Your weekend edition of The Week in Star Wars features plenty of new images, posters and TV spots for The Last Jedi, Denis Villeneuve wanting to direct a Star Wars movie and more…
Although Lucasfilm have shown they haven’t had a great track record with directors since the franchise reboot in 2014 (just ask Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Collin Trevorrow, Gareth Edwards and Josh Trank), that hasn’t stopped a lot of top tier talent wanting to get involved in a galaxy far, far away. The next name to add themselves to the list is Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival helmer Dennis Vileneuve, who told Happy Sad Confused that he would be intrigued about directing a Star Wars movie. “It’s something that, again it’s like, I would be intrigued,” he said. “I don’t know, it’s very difficult. What is dangerous with Star Wars right now is it’s become its own vocabulary. I would love to see them, I think Rogue One was a very interesting attempt to get out of the mold…”
…It has been confirmed that Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be the longest Star Wars movie to date at 152 minutes, and its star Mark Hamill told Vanity Fair that he was originally appalled by the runtime. He has also added, however, that the movie doesn’t feel as long as it actually is. “It doesn’t feel that long,” he said, comparing it to The Godfather. “And I’m really cranky. I’m one of those guys where you go see, like, a big superhero movie and you go, ‘I really love it, but it’s too long!’ I guess it’s ‘cause they want people to feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. But I say get it on! Get your story on, get it done, and get off! Leave them wanting more rather than going, ‘oh, gosh,’ and shifting in their seats and checking their watches…”
…Speaking of Hamill, and director Rian Johnson told Rolling Stone that we nearly got a blind Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi. “Did I ever tell you that early on when I was trying to figure out the story for this, I had a brief idea I was chasing where I was like, ‘What if Luke is blind? What if he’s, like, the blind samurai?’ But we didn’t do it. You’re welcome. Didn’t stick…”
…Can you believe we’re only a couple of weeks away from The Last Jedi? Well to get you even more excited here are some interview excepts from the cast. First up is Domnhall Gleeson who has spoken about the rivalry between General Hux and Kylo Ren. “Because of what happened in the first film, he’s been pushed to a place where his position is in real jeopardy, and people make really bad decisions when they get desperate,” Gleeson told Empire – who also released their new covers for The Last Jedi. “Hux and Kylo Ren are vying for power and for Snoke’s attention. They’re both contenders for the throne and Hux is hoping Ren explodes, so that he can take up the mantle. He knows it will be a battle otherwise, one he may very well lose…”
…In an interview with Good Morning America, Daisy Ridley has teased a possibility of Rey turning to The Dark Side saying, “Rey’s trying to find out about herself and about the universe, and those questions don’t entirely fall to the good, nor do they entirely fall to the bad… She’s trying to do her own sort of personal growth and I think what’s amazing is that the end of the film – however that does end – it’s more rich…”
…And speaking with Indo Asian News Service, Gwendoline Christie has spoken about how excited she was to be cast as Captain Phasma (though one hopes she has more to do in this film). “It was an explosion of unbelievable joy,” he said of her casting. “For a long time, I had campaigned to be in the franchise to anyone who would listen. It was an ambition motivated by one of my earliest memories, of when, aged six, I was placed in front of the flamboyant space opera. I marveled at this fantasy world in a way I couldn’t yet articulate, with its misfits and droids and a woman who fought the enemy with intelligence, who was funny and refused to be shackled – the inimitable Princess Leia…”
…To further whet your appetite for the eighth outing in the Star Wars saga, here’s a new image of the First Order Snowtroopers, a sinister new image of Supreme Leader Snoke, a new look at Benicio Del Toro, some new promo images via the Topps Trading Cards, and a new promo image featuring Rey, Kylo Ren and Luke Skywalker. Learn more about new Resistance pilots Paige, Nix and Tallie via the Top Trumps cards, check out some new character posters and TV spots here, watch new footage in this extended TV spot, watch the cast training in this featurette, and watch a flying Porg in this TV spot. Do you think that’s enough marketing for one week?..
…Looking ahead to the new trilogy helmed by Rian Johnson now, and Daisy Ridley has hinted in a new interview with Rolling Stone that Rey might not be a part of it. “I honestly feel like the world may end in the next 30 years, so, if in 30 years we are not living underground in a series of interconnected cells … then sure,” she said. “Maybe. But again, it’s like, who knows. Because the thing I thought was so amazing, was people really wanted it. And it was done by people who really love it…”
…And finally, here are your comic book previews for the week. First up is the trade paper back collection of Star Wars: Rogue One Graphic Novel Adaptation: The Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon, is nearing completion, and the Rebel Alliance may be doomed. Enter Jyn Erso, daughter of the Death Star’s reluctant creator, who desperately seeks to save her father from Imperial control. On her quest, she’ll join forces with Rebel spy Cassian Andor, reprogrammed Imperial droid K-2SO, and other supporters of the Rebel cause, only to discover that their goals may differ crucially from her own. It all culminates in a saga-defining showdown on the tropical planet Scarif, with Jyn and her friends attempting to steal the Death Star’s plans and keep hope for the Rebellion alive, leading directly into the iconic opening scene of Star Wars: A New Hope. Next up is Star Wars: Adventures #4: With Leia injured, Luke must take her place on a diplomatic mission. Jedi used to be diplomats and he’ll have See-Threepio by his side. What could go wrong? And lastly, here’s the preview for Star Wars: Darth Vader #9: As the threat of the Jedi continues to menace the fledgling Empire, Vader finds himself on the trail of Jedi his master has commanded him…to keep alive?
That’s all for this week – may the Force be with you.
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth, a presenter for WrestleTalk, and the author of Lights, Camera, GAME OVER!: How Video Game Movies Get Made. You can follow him on Twitter @ThisisLukeOwen.
