Gary Ross Will Not Direct ‘Catching Fire’

Posted on by

After a weekend of confusion over whether or not The Hunger Games director Gary Ross would return to for Catching Fire, news dropped late Tuesday that he was officially leaving the franchise.

Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.

I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.

Lionsgate Studio also issued a statement.

We’re very sorry that Gary Ross has chosen not to direct Catching Fire. We were really looking forward to making the movie with him. He did an incredible job on the first film and we are grateful for his work. This will not be the end of our relationship, as we consider Ross to be part of the Lionsgate family and look forward to working with him in the future.

As I mentioned over the weekend when dueling reports from the press hit the Internet, I was going to be surprised to if Ross left. Color me surprised, but I do understand his reasoning. With the mammoth success of The Hunger Games, expectations and deadlines were going to mount for the sequel. I did hope Ross would stick around for no other reason than his ability to work with Suzanne Collins to adapt the book to the screenplay. Hopefully whoever Lionsgate brings in next will be able to pick up right where Ross left off.

What this means for the future of Catching Fire is unclear and the rest of the planned four-film series is unclear. Most fans will want to know if this means the production schedule has been set back. When a film loses its director, there’s always the risk that the timetable can slide while studios scramble to find a replacement. For now, fans and the Internet will begin speculating over who will step up to direct in Ross’ place.

For the rest of Ross’ statement, head over to the Wall Street Journal blog.

Trope Tuesday: Buffy Speak

Posted on by

I need to go put the sharp pointy thing in the thing with the sharp pointy fangs now.

Introducing Trope Tuesday!

What’s Trope Tuesday? It’s a weekly sojourn into the land of fiction and literature to learn more about the devices and themes that resonates with its audience.*

*It’s a thinly veiled excuse for me to destroy your productivity by linking you to that great time-sink in the cloud: TV Tropes.

Every Tuesday we’ll feature one new trope. This week we’re highlighting one of my favorites: Buffy Speak

Buffy Speak is that thing where they say that a guy is saying things too fast, or can’t figure out what the thing they want to say is, or doesn’t have enough learning and stuff to say what the thing they mean is.

A thing you see a lot with this is when they don’t know the right words and stuff, so sometimes you see noun and verb things combined like in “shooty-gun thing”, and stuff that goes in a cycle thing in frustration: “That idea went over like… like… like a thing that doesn’t go over very well.” That thing where you go on and on and forget the stuff you were trying to say comes up a lot. Sometimes it uses that verb-noun-ing dealie thing, and sometimes that name thing where it’s like, descriptive, but not really their name, because you don’t really know their name? Or are trying to make a point? I dunno, just click on the link.

The Trope Namer is, obviously, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Ever find yourself doing this when trying to explain Star Wars to someone who hasn’t seen it? “No, no. You see Hyperspace is this wibbly-wobbly … thing … that lets other things go from one place to another place all quick like. You know. Like a thing that goes really fast.”

If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get back to surfing … that thing. With all the links. And pictures of cats.

New ‘Essential Guide to Characters’ in the Works

Posted on by

Yesterday, the official Del Rey Star Wars Twitter account dropped this tease:

I know I’d love to see a number of post-Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe characters included. A longshot, sure, but any chance I could see something about the Antilles sisters?

Who would you like to see in the third EG to Characters? Drop a comment in this post to tell us!

Fallout, Wasteland and a favorite author

Posted on by

I’m not what you might call a ‘hardcore’ gamer. I really haven’t ever been, but as time has gone by I’ve gotten to the point where I’m less and less competitive when it comes to games. At the end of the day, I’d rather play a good co-op game than go head to head against a nameless stranger that insists on throwing insults my way. But I still love gaming and I still love difficult, challenging games. I just like them in the single player world.

My wife will tell you that she’s seen me play more in the setting of Fallout than is healthy for any person, and as I check my Steam account, I can tell you that I have spent 238 hour in Fallout: New Vegas. I’m a little bit sick, I think.

This is all leading up to something loosely Star Wars related, I promise.
Continue reading →

Jason Fry Releases ‘Essential Guide to Warfare’ Endnotes

Posted on by

Over on his blog, Jason Fry posted a set of endnotes from his latest Expanded Universe release, the Essential Guide to Warfare.

The book originally began with a transcript of a briefing featuring Admiral Motti, Bevel Lemelisk, a general from the Department of Military Research and Dr. Insmot Bowen, a pre-Republic specialist from the Obroan Institute. Dr. Bowen explained that some of the odd characteristics of the galaxy — including that barrier west of the Core — were the remnants of Celestial technology, and told the panel of an ancient war between the Celestials and the Rakata. (Motti, as you might imagine, wasn’t believing it.)

The section was fun, but my editor at Del Rey, Erich Schoeneweiss, felt it wasn’t the best beginning for the book. He felt we needed something that put the reader in a dynamic scene rather than a briefing room, and that had some actual warfare in it, instead of a discussion of it. I fumed about that for a bit, then fumed a lot more because I realized Erich was right.

I have to say, I’m glad Schoeneweiss suggested a different opening. The prologue was one of my favorite parts of the book and really helped set the stage for perhaps the best Essential Guide I’ve gotten my hands on.

For more interesting notes and tidbits from Jason Fry, head on over to his blog.

Fate of the Jedi Retrospective – Part I

Posted on by

With Apocalypse hitting bookshelves last month, the three-year Fate of the Jedi series came to a conclusion. Not only did it mark the end of the nine book series, but the end of the megaseries concept Del Rey has been known for since New Jedi Order kicked off in 1999. FotJ marks the end of an era in more ways than one, but how effective was it?

Part I of the Fate of the Jedi retrospective below the cut.

Continue reading →

‘Star Wars Attack of the Authors’ Announces West Coast Tour

Posted on by

DK Publishing announced their West Coast tour of Star Wars Attack of the Authors. Numerious EU authors, the 501st Legion, and the Rebel Legion will be on hand for. Expect giveaways, photo opportunities, and the chance to win Star Wars prizes.

  • April 12: Raleigh Park Elementary in Portland, OR – 1PM
  • April 12: Powell’s Books in Beaverton, OR – 7PM
  • April 14: Third Place Books in Bothell, WA – 2-4PM
  • April 15: Books Inc. in Berkeley, CA -3PM
  • April 20: Carlsbad City Library in Carlsbad, CA – 3:30PM
  • April 20: Bookworks in Albuquerque, NM – 7PM
  • April 21: Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, CA – 2PM
  • April 21: Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, AZ – 1PM
  • April 22: Warwick’s in La Jolla, CA – 2PM
  • April 22: Barnes & Noble on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas, NV – 2-4PM

For more details, head over to DK Publishing’s calendar page

Check Out Nanci’s Guest Post on Fan Fiction at Club Jade

Posted on by

Our own Nanci has a post up at Club Jade examining the media perception of fan fiction since the release of 50 Shades of Grey.

Until now, I’d couldn’t believe that the mainstream media hadn’t yet made the erroneous connection that fanfic = porn.  So an article on CNN entitled “Fifty Shades of Grey shines light on erotic fan fiction”, I wasn’t that surprised.  But I still facepalmed; especially when I saw the accompanying photograph of Kirk and Spock.  The third sentence of the article states, “Welcome to the world of fan fiction, where fans tweak or add to existing series, novels and characters —oftentimes with a steamy twist” (emphasis mine).

It is the word “oftentimes” that bothers me about that statement.  Yes, I know there is erotic fanfic on the internet (refer back to Rule 34).  I’ve read it; heck, I’ve written it.  I don’t think “smut” (as it’s called) is anything to ridicule or look down upon, and I’m not ashamed to read or write it.  But that does not mean that the majority of fanfic is porn, and I hate that people will see novels like “50 Shades” and believe that is the case.

As a fanfic writer myself, the implication that all I’m doing is writing badly written porn really ticks me off. I’ve read some tremendous fan fiction that deserves praise for being well written fiction. So yes, I’m annoyed with 50 Shades and how the media is portraying fanfic.

Hop on over to Club Jade to read the rest of the article.

EU Author Aaron Allston’s Upcoming Appearance Dates

Posted on by

Author, humorist, and Ewok enthusiast Aaron Allston has updated his appearance schedule for the remainder of the year:

  • May 5: Austin, TX | Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy – with Peter Mayhew
  • May 30-June 3: Columbus, OH | Origin’s Game Fair – Michael Stackpole and Timothy Zahn also in attendance and will join Allston on a Star Wars panel or two
  • July 27-29:  Austin, TX | Armadillo Con
  • August 23-26: Orlando, FL | Celebration VI 
  • August 31-September 3: Atlanta, GA | Dragon*Con – Michael Stackpole, Timothy Zahn, and several other Expanded Universe writers will also be in attendance.

If you ever get the chance to see Allston on a panel at a convention, drop whatever it is you’re doing and grab a seat. He’s one of the funniest men alive and puts on an incredibly entertaining show. This year promises to be especially fun as his first X-Wing novel in thirteen years is due out in August.  

via Roqoo Depot