The Week in Star Wars returns after a few weeks’ absence (sorry about that) with updates on The Last Jedi, Episode IX, Han Solo and more…
We’ll kick things off this week with some big news from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, featuring some leaked artwork which shows off Snoke’s Royal Guards and the Gorilla Walkers. We won’t post them here in case you don’t want spoilers, but you can see the artwork here. We also posted some leaked LEGO images which revealed Snoke’s new costume, which you can see here…
…John Boyega is a rather active man on social media, and the the actor shared an image of Finn’s new blaster in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which you can see here…
…In some method acting news, Adam Driver said in his Vanity Fair interview that he avoided Mark Hamill on The Last Jedi set so he could keep up with his bitter student persona. “There’s big personal things that I find about every character, not just in Star Wars, that you have to make as personal as possible,” Driver said. “It’s the big joke about being an actor, that you make everything you’re doing seem like it’s life or death. The things about that character that I find painful, that I really relate to, I kind of prefer to keep to myself.” Driver went so far to avoid Hamill during production that he even turned down lunch invites so the pair could get to know each other…
…Looking ahead to Star Wars: Episode IX now, and it was announced that production will begin in January 2018, just one month after the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi…
…Star Wars: Episode IX director Colin Trevorrow has been talking a lot about the movie in interviews as of late, in particular about the death of Carrie Fisher and how it will play into the story. “[General Leia] was a major character, that’s not a secret. She really was,” he told CinemaBlend. “And it was extremely sad for all of us, mostly just because she was so loved by the Star Wars family and everyone that worked with her. I feel like our options are limited mostly by ourselves, in that there [are] only certain things that we are willing to do. But I can guarantee it will be handled with love and respect, and all of the soul that Carrie Fisher deserves…”
…Trevorrow has also promised that Episode IX will deliver “the most satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion” to the nine-part franchise. “The process of Star Wars began way back in August of 2015 when I looked at what J.J. and Rian had done and I’m very fortunate that I’m surrounded by some really, really brilliant producers and brilliant creative minds – Kiri Hart and the Lucasfilm story group and my producer [Michelle] Rejwan and Kathy Kennedy and also J.J. and Rian, Larry Kasdan,” Trevorrow added. “I mean, these are the best minds available and everybody’s engaged in making sure this is the most satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion that we can possibly deliver…”
…Over to the still-to-be-titled Han Solo spin-off now, and a set video landed online showing a Stormtrooper on a speeder bike, while star Thandie Newton has been talking about auditioning for the movie. “I just had these ideas of what it would be, you know, and it was completely different to everything I imagined and I’m so thrilled,” Newton said. “I’ve signed a non-disclosure and can’t say a word, which is frustrating because you know me. I like to chat it up…”
…Donald Glover has also been talking about his role as Lando Calrissian in the Han Solo spinoff: “This is probably one of my favorite experiences ever. For working under, like, a huge conglomerate, it’s actually been quite an enjoyable, artistic thing. I get to play him in a way that I think is honest and true and cool. And it’s great ’cause I didn’t have to write anything, I’m focused strictly on being this guy. And I really respect him and I respect the actor who played him before. I’ve learned a lot about this character, so it’s actually been really fulfilling and nice to just turn off everything else and focus on just being someone. So it’s been cool. Lando seems to be a lot of people’s favorite character. It’s cool. It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also very exciting. He was my favorite character too. I grew up on Star Wars. It’s just cool to see him again. I feel like people like him ’cause he has a lot of style, but also he’s a complicated character in this world. I think even Han isn’t as complicated as Lando is. From the first time you meet him, you don’t know whether to trust him or not, and you’re constantly not knowing whether to trust him. I like that about him…”
…Having portrayed the character of Owen Lars is Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, actor Joel Edgerton has revealed that he’s keen for a return to the galaxy far, far away should Disney and Lucasfilm pull the trigger on the rumoured Obi-Wan movie: “I like the idea that Uncle Owen is one of those guys who has done some super cool shit but has just never bragged about it. My idea is that he could go out and have some adventure and then he comes back and slips back into that unassuming moisture farmer role. Everyone talks about Obi-Wan being super cool, Owen secretly knows that he was there, and he did some of the cool shit, too. I saw [Star Wars: Episode IX director Colin Trevorrow] yesterday, I was like, ‘Dude. Star Wars. Me.’ And he’s like, ‘You have already been in the Star Wars world,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I could be someone else’. My pitch to all of them is there’s definitely some Owen possibilities, but also, I was only in the movie for a pinch of time. How about I play someone else? I can do Boba Fett. I’ll just never take off the mask…”
…Funko has revealed its first wave of San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Star Wars Pop! vinyl figures which includes Bodhi Rook and a Combat Assault Tank Trooper from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a super-sized 6 inch glow in the dark Supreme Leader Snoke from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and a Holographic Leia with R2-D2 2-pack from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope; check them out here…
…Ricky Church took in Star Wars: Rebel Rising, and you can read his review here. He also got his hands on the confusingly titled Star Wars: Darth Vader #1, which you can read here…
…And finally here’s your comic book preview for the week in the form of Star Wars #32 which continues the Screaming Citadel: “THE SCREAMING CITADEL” – Part 4 The Queen’s influence is spreading…Our only hope lies in the kindness of scoundrels.
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.
