Tag: Star Wars

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The Art of The Mandalorian (Season 1)

CONCEPT ART LENDS TO THE VISUAL DEPICTION OF IDEAS THAT GIVE HOPE TO A GREAT FILM.

 

Back when George Lucas was making Star Wars he thought it would be a good idea to have concept art to sort of frame in thoughts and to help the creative process of movie making. That idea has grown and now concept art for any movie is now a staple part of the final product. So it works for movies, but how about shows?

Decommissioned Stormtroopers
The Art of The Mandalorian
Artist: Brian Mayyas

The Mandalorian premiered, November 27, 2019 and became the must see show. Before the show could be, Lucasfilm and its art department started to bring ideas to life. In what very well could be the best concept art book, The Art of The Mandalorian offers outstanding concepts and as always some was used some ended up on the cutting room floor.

What sets The Mandalorian art book apart from other Star Wars art books is it is darker in tone. That is not a bad thing, after all the first season was a bit dark. Another aspect of the book that separates it from the others is that there is much more character concepts. In the other Art of Star Wars books there is a balance between characters, ships and planets. In the Art of The Mandalorian it is character heavy.

Mudhorn Sculpt Revised
The Art of The Mandalorian
Artist’s Doug Chiang and Tony McVey

As in most art books knowing the artist and the work they do comes by understanding what they excel in. While everything fits under the Star Wars umbrella, all the artists are truly unique and no artists work can be mistaken for another. That is part of the joy of these books, getting to know an artist and the skill-sets they have.

Kenner Vehicle Front Version 02
The Art of The Mandalorian
Artist: Ryan Church

The Art of The Mandalorian (Season 1) is a beautiful book, the art is stunning and it is easy to see why the concept art sets up what is shown and what is not. this is a must have for any Star Wars or art fan.

Up next: The Art of The Mandalorian Season 2

 

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Lando no longer intended to be a streaming show, it will now be a movie

As you may be aware Solo: A Star Wars Story is a favorite of mine. The movie was unfairly panned by fans due to poor box office reception of The Last Jedi. Donald Glover who portrayed a young Lando Calrissian was one of the standout performances of the film. It was said that a Lando show was being developed by Disney/Lucasfilm and now that project has turned into a full length feature film.

Lucasfilm logo displayed on a phone screen and The Walt Disney Company logo displayed on a screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on August 20, 2022. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Donald Glover and his brother Stephen who is a screenwriter revealed on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast the revelation the beloved Star Wars character would be returning to the big screen.

No development or negotiation of the film is taking place right now as the writers strike is raging on. That has not fully stopped the project as the Glover brothers had already done development and continue to write and rewrite as they are a duo.

The Lando show was first announced in 2020 with screenwriter Justin Simien who since has been replaced by Stephen Glover. What the now movie will focus around is anyone’s guess.

I will venture my own guess, I believe what could be at the core of the show is how Lando Calrissian wins control of Cloud City from Baron Administrator, Dominic Raynor in Calrissian’s favorite game, Sabacc. Raynor was so enraged he hired Bounty Hunter Bossk to inflect revenge on Lando.

Not that the show will focus on that but it would be interesting and would also help the overall Sta Wars story. Still it is exciting to hear that Lando Calrissian will be headed back to the big screen and this could be the right move.

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The Last Jedi is getting some love from Ahsoka

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is perhaps the most controversial movie not only in the Sequel Trilogy but all the Star Wars films. Near the end of the film a child uses the Force and moves a broom into his hand setting the fan base into a revolt. Yet, in all reality it jives with what Star Wars is about also what George Lucas has said about the Force.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 07: George Lucas attends MoMA’s Party in the Garden 2022 at The Museum of Modern Art on June 7, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Museum of Modern Art )

In 1981, in The Making of Return of the Jedi book George Lucas, screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan along with director Richard Marquand were going over the story line:

Kasdan: The Force was available to anyone who could hook into it?

Lucas: Yes, everybody can do it.

Kasdan: Not just the Jedi?

Lucas: It’s just the Jedi who take the time to do it.

Marquand: They use it as a technique.

Lucas: Like yoga. If you want to take the time to do it, you can do it; but the ones that really want to do it are the ones who are into that kind of thing. Also like karate.

The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson was right to use a child to illustrate what Lucas had said 41 year’s prior. Now Dave Filoni is diving deeper into this aspect of the Force on Ahsoka.

Sabine Wren, who is being trained by Ahsoka is not a Force user or a Jedi she is a Mandalorian, remember the Force exists well everywhere according to Yoda;

A life-size figurine of Yoda from the Star Wars series is displayed at the Star Wars Identities exhibition during a media preview at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore on January 28, 2021. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP) (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The fact is anyone can access the Force given enough training and will. George Lucas fully supports the decision made by Filoni to double down on the anyone can use the Force.  “A lot of people get confused about the Force. They see it as some special thing that you can find and pick up and put it on your head and suddenly, you have the Force. Whereas it’s always been designed so that every living being has the Force,” Lucas said.

The amount of Force in living beings depends on how much they train. While The Last Jedi ruffled feathers Ahsoka is staying in line with the Force and what Star Wars creator George Lucas has said. So really fans lack of understanding was the real issue all along.

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Clearing up the Ahsoka timeline

Many Star Wars fans are either confused or simply are unaware of the timeline Ahsoka takes place in. Some fans have theorized Ahsoka is a prequel or others a sequel to The Mandalorian if it is connected at at all. The fact is here is when Ahsoka takes place and how it connects.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: Costumes are seen at the Mandalorian special launch event at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 28, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

Ahsoka takes place during Season 3 of The Mandalorian so it takes place at the same time. After making her live action grand appearance during Season 2 during an episode titled “Chapter 13: The Jedi,” Ahsoka also made a cameo in The Book of Boba Fett to discuss the future Jedi training of Grogu with  Djarin.

Taking place about seven years after the events of Return of the Jedi, both The Mandalorian and Ahsoka are indeed connected to the larger picture that creator Dave Filoni is constructing. That said it should surprise no one if someone from The Mandalorian makes a cameo in Ahsoka or someone from The Book of Boba Fett.

In fact due to his absence in The Mandalorian Season 3, it almost makes sense if Boba Fett himself makes a cameo. Ahsoka is investigating a threat to the galaxy, the threat is non other that Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Set to release August 23, 2023 with a two-episode banger, Ahsoka is set to reunite characters from the popular animated series Star Wars Rebels while connecting to The Mandalorian.

WINTERHAVEN, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 15: Star Wars cosplayer Shawn Richter as Boba Fett poses for photos at Buttercup Sand Dunes on January 15, 2022 in Winterhaven, California. Buttercup San Dunes was the location of several iconic scenes filmed for Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. (Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

The question is will the Rebels characters, Djarin, Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker and perhaps Grogu unite to take down the mounting threat of Thrawn? This would be a Star Wars fans biggest dream. One of the fan bases favorite villains squaring off against one of the fan bases favorite series, this time in live action.

The countdown is on! Ahsoka will soon be released to the delight of Star Wars fans everywhere and next steps will be taken to form the bigger picture.

 

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Ahsoka is getting closer and we now have run times

While some Star Wars fans are calling Ahsoka “Rebels 2.0” the show is reaching fever pitch in terms of anticipation. While it is true that Star Wars Rebels characters Ezra Bridger, Zeb Orrelios, Chopper, Sabine Wren and the lead character Ahsoka are coming to live action for the first time the popular Star Wars show is sure to satisfy Star Wars fans and fans of Rebels.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 08: Dave Filoni attends the Ahsoka panel at Start Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)

It appears that Star Wars Rebels creator Dave Filoni has either learned a lesson or been paying attention to the fact that other Star Wars streaming shows such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian Season 3 were unevenly paced. Filoni said that the show is kind of paced like The Mandalorian but the episodes are more even in terms of run time.

1 hour and 36 minutes is the total run time of the first two episodes of Ahsoka. Streaming shows are interesting as it gives creators the freedom for run times. One thing, shows of any verity need to flow and not be overly choppy as was the case with aforementioned Star Wars shows. It seems that Filoni has learned that and perhaps he listened to fans vent of social media about choppy run times.

Dave Filoni has also gone on record as saying Ahsoka will have longer episodes as it has a lot of story to fill and is really bridging the gap with The Mandalorian. Let’s just get this out of the way, Grand Admiral Thrawn one of the Star Wars fan bases favorite villains is the key figure of the show.

STAR WARS REBELS – “Steps into Shadow” – The critically-acclaimed animated series “Star Wars Rebels” returns SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 (8:30 p.m., ET) and introduces new characters Grand Admiral Thrawn and Bendu during the season three one-hour premiere event, “Steps into Shadow” on Disney XD. (Disney XD/Lucasfilm via Getty Images)
GRAND ADMIRAL THRAWN

While rumors are swirling Thrawn will not enter until close to the end of Season 1, the first installment does end in a cliff hanger (again rumors) with the hope of a Season 2. With Lucasfilm in a perceived state of flux with the people calling the shots an old fan favorite done by the original Rebels creator (Filoni) could help revive Star Wars to the point where fans would be willing to give Ahsoka a second season.

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Star Wars offers something for everyone

This is Star Wars Celebration weekend and it all kicked off yesterday in England. The annual gathering of Star Wars fanatics is met head on with the cast of shows and movies and the head of Lucasfilm and many others. There are fractions of Star Wars fans who complain loudly things are a mess, I am here to clap back at that a bit. Not saying some complaints are not without merit but all is not.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: (L-R) Ali Plumb, Kathleen Kennedy, James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy onstage durng the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)

Three new feature films have been announced James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy  will be directing the films. One film will see the return of Rey and is set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Another film will focus on the dawn of the Jedi/Force and the third film will be centered around the New Republic.

Ahsoka is by far the most hyped, most anticipated show of the year. It was met with a teaser trailer first thing in the morning:

Some said it is Rebels 2.0. Fair enough, but Star Wars Rebels offers some of the very best content of the franchise. Actor Lars Mikkelsen will appear as a live action Grand Admiral Thrawn after voicing him on Rebels.

While Season 3 of The Mandalorian has felt a bit off fans were told it is all about to come together with the last two chapters of the season and will answer and fill in the gap of unanswered questions to date.

No matter if you did not/ do not like shows like The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi or any other shows, it is fine. There are fans who do like/love them.

With upcoming shows such as Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Skeleton Crew and others remember they have a place in the Star Wars universe. One thing that is interesting of note if Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni said that they were told to take things from all over Star Wars, cannon or non-cannon and bring them into the fold. This is to give the overall arc more body.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Daisy Ridley onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)

Never forget that Star Wars is about self discovery. If fans can do that then perhaps all Star Wars content can find a path to calming people down with the bigger picture in mind.

 

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Andor proved Star Wars can be successful in new ways

Cassian Andor, who sacrificed his life to deliver the Death Star plans in Rogue One: A Star Wars story, the movie was the first stand-alone Star Wars attempt and was embraced by the fan base. The movie hit such a cord that Disney/ Lucasfilm created and Andor show for Disney+ the show while not for everyone was by and large successful and helped to show Star Wars could be big without some long standing traditions.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: Diego Luna takes part in a Q&A during the Lucasfilm and DISNEY+ screening of ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, an exclusive look at Disney+ Star Wars series ANDOR, in partnership with EMPIRE VIP FILM CLUB, at The Ham Yard Hotel on August 24, 2022 in London, England. “ANDOR” launches on Disney+ on September 21, 2022. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK)

First off Andor is very well done and the cast gives outstanding perfomances throughout. While it is a prequel it does not feel like it is and it does not answer and lingering questions. Andor pushed Star Wars forward as a sort of espionage series.

There is no Force use, no lightsabers. It is written for mature audiences and carries a lot of drama and not much fighting, at least not in season one. Andor is more violent than other Star wars streaming shows such as The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Season one kicks off a bit slow, but it builds and builds and the story is rich with spy like intentions. Though, many have seen Rogue One, there are some interesting twists.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 12: Star Wars Stormtroopers appear onstage during the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

With no real Star Wars characters except for Storm Troopers and some new characters such as Luthen Rael who could be good or not. Kino Loy who is a prisoner along with Cassian Andor. Deedra Meero, who is a great character who is driven by the Empire to sniff out the small threat of a rebellion.

If you have not watched Andor, it is a must watch show. There will be no cameos by fan favorite characters, but there is no need for any. Andor is strong enough to stand on it’s own.

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Is there a future for Star Wars films

With Disney/Lucasfilm’s venture into streaming shows do Star Wars films have a future? The franchise was all but left for dead after “The Rise of Skywalker,” due to backlash from the fan base. Along came “The Mandalorian,” and that pulled Star Wars back up. Along with subsequent shows such as “The Bad Batch,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and others. But, what to make of the lack of film production and news?

D23 EXPO 2022 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by VISA – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place September 9, 10, and 11 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, series, games, theme parks, collectibles, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company via Getty Images)
Mandalorian

Star Wars fans have embraced streaming shows. ‘The Mandalorian,” quickly became a fan favorite. It did so not because it was better than any of the films, but because it went deeper into the Star Wars universe, something fans have been clamoring for, for some time now.

Can Disney/Lucasfilm collect their collective thoughts and revive films? Or for Star Wars has that day come and gone? Even without films the franchise has shown it can overcome and move forward with success. Perhaps, this is indeed the future for Star Wars.

While stand-along films, “Rogue One a Star Wars story” and the grossly underrated, ” “Solo a Star Wars story” were good films, the fan base did not fully embrace the stand-alone concept Star Wars was attempting.

While Disney/Lucasfilm has plans for future Star Wars streaming shows such as “Ahsoka,” “Skeleton Crew,” “The Acolyte,” “Lando,” and others there is either no plans for films or the company is being tight lipped about it.

LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 23: An interactive advertisement for the upcoming “Solo: A Star Wars Story” movie is displayed at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners on April 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

If I had to venture a guess, I suspect at some point, Star Wars will show up in theaters again. It would have to be the right well everything. From director to script to story. The question then switches to would it be a trilogy or stand-alone?

I have to imagine that would largely depend on where streaming shows stand as well as what story would be the focal point for any would be film. For now, fans should be grateful for the current format and content Disney/Lucasfilm is putting out. It has breathed life back into Star Wars and will be interesting to see where it goes.

 

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Star Wars is for everyone

I have a secret. It is not a popular secret or one that people will agree with me on. My secret is by no means meant to divide, disrupt, or anger anyone, after all my secret is well mine. So what is this secret? It is this, I like Star Wars. Not just the original trilogy, or the Christmas Special, or cartoons or streaming shows, or stand alone films for that matter. I like Star Wars, all of it. I have no fear and zero reservations about saying that.

ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 14: New poster revealed Star Wars The Last Jedi at the Star Wars Celebration day 02 on April 14, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images)

Before reading ahead or leaving, know that I am not trying to offend anyone or change anyone’s mind. Opinions are all valid! There is a perception both inside the Star Wars fan base and outside that the entire fan base is toxic. I do not subscribe to this notion.

I grew up on Star Wars, having seen the original trilogy in it’s first run in theaters. Yes, Han shot first! Yet, there are fans wanting to move away from the George Lucas Star Wars content, or forgetting the JJ Abrams prequel trilogy all together. There are fans who would rather just the streaming material being produced now, and those who do not like the streaming content.

Somewhere we lost the ability to agree to disagree. Fans think the only opinion that matters is their own. If the fan base can unite and have solid conversations it would be more soothing and productive.

Sotheby’s gallery assistant Anna Tisi holds up the ‘Return of the Jedi’, a promotional C-3PO helmet from 1983, next to ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ poster ahead of the Star Wars collectibles online-only sale at the London auction house. (Photo by Luciana Guerra/PA Images via Getty Images)

Believe it or not it is alright and healthy to engage in conversation. I embrace everything that Star Wars has to offer in large part because it was what I grew up on. Let’s start there.

By all means drop a comment and let’s start having conversations about Star Wars. Again, every opinion is valid. What are your likes and dislikes? Do you like where the franchise is headed? Let’s talk.

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Andor shows Disney not ready to move on from the Skywalker arc

Either there is a serious creative void or Disney/Lucasfilm just is not ready to let go of the Skywalker Star Wars story line. September 21, 2022 Andor will be released on Disney Plus. Cassian Andor from Rogue One, A Star Wars Story. The movie was solid and worked because there was no known movement out of the Skywalker timeframe of Star Wars at the time. The fans would like to move on, Disney seems to be stuck.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MAY 28: (L-R) Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Rosario Dawson, Rick Famuyiwa, Katee Sackhoff, Temuera Morrison, Carl Weathers, Emily Swallow, Giancarlo Esposito, Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder, Pedro Pascal, Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, and Ash Crossan attend the panel for “The Mandalorian” series at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Of the upcoming Star Wars streaming shows only Skeleton Crew (2023) and The Acolyte (2023) take place outside of the Skywalker arc. While The Bad Batch (season 2, September 28,2022) Ahsoka (2023), Lando (no date) and The Mandalorian Season 3 (February 2023) all take place in the Skywalker timeframe as did The Book of Boba Fett and Kenobi.

After the less than positive reactions to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans wanted and still want to crack open the Star Wars galaxy and see what else is there. Disney is not willing to depart, at least not yet.

This is a problem. Disney/Lucasfilm has stated they hear the fans and want to give them what they are asking for. Yet it does not happen. For Disney to escape past mistakes it needs to move forward not stay in the same place that has caused division in the fan base.

My hope is that the company is working on a way to move forward. One that would please fans while making it interesting heading in a new direction. Star Wars offers many novels and graphic novels that have been widely successful that are out side the safe boundaries of Skywalker.

A man wearing a costume of the StarWars protagonist Din Djarin poses onboard a giant replica of the Razor Crest, a a gunship from the StarWars spinoff series “The Mandalorian” used by the hit TV show’s mysterious bounty hunter to roam the galaxy’s outer reaches, in a park of the eastern Siberian city of Yakutsk on March 14, 2021. (Photo by Evgeniy SOFRONEYEV / AFP) (Photo by EVGENIY SOFRONEYEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Disney/Lucasfilm has the resources to bring in people who can steer the franchise in a new fresh direction. This is my hope. To be honest the only two shows that I have enjoyed so far are The Bad Batch and The Mandalorian. The others have been blah.

So Disney/Lucasfilm please make some new content soon. The fans are asking.