New Star Wars films on the way!

[Sober_times]

Disney bought Lucasfilm for 4billion today. They also announced they will release Star Wars Episode 7 in 2015 and 8 and 9 every other year after and release other films from the universe after that. Here is a link to the story from IGN.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/30/the-walt-disney-company-acquires-lucasfilm-star-wars-episode-vii-set-for-2015

I am really excited about a new star wars film that continues the story. I love all of them, including the prequels which I know were not as good as others. I am wary of the movies Disney will make or how they will treat the franchise but Lucas already drove it into the ground according to many so why not? Just make good films please and this star wars fan will be happy.

[AxlsMainMan]

I'd honestly like to see a prequel to the prequels which covers the Emperor's early days under the apprenticeship of Darth Plagueis.

Used to hate Episode I, but now Episode II is the one I simply can't tolerate.

[tim_m]

This has disaster written all over it. Disney is gonna absolutely ruin it.

[Sober_times]

This has disaster written all over it. Disney is gonna absolutely ruin it.

How so?

Making bad films? Already been done.

Merchandizing the hell out of it? Already been done.

It can't be ruined anymore than it already has. I still liked the prequels but only because it was more star wars. In reality when I look at them I really can't say they hang with the original 3. Disney has done ok with Marvel thus far. I think it will be cool to just get more Star Wars. Put it in the hands of capable people and it could be good.

Also, all Disney will see is dollar signs with some stuff. So I except an original trilogy blu-ray edition at some point which would be cool.

[AxlsMainMan]

I except an original trilogy blu-ray edition at some point which would be cool.

Hasn't this happened already?

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Complete-Episodes-Blu-ray/dp/B003ZSJ212

[Sober_times]

I except an original trilogy blu-ray edition at some point which would be cool.

Hasn't this happened already?

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Complete-Episodes-Blu-ray/dp/B003ZSJ212

Kinda. Their the special editions with added stuff from 1997 theater releases and other stuff added over the years by lucasfilm. I was speaking about the original theatrical versions that are no longer available for purchase.

[Mysteron]

As episode 7 is set 30(ish) years later than Return of the Jedi, I wonder if Disney will bring back Mark Hamill and co. to play their original roles

[pilferk]

As episode 7 is set 30(ish) years later than Return of the Jedi, I wonder if Disney will bring back Mark Hamill and co. to play their original roles

They will likely try some sort of continuity.  That being said...some of the actors, when they've been asked about possible involvement in the future, have flat out said "No".  And, obviously, you're not going to have the "glowie" of old Obi Wan Kenobi (because Sir Guinness has passed on).

But specifically Mark Hamil? Maybe.  Ford might be willing, too...though with his stature it will likely take a mint (unless he's waning nostalgic to reunite with the old cast), and that, in and of itself, might create havok with casting the others.

Not sure about Carrie Fisher.  She's alternated lambasting and praising the effect of the franchise on her life, career, and sobriety so often, it's hard to hazard a guess.

None of the old cast are spring chickens.  I'd expect their roles to be cursory/mythos/backstory related, rather than feature roles.

My hope?  A much tighter focus on story and character development (and I don't mean 15 minutes on Gungan political treatise, either)...and much less concern about how many effects they can pack into a single scene. THAT'S where Lucas went wrong in the prequels. Not that the story in Eps 4-6 was a modern masterpiece of script writing.  But it was focused, it was serial-homage, without being cheesy and awful, it kept moving and never really slowed down...and it created characters that you connected with.   

Oh...and I want a 5 minute soliliquay about the violent and gruesome death of Jar Jar Binks.

[Bodhi]

This has disaster written all over it. Disney is gonna absolutely ruin it.

IMO Disney is the greatest entertainment company in the history of mankind, with no close second.  They have done a great job with Marvel, I am sure they will do a great job with this considering they are making a 7th movie of a franchise, just saying that is exhausting.  I dont think another Star Wars movie is necessary.  I mean how many movies are you possibly going to try to drag out from one good idea?  I think the problem is that there are not 6 movies worth of valuable story from the Star Wars idea, never mind 7.  Should have stopped after 3.

[tim_m]

I think Disney will make it too cutsey and family friendly.

[Sober_times]

I think Disney will make it too cutsey and family friendly.

All signs point to this being just like the Marvel acquisition. Which they have done quite well. Kathleen Kennedy who has produced many films, most good with a lot of Spielberg films included, was named Lucas' heir apparent in charge of Lucasfilm. Disney has stated she will remain in charge and be executive producer of future star wars films. At least the next 3. They have done well with Marvel thus far and I think they will let Lucasfilm remain mainly intact as is except they work for Disney. This is speculation but they have a track record with the acquisition of Pixar and Marvel of letting them run it.

They say they got very detailed treatments for the films already from Lucas himself. The movie is already in a pre-production phase. They are not going to go all cutesy. They recognize Star Wars is a brand much like Marvel. They want the brand to be very profitable for them. I believe they will get cutesy in areas of children's programming and products but the movies will have the same tone I think of the others. I wouldn't worry about Disney ruining it with being all cutesy or more family friendly than it already is.

[tim_m]

I hope you're right!

[Sober_times]

I hope you're right!

Me too! 

[Sober_times]

Star Wars Episode VII has its writer. Michael Arndt who wrote Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine and The new hunger games sequel Catching Fire has been officially confirmed by Lucasfilm as the screenwriter. Not a bad choice in my opinion.

Some of the entertainment sites have reported the story will involve the main characters from previous films in some capacity but thats just rumor at this point. Carrie Fischer, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford have all gone on record that they would be interested in doing another Star Wars film.

Rumors for director right now include Mathew Vaughn who did X-Men First Class as well as Joe Johnston who has a history with Kathleen Kennedy and long history with Star Wars. He was a key designer of Boba Fett, Yoda and other characters in the original trilogy and directed Captain America and Jurassic Park 3. Director Brad Bird is also on the rumor list, he directed Mission Impossible 4. But these are just rumors as well.

I am excited as its starting to come together.

[tim_m]

If its the guy who did x-men first class that's promising. That was one of the best of the x-men series.

[Nightrained]

4 Billion? Disney have to much money.

[AxlsMainMan]

I except an original trilogy blu-ray edition at some point which would be cool.

Hasn't this happened already?

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Complete-Episodes-Blu-ray/dp/B003ZSJ212

Kinda. Their the special editions with added stuff from 1997 theater releases and other stuff added over the years by lucasfilm. I was speaking about the original theatrical versions that are no longer available for purchase.

Glad I hung on to my VHS boxset from 1995

[raindogs70]

Star Wars Episode VII has its writer. Michael Arndt who wrote Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine and The new hunger games sequel Catching Fire has been officially confirmed by Lucasfilm as the screenwriter. Not a bad choice in my opinion.

Some of the entertainment sites have reported the story will involve the main characters from previous films in some capacity but thats just rumor at this point. Carrie Fischer, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford have all gone on record that they would be interested in doing another Star Wars film.

Rumors for director right now include Mathew Vaughn who did X-Men First Class as well as Joe Johnston who has a history with Kathleen Kennedy and long history with Star Wars. He was a key designer of Boba Fett, Yoda and other characters in the original trilogy and directed Captain America and Jurassic Park 3. Director Brad Bird is also on the rumor list, he directed Mission Impossible 4. But these are just rumors as well.

I am excited as its starting to come together.

Michael runs every script by his brother, he wrote 30 or 40 rejected screenplays before "Little Miss Sunshine". That's why he won the Oscar right off the bat, but it was far from his first screenplay. I'm sure over time he'll go back to some of them and have them made into films. I think he and Jon Favreau, who also had his time writing screenplays, would be a great team in executing the next trilogy. You can't just be a fan, you have to be able to be a good storyteller and have that come to life.

George approached Carrie, Harrison and Mark, but he can't say whether or not they're going to be in the film, because it's not his anymore, but he "advised" Empire and Jedi.

I do think a lot of the team that worked on the prequels will be involved.

Hopefully the powers at Disney just let them all do their thing.


 

[raindogs70]

4 Billion? Disney have to much money.

They'll make it back in merchandising, and even though "The Complete Saga" is out, they're going to repackage that with the Disney logo and start putting Leia with the other princesses in the Disney stores.

I actually like the idea of old cranky Carrie and old cranky Harrison being a bickering old couple, which is no different than them bickering in the original trilogy.

[Drew]

Episodes 1-3 were absolutely horrible. As much as I'd like to see what could happen after Return of the Jedi, I don't have a lot of faith in Disney at all to make real good Stars Wars films. I guess we'll see though.