Sci-Fi Storm

This is cool…Facebook is now offering 3D video, which allows you to rotate your view while the video plays. And of course, this gets applied to Star Wars: The Force Awakens with a video where you speed along on the desert planet of Jakkku…check it out right here!

Just start the video, then click and drag in the frame…

The Royal Mail of the United Kingdom is issuing a commemorative set of stamps for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens on October 20th:

The stamps not only include the classic characters including Boba Fett and the Emeror/Darth Sidious, but also Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren from The Force Awakens.

Pre-orders are being accepted for stamp sheets as well as framed versions.

There has been an awakening…

A video posted by Star Wars (@starwars) on Aug 27, 2015 at 10:00am PDT

It looks like we are getting teased what may be a big part of this movie…but Finn looks rather unprepared…

Check out the article on our sister site for details, but if you have been waiting for a bigger theme park experience than Star Tours, you’re going to be very happy…

Here are some video soundbites from the panel members at the SDCC panel on Star Wars: The Force Awakens…

Director J.J. Abrams

Producer/writer Lawrence Kasdan and producer Kathleen Kennedy

Harrison Ford

John Boyega (Finn), Daisy Ridley (Rey) & Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron)

Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma) & Adam Driver (Kylo Ren)

The mystery Lucasfilm panel in Hall H was indeed for Star Wars (no surprise), but there were some surprises, such as Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford all being present for the panel along with all the new talent, and a behind-the-scenes sizzle reel that you can see below.

There wasn’t much surprising news…they are still editing the movie, with Disney giving them all the time they need. Lawrence Kasdan gave the nod to George Lucas for bringing him back on board, and the characters “never left his consciousness”, and he went “beserk” when he heard that J.J. Abrams was directing. The brought out a practical effects character, named “Bobbajo” or something like that, showing that they are doing all the practical effects they can with makeup and robotics, although CGI cannot be avoided. A flamethrower Stormtrooper and explosions shown were all real.

In the sizzle reel many of the actors can be seen. Simon Pegg is indeed appearing in the film, but it appears he will be in costume, so his face will not actually be seen. Peter Mayhew is back as Chewbacca and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, but Warwick Davis, who originally played Wicket the Ewok but also other characters in the prequel trilogy, could be seen on set as well. The sizzle reel gives me goosebumps – this is REAL, folks!

Actors appearing in the panel at various times: John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendolyn Christie, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford.

Gleeson’s character is definitely evil. Apparently because he is British 🙂

Harrison Ford’s foot is fine…he said he walked to the hall.

And now, the sizzle reel…

As I catch up on stuff while on a crappy airport wifi network, news broke yesterday that the next Star Wars anthology film will be a “Young Han Solo” film, focusing on how he became the smuggler, thief and scoundrel everyone loves. But perhaps even bigger is who will be directing the film – the duo of Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, who are responsible for The LEGO Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street, two of the hottest directors out there right now.

In a statement the two said, “This is the first film we’ve worked on that seems like a good idea to begin with. We promise to take risks, to give the audience a fresh experience, and we pledge ourselves to be faithful stewards of these characters who mean so much to us. This is a dream come true for us. And not the kind of dream where you’re late for work and all your clothes are made of pudding, but the kind of dream where you get to make a film with some of the greatest characters ever, in a film franchise you’ve loved since before you can remember having dreams at all.”

The screenplay is from Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jon Kasdan. The film is slated for a May 25th, 2018 release.

Actor Sir Christopher Lee, who has played many many roles but around these circles is perhaps best known for his portrayals of Saruman in Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth films and Count Dooku in the the Star Wars prequels, passed away on his birthday this past Sunday morning. He had just turned 93. He was in the hospital for several weeks being treated for respiratory and heart issues.

His wife Gitte, to whom he had been married for over 50 years, delayed the announcement while they informed closed family members.

Lee first became a star with the Hammer Horror films, including playing the title role in The Mummy and several memorable performances of Dracula. He was no stranger to other iconic roles, such as the title character in 5 Fu Manchu films in the 1960s, and a number of appearances as Sherlock Holmes.

In the 70s, he would take on James Bond as Scaramanga, The Man With the Golden Gun and played Rochefort in The Three Musketeers/The Four Musketeers and reprise the role in 1989’s The Return of the Musketeers. He also had a guest role in a memorable episode of Space: 1999 called “Earthbound”.

In later years he also appeared in or lent his booming voice to several Tim Burton movies, including Sleep Hollow, Alice In Wonderland, Corpse Bridge and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

He helped define generations of characters that forever will be remembered as the defining portrayals.

May Saruman find peace and travel into the West to the Undying Lands…

Wow…I’ve been to the London Madame Tussauds, and they can be frightfully real at times…well, I can say they really NAILED Qui-Gon Jinn. And the Han “Shot First” Solo isn’t bad either…
(continue reading…)

About 11 months later, the marriage between director Josh Trank and the Star Wars universe is over.

“After a year of having the incredible honor of developing with the wonderful and talented people at Lucasfilm, I’m making a personal decision to move forward on a different path,” Trank said via a press release on StarWars.com. “I’ve put a tremendous amount of thought into this, and I know deep down in my heart that I want to pursue some original creative opportunities. That said, the Star Wars universe has always been one of my biggest influences, and I couldn’t be more excited to witness its future alongside my millions of fellow Star Wars fans. I want to thank my friends Kathleen Kennedy, Kiri Hart, Simon Kinberg, and everyone at Lucasfilm and Disney for the amazing opportunity to have been a part of this. May the Force be with you all.”

Although this sounds like the typical “amicable” split, Rebel spies tell is otherwise. Trank was the director for the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot for Fox, which was produced by Simon Kinberg, who is also working at various levels in the upcoming Star Wars films and reportedly as a producer on Trank’s film, and was less than thrilled with Trank on the Fantastic Four film (which some circles believe was made just to stop the rights reverting back to Marvel). In addition, Trank was a no-show at Star Wars Celebration, having what he tweeted was the “worst flu of my life,” but rumors were that he was already on the way out and Disney asked him not to come.

So it remains to be seen who will take the center seat for this movie which is still in development, but if the current environment towards production dates holds, it should not delay the expected 2018 release date.