Solo is going to Cannes

Solo: A Star Wars Story will be making its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, the festival has announced. The film will premiere on May 15, ten days before the official May 25 release date, per Deadline, who was first to report the news.

This isn’t a Star Wars first: Both Attack of the Clones in 2002 and Revenge of the Sith in 2005 had their debuts at the festival. The festival’s history with the franchise goes back a lot further than that, though.

Solo is the first Star Wars movie since Sith to be released in May.

Director Ron Howard brought The Da Vinci Code to Cannes in 2006, and Lucasfilm’s Willow way back in 1988.

Grease traps ahoy: The Solo/Denny’s alliance has officially begun

Denny’s did a big reveal of their Solo stuff today, beginning with Collider debuting a commercial for the promotion. The commercial may be for the restaurant, but the set is a recreation of the one from the film, with Solo production designer Neil Lamont and creature supervisor Neal Scanlan on board, per io9. The fateful card game between Han and Lando takes place there, and the creatures are mostly from the movie as well. Continue reading “Grease traps ahoy: The Solo/Denny’s alliance has officially begun”

Star Wars out this week: New vehicle guide

There’s one middle grade reference book, one comic and two trades being released this week. First up, on Tuesday, April 3, is the Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles by Landry Q. Walker.

Then, on Wednesday, April 4, head to your favorite comic venue for Star Wars #46 or the latest trade in the series, Ashes of Jedha, which collects #38-43. Marvel is also shipping a hardcover collection of their 40th anniversary cover art, if that’s your bag.

Ron Howard: Solo is in “final stages of post”

Ron Howard has been busy these last couple days. On Wednesday, he shared a video of the last day of scoring with composer John Power. On Friday, he tweeted that the Solo edit is locked the score is done, and then proceeded to share images of mixing, a VFX review, more mixing and… Reviewing?

The movie is in the “final stages of post,” he tweeted Saturday evening. “It’s gratifying to see everybody’s dedication to this story – going back to 2012 – adding up in such a fun & satisfying way. So much talent involved.”

He also reminds us that another trailer is coming – though it’s anyone’s guess as to when it’ll show up. The movie is (still) out May 25.

Head under the cut to see all the images.

Continue reading “Ron Howard: Solo is in “final stages of post””

Hey kids! You want a Last Jedi blooper reel?

Here’s one! It has the infamous 27 slaps, a surprise from (we assume) BB-8 and hugs.

And another! Even more Oscar Isaac shenanigans, an overenthusiastic wind machine and John Boyega’s big bio-hexacrypt problem.

Man, I love these things.

Solo lowdown: Production updates, conspiracy theories and more

Ron Howard gave a brief Solo update on Twitter yesterday, saying that this week they should finish up the film’s scoring and sound mix. A couple days ago, he also revealed that some early press work has begun, in a picture with Donald Glover, Alden Ehrenreich, Joonas Suotamo, Laurence and Jon Kasdan.

→ Floating around is a new article that purports to be from an actor in the production, but it tells us little we don’t already know from other sources (director troubles, acting coaches, etc.) and ends on a note that sounds more like someone reading fanboy conspiracy sites than someone truly plugged in to the industry. Read it if you must, but I’d supplement it with these Twitter threads from Bobby Roberts and Jordan Maison.

Thandie Newton says her character’s brief appearance in the trailer actually “tells you a lot” about Val.

→ And finally, on the possible spoilers front, a few new names and story details rounded up at SWNN.

Star Wars out this week: The Last Jedi on Blu-ray

Have you stayed strong? Tuesday, March 27 is the day: The Last Jedi arrives on Blu-ray. The actual copies you’ll get are more or less the same everywhere, but Best Buy has steelbooks and Target’s version comes with a book and an extra feature on porgs. No, I am neither an expert nor a collector of home releases. These are the standard versions:

There’s also the paperback of Christie Golden’s Battlefront II: Inferno Squad.

Meanwhile, headed for the comic shops on Wednesday, March 28 is Doctor Aphra #18, Star Wars Adventures #8 and a Forces of Destiny trade.