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

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

Sorry, but I much rather have a great natural story, not one that is shaped so that as many people as possible love it.

Women make up more than 50% of our population what could be more natural than casting them in key roles?

[Booker Dewitt]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

Sorry, but I much rather have a great natural story, not one that is shaped so that as many people as possible love it.

Don't watch two hundred million dollar films then, any studio would do the same.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Booker Dewitt

Don't watch two hundred million dollar films then, any studio would do the same.

Yep.

Plenty of stuff exists that is made for a specific audience. Those films just don't have all the massive budgets and marketing, which makes sense. Every once in a while we get a hugely budgeted niche movie though, like Mad Max. They slip through the studio system on occasion.

[NYorker]

Originally Posted by aiman04

Kathleen Kennedy Gives an Update on The Force Awakens Production

Lucasfilm President and The Force Awakens producer Kathleen Kennedy chatted with the BBC during 'Star Wars Celebration' last weekend, where she gave an update on the status of the production. She told the BBC.

"JJ [Abrams, the director] is editing the third act as we speak. We'll probably take a look at the film early summer. We've been working on effects as we've been moving along. We'll score the movie a little bit in June, and then throughout the summer. So it'll be a process as it comes together. But everything I've seen has been fantastic. I mean it just gets better and better and better as it all comes together."

She also discussed the casting process, specifically about finding the film's leads Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn), saying,

"Daisy Ridley was a product of a massive search that we went on for months and months and months. But when she came into the room I would say almost instantaneously she just lit up and was so obviously the right person that we were looking for. She really claimed the role.

And John Boyega was somebody we'd known of because of Attack the Block. And we'd been sort of putting him on the top of our list right from the beginning. But, then again, we went on a massive search just to see who was out there, and we kept coming back to realizing that John would be the perfect Finn."

During the big kick off The Force Awakens preview panel on Thursday at Celebration, Kennedy promised that we would be seeing more strong female roles in the new Star Wars films. She expanded on this to the BBC saying,

"We're putting women in strong roles. We're just changing things up a bit so that the characters inside the Star Wars universe reflect the audience. And that's what I think in general most movies should do, and why not Star Wars."

We've already seen some evidence of this in the casting of Ridley as well as Gwendoline Christie and Lupita Nyong'o in The Force Awakens, and the casting of Oscar nominee Felicity Jones in the first Star Wars Anthology film Rogue One And, for one, couldn't be happier that Kennedy and Lucasfilm are taking this approach. I think she nailed it in her answer, Star Wars should reflect its audience and the world around it. This way more people will become fans, which just means more people to share our passion with. And that can only be a good thing.

http://www.starwarsunderworld.com/20...force.html?m=1

More here:

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32382844

IMO, a dumb statement, to say the least. What the heck does that mean, "we're changing things up a bit?" does she really think people won't become fans because they're less woman in commanding roles?
No, people won't become fans if the movie STINKS. I was all pumped up after the trailer, but statements like this are worrisome.

I'm surprised Paul Feig isn't directing this and calling it Bridesmaids in Space.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by NYorker

IMO, a dumb statement, to say the least. What the heck does that mean, "we're changing things up a bit?" does she really think people won't become fans because they're less woman in commanding roles?
No, people won't become fans if the movie STINKS. I was all pumped up after the trailer, but statements like this are worrisome.

I'm surprised Paul Feig isn't directing this and calling it Bridesmaids in Space.

I don't understand why you have an issue with this. The Star Wars universe is so vast, do you honestly think that white males should make up the majority of the casting? It sounds like you're being sexist without trying to sound sexist.

[peckinpah]

Originally Posted by NYorker

IMO, a dumb statement, to say the least. What the heck does that mean, "we're changing things up a bit?" does she really think people won't become fans because they're less woman in commanding roles?

It's fitting that you typed "less woman in commanding roles," as this is a case where you remove one woman in a commanding role and you end up with no women in commanding roles.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by Lutz

Women make up more than 50% of our population what could be more natural than casting them in key roles?

I have NOTHNIG against strong female parts in movies.
It's just that it appears to be frist and foremost for commercial reasons, but I guess it's OK when Disney does it. Movies got to make moeny after all, right?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

I have NOTHNIG against strong female parts in movies.
It's just that it appears to be frist and foremost for commercial reasons, but I guess it's OK when Disney does it. Movies got to make moeny after all, right?

Umm, Star Wars is not some tiny indie where a bunch of friends get together and shoot the movie at their house. It is first and foremost a COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. 99% of its purpose is to make money, both at the box office and through selling connected properties (comics, toys, etc.).

Nearly EVERY SINGLE DECISION that went into this is a commercial decision.

I'm not saying this as a criticism, either. It's just reality. We're talking about a film with a budget in the neighborhood of $200,000,000. Whoever is producing had BETTER DAMNED WELL be making commercially intelligent decisions!

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

I don't understand why you have an issue with this. The Star Wars universe is so vast, do you honestly think that white males should make up the majority of the casting? It sounds like you're being sexist without trying to sound sexist.

Happy to see somebody finally just come out and say this.

[Will.]

I think Disney knows it can afford to make some adventurous casting decisions with certain properties (especially Star Wars/Marvel) because people will come for the brand, not the actors. I think it's great that the newest trailer features a woman, a black man, and a latino man most prominently. It's more inclusive (and plus all three are good actors as far as I can tell).

[iank]

Yeah, I don't see the problem. When they change existing characters - like turning a male character female, or ethnicising a Caucasian character - yeah I can see the complaint. But creating new characters that are female or black or Latino or whatever... I just don't see a problem.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by NYorker

IMO, a dumb statement, to say the least. What the heck does that mean, "we're changing things up a bit?"

Maybe she means none of the female characters will be losing the will to live anytime soon.

[StingingVelvet]

As long as they don't recast Han Solo with a woman I don't really give two shits about the gender percentages in this or any movie. The only time it matters is when there is a canonical race or gender already, which is why the only time I ever argued against diverse casting was Idris Elba as James Bond and a female Doctor Who.

Even those I'd be fine with if they were reboots.

[aiman04]

Star Destroyer: Old vs New

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by octagon

Maybe she means none of the female characters will be losing the will to live anytime soon.

I mean, really, who ever would want to see a GIRL as a main character? Same with those black folks! It's not like they actually watch these movies and want someone to identify with or whatever! The only characters that should be in Star Wars are white dudes, a random hot chick, and aliens. Maybe a black guy every now and then. BUT ONLY ONE BLACK GUY AND ONE GIRL DAMMIT. We need to ensure that white dudes feel really comfortable!

[Show spoiler] /sarcasm if you couldn't tell

[Deathbymonkeys]

Originally Posted by aiman04

Star Destroyer: Old vs New

I think that new one may be the worst design I have ever seen. Bleh.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Deathbymonkeys

I think that new one may be the worst design I have ever seen. Bleh.

We have yet to see it from the top, front, sides, etc.

[Packerfan75]

Originally Posted by aiman04

Star Destroyer: Old vs New

I like it. Looks like they put some thought in making the new one look darker, sleeker and more futuristic. A probable evolution of the design.

[refnulf]

I'd like to see more female Jedis like Shaak Ti up and about!

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Gamma_Winstead

I mean, really, who ever would want to see a GIRL as a main character? Same with those black folks! It's not like they actually watch these movies and want someone to identify with or whatever! The only characters that should be in Star Wars are white dudes, a random hot chick, and aliens. Maybe a black guy every now and then. BUT ONLY ONE BLACK GUY AND ONE GIRL DAMMIT. We need to ensure that white dudes feel really comfortable!

[Show spoiler] /sarcasm if you couldn't tell

Usually I would be able to tell it's sarcasm, but with this forum posts like that are increasingly becoming the norm.