Carrie Fisher has been out and about lately, first in an interview with BBC Radio Wales (as reported by Digital Spy) and at the Hay-On-Wye literary festival.
She told the BBC that she’s “fighting for the buns, but that’s always what I’m doing. I think they should make an appearance if I just walked by a rocket window and I was in buns,” and would also appreciate the gang going and getting their nails done as a respite from all the blasting and lightsabers. (There you have it: The female agenda is Star Wars spa time. Really. We swear.)
At the festival, she revealed that aside from the script reading we’ve seen, she’s also done costume fittings and rehearsals for Episode VII, but not any actual filming yet. That’s expected to start in a few weeks.
John Boyega particularly has been very sharey this week… Nothing particularly sensitive, but it is fun to get these quick glimpses. More Instagrams and tweets beneath the cut – including, finally, confirmation that that is Daisy Ridley’s Twitter. (If the photo wasn’t enough…)
Today’s casting announcement was indeed very welcome. Finally, we have a confirmed cast, or at least the biggest part of one. We have a group of familiar faces and new actors who come with glowing recommendations, and they’re not all white guys. (Just mostly.)
But there was one bit of fallout that we have mixed feelings about.
Where are the women?
We have Carrie Fisher, of course. But of the seven new cast members there’s only one other woman joining her. Granted, Daisy Ridley could very well be playing Episode VII’s main character. She could be the axis the entire film revolves around. Or, she may not be. We don’t know, and they’re probably not going to tell us any time soon. And there could be other women in the cast but again: We’re not seeing them today. In any case, this is the core cast. The leads will be drawn out of this group – or so we’re led to assume.
We’ve had two trilogies with exactly one woman each taking the lead. We had the prequel trilogy, where, finally, there were enough women that they actually talked to each other sometimes. When their scenes weren’t cut, anyway. (Sorry, Padme’s mom and sister. Sorry, Mon Mothma.) Still, Padme talked to her handmaidens, to Shmi Skywalker, to Queen Jamillia, to Beru Whitesun. And remember: The Bechdal test is (again) the bare minimum, not any sort of ultimate measure.
Outside of the movies, we’ve embraced the addition of characters like Mara Jade, Jaina Solo, Ahsoka Tano and even newcomers Hera Syndulla and Sabine Wren, whose show hasn’t even aired yet. Two women in the Rebels cast? We were enthusiastic, even if there are still some bumps in the road.
“Be patient,” they say.
They don’t seem to realize that we have been patient. We’re here. We’re fans. We’re ready. We’ve been patient for 30 years. It’s just that now, there’s enough of us visible that you can’t ignore us when we speak up.
“Be patient?”
No.
Here’s a real question for you: Why do we keep asking? It’s not because we enjoy this outrage, I’ll tell you that much. It’s because of decades of being ignored, disrespected, and of our contributions being constantly downplayed, our concerns brushed to the side. And if we don’t ask, if we go back to being “patient?” That’ll just give them more reason to go back to the status quo, no matter how many Katnisses there are.
I’m sorry this casting announcement, this moment we’ve all been waiting nearly two years for, has been clouded by complaints. But I’m not sorry for speaking up as to why. I just wish we didn’t have to.
That is… A lot of guys. Sigh. The Wrap has a bit more on our new lady, Daisy Ridley, while The Hollywood Reporter has a breakdown of all the new-to-us folks.
And that second new female role? They may still be looking, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford have both been spotted in London in recent days. And on Sunday, Peter Serafinowicz tweeted a photo of himself with Mark Hamill, saying “Met up with @HamillHimself in London today. I wonder why he’s here.”
Hamill also appears to be growing out a beard.
WHAT COULD IT MEAN? I kid, we totally know what it (probably) means.
Hamill hasn’t tweeted since the 18th, but Fisher poked fun at the rumor on Saturday: “So my do dog Gary has been spotted in London, but apparently without me. Who has he been seeing? Let me know if you have any clues.”
Mingle Media caught up with Carrie Fisher Saturday at the Backstage At The Geffen fundraiser. Naturally, they asked about Episode VII, but didn’t get very far: “I don’t know that I am. We’re not supposed to…”
She is, however, working on a new show that she’s thinking about debuting… in London.
According to /Film, Legit star Jim Jefferies told a radio show that Carrie Fisher told him she’s be in London for six months filming Episode VII. We last heard “six months” in regard to Mark Hamill per Latino Review, so take that as you will.
Fisher will be appearing on the new season of the FXX show.
J.J. Abrams said this weekend that Episode VII will begin filming in May; Now Carrie Fisher is telling TV Guide that she, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford will start in March or April. (And yes, none of the actors have been officially confirmed yet, but that hasn’t stopped her before.) Maybe it’s a misquote for ‘spring,’ or maybe Episode VII isn’t a mystery box so much as a confusion box? Or they’re all going to tour Highclere Castle Downton Abbey as team-building exercise? (via)
In any case: “I’d like to wear my old [cinnamon buns] hairstyle again — but with white hair,” Fisher also said. “I think that would be funny.”
Rumors.Ali Arikan says that there are rumblings that Episode VII will begin filming on April 22.
Original original trilogy. Jeremy Conrad at Furious Fanboys has four reasons we won’t be seeing the original trilogy theatrical cuts released anytime soon. Long story short: A complete restoration would be super expensive and the rights issues with 20th Century Fox.