, according to an email Reed sent out this afternoon.
Regular pre-sale ticket prices range from €95 to €25, while a Jedi Master VIP pass will cost you €500.
Looks like we’re in Celebration mode again… Reed and Lucasfilm today released a few key bits of information today.
The con’s first announced guest is The Clone Wars’ Supervising Director Dave Filoni, favorite of children everywhere.
Secondly? The ticket pricing rates. Buying a 3-day pass before the show will set you back €95 (adult) and €45 (kid,) along with a “facilitation fee,” with prices going up to €105/€55 on-site.
What’s really interesting is that Reed seems to have done away with the Jedi Knight VIP level and will only be offering Jedi Master packages. They’re limited to 225 and will set you back €500 a pop (plus fees.)
The second Celebration Europe is being held in Essen, Germany July 26-28th.
Start planning your vacation time, now. Disney has announced the dates for Star Wars Weekends 2013.
Each weekend from May 17th through June 9th in Orlando, Florida, you’ll get to meet a rotating array of Star Wars guests and enjoy other Star Wars shows and events at Disney Hollywood Studios. And you can usually count on The 501st and The Rebel Legion to be making appearances, as well.
Returning as hosts will be James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan) and Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka) from The Clone Wars. Both will be continuing the shows they hosted last year. And both are the perfect fit to blend Star Wars and Disney, as both have professed their love of the two franchises. (Which are now one franchise. Maybe?)
Guest announcements and schedules will probably start going out in early 2013 so you can start planning which weekend you’d like to attend.
Start stocking up on your sunscreen!
With New York Comic Con upon us, it’s of course rather apt that Ashley Exckstein and Her Universe are profiled in the New York Times. Newswise, we learn the company “is expected to reach $1 million in sales this year and turn its first profit.”
Her Universe doesn’t have a booth at NYCC this year, but Ashley will be livestreaming with MTV Geek.
What do we have here? Why, on the right, could that be a mockup/sketch of the new Star Wars: The Essential Characters that was announced at CVI? Doug Wheatley is doing the interior art for the book, and Erich Schoeneweiss says that is his “very rough and not final” sketch for the cover.
Both Del Rey and Dark Horse have Star Wars panels at NYCC this Friday. Del Rey will be revealing one new book (could it be the rumored Matt Stover Imperial Commando title?), and Dark Horse will have some big announcements as well.
ThinkGeek is now selling some of the Celebration VI exclusives today: Talking Ackbar, Vader/Stormtrooper salt and pepper shakers, the tauntaun hobby horse, the Gamorrean bank, the Death Star paper lantern and, of course, the Jar Jar whoopee cushion.
On Facebook this morning, Timothy Zahn posted that he’ll be attending NYCC in a “spur-of-the-moment decision.” It apperars he’ll be joining Pablo Hidalgo and Jason Fry on the Star Wars Books panel, as well as signings on Friday and Sunday.
Also on Facebook, Lucasbooks editor Jennifer Heddle has addressed concerns being brought up by Mike Cooper on diversity in the EU.
This is the whole thing, clocking in at almost 43 minutes and cameos from Star Wars and The Clone Wars cast/crew, plus fans like Amy Ratcliffe, Bryan Young and even a few Jader cameos!
Hint: At about minute 27, Ashley and artist Cat Staggs talk abut the con’s exclusive Mara Jade shirt.