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Leaving the Czechs?

In what is almost a follow up to our previous post on live-action series set location speculation, The Wall Street Journal has published a piece highlighting the fact that the live-action series seems to be drifting away from the Czech Republic as a set location due to a lack of tax incentives. Could Hungary be the alternative? Click here for the full piece and see below for an excerpt.

“Mr. Lucas has chosen the Czech Republic for smaller projects. The filmmaker and his executive producer, Rick McCallum, recently completed the filming of “Red Tails,” a low-budget movie about African-American fighter pilots during World War II, in which locations in the Czech Republic doubled for Italy.

With a budget of $25 million, “Red Tails” was relatively inexpensive to make for Lucasfilm, Mr. Lucas’s production company, and Mr. McCallum said the high skill level of Czech film crews overcame the lack of tax breaks.

But this likely won’t be enough for the “Star Wars” television series, with a planned budget of $100 million to $150 million annually to shoot about 100 episodes over four years, Mr. McCallum said. “I had a wonderful experience on ‘Red Tails,’ but in order to bring a larger production to the Czech Republic, the government would need to be competitive with other countries’ tax incentives,” Mr. Lucas said.”

Big thanks to Atlas of Starwars.hu for the link

John Edwards to write Star Wars TV show?


by Aaron Asadi
Rumours are whizzing around that the highly-anticipated Star Wars TV show now has its first writers attached. Currently, the favourite to be announced as one the TV series’ scribes is Australian TV producer and writer, John Edwards. If appointed, Edwards, who has been responsible for a clutch of successful domestic shows, including Out Of The Blue and Fireflies, will likely find himself under intense scrutiny from the most dedicated fanbase in the world.
http://www.scifinow.co.uk/news/john-edwards-to-write-star-wars-tv-show/

Shooting in Australia

Bib Fortuna, Boba Fett, General Papanoida, a Mandalorian and two Rebels with last names Naberre and Durron

Read more at Suite101: Star Wars TV Series Rumours are Firming Up: George Lucas Project Said to be Shooting in Australia with Daniel Logan, Sam Witner Rumoured http://scifitv.suite101.com/article.cfm/star_wars_all_set_to_conquer_television#ixzz0bhFfIfM9

Dutchess of Mandalore

Oh beautiful damsel in distress, but not! Echoes of Leia in this love interest for Obi Wan. Such a shame she and her Mandalorian peace must fall to Pre Vizla, obvious pre-visual jet-pack asset for any live action Mandalorian armor.

Mandalore itself, an enclosed city of glass is a good test for Aldaranian architecture.

Star Warsz Live Action TV Show Rumours

Star Wars Television Show Rumours

The most up-to-date rumours start with the location. As of now it seems that Australia has been set as the country where the majority of filming will take place. An Australian casting firm has apparently started preliminary searches for suitable actors for the highly anticipated series. Production was originally thought to be started in 2009 but has since been pushed into 2010 with a 2011 release suggested by Lucas.

Story Ideas And Recurring Characters

Daniel Logan, who portrayed Boba Fett in Attack of the Clones, may be resuming his role as Fett at the request of Lucas himself. Ian McDiarmid and Peter Mayhew have apparently expressed interest in reprising their respective roles as Emperor Palpatine and Chewbacca. This may not be true as Lucas has stated that major characters will be heard about but not seen. If that statement is correct that would leave both actors out of production.

Sam Witner, who modeled and acted as Galen Marek for the Star Wars: Force Unleashed game, has been mentioned in casting rumours and may even be asked to continue his role as Marek. That would be difficult as Marek’s story apparently starts and ends in the span of the game. Jay Laga’aia, who played Captain Typho in episodes two and three, has also been mentioned as a possible returnee, but not necessarily in the same role.

Bib Fortuna, Boba Fett, General Papanoida, a Mandalorian and two Rebels with last names Naberre and Durron are all confirmed as characters involved in the upcoming series.

Some story ideas and plots twist have also been set for the television show. The Death Star plans will be a major plot moving device with pod racing also being showcased. Elements of the Force Unleashed universe may also be used. There are hopes that the series will run up to 400 episodes but those numbers are very loose.

Star Wars Production Involvement

The usual suspects will most likely round out the leads on production. Preliminary reports suggest that Lucas will direct the first season and then hand the reigns of the series over to a capable replacement. Rick McCallum will most likely produce and even composer John Williams’ name has been connected to the series. Whatever the result, the series will be in good hands.

Many details are, as of yet, unsubstantiated as Lucas keeps his secrets close to home.

After making the announcement that a series was underway Lucas had this to say.

“That’ll give you all something to think about.”

Jabba could be in Live-Action.
This is from Creative Screenwriting Magazine newsletter an interview with Clone Wars writers Henry Gilroy, Steve Melching, and Scott Murphy.

Quote:
Were there any initial mandates from George about what territory they wanted covered, or things they wanted you to avoid?

Gilroy: No, most of the time George was really receptive to ideas. The entire movie plot of Jabba the Hutt’s son being kidnapped, initially I had pitched a story…[George] had said, “Try to stay away from Jabba the Hutt, because I want to use Jabba in the live-action series.” I wrote this story about the Hutt kidnapping, and then at the next meeting he said, “Why didn’t you put Jabba in it?” “You told us not to put Jabba in it!” “Oh, you gotta put Jabba in it!” George really is open to all sorts of stuff.

Kind of fits in with the whole criminal underworld themes rumored to be included in the series.

Found at TFN

3D Star Wars Movies?

Man has my pal Jim over at MarketSaw got the scoop of the ages. Apparently from a source, which he says is a good one, George Lucas is toying with the idea of a new Star Wars trilogy in 3D.

“Jim here. Here is a strong rumor that should whet your appetites! (or sour them if you have had too much of the franchise). I have been hearing rumblings… extremely quiet at first, but now heating up significantly and from a trusted source – that George Lucas is preparing to unleash another STAR WARS trilogy upon us,this time in stereoscopic 3D. This is NOT the TV series, these are brand spankin’ new 3D STAR WARS movies.”

The story doesn’t end there as Lucas will not direct this new trilogy but just producing and that the source says Francis Ford Coppola is rumored to direct one and there is the assumption that Lucas’ longtime friend Spielberg may direct one or two.

This is wild but not far from out of the ordinary. Lucas is smart and knows loyal fans were less than happy with the prequel trilogies and its over-hyped, over marketed crap-fest. With the emergence of 3D he understands the how he bring his most prized possession into a whole new medium of visual candy. Star Wars has always been part of the cutting edge of film making so why wouldn’t continue to be? I also wonder if this will be the trilogy that will bring back the original cast (Hamil, Ford, Fisher) as a sequel trilogy set 20 or so years after the Return of the Jedi would be interesting to see. Shadows of the Empire, the continued rebuilding of the Jedi, etc. are all things that could be told. Also the case for this is not just the obvious in Avatar but the resurgence of Star Trek, oooh! I wonder if Abrams would direct one of the Star Wars in 3D? man that would be sick!

John Edwards to write Star Wars TV show?

by Aaron Asadi

2120roj_key_d2-1220rgbRumours are whizzing around that the highly-anticipated Star Wars TV show now has its first writers attached. Currently, the favourite to be announced as one the TV series’ scribes is Australian TV producer and writer, John Edwards. If appointed, Edwards, who has been responsible for a clutch of successful domestic shows, including Out Of The Blue and Fireflies, will likely find himself under intense scrutiny from the most dedicated fanbase in the world.

Earlier this week, SciFiWire reported that “the show is assembling high-quality writers from the Aussie TV industry, including writers from Love My Way and Secret Life of Us, who have been approached by Lucas’ longtime producer Rick McCallum.” The news, rather predictably, set sci-fi forums ablaze, with some corners unconvinced by the calibre and suitability of the talent. Only time will tell if they are proved correct.

The Star Wars TV show will take place between the events of Episode III and Episode IV. In January last year producer Rick McCallum confirmed that Boba Fett “will be an instrumental part of the series”.

Stay tuned to scifinow.co.uk for more updates and in the meantime why not check out our article on the five storylines we’d like to see the new show cover?

Cast

Bib Fortuna, Boba Fett, General Papanoida, a Mandalorian and two Rebels with last names Naberre and Durro

Obi-Wan-Kenobi-y-Quinlan-VosLucas himself instructed the writers of the Star Wars: Republic comic book series not to kill off the Quinlan Vos character. Lucas had originally written a scene for Revenge of the Sith involving Quinlan Vos, but ultimately, he only got a mention in the film.[15]