Tag: the force awakens

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Branding image hints at Star Wars digital library, Darth Vader TV specials

Star Wars logoJedi News has snagged an image from the European Brand Licensing Show that reveals a few things about Lucasfilm and Disney’s marketing plans going forward.

First off, in spring/summer 2014, there’s ‘Classic LEGO Games Mobile” release, which speaks for itself, and “Darth Vader Themed TV Specials.” With Rebels is named separately and no LEGO, what form could these take? This is, quite literally, the first we’ve heard.

In autumn/winter 2014, there’s mention of a “Digital Library Launch.” Given the context here, I don’t believe this is anything to do with the books – which are already available digitally anyway – but to the release of the films themselves in a digital format (Apple TV, perhaps?) And I really doubt they’ll come alone – this could be a venue for The Clone Wars, other cartoons (Ewoks, Droids, Clone Wars 2D) and various specials from over the years – From Star Wars to Jedi, maybe, or even the Holiday Special. And even if it’s only the movies themselves, a digital release is long overdue.

And finally, there’s a reiteration of spring/summer 2015 for Episode VII. Shocking.

UPDATE: And here’s the rumor part of the equation from Jedi Master SQL.

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Video: First teaser for The Empire Strikes Back

Last Wednesday @StarWars posted the first-ever trailer for Star Wars; today they posted the first teaser for The Empire Strikes Back, mostly composed of Ralph McQuarrie’s concept art.

Is it a sign? Maybe, maybe not. Furious Fanboys points out there’s only one Wednesday (for Revenge/Return of the Jedi?) between us and October 30th, aka the one-year mark of the original Disney sale/sequel trilogy announcement.

Whatever the case ends up being: Don’t get cocky, kid. It’d be nice, but how many times have we been burned by our own assumptions? I’ve lost count.

And Lucasfilm’s Matt Martin says:

::shrug::

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Rumor: Two working titles for Episode VII?

FRYSQUINT: SEQUEL TRILOGY RUMORS: Take seriously at your own risk.Oh, Latino Review. Today, Kellvin Chavez says he was “exclusively told” that George Lucas had two working titles for the film when he handed it over to Disney: Return of the Sith and Rise of the Jedi.

Will these pan out, or are they just more bunk we’ll remember fondly come 2026? I suspect they’ll join Rise of the Empire, The Creeping Fear and Balance of the Force (and, probably, A New Dawn, which I’m pretty sure was a fanfic I read back in ’97, not that it matters) as fandom-driven titles that never came to be. After all, making up somewhat convincing titles in the style of Star Wars isn’t all that hard.

And, come on: This is a fandom that really loves our acronyms. We already have a ROTJ and a ROTS; a second of either? Highly unlikely.

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Roundup: Kotobukiya’s Mara in the plastic

Kotobukiya's Bishoujo Mara Jade (Pic: Tricia Barr)NYCC namesake corner. Tricia Barr nabbed a picture of the Kotobukiya Bishoujo Mara Jade on display. Thoughts?

Queue the eyeroll. Scott Mendelson asks if there’s Star Wars without George Lucas. To quote Brian, “Welcome to the most annoying question directed at EU fans, rest of fandom.”

Casting. On The Graham Norton Show, Harrison Ford says he “hasn’t decided yet” about Episode VII, but he’ll return to Indiana Jones “in a New York minute.” And Michael B. Jordan tells The Huffington Post that he has indeed auditioned for the film.

On that note, read this. Film Critic Hulk on why casting rumors are nonsense. None of this is a surprise, but it is definitely something to keep in mind, and one of the reasons we don’t take rumors particularly seriously around these parts. (Also: They amuse me.)

Your moment of zen Star Wars Joke-A-Day – perhaps better known as our own The Stooge – has hit upon a big scoop.

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Rumor: Episode VII teaser on Captain America sequel?

Captain America

Jedi News’ prolific Jedi Master SQL is back yet again with another rumor: An Episode VII teaser trailer of sorts will be attached to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which comes out April 4.

He claims the teaser will not be live action (although presumably they’ll have been filming for several months at that point) and will be similar to the Rebels one from the other day. He also says this will be the official announcement of the film’s release date: November 11, 2015.

Captain America is a fairly obvious pairing if we’re going to see some sort of teaser in theaters that early, but, as usual, I’m deeply skeptical. And doubly so when a supposed release date is involved. In any case, nothing is official until we hear it from Lucasfilm.

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Episode VII roundup: As the rumor mill churns…

SEQUEL TRILOGY RUMORS: Take seriously at your own risk.New rumors. Yesterday we heard things were going to be quiet, but now… I generally don’t report this kind of thing, but this is burning up Twitter this afternoon… Ali Arikan is saying that there are casting and title announcements imminent, including a teaser featuring Luke. I don’t know Ali, but Bobby Roberts seems to trust him, so he can’t be all bad. All we can do is wait…

Old rumors. Ben Kingsley tells Total Film he has “no recall” of auditioning for Episode VII. Surprise! Not.

Your moment of zen. Donald Faison auditions to play Lando Calrissian, Jr. Because of course he does.

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Video: Jett Lucas talks Episode VII

Flicks and the City got to sit down with Jett Lucas, and he has plenty to say – if not reveal – about Episode VII. Namely, Abrams and George Lucas are “constantly talking” now, he doesn’t think we’ll see Star Trek actors make the jump and the timeline of George starting on the sequel and the Disney sale. Jett is currently working on the TV show Chicago Fire. (via)

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Rumors: Lucasfilm going on radio silence?

SEQUEL TRILOGY RUMORS: Take seriously at your own risk.Going on? Yeah, we haven’t heard much official lately on Episode VII, but Jedi News’ Jedi Master SQL says that Lucasfilm is “going silent for a period.” He suspects this means they may be “clamping down on leaks,” which is exciting only if you want a reason to believe all the random rumors that have come out of the the past few months.

He later sheds some (possible) light on the casting process, saying that they won’t announce anything or cast anyone “until the last minute.”

As we’ve heard before, announcements may start in late October and continue throughout the end of the year. As usual, all we can do is wait and see.

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Saoirse Ronan talks Episode VII audition

s-ronan200Saoirse Ronan tells Empire about her audition for Episode VII:

“Yeah, I did [audition for Star Wars Episode VII]… I don’t know whether I should have said that now! I mean, everyone did. Everyone has auditioned for it. So many people I know have gone in for the part I’ve gone in for, and guys who’ve gone in for a particular part, so I’d imagine J.J. is probably just scanning the earth to find the people that ne needs.”

“But nobody has a clue what it’s about, and nobody’s read the script. So I’ve gone in and read for it, but I have to say, I think it’s the only time I’ve ever thought, ‘You know what? Even if I don’t get it, I had so much fun auditioning, pretending to take out a lightsaber – out of a bag, kind of inspect it and not know what it is. That was… that was great. A lightsaber! Star Wars!”

As Ronan implies, it’s not very likely that the scene she auditioned with holds any clues to the film. Furious Fanboy’s Jeremy Conrad tweets that actors were getting scenes from “from past SW movies and other SciFi films to read,” while Tricia Barr reminds us that even Matt Lanter, who played Anakin on The Clone Wars, wasn’t told who the character he was auditioning for was.

Meanwhile, apparently fan-casting favorite Chloe Moretz hasn’t auditioned. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved…