Game of Thrones Duo Drops Out of Star Wars Trilogy

Hot off ending Game of Thrones to (mostly) critical acclaim, the writing duo David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were supposed to create the next Star Wars trilogy to follow after conclusion of the Skywalker Saga starting in 2022. Shortly after that they also signed a $100,000,000 plus figure deal with Netflix to create for the streaming service. Apparently the battle of the mega bucks was too much as the pair announced "There are only so many hours in the day, and we felt we could not do justice to both Star Wars and our Netflix projects. So we are regretfully stepping away [from Star Wars]."

While money usually is a root cause of most things Hollywood, I can't help but wonder if cold feet played a part. Fans have had their doubts the team could produce an interesting Star Wars trilogy considering what Game of Thrones became once they left the guidance of George R.R. Martin's books with a focus on amazing visuals bound by mostly cliched story lines and predictable character arcs. Which to be fair is a writing style that is actually perfect for Star Wars. Then again even a cursory glance at their IMDB writing credits like X-Men Origins: Wolverine (the one that somehow got Deadpool wrong), Troy, and Gemini Man doesn't exactly instill confidence in even that low bar. End result is if you are a fan of the duo, Netflix will be your source for something at some point in the future. Until then, it looks like Lucasfilm is on the hunt for someone else to take the reigns. Good luck to whoever next enters the Star Wars gauntlet (but no, just no, to JJ Abrams as he had his shot and didn't take it).

The Mandalorian Final Trailer

With the premiere of Disney+ just a touch over 2 weeks away, they have released the final trailer for The Mandalorian that will start streaming with the service on November 12.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker D23 Teaser

Took a few days but Disney released its teaser from D23 Expo for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The first half of it is quick moments from the previous episodes in order of box office release, not episode order for some reason. The second half is almost all new scenes that look great but really can't read much into them. Except the final bit with Rey and her double-blade. That screams force dream.

Star Wars Mandarlorian Trailer, New Skywalker Poster, Obi-Wan Series and Other News

This weekend D23 Expo (D for Disney + year of founding in 1923) was held in Anaheim, California. Disney used that time to show off a bunch of news about various Disney properties and Disney+ plans. On the Star Wars front its pretty straight-forward but light on details. Here are the main things:

- Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7 comes February 2020 on Disney+. The 12 episode series will show the near end of the Clone Wars and so final time period of the Jedi including the Siege of Mandalore.

- New The Mandalorian trailer below. Series set five years after Return of the Jedi (remember the EU of previous 30 years was trash-canned). The series will debut on Disney+ on November 12.

- Obi-Wan TV series set for Disney+. Ewan McGregor will reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi. This series is retooled from the planned movie but Han Solo's box office failure caused Disney to put the brakes on future movies. No other detail were released.

- New Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker poster (below). A featurette was shown but not posted online. Just quick glimpses of characters, quick shot of Rey and Kylo fighting, and later Rey holding a dual-bladed red lightsaber.

- Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge expansion will include "Star Wars: Galactic Star Cruiser" which is a Star Wars themed hotel in a starship shape. It will have activities and designs to create an "emmersive experience" including windows that look out into space. As for pricing, well a cabin for five starts at $3,300.

Game of Thrones Creators to Tackle Star Wars for 2022

Last week Disney announced that a new trilogy of Star Wars films would start up on an every other year schedule. The assumption was it was the long rumored trilogy that Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were working on. All those assumptions have been proven correct from Disney CEO Bob Iger. The big wig commented on the plan at an investor thing in New York. He also verified that the upcoming film will be the last until then with now more origin stories planned saying "it would be smart for us to take a bit of a hiatus while we figure out what’s next. The conclusion that we reached was that three years was the proper amount of time to not only take a breather and reset, but to really gear up for the next film’s release.”

- December 16, 2022 - Untitled Star Wars
- December 20, 2024 - Untitled Star Wars
- December 18, 2026 - Untitled Star Wars

Three New Star Wars Films Scheduled

Today Disney announced a slate of new movies that in the planning stages for the next half decade or so. The schedule includes Star Wars which now has three movies planned with the first arriving in 2022. No other details were announced about the films or even if these is a new trilogy (its obviously a new trilogy). Disney is combining these films with Avatar so their grand plan is pretty simple, own every Christmas box office for the next 6 or so years.

- May 1, 2020 - Untitled Marvel film
- December 2020 - Cruella de Vil film
- November 6, 2020 - Untitled Marvel film
- May 7, 2021 - Untitled Marvel Film
- July 9, 2021 - Indiana Jones 5
- November 5, 2021 - Untitled Marvel film
- December 17, 2021 - Avatar 2
- February 18, 2022 - Untitled Marvel film
- May 6, 2022 - Untitled Marvel film
- July 29, 2022 - Untitled Marvel film
- December 16, 2022 - Untitled Star Wars
- December 22, 2023 - Avatar 3
- December 20, 2024 - Untitled Star Wars
- December 19, 2025 - Avatar 4
- December 18, 2026 - Untitled Star Wars
- December 17, 2027 - Avatar 5

R.I.P. Peter Mayhew

The greatest, original Wookiee has died. Peter Mayhew, world famous for his role as Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, died at the age of 74. The news was announced via tweet on his twitter account that said "The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away. He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home." The actor played Chewbacca in Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Revenge of the Sith and for the last time with The Force Awakens before handing off the role to his stunt double Joonas Suotamo.

His long time co-star Harrison Ford wrote:

"Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character," said the actor. "These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca. We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him. He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience."

"Chewbacca was an important part of the success of the films we made together. He knew how important the fans of the franchise were to its continued success and he was devoted to them. I and millions of others will never forget Peter and what he gave us all. My thoughts are with his dear wife Angie and his children. Rest easy, my dear friend…. "

Mark Hamill tweeted:

He was the gentlest of giants-A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who I loved dearly-I'm grateful for the memories we shared & I'm a better man for just having known him. Thanks Pete

Billy Dee Williams wrote:

Much more than Chewie to me...My heart hurts…I will miss you my dear friend…thanks for the great memories! #RIPPeterMayhew #StarWars

From Kathleen Kennedy:

"We are deeply saddened today by the news of Peter Mayhew’s passing. Since 1976, Peter’s iconic portrayal of the loyal, lovable Chewbacca has been absolutely integral to the character’s success, and to the Star Wars saga itself."

However, I think Alan Tudyk summed it up best:

Peter Mayhew created one of the greatest film characters of all time. Chewbacca was funny, courageous, and caring. He did it all without the benefit of speech, just that vocal growly cry that 1 in 100 fans can do real well when they're drunk. #RIP

Ending on Rise of Skywalker Gets a Different Beat

In an interview with /Film, Daisy Ridley briefly discussed that the ending to Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker changed as production continued with the film. Its actually pretty normal for a film to change as it goes from the script, filming, and then editing phase. Its said a film is made three times as a result and most of the time those changes can result in three wildly different films from source point.

“J.J. had told me [the ending], and then I read the script, and then it was sort of shifting. The ending was always pretty similar, and then I was told there was sort of a new—I guess a slightly different beat added that I was told, which was awesome. Because it’s nice to be told the thing and then you can like experience it with the filmmaker. But also, we don’t know how it’s gonna turn out. We did the thing on this side of the camera, so we don’t know how it’s gonna turn out. So I’m as excited to see it as everyone else.”

Ultimately I suspect that JJ Abrams will have been forced to retcon most of The Last Jedi out of necessity to tell decent ending to the Skywalker saga. In that film the Rebellion was decimated (which makes a climatic fight between good and evil forces difficult), the big bad was killed (Snope), and supposedly Rey's parentage was unimportant. Fixing all those is pretty easy and takes, what 30 seconds of screen time? All is takes is one characters commenting how the Rebellion is ready to defeat the First Order thanks to support from the Republic, explain Rey's parent are important by having her discover who they are, and the simple act of replacing Snope and Luke with Force Ghost Emperor and Force Ghost Luke. The nature of the set up is the finale would be a final fight between The First Order vs Rebellion and (for 3rd time) Kylo vs Rey so the only role Luke and Emperor/Snope had was giving advice to their proteges. Being dead doesn't change that role. To be honest my only real concern is this is shaping up to feel like a re-hash of Return of the Jedi. I hope I am wrong on that.

The Mandalorian Panel Teases Upcoming Star Wars TV Show

On Sunday at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, the first panel for The Mandalorian was held. The 8-episode season will premiere with Disney+ on November 12, 2019. Below is a video of most of the panel with executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni with cast members Carl Weathers (playing Greef), Pedro Pascal (playing The Mandalorian) and Gina Carano (playing Cara Dune, an ex-rebel shocktrooper) later joining the panel. I say most because a behind the scenes featurette, scene, and trailer was shown to audiences at the Panel but not shown during the stream but below is a fan recording of it but don't be surprised if its pulled by Disney.

Info wise, it was pretty light on details. The show takes place 5 years after Return of the Jedi, with galaxy in a bit of disarray due to the fall of the Empire and its enforced order. Favreau described it as "inspired by the end of the Samurai in Japan and the post-civil war west in America." The Mandalorian's ship is called Razorcrest.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars 6th Season Announcement Trailer

Sunday at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, the team and cast behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars announced that a sixth season is coming to the Disney+ streaming service. The 12 episode season will cover the Siege of Mandalore (planet that the armored bounty hunters like Boba Fett come from) along with a few other stories. No reason date except that will be at some point in 2020.

Star Wars: Episode IX Official Title and Trailer

Today is the beginning of Star Wars Celebration in Chicago and with it comes the first real news regarding Star Wars: Episode IX. The official title is Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker as revealed in a visually stunning teaser trailer that reveals nothing story wise. This is considered the conclusion of the "Skywalker Saga", after which Disney plans to take a brief hiatus of unknown number of years before they start up with a new saga. The movie hits theaters December 20, 2019. Screenshots with potential explanations here.

Disney+ Details With Another Star Wars Series

Thursday as part of the Investor's Day, Disney finally revealed some concrete details about their upcoming Disney+ streaming service that is designed to compete directly with Netflix. Part of this includes bringing out some big guns from their various properties including three Marvel shows and two Star Wars live action shows.

Specifically on the Star Wars front, The Mandalorian will be an 8 episode season and premiere with the service on its first day along with Episode I through VI of Star Wars. For unspecified reasons, the 201X created films will not be available until later.

The other Star Wars show, to premiere at a date date will star Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk as they reprise their Star Wars: Rogue One characters of Cassian and droid K-2SO. The show is described as "thrilling spy series." No other details were provided except that Stephen Schiff (The Americans) will be the showrunner. Other Star Wars programming is in the works including a documentary and another season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars but no release dates on those either.

Details:

The Star Wars Saga Fan Supertrailer

Below is an epic five minute long trailer that uses footage from every Star Wars related movie to date to create a rather epic trailer for the franchise. Co-edited by Topher Grace (yep That 70s Show actor) and Jeff Yorkes, it is actually very good considering talking about 10 movies. At the very least it might be a useful way to introduce a newbie (good luck finding one of those) to the franchise.

Star Wars: Episode IX Wraps Principle Photography

In a tweet, director JJ Abrams revealed that Star Wars: Episode IX finished principle photography as the cast hugged it out. John Boyega also tweeted a message, "That’s a wrap on Star Wars episode 9 and the end to a chapter of my life that I couldn’t be more thankful for. What a process! It really has been a joy to be in these movies surrounded by amazing people. JJ thank you for making my dreams come true." This is about the sum-total of what we know of the film as Abrams successfully kept his cone of silence going throughout the production. The movie will hit theaters on December 20, 2019.

It feels impossible, but today wrapped photography on Episode IX. There is no adequate way to thank this truly magical crew and cast. I’m forever indebted to you all. pic.twitter.com/138AprtFuZ

— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) February 15, 2019

Star Wars Resistance Mid-Season Trailer

Here is the mid-season trailer Star Wars Resistance season 1 that starts back up on January 13 on Disney Channel. Of note is it seems the show takes place just before and parallel to the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.