Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
Today was the film’s big press day, which meant that Kathleen Kennedy, Chris Terrio, Billy Dee Williams and the elusive Adam Driver all joined the folks we’ve been seeing over the past few days… Plus, quite possibly, the ghost of Carrie Fisher.
A brand-new photo from The Rise of Skywalker shows Poe flying the Millennium Falcon and an Oscar Isaac interview. Between this and Daisy Ridley’s “four words” is the new-monthly Entertainment Weekly gearing up for another cover story?
Continue reading “Poe flies the Falcon in new still and other Rise of Skywalker news”
Billie Lourd wrote a sweet/sad piece for Time on her mom, Carrie Fisher, and being the “keeper” of Princess Leia. Meanwhile, Carrie’s brother Todd is sharing details from the original version of the film.
Continue reading “Billie Lourd on being the “keeper” of Princess Leia, and more Rise of Skywalker news”
In an interview with USA Today, Daisy Ridley talks about Ophelia, The Rise of Skywalker, IX fan theories and more. On the stunt seen in the trailer:
I had learnt a version of it, but there was a risk of breaking ankles so I couldn’t do the full thing. But there’s a bit in the film where you see me upside down. It’s funny because I did 95% of my (stunts), but that’s the one thing I didn’t fully do. People are like, “Oh, that’s so cool,” and I’m like, “Ugh.”
And with Vulture, she discusses self care and the Leia hug we see in the trailer.
She was actually whispering, “This is a fucking long hug.”[Laughs.] I was trying to do my acting, like, “Oh my god, Carrie!” There wasn’t any discussion about what we were gonna do.
Carrie Fisher: Always On Brand.
Per usual, the Vanity Fair story on the upcoming Star Wars film – The Rise of Skywalker, the final episode of “the Skywalker saga,” the grand finale of all three trilogies, etc. – was chock full of information. Granted, most of it’s peicemeal, but that’s where we tiny fan blogs live, isn’t it? Let’s dig in.
Continue reading “What we learned about The Rise of Skywalker from Vanity Fair”
J.J. Abrams’ Episode IX will begin filming on August 1 at London’s Pinewood Studios, StarWars.com has announced, confirming that Billy Dee Williams, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher (via unused The Force Awakens footage) will be returning.
Interestingly, the release calls IX “the final installment of the Skywalker saga.”
As expected, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Anthony Daniels, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd are also returning. They’re being joined by new (to Star Wars) faces, Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant.
A late addition to the release was Keri Russell, the only new-to-Star-Wars actor rumored for this round.
More details on the Fisher footage:
The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”
Composer John Williams and Director of Photography Dan Mindel are also returning.
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.
A few new behind the scenes clips have emerged since we last checked in. The first, on Kylo’s choice to not kill Leia, features a new priceless quote from Carrie Fisher. The second is on the crystal foxes (err, vulptices), finally giving us a long-awaited look at the actual dog-wearing-straw-costume used to help develop them. And from yesterday, how a Ralph McQuarrie painting from Empire inspired the final showdown and a bit on the red of Crait.
With The Last Jedi home release imminent, several behind the scenes clips and featurettes have been released. There’s an interview with Andy Serkis on Snoke at Entertainment Weekly; Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher and The Slap at People; Daisy Ridley and Rian Johnson on Rey at E!.
Carrie Fisher was awarded the Best Spoken Word Album Grammy for her narration of The Princess Diarist, the book which detailed her life while filming the first Star Wars.
Continue reading “Carrie Fisher wins posthumous Grammy for The Princess Diarist”