Star Wars 3D And TV

Master_of_Tumbleweeds writes "Rick McCallum, co-producer of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, appeared at a press conference in Japan earlier today. He spoke about the future of Star Wars, specifically about the 3D updates of all six films and the upcoming TV series. McCallum said that the 3D films would be released within two to three years, and that the TV shows would take place during the 20 year time period between Episode III and IV. He also mentioned that one of the shows would follow the adventures of a young Luke Skywalker, and reveal how certain characters ended up together. The show starts production next year."

Comments

Or to make a long story short

[77Punker]

He promised to make Star Wars get even worse than he managed to do the last three times. How will he do this?

He'll do it weekly with a TV series!

Re:Or to make a long story short

[Anonymous Coward]

On the other hand, if Lucas makes it show in three dimensions, maybe it will give the characters some depth.

Or maybe not.

Re:Or to make a long story short

[__aaclcg7560]

Should be 5D: width, height, depth, time and money. George is expecting everyone to depart with the last two -- again, again and again.

Re:Or to make a long story short

[Blitzenn]

"should be 5D: width, height, depth, time and money. "

Actually if you want to include time and money as dimensions, then you would have to invert those in the formula as they are a waste of time and money. Technically speaking, because those two dimensions are inverted, they then cancel out two other dimensions, leaving all George Lucas work a mathematical equivelant of 1D cinematography.

Re:Or to make a long story short

[__aaclcg7560]

I shold've figured it out from the way you're a complete tool.

Sorry, I don't speak Idiotese. When my protocol droid comes back, I'll have it speak to you since it understands alll 29 million variations of Idiotese (except for the dialect on the Millenium Falcon). ;)

3-D Star Wars Prequels? I Can't Wait!

[TooMuchEspressoGuy]

Finally, my chance to actually realistically attempt to strangle Jar Jar Binks!

Re:3-D Star Wars Prequels? I Can't Wait!

[Strag]

The more you tighten your grip, the more Jar Jar will slip through your grasp.

Why?

[bcmm]

Is there a good reason to keep the franchise going, other than money?

Millions will watch it; fans will get more annoyed and alienated; non-fans will find it increasingly hard to believe the fans' claims that it used to be good and it will all be hugely profitable. Nothing new.

Re:Why?

[jfengel]

George Lucas is apprently putting what he wants to see on film. He's been monkeying with his old films to make them look more like what he wanted (or at least, what he wants now).

So if you're looking for an artistic rather than fiscal reason, that's it: George Lucas gets to make the movies he wants to make. He's writing and directing them, despite pleas from the fans to let somebody else do it. Supposedly that's what a real artist does: make the art his way, and critics, fans, and profits be damned.

He happens to get the profits anyway. But if you're asking him to stop making movies his way and make them the way you want to see them, he'll tell you what any artist would tell you: go make your own movie.

Re:Why?

[jangobongo]

Is there a good reason to keep the franchise going, other than money?

Millions will watch it...

You just answered your own question - millions will watch it. They'll watch it at least as long as it takes to find out if it's good or horrible.

It could be good. The 'Clone Wars' cartoons seem to be well liked, though it may not have reached a very large audience.

If they get it right, it could be as successful as 'Smallville' or some of the 'Star Trek' series. I thought 'The Young Indiana Jones' TV show was very good, but it never reached a large audience. Maybe because the age of Indy in the stories jumped around too much.

I wonder what channel the show might end up on. Fox?

Re: Why?

[Black Parrot]

> So if you're looking for an artistic rather than fiscal reason, that's it: George Lucas gets to make the movies he wants to make. He's writing and directing them, despite pleas from the fans to let somebody else do it. Supposedly that's what a real artist does: make the art his way, and critics, fans, and profits be damned.

And Lucas just happens to think action figures are an art form.

No mercy you have ...

[orangeguru]

Every additional Star Wars remake, rerelease, addition, TV series, book, comic, condom, game WITHIN the movies time frame will make the MYTH only WEAKER. Damnit.

Hmm.

[Anonymous Coward]

In related news, George Lucas continues to shit diamonds...

3D Effect right now...

[NightWulf]

I'll just go to the zoo and taunt the monkeys. Eventually they'll throw some feces at my face, and I already have the same effect of the new Star Wars flying at me in 3D.

I'm excited!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I am SO excited about this, I'm sure it will have the quality of other tv shows based on movies such as "Stargate Atlantis".

I'm so excited, I gotta pee...

certain characters?

[cei]

...reveal how certain characters ended up together

Isn't the main unknown in that gap between III and IV how Han met Chewie? All the other Ep IV relationships are fairly well accounted for...

Re:certain characters?

[jspoon]

Isn't the main unknown in that gap between III and IV how Han met Chewie? All the other Ep IV relationships are fairly well accounted for...

Including so many that no one cared about. Such as: Why Yoda and Chewbacca are such good friends. And: Why Baba Fett has a grudge against Obi Wan.

Re:certain characters?

[Anonymous Coward]

Chewie and Yoda (Jedi Übermaster) fought together at the end of the clone war. Chewie meets Han. Chewie and Han meet Luke and Obiwan. Han says he has no reason to believe in the force.
The story in between Ep 3 and 4 could be about why Chewie and Han don't communicate. Perhaps they see a marriage councilor (Lando???). Endless possibilities!

Re:certain characters?

[tessaiga]

Isn't the main unknown in that gap between III and IV how Han met Chewie? All the other Ep IV relationships are fairly well accounted for...

It's been covered in Brian Daley's Han Solo books already. The short version is that Han (who was an Imperial officer at the time) happened to be stationed at the slave camp that Chewie was in. He saved Chewie from being killed by some other Imperials for rebelling against his captors, and in return Chewie swore a life debt to Han.

Re:certain characters?

[dtungsten]

Baba Fett? Boba's long lost identical twin sister who is also strong in Bounty Hunting, like their father (Jango)?

Not to be confused with cousin Baby Fett, or any of the clone warriors.

Re:So...

[FidelCatsro]

Wedge is not indestructible, He was just one of the best, if not the best pilot in the galaxy

Prequels...

[RandomLetters]

Is the whole concept of "prequels" flawed?

I found that all the Star Wars prequels focused on acting out things which we already knew the result of, showing younger versions of characters or parents of characters, and ruining our personal concept of what went before.

Are there any instances where "prequels" were successful and expanded the narrative?

Re:Sigh

[buddachile]

from TFA: Do you really want to see a young Luke, Han, etc. interacting?

in episode 4 han and luke interacted in a fashion that suggested that was the first time they had met. how would it make sense for them to interact in the TV series when the time frame is the 20 years between episodes 3 & 4?

Beginning of the End of Star Wars

[reporter]

"Stars Wars" (SW) is quickly morphing into the sort of downward spiral that marked the end of "Star Trek" (ST). ST saturated the airwaves, and eventually the plots became so shallow that they lost most of their audience. One problem is that plots begin to repeat themselves.

Another problem is inconsistency.

The first sign of trouble is inconsistency in the storylines. An example is the fact that, in the original SW trilogy, the Force is available to anyone willing to commit herself to the ideals of the Jedi. Obi-wan Kenobi offers to teach Han Solo how to master the Force, but the swashbuckler declines, preferring a good pistol. Then, in the new trilogy, the Force is available only to those with the blood stocked with midichlorians.

By the way, epics come along only once in a great while. Trying to generate new and wonderful ideas each week for a TV series is extremely difficult; hence most shows (e.g. ST) end before about 7 seasons. Such a conclusion leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth, and once devoted fans permanently ignore the franchise.

SW will most assuredly meet such a fate -- unless George Lucas deflates his ego and terminates the television series before they even begin.

Re:Beginning of the End of Star Wars

[xoboots]

I find your lack of faith -- disturbing.

As for the midichlorians, perhaps there is more to it than your apparently limited insight allow for. First of all, it is well known in the SW universe that the force permeates every living thing (with one notable exception, but they aren't discovered until after ROTJ so we will ignore them here). If midichlorians act as the mediation for that interaction than the implication is that everyone has at least SOME midichlorian in them (whatever it is) but that some folks have more than others. Just as some people are naturally more gifted athletes or mathematicians or more suited to contemplative, spiritual paths so too are some beings more likely to be adept at bearing the Force. The importance of "introducing" midichlorians is that it allowed Lucas to tell us that Anakin was off the chart when it came to natural Force adeptness. So your argument is rather unsophisticated.

Furthermore, you have to account for the fact that just because a "sage" says something doesn't mean that it is the whole truth or even true at all. It is simply their belief or understanding. Note how both Yoda and Obi-Wan (whom we would assume should know better) are both bent on getting Luke to destroy Darth. Obi-Wan never fails in this persuit even though Padame's dying words to him were insistant that there was still good in Anakin. It takes young Luke (who is apparently the "real" chosen one and thus has great insight) to realize that one of the characteristics of the Force is that redemption is possible for all -- even Anakin. This is the real moral of Star Wars and it is somewhat hidden behind everything else that goes on so it is not surprising that you don't see it (again, neither did Yoda nor Obi-Wan). If you allow yourself to sucked in to the "realness" of the scenes that Lucas presents you miss things like that and it suggests that you are only doing a surface read. Yes its a big budget action movie but if you take a moment to NOT be wowed by what is happening, there is stuff there that acts at a deeper level.

Asides from all that -- who the fuck cares if you are unhappy about these films or the direction that Lucas is taking the franchise? Just because you don't get it doesn't mean that you get to trash it. A lot of people DO enjoy SW and will continue to do so long into the future. As your ability to deconstruct appears somewhat lacking (don't worry, not everyone has great reserves of that talent) it is likely that your judgements on the matter will leave much to be desired. You talk about Lucas' ego and yet it is you who are suffering from delusions. I think Lucas has earned the right to set the direction for SW. You: not so much.

Re:Beginning of the End of Star Wars

[clem]

Asides from all that -- who the fuck cares if you are unhappy about these films or the direction that Lucas is taking the franchise? Just because you don't get it doesn't mean that you get to trash it.

Actually, the grandparent poster can say anything they damn well feel like about these films. On Slashdot, it's generally accepted that you can post anything you wish as long as you can accept the effects this will have on your karma.

This allows people to *gasp* criticize movies. Just like it allows you to play the shameless apologist for lukewarm (pun intended) cinema. Are you really objecting that a movie review was based on someone's opinion? Were you expecting objective, empirical evidence?

Your personal set of taboos don't play a part in these forums.

Re:Beginning of the End of Star Wars

[Junkstyle]

Wrong. Anakin IS the chosen one. In the end it was Vader's decision to threw the emperor over the ledge to restore balance in the Force. Do you honestly thing that Yoda and Obiwan thought Luke had even snowballs chance in hell to beat both Vader and the Emperor? Did you see the pathetic Jedi training Luke got in the swamp? Yoda and Obiwan sent Luke in there as an "Jedi Master" because they thought he could change Vader's mind. The whole series is all about Anakin not Luke.

Re:Beginning of the End of Star Wars

[xoboots]

WRONG! Did you actually see Star Wars? Luke is the one who rebalanced the force, not Anakin. Yes, the series is about Anakin, but that doesn't mean who was the chosen one. As I've already said, the great sages were wrong and just because obi-wan thought Anakin was the chosen one doesn't make it so.

Young Skywalker

[Kaimelar]

He also mentioned that one of the shows would follow the adventures of a young Luke Skywalker . . .

I don't see why so many people are negative about this prospect. I mean, how could this possibly go wrong? ;-)

Trailer

[jrivar59]

A trailer for the upcoming TV series (Young Darth) can be found here.

Star {Wars,Trek}

[Black Parrot]

It seems that Star Trek isn't the only over-exploited franchise that needs to take a rest for a decade or two.

Adventures?

[TeacherOfHeroes]

I thought that episode IV kind of established that Luke's life up to that point had been really boring...

How can you make a tv series that needs 20-24 interesting things to happen each year out of that?

Super 3D special effect

[Stormwatch]

Depending on the angle you watch it from, either Han or Greedo can shoot first!

The "adventures" of Young Luke?

[thesandtiger]

I thought the whole point of him whining about life on Tatooine was because the only adventures he was having involved "zeroing" womp rats.

The problem with such Superboy-esque things is that they just can't do too much with them - we know he can't die, can't suffer any real loss or develop at all as a character (after all, the Luke we first met was hardly heroic - he whines a lot and builds model shuttles. Wow!)

Show me Han Solo's earlier life. Show me Leia's life - she at least seems to have been doing things for the rebellion. Show me anything, but god, please, don't show me 10 episodes of "Luke and his old pal Wompy get in trouble with Uncle Owen when they get sand in tender spots."

You all are depressing...

[fishlet]

Reading the comments to this story makes me sad. I just went to see Episode III for the 3rd time today and I'm even more impressed this time around. Then I come to slashdot and all I read is how you all hated this film and everything since the original series has been crap. What I see is that Mr Lucas has really taken a sincere effort to improve... and theres evidence that he listens to his fans (how many lines of Jar Jar dialog were there in this one?). Though not without some flaws, this film has certainly recaptured the magic for me....

but then again- why should I care as I increasingly believe that the dominant crowd here is wrong about a great many things. IE: Not all software should be free, Linux is not superior to Windows (anymore), The RIAA is not evil for pursuing sharers of copyrighted work, oh... and the latest start wars was pretty damn good.

Re:You all are depressing...

[reiggin]

Now, now... please don't taunt the communists.

Dual Lens for 3D?

[arbi]

Wouldn't 3D versions of the movie require that the original footage be shot using dual lenses that are spaced about 3 inches apart?

Re:Dual Lens for 3D?

[adrianmonk]

Wouldn't 3D versions of the movie require that the original footage be shot using dual lenses that are spaced about 3 inches apart?

Not anymore. There is a company that has figured out how to do it with computers, and George Lucas has said he wants to use their technology to re-do all 6 movies.

Smallville... in space!

[Lionfire]

Does anyone else think that Smallville in space might be a bad idea? Especially without any super powers?

No, wait -- perhaps Luke can discover his Force-powers, and then forget them all just before the droids arrive.

Wow, this is going to be so great. Luke with his Force-powers, young Han and Leia hanging out with him in Mos Eisley. C3P0 and R2D2 can serve drinks or something, right before they have their memories erased again.

George Lucas is really onto a winning formula here!

Hypothetical conversation...

[chriswaclawik]

You: Hey, I just saw "The Phantom Menace" in glorious 3D!
Me: Really? Did it still suck?

Spoiler Tags Please!

[DRO0]

Come on put some Spoiler tags in your messages people! Not all of us have seen the original Star Wars trilogy yet!

OMG no no no MY EYES MY EYES

[kahei]

A tv show depicting the life of young Luke, eh? How nice. I'm betting the content will be as follows:

--Luke faces many challenges and trials, but overcomes them with the support of his friends and family.
--Luke has a band of about 4 multiracial, telegenic friends each with their own particular mannerism and area of expertise.
--Comic relief is provided by a small robot or alien critter. Ha ha!m
--Sometimes Luke feels lonely or insecure but by the end of the episode he has recovered his self worth, thanks to teamwork, sharing, and staying true to himself.
--Serious themes (social injustice, the pain of being dumped) are sometimes raised, but at the end of each half-hour, a few wise words from Luke's aunt and uncle set it all to rights.

This is an absolute must-see! There's never been TV like this before! What a splendid use of the SW franchise!

WHAT THE FUCK ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING??
Haven't they heard about diluting a brand?

(pause)

NO, REALLY, WHAT THE FUCK??