Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
Rian Johnson, at CinemaCon for his next film, Knives Out, talked Star Wars briefly with MTV’s Josh Horowitz. He does admit he’s gotten the chance to talk with IX director J.J. Abrams a few times, but says that overall he’s just happy to be in the audience for this round.
(Of course he knows a lot more than any of us, but hey.)
He also taked about “chugging away” at his next Star Wars film and talked around the latest Benioff and Weiss rumor.
StarWars.com shares
The first excerpt, featuring the older Qui-Gon, appeared back in February. Master & Apprentice will be out in hardcover and ebook on April 16, with a special con edition available early at Celebration.
I wasn’t able to get around to updating our (somewhat antiquated) convention tips series, but over at StarWars.com, James has 8 tips for making the most out of Celebration Chicago. Bria has some last-minute cosplay tips, and Bryan’s got tips for the first-timers.
One thing I wish I could explain but barely understand myself is the panel lotteries… But I do know that the deadline to enter has been extended to Monday, April 8. If you don’t have your badge yet, you can use your email to enter it.
Meanwhile, James’ piece on photographing cosplayers still holds up as the best of our series. (They’re all over here, but be warned: A few were updated in 2015 and the general con stuff still holds true, but some of them are even older and some of the convention specifics no longer apply.)
StarWars.com has a first look at 30 of the official store’s sure-to-be-many-more-than-that exclusives, with the highlight being a $30 Darth Maul plush that comes with three interchangable legs, because why wouldn’t he? There’s also plush convorees, lothwolves, and gorgs that are also puppets, plus the expected variety of t-shirts and other wearables.
But my other pick is this Death Star “succulent planter,” because it’s just so very random.
Her Universe is launching a capsule collection for Celebration Chicago called “Sisters of the Force,” featuring items inspired by several Star Wars women. (And they’re bringing back one of their originals, the “Padmé nouveau” tee.) Ashley Eckstein talks to StarWars.com about the inspiration behind each piece, or check out the gallery under the cut.
Continue reading “Her Universe is bringing a whole new Star Wars collection to Chicago”
One book and two comics are coming out this week. Gina McIntyre’s Star Wars Icons: Han Solo will be out Tuesday, April 2, for those who didn’t nab it early from Sideshow. And coming Wednesday, April 3 we have more Han, as Solo #7 wraps up the comic adaptation of the movie, plus Star Wars #64.
Continue reading “Star Wars out this week: Han times two”
Let’s all breathe a big sigh of relief, the Celebration
Coming up from Del Rey is… An audio drama?
Dooku: Jedi Lost is written by Cavan Scott and will only be available in audio. Here’s the blurb:
Darth Tyranus. Count of Serenno. Leader of the Separatists. A red saber, unsheathed in the dark. But who was he, before he became the right hand of the Sith? As Dooku courts a new apprentice, the hidden truth of the Sith Lord’s past begins to come to light.
Dooku’s life began as one of privilege—born within the stony walls of his family’s estate, orbited by the Funeral Moon where the bones of his ancestors lie interred. But soon his Jedi abilities are recognized and he is taken from his home to be trained in the ways of the Force by the legendary Master Yoda.
As he hones his power, Dooku rises through the ranks, befriending fellow Jedi Sifo-Dyas and taking a padawan of his own, the promising Qui-Gon Jinn—and tries to forget the life that he once led. But he finds himself drawn by a strange fascination with the Jedi Master Lene Kostana, and the mission she undertakes for the Order: finding and studying ancient relics of the Sith, in preparation for the eventual return of the deadliest enemies the Jedi have ever faced.
Caught between the world of the Jedi, the ancient responsibilities of his lost home, and the alluring power of the relics, Dooku struggles to stay in the light—even as the darkness begins to fall.
Unlike an audiobook, which generally only has one narrator, this will feature a full cast, including Euan Morton, Orlagh Cassidy, January LaVoy, and Marc Thompson. The full cast list is available on the Random House listing.
Audio dramas are a popular format for Doctor Who, which regularly brings back actors from the show to reprise their characters in new adventures, but this is a Del Rey first for Star Wars. (Although the original trilogy radio dramas still get a lot of love.)
Dooku: Jedi Lost will drop on April 30 and can be pre-ordered now.
Big-time Star Wars fans Stephen Colbert really wants Episode IX details from Keri Russell, but he doesn’t get much. She does talk about how her oldest kid reacted to her getting the role, and says she has “the coolest costume.”
Unverified Episode IX marketing materials are leaking all over Reddit this morning. Head under the cut for the links.
Continue reading “Episode IX leakers at it again”