Here’s another installment of Words with Warwick from StarWars.com!
Video: Warwick Davis chats with Kathleen Kennedy
Warwick Davis chats with Kathleen Kennedy backstage after her panel yesterday
Harrison Ford: Abrams is a “great storyteller”
“We want this to happen.” Mark Hamill talks SDCC, Episode VII
Mark Hamill my not be making an official appearance at San Diego Comic-Con – hell, he can’t even visit without being recognized – but he was happy to chat about it (and Star Wars, natch) with The Hollywood Reporter.
As for Episode VII? Well, we’re still waiting on an official announcement, but:
Hamill’s hopes are high for the Star Wars: Episode VII reunion: “We want this to happen. How could I not take this ride? They’re making all the right moves, like Michael Arndt as the writer. Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3 — he writes humor and he writes heart. I’m not someone who looks to recapture the glory of when I was in my 20s. I think it’ll probably be about the next generation. We’ll be the link to the past, but the kids will be doing the heavy lifting. And the Wookiee will have a walker.”
Hamill is up for it, even if he’s no longer the teenage Luke. “Am I the age Sir Alec [Guinness] was in 1977? I don’t want to do the math.” (He’s 61; Guinness was 63.) He also hopes one day to find the shirt he wore to a 1976 convention: “It’s a collectible; it would’ve shot up in value.”
Hamill and Carrie Fisher will be appearing next week at Celebration Europe in Germany. Lucasfilm has denied that they’ll be making any Episode VII announcements in San Diego.
Lucas, Hobson celebrate marriage in Chicago
After getting married last weekend at Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson headed to her hometown of Chicago to celebrate.
Prince performed at the party on at lakeside Promontory Point, and the attendees included Mark Hamill, Robin Williams, singer Ne-Yo (who was in Red Tails,) Today’s Al Roker and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
UPDATE: Hobson stopped by CBS This Morning Monday and talked a little about the wedding and reception.
Ewan McGregor made OBE by Prince Charles
A bekilted Ewan McGregor was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Prince Charles today. He was appointed for services to drama and charity.
George Lucas and Mellody Hobson got married this weekend at Skywalker Ranch
Despite earlier reports that the wedding may happen on the 29th in Chicago, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson got married this weekend at Skywalker Ranch.
The Huffington Post has our first look at the happy couple and details from the ceremony. Lucas’ son Jett served as best man, while daughters Katie and Amanda were bridesmaids. The service was conducted by journalist Bill Moyers, who worked with Lucas on the acclaimed PBS documentary series Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth.
“Let’s give a Galactic shout out to Master George Lucas & his Bride,” Samuel L. Jackson tweeted on Saturday.
The “wedding was joy to behold,” Ron Howard tweeted Sunday.
Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and Senator Bill Bradley (who gave away the bride) were also among the attendees. Musicians Van Morrison and Janelle Monae performed.
Lucas and Hobson, who have been together for several years, announced their engagement in January.
George Lucas: Abrams gets Star Wars
At a recent event, George Lucas told Access Hollywood that J.J. Abrams “understands” Star Wars and “how it works.” And if not… Kathleen Kennedy will “keep it straight.” He also addressed his own role in this as being more or less on call, and the inevitable critics:
“No matter how you do it, it’s a complicated cultural icon. Therefore you’re always going to be in trouble no matter what you do,” he said. “So, the best thing you can do is just plow forward and try to do the best story you can.”
Princess Leah has passed away
A special person to the Star Wars fan community has passed away.
Leah Esquanazi, better known as Princess Leah, suffered from a mitochondrial disease that caused her to have breathing difficulties and a related disorder that caused blindness. Her parents are big Star Wars fans and are very involved in fandom. When word went out that Leah was ill, the fans rallied to get funds together several times through collections and auctions so that her parents could cover their extensive time away from work and, eventually, the high costs associated with her care.
Even though she struggled with many health problems, her parents tried to give her an active life full of adventures that they chronicled on their blog and Facebook page.
Keep an eye out on their Facebook page for any planned tributes.
Roundup: Kathleen Kennedy, Al Pacino, and DAK!
Profiled. USA Today interviews Kathleen Kennedy about her career, Lucasfilm, and women in film.
Imagine this? Al Pacino told a London audience that he turned down the role of Han Solo in Star Wars, the BBC reports. “That role was mine for the taking but I couldn’t understand the script,” he said. He also turned down Die Hard and Pretty Woman.
Dak! Our pal John Morton has been blogging for StarWars.com! He even profiled a few CJers!
Neat stuff. The next Star Wars mega-LEGO is an almost 2,000-piece Ewok Village. It’ll set you back $249.