Star Wars: The Force Awakens

[And]

Duncan jones to direct please.

Or Nolan. Omg. Nolan star wars.

[Pob]

Yeah, when I imagine Hamill returning as a wise old Jedi mentor, it's with a hood and beard hiding most of his ugly face. Especially after watching that clip earlier in the thread.

[Paulando]

Kevin Smith to direct!

lol.

[womblingfree]

Joss Whedon to do the TV show.

[womblingfree]

Well I think those people may be in for a BIG shock as time goes by... Disney's modus operandi are kids and they make huge amounts of money out of them, especially toys. They've bought Lucas because, quite rightly, they can see the earning potential there. This means that, imo, peoples hopes of the seeing the films return to their less kiddy roots, will be sorely mistaken.

Firstly there is no way on gods Earth they can be as bad as the prequels and so in that respect we've all already had the biggest shock possible.

Secondly, I saw Star Wars when I was 5 and spent the preceding years carrying lunch boxes and playing with associated toys. When was it ever not kiddie?? Of course there's a difference between appealing to kids and being infantile but Disney have made plenty of films for kids which weren't so stupid as to be unwatchable by adults. They also currently own Pixar who make just about the best examples ever of such films.

[Stig]

Hamill to become a Sith lord and don the Joker voice.

[Mr Cochese]

Harrison Ford throttling Jabba the Hutt, both 100% nude.

[Chocky]

Too true, he's been making it up from Day 1. There's not anything wrong with that, but then he keeps trying to perpetuate a myth that it's all some masterplan with a 6, no 9, no 12 film intricately plotted timeline. On one of the commentaries I think he actually tries to make out that he always planned for Luke and Leia to be siblings.

In fairness he wrote the story for the first 3 (IV to VI) together and put down broad strokes for the prequels at this time also. No idea when he wrote down the ideas for VII to IX though although, as shown earlier, he has been talking about them since the early 80s.

Also the hero and the princess were brother and sister in some of the early drafts of the first film.

He's also said often that the plan was anything but intricate but that he knows the general arc of the stories.

I wonder if he will 'advise' some visual poetry from the new directors?!

[sandman]

Duncan jones to direct please.

Or Nolan. Omg. Nolan star wars.

Are people aware that Duncan Jones cant get a directing gig at the moment?

[Chocky]

Are people aware that Duncan Jones cant get a directing gig at the moment?

Yup which is ridiculous! Is it right that he couldn't get support for the Moon sequel?

[Ravern]

Are people aware that Duncan Jones cant get a directing gig at the moment?

Is this because Source Code was so terrible?

[K]

In fairness he wrote the story for the first 3 (IV to VI) together and put down broad strokes for the prequels at this time also. No idea when he wrote down the ideas for VII to IX though although, as shown earlier, he has been talking about them since the early 80s.

Also the hero and the princess were brother and sister in some of the early drafts of the first film.

He's also said often that the plan was anything but intricate but that he knows the general arc of the stories.

I wonder if he will 'advise' some visual poetry from the new directors?!

Lucas blatantly never had the stories for any of the Star Wars films set out in advance. Darth Vader wasn’t even supposed to be Luke’s father until several drafts into the scripting of Empire Strikes Back, and the story for the prequels wasn’t set down until just before the films were actually shot. In the case of Revenge of the Sith, Anakin’s motivation for going to the dark side (which is supposedly the underlying narrative of the whole six-film series and the principal thematic hook of the prequel trilogy) wasn’t decided upon until after principal photography had actually finished.

I struggle to believe that Lucas had anything in mind for episodes VII – IX other than vague thoughts that it would be kind of cool to have Luke, Leia and Han as old folk. All this stuff about Lucas realising he had too much story for one film and chopping it out to focus on the fourth episode was made up after the fact. He had no fucking idea.

[sandman]

Is this because Source Code was so terrible?

No, its beacuase movie people are stupid. But it does make me laugh that people (quite rightly) post him name whenever a big film comes up. The reality of Holywood is far far removed from what sci fi fans want.

[Chocky]

All this stuff about Lucas realising he had too much story for one film and chopping it out to focus on the fourth episode was made up after the fact. He had no fucking idea.

I thought he did IV to VI (I to III to him at the time I suppose) as a treatment then focused on IV cos there was too much. He just took the climax of the story (death star being destroyed) and stuck it on the end of the original movie. Same as when they put the 'earth going backward' end from Superman II onto Superman: The Movie.

[sandman]

I knew there were supposed to be nine movies back in 1983. I'm sure that Lucas has given them a fair bit of (possibly stupid) thought since then.

[K]

I knew there were supposed to be nine movies back in 1983. I'm sure that Lucas has given them a fair bit of (possibly stupid) thought since then.

Like I said, he didn't even think out the underlying story of the prequels until he'd basically stopped shooting them - hence having to go back and re-shoot loads of Episode III - so I would be pretty surprised if he'd considered the stories for episodes VII -IX in anything but the vaguest sense.

[Chocky]

Lucas blatantly never had the stories for any of the Star Wars films set out in advance.

To be honest the fact that he was amazingly shrewd and kept sequel rights etc from the start shows that (as well as not liking 'the system' etc) he wanted to do the other parts (at the very least the next two acts of the story he had come up with) on his own terms. If anything the fact that he had a plan for a series of films (not actual locked down stories) is obvious even if people don't believe what he says.

[K]

Remember that George Lucas hates Star Wars. He was a promising and innovative director, who was basically locked into making kids' films from 1977 onwards, and I honestly think that he massively resents the films for completely dominating his career from then onwards.

All his attempts to branch out since - Willow, Radioland Murders, Howard the Duck - have died on their arses, and even the hardcore Star Wars fans rejected him after the Phantom Menace, so I genuinely believe he's like this mad fat king, trapped in a castle made out of money, and surrounded by peasants who despise him but make continual demands on him. That's why I think he fucks around with the re-releases of the films, sticking in random CGI rocks and arbitrarily re-dubbing lines of dialogue. He hates Star Wars, he hates Star Wars fans, and he hates himself and he's basically trying to piss them off as much as he possibly can while pointlessly amassing more and more money.

[K]

To be honest the fact that he was amazingly shrewd and kept sequel rights etc from the start shows that (as well as not liking 'the system' etc) he wanted to do the other parts (at the very least the next two acts of the story he had come up with) on his own terms. If anything the fact that he had a plan for a series of films (not actual locked down stories) is obvious even if people don't believe what he says.

That's definitely true - Lucas is an incredibly astute businessman, there's no denying that. He saw Star Wars and its sequels as his ticket to creating a film production house that he could do what he wanted with without anyone interfering. If anything, it was too successful, and Star Wars just took over.The myth that the Star Wars films are part of this huge tapestry he's weaving is part of that business acumen, I think - it keeps the fanbase interested.

[rubberducker]

lucas is all ego and has changed his version of having lots of stories multiple times.

When all his past interviews are put together it becomes clear that the first movie was meant as one movie (that could have dirt cheap sequels/spin offs/novels knocked out if needed). when it became a mega success he thought he could set lots of different stories in this universe - potentially about new characters. he also thought it would be cool to do a movie based on young ben kenobi.

vader being luke's father came relatively late in the drafts of ESB and changed everything. six movies became the clear focus. there could be a sequel trilogy but nobody had given it alot of thought. least of all lucas.

until yesterday when i am sure we will hear he had planned it all along - but didn't have the energy to make anymore - especially when we didn't enjoy his last lot.

[RubberJohnny]

Get Harrison Ford back as Han Solo and then have him punch a giant ferret.

[Chocky]

That's definitely true - Lucas is an incredibly astute businessman, there's no denying that. He saw Star Wars and its sequels as his ticket to creating a film production house that he could do what he wanted with without anyone interfering. If anything, it was too successful, and Star Wars just took over.The myth that the Star Wars films are part of this huge tapestry he's weaving is part of that business acumen, I think - it keeps the fanbase interested.

It would be interested to see what other films Lucas would have done had Star Wars not took over. THX, Graffitti and Star Wars are a great filmography start. I suppose the Indy films were his other success with him being the 'ideas man' as people think he should be rather than behind the camera etc.

Interesting info on the episode III rewrites/shoots K, wasn't aware of that. Just browsed wiki and saw this hilarious quote;

"when Star Wars first came out, I didn't know where it was going either. The trick is to pretend you've planned the whole thing out in advance. Throw in some father issues and references to other stories – let's call them homages – and you've got a series"

It was said as a 'joke' in praise of the Lost series but maybe more truth than jest in there!

[rubberducker]

Remember that George Lucas hates Star Wars. He was a promising and innovative director, who was basically locked into making kids' films from 1977 onwards, and I honestly think that he massively resents the films for completely dominating his career from then onwards.

He's like this mad fat king, trapped in a castle made out of money, and surrounded by peasants who despise him but make continual demands on him. He hates Star Wars, he hates Star Wars fans, and he hates himself and he's basically trying to piss them off as much as he possibly can while pointlessly amassing more and more money.

I can't help but put that quote and this picture together.

[K]

It would be interested to see what other films Lucas would have done had Star Wars not took over. THX, Graffitti and Star Wars are a great filmography start. I suppose the Indy films were his other success with him being the 'ideas man' as people think he should be rather than behind the camera etc.

Interesting info on the episode III rewrites/shoots K, wasn't aware of that. Just browsed wiki and saw this hilarious quote;

It was said as a 'joke' in praise of the Lost series but maybe more truth than jest in there!

Lucas was properly on fire in the late seventies and early eighties, he was exploding with ideas. He was going to direct Apocalypse Now at one point! There’s a transcript of the writing sessions that Lucas, Spielberg and Lawrence Kasdan had when they were brainstorming ideas for Raiders, and the amount of stuff that Lucas just comes out with, straight off the top of his head, is incredible – whole sections of Raiders just seem to take shape before your eyes. Lucas has done a lot of shit since, but he was properly integral to the success of Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, i.e. three of the best films ever made, and I don’t want to knock those achievements.

It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened if he’d continued the trajectory that led up to Empire Strikes Back, before Return of the Jedi was taken in a more child-friendly direction.

[Glasgowchivas]

New Trilogy to be 'Original Story', not an adaptation.

via ComingSoon.net

[Chocky]

I read somewhere that Kasdan was one of the first (or the first) person Lucas called up to help write Episode I but he turned it down.

If only!

Edit, a quick google unearthed this nugget from Kasdan;

the first remark he made to me was, "Hey, do you want to write Phantom Menace?" I asked, "Aren't you starting to shoot it?" "Yeah," he said, "but it would be great if you took a second pass at it." For George, the movie is bigger than the script.

[Space Renegade Ulala]

I can't help but put that quote and this picture together.

It's like the Geoff Thingy Doritos picture all over again, a direct doorway into the soul of an empty, dead-eyed man surrounded by shit he can't even bare to think about.

[Flams]

There's lots of recommendations in this thread.

Perfect, thanks!

[dataDave]

... and the story for the prequels wasn’t set down until just before the films were actually shot. In the case of Revenge of the Sith, Anakin’s motivation for going to the dark side (which is supposedly the underlying narrative of the whole six-film series and the principal thematic hook of the prequel trilogy) wasn’t decided upon until after principal photography had actually finished.

I can't even remember why he turned now... Weak. Mind, the second time I went to see it (I was dragged) I fell asleep.

[Sfan]

That's definitely true - Lucas is an incredibly astute businessman, there's no denying that. He saw Star Wars and its sequels as his ticket to creating a film production house that he could do what he wanted with without anyone interfering. If anything, it was too successful, and Star Wars just took over.The myth that the Star Wars films are part of this huge tapestry he's weaving is part of that business acumen, I think - it keeps the fanbase interested.

http://www.cracked.com/article_19995_5-stupid-bets-that-changed-world.html

Entry number 3 says otherwise K