Sci-Fi Storm

We were devastated to learn via the BBC that actor Kenny Baker has passed away today after a long illness, just short of his 82nd birthday.

Baker was the man who brought R2-D2 to life, working inside the costume in the first six Star Wars movies and consulting in The Force Awakens. He also appeared in a number of other films, including an old favorite, Time Bandits, as Fidget.

Baker had been cared for by his nephew Drew Myerscough for a number of years, after he had developed respiratory issues, although this did not stop him from making appearances. One of the first actors willing to make appearances at conventions, he was scheduled for his only U.S. appearance later this year at Rhode Island Comic Con. His nephew said, “His fans worldwide kept him going and he loved nothing more than going to conventions and meeting everybody – it really gave him that extra lease of life.”

OK, this is looking GOOD…

In the meantime, it seems that the standalone “Young Han Solo” film may also be getting a young Lando Calrissian…according to a report from The Wrap, the code name of “Chance” has been circling the casting calls, and putting the dice together, people figure this a reference to Han’s and Lando’s past – after all, Han won the Millennium Falcon from Lando via gambling…

At the recent TCAs, ABC entertainment president Channing Dungey said that talks are still ongoing between the network and Lucasfilm, two divisions of corporate parent Disney, for live action prime time series based on Star Wars. “We have had conversations, and we will continue to have conversations with Lucasfilm. It would be wonderful to extend the franchise.”

This comes as no surprise as Disney has been going full-Death Star with the franchise since acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012. A second animated series, Rebels airs on Disney XD, Episode VII was released last year, the first anthology film, Rogue One releases this December, Episode VIII is in production, and Disney’s theme parks are greatly expanding the presence of Star Wars in the parks.

In addition, Disney has already brought two of its other acquired properties, Marvel and the Muppets, to ABC although the latter had trouble finding an audience, not helped by creative issues with the production.

But what will the possible series entail? It could be anything – they may be discussing the possibility of the setting as part of the negotiations. But we are reminded of how five years ago George Lucas was hot on a live action series so much that they wrote as many as 50 multiple draft scripts for a series set between Episodes III and IV, which may still be available. At the time it was too expensive to actually produce. However, this is the same time period already covered by Rebels as well as the upcoming Rogue One and the second anthology movie about Han Solo, making it a crowded space – and it is possible that some of the plots were re-tuned for the other projects.

Personally, with the expanded timeline that the Star Wars universe already has, I’d like to see them explore a completely different time period, perhaps dealing with the initial reformation of the Sith and the early Republic, whether they use the former Expanded Universe as the basis or not.

Some tidbits as I get a break from vacation/traveling…

On the movie front, Oprah Winfrey is near set to star as Mrs. Which in a new adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time to be directed by Ava DuVernay (Selma) for Disney. Amy Adams and Kevin Hart are also in talks.

Speaking of Disney, Disneyland is about to rebuild it’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction with a whole new theme based on Guardians of the Galaxy. The new attraction will be called “Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout” and be ready for next summer. Here is a video of Joe Rhode explaining the attraction:

Also on the Disney park front, if you can get to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida, you have to check out the “Star Wars Galactic Spectacular” fireworks and light show. It is AMAZING!

The new Captain Marvel has been announced, and it will be Brie Larson. Kevin Feige made the announcement at Comic Con, but wouldn’t say what movie she might first appear in.

Syfy renewed Wynonna Earp for a second season.

Lastly, Fox has tapped Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) to adapt Isaac Asimov’s Caves of Steel, which has been in the works for a few years with Simon Kinberg with Henry Hobson. Ironically, Akiva Goldsman co-wrote 2004’s I, Robot, which is often mistaken as an Asimov story due to similar themes with a collection of stories Asimov wrote with the same title, but the movie was based on a short story by Eando Bender.

I wish I was in London this weekend for Star Wars Celebration! Lots of cool things coming from across the pond. One of which is this sizzle reel for Rogue One! Enjoy!

The New York Post’s Page Six sent Jedi and Sith into a panic Monday when they said that the production of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was in a “crisis” after Disney execs saw the first cut of the film and weren’t happy, also saying that the film was not “testing well”, and expensive reshoots were necessary.

It’s time to calm down, padawans.

Reshoots are not all that unusual, and were in fact done for The Force Awakens. They are done to help solidify the story when scenes need to be altered or added, which was exactly the reason they were done on the previous film. It allows for a tightened, superior film instead of something less so.

In addition, our sources tell us there have been no screenings for a test audience – only Disney brass have seen it outside the production team. And they simply want a solid movie in the franchise. A weak movie could have a detrimental effect on the following movies, including Episode VIII, and put future productions in jeopardy. Disney has the money, so they are going to pull out all the stops and make sure it is good.

The December 16th release date is not affected at this time as there was planned time for reshoots.

Hail Ceasar! star Alden Ehrenreich is in negotiations to play the young Han Solo for the upcoming untitled Star Wars anthology film, which will deal with the scoundrel smuggler’s adventures before the events of A New Hope, although an exact plot is unknown. The film is still in pre-production, with the directing duo of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The LEGO Movie).

The movie is currently scheduled for a May 25th, 2018 release.

“I rebel.”

It’s here…the first official teaser for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – and now we see when it takes place…and some familiar characters, and not-so-familiar characters but familiar faces…

In theaters December 16th, 2016.

And also check out below the new Force for Change campaign announcement from Kathleen Kennedy and a staring-intensely Mark Hamill…

This awesome teaser for the season finale of Star Wars Rebels looks back on the story of Ahsoka Tano and her former master Anakin Skywalker – leading up to a confrontation that is likely to be both epic and tragic.

The one hour long season finale airs March 30th at 9PM ET/PT on Disney XD.

Two industry passings were sadly reported this weekend.

Tony Dyson, who referred to himself as “R2-D2’s Dad”, passed away at the age of 68. While working at his own studio, the White Horse Toy Company, he was commissioned by George Lucas to turn Ralph McQuarrie’s sketches of a plug-shaped mechanical character into an astromech that would become the most loved droid in two galaxies.

On his web site Dyson wrote about the return of R2-D2 in Episode VII, “The love for R2 is universal; no other Star Wars character has been loved over the years the way R2-D2 has, his merchandising has rocketed over the years and his influence in the world of robotics is truly remarkable.”

Emmy-winning visual effect artist Gary Hutzel, who’s career shot starward when he helped define the look of Star Trek: The Next Generation including the infamous Borg Cube, as well as the U.S.S. Defiant design for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, passed away on Thursday at the age of 60.

Hutzel later worked in movies, including Red Planet and Spy Kids, but would return to television for Ronald D. Moore’s reboot of Battlestar Galactica, where he won two of his Emmys.