General Episode VIII News/Speculation/SPOILER Thread

[Golgo-13]

I am thinking Lucasfilm and Disney will play a Darth Maul for Han Solo in Episode VIII, and give him a robotic body and robotic legs.

How early in Han Solo's career is this going to take place? I woud love for Maul to be in this, but it would have to take place at the very least 10 years after EP III, and Maul would be pretty old by then….

 

[RockSP]

How early in Han Solo's career is this going to take place? I woud love for Maul to be in this, but it would have to take place at the very least 10 years after EP III, and Maul would be pretty old by then….

It reads to me like he's saying Han Solo will have robotic body/legs. Combine that with his previous post about no one surviving lightsaber injuries and I assume he's trying to be funny.

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

Well nice try...cause I don't think Han is coming back. He's good as dead. If he came back...his death would have zero importance to push the story forward. It would really lesson the impact on what Leia sensed when Han died, when Rey witnessed Han's death in anguish, and Chewie when he knew in that moment he lost his best friend forever. That moment when Han touched Ben's face...was the icing on the cake. It was so sad.

If Han was brought back in a way, it would cheapen what happened in TFA and pretty much, the trilogy in itself would...go down hill in a not so good way in terms of careless writing and direction. We don't want that now do we?

 

[Closerframe]

Given how Rian captured an ugly but realistic looking future in Looper, I'm hoping he continues with that, stylistically, with whatever he decides to add to Episode VIII. As many have mentioned, I definitely want an exploration of who the Knights of Ren are and why Kylo/Ben is their master given he hasn't completed his training through Snoke. I would also like Snoke to be killed off by Kylo, but I also like the idea that Benicio Del Toro's character is an extension of Snoke's brute force and he kind of pits the two of them against one another to see if Kylo will excel. I'd like to see Kylo, Del Toro, and Luke battle in a three way lightsaber duel closer to the end. Resulting in either Luke being killed off or Del Toro being betrayed by Kylo.

I am so much more excited for VIII because of the potential and Rian's ability to capture the darker sides of the characters he writes always is on point. 2018 can't come soon enough!

 

[GuestStar2004]

I don't see his death being the last we see of han solo for this trilogy because it feels a little empty and unresolved which while some may say thats what makes it a good death i'd argue thats not a great send off for this iconic character to be killed by his son the only thing he left to pass on his legacy

But at the same time i don't see them bringing him back from death as i think he was likely killed off for a reason and anything more will just be a glorified cameo

 

[Solidus]

According to MSW on top of the additional filming Rian did at Skellig Michael for VIII, they have rebuilt areas of it in the same lot where they built the opening Jakku village.

http://**************.net/2015/12/a...akens-set-returns-for-star-wars-episode-viii/

 

[RockSP]

I am so much more excited for VIII because of the potential and Rian's ability to capture the darker sides of the characters he writes always is on point. 2018 can't come soon enough!

You're so excited for Ep. 8 that you want to skip right over it!

 

[Lord]

According to the novelization, Snoke was around the Clone Wars and had many aprentices. It would probably be a stretch, but would love if Disney greenlighted another season or 2 to finish The Clone Wars's storyline, while also incorporating elements from the Sequel trilogy. Would be better than just seeing a younger Snoke in comic books.

 

[Marvolo]

Ive got the novelization audiobook on my phone. Need to get on that.

 

[TheVileOne]

Yeah, but I mean if Rian has different ideas about what Snoke is, he could change them. Just saying. We can't even take a novelization as gospel. Even parts about Rey's background could get changed by Johnson if Abrams and Kasdan left that purposefully vague for future filmmakers.

 

[Gianakin_]

I have complete faith in Rian and I think Ep8 is where all the essence of the ST will be. Having let TFA sink in and assessed all its (script) problems, I think JJ took the safe route and visually introduced elements in order for Rian to properly (and freely) explore them. TFA explained so little that Rian can do whatever he wants at this point.

 

[chamber-music]

Poe and General Hux need a Ex Machina reunion.

Hux "You destroyed my Starkiller!"
Poe "I'm going to destroy this dancefloor"

 

[TheVileOne]

I have complete faith in Rian and I think Ep8 is where all the essence of the ST will be. Having let TFA sink in and assessed all its (script) problems, I think JJ took the safe route and visually introduced elements in order for Rian to properly (and freely) explore them. TFA explained so little that Rian can do whatever he wants at this point.

In other words, Abrams and Kasdan might not have even fully formed all these ideas that Johnson will/has ultimately flesh out. They might have had inklings that Johnson might completely change.

 

[Gianakin_]

Exactly. I meant to post an "I agree" to your previous post but I forgot.

Also, Nunb might be back for VIII.

 

[Marvolo]

In other words, Abrams and Kasdan might not have even fully formed all these ideas that Johnson will/has ultimately flesh out. They might have had inklings that Johnson might completely change.

Abrams worked with Rian on the story of Episode 8 and Rian was around during the production of TFA. Abrams said that some of Rians ideas were ideas Abrams and Kasdan had and some of Rian's ideas were different but no less great.

 

[Solidus]

Abrams worked with Rian on the story of Episode 8 and Rian was around during the production of TFA. Abrams said that some of Rians ideas were ideas Abrams and Kasdan had and some of Rian's ideas were different but no less great.

I was just going to post that. JJ will be involved with all three. And him and Rian worked a lot together while he was filming VII and Rian was writing VIII.

 

[BatLobster]

[YT]pJZ6HyZuftU[/YT]

Something kind of interesting I noticed towards the end of this video here (around the 5:00 mark)...Lucas mentions how other directors are coming in and he "has an idea of what's going on" with the next two movies. So it seems he's back in the loop again after his prior comments about it being a divorce and needing a clean break, etc.

My personal feeling- as Lucas noted in his recent apology statement, the Charlie Rose interview was recorded before he saw the film. The hurt from Disney throwing out his ideas for VII was probably more raw, as he seemed to assume the worst and feared the movie wouldn't even be about family issues anymore- which is clearly still was. Meanwhile Kennedy herself has repeatedly said that the changes were par for the course in terms of normal changes that happen over the course of the development process and that they mostly shuffled around the order of things. (IE- Kylo turned to the dark side prior to the events of the film, whereas Ardnt's original drafts had young male and female characters train, and one falls to the dark side by the end).

I think now that Lucas has seen the film he seems to be more at ease about the overall direction of the trilogy, and I'd also bet that Rian Johnson has recently met with him based on his comment in that video.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

So when's the new VIII forum opening? Principal production starts this month.

 

[Marvolo]

[YT]pJZ6HyZuftU[/YT]

Something kind of interesting I noticed towards the end of this video here (around the 5:00 mark)...Lucas mentions how other directors are coming in and he "has an idea of what's going on" with the next two movies. So it seems he's back in the loop again after his prior comments about it being a divorce and needing a clean break, etc.

My personal feeling- as Lucas noted in his recent apology statement, the Charlie Rose interview was recorded before he saw the film. The hurt from Disney throwing out his ideas for VII was probably more raw, as he seemed to assume the worst and feared the movie wouldn't even be about family issues anymore- which is clearly still was. Meanwhile Kennedy herself has repeatedly said that the changes were par for the course in terms of normal changes that happen over the course of the development process and that they mostly shuffled around the order of things. (IE- Kylo turned to the dark side prior to the events of the film, whereas Ardnt's original drafts had young male and female characters train, and one falls to the dark side by the end).

I think now that Lucas has seen the film he seems to be more at ease about the overall direction of the trilogy, and I'd also bet that Rian Johnson has recently met with him based on his comment in that video.

He saw the film weeks ago.

 

[TheVileOne]

Saying he hadn't seen it yet is nothing more than damage control.

The fact is, what we saw on Charlie Rose was Lucas having an honest moment. Maybe he's in the wrong, but he was being honest. He tried to make a joke, he delivered it poorly. Rose completely left him off the hook, because he's Charlie Rose, and there you have it.

When Lucas says the movie is something fans will like and it's something they've been waiting for, it's basically his version of him saying he doesn't like it. He's saying the new movie is basically pandering to the fans and it's not as good as his vision.

And you know what? I have no problem with that. Lucas is entitled to his opinion. He created this franchise. But he still made a bad joke. But his apology is nothing more than damage control.

It's clear he's having some sellers remorse and he's having some trouble with that.

 

[Marvolo]

Lucas would probably love nothing more than to be able to "special edition-ize" TFA.

 

[Compi716]

The Charlie Rose interview was recorded in November the latest, as evident by this piece: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-lucas-on-why-he-is-done-directing-star-wars/. It's very fair to say he hadn't seen the movie yet.

 

[BatLobster]

Yes, the interview was obviously recorded months ago. CBS has been dolling out little clips of it for a while now, it was only recently that they posted the entire thing and the "white slavers" comment got out.

I think Lucas understandably has mixed feelings on TFA. It's not his vision, but I think he can recognize that it's a well-directed, well-acted film that will please the fans. He seemed genuine to me when he was complimenting the new cast in the video I posted from the European premiere. I think he's just too close to it and his feelings are so complicated, it's impossible for him to just give an honest opinion in a soundbite. Hence he does the best he can to be diplomatic and says the fans will love it. Kathy said George "liked" the movie, so there's that too. Basically, he clearly doesn't love it, but I highly doubt he hates it either.

Anyway, my point was more about how he seemed kind of excited about the new directors coming in and him saying he has an idea of what they're going to do and he knows what's going on. That seems like he's softened a bit from the whole "it's like a breakup, you need a clean break" mindset from the Charlie Rose interview, because the only thing that makes sense is after he saw the movie he wanted back into the loop about what Rian Johnson's ideas are and possibly felt more confident that the movies will go in a more fresh direction- which is what most fans want too, btw. And this isn't mere damage control spin, because that premiere was before all the controversy happened.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

So when's the new VIII forum opening? Principal production starts this month.

http://forums.superherohype.com/forumdisplay.php?f=781

And there it is.