The Week in Star Wars is back – and it’s another bumper edition. We’ve got the latest on production issues for Rogue One, a possible TV series, a rumoured Han Solo movie and more…
We’ll kick things off this week with more news on production issues for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story [which got its first TV spot that you can watch here]. You may recall there was a lot of rumours a couple of months ago [read all about that here], and now The Hollywood Reporter are saying Tony Gilroy – was brought on by Disney during the reshoots earlier this year (which he had done for Edwards on Godzilla) – is supervising the edit of the movie. Edwards is still involved in post-production, with the site’s source reportedly stating that: “There are not two separate editing rooms; they are all in there with their ideas. Tony’s a strong force, but they’re all working together.” Now, its not uncommon for directors to have assistants in the editing suites, but this could fuel more fire to rumours that Rogue One is falling off the wagon…
…Last month Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy suggested that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story may not feature the saga’s iconic opening crawl, and she’s again reiterated that stance. “You know, we’re in the midst of talking about it, but I don’t think these films will have an opening crawl,” said Kennedy with regards to Rogue One and future Anthology movies such as the Han Solo film. “I think that’s what we kind of telegraphed at the beginning of the event today.” Edwards, on the other hand, was slightly more coy. “I think basically there’s a lot of things that I probably can’t talk about, is probably the safest way to answer that. The idea is this film is supposed to be different than the saga films…the whole crawl of it all — it’s funny people are fascinated on that. This film is born out of a crawl. The thing that inspired this movie was a crawl and what was written in that. There’s this feeling that if we did a crawl, then it’ll create another movie. And so the honest answer is you’ll have to wait and see…”
…We didn’t have an edition of The Week in Star Wars following San Diego Comic-Con (there wasn’t a whole lot of news), but one thing to pick up on is Edwards talking about the alien creatures Pao and Bistan. “There was this great design of this creature that’s mouth would open really wide, and he looked like he was really good at giving orders and shouting at people during a battle,” said Edwards with regards to “Bigmouth”, a.k.a. Pao. “I was like, ‘We’ve got to give him that moment in the film,’ and so [Pao] was born out of that.” As for Bistan, he’s a gunner on a new gunship/troop transport vehicle, the U-Wing [which you can see here]: “It’s not necessarily a character that we get to know, but I think he has a very memorable, iconic look. [He’s] one of my favorites. I can’t give away what happens to him…”
…Someone who won’t be in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, according to Edwards at least, is Han Solo. “I’m not sure I’m allowed to do this but I think I should. I can put to bed, Han Solo is not in the movie…”
…However, Bail Organa will be back, with Jimmy Smits confirming that he will feature in Rogue One in a brief cameo appearance having portrayed the character in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith…
…Speaking of Han Solo, and a source has told New York Daily News that his anthology movie may develop into a trilogy of its own. “There is a real sense of excitement around the Han Solo movie and its potential. Given that Han’s early adventures do not need to be tied to the Empire, it leaves story lines open with the opportunity to really give fans something different,” they claim. “They can explore new galaxies and crazy creatures and bring in a wide array of new characters…”
…A couple of weeks ago we brought you the news that Star Wars: Episode VIII – which still doesn’t have a title – had wrapped. Well it looks like some were slightly premature as there was still some filming to be done. It’s wrapped now, though…
…As Lucasfilm gears up to expand the Star Wars franchise with its first Anthology movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story this December, Collider asked Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams which spinoff movie he’d like to see in the future. “I gotta say Kathy Kennedy, who’s running it all, she seems to be pushing all the right buttons,” replied Abrams. “There isn’t something that I’d love to see—I guess the one thing I would say is there’s a Knights of Ren story that I think would be pretty cool to tell…”
…Despite all the rumours, speculation and “scoops” surrounding a potential Netflix show, it looks like Disney-owned ABC may be first to get their hands on Star Wars on the small screen, with ABC executive Channing Dungey revealing at the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual press tour that the network is in talks with Lucasfilm about a Star Wars TV series. “Oh, as a fan, I would absolutely love to say ‘Yes,’” said Dungey when asked whether she’d like to see a prime-time Star Wars series. “The conversations with Lucasfilm, we have had conversations with them and will continue to have conversations with them. I think it would be wonderful if we could find a way to extend that brand into our programming. It’s all a little bit hush-hush. That company exists under a big shroud of secrecy. If you feel Marvel’s secretive, [Lucasfilm] takes it to a whole other level … [Talks] are ongoing. We don’t have an official timeline yet.” With ABC doing shows based on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter (even though they cancelled it), it wouldn’t be too surprising to see this become a reality…
…And finally, here’s your comic book previews for the week. First up is Star Wars: Darth Vader #24: Vader is lost in his inner mindscape, lost in visions of the Force! Is he truly more machine now than man? Or can he fight his way back from the brink? [we’ve also got variant covers for the final issue here] And here’s the preview for Star Wars #22: The Star Destroyer Harbinger, a massive weapon of Imperial war. Also the target of the rebels’ new top-secret plan. Join Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Leia Organa for “The Last Flight of the Harbinger”! And released later this month is Star Wars: Han Solo #3: As The Dragon Void race gets more intense…Han’s rebel mission gets more deadly! Can the Falcon hold up to one of the most intense flights of its career? What’s worse for Han…failing Leia? Or losing a race?
That’s all for this week – may The Force be with you.
Order Star Wars: The Force Awakens via Amazon UK or Amazon US
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth and the co-host of The Flickering Myth Podcast and Scooperhero News. You can follow him on Twitter @ThisisLukeOwen and read his weekly feature The Week in Star Wars.
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