Sci-fi.com has video from this year’s 2006 Science Fiction Hall of Fame inductions. Watch Rob Coleman’s acceptance speech for George Lucas and speeches from the other inductees, including Anne McCaffrey. Plus Neil Gaiman! Greg Bear! Kevin J. Anderson! (Erm…)
It gives you focus, makes you stronger
George Lucas is #15 on Forbes list of the Top 100 celebrities. That’s down from last year’s #4, but still pretty respectible when you consider most of Lucasfilm’s big projects are still in the pre-production stages. Tom Cruise is #1, with Steven Spielberg and U2 making the top 10. J.K. Rowling also makes a respectible showing at #19.
In other Lucas news, his previously unreleased student film is now available in Europe.
At least it’s not Solid Gold
Penny Arcade: George Lucas taped over the original trilogy!
Plastics make everything possible
George Lucas will be the 50th Toy Hall of Fame inductee next year. (via NerfHerdersAnonymous)
In other Lucas news, card collectors have a chance to get a one-of-a-kind card with a ‘cut signature’ from Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, or George himself.
I see your Schwartz is as big as mine
MTV caught up with George Lucas at a dinner for Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people.
On Indy 4, he said that the film will be different, won’t be louder or bigger, and will be more about dialogue than stuff blowing up really good, and will probably start shooting next year:
“We’re working on it, we’re working on it,” Lucas said. “We’ve been working on it for 10 years. I think it’ll be a great film, but it’s completely different. It’s still got a lot of action, and it’s still very funny. I think it works like crazy.”
He was vague on Star Wars 3-D, but I know what you really want to know. Here’s what he said about the rerelease of the OOT:
He says he’s curious to see what the reception will be for the upcoming limited-edition DVD release of the three original “Star Wars” films. “It’s just the original versions, as they were,” Lucas said. “We didn’t do anything to it at all. But we’re not sure how many people want that.”
You might say quite a few, considering how many fans were angered by the digitized, expanded updates of episodes IV, V and VI. Lucas claims he’s not re-releasing the originals to appease fans, but rather to bate them. “Now we’ll find out whether they really wanted the original or whether they wanted the improved versions,” he said. “It’ll all come out in the end.”
So it’s a challenge then. Right-o, Big G.
Flashback!
Rolling Stone talks to George Lucas, circa 1977. Also on tap is last year’s cover story, The Cult of Darth Vader.
But does he shot first?
Hasbro is making an action figure of George Lucas in Stormtrooper disguise. Hopefully the news of the rereleased OOT will keep fanboys from using it as a voodoo doll.
Lucas on greatest screenplay list for ANH
George Lucas and Star Wars are 68th on the Writers Guild of America and Premiere magazine’s 101 Greatest Screenplays list. Casablanca was number one. Link is from Starwars.com’s Variety feed and thus available to Hyperspace members only, but the story is pretty short.
Lucas calls for cultural sensitivity
George Lucas urges Hollywood filmmakers to take more responsibility for the messages they send to the rest of the world at a World Affairs Council event. The council gave Lucas a Global Vision Award, honoring him as “the father of digital film.”
Who’s the master now?
Popcorn Picnic, a ‘weekly cartoon movie review’ tackles Serenity via George Lucas, tongue firmly in cheek. I do have to wonder just how much hate mail Chris Shadoian has gotten over it. But hey, I’m amused. (via Whedonesque)