Star Wars: Episode VII to be directed by J.J. Abrams **NON SPOILER THREAD** — Page 70

Well Star Wars should have more Original Trilogy feel and less Prequel Trilogy feel (lame).

Perhaps he was able to write something halfway decent given that he did it of his own initiative and with no deadlines. At least it isn't a script. It's not dialogue we're talking about, just the napkin-sized synopses that others will run with. 

I'm surprised to hear myself say this, but I think it's good that GL is involved in that capacity. (But only that capacity.)

Film VS Digital.

Well I was already certain Lucas wrote the story. I mean Arndt was already writing the screenplay while director wasn't even chosen yet. And I doubt that they would just let Arndt write a screenplay while making up the story as well.

The question is whether Lucas and Arndt were having any conferences or he just received the story treatment and worked on the screenplay with no additional input from Lucas.

CO said:

ImperialFighter said:

It seems that George put a year or so into planning what comes next...

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/29034/lucas-put-a-year-into-the-next-star-wars

I have no problem with Lucas writing the outline or the general story for the ST, as long as he stays away from directing and dialogue. 

Michael Arndt is writing Episode 7, while JJ Abrams is directing Episode 7, and Lucas is more involved in the macro part of Episode 7 laying the ground work for the Trilogy.  That worked best in ESB, where Kasdan wrote the script, Kershner directed the movie, and Lucas created the overall outline of the movie.

I only wish Lucas would have done this with the PT, and it would have been much better.

But it wasn't just the directing and dialogue that was bad about the PT.  The decisions that Lucas made with regard to the story and characters were simply baffling. So the fact that he spent a year working on the EPVII story doesn't exactly fill me up with hope. 

Also don't forget about the last movie in which Lucas only wrote the story and then handed off to a script writer... Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Now obviously He had more influence on that movie than he will EPVII, but the fact that Lucas is "constantly talking to J.J." according to Jett Lucas, is a little discomforting.

CO said:

 Or better yet I say the saga is Episodes 4,5,6,7,8,9 and the PT doesn't exist!  LOL!

Surely that is indefensible.  

CO said:

I can't tell you how many TFN'ers have posted that they just wont recognize the ST, as they still believe that Lucas isn't involved in it at all.  They said the ST is like the EU, it exists, but it won't get into the way of their pretty little 'Tragedy of Anakin Skywalker' story.

Hyperlinks, please!

CO said:

Anchorhead said:

When Disney gives someone $4 billion for their product, they take over deciding how that product is handled.  All this blather about Lucas being very involved, consulting, talking to the director and writer, etc, etc is just damage control for the TFNers, who have already decided their world has come to an end. 

The ironic thing is that the TFN'ers DON"T want Lucas involved, because that will contradict everything they have fought for in the past 10 years regarding the 'The Tragedy of Anakin Skywalker' bullshit. 

First, they don't want Lucas involved so if anyone complains about the ST they can point it all at JJ Abrams.  But now that Lucas is (involved in some capacity), it will give ammo to the people who bashed Lucas during the PT days.

Second, they don't want Lucas involved so they can call the ST an 'add on' story so Episode 1-6 can stay as the real story.  For years and years those morons called out any of us who questioned that Lucas never intended the story to be 'The Tragedy of Anakin Skywalker' in 1977.  Now with Lucas involved with the ST, it throws the whole 1-6 story out the door, as the story is now 1-9. 

I can't tell you how many TFN'ers have posted that they just wont recognize the ST, as they still believe that Lucas isn't involved in it at all.  They said the ST is like the EU, it exists, but it won't get into the way of their pretty little 'Tragedy of Anakin Skywalker' story.

It's comical to listen to them rationalize it now, as I keep shoving it in their face that the Saga is now 1-9, and they go crazy!  Or better yet I say the saga is Episodes 4,5,6,7,8,9 and the PT doesn't exist!  LOL!

 

 

 

 

POTY

SilverWook said:

Having the creator involved to some degree is simply a good business idea, not to merely placate the fanboys.

I'm not sure--from a pure money-making perspective, I'm left a little puzzled about what exactly they think they're getting out of his involvement. There is no George Lucas cachet anymore--and hasn't been for decades--your average cinemagoer isn't going to say "Hey, look, a new George Lucas movie--let's see that!" the way they would over Spielberg or even, hell, Apatow.  They already have all the branding they can get in the Star Wars name--that's what they paid for, whatever that's still worth.  Maybe some additional cachet from the involvement of Harrison Ford and J.J. Abrams, but not much else.

So if what they're getting out of it just isn't a big name they can hang on the film, they must be counting on him to make actual creative contributions.  Which leaves me even more puzzled.  No, not a good business idea.  Not at all.

Anchorhead said:

From the article:

Lucas ...having set out 'guidelines' for the new film.

When Disney gives someone $4 billion for their product, they take over deciding how that product is handled.  All this blather about Lucas being very involved, consulting, talking to the director and writer, etc, etc is just damage control for the TFNers, who have already decided their world has come to an end. 

Well 2 out of 4 of those billions were shares of Disney itself which made him (I think) second biggest shareholder.

Anyway I don't see who exactly from Disney was actually "taking over" the new Star Wars project (as you suggest). As far as I know Disney just left it to old LucasFilm producers.

I don't think Lucas is actively involved to a degree he was in OT. But I am quite certain Arndt didn't just start writing screenplay without any basis. And it seems most reasonably that they worked on those story treatments that Lucas wrote. I could be wrong but we are just speculating here anyway.

I've never seen Star Wars on the big screen, but after seeing Gravity in the theater I realize why Lucas said that Star Wars was meant to be seen on the big screen. The online trailer for Gravity communicates so little of what was captivating about the theatrical experience, so I envy those who saw Star Wars in 77 and were hooked from the opening shot. Hopefully JJ captures this visceral sense of spectacle for Episode 7.

Hal 9000 said:

Perhaps he was able to write something halfway decent given that he did it of his own initiative and with no deadlines. At least it isn't a script. It's not dialogue we're talking about, just the napkin-sized synopses that others will run with. 

I'm surprised to hear myself say this, but I think it's good that GL is involved in that capacity. (But only that capacity.)

hear hear.  I can also see lucas providing napkin-sized ideas to Disney.  I think thats how he wrote the PT, probably while taking a dump just before shooting.  I just hope Abrams and co.  take these ideas and modify them like lucas's original collaborators in the OUT.  The only idea from Lucas that Abrams and the production should take seriously are names of great catering services.  ;D

Clearly OT storyline has a completely different focus and structure as PT. The two trilogies aren't one story at all. OT is a story about Luke and PT is back-story to OT. PT is exactly what its name says it is - a prequel trilogy, and therefore it should be watched after OT (or preferably not at all).