jj abrams – Page 16

March 18, 2014March 18, 2014

Rumors: Vendors, press visiting Episode VII set? Actors already in prep?

After a period of silence, Jedi News’ Jedi Master SQL has returned. Today he says that “a select number of executives” and ” leading movie industry writers and publications” have been to the set – something that we’ve already seen some evidence of. As for the meeting themselves:

The majority of the media and vendor meetings have been with JJ Abrams and or Kathleen Kennedy themselves – emphasising what looks like finally some big announcements are imminent with vendors and the mainstream media prepped by those at the very top. It is same to assume that both JJ and Kathleen would have given interviews at these meetings which will be used by these publications in upcoming issues.

Also on set? “A number of actors and actresses whom we assume are cast, and or at least in late stages of negotiation.” And thus, “costume fittings and training are starting.”

These are all very good signs that announcements are imminent. Could This is Madness actually be leading up to something even bigger than a mere popularity contest? Stay tuned…

January 25, 2014March 8, 2014

Abrams: “There’s a purity in not knowing every little thing.”

In a new interview with The Telegraph, J.J. Abrams talks a bit about Star Trek, Star Wars and keeping secrets.

Before the release of last year’s Star Trek Into Darkness, Abrams tried to keep secret the identity of the villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch – something he now regrets. “We were trying to preserve the unexpected for the audience, but it came across as if we were trying to be too clever,” he says.

“Star Wars is in every way a different animal. It’s always been a more open, fan-engaged universe than I’ve been used to, so I’m sure there’ll be some sort of compromise. But it feels to me like there’s a purity in not knowing every little thing.”

Secrecy, but not outright Khan-style lying for Episode VII? Let’s hope so.

He also reveals that Bad Robot staffers have “covered up all my windows with black paper,” while he’s working on the Star Wars script, “It seems rather extreme.”

Erm, maybe not. (via)

January 20, 2014March 8, 2014

Abrams: Episode VII filming begins in May, casting details will come “soon”

USA Today has more out of J.J. Abrams at TCA. “That’s the current plan,” he said when asked about a May start date. That’s later than the April rumors, for anyone looking to for something extra to get “concerned” over.

And of course…

“We can’t talk about story yet,” said the director, who plans to travel to England soon to begin work on the seventh film in the long-running saga. As far as casting, he had no details but said they will come “soon, and I look forward to that so that we can get past it and we can get on with it.”

“Soon.” Sigh. (via)

January 19, 2014March 8, 2014

J.J. Abrams: Episode VII has script, is in “deep prep,” confirms they’ve “talked to” Jesse Plemons

J.J. Abrams is out on the town today, and naturally he’s asking about Episode VII. “We’re working really hard and we’ve got our script and we’re in deep prep,” he told The Wrap. “Full steam ahead, y’know.”

He also confirmed that Jesse Plemons has been in the mix, which Plemons himself denied yesterday:

“He is one of the actors that we’ve talked to, yeah,” Abrams said. “But, you know. It’s not often that I read about actors that I’m going to be meeting… that I get to read articles about actors who are going to come in. And so I get to see someone and say, ‘Oh, I read that I’m going to see you.’ … It’s usually agents talking to people about what’s happening. It’s a lot of noise.”

And on rumors in general:

“There’ve been so many of them,” he said. “It’s amazing to see how many there are. … But it’s sweet because it shows that there’s an interest in this movie that we all obviously know is there. But it is an incredible thing to see how many crazy things get thrown out that people often then write commentaries about. How happy they are, how disappointed they are about something that is completely false. It’s a lot of noise, frankly.”

He dodged a question about directing future Episodes, saying “I’m just focusing on Episode VII right now.”

Abrams was at the Television Critics Association press tour thanks to Bad Robot’s Believe, which premieres in March on NBC.

January 17, 2014March 17, 2014

Rumors: More on the Episode VII script split, Kenobi ‘daughter,’ Jesse Plemons and Boba Fett spinoff

Latino Review is at it again, this time with “details” of the Fett spinoff film and a few words on the earlier rumors. Namely, they conflict with The Hollywood Reporter and say the Abrams/Arndt split had to do with focusing on Skywalker kid(s) over Solo(s) and that Mark Hamill may “end up shooting 6 months on the movie,” which seems excessive.

As for that controversial Obi-Wan’s daughter thing, “it’s absolutely not true,” though “the Kenobi family will come into play.” They have no details, but throw out possibilities like a “niece or nephew” and “Force Ghost.” Maybe Lady Kenobi from The Phantom Menace rumor days will finally show up, why not?

They also say that Jesse Plemons is basically locked, but don’t expect Lucasfilm to name his part publicly when they announce him. His character will be “the main protagonist of Episode VIII,” and yes, I see you there waiting to comment “Ben Skywalker!” ::eyeroll::

And of course no rumor dump is complete without a Boba Fett spinoff rumor. Yawn. Here’s what they say about Fett:

To counter-act the prequels, the Boba Fett spin-off movie planned for 2018 has an interesting twist pitched by Episode VII writer Lawrence Kasdan: the spin-off will start with a complete stranger killing Boba Fett and taking his armor, starting a Man-With-No-Name bounty hunter tale. So: someone kills the Boba Fett from the prequels and takes his armor and name. One this is for certain is that Kasdan didn’t like the prequel and wants no Bobba Fett Clone in the spin-off film.

There are shades there of some of the post-AOTC retcons, but we have every right to be skeptical. (Making Star Wars isn’t buying it at all.)

Latino Review also believes that Joe Johnston (Captain America: The First Avenger) is at the top of the director’s list, because duh. Three sources told them that, presumably after Googling “Joe Johnston Boba Fett.”

Whatever, man. As usual, I remain skeptical and urge you to do the same.

December 12, 2013

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler ‘reveal’ their Episode VII roles

What with the Golden Globe blitz beginning (you go, Tatiana Maslany,) power hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are guest-editing this week’s Entertainment Weekly – and naturally they’re taking on Star Wars. Sort of.

The comedians joke that they’re playing “really naggy mothers of Darth Vader.”

FEY: [In an elderly New Yorker accent] “Darth, eat! Why don’t you eat?” That kind of stuff.

POEHLER: “You’re never gonna find a girl when you go out looking like that!”

FEY: Making him practice his Jedi stuff for hours.

POEHLER: Hitting on all his Jedi friends inappropriately. I feel like the theme of the next Star Wars is going to be: How does a working mother juggle it all? I’m looking forward to that. What I like about all these giant superhero movies is that they speak to the issues that I’m dealing with right now — working mother and time management and how to be an interesting, sexual, curious woman in your 40s. That’s the kind of stuff that I like to see on the screen, and that’s what I see with a lot of the films out today.

Even J.J. Abrams is playing along: “The exciting thing about having Amy and Tina play the Vader Moms, as we’re calling them, is that they bring to the film that pitch-perfect Star Wars energy fans are clamoring for.”

Somewhere, someone is taking all this at face value. Let’s pretend we don’t see them.

November 25, 2013

Episode VII: Abrams says new release date is a “huge improvement”

Interviews. The December release date is “an infinitely better situation” and a “huge improvement” J.J. Abrams tells MTV’s Josh Horowitz. When asked if the Artoo casting means C-3P0: “They have different agents.” He also talked about London and Kasdan with Total Film.

Casting. The Hollywood Reporter spun something out about big movies that are casting at the moment. They mention the ‘Rachel’ and ‘Thomas’ roles, but also “a 40-something military man a la Matt Damon in Elysium.” Comparing the role to Damon is new, but we heard about the part way back in the original June casting breakdown.

Video. Fan-created trailer The Apprentice.

November 24, 2013November 25, 2013

Roundup: The Clone Wars rumors, fake Episode VII script

Rumors. A Polish fan site (in English from Star Wars Underworld) reported that details of The Clone Wars bonus content release were revealed at a Warsaw event. In short: The show’s ten remaining episodes, subtitled ‘The Lost Missions,’ will air on Disney XD early next year. Trailers were shown – head to Underworld for the details, but it’s worth noting that Pablo says that 10 seems to be to low a number… But note there’s nothing on StarWars.com, so whatever went on, it’s not yet 100% official. (UPDATE: Pablo also says he recognizes “pieces from upcoming episodes.”)

Fakes. There’s a very fake script rattling around. (No, not the audition pages.) It seems to be this one (via,) which is indeed pretty laughable.

Episode VII. J.J. Abrams says that Lawrence Kasdan “has made him raise his game.”

November 14, 2013November 14, 2013

J.J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy hanging out with R2-D2

Hi from the workshop! #StarWarsVII pic.twitter.com/9R7JGSfxlC

— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) November 14, 2013

Exciting developments! And questions: Does this make Artoo the first confirmed cast member of Episode VII? Who are the other two guys? Is Artoo now officially a bad robot? Speak amongst yourselves ;)

Impromptu tweet roundup below the cut!

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