Here’s a hunka-buncha STAR WARS stuff which emerged over the last 24 hours. Yesterday’s IM streams felt like…
And, truthfully, it was kinda great.
In no particular order…
The STAR WARS LATINO Twitter stream posted what appears to be concept art of a new space vehicle from THE FORCE AWAKENS.
Meanwhile, Flickering Myth posted what appears to be two pieces of developmental concept art from EPISODE VII. The first? The not-yet-identified Max von Sydow character from the film.
A bit more provocative? This piece of art featuring…what’s going on here? Is that Vader and some Stormtroopers? Pretty sure this is Vader and some Stormtroopers overlooking a Sy Snoodles/Max Reebo reunion concert. They get there late, so they have to stand on a hill to watch.
PLEASE NOTE: Flickering Myth itself qualifies their post with ‘if this concept art is genuine.’
However I'm thinking that: 1) both pieces appear to be very much in the style/vein as what we’ve seen before, and 2) I’ve heard from multiple sources that Vader will appear in TFA in some capacity. By this I mean: he doesn’t necessarily get ‘resurrected’ and whatnot: think along the lines of a flashback of some sort. ‘But STAR WARS doesn’t use flashbacks!’ the masses decry. This is, sort of, correct. The films haven’t…yet. But the amazingly awesome CLONE WARS series did, and it is canon, so we know the conceit isn’t necessarily off limits at this point.
I’m not saying we should take any of this to the bank - just pontificating here.
Later in the day, these two intriguing tidbits came along.
THR says that Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany ‘is testing for the female lead in the Star Wars spinoff that is being directed by Gareth Edwards.’ Seems Rooney Mara (GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO) is expected to test this week as well. More from THR HERE.
Finally, Making STAR WARS has some scuttlebutt regarding the aforementioned spin-offs. These details come from their contacts at Pinewood. Consume with a grain of salt, but this does match up to a degree with what we’re hearing elsewhere. Also, keep in mind that - even if this info is true - matters may be very much in flux at the moment. For example, we recently learned that Gareth Edwards’ STAR WARS film is seeking a new writer. Which may or may not have a considerable impact on that film’s timing. With all of this in mind…
Expect more on-location shooting than for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Crew members are hearing their start dates now.
Many believe they are doing a lot of work on-location in Mexico for the first spin-off.
There have been some Star Wars: The Force Awakens re-shoots going down recently at Pinewood using some of those people.
Bounty hunters are important to the film.
Painters are expected to redress some set pieces from The Force Awakens and there are lots of cost cutting measures like that in place for the first spin-off film. Most of the reshoot materials are to be saved when possible for this reason.
...says Making STAR WARS.
Hmmmm. ‘Bounty hunters are important to the film.’ As MSW conjectures, it’s difficult not to wonder if this might be the ‘stealing the Death Star plans’ film we heard about not too long ago?
The reference to ‘cost cutting’ makes me feel a tad jittery, but at the same time, it’s completely reasonable to imagine a STAR WARS film which functions more along the lines of DISTRICT 9 or ELYSIUM in scale and budget. Or, hell, even Edwards’ own MONSTERS?
Time will tell...
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Glen Oliver
“Merrick”
