Filoni talks Clone Wars bonus episodes and more

TCW-cast-with-Emmy-Filoni

In the final part of an interview with StarWars.com on The Clone Wars, Dave Filoni shared details about wrapping up the series, giving some hints about the bonus material, and having George Lucas as a mentor in creating Star Wars. He discusses concluding season five with Ahsoka’s storyline, and his sense of guardianship over characters from the series. When asked about the bonus material (which were episodes in production for a sixth season), he mentions:

When you look at level of importance to wrap things up for fans, I think that two story arcs that fans will get to see are really, really important for the overall Clone Wars story. So I’m very glad that fans will get to see them in their completed form.

It’s not like all of the bonus material that comes out was planned on really answering things for fans. It’s more, “This is where we were headed,” and the Yoda story arc [announced on Twitter] definitely gives a sense of closure. One of the story arcs, which is very short, is not essential to the overall story but it is a nice final showcase for one of the prequel characters.

Building on Filoni’s comments about the two story arcs, Pablo Hidalgo clarified via Twitter the bonus content is more than just these two arcs.

In the interview, Filoni also discussed moving onto Rebels and being the public face of Star Wars storytelling, reiterating about the new show: “I know some fans just see Rebels as an extension of Clone Wars, but it’s not. It’s an entirely different thing with a different feeling and a different vibe.”

Greg Weisman: Rebels ensemble includes two women

Greg Weisman

I received my Star Wars Insider today, and it features, among other things, an interview with Rebels executive producer Greg Weisman. As you might expect, it’s too early for him to be dropping many details about the show, but there are few things there and there. Though he admits that that the show already had “great characters and a great setup” by Dave Filoni and Simon Kinberg when he came on board, he had a few things to say on Rebels’ yet-to-be-revealed cast:

We have two strong female leads in the show among our set of characters and we think they are going to be fan favorites very quickly. That’s always been a personal priority for me in all the work I’ve done, to have a strong and diverse cast of characters, both in terms of gender and race.

Rebels (logo)He also praised Ahsoka on The Clone Wars, talked about Ralph McQuarrie’s influence on the show’s look and had a few things to say on how the Rebellion we see in the original trilogy is not quite there yet.

The article also features a few pieces of artwork I’m pretty sure we haven’t really seen yet, but I’ll let you guys go see that for yourselves.

StarWars.com, perhaps not so coincidentally, posted a video with Weisman today, where he echos some of his statements from the Insider interview, talks about his background with TV, and answers a few Star Wars questions:

Rebels is set to debut sometime in Fall 2014 on Disney XD. Most of what we already know about it is from presentations at NYCC (including our only cast member so far, ‘the Inquisitor’) and Celebration Europe.

And as a parting shot, here’s something for you to chew on from the video:

Alderaan? Maybe not...

Roundup: StarWars.com adds Episode VII section

Episode VII on StarWars.comStarWars.com. A year and change after the announcement, the official site has added a section for Episode VII. (via)

Actors. It’s not that really a big surprise that J.J. Abrams wouldn’t be talking to Samuel L. Jackson or Ewan MacGregor regarding Episode VII, but Mark Hamill? So said Jackson in a recent David Letterman appearance, anyway.

Billy Dee and Rebels? Maybe not so fast on that rumor that Billy Dee Williams will be doing a voice on Rebels. Lightsaber Rattling quotes the full conversation.

Horrors. I originally clicked in this expecting to think ‘I’ve seen worse,’ but io9 may be right: This might really be be the ugliest Star Wars shirt ever.

Roundup: Bob Iger on Episode VII release date, Star Wars in the Disney parks

Bob Iger (Bloomberg TV)Video. Bob Iger talks to Bloomberg TV about choosing Episode VII’s release date and confirms (again) that Disney is developing Star Wars attractions for their parks.

Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams and Neil Gaiman were on BBC Newsnight with author Doug Dorst to talk about their book S, and, eventually, Star Wars and casting. (13:00 mark.)

Cartoon. Disney XD has a site up for Rebels. (via)

Wow. Yeah, The Wrap really did go ask Disney about the Twentieth Century Fox fanfare and Episode VII. Hard hitting.

Countdown. How many days until Episode VII? (via)

Roundup: Saoirse Ronan says she’s out of the running for Episode VII

s-ronan200Actors. Saoirse Ronan is no longer in the running for Star Wars. “I don’t have the role,” she tells The Playlist. “I just shouldn’t have said anything. I just auditioned for it, like everyone else did.”

Casting. Word continues to spread about the open call that may (or may not) be for Episode VII. Gary Kurtz talks to The Guardian about the open calls for the original Star Wars and David Prowse shares some advice for the hopefuls with the BBC.

Games Jeremy Conrad of Furious Fanboys thinks the December part of the equation relates to Episode VII and Rebels tie-ins with the Disney Infinity game. As always with gaming, I shrug.

Roundup: Rumor mill takes on Episode VII script shake-up

SEQUEL TRILOGY RUMORS: Take seriously at your own risk.Fallout rumors. In the wake of the announcement that Abrams and Kasdan are scripting, perhaps the most measured response – and the one I recommend you take to heart – comes from HitFix’s Drew McWeeny. Taking a more shit-stirring tone is Devin Faraci of Badass Digest, but I’d take him with a big grain of salt. That said, I’m sick of all the posturing we’re getting about possible release dates – May, December, whatever: Everyone is being insufferable. Calm yourselves, nerds.

UPDATE: This morning, Jedi News has some analysis. They believe the signs say that Kasdan and Abrams will be polishing the script, and that “Ardnt’s story remains intact.”

October 30! Before the big news broke, we got yet more denials that the trailer reveals are ‘counting down’ to something. Matt’s just very pattern-oriented. But wait, there’s another new conspiracy date to hitch the bandwagon to: November 7, which brings Disney’s next earnings call.

Rebels. Don’t get your hopes up too much for those “Darth Vader Themed TV Specials” we heard about last week. Furious Fanboy’s Jeremy Conrad points out that an older Rebels marketing plan promised “Four short-form interstitials will release in Summer 2014, introducing viewers to the characters of Star Wars Rebels.” Might those be the “specials?”

‘Lost’ footage found. And speaking of unearthing old stuff, this Facebook page has been sharing Return of the Jedi from from some sort of EditDroid demo.

Roundup: Clone Wars, Rebels, rumors and Threepio, oh my!

FiloniCartoons. Dave Filoni chats with both IGN and StarWars.com about Star Wars cartoons past and present. Mostly The Clone Wars, of course, given the new releases.

Dueling rumors. Jedi News’ Jedi Master SQL says that with John Williams only contracted for movies, J.J. Abrams himself may compose the Rebels theme. But Making Star Wars says it will be Williams doing the theme – and something for at least one other TV show. All-righty then. UPDATE: Michael Giacchino also in the mix?

Podcasting. On that note, Full of Sith’s latest Rumor Control is out, and I’m proud to have joined regulars Bryan Young and Bobby Roberts to chat Rebels (we taped this just hours after the NYCC reveals) and the latest Episode VII news and rumors.

Alumni. Anthony Daniels teased fans about C-3PO appearing in Episode VII, per Business Insider Australia, while Disney themselves teased that the droids would “presumably” return at D23 Expo Japan. Confirmation? Not really, but it’s probably a fairly safe assumption to make.