Idea: Thrawn books turned into a movie?

So I was wondering if anyone with computer animation knowledge has ever considered making the timothy zahn thrawn trilogy into a movie? It was an awesome story and if someone knew how to use a program like toon boom I think it could make an amazing experience to see.

I think there have been a few attempts to selectively animate the comic book versions (as well as the fan edits of the comics to make them more in line with the films).

I've been considering how one might make these movies.  I've had thoughts, but my thoughts I suspect would be upsetting the 75% of those who frequent this forum.  My thoughts involved a mini-series rather than a movie.  This could allow for greater length and depth, and would also keep the canonicity of the episodes lower so as not to conflict too much with both the OT purists and the EU lovers.  It would be live-action as opposed to CGI, but we are presented with difficulties of old, wrinkly actors.  Well, I just say recast them.  Again, this is a television mini-series, so it could be disregarded by those who don't like anyone touching what seems too precious to them.  I find it interesting that Nathan Hamill, who resembles his father, is about the right age to play Luke Skywalker in the timeframe of the Thrawn trilogy.  I haven't thought of suitable replacements for the other actors, but I humorously think to myself that I once knew a guy whose first name escapes me, but his last name was Norton.  I remember looking through a People magazine showing actors when they were younger and asked the reader to guess who they were.  One picture immediately struck me as 20 year-old Norton, causing me to laugh, as it was truly Harrison Ford.  I wish I could find Norton, as he might pull off a respectable Han Solo :)

A few years back I saw "Shadows of the Empire" turned into a fairly watchable little movie using action figures. Pity it was in Portugese.

I think the Thrawn books could be done like that.

Weren't there audio dramatisations made or am I thinking about Dark Empire?

There were audio dramas made for Dark Empire.  Just listened to the first one last week, and I will not continue.  I already have a hard time with the comic and a resurrected Palpatine (what a clever idea, resurrecting a supposedly dead character!), but the audio drama is even worse.  Only thing I liked was hearing Billy Dee Williams and discovering that I can do a reasonable impersonation.  Hey, I was driving pretty far for work, and found it a truly dull drive with a truly lame story.  "How ya doin' you old pirate!  So good to see ya!"  Hey, that sounded pretty good!

In all seriousness, how palatable would a Thrawn mini-series be to the most hardore group of Star Wars purists I've ever encountered?  I don't think I made it clear that my intention for it would be to elevate its canonicity to a higher level than the novels (where I believe it deserves to be), while still being below the films (which of course are the true canon).

I'm iffy about the action figure SOTE, but if you say it's good, it might be worth checking out.  However, I don't speak Portugese, which would likely present a problem.

It's not really a fan edit thing though is it?

Unless you have a tonne of cash and Lucas' blessing it's a bit of a pipe dream to do it on the telly box.

It could be a fan film thing but even then you are dealing with The Man in terms of rights issues.

Lucas doesn't seem to be anywhere near as nobbish as the Herbert estate when it comes to non-profit fan films but even he might draw the line at an adaptation of a biggish udder in the EU cash-cow.

Well, you're right, my idea would not belong in the fanedit forum.  I did not mention this, but my idea was the sort of pipedream that I (or someone) would write up screenplays for King George the L and that he would allow such an adaptation.  But being as I'm in the wrong thread for such an idea, I will stop now.

Darth_ender - I think this is the perfect place to discuss something like this as the original purpose of this thread is to discuss whether this story could be adapted in a visual way, and as there are no films for these storys which we can edit then it presents us only one option, to create 'footage'.  This idea is not a million miles away from the idea of filming new scenes to incorporate into the existing star wars movies (something I want to try to create with models for space battles, and perhaps one day with actors for small scenes like Luke building his lightsaber, and the rebel troops on Endor).

Personally I would much rather see any attempts to do this in live action that 3d or 2d animations because then parts might be interchangable with the actual films and open up more edting options. 

Thank you, Johannus, for your faith in my idea.  I agree however that George Lucas would not be fond of a full-blown mini-series.  I really would love to see a live-action adaptation myself.  I would picture it somewhat different from the style established with the OT and PT, but I think it could still be a worthwhile adaptation.  Maybe one day I will get working on the screenplay.  Maybe one day soon :)

TheBoost said:

A few years back I saw "Shadows of the Empire" turned into a fairly watchable little movie using action figures. Pity it was in Portugese.

I think the Thrawn books could be done like that.

 I've always thought about doing something like this.

There's a lot of source material available. There is the audio cd soundtrack. The n64 video game. Comic books and trading cards. Action figures.  And maybe some other stuff I'm forgetting about.

You could even use the Shadows of the Empire audio book. Mix it all together and I think it might end up being a reallly cool project. But I'm sure it would take an enourmous amount of time, and you'd have to be one skilled editor.

If there's an editor out there that wants to try this project shoot me a pm. I'll send you all the materials you need :D