Rive Caedo's Completely Unofficial
Star Wars TV Show Databank!
"Facts, Rumors, and Speculation!"
I'll try to keep this updated the best I can!
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Latest Updates:
October 12th: Added confirmation that C-3PO will be used and played by Anthony Daniels.
Slight formatting changes
One rumor removed and one FAQ changed to reflect McCallum's recent statements to begin filming in 2008.
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FAQ:
What's it going to be about? We're not exactly sure, Lucas has said it'll be based around "Characters the have been shown in the Star Wars universe" but not the main characters.
When does it take place? Between Episode 3 and 4.
Where does it take place? Unknown at this time, a recent Lucas quote said the "Skywalker story" is taking place in another part of the galaxy. Whether we are to take this literally and it will take place on the other side of the Outer Rim in comparison to Tatooine, or if he was just trying to further indicate we won't be seeing Leia, Luke, or Vader.
When will it be done? They're aiming for filming in 2008 according to Rick McCallum.
Why so long? George Lucas seems to want to finish
Indiana Jones 4 first. That, and they want to write all the scripts for the first season before the film anything (or even hire actors most likely).
Who cares? Supershadow.com says they're making episodes 7, 8, and 9! No, Supershadow.com is a
complete fake.
How many episodes will it be? 100 episodes in a 1 hour episode format. We're unsure if they'll make more in this same series if it's successful, or if they'll start another series.
Why are you filing this under the Original Trilogy instead of the Prequel Trilogy or the Expanded Universe? I personally consider everything from the Empire's rise to the Empire's fall to be in the "Original Trilogy" realm.
Is it going to be another kiddie show like Droids and Ewoks?: Unlikely, Rick McCallum stated "It is going to be much darker much grittier it's much more character based." refering to it in comparison to the movies. I don't think that a kiddie show could be considered darker and more character based than Episode III
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Facts: Official or Very Reliable News Sources
Lucas' Announcement from his 1st session at Celebration 3: "We are, as you know, we started our little pilot TV series which was Clone Wars, we are now going to move that into a 3D animation half hour version, which will be a regular series.
And then I'm working on a spin-off series, It's not with the main characters, but with other characters which have appeared in the series... that'll give you all something to think about. And it's gonna be a live action series, I think it's a really great idea, we're probably not even gonna get started shooting for about a year, what we want to do is what we did with Young Indie which is to write the first season of scripts all at once, and then go and shoot them. Which takes a little time because it means we have to write all the scripts and then get everything set up. I'm going to get it started and hire the show runners and all that sort of thing, but then I'm going to step away from it and go and do other things."
Lucas' Announcement from his 2nd session at Celebration 3: "
And then we're also working on a live-action series, a spin-off, not with the main characters but with other characters from the Star Wars universe, uh, and that... we'll be trying to put that toghether in the next year and write a year's worth of scripts, so we can do it the way we did Young Indiana Jones."
Lucas' answer to a fan's question during the 2nd session (I'm curious about the time-frame of the TV show, and will we see any of the actors from 1, 2, or 3 crossover into that TV Show to kinda keep a thread?): "
Uh, well, there's none of the main characters from 1, 2, or 3... or 4, 5, or 6 for that matter... Uh, well, that's not completely true, uh, now that I think about it. Uh, we haven't really started the TV show, so it's hard to answer; it does take place between episode 3 and 4. Theres alot of issues that are connected but not very many people. I mean, you hear about people but you don't actually see them."
No questions about either TV series were asked during the 3rd session, don't blame me!
From this we can infer:
Lucas says the show won't feature any main characters from the prequel or original trilogies.
Lucas has suggested however at least 1 minor character from the films will have a role.
It will take place between episodes 3 and 4.
Lucas says that we'll hear characters talk about main characters from Episodes 1,2,3,4,5, or 6, but won't actually see them, likely refering to Vader and the Emperor?)
Lucas said he plans to get the series started off, then step away from it (let someone else lead production).
The scripts for the first season will all be written before
any filming starts. (
Celebration 3 Hyperspace Audiocasts: George Lucas)
In addition:
There will be 100 episodes, weighing in at 1 hour each (perhaps closer to 42 minutes due to commercials?) (
Rick McCallum Hyperspace Chat)
Rick McCallum will indeed be Producer of the series. (
IGN)
Daniel Logan (Young Boba Fett) stated he would love to be involved in the series, but there hadn't been any development on that. (
http://blogs.starwars.com/daniellogan/4): Available in VIP Quote section as well.
IGN has
reported (meaning don't take it as "
official word")that the show will revolve around Imperial Bounty Hunters, though other directions could be taken. screenwriters are just beginning to be hired and writing sessions will take place at Skywalker Ranch (
Rather than Lucasfilms new building? I thought it'd be ready soon?). Principal photography will begin in 2007 with filming to take place in Australia. Interestingly they also state that 50 hours are planned, rather than the 100 seemingly confirmed from Lucasfilm. (
http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/651/651192p1.html)
George Lucas stated: "
There will be a live-action show, but I don't know if it'll be in 2006, I haven't even started writing the script. It's all minor, minor characters [from the movies], It's not the Skywalker story at all - that's going on in another part of the galaxy."
We already knew alot of this, however we can take from it...
A. Lucas may still be aiming for a release sooner than the previously rumored 2008 release.
B. He plans to write the script himself? This seems odd he used the word "I" instead of "We" and seems to contridict his early intentions "I'm going to get it started and hire the show runners and all that sort of thing, but then I'm going to step away from it and go and do other things." Big news if he truely does intend to do the entire first season scripts alone, that's a big commitment and likely wouldn't give him much time for "other things" such as Indiana Jones 4, Red Tails, and his experimental films.
C. The show may be taking place entirely in locations we've never seen, or it could just be implying we won't see Coruscant, Alderaan, and Tatooine (respectively the locations Vader, Leia, and Luke would most likely be).
(
New York Times Online)
Rick McCallum (Producer): "
... And the live-action television series, which is something we're planning for just at the beginning of 2007, we're just starting to interview writers and trying to really figure out, you know, which direction. It is going to be much darker much grittier it's much more character based. You know he ((George Lucas)) envisions somewhere like 100 hours between Episode III and Episode IV with a lot of characters we haven't met that have been developed in other, you know some of the novels and other things. So we're really excited about that 'cause I think finally we can have the opportunity to answer everybody's questions once and for all by the time we finish the series."
(
Rick McCallum Q&A: DVD Press Event Audio Cast: Hyperspace Only)
This is mostly stuff we knew, but it does affirm that they're aiming for an early 2007 release now, its still aiming for 100 hours (instead of the 50 hours proposed by IGN). Most importantly we now have some info on the "feel" of the show.
Rick McCallum also mentioned they're planning to film the series in High Definition (unless something better becomes available, unlikely). He also said the series would probably be based in Sydney and filmed around the world. (
Same Audiocast)
The
budget for each episode is currently slated at about 1.8 million dollars.
Episodes sound like they're going to be made like the movies, produced under Lucasfilm's money then
distribution rights sold to a network.
Hayden Christensen seems
open to a cameo but doesn't see why/how he could now that he's in the suit.
(
Entertainment Weekly): Full quote in VIP section
Rick McCallum has seemingly stated that
C-3PO will have a part and that he will be played by Anthony Daniels, as he is in the films. (
http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_1763134.html)
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VIP Quotes: What various persons closely related to Star Wars or significant in some other way have been saying in reference to the TV Series
Daniel Logan (Young Boba Fett): "
I would love to be involved with the new TV series. I am keeping crossed my fingers, toes, eyes and whatever I can cross. If there is any development on that, I am sure you guys will know before me. But I will let you know if anything comes up."
Daniel Logan's StarWars.com Blog
Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine): In responce to: Would you be interested in revisiting the character in the planned television series?
"
Well I think um, Nobody really knows the details of the television series, I don't think that's... the people... because people have been particularly coy I just think a lot of things haven't been decided yet, but I know George's intention is to follow one of the characters who, who's been less highlighted up to now, but has been very popular uh... with audiences. Um... and sure if it's the period between the movies the Emperor has to be referred to, but you'll remember he was referred to often, without actually appearing, in the first Star Wars movie and Peter Cushing was his very effective representitive. So I suspect there might be a number of very effective representatives. Uh, but you know
I always answer my telephone."
Ian McDiarmid Q&A: DVD Press Event
Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader): "
Aside from that, I don't know how I can really come back," he says. The series is supposed to take place between the two triologies and I'm in a big black suit. Does he want me to show up and act behind a mask?"
(
Entertainment Weekly)
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News Quotes: Looking for full info rather than just highlights? It's here
Entertainment Weekly: (Info relating to the TV Series): "
The projected budget for the live-action series (which will shoot in high definition around the world will feature plenty of computer imagery) will be around 1.8 million per episode-about the same a typical first year drama. "We'll use the (production plan) as a blueprint," says McCallum/ Neither show is affilated with a network. The series may well follow the model Lucas used with his films, where in he pay the production costs and sells the distribution rights to a studio-offering a big upside for Lucasfilm (which is also working on the next Indiana Jones installment and a feature about the Tuskegee Airmen). "Let's say we make 13 episodes, try to sell them and nobody wants them, it 's okay! We'll put them on DVD," he adds."
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Rumors: Things posted on less reliable locations, but still credible such as theforce.net
Daniel Logan (Boba Fett in Episode 2) has been approached to play Boba Fett in the TV series. ((Seemingly refuted by Daniel saying he hasn't been))
The series will be divided into 4, 25 episode seasons.
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My own personal speculation:
Wild Theories with no basis!
The series will feature at least 2 Jedi on the run from the empire and bounty hunters; over the first few episodes they'll recruit some allies. Likely including a roguish Han Solo type character. They might try to work some way for R2-D2 and C3PO to have a role, but otherwise they'll just have some new droids.
Each episode will feature an opening crawl with a title, but no episode number.
Each episode will end with 10-20 seconds of music without dialogue, like the movies.
Hyperspace Jumps will be in the Classic Trilogy style. No reason at all to back that up, I just think they will be.
I suppose it'll air on
FOX, unless Lucas tries to break away from them for some reason.
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Comments? Additions?
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