Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[legendarymatt92]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Disagree 100%. You can like something and not like it's creator. Lots of people liked the classic Volkswagen Beetle, but hardly anyone likes the guy who thought it up and commissioned it.

Lucas is a lot like Gene Roddenberry was in his final couple of years. Roddenberry was holding Trek back, and when he had to step down, The Next Generation began to take off.

That's a bit different - many people would not have an idea who designed the car. Star Wars, as an entity, existed because of George Lucas and you have a hard time mentioning either without the other coming into it. I'm not saying that now isn't the time Lucas should step down -- it certainly is -- I'm just saying that, when you have something as interlinked as Lucas was with Star Wars, it becomes hard to distinguish which ends where and hard to aim your hate at just the man.

Originally Posted by octagon

Which - if any - of the following statements are hypocritical...

• He was a very good director in the seventies but has been at best mediocre since.
  
• There was a time I really, really looked forward to his stuff but Jedi kind of gave me pause and TPM certainly didn't help.
  
• Star Wars and Empire were freaking awesome but I kind of wish he'd keep his distance from here on out.
  
• I love the original SW but hate Lucas being involved in these new ones.

(and ftr, loving a work of art in no way obligates one to look favorably on the artist. I don't 'hate the man who created the Star Wars universe' but if I did that would no more preclude me from loving Star Wars than condemning Roman Polanski would preclude me from loving Chinatown)

As above, really. It's just my opinion -- and therefore it probably is wrong -- but I can't understand how anyone can hate the man who was so involved with Star Wars yet love the films. It's not like Polanski because he's made other films and gone on to do other things...Lucas' life has been consumed by that one series, and he has lived off the back of it since then. He has continued to speak about it, write about it and think about it for over thirty years; I know it might not make sense, but SW is almost in his blood. I hate some of the decisions he has made - why the hell would you simply act like the original cut didn't exist when fans wanted it? - and he should never have rushed the prequels like he did, but I have a hard time feeling anything other than completely thankful and slightly empathetic when I think of Lucas.

[Cinescott]

This deal may be bigger than the OUT, but I believe its release will almost certainly be a side-effect. The idea that GL has some clause in the deal to keep the special editions intact is ludicrous.

No company is going to spend 4 billion dollars on a property and have it restricted from day one. Disney will want to honor GL's wishes to some extent, but make no mistake that they own Star Wars now and this is an entirely new game. A good one as far as I am concerned.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

I don't hate George Lucas. I hate what he did to his films.

[Tok]

Originally Posted by Kocheese99

The big question now is who is directing. I think Spielberg will do one. But I do not believe it will be the first one.

Here's some choices:

James Cameron: Too busy with Avatar
Kevin Smith: Very doubtful
Ridley Scott: Too busy with Prometheus series
Guillermo Del Toro: I like this choice. But will he be tied up with a new hellboy.
Joss Whedon: too busy with Avengers
Kenneth Branagh: I like this choice too. Especially after Thor.
Darren Aronofsky: Possible but depends on Noah.
JJ Abrams: I think he would do well but this and Star Trek?
Brad Bird: He might be available and I liked MI4

Or just give it to Pixar.

I am sure they already have a tentative deal worked out with a known director considering this film is going to hit theaters in either May 2012 or possibly a holiday release for 2012. Personally I would love SS to take a stab at an entire SW trilogy.

At StarWars.com, basically it said to check back in the coming weeks for news. Basically meaning we are going to milk this news cycle for all we can. So expect weekly to monthly updates on director, casting, scoring and title news.

[Nikka488]

I think this is good news personally. I'd rather Disney take a swing at a new Star Wars movie (or trilogy) than there never to be another one. I realize I might be in the minority here.

Who knows what Lucas's new treatment for 7,8,9 were. I think Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire was great, but Mark Hamill is looking a little worse for wear. I'm not going to even comment on Carrie Fisher. I've enjoyed the Clone Wars animated series. There are parts of the prequel trilogy I liked (and parts I didn't like). Give me something new and I'll be there to buy a ticket at the box office.

I'm down with Mark Hamill being a yoda like character (supporting) with a new jedi under him as the main character. Clone the emperor (like in Heir to the Empire). Use grand admiral Thrawn. Or create a new Sith lord. I'm excited to see what they come up with.

I'm in my mid 30's. I have no doubts that I am not the primary demographic any more. I'm ok with that. After the Phantom Menace (Jar Jar cough cough) I doubt they could do much worse.

[legendarymatt92]

Originally Posted by Kocheese99

The big question now is who is directing. I think Spielberg will do one. But I do not believe it will be the first one.

Here's some choices:

James Cameron: Too busy with Avatar
Kevin Smith: Very doubtful
Ridley Scott: Too busy with Prometheus series
Guillermo Del Toro: I like this choice. But will he be tied up with a new hellboy.
Joss Whedon: too busy with Avengers
Kenneth Branagh: I like this choice too. Especially after Thor.
Darren Aronofsky: Possible but depends on Noah.
JJ Abrams: I think he would do well but this and Star Trek?
Brad Bird: He might be available and I liked MI4

Or just give it to Pixar.

I honestly can't see any of them doing this -- they are all either too busy with their own projects or don't fit the bill. Maybe Brad Bird could be chosen, but I don't think he has enough live action experience to do something like this. Hopefully Disney will stick to what they said and pass the series over to younger directors who feel they can take it into a better phase - Duncan Jones and Rian Johnson might be in the running, but they might just give it to some relatively unknown directors and see what they do with it.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

I don't hate George Lucas. I hate what he did to his films.

Which is why I really hope the UOT does come out of this eventually. It would be the best way to move on from this whole nightmare. Lucas succumbed to that old cliche "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". But this is still the man who gave this great franchise in the first place. If we get the original unaltered trilogy out of this deal, and the franchise flourishes in the future with well made films, we should really all wave a flag of truce.

On the subject of directors, I'm thinking more and more that we're going to get a lesser known chap - hopefully an extraordinarily talented one. Star Wars, after all, didn't start with a famous director - and I foresee a future in which many new shining stars get a chance to play in George's sandbox.

[Tok]

Originally Posted by legendarymatt92

...but they might just give it to some relatively unknown directors and see what they do with it.

I don't think Disney is going to trust an unknown with a franchise they just spent $4B on. Even though Weedon was relatively unknown on the big screen he had years of experience on the small screen. Comic book fans knew who he was when he was given the Avengers.

Disney is going to be bold with this franchise, but it has to be someone with a proven track record behind the camera.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

On the subject of directors, I'm thinking more and more that we're going to get a lesser known chap - hopefully an extraordinarily talented one. Star Wars, after all, didn't start with a famous director - and I foresee a future in which many new shining stars get a chance to play in George's sandbox.

It would indeed be nice to see some fresh blood in there.

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by GeneD5

This is pretty cool...nice job! It would be really need to have the original actors, particularly as old-man Luke at the top of the new and growing jedi order. The movie could start out showing how the Jedi order, as well as peace in the republic are steadily growing. Some sith force has to emerge threatening that new peace. While things are on the edge, the story could tilt towards more empire/chaos, or the new peaceful republic/jedi order.

I hope they bring in a dark, scary, powerful sith. And not some freak alien thing either...someone real and evil like the emporer was. They did a great job with him in episode 3.

What I was thinking was that Heir to the Empire, could have Grand Moff Thrawn as the threat. Similar to Grand Moff Tarkin in the Original Star Wars. The Jedi and New Republic beat him by the end, but not before he does his damage to the New Republic and Resurrect's the Emperor. Thus the sequel is Return of the Sith (Or Emperor). Remember the Emperor was a smart man, and would have had a backup plan. Clone Emperor makes a lot of sense. So the sequel will have the new Clone Emperor, using his full on force Dark Powers to sway the new Jedi to the Dark Side. My guess is it will be one of Han & Leia's kids. Who also happens to be the strongest in the force, Anakin. Anakin Organa Solo, joins the new Emperior and they begin a new war on the weak new Republic including a battle on Corusant to reclaim the capital, which they win at the end of the second. The 3rd chapter can be all about Luke finally facing the new clone Emperor and Leia/Han's other kids must face their brother Anakin, to restore freedom to the galaxy. Epic!!!

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by CraigW

I don't think Disney is going to trust an unknown with a franchise they just spent $4B on. Even though Weedon was relatively unknown on the big screen he had years of experience on the small screen. Comic book fans knew who he was when he was given the Avengers.

Disney is going to be bold with this franchise, but it has to be someone with a proven track record behind the camera.

So do you own major stock in this company or something? Do you communicate with Walt's ghost? Does Mickey whisper in your ear at night? I've seen post after post from you strongly coming down on anyone that does not share your corporate views.

Remember that a corporation is not a living entity, it's a collection of human beings that have just as much of a chance of screwing something up as getting it right, and I'm pretty sure you have zero idea what their agenda is, so why don't you just relax and stop going off.

[Shanderson88]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

So do you own major stock in this company or something? Do you communicate with Walt's ghost? Does Mickey whisper in your ear at night? I've seen post after post from you strongly coming down on anyone that does not share your corporate views.

Remember that a corporation is not a living entity, it's a collection of human beings that have just as much of a chance of screwing something up as getting it right, and I'm pretty sure you have zero idea what their agenda is, so why don't you just relax and stop going off.

To be fair, I see communication from Walt's Ghost pretty much every day on these forums.

[stvn1974]

As A Whedon fan I don't want him to have anything to do with Star Wars (not that I think he would). I liked the Avengers OK but I would prefer he do his own things. Every time someone mentions Whedon directing a Star Wars film I think of the line of Andrews in season 7 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer: "I'm bored, Episode One Bored."

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by Shanderson88

To be fair, I see communication from Walt's Ghost pretty much every day on these forums.

I forgot about "Walt."

[octagon]

I wonder if the ghost of a guy whose head was frozen gets to float around and haunt houses and stuff..

If so, does it go back into the head when they thaw it out?

Or has the ghost been trapped in his head this whole time???

Being a ghost might be pretty cool but man,that would suck.

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

Originally Posted by Shanderson88

To be fair, I see communication from Walt's Ghost pretty much every day on these forums.

DAMMIT, you stole my post!

[legendarymatt92]

Originally Posted by CraigW

I don't think Disney is going to trust an unknown with a franchise they just spent $4B on. Even though Weedon was relatively unknown on the big screen he had years of experience on the small screen. Comic book fans knew who he was when he was given the Avengers.

Disney is going to be bold with this franchise, but it has to be someone with a proven track record behind the camera.

I don't know about that - look at Andrew Stanton. Sure, he had experience in animation, but it didn't bode well for him when it came to John Carter which, incidentally, was Disney trying to make another Star Wars. He was an unknown director in terms of live action and Disney just handed him the reigns to a project that proved too unwieldy for him. Relatively unknown directors are chosen all of the time -- usually they have a background in something, but aren't known to a mass audience -- so I wouldn't be too sure that they won't choose someone whose name we've never heard before.

[Tok]

Fan(antics) like before are going to have their pre-conceived notions of what this new trilogy should be and will be disappointed if it is not what they wanted. I caution those hoping for a Thrawn trilogy. I don't keep up on what is official cannon, but those books came out 20years ago and while I remember reading them I don't think we should automatically assume these will be the movies. If so we already know the ending to this trilogy.

I just hope fans can be entertained, but I am sure those same fanatics that found reasons to hate the new movies will be able to find the reasons to hate the 'Disney' Star Wars movies.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

if this news means we get the unaltered original trilogy on bd = yay
if not = meh.

I don't care about new star wars movies, comic books, coloring books, novels or dental floss.

/thread

[tigertron]

Originally Posted by CraigW

I don't think Disney is going to trust an unknown with a franchise they just spent $4B on. Even though Weedon was relatively unknown on the big screen he had years of experience on the small screen. Comic book fans knew who he was when he was given the Avengers.

Disney is going to be bold with this franchise, but it has to be someone with a proven track record behind the camera.

Then it has to be Speilburg. He is the only man for the job to be hoenst.

The other potential directors that I think would be good i.e. Whedon are busy, so I guess it leave Speilburg - Lucas' best friend and someone who knows the franchise well. If I was Disney, I'd be throwing a whole ton of money at Speilburg to lure him in.