The Force Awakens General Star Wars Episode VII News/Speculation Thread

[MistaBinks]

For all the hate, TPM had incredible legs at the box office. One of the last films to do so. I believe Shrek is one of the few films since TPM to have as long of a stay in theaters. Ticket prices have gone up quite a bit since 1999. TPM also didn't benefit from IMAX or 3D surcharges.

 

[DigificWriter]

I wonder how all this Disney/new trilogy business will affect the ongoing 3D saga releases.'

It won't; 20th Century FOX retains distribution rights for the existing films in the Saga for the foreseeable future. The distribution rights to Episode IV will remain with FOX in perpetuity (unless some sort of deal is worked out between them, Lucasfilm, and Disney), but the distribution rights to Episodes I, II, III, V, and VI will revert to the control of Lucasfilm and Disney in 2020.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

I'd be stunned if there isn't a deal between Fox/Disney so they can retain distribution rights.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Nick Gillard did all three films choreography. I happen to love all of them.

Maybe (if they bring him back) they'll give his his yellow lightsaber this time.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Wes Anderson's "Star Wars: Episode VII" Audition Tape

 

[Octoberist]

Confirmed:

As pre-production of Star Wars: Episode VII begins, Lucasfilm has confirmed that award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay for the new Star Wars film. As revealed in the ongoing video series posted here on StarWars.com, Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas have begun story conferences with Arndt. Arndt won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay for writing Little Miss Sunshine (2006), and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for writing Toy Story 3 (2010).

http://starwars.com/news/michael-arndt-to-write-screenplay-for-star-wars-episode- vii.html

 

[GreySpider]

i am not excited about the choice of writer at all honestly

 

[Tacit Ronin]

At least we won't get stilted soap opera dialogue this time.

 

[TX85]

I'm fine with his work so far But I'm not sure IF he can handle writing a major sci-fi film and do the Star Wars name justice?

What I'm dying to know about the film is the story/direction of the new trilogy and IF the tone will be the most family/kid friendly SW film so fa(likely)or will it be serious and build up a dark film in the trilogy like EP III&V

 

[Duran Man]

I don't know who Michael Arndt is, so *shrugs*

 

[Octoberist]

I don't know who Michael Arndt is, so *shrugs*

Not to be rude but please Google him or watch his movies. Your statement is so strangely apathetic and ignorant that it can't even warrant a decent discussion out of it. Sounds like you dont care and don't care to find out.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'm fine with his work so far But I'm not sure IF he can handle writing a major sci-fi film and do the Star Wars name justice?

What I'm dying to know about the film is the story/direction of the new trilogy and IF the tone will be the most family/kid friendly SW film so fa(likely)or will it be serious and build up a dark film in the trilogy like EP III&V

Well he wrote Oblivion and he's writing the Hunger Games sequel.

And I mean c'mon, Toy Story 3. It's all set on earth but it's a huge like childhood fantasy adventure story really.

 

[Human Torch]

I don't know who Michael Arndt is, so *shrugs*

Same here.

 

[flickchick85]

While I never would have put him on the list for this project, I do like Arndt's work, so I guess I'd have to say Episode VII's off to a good start.

 

[Herolee10]

If the quality of his writing remains consistent when going into this film and we get one hell of a cast and crew attached to the film, we may get our first Star Wars film that's all around GREAT and AWESOME to both the fans and public since...since "The Empire Strikes Back".

 

[747]

Arndt's writing is a combination of funny and emotional. I dig it.

 

[Spider-Gnome]

If the quality of his writing remains consistent when going into this film and we get one hell of a cast and crew attached to the film, we may get our first Star Wars film that's all around GREAT and AWESOME to both the fans and public since...since "The Empire Strikes Back".

If they pull that off, that would be amazing!

 

[Marvolo]

If the quality of his writing remains consistent when going into this film and we get one hell of a cast and crew attached to the film, we may get our first Star Wars film that's all around GREAT and AWESOME to both the fans and public since...since "The Empire Strikes Back".

Empire Strikes Back wasn't praised when it came out like it is today or so I have heard. Hopefully this new film will be praised right out the gate.

 

[Solidus]

Empire Strikes Back wasn't praised when it came out like it is today or so I have heard. Hopefully this new film will be praised right out the gate.

I've heard many mixed things on that. I think adults liked it much more, but kids a little less because it had a "downer" of an ending. I think that is what really happened then and still now. I remember when I was younger and first saw the OT in the late 80's I preferred the original and ROTJ over TESB. But as I got older, that changed.

My father said that most of his friends loved ESB the best from the get go. He said the "I am your father" twist was so out of the blue, they could not stop talking about it. It fleshed out the characters and made you like them more.

Though I can't speak for everyone. I know now critics usually agree the ESB is still the strongest one in terms of everything else. I think it was still universally loved, because it was Star Wars still and very exciting, I think the ending just threw some off, many became so attached to Han my dad was saying they really at the time had no idea if he was going to make it or not.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

I've heard many mixed things on that. I think adults liked it much more, but kids a little less because it had a "downer" of an ending. I think that is what really happened then and still now. I remember when I was younger and first saw the OT in the late 80's I preferred the original and ROTJ over TESB. But as I got older, that changed.

My father said that most of his friends loved ESB the best from the get go. He said the "I am your father" twist was so out of the blue, they could not stop talking about it. It fleshed out the characters and made you like them more.

Though I can't speak for everyone. I know now critics usually agree the ESB is still the strongest one in terms of everything else. I think it was still universally loved, because it was Star Wars still and very exciting, I think the ending just threw some off, many became so attached to Han my dad was saying they really at the time had no idea if he was going to make it or not.

As a kid I was the same way, although my reasoning was less on the ending because I knew Han would make it, and more because TESB doesn't have any kind of cool space battle. Now, before anyone points it out, all the stuff of the Falcon getting chased is awesome, but as a kid I wanted X-wings and TIE Fighters and explosions everywhere. I was basically kid Michael Bay in this situation.
It actually reminds me of my favorite moment in Shadows of the Empire for N64, in that the final battle had you as a hired merc, fighting Xizor who was of course Black Sun, and you had the Empire and Rebellion breifly working together to take him down. TIEs and X-Wings everywhere shooting down Black Sun ships and such. Was just really cool to me back then.


Now TESB is my favorite.

 

[ericadawn16]

As a little kid, I liked ROTJ the best because of the Ewoks but as I got a little older, I liked ESB better because it has more Yoda. Then, ROTJ became too sad for me because everyone dies...or at least the important ones.

 

[paladinryan]

ROTJ is unfairly criticized. It has the best special effects, the best creatures, and some of the deepest iconography/morality/mythology in it. For what it's worth, I've taught all three of these films this semester (alongside medieval literature), and ROTJ has gotten the best, most interesting papers written on it.

I'll take the maligned Ewoks over the Navi anyday.

 

[Viral]

For the people that didn't know who Kathleen Kennedy was before The Deal.

http://starwars7news.blogspot.com/2012/11/who-is-kathleen-kennedy.html

I think she is very capable and her appointment was a great move. We can expect great things from Arndt writing and Kennedy producing. We're just waiting for the final piece of the puzzle.

 

[Nathan]

I hope they put some series effort in making the use of the Force believable. It wasn't all the time, but there were a lot of moments in the Prequel Trilogy, where it just seemed too fake when people were using the Force. And I guess it was partially the actor's fault. Like Christopher Lee, he'd wave and point his hands, electricity would shoot out from his fingertips, but he didn't sell that he was commanding the force. It was all so effortlessly.

Heck, CGI Yoda sold the use of the Force better. Like he had to put some effort and concentration into deflecting the objects coming at him.

 

[Solidus]

ROTJ is unfairly criticized. It has the best special effects, the best creatures, and some of the deepest iconography/morality/mythology in it. For what it's worth, I've taught all three of these films this semester (alongside medieval literature), and ROTJ has gotten the best, most interesting papers written on it.

I'll take the maligned Ewoks over the Navi anyday.

It's still a good film, but I disagree with the iconography of ROTJ. Some of the greatest shots are from the first two films. The opening shot of Star Wars, Luke and the Binary sun set. Vader's first appearance. The entire battle of Yavin. Empire as well, from pretty much anything from the battle of Hoth and the AT-AT's Carbonite chamber, Luke's battle, Han being frozen, the Fett man. Vader reaching out to Luke after cutting off his hand. Yoda bringing the X-Wing out of the swamp. Though I know ROTJ has some great imagery, I think it pales in comparison to the first two.