Some news for Star Wars Fans Options

[Chief Brody]

Two bits of news from Episodex.com

Solo-project for Darth Maul

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas seems to have given his O.K. for spin-offs of his sci-fi-saga. First up will be the martial-arts expert Darth Maul from “Episode 1” wielding his double-bladed lightsaber in his own film.
Our verdict: Take this with a grain of salt. Cinema has known to be off track with Star Wars rumors now and then – this sounds more like an uber-motivated writer dreaming up his own story after finding out about the Clone Wars cartoon spin-off. Still, you never know, do you?

This is much better news.


Original Trilogy DVDs In Late 2004?
Tuesday, September 30 1:02pm GMT - by Tai
According to the rumor mill at the usually very credible DVD site The Digital Bits Star Wars fans may get hold of their favorite trilogy sooner than expected.

Contrary to the official statement saying DVDs for Episodes IV, V and VI won’t be released until after Episode 3’s theatrical run in 2005, the website indicates the possibility of a 4 DVD box (the three films plus on disc with supplemental material) going on sale in November 2004.

The reason for this sudden change of heart appears to be that execs were reportedly so pleased with the Indiana Jones trilogy DVD box, which is out this November, that they wanted to push forward the Star Wars box’s release date, which also offers them further strong promoting abilites for Episode 3.

[Daytrip]

WOOOOOOHOOOO

i've been waiting for the originals to come out on DVD forever, i hope this rumor is true

[Clark Savage Jr]

I'm with you Chief in not being so sure on the Maul part......but darn glad to hear of the Original Series DVD possibility.

[Daytrip]

i thought Maul was a good character but a spin-off movie would have to be very well done, the cheese factor could be high with this one

[DreadLord]

Darth Maul feature movie could be good, but the way this could be messed up are just overwhelming.... Just can't stop imagining some movie equivalent of some poor tv spinoff...

[Chief Brody]

More News, nicked from Ain't it Cool.

I just came from the Star Wars summit at the Presidio in San Francisco. It was Star Wars-licious!

The attendees were subjected to Star Wars marketing statistics, product licensing and tie-in possibilities and PowerPoint presentations. Yawn for most, but I'm a freak and love that sort of stuff.

Some interesting things came to light. The marketing timeline for Star Wars is as follows - This week, The Clone Wars, then the original Star Wars trilogy is being released September 2004, then Episode 3 teaser advertising begins in January of 2005, Episode 3 May 2005, Episode 3 DVD/VHS November 2005. One little fun fact - seems that they have TWO Star Wars television ideas floating around the ranch...one would be animation and the other - LIVE ACTION. These television projects would be in 2006. Let's hope they're better than the Star Wars Christmas Special, or those Ewok films.

But the REAL meat and potatoes was the Episode 3 footage! Some cool as hell stuff. Anakin is looking darker than ever. Dark clothes, with what appears to be some scars on his face. They showed one seen with Obi-Won, The Emperor and Anakin crashing their ship into a planet as the ship burns.

They showed some animation of what will be OB1's transportation at one point in the film. A large lizard that's able to walk upside down and scale walls.

*minor spoilers*

Oh - and they showed some green screen footage of the final lightsaber fight between Obi-Won and Anakin. It looked colossal. The lightsaber fight to end all lightsaber fights. Evil wins, we all know that. The intensity with which the two were fighting was phenomenal. Seems the final battle takes place on a lava planet, and at one point the two are hoping back and forth on hovercrafts floating over the lava.

That was all I saw, and it got me moist as a snack cake down there. They also showed a "behind the scenes didn't we have a blast filming Episode 3" documentary

At the end they had an extremely funny theatrical production - The Star Wars Trilogy in 30 minutes. I think it played at Comic Con too. Patrick Gorman, the author, has basically done a reduced Shakespeare version of Eps IV- VI. Funny stuff, and a great way to end the presentation portion of the show.

We were then escorted by storm troopers to Jabba's Palace for a reception. Drinks and networking with Darth Vader, Chewbacca and eventually Lucas himself. He did a cameo and a lap, apparently he was having some editing problems...probably putting more new stuff in the "original" trilogies.

[Chief Brody]

More stuff about the release of the original trilogy on DVD.

All from Aintitcool:

There has been some debate about the content of the release next year, the hot rumore is that the first released versions will be the same as the special editions released back in 97 with no added extra's.


Here's the rest of the story:

My brother works for Lucasfilm and I have been hammering him for years to give me some sort of scoop to share with the world. Well in the end he has come through for me. He has confirmed to me that the Special Edition Star Wars Trilogy will be released in Sep. of 2004. The following changes will be made. Now this isn't all the changes but it is as many as he could sit down and recall. So here they go...

Episode IV: A New Hope

01. The Imperial March has been added to Darth Vader's first appearance on Princess Leia's ship.

02. When Obi-Wan is talking to Luke about his father Anakin's Theme plays in the background and then it turns into the Imperial March as he talks about Vader.

03. The lightsaber effects have been redone and the frame jumps of lightsabers being turned on has been removed.

04. There's a new scene which has been shot during the filming of Episode III in which the Emperor dissolves the Senate.

05. In the Cantina, the Duros (green aliens guys) have been replaced with Neimoidians and some aliens from the prequels have been added.

06. The bleeding arm on the floor in the Cantina has been replaced with a non-bleeding arm because it's now canon that lightsabers cauterize wounds.

07. The original shooting scene between Han and Greedo has been restored.

08. Jabba the Hutt has been given a makeover and Han no longer steps on his tale.

09. In place of R2 wobbling down the stairs to the Falcon's hangar, a CG R2 navigating the stairs like he does in Attack of the Clones was added.

10. The white boxes around space ships have been removed and new CG shots have been added.

11. The scene of the Falcon being chased by the two Star Destroyers was modified. The Falcon now does spinning moves, avoiding the Star Destroyers' fire.

12. When the Death Star destroys Alderaan there's a new scene of Yoda's reaction to the disturbance in the Force that is created by all those deaths and then it cuts to Obi-Wan reacting to it as well.

13. The Dianoga has gotten a CG makeover and were are now able to see more of the creature.

14. The Death Star's paneling and computers have been slightly altered to show similar displays to those in the prequels.

15. The words "Tractor Beam" with Aurebesh lettering.

16. More stormtroopers have been added to the Death Star.

17. Some Storm Troopers will wear clone like armor

18. The Obi-Wan/Vader duel has been spruced up. It is much more epic and there is much more movement. A modified version of Duel of the Fates is being considered for the scene.

19. The Death Star plans that are taken from R2 have been updated. When the Rebels are reviewing the Death Star plans they look similar to the plans we see in Attack of the Clones.

20. The Death Star battle is much more epic with more Tie Fighters and more Rebels being blown to bits. We get to see old Naboo starfighters being used by the Rebels.

21. There's a new scene (shot during Episode III) where Darth Vader goes to Coruscant and lands his ship in the same building Count Dooku does at the end of Attack of the Clones. Except now the building is all fixed up and it is now Palpatine's palace. He meets with Palpatine to ask for forgiveness for his failure and inform him of a new potential who is strong in the Force.

22. Chewbacca now gets a medal.

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

01. The taun-tauns are now CG.

02. The battle of Hoth is much more epic. We see the Imperial ships land on Hoth and release AT-ATs. The AT-ATs have been sped up a bit. There's a ground battle between the Rebel soldiers and stormtroopers featuring new ships and vehicles.

03. Temuera Morrison's voice is being recorded for the older stormtroopers.

04. The white boxes around space ships have been removed.

05. The slug monster is CG.

06. Ian McDiarmid has refilmed scenes as the Emperor. The conversations between Vader and Palpatine is now longer and features a few connections to the prequels.

07. Yoda's face is now animated in CG allowing more expression of emotions yet his movements remain the same. Also two deleted scenes featuring Yoda instructing Luke have been restored.

08. A new scene was shot in which the stormtroopers, after they capture Han, Leia and Chewie, bring Vader the box containing C-3PO in pieces. Vader orders the stormtroopers to bring the broken droid to Chewbacca's cell so that he can fix him.

09. The lightsaber effects have been redone in certain parts.

10. Luke's fall from Cloud City has been reshot against bluescreen using a stuntman.

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

01. Jabba the Hutt is now a combination of the puppet and CG.

02. The Rancor is CG and looks disgusting as ever.

03. Yoda is CG. Yoda disappears leaving his clothes behind like Obi-Wan now.

04. Saber effects were spruced up

05. The plan is to insert the love theme Across the Stars when Luke is talking with Leia about their mother.

06. Temuera Morrison's like before is now the voice for some stormtroopers.

07. In the battle of Endor there more Ewoks and they are more vicious

08. White boxes around ships removed.

09. The black blotches around Palpatine's face are gone.

10. Some of the lightsaber effects have been redone. The shadows that the lightsabers made on the floor are gone.

11. During Anakin's death scene it starts with a sad rendition of the Imperial March and slowly evolves into Anakin's Theme.

12. Anakin's spirit is now played by Hayden Christenson with make-up to make him look his age. He looks on proudly at his son Luke with the spirit of Padme by his side.

Well that's it. Apparently there's more changes...

Finger crossed Lucus dosn't try and dick us all, with a tarty release of the special edition.

We want it all!

[Guest_the anomaly_*]

your quest never ends does it chief???

[Chief Brody]

your quest never ends does it chief???

Never! (IMG:http://www.cinephiliacs.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Guest_the anomaly_*]

AND WE ARE ALL THE BETTER FOR

AMEN BROTHER

[Chief Brody]

Hold the phone...........all that could be bollocks, it turns out that it could be someones wish list.

Oh well!

[Guest_the anomaly_*]

oh well...it would have been good...im glad its not set in stone though

we know the destination but the journey is half the fun