Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
“Hard to believe we’re wrapping up week four already, it’s just flying by,” Director Rian Johnson said as he shared an Episode VIII set picture on his Tumblr this morning. The pic features cinematographer Steve Yedlin and the Millennium Falcon cockpit.
Meanwhile, there are more detailed rumors on the Dubrovnik shooting – including someone’s stunt double, which is more than a little surprising.
UPDATE: Some (apparent) extras, possibly guards or part of a police force, have been spotted.
We got a double dose of a recap for weeks nine and ten of #WearStarWarsEveryDay! More shirts and other apparel items from Tom, Ryan, and Beth, as well as a Day 66 – Order 66 costume. This recap covers February 26 to March 10 of my wearathon, and an update on fundraising for Collateral Repair Project, a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance, education, and community support to urban refugees.
Get more info on what Wear Star Wars Every Day is all about, or make a donation or a per-day pledge!
Stitch Kingdom has short blurbs for the two new stories that will be featured in the print edition of Landry Q. Walker’s Tales From a Galaxy Far, Far Away Volume I: Aliens.
The first features Unkar Plutt, played by Simon Pegg in The Force Awakens:
The repugnant scrap trader Unkar Plutt may finally have met his match in the twisty tale ‘True Love.’
And the second features Strono “Cookie” Tuggs:
When his sous chef turns up dead, the cook at Maz Kanata’s castle holds an unusual competition to find the culprit in ‘A Recipe for Death.’
The four other stories in the book – ‘The Crimson Corsair and the Lost Treasure of Count Dooku’, ‘High Noon on Jakku’, ‘The Face of Evil’ and ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ – were released as eBooks in December. Tales From a Galaxy Far, Far Away Volume I: Aliens will be out in hardcover on April 5.
The Derry Journal (via Jedi News) reports that Episode VIII has scouted and may be filming at County Donegal’s Malin Head in May. The area looks similar to Skellig Michael and Ceann Sibéal.
Meanwhile in Dubrovnik, detailing has been added to the Old City Centre, including a new “monumental gate or entrance.” Main Street was closed for rehearsals, with actual filming expected on Friday.
Today’s new addition to the Dubrovnik shooting is… A boat! My first instinct is to link you to a Lonely Island song, sorry. (Spoiler free!)
There’s now a a walkthrough video of the dressed Dubrovnik street, as well as a few more details. And even more details. Plus, the ‘landspeeder’ was spotted again.
Secrets of ‘The Force Awakens’: A Cinematic Journey will be available to all when The Force Awakens Blu-ray drops in April, but folks attending the South by Southwest festival will have a chance to see it on March 14 at its official world premiere. The screening will also have a Q&A with Roger Guyett, Matthew Wood and co-producer Michelle Rejwan.
→ Speaking of the Blu-ray, here’s a supposed list of the deleted scenes.
→ The Force Awakens has scored a whole pile of nominations at the 2016 MTV Movie Awards. The 11 nods include movie of the year and ensemble cast, plus performance nods for Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis, and Lupita Nyong’o. Kylo Ren and Rey’s face-off is up for best fight. So we (well, some of us) actually have to watch the MTV Movie Awards, but The Rock is co-hosting so hopefully it won’t be all bad. It airs Sunday, April 10, and you can vote here.
→ In other award news, the Saturn Awards bumped John Boyega’s nomination from supporting to lead after fan outcry.
→ If you’ve been pulling your hair out about why Leia and Chewbacca didn’t hug in TFA, well, J.J. Abrams has explained/apologized, /Film reports. I hope you’re happy, you little monsters.
→ Weird Al tells Rolling Stone he’s not doing a third Star Wars song. Sorry.
Disney CEO Bob Iger today referred to Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 2018 standalone as “an origin story about Han and Chewie,” our first official word that the Wookiee will be part of the film. Is this what Peter Mayhew’s script bonanza on Twitter been leading up to?
In the old Legends universe, the two met while Han was serving in the Imperial military and Chewbacca was a slave. Han’s refusal to kill the Wookiee led to their eventual partnership and Chewbacca’s life debt – elements that may or may not be incorporated into the film. (I’d bet on not, but stranger things have happened.) In the current canon, there’s nothing on record about Chewbacca’s life between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. – or Han’s before ANH, though he was in consideration for ROTS.
So, the next question: Young Lando?
There’s been a ton of stuff out of Dubrovnik for Episode VIII over the past few days, including further dressing for the street scene and how they covered up the windows – at least some of it is practical, not green screen. (The street was even closed for rehearsal the other day, though apparently none of the actors are present yet.) There’s also the possibility of interiors at Rector’s Palace and a vehicle was spotted.
However, throwing a wrench in that rumor we heard earlier in the week, Daisy Ridley told the BBC’s Lizo Mzimba that she’s not going to be filming in Croatia.
Meanwhile, in Ireland, some details of what sort of scenes are to be filmed at Ceann Sibéal from The Movie Bit. Ridley and Mark Hamill are expected here, as the area is similar to Skellig Michael. Filming is expected for mid-May.
Marvel Comics has announced Han Solo, their fifth Star Wars miniseries, via Entertainment Weekly. Written by Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men) with art by Mark Brooks (Amazing Spider- Man,) the plot involves the Rebellion and a starship race called the Dragon Void Run. Like the first miniseries, Princess Leia, it’s set between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. There’s plenty more detail at EW, including a chat with Liu and some interior art.
Han Solo #1 is due out after the current mini, Obi-Wan & Anakin, wraps up in May.
My apologies to those still clinging to the Rey Solo theories: I think Daisy Ridley just scuttled you, telling Entertainment Tonight that the parentage issue – or rather, the lack thereof – was the hardest secret to keep for The Force Awakens. Of course, knowing this fandom, the theories are just going to get even more elaborate… Here’s the video:
She also talked about the difference between J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson when it comes to secrecy, and yes, there’s stuff in this you can use, theorists. Have at it.
Rey Skywalker theorists, please be gracious. Your case may be pretty good, but nothing is set is stone just yet.