Kotaku reported yesterday that LucasArts “has laid off approximately 50-100 of its employees.” (Just now confirmed.) The result? A windfall of rumormongering going around about their upcoming projects, including (of course) the long-awaited KOTOR 3/MMO.
McAvoy to get hairy feet?
Rumour has it that Guillermo Del Toro and Peter Jackson have agreed on their choice for the actor to play Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming Hobbit movies. But whether that actor is James McAvoy remains a source of speculation.
Meanwhile, no decision yet on whether Christopher Tolkien has been successful in his attempt to stop the production.
Finally, a few LOTR, SW and other sci-fi actors (including Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Natalie Portman, Leonard Nimoy, and Kristen Bell) are up for PETA UK’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity award.
Del Rey contract renewal confirmation?
Not an official announcement, and not really a huge surprise either given what we’ve been finding on RandomHouse.com, but Rebelscum is saying that Star Wars Action News is reporting (I can’t find it on their site, and life is too short for podcasts. It’s on their message boards.) that someone at Del Rey confirmed that they did renew their contract with Lucasfilm.
We’ll no doubt get additional details when the official announcement is made… Hopefully soon.
Rumor: The Clone Wars times three?
At a French con this weekend, Peter Mayhew told the folks at StarWars-Universe.com that Chewbacca is in The Clone Wars and that there’s a possibility of three Clone Wars movies! The Chewbacca thing isn’t a complete surprise, but the three movies? My skeptic hat is so on.
The Clone Wars trailer on Speed Racer?
That’s what Coming Soon is reporting… Of all the movies coming this May… Speed Racer? Of course, in this day and age there’s little doubt the trailer will be online ASAP no matter what they attach it to, so why am I bothering to be annoyed?
Rumor: Star Wars park coming to Dubai?
Rebelscum has a letter from an Italian fan claiming that construction has begun on a Star Wars theme park in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai. Right…
Rumor: Live-action show to get down and dirty?
Frosty at Collider.com has dug up some information on the live-action show. A lot of it is stuff we’ve already heard, but here’s a key part:
I’ve heard they’re talking about the show being on HBO or even Showtime. Which jives with the slugline for the show…think Deadwood meets The Sopranos. Want a bit more? Could the live action show feature Gangsters? Could it follow the underworld of the Star Wars universe? Perhaps even a crime family? Have I said too much?
Intriguing, no? Oh, would that I had time to Photoshop someone’s head on Tony Soprano or Al Swearengen’s body. Maybe later.
Anonymous LucasArts gossip
Just what you wanted for morning, right? Well, real or fabrication, Game Set Watch found a Gamasutra comment from that may (or may not) shed some light on Jim Ward’s departure last month.
KOTOR III, the rumor that will not die
New evidence that there may be another Knights of the Old Republic game: 1UP has a ‘tipster’ with portions of a script. LucasArts has no comment. Whatever, dude. This game doesn’t even officially exist yet and I’m already sick of it.
Invincible summary from the SFBC
A summary has reportedly appeared on the Science Fiction Book Club website and is available only to members, but someone at the Wookieepedia cut and pasted it.
VERIFIED: Paula logged into the SFBC and this is indeed the one they have posted.
The club writes their own summaries (check out the different Betrayal blurbs at SFBC and Random House) so it’s not too surprising that this is different from the last. (Which still hasn’t been confirmed – they’re keeping a tight lid on this one.)
It’s a long one, so spoilers are under the cut. Click and highlight at your own risk. Continue reading “Invincible summary from the SFBC”