Thomas Dolby on his Star Wars movie rumor: “I should have chosen my words more carefully”

Having inadvertently unleashed an internet monster, he now clarifies that he misspoke (misstyped?) and that his LucasArts pal was actually talking about the eventual live action series:

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)

Wacky merchandise du jour: Star Wars Choppers

Of course Lucas Licensing would approve something as ridiculous as the Star Wars Choppers line. I won’t even bother to justify this, but props to Hell for Leather’s Wes Siler for trying:

Out on his bike, no one has to know he’s just a lackey for the Emperor, he’s free to be the large and in charge man he was born to be.

Oh, Hasbro. Don’t worry, I’m sure The Clone Wars will dream up something better for you and the target demographic soon. Meanwhile, it’s probably best to keep the hallucinogens away from the design team.

Gift Guide: Santa Maul supposes that even the most craven of lightsiders deserve presents sometimes

Santa Maul's Holiday Gift GuideSanta Maul has been advised that there are some among his readers who are not disposed to the bearded Obi-Wan, snarky scoundrels, or even the sheer magnetism of a dexterous bad boy. No, some even prefer heroes of the goody-goody persuasion. Santa Maul is puzzled, but he knows his duty, and thus recommends to deviants of the light Sideshow’s Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight Premium format figure. At least he is not dressed in beige.

As an additional bonus, Santa Maul finds the faux-epic ‘trailer’ soundtrack tickles his bone of funny.

In the news: Star Wars Uncut, legal Jedi, inductee George, and the saga through new eyes

Mainstream recognition So the tauntaun sleeping bag got in the New York Times, but Star Wars Uncut made it to ABC News.

And here we thought his heart was two sizes too small… The Missouri Salvation Army has a unique approach to getting folks to drop a dollar or two into the kettle: Darth Vader. (via)

To be a copyright attorney takes the most serious mind, the deepest commitment. Law.com profiles “Jedi Lawyer” David Anderman – he heads Lucasfilm’s legal team and has been with the company for 11 years. His specialty? Intellectual property, naturally. (via)

Fame game. Lest we forget, George Lucas is being inducted into the California Hall of Fame today.

Final word. PopMatter’s Monte Williams takes on the popular assumptions about Star Wars. It’s an interesting enough read that I’m willing to forgive the extremely groanworthy headline.

From April Fools to reality: NYT explores origins of Thinkgeek’s tauntaun sleeping bag

ThinkGeek's Tauntaun sleeping bagThinkgeek and their tauntaun sleeping bag has made the mainstream: A profile in The New York Times.

Mostly a retailer, ThinkGeek does very little licensing and manufacturing, and its attempts to get a meeting with Lucasfilm to work out the rights to make the sleeping bag went nowhere. “We’d really pretty much given up,” Ty Liotta, the company’s senior merchandiser, said. “We decided: ‘We’re not doing anything else with this, and it’s funny. Let’s make it an April Fools’ product.’ ”

And an internet phenomenon was born…