Star Wars, Geek Culture, and Power Converters
Kathleen Kennedy’s panel at Celebration Europe this morning didn’t yield much in terms of Episode VII news but she did announce that John Williams will be back to score all three Sequel Trilogy films. A video interview (as seen below) was shown to the panel audience and he clearly seems to be as thrilled to be back in the galaxy far far away however he has yet to read the script.
You can read the entire official liveblog of Kennedy’s panel over on the main site.
Update: Lucasfilm responds, says “Yeah, no.” Original post below:
I guess it’s been too long since there was a bombshell of an Episode VII rumor, so here we go. Badass Digest suggests that J.J. Abrams wants out of the film.
Why is it that I keep hearing tons of rumors that JJ Abrams is on the verge of dropping out of Star Wars? This has been something I’ve heard for a while now, and from multiple insiders. I know that he didn’t want to shoot the movie in England and was overruled, but that happened a while ago. This weekend at Comic Con I continued to hear these whispers. No director for Trek 3 has been found yet – might Abrams end up coming back after all, leaving Star Wars to someone else?
Bryan Young over at Big Shiny Robot talked about why this doesn’t make much sense and I’m right there with him. I’m going with fan paranoia on this one and I just won’t put stock into this particular rumor until after Celebration Europe at the earliest.
Yesterday, Mark Hamill sat down with the Hollywood Reporter to discuss all things Star Wars and San Diego Comic Con. As per usual, he was asked about his involvement and interest with the upcoming Episode VII. His response:
Hamill’s hopes are high for the Star Wars: Episode VII reunion: “We want this to happen. How could I not take this ride? They’re making all the right moves, like Michael Arndt as the writer. Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3 — he writes humor and he writes heart. I’m not someone who looks to recapture the glory of when I was in my 20s. I think it’ll probably be about the next generation. We’ll be the link to the past, but the kids will be doing the heavy lifting. And the Wookiee will have a walker.”
It’s pretty clear at this point that Hamill is keen to do more Star Wars. You get the feeling that something’s going to be confirmed on this front sooner rather than later.
Hot off the presses. Can you guess what’s behind the cover? #FoundAtBR #MysteryScript pic.twitter.com/VFvoxedpqC
— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) July 17, 2013
Let’s be honest here. It’s either Star Wars: Episode VII or the long-awaited script for Howard the Duck II: Electric Boogaloo.
This comes via Bleeding Cool and is very much a rumor, so take it with as many grains of salt as you need. Supposedly, there’s a cast breakdown for Episode VII floating around.
Late-teen female, independent, good sense of humour, fit.
Young twenty-something male, witty and smart, fit but not traditionally good looking.
A late twentysomething male, fit, handsome and confident.
Seventy-something male, with strong opinions and tough demeanour. Also doesn’ t need to be particularly fit.
A second young female, also late teens, tough, smart and fit.
Forty something male, fit, military type.
Thirtysomething male, intellectual. Apparently doesn’t need to be fit.
Again, apply as much skepticism as you need. Even if this list is true, there’s always the possibility that the casting will change as the movie is still very much in the pre-production stages.
While at the Daytime Emmy Awards, Access Hollywood caught up to George Lucas to, of course, talk about the upcoming new Star Wars film installments. Lucas, unfortunately, didn’t have much to say.
I have not spoken to J.J. He’s been busy with Star Trek, and I’m sure that he’ll let me know when he’s got some questions. So, you know, that’s all going well. Kathy tells me it’s working out great.
Understandable. Abrams is still doing his post-Trek release stuff and there’s no word on where Michael Arndt is with the screenplay yet. Don’t worry, Star Wars fans. More information will come. Eventually.
(via)
The Maker no longer has the reigns to Star Wars. But what does he think of the man now directing the franchise? According to Access Hollywood, Lucas seems upbeat on Abrams:
“Yeah, [I’m excited]. J.J.’s a great director and we’re friends,” George told Access Hollywood at the 2013 Crystal + Lucy Awards, when asked if he’s looking forward to J.J.’s films. “I think he understands the whole thing and how it works.
“And if he doesn’t, [Lucasfilms president] Kathy [Kennedy] will keep it straight,” he added with a laugh.
He was also asked what his involvement with Star Wars will be moving forward. In his words,“If they need help or anything, they’ll give me a call… Otherwise, I’m off on my own.”
Abrams wants Williams to score Episode VII. Giacchino thinks Williams should score Episode VII. John Williams wants to score Episode VII. Seems like a pretty safe bet at this point, no? Zap2It sat down with John Williams to discuss the prospects of returning to the franchise.
“We’ve certainly talked about that, and I’m happy and willing to do it,” he confirms. “J.J. Abrams, who will be the director, seems excited about the idea. I have to say that J.J. is a much younger man than I, but I will try to keep up with him as much as I can!”
It seems like at least preliminary discussions have been had with one or both of Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy. Here’s hoping Williams can score at least one more Star Wars film.
After the obligatory Wars versus Trek discussion, Abrams says that the new Star Wars installments need to be able to stand up on their own rather than ride on pre-existing love for the franchise. In his words, it needs to “work on its own terms.”
Collider.com caught up with Bad Robot producer Bryan Burk to discuss some of the production details behind Episode VII. Among the questions: Just when does filming start? Burk says that while things are fluid, they have a window in mind.
“We’re progressing on a schedule to hopefully begin next year, or the beginning of next year, and the location is still kind of floating around in the air all depending on script and a whole bunch of other issues. As I just said, everything is kind of a free-flowing thing, and when we feel like the story level on this script and everything is really coming together and schedules are all working and pieces line up, we prowl ahead, and Star Wars will be no different.”
That would make sense, especially if summer 2015 is the target to get the new installment into theaters. Whether or not this holds up remains to be seen and like many other aspects of the film, depends on just what the Michael Arndt-written screenplay looks like.
