Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
Coming out on Tuesday is Finn’s Story by Jesse J. Holland (a companion volume to Rey’s Story) that tells the tale of The Force Awakens from Finn’s perspective for younger readers. Wednesday brings The Force Awakens #4 from Marvel.
We have a few other things coming up later this month, so check out our book schedule.
The Force Awakens begins its run on the premium cable channel Starz today. While currently available On Demand and in the Starz app, it will air on the actual channel at 9:00pm tonight. (There may be live-tweeting!)
Also available are the extra features from the two Blu-ray releases – several behind-the-scenes documentaries and cut scenes.
To celebrate the release, Starz contacted me (along with several other fans, I believe) and sent me a Google Chromecast and access to their app. I do have Starz through my cable package, but I’ve never ventured much beyond that. (Yes, I am fitfully behind the times in my TV-watching technology – I didn’t even have a functioning flatscreen TV until late last year.) Setup on the Chromecast was simple – it requires a power outlet, a HDMI slot and an iOS or Android device to act as the remote. I set it up, grabbed Starz from the app store for my iPhone, and was streaming the special features to my TV last night in under twenty minutes. (You will need an existing Starz subscription, but once that’s set up, you can also watch directly on the app.)
This morning, I powered it back on and, boom – The Force Awakens itself. Next up – moving the Chromecast to a currently defunct flatscreen that’s been gathering dust in a cable-less part of the house…
ILM has posted a new VFX reel for The Force Awakens, giving us new look behind the (digital) scenes of the film.
In the comic shops on Wednesday, comic fans will find Star Wars #22 and The Force Awakens #3.
Book fans, check our release schedule for what’s coming up in September (Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie, Star Wars: Complete Locations) and October (Ahsoka).
The first review of E.K. Johnston’s Ahsoka has appeared on Kirkus. It’s short, but there do appear to be some minor spoilers. Still, they say it “a great treat for young—and not-so-young—Star Wars fans that provides a thrilling back story for a compelling character.” The book is due out October 11.
→ Checking in with The Making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Co-author J.W. Rinzler was on a podcast recently, and long story short, it’s still a big question point.
→ Star Wars Reads is back for 2016. The generally kid-centric event is “a month-long campaign” set for October.
A second The Force Awakens Blu-Ray set is on tap for fall, this time in 3D. The Force Awakens 3D Collector’s Edition features a few new extras, most notably an audio commentary from director J.J. Abrams.
The release, which contains a Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, Digital HD, and DVD, will begin rolling out on October 31 and arrive in the U.S. and Canada on November 15.
No word yet on that rumored prequel 3D set, though.
Rumor: Prequel trilogy, The Force Awakens coming to Blu-ray 3D in the fall? The Phantom Menace and The Force Awakens had wide releases in 3D, but the Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith conversions have only been shown at fan events.
Daisy Ridley was named the Breakout Star at the Teen Choice Awards last night, giving a shoutout to “her boy” John Boyega and debuting a new haircut. (Which could be for a non-Star Wars role, maybe The Lost Wife, as she’s mentioned being “employed again soon”.) Adam Driver wasn’t there, but he did win for Movie Villain for The Force Awakens.
The Force Awakens production company, Foodles Production, has pled guilty in the hydraulic door accident that injured Harrison Ford during the filming of The Force Awakens. The weight of the door was compared to that of a “small car.”
Ford broke two bones in his left leg in the incident and was airlifted to a hospital. Foodles will be sentenced on August 22.
Head out this Wednesday for The Force Awakens #2 and Star Wars Insider #167.