unamochilla2

I doubt they would prematurely say there are plans to release the UOT in an e-mail reply before an official announcement was made.  I've sent Disney e-mails and letters about the complete scores to "The Lion King," "The Little Mermaid" and other Disney scores earlier this year.  They said the same thing as this reply - no plans to release them.  Then the Legacy Collection was announced with "The Lion King" being released in June and "The Little Mermaid" in November.  I got the form reply months before the official announcement.

'Star Wars: Episode VIII’ director Rian Johnson on preparing for the sequel: http://www.hitfix.com/news/star-wars-episode-viii-director-rian-johnson-on-preparing-for-the-sequel

Mike O said:

I know we've been over this ad nausem, but since the search function and forum setup here are so bad, I'll ask again anyway, didn't Lucas hack up the OOT negatives so badly that restoring them would take considerable effort? I'm seriously finally considering just getting the Despecialized Edition and making due. If Harmy could do it in the basement with rudimentary sources, multimillion dollar studios should be able to. But I defer to the above, I find the notion that the OOT will be anything more than a "bonus material" afterthough to be wishful thinking at this point. 

 Here's a site that may help answer your question: http://savestarwars.com/filmpreservation.html#ch5.  It's full of lots of great information.

It's all rumor of course.  Rumor also says that Arndt is no longer part of the film since his script focused too much on the new characters and not enough on the original cast, which is not what Abrams wanted.  Only time will tell for sure.

Yes, very interesting they would take the time to restore some vintage trailers.  Maybe they were prepared for a new Blu-ray release next year?  Were the trailers on the 2004 DVD set restored?  I don't remember...

Rumor has it that it's the opposite... the main three were supposed to have smaller roles, but Abrams wanted them have to larger roles, so their roles were expanded... at least in Episode VII.

Any way to tell if the projected video is the SE or the OUT?

How does this person know they were restored?  Did they say so or did they just "look" restored? 

Fang Zei said:

It's Comic Con.

They were probably just showing it just to have something to show on the big projectors in the background while everyone partied it up on the convention floor.

 That makes more sense than having an event that "debuts" these remastered trailers.

Why would they show vintage trailers at all regardless of whether they've been remastered?

Wonder if anyone managed to record it?  What would the point be of showing restored trailers without an announcement of any kind?

I remember seeing ROTJ in letterbox on TV as a child.  I had never seen a letterbox film (only P&S), so I thought there was something wrong with the TV because of the black bars.  I'm not sure what station that was on.  My guess would be TCM since they usually air films as they were meant to be seen, uncut, commercial free and in the correct aspect ratio. I think I saw ROTJ in letterbox before TCM existed and I'm not even sure if TCM has ever aired any of the Star Wars films.  This was sometime in the early 90s.

I agree it doesn't need to be a perfect likeness, but that drawing doesn't even resemble Leia.  It looks like a different character.  The first picture isn't a perfect likeness of the characters either (especially Luke), but at least it resembles the characters and there's no doubt who is who.

DuracellEnergizer said:

One of the greater fears I've had about the Star Wars comics license reverting to Marvel was than the artists would make Leia -- and every other main female SW character, for that matter -- an anorexic with silicone tits. If this picture's anything to go by, then that isn't happening, which is a definate godsend.

 I agree, but  too bad that doesn't look anything like Carrie Fisher.

Tobar said:

I'm definitely not a fan of whoever drew the Princess Leia cover. Didn't capture her likeness at all.

I've never liked much of the modern Marvel art that I've seen compared to Dark Horse. I guess the writing will be the determining factor for me.

Also, if that helmet is any indication they're also keeping that stupid idea that Leia is a fighter pilot from the current ongoing Star Wars title from Dark Horse.

 That looks more like Eileen Brennan than Carrie Fisher.

77FN said:

I like the bit where he mentions being back on familiar sets - the Falcon we already know about, but could he be referring to the Lars homestead, or perhaps Ben's old house? In a way I'd rather not know until I see the film next December - staying spoiler free is going to be a test in movie website news hunting self restraint. I'm not sure I'm upto it ;)

 Maybe he's referring to Tatooine in general?  Personally, I hope they don't revisit either Ben's house or the Lars homestead.  And if they did revisit Ben's house, would it be the SE house or the original house?

New Mark Hamill interview: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-28475959

Guess he's going to have that Alec Guinness look for the film. :)

Force for Change Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWBGrkc360M&list=UUZGYJFUizSax-yElQaFDp5Q

Nice to see the next generation of the X-wing in finished form.  Is the mouse droid a hint of the Empire being in Episode VII?

Are you talking about the OT or the ST?   She has blonde hair now... so either we'll be seeing a blonde Leia in the ST or she'll be wearing a wig/hair pieces.  If you're talking about the OT, then I don't know.  I thought they used her real hair and hair pieces.

What about camera below that was supposedly going to be used to film Episode VII?  Is it going to be shot partially on 35mm and some scenes on IMAX?  Sorry for the questions, but I'm a little confused since it was tweeted months ago that Episode VII was going to be filmed in 35mm and now this IMAX tweet.  Both are official as well.

http://makingstarwars.net/2014/03/wanna-see-one-of-the-custom-cameras-that-will-film-star-wars-episode-vii/

http://twitter.com/bad_robot/status/486628757780721664

Picture of IMAX camera for Episode VII.  I'm not very familiar with filming equipment, so what's the difference between filming in 35mm and filming with an IMAX camera, if there is a difference. I thought this was going to be filmed using a 35mm camera, unless if it can be filmed in both 35mm and IMAX.

Also, is Tatooine seen in the background a miniature and matte painting?  Kind of looks like its on a set and not on location.

SilverWook said:

Glad to hear Harrison is on the mend. The whole thing was looking kind of bleak just a few weeks ago.

I think that's because the tabloids were reporting a lot of misinformation related to the injury... such as him returning to the U.S. for six months to recover.  Although, his injury was still very serious especially at his age. He's definitely a trooper regardless.

I'm assuming this is one of the reasons he was cast.  I wonder who/what he'll be playing?  A descendent of Darth Maul?  He looks more like Spider man in that video than a Jedi or Sith.  Should be interesting...

Two additional cast members announced and production update: http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-vii-production-update

At the end of last year Lucasfilm and Disney invited all young aspiring actors to attend an open casting call for roles in J.J Abrams’ Star Wars Episode VII. The casting calls spanned 11 cities across the US and UK and over 37,000 hopefuls attended, with a further 30,000 submitting applications online.

Having hunted high and low for young and undiscovered talent, the filmmakers are delighted to announce that two actors from the open call call have been cast.

Crystal Clarke is an American actress studying in Glasgow, UK, who has both stage and screen acting experience and is soon to be seen in her first feature, The Moon and the Sun (to be released in 2015). British actor Pip Andersen is a skilled practitioner of parkour, a discipline that involves propelling oneself through any given environment with incredible grace and agility. Pip recently demonstrated this remarkable skill in a Spider-Man ad for Sony.

“The Star Wars universe has always been about discovering and nurturing young talent and in casting Episode VII we wanted to remain absolutely faithful to this tradition. We are delighted that so many travelled to see us at the open casting calls and that we have been able to make Crystal and Pip a part of the film,” said producer and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

Meanwhile, principal photography continues at Pinewood Studios in London after wrapping on location in Abu Dhabi in May.

In August, the team will take a brief two-week hiatus while adjustments to the current production schedule are made as actor Harrison Ford recovers from a leg injury. Harrison is doing well and is looking forward to returning to the set soon. Shooting remains on track to wrap in the fall with the film scheduled for release on December 18, 2015.

So, they created another death star...  This looks like it may be ROTJ all over again. Although, I didn't see any Ewoks, but they could have been piloting. ;-)