Cinelinx reports today that Star Wars casting people weren’t just looking for folks for Episode VII, but for unannounced projects including “specials and mini-series.” (via)
Their speculation that includess the Darth Vader special we heard of seems off-base – I’d guess that’s more of a documentary/existing footage thing.
A live-action show is certainly not outside of the realm of possibility, though Disney and Lucasfilm have claimed that they’re focusing on Episode VII (and Rebels) right now. Waiting until the new movie era is firmly established – as Marvel did – would be the smart thing, I think.
Marvel Comics met with Lucasfilm for the first time last week, Bleeding Cool reports. They’re apparently looking at “a couple of monthly series.” I expect the comic folks will have an easier time figuring out their writer hints than I will.
Ray Fisher played Muhammad Ali in the play ‘Fetch Clay, Make Man’ at the New York Theater Workshop last year.Variety says the character is a Jedi apprentice, and they go on to say:
Sources also indicate the reason for the delay has to do whether execs and creatives want someone of a different ethnicity from the previous Caucasian leads. Abrams has said on numerous occasions that he wants to have a diversified cast, which is why actors like David Oyewolo and Michael B. Jordan tested early on.
…Yay? Of course fans have already jumped on this character being a possible (biracial? adopted?) Skywalker, which would probably warrant more discussion than an unrelated apprentice.
While it’s nice to have some names, it’s hard to really get excited about any of these folks yet. (Particularly Speleers, the only one I’ve actually seen act, because… Eragon. I said back then that he looked like “the unnatural offspring of Hayden Christenson and Mark Hamill.” Not exactly the ‘I called it’ that I’m hoping for.) I admit I’m hoping that Episode VII will have a female lead – and it’s been a while since we’ve heard anything on that front from the trades. Sigh.
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.
Jedi News has heard from a “very reliable” source that the whole film saga will be released digitally this upcoming November, along with other rare and “unseen” footage.
No details if this will be streaming via Netflix or any other specific services. Previous rumors have pegged a “digital library launch” for about that time.
While Disney does have a distribution deal with Netflix, it won’t kick in until 2016, and may not apply to the older films, which Fox still has distribution rights to.
Jedi Temple Archives is hinting that something “Big. It’s Massive. It’s Freaking gigantic” that is “sourced to Episode VII.” And it may be introduced at SDCC. Naturally we expect Hasbro will be making an Episode VII Millennium Falcon toy (since we’re pretty sure it’ll be in the film,) but does this mean it could be the first toy out of the gate for the movie? The first toy to be revealed? Or will we be seeing something in the vein of the the life-sized Falcon built at the China Toy Fair?
Okay, so it’s probably just a toy reveal, but let’s indulge in some overthinking: A Hasbro Falcon would be a big toy, but I’d hesitate to call it massive, even for a reveal. And a life-sized Falcon would certainly make an impression on the con floor… Not to mention the marketing budget, San Diego not being Shanghai, and the movie will still be more than a year away come July. Maybe for SDCC 2015? (Parts of the Shanghai one could be reused, and shipping overseas is doable, but U.S. safety regulations may be another matter entirely.)
In any case, as reveals go, it’s probably one of the few things they can show us without giving too much away too early.
In other rumors floating around this weekend, Zac Efron knows nothing, and there’s apparently some dude on Reddit (totally solid!) that claims he was told Episode VII will be shooting some scenes at the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Variety is reporting that Girls’Adam Driver is “close to signing on” to play Episode VII’s villian. He’s their “top choice to play the main villain.” Driver’s name first came up for Episode VII from the Hollywood Reporter earlier this year, along with Michael Fassbender and Hugo Weaving. Today, they also have a source saying Driver is nearing a deal.
Driver has never been someone I’d expect to come up, which is a good thing. And, nothing against Fassbender and Weaving, but he’s a fairly fresh face who’s not attached to any other genre franchises. If this turns out to be the case – and as trades, both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter are as trustworthy as you can expect when it comes to rumors – I think this may be a good sign for the rest of the non-alumni casting.
It’s still a rumor, however, until Lucasfilm says so!
UPDATE #1: Lena Dunham, the executive producer/writer/star of Girls, who would almost certainly have to know if scheduling issues were a factor as Variety claims, tweeted…
We're VERY proud of Adam Driver re: Star Wars. He's about to rip a hole in da force. Is that a thing? I guess I should see those movies?
MarketSaw is far from the top tier in rumormongering, but we haven’t heard much else lately… For the most part, this is all well-worn ground and things we’ve seen in multiple rumors before. Even what’s not direct regurgitation here is still pretty familiar:
Ultimately it’s about twins, and which will take a path towards darkness and which will follow in their fathers footsteps, or at least that is what it used to be, that may come later as I think changes are being undertaken to bring the original cast into the forefront of the story leading to ramifications that lead up to the next generation of Skywalkers.”
As for casting. they’re saying that in addition to all-but-certain returnees (Hamill, Fisher, Ford, Daniels) and not-that surprising alumni (Billy Dee Williams, Warwick “Davies,” erm Davis?) they’re repeating the Ian McDiarmid rumor from August. They’re also claiming that the much-rumored Benedict Cumberbatch and Gary Oldman were up for the same part… But they are “both involved.”
And it apparently took two Indiana Jones movies to get Ford on Episode VII now.
These are, again, pretty sketchy even for random rumors, so don’t take anything too much to heart.
Here’s a quick drive-by for the evening: Bleeding Cool says they’ve heard that Episode VII’s female lead has been cast, and she’ll be “the big news” regarding casting, “though folk might not realise it until after they see the film.” This is tacked on in their item about Jack Reynor, though, so take it as you will.
Whatever the case, as Making Star Wars points out, things do have to be motion fairly soon if they’re going to start shooting in May. It’s a good bet the whos are already picked or close to it: The only thing really in question is when they’re going to (or can) share the news with us.
And here’s another from Den of Geek this morning, which at the very least seems/feels slightly more probable than the last one. They report that there’s been a clampdown on the Pinewood prop shop, but that the modelmakers are working on a Millennium Falcon (as frequently reported and possibly proved) and lightsaber hilts. The modelmakers also supposedly have seven-year contracts covering the new trilogy and three spin-offs.
They’re also reporting that the planning office has a listing for an Indiana Jones 5, which wouldn’t be all that surprising giving Disney and Paramount’s announcement regarding the franchise in December.
Cinelinx reports today that Star Wars casting people weren’t just looking for folks for Episode VII, but for unannounced projects including “specials and mini-series.” (via)
