Posts

Posted on

You can download Angry Birds Star Wars now

Remember when we thought this was going to be the big news for the rest of the year? We were so innocent then.

Angry Birds Star Wars is free (with ads) for Android phones, $0.99 for i0S devices, $2.99 for the iPad and Android tablets, and $4.99 for the Mac. (Another device? Try this.)

If you can’t spare a moment now, go check out what the game’s art director, Toni Kysenius, had to say about the game’s design on the official blog. There’s more art – both pro and fan – at their Tumblr.

UPDATE: And here’s one of the first reviews of that game that I’ve seen, from Kotaku’s Mike Fahey. Spoiler: He likes it.

Played it? Let us know what you think!

Posted on

Dave Filoni, Ashley Eckstein in the mood for Disney

Clone Wars heavy-hitters Dave Filoni and Ashley Eckstein both have blog entries about Disney and Star Wars on the official site today.

Filoni writes about his history with Disney – he worked on Kim Possible, among others – Star WArs Weekends, and

When Revenge of the Sith was over, I found myself in the incredible position of carrying the torch forward. Now I can see the incredibly bright light that is the future of Star Wars. For those of you who are fans of The Clone Wars, do not worry. We have many stories left to tell, and every one of them came directly from George himself. Right down to the last one, where that thing with Ahsoka happens…

As the daughter of a Disney “cast member,” Ashley Eckstein has never made a secret of her Disney love, and she writes at length about the effects of “being immersed in the Disney culture at such a young age.”

I wanted to work for Disney SO badly that I turned in my application on my 16th birthday. After several auditions, I finally got my big break and I was cast as a cheerleader in the Hercules Parade. I got to dance down Hollywood Blvd. Thanks to Disney, I was able to perform in front of thousands of people on the weekends and it made my dream, again, feel tangible.

Posted on

Carrie Fisher on returning to Star Wars: “Wouldn’t you?”

The internet’s favorite celebrity street-harassers, TMZ, caught up with Carrie Fisher at LAX to ask if she’s come back to Star Wars. An unenthused Fisher (can’t blame her – aren’t airports hellish enough without paparazzi?) answered “Yes. Sure. Wouldn’t you?”

Of course, Fisher has had more time than the rest of us to get used to the idea – George Lucas told her and Mark Hamill about the sequels in August.

Posted on

Rumor: Safety Not Guaranteed‘s Colin Trevorrow on shortlist to direct Episode VII?

The director of sci-fi indie Safety Not Guaranteed has had “early discussions” with George Lucas and Lucasfilm to direct Episode VII, Celebuz reports.

“Trevorrow met Lucas several months ago to talk about the project,” they write. They can “confirm that Trevorrow is indeed on the list of potential names that could shepherd a new trilogy of films.”

I hesitate to call Trevorrow unknown – at least in comparison to some of the names we’ve had thrown around thus far – but this is the first I’ve heard of him. However, a lesser-known director would fit with Lucas’s MO in the past. But remember, while it’s completely plausible that he may have met with Lucas and be on the shortlist, this is still a rumor!

UPDATE: Well, sort of. Indiewire got hold of Trevorrow for a thrilling “No Comment.” Well, if you were (supposedly) on the shortlist, wouldn’t you?

As for one of our other rumored director candidates, Matthew Vaughn, writer Mark Millar says that he dropped out of the X-Men: First Class sequel to work on the movie adaption of the comic Secret Service.

Posted on

Is there a Star Wars exchange program? Warwick Davis to guest-star on Doctor Who

Yesterday, we found out that The Clone Wars brought in David Tennant, who played the Tenth Doctor. Today? The BBC announces that Warwick Davis is guesting on Doctor Who. (Doctor Who fans: That link may also contain spoilers, if you don’t want to know who the episode’s villains will be!)

Davis will appear in the current season’s penultimate episode, which was scripted by writer Neil Gaiman. Gaiman’s first Who episode, ‘The Doctor’s Wife,’ won a Hugo.

Davis began his career playing Wicket in Return of the Jedi and has since appeared in The Phantom Menace and the Harry Potter films. His most recent role was starring as ‘himself’ in the sitcom Life’s Too Short.

Doctor Who is currently on hiatus – the second half of the seventh season (or, yes, series if you’re going to Brit-pick) will start on Christmas and continue with eight episodes through the spring. That’s when we’ll see Davis’ episode.

Posted on

Damon Lindelof: “George Lucas is responsible for everything that I aspire to be.”

The Lost co-creator – already the subject of an early rumor – shared his thoughts on the new movies with Rolling Stone.

I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for the person that has to sit down and write that movie. Whoever takes that job is going to be in the hot seat. That’s not even doing it justice. It’s going to be beyond scrutinized. Look at the other pop culture phenomenons, like Twilight or Hunger Games, and all the scrutiny that went into the casting decisions and other behind-the-scenes stuff. The fact you have 13-year-old girls who know who Gary Ross is is a testament to our culture now.

It’s a nice piece – a little bit love letter, but with a lot practical considerations and predictions from someone knee-deep in the biz. Definitely worth a read!

Posted on

Donating his Disney billions will put George Lucas among biggest givers ever

George Lucas will be one of the biggest charitable givers ever when he donates his Disney billions, Forbes says. (via)

Disney is paying Lucas $4.05 billion in cash and stock for Lucasfilm and its subsidiaries. He plans to put most of the money towards education.

In other news, Mellody Hobson, who has been romantically linked with Lucas since 2006, has been named chairman of DreamWorks Animation. She’s been on the board of the company, which was co-founded by Steven Spielberg, since 2004.

Posted on

The Clone Wars calls in a Doctor: David Tennant guests on Saturday’s episode

Ex-Doctor Who star David Tennant voices the droid Huyang, who helps the young Jedi on their lightsaber quest in ‘A Test of Strength.’ After watching IGN’s exclusive clip, I’m surprised no one guessed this one at Celebration!

Tennant is best known for playing the Tenth Doctor on Who, but may also be familiar to genre fans from his turn as Barty Crouch Junior in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Posted on

Out this week: Darth Bane goes three for all

We’ve had quite enough excitement, so only one new release this week: The three-in-one eBook bundle of Drew Karpyshyn’s Darth Bane novels went on sale yesterday. Path of Destruction, Rule of Two and Dynasty of Evil will run you $18.99 at your digital bookstore of choice.

Since we haven’t heard that there are any more Bane books on the horizon, this is presumably to support of Karpyshyn’s latest Old Republic novel, Annihilation, which will be out in hardcover (and eBook) next week, on the 13th.