Tag: Episode VII

Fantastic New ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Photos Reveal Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendolyn Christie

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: What a way to kick off May 4th.

Vanity Fair‘s Annie Leibovitz has just debuted a series of exclusive photos of the cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Among the images are our first looks at Adam Driver‘s evil Kylo Ren, and Lupita Nyong’o’s motion-tracking gear for her character, Maz Kanata.

Chewie himself, Peter Mayhew has also taken to Twitter to reveal the identity of Game of Thrones‘ star Gwendolyn Christie’s character. She’ll be portraying Captian Phasma in the film. You know, that bad-ass chrome Stormtrooper we saw way back when.

You can take a look at the images below. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below, and don’t forget to re-watch the phenomenal trailer from a few weeks back.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theatres on December 18th.

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I know I don’t even need to ask if you’re excited. This looks so freaking good.

The First ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff Gets A Title, ‘Episode VIII’ Dated!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: While we’re all twiddling our thumbs until December 18th, Disney is certainly not standing still. The studio today officially revealed and dated the first Star Wars spinoff, and also announced the release date for Episode VIII.

Bob Iger announced the news at today’s Disney shareholders meeting. Here’s what was revealed, straight from StarWars.com:

Rogue One is the title for the first film in a unique series of big-screen adventures that explores the characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga. Rogue One will be directed by Gareth Edwards (Monsters, Godzilla) and written by Oscar nominee Chris Weitz (Cinderella, About a Boy, Antz). The first actress cast is Felicity Jones, who garnered an Academy Award nomination and critical acclaim for her performance in The Theory of Everything. The idea for the story of Rogue One came from John Knoll, an Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer at Industrial Light & Magic. He will executive produce along with Simon Emanuel (The Dark Knight Rises, Fast & Furious 6) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds). Kathleen Kennedy and Tony To (Band of Brothers, The Pacific) are on board to produce and John Swartz (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) will co-produce. The film starts shooting this summer in London and is due for release on December 16, 2016.

 

In addition, Iger confirmed that Rian Johnson will write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII. The film, which continues the saga after the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is set for release on May 26, 2017 — forty years and a day after the release of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. Johnson is widely considered one of cinema’s most gifted young filmmakers, having directed the modern sci-fi classic, Looper, as well as Brick and The Brothers Bloom. He was also behind the camera for three episodes of the critically-acclaimed TV series Breaking Bad, including “Ozymandias,” which series creator Vince Gilligan named as the best installment of the show. Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman, producer of Looper, Don Jon, Brick, and The Brothers Bloom, are on board to produce.

I have to say that I’m beyond excited for both of these films. I was a big fan of last year’s Godzilla, and can’t wait to see what Gareth Edwards can do when he’s taken to space (and who doesn’t love Felicity Jones). On the flipside, both Brick and Looper from Rian Johnson are films I’ve watched a multitude of times, and as many issues as Looper had, it was still quite the incredible, thought provoking production. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do with a (probably much) bigger budget, and a vastly larger universe.

So, in case you forgot, Rogue One is coming on December 16th, 2016, while Episode VIII will drop on May 26, 2017. That’s a lot of Star Wars.

Photo: StarWars.com
Photo: StarWars.com

Carrie Fisher Confirms Her Involvement With ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’

by Shawn Madden

There’s been numerous rumors regarding Carrie Fisher returning for J.J. Abrams Star Wars: Episode VII, and the actress herself has even been asked about it on a number of occasions. However, she hasn’t really given a straight forward answer regarding the question. That was until now. In an interview with Palm Beach Illustrated the actress has finally confirmed her involvement with the next chapter in the Star Wars saga.

 

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Q: Disney is going to continue the Star Wars saga, producing movies set to hit theaters starting in 2015. Can you confirm whether you’ll reprise the role of Princess Leia?

 

A: Yes.

 

Pretty straight forward, right? The actress also revealed where she thinks Leia is going to be at these days:

 

“Elderly. She’s in an intergalactic old folks’ home [laughs]. I just think she would be just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle.”

 

With Carrie Fisher signing on for the film it shouldn’t be too long until we get confirmation regarding Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford returning as well.

 

Star Wars: Episode VII is currently said to be hitting theaters in 2015, however no official release date has been set at the moment.

 

Source: Palm Beach Illustrated

‘Star Wars’ Spinoffs Confirmed By Disney CEO Bob Iger!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Surprisingly enough, right now is a great time to be a Star Wars fan. Sure, people were (unreasonably, in my opinion) uncomfortable when the Disney Lucasfilm acquisition was announced, but now just look at what’s coming down the pipeline! J.J. Abrams is directing Episode VII, which is fantastic news on its own, but another rumour that we’ve been hearing for some time has been the possibility of spinoff titles; movies set in the Star Wars universe, but not directly related to the new trilogy.

 

The first set photo from Episode VII... I kid, I kid.
The first set photo from Episode VII… I kid, I kid.

 

Today, those rumours were put to rest. In an interview on CNBC, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed the development of several spinoff titles. Larry Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are working on the films (as well as consulting Abrams on the production of Episode VII).

 

Iger later refined his statement, adding that while the spinoff titles are coming, they are still very early in development. It appears as though only time will tell, but Iger did confirm that at least two spinoffs are in the works (Larry Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are working on separate films).

 

Watch the reveal below, and let us know you think! Plot-wise, what are you hoping for from these?

 

J.J. Abrams Signs On To Direct ‘Star Wars Episode VII’

by Shawn Madden

There have been plenty of names rumored to be attached to this project, and finally, it appears as though we’ve finally learned who will direct Disney and LucasFilm’s Star Wars: Episode VII.

 

Coincidentally enough, it turns out to be none other than one of the names that we listed for the five directors who should direct the next chapter in the franchise, which we posted on the day that the Disney news broke. According to The Wrap (as well as also being confirmed by Deadline), J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Super 8) has signed on to direct Star Wars: Episode VII, which is currently slated to release in 2015.

 

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Ben Affleck was reportedly also up for the gig at one point but it ended up going to Abrams in the end. Previously, Abrams had stated that he would likely watch the next Star Wars as a fan, but seemed uninterested in directing. It looks like the “lure of the force” was too strong and Abrams is now in control of the two largest sci-fi franchises of all time. Abrams is currently in post-production of Star Trek Into Darkness while Toy Story 3 writer Michael Ardnt is scripting away on the next chapter of Star Wars, which should hit theatres in just two short years.

 

 

Source: The Wrap

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Director May Be Revealed Next Month

by Shawn Madden

Ever since the announcement that Walt Disney Pictures announced in October that they havead acquired LucasFilm and a new Star Wars trilogy would be coming to theaters, there has been quite a bit of speculation as to who would direct the films all over the place. Plenty of names had been tied to the project but many have come out and denied their actually involvement with the highly anticipated next installment in the franchise.

While speaking with ABC News Radio, LucasFilm President and executive producer Kathleen Kennedy offered up a brief update on the status of the film:

“I have no immediate update, but hopefully in January I’have something that I can say.”

It’s completely possible that in Januray we will be getting an announcement regarding the director and possibly even some casting announcements. Kennedy also confirmed that pre-production will begin sometime in the Spring of 2013.

Star Wars: Episode VII is currently looking at a 2015 release date.

Source: ComicBook.com

UPDATE: Lawrence Kasdan & Simon Kinberg Close Deals To Write ‘Star Wars’ Episode

by Shawn Madden

It’s already been revealed that Michael Arndt will write Star Wars Episode VII but that film is just the first of the new trilogy and it appears they are already looking for writers for the next two chapters. Deadline‘s Mike Flemming has revealed that Disney have approached Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg to script the next two installments in the new Star Wars trilogy.

Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi and Raiders Of The Lost Ark, is definitely going to a welcomed name to write these next chapters. And Simon Kinberg, who worked on X-Men: First Class and the sequel Days Of Future Past and is another name apparently on Disney’s radar.

Now, all we need to know is who is actually directing these films.

UPDATE: Well, it appears that deals have already been closed here and that the two will also be producers on the film. The team will work together on one of the next episode’s of the franchise. According to THR’s Borys Kit:

 

 

 

Steven Spielberg Turns Down ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’

by Shawn Madden

Well, you can take Steven Spielberg’s name off the list of potential directors for Star Wars: Episode VII. It’s kind of funny because a while back Spielberg wanted to shoot a Star Wars film. Back in 2002 the director stated:

“I’ve asked [Lucas]. He won’t let me do one. I wanted to do one 15 years ago, and he didn’t want me to do it. I understand why – Star Wars is George’s baby. It’s his cottage industry and it’s his fingerprints. He knows I’ve got Jurassic Park and Raiders. But George has Star Wars and I don’t think he feels inclined to share any of it with me.”

Well, it seems that Steven has changed his mind on the matter. When asked about the possibility of directing the film Spielberg stated:

“No! No! It’s not my genre. It’s my best friend George’s genre.”

Well, even though he’s one of the three directors to be getting Michael Arndt’s treatment, it definitely looks like we can count Spielberg out of the running for this one.

Source: Access Hollywood

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ May Just Have Its Writer

by Shawn Madden

For the past few weeks we’ve heard plenty of rumors regarding who would direct the highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII. At the same time, a screenwriter for the next chapter in the sci-fi franchise is still being sought. According to Vulture, the current leading contender to work on the films’s screenplay is Academy Award winning writer Michael Arndt.

Arndt has previously worked on Little Miss Sunshine, Pixar’s Toy Story 3 as well as the screenplay for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Ardnt has written a 40 to 50 page treatment for the film and will most likely pen a draft for the project. The site reports that the film is looking at a 2014 shoot to get it into theaters in 2015.

So, what about the director? Ardnt’s treatment will be hitting the desks of many of the top directors out there including Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams and Brad Bird. We’re not saying that any of these directors are interested in the project but Disney apparently is looking to offer the film to the big directors first.

Ardny is well known as a Star Wars fan and has close relationship with Disney’s Pixar. So it shouldn’t be no surprise that Lucasfilm and Disney would have an interest in him writing the next chapter in the Star Wars saga. As prior stated in these matters…keep an eye for official announcements soon.

Source: Vulture

RUMOR: Matthew Vaughn In Talks To Direct ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’

by Shawn Madden

Expect a lot of rumors to surface when it comes to Star Wars: Episode VII until any official announcements begin to get made. The biggest question that is surrounding this film is who will be directing. Last week I did a list of directors who should direct the next film and it appears that one of the names on that list has surfaced in connection to the film. According to Collider, while this rumor has not been confirmed, X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn may actually be in talks to direct the next chapter in the Star Wars saga.

I’m hearing that Matthew Vaughn, the director of Kick-Ass, Stardust, Layer Cake, and X-Men: First Class, is in talks with Lucasfilm to helm Star Wars: Episode VII. My sources tell me this is the main reason he dropped out of the X-Men sequel (which Bryan Singer is now directing).

So, could this be the real reason Vaughn left the sequel to X-Men: First Class? Quite possibly. Do I think Vaughn would be a fantastic choice to breathe fresh air into this franchise while keeping the things we love about it intact? Definitely. With plans to release Episode VII in 2015 we should definitely be expecting some form of official news regarding the film in the coming months.

RUMOR: New Star Wars Trilogy Directors Shortlist And Plot Details Revealed?

by Shawn Madden

Back in 2009 Jim Dorey of the blog, Marketsaw, claimed that Lucasfilm were already working on Star Wars: Episodes VII, VIII & IX. Well, now that this has turned out to be true the blog has posted even more information from their “source”. While, this could turn out be completely false, it definitely does sound interesting.

According to the source, the new trilogy will be reworked versions of what George Lucas was planning all the way back to when he made the original films. Apparently, this new set of films will follow the same tone of the original trilogy. We will see Luke Skywalker as a key character and apparently Mark Hamill is already signed on as well as many of “the original trilogy cast” with Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, C3PO and R2D2 set to appear. One key point that the source revealed was the Empire was definitely not destroyed at the end of Return Of The Jedi.

Another interesting bit of information that was revealed was that Disney has a very interesting short list of directors that includes:

– Steven Speilberg (I shouldn’t have to tell you what he has done)

While he is not the new generation that Lucas talked about taking over, Spielberg has said in the past that he’d like a shot at directing a Star Wars film.

– Neil Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium)

– Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity)

– Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, First Class)

– Darren Arnofsky (The Fountain, Noah)

– Joss Whedon (Serenity, The Avengers)

But with this one he made sure to point out not to hold your breath as far as directing Episode VII…but that he may actually play another part in it.

So, while this source did indeed reveal three years ago that we would be getting another trilogy…I would definitely file these in the rumor department for the moment. However, I have been proven wrong before. So we’re going to have to wait and see. Remember, 2015 isn’t that far, far away.

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Will NOT Be Based On Zahn’s “Thrawn Trilogy”

by Shawn Madden

Many die-hard Star Wars fans upon hearing the news of a new trilogy assumed that they would be based on Timothy Zahn’s “Thrawn Trilogy”. The trilogy is a series of novels that pick up five years after the events depicted in Return Of The Jedi. The books have been mostly embraced by the fans of the series and praised for their action and expansion of the universe.

The most popular character in this trilogy is Maya Jade. The very complex charcter initially tries kill Luke Skywalker in order to avenge the death of Palpatine at his hands. However, she eventually falls for Luke and becomes his wife and eventually the mother of his son, Ben. But according to E! Online, their source at Lucasfilm is telling them we shouldn’t expect this one at all:

So is that the basis for Episode 7 or not? I’ve heard directly from LucasFilm and other sources close to the picture, and they say: Definitely not.

“It’s an original story,” a LucasFilm source tells me.

In other words, forget the Star Wars novels. Forget the graphic novels. Forget everything you think you know about what happens to Luke Skywalker. According to my sources, Episode 7 will literally be nothing you’ve ever seen or read before from the Star Wars universe.

I also hear from several sources that, no matter what you may hear to the contrary, no director has been officially attached to the project.

I think the idea of a new fresh take on the trilogy is more exciting myself. However, I can see some of the die-hard fans being a bit let down by this one because of the amount of praise these books received. Could this mean that we would get an entirely new cast for the next film? It’s a definite possibility.