Tag: the last jedi

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Episode VIII set shenanigans (with Instagram and Twitter)

A tweet roundup is due, but as things wind down, there’s just been so much out there on Instagram and tweet from the Episode VIII cast and crew that they’re breaking out on their own.

Daisy Ridley shared an already infamous face swap with director Rian Johnson, as well as teasing a new hairstyle. (Join me in hoping it’s not a padawan braid, please.) Johnson himself is sharing (recognizable, mostly) images of the Millennium Falcon. Also spotted: One Pablo Hidalgo, who punned.

Finishing up – or at least admitting to it – are John Boyega and Anthony Daniels.

Perhaps we were too quick to assume that Mark Hamill had lost the beard, though he does seem to be pulling double duty. (UPDATE: He’s now wrapped as well.)

And finally, your moment of zen: Gary Fisher with “his two favorite stalkers.” A weird thing happens when you start to see enough of those emoji: They start making sense. Maybe one day I’ll wake up being able to read Aurebesh after all.

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Episode VIII hints and clues: Beardwatch, photos and rumors

viii-mh-beardlessThe film may wrap on the 22, but is Mark Hamill already done? Here’s hiding his face in a recent photo, but if you look closely the beard appears to be gone. In any case: Beardwatch.

→ Director Rian Johnson’s Instagram remains vague to the point where he’s even posting actual garbage. (And more lights.) That set pic Daisy Ridley posted the other day is – as implied – one of his as well.

→ Rumor corner: What Making Star Wars is reporting regarding one of those location shoots, and how it relates to some concept art.

→ In less revealing sequel-related news, J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy are playable characters in Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, while Oscar Isaac and John Boyega are among the record number of new people invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year.

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Mark Hamill reveals when Episode VIII wraps filming

viiiEpisode VIII will wrap filming on Friday, July 22, Mark Hamill revealed Saturday morning on Twitter. That’s only five days after Celebration Europe ends on the 17th, which is when director Rian Johnson appears on the Future Filmmakers panel.

We’ve been hoping we’ll get VIII’s title at the panel. @StarWars revealed The Force Awakens when that film finished principal photography – but Episode VI wasn’t finishing up around the time of the year’s big dedicated convention, either.

This does, however, likely mean that several cast members will still be in town. Of the VIII cast, only Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew are confirmed guests for the con, but that’s never stopped Celebration – or any other major con – from bringing out folks before.

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‘Future filmmakers’ panel to close out Celebration Europe

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Star Wars directors Rian Johnson, Chris Miller and Phil Lord will join Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, Kiri Hart and Pablo Hidalgo for the Celebration Europe’s Future Filmmaker Discussion, followed by the con’s Closing Ceremony.

Johnson’s Episode VIII is expected to wrap very soon, while Miller and Lord’s Han Solo standalone will be next up. Is it here that we’ll get the official title for VIII? Will Alden Ehrenreich be confirmed as the young Han Solo? Both, maybe? StarWars.com promises “some surprises” and ending “the weekend on a high note.”

The news was first revealed on today’s new The Star Wars Show:

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Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII swag, another look at the set

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@riancjohnson [x]

Episode VIII director Rian Johnson has shared a couple relevant photos on his Instagram and Twitter. In the first, we see VIII’s “first piece of embroidered swag.” Then there’s an embroidered hat, featuring a ‘Space Bear’ – aka the film’s code name. Yet more signs that the end is nigh… But the third appears to be some sort of high-flying set shenanigans. Much less revealing than what we saw last time, but ain’t that the way.

UPDATE: And on Tuesday, he tweets “Holy cow, we’re starting to wrap main cast members.” Now, the question is: Will we get a wrap announcement (and very possibly a title) before or during Celebration Europe?

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Report: Episode VIII, Rogue One footage shown at Licensing Expo

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Steven Weintraub of Collider claims to have spoken to people who’ve seen footage of Episode VIII and Rogue One at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.

Weintraub isn’t sharing any details – all those who actually saw the footage must be under NDA or it would be all over the internet by now. But if this is true, it seems likely it’ll be unveiled publicly at next month’s Celebration Europe. We already know that Rogue One will be featured heavily, but we’re still not quite sure how much to expect from VIII. But note that they’ve already shown more of it than we saw of Rogue One at Celebration Anaheim!

UPDATE: Making Star Wars says the VIII footage is the Skellig Michael stuff linked above, while the Rogue One stuff was photos of the sidekick droid. Apparently Alan Horn did joke that the VIII title is imminent, but given that they’re almost done with filming that seems fairly obvious.

Also out of the Expo came the news that Star Wars and The Force Awakens helped to lift licensed merchandise sales 4.2%.

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John Williams expects to score Episode VIII

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Talking to Variety, composer John Williams says he has every intention of returning to score his eighth Star Wars film.

“If I can do it, I certainly will. I told Kathy Kennedy I’m happy to do it, but the real reason is, I didn’t want anybody else writing music for Daisy Ridley,” he quips.

Williams also says he has no intention of retiring. His next film, before VIII, will be Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One.

Williams received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award Thursday night. The ceremony, which features Spielberg, George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Harrison Ford and more paying tribute, will air on TNT June 15th at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.