Free Of The Mountain...

Famed Archaeologist freed from unknown red tape...

Been keeping an eye on things even though I haven't posted lately.  I said I'd try to do a few posts before Blue Sky goes quite for a while.  This story is enough to make my fingers reach for the keyboard.  I'm sure you've heard the news, and if you haven't why are you reading this?

When The Walt Disney Company bought Lucasfilm last year, it was primarily for the Star Wars franchise. But George Lucas' company has many other valuable properties, but none more valuable besides Luke Skywalker than the Man in the Hat.  Many people thought that the Mouse would not do anything with the iconic character because of entanglement of distribution rights that belong, not to it but to Paramount Pictures.

Sure, Disney owned the character, but to distribute it they had to go through the original studio that Lucas and Spielberg partnered with back in 1979.  This all comes from a deal that then Paramount executive Michael Eisner made with the two wunderkind storytellers.  Many people thought that Iger and the Mouse Suits around him wouldn't want to deal with the hassle of the previous contracts and hoops the studio would have to jump through.

It appears now that they/we were wrong.

According to Variety today, the Walt Disney Studios has negotiated an agreement with Paramount Pictures where the new owner has distribution rights to all new films related to the classic adventure. Paramount does retain distribution rights to the original four films, and will receive a percentage of the profits from any new films of this valuable franchise.

Although this doesn't mean that Walt Disney Pictures has a Indiana Jones film in the pipeline, it does clear the way for one. And with Harrison Ford's interest in playing the character again it looks like the green light could soon be given, if it hasn't already been.  Hopefully they will play this smart and hire the right people for it. No more space aliens even if it fits the 1950s Red Scare time period.  I would immediately get Lawrence Kasdan to brainstorm ideas with Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas over the coming months.

Once a great idea is approved, hire someone who is capable of creating great screenplays like Mark Protosevich or the hot flavor-of-the-month Simon Kinberg.  Any film that they make would likely be Ford's last adventure as the character since he is 72 years old and I can't imagine him in a sixth film because it would probably involve a wheelchair.  Let's face it, if there's an Indy VI then the MacGuffin will have to search for him instead of the other way around.

I'm sure after that Disney will want to continue such a valuable creation, but it leaves me fearful of the character's future. Sure, I would love to see an Indiana Jones Animated Series, or maybe an Indiana Jones animated film. But Harrison Ford IS Indiana Jones. Just like he IS Han Solo.  It's hard to imagine anyone with his form of masculinity playing those characters. Then again, I guess it would be hard for some to have pictured anyone taking over James Bond from Sean Connery, but someone did. Many, many times.

It might just be my soft spot for the portrayal he created in the character that sprang forth from his performance, but I have trouble imagining a future reboot/reinterpretation of the whip carrying, pistol packing, hat wearing archaeologist from America.  It could happen, and it likely will. But it won't be the hero from the past, his, yours or mine.  Sometimes it's hard to let go of things, even when you know it's right.  People, characters, and events seem to attach themselves to your heart and create a bond that is hard to separate.

Like the red tape Doctor Jones just was set free from...

The Rebellion's Dawn...

So we now have our first look at this nasty Rebel Alliance...

By now I'm sure you've seen Lucasfilm's teaser(really a micro-teaser) for "Star Wars Rebels" that'll premiere on the Mouse's Disney Channel next fall.  Hopefully most fans won't be disappointed in its shortness. You have to remember that this thing is just being animated right now and not much is in a fished enough state to show.

We probably won't get a decent trailer showing the narrative until the beginning of the new year since there is so much to animate.  It doesn't mean that we won't get news. In fact, I think will be seeing artwork and character designs before you know it.  I've heard impressive things about the designs of the show.  Really looking forward to watching it unfold piece by piece, rebel by rebel, ship by ship.

The Force is strong with this one…

Marin Fairy Tales...

Somewhere between the Presidio in San Francisco bay and Skywalker Ranch in Marin County a story is unfolding…

It's a story that Gary Rydstrom is telling, and it might involve tiny creatures with little wings and magic.  Now, Disney and Lucasfilm have to keep things legit, they have to make sure it's all legal.  So when a company wants to claim something as part of its intellectual property, one of the things they do is copyright it.  Well Lucasfilm recently copyrighted a new name for something that it's working.

Primrose.

There was also the mention of something with "Big Rock", which might translate to an area of Skywalker Ranch known as Big Rock Ranch.  One of the interesting things about the location of this area of the ranch is that it is where Lucasfilm's animation department worked on "The Clone Wars".  Could they be working on some other animated project there?

If you want to go further into the Pixie Hollow then you have to examine what is a Primrose?  Does it have anything to do with this mysterious project supposedly about fairies.  Well, for those that don't know, a Primrose is a flower in Ireland and Wales.  It is known as the "fairy flower" and it's supposed to have mystical properties that can grant someone the power of invisibility.

Is this the name of Lucasfilm's secret animated project?  Could it involve Irish/Welsh fairies with some aspect of invisibility?  I honestly don't know.  But Lucasfilm copyrighted the name for a reason.  They're currently working on a film about fairies.  Perhaps, that's the reason?

Time will tell…

Cultural Icon...

Joss Whedon is a writer with his finger on the pulse of modern culture...

In his interview last week with Entertaiment Weekly, he gave his thoughts extensively on many subjects. One of them was his problem with "The Empire Strikes Back" and it's ending.  I don't necessarily agree, but I understand his point.  Star Wars is modeled after a serial, Joss (Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Phantom Empire, etc.).  I know there are three years between chapters, buuuut.  Sigh.

Anyway, another story structural nemesis he had was with Indiana Jones.  Not the masterpiece that is "Raiders of the Lost Ark", but the flawed prequel that was "Temple of Doom".  Even though it's not the problem I have with the film, he makes a serious and compelling argument:

A movie has to be complete within itself; it can't just build off the first one or play variations.  You know that thing in Temple of Doom where they revisit the shooting trick?...  That's what you don't want.  And I feel that's what all of culture is becoming - it's becoming that moment.

What he seems we saying is that the originality that makes up the world, art, film, books is dissipating.  We are rehashing ourselves. We're making carbon copies of everything. There's no spark, no originality.  We're remaking movies that were only out a little more than a decade ago because our culture is so brand identified that suits believe we can't handle something original.

We're making remakes of remakes, And new books that tend to tell stories that seem to fall along tired, familiar lines we've seen before.  We're remaking classic television shows into new television shows, and old movies into new television shows. It is essentially the death of a new idea.

How much longer can society go on when all it does is repeat what it just did, and not grow and move forward?  At least that's what I take from his statement.  Our brains have the ability to come up with a unique idea that could be shown a thousand times, in a million different ways.  we shouldn't have to simply repeat everything.  Where will we be in another decade simply rehashing the ideas that came out last year?  Or last month?  Or even yesterday.

Of course, it could all be for naught. Societies change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Hopefully the idea drain that we are suffering through will not be a permanent one.  There is so much treasure to be found in the idea of originality.  There is no need to create what has already been created.  We don't have to chain ourselves to stories that loop over and over.  It is freedom to do something different, to be repetitive, continually trapped in the past doing what has been done forever is to relinquish free will.  And that is to be a slave.  A slave to dead culture.

And a dead culture is only for the dead, not the living…

The Other Disney Fairies...

It looks like the Mouse is going to give Tinker Bell a few siblings...

It's been rumored that Lucasfilm Animation was working on a fairy film for a few years, but of late the talk around the water coolers have virtually vanished.  No one has heard anything in the past couple of years about the project.  Some have thought the film was dead or had sadly been put into turnaround.

That appears now to not be the case.  Kathleen Kennedy has been busy behind the scene doing more than just Star Wars apparently.  In addition to working with J.J. Abrams on "Episode VII", she's also determined to make sure Lucasfilm isn't known only for Luke Skywalker and that far off galaxy he lives in.

It seems once one door closes, another opens.

Once the production of Pixar's "Newt" was shut down a couple years ago, its director found himself ready to make a film that was no longer there because of similarities to a competing film.  Luckily for him, when Kathleen Kennedy took the top job at Lucasfilm, she went through the inventory of projects in development at Skywalker Ranch and saw potential in the musical about fairies that had been languishing in development for the past few years.  She realized it needed a new direction and a director to take it there.  Right place, right time.  Gary Rydstrom found himself being asked to helm the film, and before you know it, Brenda Chapman was brought in to help focus on the story structure (she's known for strong characters, particularly female characters).

Don't expect to hear much about the film right at this moment, but there'll probably be more focus on it, as well as a possible announcement of it next year, should the creative process not hit anymore speed bumps before then.  It'll be nice to see some of the creativity of George's company expanding beyond its most famous piece.  There are several other properties the division owns that could still make amazing entertainment for years or decades to come.

Like a particular Archeologist's animated adventures...

Star Wars 3 Battlefronts...

Yes, I know many were disappointed that Battlefront 3 won't be out till 2015…

And from what I hear it will look pretty impressive. But a little news to tide you over till then that just might make you a little happier, that game isn't the only one that Electronic Arts has planned for you.

In fact, they have a couple more plan for you.

They won't be released anytime soon, and they are in an embryonic stage at this time, but there are a total of three games in development at the gaming studio.  The plans are evolving and nothing is set in stone of course, but there are other games already on the fast track. one of them is a space action shooter, and you can guess what that would be about, and the other is currently being developed as a online role playing game.  Neither game is a continuation of any former series, at least as of right now.

So in addition to DICE's Battlefront game, two other development teams are fast at work to give you even more fun with the Force.  Well the details are scarce right now, but plans are for one of these titles to be released early 2016, or late 2016.  That could change, as videogame releases tend to be quite mercurial.  At this time neither game is definitively scheduled to be released before the other, but they are both actively being worked on by game planners and Suits at Lucasfilm.

Yes, even Kathleen Kennedy is providing input on some of these titles.  And I've heard that there is talk of the screenwriters helping out with suggestions as well.  It is unknown right now if J.J. Abrams will have any input, but with his micromanaging of all things Bad Robot it is likely.

It appears that the Force will be with us a lot more than just on the battlefront…

A Galaxy Far, Far E3...

Very soon we'll know what the direction of the Star Wars universe...

I mean the gaming part of it, of course.  EA will be at E3 next week and the announcement of their plans for the next few Star Wars games are supposed to be announced.  I don't think we'll see any game play as plans they have are still in the early stages.  The only way we'd see something like "Battlefront 3" would be if they had made a deal to acquire the already almost completed game: highly unlikely but not totally out of probability.  But at least we'll have a road map of what is to come.

Expecting artwork and titles isn't entirely out of the question, but the type of game and story that players will be involved in is what EA's head suit, Labels president Frank Gibeau will likely give us the 411 about.  Since it'll be a press briefing for their entire line up, the focus won't be on Lucas Arts/ EA Star Wars as the entire line of games they have coming out.

Still, having that Star Wars license will be something to brag about...

Son Of Solo...

Yes, I know we've had Star Wars casting rumors since last yesterday...

But has anyone thought to try and think of who Jonathan Rhys Meyers would be playing?  The most logical choice would be the offspring of Han and Leia.  So what we might have here is the son of the roguish space pirate.   Could this really be Chewie's godson?

It strange because I remember when "Mission: Impossible 3" came out reading an interview with Meyers where they asked him if there was any type of role he'd not like to play.  And he said science fiction, and then used a pejorative word regarding using the rest room to describe it.  I can't remember what article it was, but I clearly remember him saying it.

If this rumor is true, things have certainly changed.  Being offered a role in what could be the most widely anticipated film in a decade can have that effect on you.  Plus there is the prospect of working for his former director, J.J. Abrams.  Times change, taste change, people change.

Now we just have to find out if he's solo...

Rebellion...

It seems that Star Wars fans have an answer as to what will follow "The Clone Wars" animated series...

Starting in the fall of 2014 "Star Wars Rebels" will debut on Disney XD.  It'll start out as a one hour special on The Disney Channel and then move over to XD after the roll out.  The great appeal of the show is that it will exist between the timelines of EP III and EP IV, meaning that we'll get a look that's more representative of the original trilogy.

The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV -- an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen.Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.

Even better is in an announcement video, Dave Filoni, who was the man behind the Clone Wars series will be in charge of this show.  He described the look as being something like computer representations of Ralph McQuarrie's pre-production paintings.  Now that would be awesome because his artwork looks likes the Star Wars universe, but slightly off.  If they're able to translate that look and feel into animation, it should appear stunning.

Filoni and Greg Weisman will executive produce the series along with Simon Kinberg, who will also be writing the pilot for the show in addition to the screenplay of his own Star Wars spin off.  This will go a long way toward restoring good will among the fans.  It also sets up the chance that we might see characters from the original trilogy in this one as well.  An older Obi-Wan, Yoda, or even Darth Vader in flowing black cape and all.

Just no kid Han Solo please...

Execute Older 69...

Today The Beard is celebrating a birthday...

That's right the Master Jedi himself, George Lucas is celebrating being sixty-nine years old.  And he's finally moving on to do those things in life he's wanted to do, but a little something got in the way.  After creating the iconic filmography that has included "American Graffiti , "Indiana Jones", and of course, "Star Wars", the film maker has finally moved on to being a museum curator.

That said, he's left an incredible mark on American pop culture and even global film history.  Although his life will now pursue another course, his legacy will endure, and his creations will be timeless.  Many (myself included) may fault him for the fallacy that are the Prequels, but most directors, writers and producers would kill for a career so prolific upon the consciousness of mankind.

Happy Birthday, George...

Playing Games With A Mouse...

Some fans worried about the end of Star Wars gaming with the closing of LucasArts...

But the franchise is too big to be closed down.  There is simply too much opportunity to make money with this universe: and it's a big, big universe.  Kathleen Kennedy has had numerous meetings with gaming companies over the past few months, just as she's had multiple meetings with film makers.  She's entertained a voluminous amount of pitches for films, shows and games.  And now we know who gets to carry on the Lucasfilm gaming legacy.

Electronic Arts.

Lucasfilm and Disney Interactive announce their multi-year deal with EA today:

Electronic Arts Selected for Multi-Year Agreement for the Future of Star Wars Gaming May 06, 2013

Today it was announced that Lucasfilm Ltd. and Disney Interactive are entering into a multi-year, multi-title exclusive licensing agreement with Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) for the creation of new high quality Star Wars games spanning multiple genres for console, PC, mobile, and tablets.
Industry leaders and creators of best-in-class blockbuster games, the development and publishing teams at EA will collaborate with the creative teams at Lucasfilm to provide audiences with all-new gaming experiences set in the ever-expanding Star Wars galaxy. As part of the agreement, EA studio teams DICE (Battlefield series) and Visceral (Dead Space series) will join BioWare (Mass Effect series, Star Wars: The Old Republic) in the development of newStar Wars games.
"Our number one objective was to find a developer who could consistently deliver our fans great Star Wars games for years to come," said Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm. "When we looked at the talent of the teams that EA was committing to our games and the quality of their vision for Star Wars, the choice was clear."
While EA studios will develop for the core Star Wars gaming audience, Disney Interactive will focus on delivering new Star Warsgames for casual audiences on mobile, social, tablet, and online gaming platforms.
"This agreement demonstrates our commitment to creating quality game experiences that drive the popularity of the Star Warsfranchise for years to come," said John Pleasants, co-president of Disney Interactive. "Collaborating with one of the world's premier game developers will allow us to bring an amazing portfolio of newStar Wars titles to fans around the world."
"Every developer dreams of creating games for the Star Warsuniverse," said EA Labels President Frank Gibeau. "Three of our top studios will fulfill that dream, crafting epic adventures for Star Warsfans. The new experiences we create may borrow from films, but the games will be entirely original with all new stories and gameplay."
More information, including titles in development, will be announced in the coming months. Continue to check StarWars.com for updates on the future of Star Wars gaming.

And if you want to see the quality the new games will have then check out the Frostbite 3 gaming engine (warning: NSFW).  This will be the technology they'll be using for the new games.  Imagine this quality of gaming with lasers, light sabers and Sith Lords.  Impressive.

I've always felt that Iger should pursue a similar strategy that he's used in purchasing film companies like Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm when dealing with Gaming.  Instead of going after one of the big companies, he's went for mid-level or lower level companies that have had predictable results.  Perhaps in a few years he or his successor can bring someone like EA into the Disney family and have it under Disney Interactive?  It would certainly be a boost to the one part of the company that seems to continually be flailing behind companies like the Warner Bros.  Warner Games is certainly a much more profitable division of the Bunny than the Mouse's Disney Interactive.

But we have years to go before we get there...

The Power Of The Dark Side...

What I really want to do is direct a Star Wars film...

It's hard to resist what you love...

Especially if it's offered dangling before you like the dream you always wanted, but never thought you'd get. That's what J.J. Abrams came up against over the past couple of months it seems.  When you get offered what you never thought would be available, the temptation to say no fades into the background when you see the possibility of what lies ahead.

He had meetings with Kathleen Kennedy and talked to Michael Ardnt.  He had discussions with them about what they wanted to do, and where they wanted to go.  And he saw the 40-50 page treatment that the new trilogy will follow.  The one that Ardnt wrote and is using as the template for his "Episode VII" script.  He apparently liked the direction they were heading.  So he said yes to the most scrutinized directing effort he will ever have.

He will have fans of both "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" watching his every move, his every decision, and his every word for the next two or three years.  And the fans of Trek will have factions that not only don't like this, but downright believe that this is a betrayal.  I can only imagine the next Comic-Con that Abrams shows up to will look like.  Remember also, the next D23 is this fall.  Can you imagine there won't be a strong Star Wars presence there?  It will, and I happen to believe that there will be a panel, or large section of the main Walt Disney Pictures panel that will focus just on Star Wars.  You better get your tickets now, and stand in line soon because it's going to be mind numbingly busy.

This will be the same type of panel/session as what happened last time with Marvel when Kevin Feige walked out.  With that in mind, expect to see Kathleen Kennedy show up on stage, and I would be surprised if she didn't introduce the director of the new film.  And I expect him to come out and talk how excited he is to be working on a childhood dream, and not reveal ANY information  about the film.  This is J.J. Ambrams, after all.  And we're all going to be living through his dream over the next couple of years.

Hopefully, that won't feel like a long, long time...

Seven Jedi...

Do or do not, there is no try... 

Breaking news here on the Star Wars News Network...

That's what it feels like lately with all the rumors and news that seems to show up.  I can't wait to see what happens when they announce the release date and director (likely this month).

But if you haven't heard, the Vulture is reporting that Zack Snyder wasn't exactly truthful when he said he wasn't interested in directing a Star Wars film.  What he meant was that he doesn't want to direct one of the "Episode" Star Wars films.  He wants to do one that is set apart, but in the same universe as the upcoming films that take place after Episode VI.

Snyder's developing a film set against a narrative based on Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" film.  A classic tale of seven masterless Samurai that protect a village from a band of raiders.  There has been an American film based on this film, called "The Magnificent Seven," which was set in the Wild West (ironic, because Kurosawa based his film on the American Wild West).  Apparently the film will not happen until after the release of Episode VII in 2015.

This is all in addition to the films that Lawrence Kasdan, and Simon Kinberg are working on.  This is in perspective with the two television shows, Clone Wars and Star Wars: Detours, plus ABC looking at the live-action series Lucasfilm has been developing make for a staggering amount of entertainment coming from this galaxy far, far away.  Hard to believe, but Star Wars is about to get much bigger.

But that's ok, it's a very big sand box...


UPDATE: Snyder has responded via a spokesperson to The Hollywood Reporter and he denies having any Star Wars projects on his future.  Not that Lucasfilm would be ready to say it was true, if it were.  

Time will tell...

Lucastv...

This is only a test... 

The Mouse has created a monsters...

Star Wars all the time.  It seems to be in the news every other day, which is why we keep having stories about them.  This one seems logical, and makes sense based on the fact that Disney now owns Lucasfilm.

At an ABC Paul Lee president was asked about doing more Star Wars for the network.  While speaking in an article with Entertainment Weekly, he mentioned that he'd love to work with Lucasfilm more now that they're part of the Disney family.  But the quote that really stood out was that he/ABC were taking a look at the Star Wars television series that had been put on hold.

While it's not a guarantee that the show will be picked up by the network, it is a positive note on the long talked about series.  If they like the project, and can make the expensive budget work (reportedly 5 million an episode), then perhaps we'll see a green light for the project later this year.  That means if all the stars align then we could possibly see a Star Wars series by next fall.

Now, you must remember that this is Hollywood, and it's rare that such an alignment takes place at all, much less quickly.  But this is a property that most networks would kill to have access to.  Bob Iger talked about exploiting the Star Wars property across the many platforms the Walt Disney Company owns and this would be a golden opportunity to do so.  It's there for the taking if Lee can be convinced that the price is right.

And we must remember that it doesn't have to be the only thing they use.  It's up to Kathleen Kennedy and ABC to decide on sever other properties in the vast Lucasfilm library (not all of which are Star Wars).  Imagine another Saturday morning television show?  It could be an update of "Droids" or "Ewok" (god forbid).  A new Star Wars Holiday Special (not likely)?  How about solo adventures of Han Solo and Chewie?  Clone Wars is likely to make it to Disney XD, or maybe even broadcasts on the Saturday morning schedule.  Perhaps a tale of new Jedi making their way through the galaxy?

And there are other properties the company could use that are more obscure, like "Willow" for instance.  What if they were to take that story, and hire some talented writer to take it and make a fantasy television show out of it?  A revision of it along the lines of what happened recently with "Battlestar Galactica" with Ron Moore (who just happens to have written one of those Star Wars episodes).  The possibilities are limitless.  Even an animated series on Indiana Jones could be an attractive possibility.

Another chance for me to get up on my soapbox...

A Hundred Wars...

The forever war...

The Clone Wars celebrated a significant milestone on Friday...

100 episodes.  That's quite an achievement.  Now, not all of the episodes are great, a few are, but many are of a higher quality than the Prequels.  Certainly better than the first two, at least.

And this is the last, and fifth season of the contract for the show to be on the Cartoon Network.  If there is to be a sixth, then it'll likely be on Disney XD now that the Mouse owns it.  The problem lies in the rerun rights to the show, which will belong to the Cartoon Network for the near future unless Disney buys them out.

It's unknown how long the show will go, but it is still very popular.  The Clone Wars were only supposed to have lasted about three years in the films, so with a six season happening you'd have to wonder what time these events take place?  Two seasons every year?  And if they go beyond that, how would that work out?  Time in the Star Wars galaxy must be different than it is here I guess.

If you'd like to see a cool montage of the episodes over the last five years then check out Entertainment Weekly's article on the show.  And prepare for more episodes, and more series for the Star Wars universe.  Besides "Star Wars: Detours," I hear they're working on other ideas for animated shows.  I still like the idea of one that takes place in the original trilogy with Luke, Han and a bad guy named Darth.

Now if they could get ABC to work out something for that live-action series...

Adoption Complete...

The story of a boy, a girl, and a whole galaxy waiting for a mouse... 

Well, the Mouse officially has a new addition to the family...

The Walt Disney Company completed the purchase of Lucasfilm today.  With the closing of the bell on Wall Street, George Lucas' famous company now becomes another sibling in the colossus that is Disney.  Here is the official press release:

BURBANK, Calif., December 21, 2012 – Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) announced today that Disney has completed its acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Lucasfilm to the Disney family,” said Iger. “Star Wars is one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time and this transaction combines that world class content with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets, which we believe will generate growth as well as significant long-term value.”

Under the terms of the merger agreement, at closing Disney issued 37,076,679 shares and made a cash payment of $2,208,199,950. Based upon the closing price of Disney shares on December 21, 2012 at $50.00, the transaction has a total value of approximately $4.06 billion.

Lucasfilm’s assets include its massively popular Star Wars franchise, operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production, as well as a substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies. It operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound.

Strange that they don't mention "Indiana Jones" in that.  I know that "Star Wars" is the primary motivation for the purchase, but the famed archaeological professor ain't no wall flower.  He can hold his own.  Not to mention all the other properties Disney has access to (American Graffiti, etc.).

But what fans have wanted for years has come to pass.  George no longer has control over his creation.  Now, the future of Star Wars is in the hands of someone else, for another generation.

And the ones after that...

A3Dventure Is Coming...

Yes, I know Blue Sky mentioned this a while ago...

And we got a lot of serious flack from people saying it was just fanboi rumors and masturbatory dreams, but it wasn't and isn't still.  See, the only way what I said wasn't true, would be if the Lucasfilm Suit that told it to my Bothan was lying to his face.  And this particular Bothan I know very well, and would trust with my life.  He's in the know.  And the Suit I'm talking about is high up, not an underling.  So when Lucasfilm started issuing parsely worded statements, and then outright denial, they're not exactly telling you the truth.  You see, it's not a lie, if they haven't actually done it yet.  Read between the actual words when you hear their press releases.

The powers-that-be wouldn't want to announce it right now anyway, but that doesn't mean it's not in the planning.  The only thing that will stop this from happening is if the box office from the next few Star Wars 3D conversions turn out to be disappointing.  Now, Episode I wasn't a box office bonanza, but remember the film isn't exactly beloved by my most fans.  As each release comes out we'll be able to get a better reaction to the audiences' warming up to the conversions.  I'd think that Sith, Hope, and Empire will get a bigger slice of the box office pie when they come out.  Should they not, the guys in Burbank/Marin County might start having doubts, but second thoughts aren't in the cards right now.

If Kathleen Kennedy and her Lucasfilm Suits get cold feet then the Raiders conversion may be shelved, but as of a couple weeks ago it was still in the planning.  So adventure in the third dimension is up ahead.

It's just not around the corner yet...

An Ever-Expanding Galaxy...

So the films that Kasdan and Kinberg are working on for Lucasfilm might not be part of the trilogy after all...

 But they will be Star Wars.  It appears Kathleen Kennedy and crew are taking a page out of the Marvel playbook.  While we're supposed to have an Avengers film every three years or so, we have individual adventures set in between, like Thor and Iron Man, etc.  Word comes from The Hollywood Reporter that the films that these writers are working on could be stand alone/spin offs that inhabit the universe far, far away.

So these adventures could turn up in one of the in between years of Episode VII and Episode VIII?  This explains Iger's statement of having films come out every 2-3 years.  That would allow for at least one solo (pun intented) adventure in the gap between one trilogy film, and another.  This means we could get all kinds of space operas.  From a Boba Fett film, to a Republic Commandos film, to a tale about the Rebel Alliance.  What be your take?

I think this universe is big enough to have multiple adventures...

Jedi Mind Tricks...

These are the writers you are looking for...

Whoa, more and more awesomeness keeps leaking from this Bantha track...

Ok, if you don't know Star Wars then that really won't help or make sense.  Let's just say that with each passing moment, everything we hear that the Mouse/Lucasfilm are doing for the third trilogy is very smart.  They appear to be treating this like the property they know fans value so greatly.

If you haven't heard the news, Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: End of Days) have been hired to write the screenplays for Episode VIII and Episode IX.  It's not known if they will collaborate on each as partners or will one will tackle eight and the other nine.  Both will produce the film along with Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy.

So from notes by Lucas, Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) created a forty/fifty page treatment, and will write the first film: Episode VII, Kasdan and Kinberg will write the rest and they will produce all three?  Thank the Maker!  Now all we need is a director.  Sadly, Brad Bird won't be the director (maybe he'll be the Irvin Kershner of this batch and direct the second if we're lucky), so who will it be?  I have my own ideas, but that'll be for a later post.

The opening crawl can't come soon enough...

A Study In Plaid...

Oh, tell us great plaid one... 




 

We have another short interview George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy...

It's the third in a series.  Each is about five or so minutes, and there are two more to go over the coming weeks.  Each one adds a little layer of thought, peeling the onion back to see the workings of a private man giving up his baby.

It's going to be interesting seeing what happens in a few years.  I know Kennedy has said that they want to get to a point where Lucasfilm is putting out 2-3 films a year, and I don't if this is a typo.  Did she mean a film every three years?  As in Star War films?  Or did she mean others as well?  Perhaps this is in regard to that magical creatures/fairies animated film that they were working on.

It's interesting times we live in.  Maybe the galaxy up north will be a bit larger than Star Wars and Indiana Jones?


Episode I: Disney and the Future.

Episode II: Getting Started On New Star Wars.

Episode III: An Interesting Proposal.


May the Forth episode of this be with us next week...