Your weekend edition of The Week in Star Wars has a some details of what we can expect from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the Han Solo anthology movie and more…
With Rogue One: A Star Wars Story just over a month away, director Gareth Edwards has been telling us about what we can expect from Lucasfilm’s first anthology movie. While he notes there are some comparisons to Luke and Jyn, Rogue One will very different to what you think. “Events take place that just shatter [Jyn Erso’s] life and send her off to basically be raised as a soldier in the midst of a war,” said Edwards. “She ends up not the person she was supposed to be. Even though we’re not telling the story of Luke Skywalker, it was important to me that we capture the same themes and emotion. But the film doesn’t unfold how you think. It’s not the same path as Star Wars.” You can read more of the interview here, and check out a profile card for Jyn Erso here…
…It had been rumoured for some time that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story wouldn’t feature the iconic text crawl, and now it looks like it’s for sure. According to Star Wars News Net, a source they consider to be extremely credible has revealed that Rogue One opens in a way “different than the classic Star Wars films“, meaning we won’t be seeing an opening crawl, and “the film’s introduction of the story to the audience differs from the classic films in the series…”
…According to the Han Solo anthology movie cinematographer, it looks like Rogue One won’t be the only Star Wars movie to be different from other outings. “We’re doing our own thing, that’s why we’re there,” said Bradford Young. “Phil and Chris are there to bring what they bring to their films, their very unique vision, their perspective on story and they asked me to come bring what I bring, and so just for that it won’t feel like any of the other films. And nobody at Lucasfilm is asking us to betray that, they’re saying ‘We’re in full support of what you do and we wanna make sure that we’re able to help you do it in the best way.’ It’s gonna feel like a Star Wars film, but we’re definitely gonna break some rules, and we’re encouraged to do that. Visually, narratively that’s a good mandate. They really are about, from what I’ve seen so far, supporting up and coming artists, artists who have a strong vision and voice and perspective, and they really wanna permeate the films with those kinds of voices. So it’s interesting, very interesting. Not what I thought it would be, that’s for sure. I’m pleasantly encouraged and pleasantly surprised…”
…Oli and I talked about these topics on the latest episode of the Flickering Myth Podcast, which you can listen to below…
…Hot Toys unveiled its latest Star Wars 1/6th scale collectible figure, featuring the iconic Imperial Snowtrooper, based upon their appearance in the hit video game Star Wars Battlefront [which you can see images for here] and its upcoming line of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Cosbaby bobble-head figures featuring the Empire’s fearsome Stormtroopers, Shoretroopers, and Death Troopers [which you can see here]…
…Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released the final piece of DLC for LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens, entitled ‘Escape from Starkiller Base’, which features a brand new level, along with the characters C’ai Threnalli, Colonel Datoo, Lieutenant Rodinon, Lt Wright, R3-Z3 and the Assault Walker in both full-size and microfighter scale. Read more about that here…
…Earlier this year it was announced by EA that a sequel to the mulitplayer shooter Star Wars Battlefront is in development, and would come out “next year”. Well, speaking on an investor conference call, EA chief financial officer Blake Jorgensen has revealed that Star Wars Battlefront 2 will arrive “a year from now” – just in time to capitalise on the excitement over Star Wars: Episode VIII – and that “we’re working very hard on making sure that it’s an extremely deep and engaging offering…”
…And finally, here are your comic book previews for the week. First up is Star Wars: The Force Awakens #6, the final issue of the adaptation, which is out this Wednesday. It’s the Resistance vs the First Order as the attack on Starkiller Base continues! Meanwhile, Rey must use a lightsaber for the first time in a battle against Kylo Ren! Will the Resistance finally find the mysterious location of the vanished Jedi Luke Skywalker? The saga continues! And here’s the preview for Star Wars: Poe Dameron #8, which kicks off a new story arc: NEW STORY ARC STARTS HERE! Agent Terex has sworn vengeance against Poe Dameron! But how does he always seem to know what Black Squadron is doing? Could there truly be a traitor in their midst?
That’s all for this week – may the Force be with you.
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.