The Week in Star Wars returns with some updates on Episode IX, The Last Jedi, Rogue One, Han Solo, Rebels, Battlefront II and more…
First off, congratulations to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which has knocked George Lucas’ 1977 Star Wars from the all-time domestic top 10…
…But let’s really kick things off with Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and a new rumour surfaced this week which might give some clues to the plot of the movie. The report claims that Luke Skywalker will be wearing a necklace, which holds a piece of the Kyber crystal from Darth Vader’s lightsabre, which is why Kylo Ren is trying to hunt him down. We won’t detail much more here, but you can read the rest of the rumour here…
…Speaking of Kylo Ren, and there has been some uproar from fans who are angry that his scar from Star Wars: The Force Awakens has moved (although our own Neil Calloway feels differently). Via Twitter, the film’s director Rian Johnson has defended the change saying it was his decision. “It honestly looked goofy running straight up the bridge of his nose,” he said…
…In an interview to promote his new movie The Promise, Oscar Issac talked about working on The Last Jedi, and working with the late Carrie Fisher. “[Poe] will be challenged, in a very intense way that will reveal a lot more about his character,” he said. “The characters that you know already: their specific character flaws or their weaknesses get tested. And out of that, I think, you get to see a bit more of who they are. The best way to learn about somebody is to see them in a crisis.” You can read his comments on Fisher here…
…Get your calendars ready, because Disney have revealed the release date for Star Wars: Episode IX! But unlike its predecessors, we won’t be seeing a Christmas release for the movie, and instead it will hit cinemas on May 24th, 2019…
…Johnson has also confirmed that he won’t be involved with the writing of Episode IX…
…But before we get to Star Wars: Episode IX, we’ve got the still-to-be-titled Han Solo anthology movie, and Kathleen Kennedy has revealed that Bob Iger’s comments about the lead character’s name were taken out of context. When the film was announced, Iger said it would reveal information about Solo’s name, which led fans to believe Han Solo is not his true name. “I’m not sure that that’s entirely what Bob meant,” she said. “There’s more to Han Solo’s name, but it’s not that it’s not his name. It’s obviously his name. It will always be his name…”
…Emilia Clarke has been talking about Alden Ehrenreich in the role made famous by Harrison Ford, and has praised what she’s seen. “I genuinely can’t tell you anything other than Alden is magnificent,” she said, “and it’s a delight to do something on that level with really cool actors and nice people…”
…Let’s move over to the rest of the anthology series of Star Wars movies, and Ewan McGregor has revealed that no plans have been made for an Oboi-Wan movie – and there likely won’t be. “There’s no official offer, and I haven’t met them about it or anything,” he said. “But I’ve always said that I’d be happy to do it if they wanted to do it. It would be a good segue between the last episode of the prequels and the new episodes. I think they’ve got films to make until the 2020s, so I don’t think it’s going to happen soon if it happens at all.” Looks like that puts to rest all those previous rumours…
…Kennedy has also been talking about the next anthology movie, and has revealed that we could hear an announcement by the summer. “I think we’re getting close,” she said. “My hope would be sometime around the summer. I never want to predict the creative process because it is its own thing, so we’re in the midst of those discussions right now.” Not only that, but the decision on what the next movie will be could be driven by the fans. “After 40 years of adventures, fans have so much information and so many theories about the way that can take these stories and theories that emerge are sometimes new ideas for us that we hear, read and pay attention to everything what is said,” she said. “It is clear that the franchise is owned by the as much by the fans as it’s owned by [the people at Lucasfilm]…”
…One man already rumoured to helm the next anthology movie is Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, who is reportedly in talks with Disney and Lucasfilm…
…Someone else who could be involved is the man who created the concept for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – Industrial Light & Magic’s John Knoll – who is hard at work on another idea for an upcoming instalment. “I have another idea I’ve been tinkering with,” he said. “It’s maybe 75 percent there. I haven’t pitched it to [Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy]. It’s another Star Wars thing…There’s no reason to think Disney is going to stop wanting to make Star Wars movies if there’s quality and there’s interest. It has unlimited potential. It has a huge number of characters, worlds … It’s a massive playground…”
…Speaking of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and you can read Anghus Houvouras’ latest article in his Most Disappointing series, this time focusing on Saw Gerrera…
…Since the little Easter eggs in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story revealed that Star Wars Rebels‘ Hera Syndulla and her trusty droid Chopper (along with their ship, the Ghost), took part in the film’s Battle of Scarif, fans have wondered if we’d eventually see the events of Rogue One play out in Star Wars Rebels. However, creator Dave Filoni has said it likely won’t play into the final season. “I wouldn’t like hanging the entire series we’ve done and the characters on something else we’ve already seen,” he said. “And while I can understand as a fan it would be interesting to have that be the Battle of Scarif, that’s purely to be for continuity. There would have to be something really epic my guys are doing in that battle and if there was something epic it should have been in the movie.” You can read from from that interview here…
…Filoni has also expressed an interest in directing one of the upcoming anthology movies saying, “I’d be crazy to say I’m not interested in that. I don’t want to say that would be the ultimate, because I really enjoy the stories I’m telling now and I would never undercut them by saying they’re something less. I think the craft we do and the work we do in these series is tremendous and the artists we have working on them are amazing. But I can’t help but be curious about this live-action world and what I see there and the tremendous opportunities that are around me. It is very interesting to me, I respect the craft that it is, it’s a different style.” Read more of that interview here…
…If there is one thing that fans have always wanted from Lucasfilm, it’s the original trilogy released on home entertainment without all of Lucas’ additions. Well, sadly, it looks like that might never happen. “I wouldn’t touch those, are you kidding me,” she said. “Those will always remain his.” Damn…
…A new piece of promotional art for EA’s Star Wars Battlefront II arrived online, revealing that those who pre-order the game will get their hands on exclusive Star Wars: The Last Jedi skins and ability upgrades. Of particular interest however is that the image gives us a look at the new costumes set to be worn by Kylo Ren and Rey in the Rian Johnson-directed sequel. Check out the image here…
…And finally, here are your comic book previews for the week. First up is Star Wars: Darth Maul #3: “An evil crime syndicate is auctioning off a Jedi Padawan…that Darth Maul plans to take — and kill — for his own. Featuring: a band of bounty hunters including Cad Bane and Aurra Sing! Next up is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Adaptation #2: Jyn Erso continues her quest with Cassian Andor to help the Rebellion fight the sinister Galactic Empire. Following the trail to the ancient Jedha City to find Rebel extremist Saw Guerra, Jyn and Cassian get caught in a firefight with the Empire…only to then be taken prisoner by Saw’s followers! The Star Wars story continues! And finally, here’s Star Wars: Poe Dameron #14: It is a sad day for the Resistance as they mourn the loss of a fallen comrade. But their fight is far from over – the First Order must be stopped! And Captain Phasma knows just how to get Terex to toe the line.
That’s all for this week – may the Force be with you.
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth, the co-host of The Flickering Myth Podcast and the author of Lights, Camera, GAME OVER!: How Video Game Movies Get Made (which you can pre-order from Amazon UK and Amazon US). You can follow him on Twitter @ThisisLukeOwen.
