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Update on the TV show, an now Lucas is getting involved!

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"Speaking of the future, you said the Star Wars TV show is years away...

Steve Sansweet: We're doing it in two phases. The first is Star Wars animation, which is CG 3-dimensional animation, like a Toy Story, that takes place during the period of the Clone Wars that takes place between Episodes 2 and 3. And that we're setting for Fall of 2007. Preproduction is underway, we're doing animation test, people are working on initial scripts. So we're well under way on that. And George is very much taking hand and is very much part of the whole process. I know some people thought maybe he would just hey "hey, go do it," but George is Star Wars and he's always gonna be very closely involved in this.

The other project is live action, and the live action is going to take place between Episode 3 and Episode 4. We're looking at a 1 hour show and [Producer] Rick McCallum has said the ideal would be to come up with 100 hours to really get into the story line and characters, and that's the direction we're going in. So that is really targeted more towards the end of the decade."

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There you go guys, Lucas isn't done with SW. I guess those small experimental films he always wanted to do isn't that interesting for him now. I thought he was done with SW? I guess 7,8,9 may be a possiblility? Does he say anything anymore that we can take at face value?

P.S. Adam, I know you are interested in the TV series, so the above info is for you, my sarcasm about Lucas is for anyone else.
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Originally posted by: CO

And George is very much taking hand and is very much part of the whole process. I know some people thought maybe he would just hey "hey, go do it," but George is Star Wars and he's always gonna be very closely involved in this.


Translation: The CG Clone Wars will horribly screw up continuity.

Dammit.

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I don't have it in me to shit on this just yet. I'll wait. But I assure you, if this blows chunks I'll be here MSTing it with the rest of you.
VADER: Let me look on you with my own eyes...

LUKE: Dad, where are your eyebrows?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WO_S6UgkQk0
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wasnt it always the plan that Lucas would outline the story arc? At least this way there will be less EU-style nonesense that the series could easily devolve into.
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i might like it, im just remembering the 'young indy chronicles', that was a good show. it reminds me before lucas dissapointed with the prequels and more importantly the SE
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Originally posted by: zombie84
wasnt it always the plan that Lucas would outline the story arc? At least this way there will be less EU-style nonesense that the series could easily devolve into.


The plan, as we originally were told, was that Lucas would merely "supervise" the CG Clone Wars, and Henry Gilroy would actually create it. The great thing about that report was that Gilroy went on record as saying that he personally asked for copies of all Clone Wars-related EU, so as to keep continuity between all works. Now, I'm sure he'll still play a large role in the show, but with Lucas more involved, I'm unsure what to think of it.

Now the live-action series? The good thing is that there is very little EU at this point set during the time period of the live-action series (though there will be I'm sure by the time the show comes out). But hopefully, EU writers will be given specific facts about the show (ex. The specific year(s) it would be set in) so that they can sort of stay away from it as they did the Clone Wars for a long time. But, if any continuity issues do come up, I'm sure the people at Lucasfilm will come up with some good retcons as always. But as much as I'm afraid of any continuity issues, I am very pleased to see Lucas playing around in TV again. I agree with battlewars when I say that the Young Indy series was quite enjoyable and an interesting expansion on the Indy series. Being the geek that I am, I will watch the show religiously, geek out over it, buy all merchendise, etc. Why? Because I simply enjoy the experience of it all. And no matter the quality, I will savor the fact that we will get to journey back to the GFFA once again. And I'm sure that this will give future EU writers fertile ground for great storytelling in their novels, comics, and video games.

I shall be looking forward to it all.
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I still don't know what to think about it. I prayed that the PT would rock and...it didn't. And this live action show? Again, it has the potential to be really cool, but if the PT is any indication of what Lucas is capable of it, it will probably suck.

Don't get me wrong, I WANT the show to be cool. We need something to wipe our minds clean from the gunk that the PT left behind, but I just. don't. know. I honostly don't know what to think.

My heart says that it will rock. My wishful heart, that is. The clone wars cartoon was pretty good. And the young Lucas did write and direct ANH (and I hear it was pretty good. )
My brain tells me (though the force) that it will suck. Our childhood was raped with the SE and DVDs. Salt was poured on our wounds with the denial of the O-OT DVDs. And PT crushed our spirits.

My prediction:
10% chance that it will rock beyond reason
30% chance that it will be enjoyable to watch but nothing to get excited about
60% chance that it will suck just as much as the PT, if not more so
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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Well, if Lucas isn't quite involed (as in, he doesn't write the scripts or direct) then I think it has a pretty good chance of being good. I mean, as long as he oversees the process, maybe writes a story or two, BUT DOESN'T TURN INTO A CONTROL FRAK OVER IT, I think everything should turn out fine.
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I cant see it being better than mediocre, and not a patch on some other sci-fi shows but we will watch it anyway even if it is crap, at the beginning because its Star Wars, and Lucas knows all he has do is put something out with Star Wars on it and people will lap it up.
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As long as they have just *one* episode where Darth Vader makes a super-duper special guest appearance and offs one of the main characters... I'll be fine with it.
VADER: Let me look on you with my own eyes...

LUKE: Dad, where are your eyebrows?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WO_S6UgkQk0
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Originally posted by: Mr Bungle
I cant see it being better than mediocre, and not a patch on some other sci-fi shows but we will watch it anyway even if it is crap, at the beginning because its Star Wars, and Lucas knows all he has do is put something out with Star Wars on it and people will lap it up.

Well, in that Sansweet interview, he explains that they want to make something that everyone will love and that will appeal to as many people as possible. And McCallum has said he wants to explore many exciting storylines and attempt to answer all of the fan questions over the years. This makes me feel a little better about the prospect of the show.

Originally posted by: Zebonka
As long as they have just *one* episode where Darth Vader makes a super-duper special guest appearance and offs one of the main characters... I'll be fine with it.


Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's how it'll be, cause that's what he did with Harrison Ford for the Young Indy chronicles. And if Vader does make such an appearance, I hope it is very badass, and it is in the last episode or something. They could ave the very last shot of the show of him standing directly behind the door of the Tantive IV, ready to blow it open.
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That would be good to see, Im curious to see if any new "merchandisable" chracters are invented, and as Adam pointed out, I bet Jim Ward and Co are probably rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of the countless spinoffs they are gonna be flooding the market with for the TV series.
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
And if Vader does make such an appearance, I hope it is very badass, and it is in the last episode or something. They could ave the very last shot of the show of him standing directly behind the door of the Tantive IV, ready to blow it open.

That would actually be very cool.

War does not make one great.

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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
Well, in that Sansweet interview, he explains that they want to make something that everyone will love and that will appeal to as many people as possible. And McCallum has said he wants to explore many exciting storylines and attempt to answer all of the fan questions over the years. This makes me feel a little better about the prospect of the show.


You see, there lies the problem. TPM tried to cater to a whole wide audiance and it came off lousy. Don't they learn from history?
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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I just hope they develop some good characters that are already there, instead of creating a whole plethora of new ones to confuse the issue. Problem is, they killed off the most well-known Jedi in that purge. Maybe Quinlan Vos?

I just had a funny thought that even though we can be such bitches about everything Star Wars other than the Classic Trilogy (I'm sick of calling it the OOT, sounds like a compromise), it's really only because we love Star Wars so much. We do WANT it to be good. That's why we're such harsh critics when it doesn't live up to the Star Wars name; we don't want it to be tarnished. Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back are some of the greatest films in the history of cinema - but it could have been THE greatest film series ever if only everything went to plan...
MTFBWY. Always.

http://www.myspace.com/red_ajax
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I want the whole series to be about DARTH VADER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know it's not gonna happen, but seriously, it would rock.
George Lucas was seduced by the dark side. The OOT ceased to exist in his mind and became the Special Editions...." "They're more maching now than movies. Twisted and evil."
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Oh, no. Our worst fears have been realized.

I don't know about you all, but I *really* don't want Star Wars to turn into Star Trek...
My parents chose to name me Kirk. THIS IS TERRIBLE!

(Hopefully not... but a CG Star Wars TV show? Blech!)

My stance on revising fan edits.

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Well Lucasfilm's track record for TV is good--Young Indy is considered one of the most advanced television series ever, and the Clone Wars cartoons were surprisingly good. The CG clone war cartoon i am not concerned about in the least--likely it will be like a mix of the previous cartoon and that Starship Troopers Roughnecks cartoon from years ago, which was also pretty good. I dont expect much, and since it basically deals with tangical sidestories its of little consequence.

The live action series is a huge deal though. Not only the fact that it is live action, but the fact that it will likely be chronicling more central events. I'm glad they are not afraid to take their time and get it right. Its either going to be a great success or a huge failure. ROTS was good and like i said Lucasfilm's TV history is also pretty good so i think we'll all just have to hold our breath and hope for the best.
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Originally posted by: theredbaron
I just hope they develop some good characters that are already there, instead of creating a whole plethora of new ones to confuse the issue. Problem is, they killed off the most well-known Jedi in that purge. Maybe Quinlan Vos?


Quinlan Vos survived Republic #83. According to the head of Dark Horse comics, Lucas himself told the writers not to kill him off. This report has made me and others over at TF.N wonder if Lucas plans to use Vos in the TV series. It really doesn't surprise me, as it has been known for a long time that Lucas likes to read the Star Wars comics.
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i just hope the live action series looks more like the ot
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I can honestly say that I'm NOT looking forward to EITHER TV series in anyway. I feel that Star Wars has become bigger & more successful than he ever imagined or hoped. He doesn't know how to deal with the success & keep the quality high, so he's been subconsciously trying to destroy his creation over the years. I really feel that ROTS put the lid on the coffin, and the new series will be the final nails. Star Wars as a watchable medium is dead. The books & comics have consistantly been of superior quality, and more interesting. Let's leave the future of SW to the real writers, and forget about watching something new. If we want to watch something of real quality, we have the O-OT (well, at least SW & TESB, anyway). I'm a HUGE fan of the EU as well, and I LOVE the novels & comics. I'll stick with them when I want extra info. As far as the TV series are concerned, I can go to the bathroom & shit out something of better quality than Lucas can now (and did so just this morning).
"...all Jedi Had was a bunch of muppets." - Dante Hicks (Clerks)

Anakin was an OLD MAN when he died, therefore his ghost should be old too AND WITH EYEBROWS
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Originally posted by: Scotty Balls
I can honestly say that I'm NOT looking forward to EITHER TV series in anyway. I feel that Star Wars has become bigger & more successful than he ever imagined or hoped. He doesn't know how to deal with the success & keep the quality high, so he's been subconsciously trying to destroy his creation over the years. I really feel that ROTS put the lid on the coffin, and the new series will be the final nails. Star Wars as a watchable medium is dead. The books & comics have consistantly been of superior quality, and more interesting. Let's leave the future of SW to the real writers, and forget about watching something new. If we want to watch something of real quality, we have the O-OT (well, at least SW & TESB, anyway). I'm a HUGE fan of the EU as well, and I LOVE the novels & comics. I'll stick with them when I want extra info. As far as the TV series are concerned, I can go to the bathroom & shit out something of better quality than Lucas can now (and did so just this morning).


I agree with you somewhat. And that is why I am loooking forward to the live-action TV series. Why, you ask? Because Lucas will not be the sole writer. He will bring in writers who are ACTUALLY TALENTED. Now, I know he will write the 3D Clone Wars, but there is hope at least for the live-action. And I agree with battlewars, the show should rely VERY LITTLE on CG and such. It should have more of an OT feel, while dealuing with things PT-related.
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi


I agree with you somewhat. And that is why I am loooking forward to the live-action TV series. Why, you ask? Because Lucas will not be the sole writer. He will bring in writers who are ACTUALLY TALENTED. Now, I know he will write the 3D Clone Wars, but there is hope at least for the live-action. And I agree with battlewars, the show should rely VERY LITTLE on CG and such. It should have more of an OT feel, while dealuing with things PT-related.



Lucas also brought in Jonathan Hales to help with the script for AOTC, and look how that turned out. Need I say any more?
"...all Jedi Had was a bunch of muppets." - Dante Hicks (Clerks)

Anakin was an OLD MAN when he died, therefore his ghost should be old too AND WITH EYEBROWS
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Well, Lucas probably re-wrote Jonathan Hales' work anyway. Plus, I'm sure the guy didn't have much to work with in the first place.

I only hope that for the live-action series, he brings in people who are talented. I'm talking people who know sci-fi; people who write dialogue that matches how people actually talk! I want to see reallistic, witty dialogue. Maybe Joss Whedon could lend Lucas a hand?