Star Wars Episode VII Discussion, News, Interviews (12/18/2015)

[cooleddie74]

It's a good strategy. Face it: Vader now screams "NOOOOOO" when he throws the Emperor to his death, "Jedi Rocks" has replaced "Lapti Nek" and Ewoks now blink. Whether a fan likes the changes made to the films over the years or thinks they're the waste product of an alien herd animal, they're not going anywhere and Disney bought the Lucas-altered versions of the films.

Besides, it's not the worst thing in the history of cinema that Hayden Christensen is now Anakin's Force ghost in the final moments of Jedi. It's still Anakin, and Sebastian Shaw was left intact in his other scenes. I'd still correct Greedo shooting first because it's just dumber than uneducated dirt, but whaddya gonna do.

 

[Set Harth]

That could work, and I just remembered that as of the last round of revisions Anakin's spirit in ROTJ was Hayden.

That was actually the next-to-last round of revisions.

 

[Christopher]

There's one revision I'd really like to see: In Episodes II and III, dub over Hayden Christensen's voice with Mark Hamill. Or at least Matt Lanter.

 

[Campe]

I'm really curious to see what kind of tone Abrams goes for with this movie, and whether it will it be fairly light and fun like ANH (which is kinda what you'd expect from him) or something darker and more serious like ESB.

Light and fun is what you expect from Abrams? This is a guy who inaugurated his Star Trek tenure by killing Kirk's father and blowing up all of Vulcan. His series Alias began with the lead character having her boyfriend murdered and discovering that she was working for an evil spy organization. Sure, there's some fun, wild adventure in Abrams's shows and films, but there's usually a fair amount of tragedy and pain as well.

Yeah, and Luke Skywalker's life was all fun and games too. I mean, come on, in the first film alone, his Aunt and Uncle were turned into BeruBeque, he almost was drowned and later smushed in a trash compactor and his mentor and boyhood best friend were killed. Yet I wouldn't consider A New Hope to be a tragic film.

 

[Christopher]

^But that's exactly my point. Just because a story has light and fun elements, that doesn't mean it's devoid of darker or more thoughtful elements. I mean, even TESB isn't that dark a film. It has a dark ending, but it's got plenty of humor and fun and action.

 

[JD]

There's one revision I'd really like to see: In Episodes II and III, dub over Hayden Christensen's voice with Mark Hamill. Or at least Matt Lanter.

Or even just digitally replace Christensen with Matt Lanter. After seeing Lanter in Star-Crossed, I could see him as a good physical Anakin along with the voice.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

'Star Wars: Episode VII' Casting: It's Not Over Yet

If you think the Star Wars: Episode VII casting process is finished, the Force is not strong with you.

Several sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that director J.J. Abrams has another substantial role to fill — and it's a female part. No further details are known

 

[AgentCoop]

'Star Wars: Episode VII' Casting: It's Not Over Yet

If you think the Star Wars: Episode VII casting process is finished, the Force is not strong with you.

Several sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that director J.J. Abrams has another substantial role to fill — and it's a female part. No further details are known

Rampant fan speculation about Mara Jade in 3...2...

 

[EnterpriseF]

I have heard no mention of Lando returning. Does anyone know if Billy D will be in the new one?

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I have heard no mention of Lando returning. Does anyone know if Billy D will be in the new one?

Many are wondering about BDW's absence from most talk about this film.

 

[Trek Survivor]

I have heard no mention of Lando returning. Does anyone know if Billy D will be in the new one?

Many are wondering about BDW's absence from most talk about this film.

I read (maybe on rebelscum.com) that he's physically not that well and didn't feel he could do it when he was approached.

 

[AgentCoop]

^How bad could his physical condition be? He was just on "Dancing With The Stars", for crying out loud!

 

[Christopher]

There's one revision I'd really like to see: In Episodes II and III, dub over Hayden Christensen's voice with Mark Hamill. Or at least Matt Lanter.

Or even just digitally replace Christensen with Matt Lanter. After seeing Lanter in Star-Crossed, I could see him as a good physical Anakin along with the voice.

I think that would be needlessly complicated. My only problem with Christensen's performance was his voice. But I have had the thought that if they wanted to shoot any new live-action appearances of Anakin in future movies, Lanter could fill the role.

^How bad could his physical condition be? He was just on "Dancing With The Stars", for crying out loud!

So what you're saying is, his body's in good shape, but his career is at death's door?

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

I'm kind of impressed with the cast. Seems to be solid character actors.

 

[cooleddie74]

^How bad could his physical condition be? He was just on "Dancing With The Stars", for crying out loud!

Yeah, seriously. Peter Mayhew's been in worse physical shape than Billy Dee (and for quite a long while now) and Chewbacca's confirmed as coming back in the new film. If they don't use Lando it'll be because they just don't want to.

 

[Reverend]

^How bad could his physical condition be? He was just on "Dancing With The Stars", for crying out loud!

Yeah, seriously. Peter Mayhew's been in worse physical shape than Billy Dee (and for quite a long while now) and Chewbacca's confirmed as coming back in the new film. If they don't use Lando it'll be because they just don't want to.

You know it's entirely possible that he is in it and they're saving the announcement till later. Either way, odds are he wouldn't have much to do besides a cameo, so it's not that surprising they haven't mentioned him as part of the main cast. On the other hand, he may not be in it at all having decided a mere cameo would do the character a disservice, so they're saving him for EpVIII and/or IX.

Remember, May 4th is just a few days away and there's SDCC after that, so I suspect they'll be pacing out the fan service reveals for quite some time. This is after all a JJ Abrams joint. Mystery box, viral marketing etc. etc.

TLDR: calm down, let's wait and see.

 

[Masiral]

^How bad could his physical condition be? He was just on "Dancing With The Stars", for crying out loud!

And he dropped out due to his physical condition, so it could be worse than we think.

 

[Skywalker]

Let's remember that Billy Dee Williams isn't exactly a spring chicken anymore. He just recently turned 77.

 

[cooleddie74]

At least throw Wedge in there. It'd be a nice consolation prize to have Wedge back in the movies as a revered and high-ranking officer or statesman of the New Republic. Besides, if they insert Ewan into the movie as Obi-Wan's Force ghost it'd be a bit of a family reunion since actor Denis Lawson is McGregor's real-life maternal uncle.

 

[davejames]

DWTS is such a physically demanding show that I don't think we should really draw any conclusions from that. People much younger than him have dropped out as well for different reasons.