George Lucas first mentioned doing a live-action Star Wars series back in 2005, while promoting for Star Wars Episode III, but many had either given up on this becoming a reality, or thought it was so far off that it didn’t warrant much thought. However, earlier this week the gossip mills were churning fulltime, when Rose Byrne (she was the only handmaiden in Attack of the Clones who survived past the first scene) mentioned to MTV.com that many of her friends were trying out for George Lucas’ new Star Wars Live-Action series. ‘A lot of my friends have been auditioning for it,’she said.
But before you start unpacking your lightsabers and putting on your favorite Jedi cloak, EW.com has confirmed with Lucasfilm that a casting agent in Australia is “doing some preliminary ground work, but official casting will not start until the scripts are complete.” The Lucasfilm rep added that this means that production wouldn’t begin, at the earliest, until 2010. Sorry Star Wars fans, you’ll have to wait a bit longer to see your far away galaxy on the small screen.
For those of you still confused and wanting the scoop on this series, it will reportedly take place in the Star Wars Void, the period of time between Episode III, Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV, A New Hope. It will feature minor characters from the Star Wars universe and loosely follow the beginning of the Rebel Alliance and their buildup of forces. The show will not feature any Jedi, nor will we see Darth Vader on screen, but he will be mentioned. Stormtroopers and other familiar creatures will also be fixtures in the show.
Lucas has said that he will write and direct the entire first season, following the same methodology he used for The Clone Wars series, shooting the entire season before searching for a network to air it on. After the first season, he will give directing and writing responsibilities to somone else, and stay on as Executive Producer.
Lucas has also stated that the series will be a darker version of Star Wars, more character focused, and much more suitable for adults. But whether or not Lucas can earn back the trust of disgruntled hardcore fans who were unhappy with the prequels remains to be seen. If George Lucas can write a successful, real, and gritty Star Wars, and reinvent the series in the same way the Ronald Moore’s Battlestar Galactica did for that franchise, then the fans will return in droves never seen before. But if Lucas gives them yet another critical failure he stands the risk of losing his original fanbase forever. Unfortunately, we’ll all be waiting well into 2010 or 2011 to find out. But hey, we had to wait longer for the prequels, didn’t we? Of course, look at how that turned out.
Well, I'll believe it when I see it announced here, I guess. Whatever, George Lucas, you need to pick up the pace! He clearly knows his audience isn't going anywhere.
Well, I’ll believe it when I see it announced here, I guess. Whatever, George Lucas, you need to pick up the pace! He clearly knows his audience isn’t going anywhere.
Well having raised my sons on the original three,and having my oldest son taking me to the last three (did not care for them), and recently gong another generation with him showing myself and his son the Clone Wars movie and TV show, Lucas will have to do a lot to win me over. I prefer the Timothy Zahn books that filled the voids.
Well having raised my sons on the original three,and having my oldest son taking me to the last three (did not care for them), and recently gong another generation with him showing myself and his son the Clone Wars movie and TV show, Lucas will have to do a lot to win me over. I prefer the Timothy Zahn books that filled the voids.
Well, people waiting for some kind of reinvention of Star Wars into that Battlestar Gallactica crap will no doubt be disappointed. Even though Lucas has said it will be darker and grittier, Star Wars has always been, and will always be, a kids fairy tale at heart. Those "fanboys" who decry the prequels and hold the originals up as some kind of literary masterpieces are missing the entire point of the series. The new TV series, which I am greatly looking forward to, will be just another part of the incredibly wonderful fairy tale universe that Lucas has created. Fanboys can just stay away, there are plenty of us out here who grew up on the originals, see them for what they are, and embrace the entire saga as one great story for the kid in all of us. As for the Timothy Zahn books, blah…they don't fit.
…Battlesta Gallactica crap? That show is hands down the best reimagining there has been to date, and one of the greatest television dramas I have ever seen.
Well, people waiting for some kind of reinvention of Star Wars into that Battlestar Gallactica crap will no doubt be disappointed. Even though Lucas has said it will be darker and grittier, Star Wars has always been, and will always be, a kids fairy tale at heart. Those “fanboys” who decry the prequels and hold the originals up as some kind of literary masterpieces are missing the entire point of the series. The new TV series, which I am greatly looking forward to, will be just another part of the incredibly wonderful fairy tale universe that Lucas has created. Fanboys can just stay away, there are plenty of us out here who grew up on the originals, see them for what they are, and embrace the entire saga as one great story for the kid in all of us. As for the Timothy Zahn books, blah…they don’t fit.
…Battlesta Gallactica crap? That show is hands down the best reimagining there has been to date, and one of the greatest television dramas I have ever seen.