Taika Waititi Joins Disney/Lucasfilm’s STAR WARS Franchise For New Film
It was back in January that THR broke the news of Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit director Taika Waititi’s possible involvement on a new Star Wars feature film project.
star wars saga
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Final Trailer Gives You ‘One Last Look’
Whatever your takeaway is, the Star Wars franchise has certainly been one of the most epic in sci-fi history since its birth in 1977. More than forty years, eight canon titles and two spin-offs later, J.J. Abrams’s Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker looks to serve as the last diptych to that era this December, and the official final trailer is now online.
THE MANDALORIAN: Check Out The Official Logo And A Quartet Of First Look Stills From The Disney+ Series
The panel over at Star Wars Celebration this weekend for upcoming series, The Mandalorian, were reluctant to reveal any footage in the live-stream beyond the indoor crowd (save for the ones who braved it with their phones and leaked it on YouTube). Nevertheless, Disney/Lucasfilm proudly revealed several first looks at some of the key characters in costume via social media which you can view below.
STAR WARS: EPISODE IX – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Cadences Online With A First Teaser
Comedian and late night television host Stephen Colbert was on hand at McCormick place in Chicago on Friday for this year’s Star Wars Celebration. You can check that out below as it’s packed with laughs and warmth between director J.J. Abrams, exec producer Kathleen Kennedy, and the cast of this year’s upcoming ninth installment newly revealing teaser footage and the title, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker.
STAR WARS IX Cast Hugs It Out As Filming Wraps
It’s been real, guys.
Boba Fett Spin-Off Confirmed In STAR WARS Franchise With James Mangold To Direct
Disney/Lucasfilm
I actually thought that a Boba Fett film spin-off was already in the works as Disney Lucasfilm was ramping up a new slate of Star Wars IP long prior to The Force Awakens. I suppose it took all this time to make it official and now it is, courtesy of an exclusive at Borys Kit’s Heat Vision column at THR on Thursday.
This update came hours before the official theatrical release of Ron Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, and with even more movies and television content getting new life at the studio. What’s more is that James Mangold is up to write and direct the film per the studio’s on-going process of developing non-canonical films focused on specific characters in the Star Wars universe, including recently announced films surrounding Lando Calrissian (previously played by Billy Dee Williams and succeeded this weekend by Donald Glover in an origin capacity) and a much hyped-about Obi-Wan Kenobi film with respect to rumors we’ve been hearing in what feels like forever.
Jeremy Bulloch played the character originally within the first trilogy, primarily dating back to Episode V while his character has been further explored in the prequels as well as in book based on the space opera.
Admittedly, I’ve been getting fatigued by Star Wars lately, so I’m not too heavily invested like the average fan. I suppose the driving force behind this one is the ceremomy Mangold garnered with last year’s celebrated R-rated comic book spectacle, Logan, which otherwise means we’ll possibly still enjoy that level of reverence but with a rollback no less to PG-13 territory. I’m down.
Anime Spin-Off, STAR WARS RESISTANCE, Takes Flight This Fall!
Disney and Lucasfilm have already begun production on what’s been described as a new anime-inspired series in the form of Star Wars Resistance. Chalk this up to the number of animes you’ll be strenuously catching up with if not already, which reminds me, I still have viewing of my own to do!
This fall, welcome to the Resistance!
StarWars.com is thrilled to announce that production has begun on Star Wars Resistance, an exciting new animated adventure series about Kazuda Xiono, a young pilot recruited by the Resistance and tasked with a top-secret mission to spy on the growing threat of the First Order. It will premiere this fall on Disney Channel in the U.S. and thereafter, on Disney XD and around the world.
Featuring the high-flying adventure that audiences of all ages have come to expect from Star Wars, Star Wars Resistance — set in the time prior to Star Wars: The Force Awakens — will feature the beloved droid BB-8 alongside ace pilots, colorful new characters and appearances by fan favorites including Poe Dameron and Captain Phasma, voiced by actors Oscar Isaac and Gwendoline Christie, respectively.
The series was created by renowned Lucasfilm Animation veteran Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels); executive-produced by Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Justin Ridge (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) and Brandon Auman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles); and art-directed by Amy Beth Christenson (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels).
“The idea for Star Wars Resistance came out of my interest in World War II aircraft and fighter pilots” said Filoni. “My grandfather was a pilot and my uncle flew and restored planes, so that’s been a big influence on me. There’s a long history of high-speed racing in Star Wars, and I think we’ve captured that sense of excitement in an anime-inspired style, which is something the entire team has been wanting to do for a long time.”
Marc Buhaj, senior vice president, Programming and general manager, Disney XD, said, “Our colleagues at Lucasfilm have created a compelling narrative for an untold moment in the Star Wars galaxy, and we are excited to partner with them again on this new original series. Star Wars Resistance will bring viewers across generations an engaging story with heart, humor and both new and familiar characters.”
In addition to Isaac and Christie, the voice cast includes actors Christopher Sean (Days of Our Lives), Suzie McGrath (East Enders), Scott Lawrence (Legion), Myrna Velasco (Elena of Avalor), Josh Brener (Silicon Valley), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Bobby Moynihan (DuckTales), Jim Rash (Community), and Rachel Butera (Tammy’s Tiny Tea Time).
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Offical Trailer Flies High In Friendly Company
The official trailer is now online and more to the appeal of those who share interest in an origin spin-off of this particular figure in the space saga. There have definitely been fans vociferous of this newest foray’s excess to their own minds on it and without question, lead actor Alden Ehrenrich has been a hard sell for the title role ever since cameras started rolling under the Lord/Miller duo.
STAR WARS Is Getting A Live-Action Series With Jon Favreau Scripting And Executive Producing
The announcement caused a stir on Thursday but word that Jon Faveau has been tapped to steer a forthcoming live-action Star Wars series is enticing enough for fans. I get the ballyhoo though, and frankly, I’m not discussing the supposed controversy here – otherwise just Google it and make your own judgments. Rather, just that Favreau is helping advance a Star Wars series that further branches out the interstellar saga is fine by me.
Read the announcent below from the Star Wars website:
Lucasfilm is excited to announce that Emmy-nominated producer and actor Jon Favreau has signed on to executive produce and write a live-action Star Wars series for Disney’s new direct-to-consumer platform. Favreau is no stranger to the Star Wars galaxy having played roles in both the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series and in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story.
“I couldn’t be more excited about Jon coming on board to produce and write for the new direct-to-consumer platform,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base.”
Favreau is thrilled to be returning to the Star Wars galaxy: “If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn’t have believed you. I can’t wait to embark upon this exciting adventure.”
Disney’s collaborations with Favreau extend back a decade, when he helped launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe as director of Iron Man and Iron Man 2 and as an executive producer of the Iron Man and Avengers films for Marvel Studios. For Disney, he directed and produced the massively successful The Jungle Book, which won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects. He is currently in production on Disney’s highly anticipated reimagining of The Lion King, set for release in 2019.
The untitled Star Wars live-action series does not yet have a release date.
STAR WARS Adds More Movies To Its Slate From ‘Game Of Thrones’ Creators
Tired of Star Wars?
Welp…too bad. Save your franchise fatigue for someone who cares because Disney and Lucasfilm are stretching their muscles and setting the course for more movies with the help of Game Of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. The two men behind the smash-hit, Emmy Award-winning television series are to write and produce a new series of Star Wars films that will be seperate from the Skywalker saga and the forthcoming titles now in development under Star Wars: The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson’s care.
“David and Dan are some of the best storytellers working today,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. “Their command of complex characters, depth of story and richness of mythology will break new ground and boldly push Star Wars in ways I find incredibly exciting.”
“In the summer of 1977 we traveled to a galaxy far, far away, and we’ve been dreaming of it ever since,” Benioff and Weiss said in a joint statement. “We are honored by the opportunity, a little terrified by the responsibility, and so excited to get started as soon as the final season of Game of Thrones is complete.”
Johnson’s own films remain undated while with Solo: A Star Wars Movie on track for May 25, and J.J. Abrams directing Episode IX for a late 2019 release, at least two rumored spin-offs may arise as well, centered respectively on Boba Fett and one following that of Obi-Wan Kenobi, previously played by Alec Guiness and Ewan McGregor for the big screen.
Rian Johnson To Create New STAR WARS Trilogy; Will Write And Direct Tenth Film
Disney is feeling the Force with filmmaker Rian Johnson, and with The Force Awakens helmer J.J. Abrams back at the helm for the ninth installment of Star Wars which is currently slated for 2019. Just over a month from the release of Johnson’s own contribution with Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the official Star Wars website is hailing fans with news of Johnson’s involvement on the creation of a brand new trilogy.
The Looper helmer will write and direct the forthcoming tenth installment to boot with longtime collaborator Ram Bergman onboard to produce. Further cast and crew details are still pending while The Last Jedi still has Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver, and stalwarts Mark Hamill and the late and lovely Carrie Fisher shepherding Disney’s latest volume of the longstanding space opera centered on interplanetary politics and conflict, and epic battles between the forces of good and evil.
Per the website:
As writer-director of The Last Jedi, Johnson conceived and realized a powerful film of which Lucasfilm and Disney are immensely proud. In shepherding this new trilogy, which is separate from the episodic Skywalker saga, Johnson will introduce new characters from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored.
“We all loved working with Rian on The Last Jedi,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. “He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.”
“We had the time of our lives collaborating with Lucasfilm and Disney on The Last Jedi,” Johnson and Bergman said in a joint statement. “Star Wars is the greatest modern mythology and we feel very lucky to have contributed to it. We can’t wait to continue with this new series of films.”
STAR WARS IX Lands J.J. Abrams To Direct
STAR WARS: EPISODE IXTHE ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER WILL RETURN TO HELM THE FINAL FILM IN THE SEQUEL TRILOGY.
Punch It! Filming Begins For The Han Solo Star Wars Spin-Off
Han Solo – Smuggler. Scoundrel. Hero. A new Star Wars Story begins. https://t.co/6mjWKQcwwk pic.twitter.com/dWJwccpY33— Star Wars (@starwars) February 21, 2017
THE RETURN OF THE TRILOGY Kicks Off Roadshow This Summer For Alamo Drafthouse
The official announcement is below with all you need to know, and a link to do what you need to do to get a seat as fast as 12 parsecs!
STAR WARS VIII Officially Announces Production
Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII, which began principal photography at Pinewood Studios in London on February 15, 2016.
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