Sci-Fi Storm

Actor and mixed martial artist Dave Legeno, who played the werewolf Fenrir Greyback in the last three installments of the Harry Potter franchise, was reportedly found dead last Sunday in Death Valley from what appears to be heat-related causes.

Legeno also appeared in a number of other movies, including Snow White and the Huntsman, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Batman Begins, and Centurion.

In the Harry Potter movies, although the character’s nature was largely lost (including being the one who scarred Bill Weasley), he was recognizable for his appearance as a large muscular and hairy quasi-human.

President Snow addresses Panem again, with Peeta Mallark and Johanna Mason alongside…but it seems District 13 wants to send a message of their own…
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Not a real surprise, but the production of Star Wars: Episode VII has scheduled in a two-week hiatus next month after shifting the schedule around to accommodate among other things Harrison Ford’s rehabilitation for his broken leg. No effect is expected in the completion of production in time for the December 18th, 2015 release.

In the meantime, two new cast members have been announced, but as usual their roles have not been specified: Crystal Clarke and Pip Anderson. Both are relative newcomers, with Clarke to appear in the Pierce Brosnan-led fantasy The Moon and the Sun.

Andy Serkis is really getting around – although you may still not see his face. Andy told Sci-Fi Now that his motion-capture company Imaginarium is involved in all the upcoming Star Wars projects, and he himself will have a role in Episode VII – but he isn’t say who – or what.

And now, in an interview with Variety, he said, “The Imaginarium is the performance capture consultant, and I’m playing a role (in both films [In reference to Star Wars as well]). On ‘The Avengers,’ I’ve been working closely with Mark Ruffalo.”

He’s working with Ruffalo to help further develop his mo-cap performance as The Hulk. “Performance capture was used on the previous ‘Hulk,’ but not to the same extent Mark is using it now,” he said. “There are tools and ways of working with an actor that makes them feel that they own the character. And a character the size of the Hulk needs ownership, which Mark has now.”

Do you remember the story of Katie, the girl who was bullied for liking Star Wars when the entire universe rose up in support? Well, she’s passing the torch, so to speak, to another girl facing a similar challenge.

Allison, a girl who loves Spider-Man in addition to Star Wars, faced relentless bullying after her older sister moved up to the middle school. The school was of little help.

Enter the 501st Legion.

The 501st Legion helped out Katie by getting together and building her a full in-spec set of Stormtrooper armor in 2012. Brian Troyan, a member of the 501st, contacted Katie’s mother Carrie Goldman, to see if Katie might be willing to pass it on. Carrie posted:

I sat on the edge of Katie’s bed Thursday night and told her about Allison. She asked me questions. “Do the other kids hit her? Does she have any friends? Did she tell her parents? Why didn’t the teachers make the other kids stop?” And then, after I answered to the best of my ability, she simply said, “That is terrible.”

“So,” I said, “Would you be willing to give Allison your Stormtrooper armor?”

“Yes! Of course,” she answered immediately. “That’s a great idea!” I emailed Brian Troyan to let him know Operation Armor Transfer was a go.

And so the armor was passed. Not only that, but Katie, her sister and their friends wrote to Allison in support and friendship. And with the help of Brian and the others in the 501st, Allison took part in an Autism Speaks event with other members.

I’m telling you, Stormtroopers may not be able to hit the side of a bantha, but when they band together, they are unstoppable.

Major props to Katie, Allison and the 501st Legion! I’m a father two two sci-fi loving girls, I’ve been fearful but fortunate that they do not face bullying for the things they like…quite the opposite – their friends ask us about when the next Doctor Who is on!

Apparently J.J. Abrams will be satisfied with just getting Star Wars off the ground – he’ll be handing over the lightsaber to another when Episode VII is complete.

According to Deadline, Lucasfilm is negotiating with Looper writer-director Rian Johnson to take over the core “epic” stories, writing the scripts for Episodes VIII and IX, but also reportedly taking the director’s chair for both as well.

Talk about the job of a lifetime for the relative newcomer!

Update: The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Johnson will write and direct Episode VIII, but is currently set to only write a treatment for IX.

So it appears that Harrison Ford’s injury was perhaps a bit more series than originally thought, as his publicist confirmed to the BBC his left leg had been broken and required surgery, which was successful.

Lucasfilm’s original statement only stated that he had an ankle injury, while local police confirmed they had been called for an injury involving a “garage door”, although some reports claim that it was in fact the door to the Millennium Falcon itself that may have caused the injury.

Ford will be undergoing rehab for the leg while shooting continues. No further word from Lucasfilm or Disney as to how this might affect the shooting schedule.

[Edit…I have reason to believe the picture below was modified from the original where the sign said something else…but still, it’s humorous]

So the geekdom side of the Internet had a practical meltdown of sorts as word of Harrison Ford getting injured on the set and needing to be taken to a hospital spread faster than point five past light speed, and the injury just started getting more gruesome as it went through various questionable “sensational headline” sites that are popping up everywhere, at one point saying Ford had been “crushed” – by the Millenium Falcon, no less.

Yes, he injured his ankle, and the latest reliable reports indicate that it is simply a fracture – not surprising given that Ford is 71. But Ford is having some fun with his clumsiness at least, with this picture making the rounds:

Here’s wishing him a speedy recovery. Filming will continue while he recuperates, and reports of the release date having to be pushed back this far are unfounded.