New Star Wars TV Series Confirmed

merauder writes to tell us BBC News is reporting that the new Star Wars TV series is set to run at least 100 episodes. From the article: "The series will be set between episodes three and four of the film saga. It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers. McCallum said there would be 'a whole bunch of new characters' and the series would be 'much more dramatic and darker.'"

Comments

A New Hope

[eldavojohn]

In my youth (prior to eighth grade), I read every Star Wars book out there. I think it was half way through the Young Jedi Academy series when I lost interest (Episode One was the final nail on the coffin of my fondness for Star Wars).

Now breathe and get everything out of your system about me being a nerd without a life. I was, in fact, a farmboy without a permit or vehicle ... although I'm prepared for some colorful replies in response to this post.

Kevin J. Anderson & Timothy Zahn could write a story. In their books, they expanded on what Lucas first saw. I read everything and loved the rich histories and futures laid out in the books for characters in the Star Wars universe. Sadly, none of these characters were in the new movies. None of the Jedi were cloned. Everything alluded to in the Thrawn (Zahn) Trilogy was omitted from episodes one through three. There was no talk of Spaarti cloning cylinders or Joruus C'Boath being cloned from Jorus C'Boath.

Why? Because although these books were licensed by Lucas, they were not official parts of the story. These works became known as the Star Wars Expanded Universe meaning characters not in the movies. This material expands and continues the stories told in the films, taking place anywhere from 4,968 years before The Phantom Menace to about 130 years after Return of the Jedi. In fact, some of the works (like the Dark Empire comics and Zahn's Trilogy) conflict directly with other works.

Don't be deceived, some of these works (like Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly) sucked. But I heavily suggest the Thrawn and Jedi Academy Trilogy if you want to read some of the better stories from the Expanded Universe.

I would like to say that I remain optimistic about what Lucas can still do with the Star Wars Universe. I believe that he has made mistakes in giving himself supreme veto power over what is shown or added in the movies and I think this attitude has ruined Star Wars for me somewhat. I wish that Lucas would open his mind to other ideas as some of these books have proven that there are other people out there capable of helping Lucas create story lines. I shudder to think that he might attempt to write all 100 episodes without the help of coauthors. It has been my experience that television shows with multiple authors are less likely to grow old. I also hope that Lucas has finally realized that his fans don't want hilarious/annoying Jar Jar Binks but instead want the drama and emotion of Episodes Three and Five.

Episode One left me disinterested. Star Wars Galaxies left me angry. Hopefully this series will win me back although I think a lot of us will have a hard time adapting to the new actors in old parts. I hope a large part of Luke's Youth is omitted as I cannot think of one young child actor I have liked.

Re:A New Hope

[DorkusMasterus]

I agree with this wholeheartedly. What do people NOT like right now about the franchise: Lucas' tinkering. With this show, he's going to probably have little if nothing to do with the daily content. I'm excited about this. I loved the books, especially the stuff with Thrawn, and while I know this is not the same time period plot-wise, it would be cool to see something along that same thematic idea. I'm excited for this and would give it a shot. (And NO, I'm not a fanboy. I like star wars, but have never dressed up as one, never owned a lightsaber (even the plastic toy ones), and don't even own all the films. I just like good fiction, and a lot of the "expanded universe" took the best things about the early films and gave them more and new life.

Re:A New Hope

[Mayhem178]

I've been in your shoes. At home I have well over 100 Star Wars novels sitting on my bookshelf, and not one of them is unread (save for Republic Commando: Triple Zero, which just came out). The Expanded Universe is, for the most part, a wonderful continuation of the Star Wars saga, with a few inconsistencies or downright blunders (*cough* Planet of Twilight *cough*). The SW:EU has seen some of the most talented sci-fi writers of our age. And I can't think of any character I like better than Grand Admiral Thrawn.

I do hope this TV series will live up to the ongoing story and be just as enjoyable as the books have been for me. I pray that they will heed the prior works of the authors and beware of glaring inconsistencies (one of which I intend to keep an eye on being young Han Solo).

Re:A New Hope

[AlterTick]

I hope a large part of Luke's Youth is omitted as I cannot think of one young child actor I have liked.

Indeed. Not only that, but the true story arc of the Luke character can't really even begin until Ep4. Too much of the character's development in ANH starts with the premise of Luke as an inexperienced farmboy. To have him do anything beyond shooting womp rats with his T-16 or wasting time at Tashi Station with his friends would bugger the existing canon. Not that I'd put it past Lucas to do just that...

Re:A New Hope

[CrackedButter]

A young luke Skywalker reminds me of a young indiana jones. That series wasn't that interesting either.

Re:A New Hope

[IAmTheDave]

I was, in fact, a farmboy without a permit or vehicle ...

Well, that was stupid.

;)

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

There's only one person I know who's fucked up Star Wars (and a great many other sci-fi universes) more that Lucus himself, and that's Kevin J Anderson. He's a hack, a as far as hacks go he's a *bad* hack. The fact that you like his stories is very telling with regards to your literary tastes.

Miles Teg

Re:A New Hope

[Venyce]

Timothy Zahn wrote some excellent Star Wars, I agree. I'm a little amazed that anyone could read something like the Jedi Academy series and find them to be anything better than grade D trash. They had to have Michael Stackpole (of X-Wing / Rouge Squadron books) come in and basically re-write it so it was partially believeable.

The Dark Empire comics where relativly OK, as comics go. However they were trash compared to the good books. Most of the writers had to spend a lot of time ignoring the "Reborn Emperor, and Luke goes to the dark side blah blah. It was shit, but it had to be considered 'canon' for the sake of expanded universe books.

Now we have the New Jedi Order books. I read 2 or 3 and that was the end. Just too cheesey. Other than Zahn, Stackpole, and a couple of others (whoever adaped Episode 3 and the guy who wrote Shadows of the Empire) I ignore Star Wars books now.

Stackpole was right when he wrote his main character telling Luke that you can't take a guy who blows up a whole star system and say he's a great Jedi Knight. Good ole Kevin J. invented the super-weapon of the week club. The Deathstar 3, the Sun blaster who whatever that little twit jedi character he wrote used to blow up a star. It was just lame.

And don't even get me started on the "Wonder Twins" saving the day through any number of books before they were even 12 years old. All of our main characters from the 1st triligy are standing around like assholes, so the kids can do it all.

No thanks. Star Wars has become questionable. I approach anything writen or done for the screen with skepticism.

On a good note, look around on the internet and see if you can find "Stuff". A piece of Star Wars fan fiction that was written to try and fix all the dumb shit various authers had done to the story after Zahn's books. It's very well written and pretty funny to boot.

Re:A New Hope

[Klivian]

>Kevin J. Anderson & Timothy Zahn could write a story. Agree 50%, but not with the Kevin J. Anderson bit. I would rather have Michael A. Stackpole work with Timothy Zahn, he is better than Anderson. They are the best writers that has worked on the Star Wars novels, their respective works are in a class above all the others. And they already have experience working thogether in the Star Wars universe. The 'Side Trip' story from Tales From the Empire, are one of the best short stories in the series.

Re:A New Hope

[F_Scentura]

"To have him do anything beyond shooting womp rats with his T-16 or wasting time at Tashi Station with his friends would bugger the existing canon."

If it weren't for the "Not that I'd put it past Lucas to do just that..." I'd assume you haven't seen Episode I.

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

The Jedi Academy Trilogy is what got me hooked on SW.

Re:A New Hope

[BSVino]

YOU WILL KILL GEORGE LUCAS. Don't get it? Read the Thrawn trilogy. I've been reading awesome books like "I, Jedi" and the Thrawn trilogy and they are indeed awesome works of art. However, despite the fact that they predate episodes 1 2 and 3, they have many glaring inconsistencies. For example, at one point in the book, Mara Jade tells about how the Emperor's wrath at losing the first Death Star cost Vader his right hand, and almost cost him his life. However, in Episode 2 Anakin's right arm is removed by Count Dooku! Yeah, good job there Palpatine, you really taught Vader a lesson by removing an arm that he hadn't posessed for two decades. Timothy Zahn came first, and wrote that part of Vader's history, and Lucas screwed it up. I'll swallow what George Lucas has to say about Star Wars these days, but not if it contradicts with what's previously been written. The Thrawn trilogy or "I, Jedi" made into movies would greatly eclipse anything Lucas has done with episodes 1-3.

Re:A New Hope

[Rude Turnip]

"There was no talk of Spaarti cloning cylinders or Joruus C'Boath being cloned from Jorus C'Boath."

Timothy Zahn's "Outbound Flight" novel just came out. That should explain what happened to ol' Jorus. I grabbed a copy this past weekend and will jump right into it, as I'm only a few pages away from completing "Dark Force Rising."

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

Dude, you are really pathetic. First off, this stuff is fiction. That is, it is completely made up, doesn't matter one bit, etc. Second, it is pretty clear that the damn story was played out. Once that second death star blew up, the good guys won and we all went home with visions of dancing Ewoks in our heads.

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

In a lot of ways, some of the "expanded universe" could be seen as potentially more "canon" than the movies were. While Lucas chose to ignore the events in the books (I doubt he even read them), a lot of derivative works expanded on, and used characters from the Zahn trilogy.

There's a lot more supporting "evidence" for the expanded universe than for the stuff in Episodes I to III of the Lucas movies.

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

This is what got me back into the SW fold. I was betrayed by Episode 1, I ignored Episode 2 (until recently when I got a copy for free in a "buy two used DVDs get one free" deal at my local Lackluster) and stayed away from Episode 3. (also until recently when I bought the used DVD in that same deal.)

However, Genndy Tartakovsky and his band of merry animators brought back all of what I enjoyed about the Original Trilogy. There was actual *character development* in those shorts. Anakin went from being the brat from Episode 2 to being not so bratty. By the end of Clone Wars Part 2, you can believe Anakin as a full-fledged Jedi Knight. He's learned how to be a mensch. And you gotta like the Hirschfeld-meets-Anime character design going on.

Unfortunately Tartakovsky is not going to be involved in the 3D-animated new Clone Wars series that is also on the agenda at Skywalker Ranch. Too bad, because he is every bit the director Lucas is not. Tartakovsky is now creative director at The Orphanage animation studio in San Francisco and working on The Dark Crystal II. Most of his Clone Wars team, including right-hand-man Paul Rudish, is involved in this project.

Regardless, Genndy Tartakovsky is my master now.

Ms. Geek (Anonymous Coward because she's on a school computer)

Re:A New Hope

[leenoble_uk]

Maybe Luke will lose his memory just before the droids arrive. That'd make it work.

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

How can you possibly compare Kevin J Anderson to Timothy Zahn? The Thrawn books are the best SW novels I've ever read. The Heir to the Empire trilogy would have been great for Episodes 7-9, assuming Lucas could be locked in a room somewhere for the duration. In constrast, KJA's books read like they were written by a 12 year old. Simplistic characters, predictable plotting, and a general lack of quality. IMO they also have less of the "Star Wars feel" (TM) than most of the other EU novels. None of his other books I've had the misfortune to read have improved my opinion of his writing.

Re:A New Hope

[MyNameIsEarl]

Didn't you know that Obi Wan's lightsaber also acts as one of those doohickeys from Men in Black and can erase memories.

Re:A New Hope

[BTWR]

A young luke Skywalker reminds me of a young indiana jones. That series wasn't that interesting either.

Yes, but the key difference is that a young Indiana Jones DOES have adventures (and is proven directly by Last Crusade's prologue). GP's idea is that a young Luke Skywalker is not supposed to have any jedi-like adventures, or anything having to do with the Force.

Re:A New Hope

[RzUpAnmsCwrds]

Why? Because although these books were licensed by Lucas, they were not official parts of the story.

Actually, most EU content is considered cannon, unless it disagrees with the films or other Lucas-produced works. Indeed, much of the content used in the prequels came from the EU.

Re:A New Hope

[im_thatoneguy]

I shudder to think that he might attempt to write all 100 episodes without the help of coauthors.

I think we're probably safe on this. I don't know anyone who would be willing to write 4,000 pages of screenplay on the same story. The volume of work required demands a team.

Re:A New Hope

[BungoMan85]

Agreed 100%. When I was 7 and I first saw episode 4 that is one of the reasons it was so awesome to me. Because here was a kid (albeit a much older one than me at the time) who is plucked out of his normal boring life and thrust into adventure and in the process learns of things far beyond the scope of being a moisture farmer. If they were to show Luke having all sorts of Jedi adventures as a child it'd RUIN it. Remember when he mey Obi Wan and Obi Wan mentions the force and Luke is all "the force? what's that?"? Luke had NO clue what he was getting into, and that's part of what made his character a real hero.

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

I second that critique!

Re:A New Hope

[daeley]

Didn't you know that Obi Wan's lightsaber also acts as one of those doohickeys from Men in Black and can erase memories.

From the neck up. ;)

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

Kevin J Anderson sullies the good name of "bad hack!" I can't think of any SW book I've read other than the original Zahn trilogy that was well-written and true to the characters.

Re:A New Hope

[Abreu]

Besides, I remember reading somewhere (cant recall where) that Luke and Leia were 16 at the time of ANH...

Certainly a "Young Princess/Senator Leia" makes more sense than a "Young Luke Skywalker", but it would still strain credibility...

Re:A New Hope

[iwsnet]

Maybe the show will be a prequel to the prequel. Just kidding! I think Lucas really messed up by doing the entire Episode 1 prequel trilogy. Who wanted to see how Darth Vader got started with three movies that just leads back to where Star Wars began. He should have started from the end of Return of the Jedi or a few years later and used new characters. He could have brought back Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill as well. Instead we got Natalie Portman and Jar Jar Binks.

Re:A New Hope

[Maxite]

You see, the solution is very simple: Just show 100 or so episodes of Luke Skywalker just being a normal farmboy. The canon is kept, George Lucas has his show, and everybody still loses in the end.

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

JMS on Babylon 5?

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

Luke will be trained by Obi Wan and Yoda. Together they go on many adventures in the galaxy, meeting new people and races. By his 16th birthday, Luke had turned to the dark side of the force, but Obi Wan and Yoda combined their Jedi powers to perform the ultimate jedi mind trick - a complete wipe of all of his memories.

That also explains the reason why Luke managed to relearn so much on his own in the movies. The knowledge was hidden deep inside him.

Re:A New Hope

[Mycroft_VIII]

There is Yoda's words to Obi about excitement and adventure and reckless, those could be twisted a bit to imply he did have some pre epIV adventures.
    Not that they need much considering "was I any different when you taught me" and "to Yoda you will go, the Jedi master who trained me" got pretty much mangled with epI and the addition of Qui-Gon.

Mycroft

Re:A New Hope

[mholt108]

couple of things here;
one is that lucas later prequels kinda had a sucky factor BECAUSE he stuck to the story (also cause of some casting probs and actors having to do the whole thing in front of greenscreen).
two - there is scope for luke to have adventures. if you read the original starwars novel he is involved with a group of frinds trying to battle the empire but joining the aliance; he does have previous limited contact with obi wan (and lets face it - he is a little thick so there is plenty of room for forgotten subtle training); obi wan does mention he has become quite a pilot. there are plenty of gaps to fill here.
hope it rocks!

Re:A New Hope

[HaydnH]

"Maybe Luke will lose his memory just before the droids arrive. That'd make it work."

I'm so looking forward that series, I hear it will be called a "New Dope" =P

Re:A New Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

GP's idea is that a young Luke Skywalker is not supposed to have any jedi-like adventures, or anything having to do with the Force

He used to bulls-eye wump rats down at Bakers Canyon (without a targeting computer). He's a "pretty good" piloy in his own words, meaning he flies and like young Anakin (also stuck on Tatoine), is also likely relying on the force unconciously. Tatoine itself has a thriving smuggling/gambling community, and is clearly the center of the Huts crimial enterprise. He's likely had far more adventures than his coddled little princess sister.

Christ, I can't believe I'm arguing this...

snark of the day :)

[B3ryllium]

Great! It should be about as interesting as Enterprise's first season. Yay!

Re:snark of the day :)

[flyingsquid]

I think I speak for geeks everywhere when I say that I just can't wait to see a younger, whinier Luke Skywalker.

Re:snark of the day :)

[Golias]

Heh.

It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers.

Great. At last! 100 episodes of a farm boy fixing vaporators, shopping for power converters, and shooting at womp rats for cheap thrills.

And you just know that every last goddamn character that had anything to do with the ultimate destiny of the Empire will pass through Luke's parcel of desert before the series run is over. I've got ten bucks that says we see Fett before season 1 is over.

Re:snark of the day :)

[voice_of_all_reason]

Hey, now. Enterprise had its good parts...

(all conveniently located in the space montage during the show's first 30 seconds!)

Re:snark of the day :)

[Craig Maloney]

If we're lucky, we'll also see the Ferengi, the Borg, and some time-travelling aliens. Oh, and perhaps Spiderman and the Cylons will drop in for a visit too!

(And before anyone bitches, yes I know those are from Star Trek, not Star Wars. The moment I knew that Enterprise jumped the shark was the Ferengi episode, whom the federation had never seen before. Right. I call bullcrap.)

Re:snark of the day :)

[zxnos]

could it be anything like smallville? perhaps luke is learning about his abilities as a proto-jedi. not sure how that ties in with the movies, but hey, just a thought.

Re:snark of the day :)

[Magnifico]

Do not underestimate the power of the snark side.

Re:snark of the day :)

[rfernand79]

...and limited collector's editions of all said characters...

Ah, my wallet is salivating as I type.

Re:snark of the day :)

[nroose]

Bite your tongue.

I thought it was great that they got back to discovering new planets, fighting evil aliens, and having sex with wierd humanoids.

Re:snark of the day :)

[StalinsNotDead]

Enterprise jumped the shark was the Ferengi episode, whom the federation had never seen before

That can be easily explained by poor record keeping, or a corrupted database, or there was a change of management and somebody deleted records of various species encountered because they weren't happy with their severence package.

Re:snark of the day :)

[digitaldc]

I think I speak for geeks everywhere when I say that I just can't wait to see a younger, whinier Luke Skywalker.

And see a much faster, greener, and more handsome Yoda you will.

Re:snark of the day :)

[MorderVonAllem]

Considering the Federation didn't exist during the Enterprise timeline I would have to say that unless they did meet the Ferengi right afterwards...it just means the Federation didn't encounter the Ferengi. Just so happens that humans did meet the Ferengi though.

Re:snark of the day :)

[Craig Maloney]

Yes, because all good science fiction uses administrative cock-ups as plot devices.

I'd be more willing to say that Armand Shimmerman has blackmail material on Richard Berman that requires him to be in every series of Star Trek.

Re:snark of the day :)

[kniLnamiJ-neB]

What's he going to learn? He could barely pull his saber to cut himself free of the Wampa at the beginning of Empire. This is supposed to be before ANH, when he barely even knew that Old Ben lived out in the desert.

Nah, this is just Lucas proving that he could mold a pile of dog crap into a sculpture of Darth Vader and people would kill each other to own it.

And yes, sadly enough, I will probably watch it.

Re:snark of the day :)

[XxtraLarGe]

It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers.

If we're lucky, what they meant to say is that it covers the 20 year period in the Star Wars galaxy that happened between the end of Episode III & Episode IV, and hopefully Luke Skywalker will have nothing to do about it.

Re:snark of the day :)

[Andrzej Sawicki]

Faster he would not be, methinks. ;)

Re:snark of the day :)

[corbettw]

Hey, now. Enterprise had its good parts...

(all conveniently located in the space montage during the show's first 30 seconds!)

Funny, I thought they were all located in a nice, tight, red uniform...

Re:snark of the day :)

[Manitcor]

I vote we submit this series to JumpTheShark as I deem it to already have jumped before it started.

Lucas these days knows nothing about filmmaking short of pretty eye candy and how to milk a franchise for every little penny at the same time destroying the orignal vision.

Re:snark of the day :)

[hunterx11]

Really, in the last episode of Enterprise they should have sorted the whole mess out by going back in time and killing Berman.

Re:snark of the day :)

[whitehatlurker]

What I don't get: 100 episodes of Star Wars?!

Firefly cancelled after one season (okay before the end of the first season)
Babylon 5 struggled each and every season to get renewed
Farscape killed off before its time
Enterprise got killed off as it started getting reasonable (the last episodes were shot when they knew they were dead, and it showed)
And don't get me started on Birds of Prey

Why would this series run that long?! (Yes, I know - it's the hype that surrounds a new series and all, but really - 100 episodes. Maybe they expect that Jar-Jar will be a big draw. Tune in next week to Meesa Binks get incinerated ... )

Preparing to be slaughtered by the Sith/Jedi moderators, I don my blindfold and light my cigarette ;-)

Re:snark of the day :)

[sootman]

I've got ten bucks that says we see Fett before season 1 is over.

Yup. That episode's plot summary is here.

(Enticed? Hear it here.)

Re:snark of the day :)

[fatboy]

The moment I knew that Enterprise jumped the shark was the Ferengi episode, whom the federation had never seen before. Right. I call bullcrap.

Hey, I knew it jumped the shark from the beginning. There's singing in the theme song. This is Star Trek, THERE IS NO *SINGING* in Star Trek theme songs! (Even if lyrics have been written for it, you don't *SING* them on TV.)

Re:snark of the day :)

[C0rinthian]

I am Oobeedoob Badoobee!
Whats your middle name?
Scooby Dooby.
So.. Oobeedoob Scooby Dooby Badoobee?
One and the same. And you must be...The Crybaby.

Thumb Wars FTW.

Re:snark of the day :)

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, he was hot!

Re:snark of the day :)

[KE1LR]

Great. At last! 100 episodes of a farm boy fixing vaporators, shopping for power converters, and shooting at womp rats for cheap thrills.

Not to mention coming of age, juvenile capers with Biggs, awkward first dates with neighboring farm girls, run-ins with the bullying wannabe-Sith of the rival school and worrying about bad grades keeping him from getting into the Academy.

Umm, does that mean it's like an ABC after-school special? Or maybe like Dawson's Creek with more sand? Smallville with stormtroopers?

Re:snark of the day :)

[Mad_Rain]

I think I speak for geeks everywhere when I say that I just can't wait to see a younger, whinier Luke Skywalker.

I think I speak for geeks everywhere when I say "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

=)

Re:snark of the day :)

[captjc]

What I want to see:

Owen: I want you to clean these droids before supper.

Luke: But I wanted to go the the Toshi station and pick up some power converters.

a brief pause,
SLAP

Owen: If your gonna whine like a bitch, I'm gonna slap you like one. Your Father was an obnoxious little bastard too.

Re:snark of the day :)

[iphayd]

Of course, this is going to be a sitcom, detailing the wacky adventures of Owen, Beru, Luke, and that crazy hermit Ben. Be ready for these episodes:

- Luke visits the cantina. Hilarity ensues.
- Luke buys drugs from the Jawas. Hilarity ensues.
- Luke goes through puberty. Hilarity ensues.
- Owen and Beru go out of town, Luke has a party. Hilarity ensues.
- Luke finds a lightsaber at Ben's, pretends it a sword. Meaningful life lesson ensues.
- Luke gets a girlfriend. He then wakes from his drug-induced dream.
- Luke and family go to Hoth on vacation. Luke licks cold weather maintenance droid. Hilarity ensues.
- Luke questions his sexuality. Steals Ben's Lightsaber again.

Of course, these are not all of the episodes planned, but they will account for most of the 100 episodes, due to slight retelling of the same story, with the same jokes, over and over again.

Re:snark of the day :)

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

To be fair, Star Wars (at least the original trilogy) has a far greater audience than the scifi shows you just mentioned. (Well... maybe not Enterprise, I'll concede that point.) I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if a TV exec signed on for that many episodes of anything labeled Star Wars. That said, I'm not excited about what I'm hearing about the show so far.

Re:snark of the day :)

[labal]

Well regardless of how good/bad any of those shows were, none of them have the drawing power of Star Wars. Not even the Star Trek movies really came close to the kind of box office success Star Wars has had, and it would only be naturaly for TV producers to expect this same success to translate onto the small screen. Of course I think we all know that Science Fiction is not really the most successful genre on TV, and therefore, despite the drawing power of Star Wars, it still may struggle to reach 100 shows.

Re:snark of the day :)

[gnarlin]

I think I speak for geeks everywhere when I say: "It's a trap!".

Re:snark of the day :)

[1u3hr]

Umm, does that mean it's like an ABC after-school special? Or maybe like Dawson's Creek with more sand? Smallville with stormtroopers?

It'll be The Dukes of Tattooine with a flying General Lee. Boss Jabba Hogg, Uncle Jesse Kenobi...

Re:snark of the day :)

[geminidomino]

Ahem... you forgot:

Luke: I hate you! And I hate the harvest! I'm running away to join the empire!"

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20031 029

Re:snark of the day :)

[1u3hr]

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if a TV exec signed on for that many episodes of anything labeled Star Wars.

They would never ever do that. It's going to cost at least $1 million/episode. Even with unknown actors and greenscreen scenery. They'll certainly have an option, as they always do, but it will be cancelled after a dozen episodes if it doesn't deliver the ratings.

Re:snark of the day :)

[Anonymous Coward]

Great. At last! 100 episodes of a farm boy fixing vaporators, shopping for power converters, and shooting at womp rats for cheap thrills.

Gives me visions of Dukes of Hazzard in space :)

Re:snark of the day :)

[kehren77]

I was okay with the singing, but when they changed the music under the singing to give it a more uptempo feel is when I became revolted.

Re:snark of the day :)

[flickwipe]

"Its a trap!" ...

"What do you mean I look like a fish?"

Re:snark of the day :)

[ErroneousBee]

Tune in next week to Meesa Binks get incinerated ... )

Ive seen some scripts for the New ST Series, and the whole series is constructed around the idea that Jar Jar gets stuck in a time bubble. Every episode starts with him arriving on Tatooine, and ends with his death, then the time bubble collapses and hes alive and well and about to die in the next eposode.

One particularly touching script had him run over by a speeder in the opening sequence, with the rest of the episode charting his slow painful progress dragging his broken body across the street to safety, being repeatedly hit and stepped upon by passing traffic. He makes it to the sidewalk, only to be crushed when something falls from the back of a speeder.

I think the series is going to be a great success.

Mysterious Future

[kevin_conaway]

Would a slashdot subscriber please look into the "mysterious future" to make sure that this won't get rolled back like Futurama?

Ah well, I never watched Star Trek anyway.

Re:Mysterious Future

[minginqunt]

I predict that six episodes in, we'll be marching on the Lucas Ranch and Jar Jar Hater Re-education Centre, waving burning sticks demanding this atrocity be pulled from our screens for the sake of humanity, trying to fight our way through legions of brainwashed Lucasites dressed in Ewok suits brainwashed and tooled up with chainsaws disguised as Light Sabres to protect The Bearded One from the angry marching Hordes.

As George Lucas climbs into his reproduction ATAT and shouts out the order to charge, "Yousa People Gonna Die! Dangah Ewoks" will be the last words YOU'LL EVER HEAR.

This will come to pass.

Re:Mysterious Future

[The-Bus]

Please, you made my heart flutter with such news. One can only hope.

Re:Mysterious Future

[f97tosc]

As George Lucas climbs into his reproduction ATAT and shouts out the order to charge, "Yousa People Gonna Die! Dangah Ewoks" will be the last words YOU'LL EVER HEAR.

I, for one, welcome our Gungan overlords. I want to remind Them, that as a frequent moderator with excellent Karma, I can influence the Slashdot minions so as to better server Their purposes.

Tor

Re:Mysterious Future

[greysky]

Fox will have first dibs at the rights to air the seires, and we all know what fox does with scifi series in the post-x-files world. The series will be aired versus the superbowl, or some other mega-draw, the episodes will be run out of order, and they will not even bother airing the pilot. It will be cancelled by the time the sixth episode airs, and all the fanboys out there will start a "save starwars tv" website, asking for donations to privately fund the production of more episodes. Rich Macullum will write to the fans on his blog thanking them for their dedication and support. And it will all be covered here on slashdot...

Re:Mysterious Future

[Anonymous Coward]

I've got a lightsaber... ..in my pants.

Re:Mysterious Future

[nytes]

And following all that, a movie will be made to clean up some of the loose ends...

Re:Mysterious Future

[gnarlin]

I, for one, find peoples lack of faith disturbing.

Re:Mysterious Future

[cymen]

And many of us will still be bitter and yet another round will join the jaded.

"Nothing for you to see here"

[minginqunt]

Funny... That's exactly what I was going to say.

Now I can dust off my Chief Chirpa dolls. W00t.

Oh noes

[voice_of_all_reason]

McCallum said there would be 'a whole bunch of new characters'

Meesa cries a bit at that ominous remark

Re:Oh noes

[James_Aguilar]

I had already run out of tears by the time I finished reading the article summary. The only thing worse than beating a dead horse . . ..

Why?

[jotate]

Why won't George Lucas stop screwing with art? Just stop George. Someone needs seriously just hit him until he forgets that he has the legal power to do crap like this.

Re:Why?

[Stiletto]

Star Wars stopped being "art" when the first Star Wars Happy Meal was sold.

Re:Why?

[Eightyford]

Why won't George Lucas stop screwing with art? Just stop George. Someone needs seriously just hit him until he forgets that he has the legal power to do crap like this.

Star Wars is art? WTF man?

Re:Why?

[jotate]

Hell yeah. It was art! Unique story, intriguing characters, amazing soundtrack. This is like da Vinci putting out a "Mona Lisa nude in various places about town" series of paintings. No. No no no. Just no.

Re:Why?

[hunterx11]

Star Wars: Episode LHOOQ

Re:Why?

[hubie]

If my memory serves me, I believe the first fast food marketing was with Burger King. I still might have a drinking glass or two around somewhere.

Re:Why?

[Ztream]

Yeah, there's a reason you never see Fyodor Dostoevsky Happy Meal.

only if

[tubbtubb]

I'm not going to watch it, unless Han shoots a new bounty hunter (first) at the opening of every single episode.

Only that will atone for Lucas's past sins.

Re: only if

[Anonymous Coward]

"I'm not going to watch it, unless Han shoots a new bounty hunter (first) at the opening of every single episode."

That would actually be a fun meme. Use it like the couch scene in The Simpsons.

Or maybe put it at the end, so you could spend the whole show trying to guess who he is going to shoot this week.

Re:only if

[Matimus]

I'm not going to watch it, unless Han shoots a new bounty hunter (first) at the opening of every single episode. Only that will atone for Lucas's past sins.

Only if by "New" you mean an infant he suspects might one day become a bounty hunter in addition to it being a different infant every week. In fact, I won't watch unless that is the plot for the entire series. They can call it "Star Wars: Han Solo Baby Bounty Hunter Hunter Chronicles".

Re:only if

[CharAznable]

I think you really want to watch Firefly :P

Re:only if

[ArcticCelt]

"...unless Han shoots a new bounty hunter (first) at the opening of every single episode..."

And if the first he shoot is a famous ex Gungan politician (turned bounty hunter for no reason).

Re:only if

[Jugalator]

Don't forget ending every episode with a beheading of a gungan.

SWG

[Anonymous Coward]

Wasn't this the same period SWG the MMO was to take place. I sure hope they use me as a character reference.

Re:SWG

[C0rinthian]

SWG takes place between A New Hope and Empire, IIRC

The wrong 20 years.

[Tackhead]

Show me the 20 years of Anakin Skywalker between Episode III and IV. Show me the 20 years of Luke Skywalker following Episode VI. But this...

> It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers.

Ah, I see - the years when Luke started out as a whiny, snot-nosed kid to, umm...

Well, I guess there's nothing to see here, I'll move along.

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

That was my first reaction too. We had a high-tech universe full of jedi doing great deeds until episodes 1-3, and then we already know there's a quiet patch full of evil empireness until a few years later, and then we have episodes 4-6 telling the story of how the rebels fixed it. Prequels or sequels might have had potential, but something in the middle, when the older generation's original favourite characters are still in kindergarten and there are no jedi not in hiding? Zzzzzzz.

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[Moby Cock]

Sadly, they'll contrive a way to bring Jedis out of hiding. Star Wars without Jedis would not sell.

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[z0idberg]

Post - episode VI would make more sense. For starters you wouldnt have to worry about the timescales, ie how long has passed in "Star Wars time" per episode.

What happens if it is set between III and IV and you are nearing the end of the 100 episodes then the series gets extended for another 100 episodes (dont laugh - it could happen)?

I suppose you could make 4 sets of Star Wars 24 style! then maybe pad it out with 4 episodes of Jar Jar Binks outtakes to make up the 100 episodes. sweet!

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[Fhqwhgadss]

But what, pray tell, could be darker and more dramatic about Vader's life than 20 years moisture farming on Tattooine?

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[CrackedButter]

Just like in highlander the series even though in the movies there was only one left!

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[mblase]

Well, I guess there's nothing to see here, I'll move along.

No kidding. By placing the series between Episodes 3 and 4, when Luke is still a kid and Obi-Wan is undercover, he rules out the possibility of any Jedi action whatsoever. That truncates his audience pretty sharply right there.

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[Anonymous Coward]

What? You think the series will have no Jedi action whatsoever by Luke or Obi-Wan? No cameo visits by Yoda? I can only admire your faith in Lucas.

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[cyber0ne]

You've obviously never bullseyed womp rats in your T-16 back home. They're not much bigger than two meters, but don't let that fool you. It's good TV, I'm telling you.

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[crazyjimmy]

See, you obviously don't get it. Luke Skywalker's early life is really interesting. Ya know, back before he learned to use the force, joined the rebellion, and blew up a death star. What you don't realize is that the "New Hope" period in Luke's life was a bit of a downer for him. When he was complaining about not being able to go to the Academy, he was being sarcastic.

Besides, Everyone knows that Tatooine is the hotbed of adventure. That's why The Empire Stikes Back was the best of the star wars films.

Now if you will excuse me, I think I'm gonna go shoot myself.
--Jimmy

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[Anonymous Coward]

Hooray! We can finally see Luke go to Toshi Station to pick up some power converters!

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[shokk]

Jedi Babies!
Noooooooo!

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[dafz1]

He goes to live with his aunt and uncle, who keep him locked in the cupboard under the stairs. As he gets older, he begins to have things happen that he can't explain, like being able to talk to snakes, making things disappear...

Oh wait...wrong story.

(Maybe not, if you noticed the Harry Potter theme when Luke was dropped off on Tatooine in Ep. III)

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[teal_]

No, there will be plenty of Jedi... fugitives who escaped order 66, and Vader will be hunting them down. In the book "Dark Lord Rising", which takes place immediately after episode iii, one of the main characters is a Jedi named Roan Shryne. The book starts off with him leading a campaign on Murkhana with a battallion of clones when all of a sudden his clones turn on him and he barely escapes. He ends up with a group of smugglers, evading Vader and his legions (also with him are a couple of padawans whose masters have been killed.) He is looking for other surviving Jedi, and makes his way to Kashyykk (the wookiee homeworld) to look for Yoda, but gets trapped there by Vader and ultimately we see Vader's power... as well as the empire's military dictatorship and its atrocities, as they pretty much commit genocide on the wookiees with only a few escaping... like Chewbacca.

Meanwhile, we see the rise of the empire with the new regional governors taking control of the sovereign systems (such as Governor Tarkin.)

This series has HUGE potential, and I can't wait. I too had a problem with episode I, it left me very cold, but after seeing episodes II and III, and how they tie it all up, I love it now, I have learned to just ignore Jar Jar, and believe it or not, I don't even mind him any more, he serves a pretty important purpose in the actual story (though we could have done without a few of his lines that made us all cringe.) In the end, amazingly, I find that I enjoy watching the prequels even more than the OT!!! (blasphemy, I know, and I'm one of those pathetic geeks who can answer just about any obscure star wars trivial pursuit question, from the OT!)

So, to sum up, I think the series will feature:

• Senator Organa and the rise of an underground resistance... the rebel alliance
• The rise of the military dictatorship and Governor Tarkin -> Gran Moff Tarkin
• Darth Vader the emperor's enforcer, flushing out the fugitive Jedi and reigning in defiant star systems
• Jedi fugitives looking for other surviving Jedi
• Chewbacca, his species having been all but extinct, getting into the smuggling game... perhaps we'll see him hook up with Han and Lando? Maybe we'll find out what Han did to Lando that Chewy reminded him about on the way to Bespin, where Han said "that was a long time ago, I'm sure he's forgotten all about that", and how the millenium falcon changed hands
• There will be no Yoda, no Obi-Wan, no Luke. They're all gone, in hiding, or growing up on some back-water planet. This isn't going to be like young Indiana Jones where we see Luke's adventures growing up. It's clear that he has a very dull life as a moisture farmer on Tatooine and wants to leave. This series won't be about him at all.
• Leia might be seen here and there just as Bail Organa's daughter but she won't be doing anything. Maybe we'll see how she gets to be a senator at age 20 though. But Alderaan seems to be an off mix of a monarchy and a democracy, Senator Organa is called "your majesty" by captain Antilles, so maybe Leia just gets appointed as a successor in the (powerless) imperial senate.
• And, I hope, this all gets seen through the eyes of our favourite droids, the prissy protocol droid C-3PO and the heroic astromech droid R2-D2. A Kurosawa device... telling the story through the eyes of two insignificant characters who are just there, pretty cool. Refer to Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress

Now, about the issue of episodes 7-9, no, that I do not want to see. This whole saga is really all about Anakin Skywalker's rise, fall, and rendemption. After he dies, it makes no sense to continue.

Sit back, enjoy, let yourself go. Don't be jaded. Relax. It's fun. Don't be ashamed to enjoy.

Re:The wrong 20 years.

[kannibal_klown]

As far as I know, Highlander the Series was sort of a forked story. Sort of like how Smallville was seperate from the movies and the (then) comic continuity, Highlander was seperate from the movie. To be honest, I liked both series.

Could've picked a better setting

[voice_of_all_reason]

It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers

I thought the whole point of the opening on Tattooine was that Luke was bored to tears on his home planet, and that his whole life up until this point was a choice between tendin' to the vaporators and picking up power converters at Tosche Station.

That said, if he hated his life enough to consider signing up for the Imperial military, why would it be of any interest at all to us?

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Moby Cock]

But we'll be able to watch Luke bulls-eye womprats in his T-16. Plus more epic and grand adventures!

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Anonymous Coward]

well, people found that a clark kent that couldnt fly was exciting in smallville ...

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Pentagram]

Maybe Luke had a low boredom threshold.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[mcc]

That said, if he hated his life enough to consider signing up for the Imperial military, why would it be of any interest at all to us?

The answer is obvious and, unfortunately, terrible. They're almost certainly going to pack luke's early life with exciting star-flung adventures, cameos of star wars characters, and a constant use of the force powers he supposedly didn't know he had. By the time the series ends, whatever suspension of disbelief the once-powerful opening scenes of A New Hope originally conjured will have been totally destroyed by the knowlege that Luke Skywalker is in fact just as experienced and battle-hardened as any character from Sailor Moon.

An alternate possibility is that when they say "the 20 years luke skywalker was growing up", they don't mean luke will be the focus of the series-- they just mean that is the period over which the series will take place. That is, perhaps the action will all follow Bail Organa, Mon Mothma et al, who have exciting and dangerous space adventures while Luke Skywalker is repainting the grain silo. This would make for an interesting and believable series-- and putting Leia through complex and traumatic adventures (while Luke sits at home and watches the news dispatches depicting the Empire's party line propaganda version of those same adventures) would be totally consistent with what we see in the movies. But I do not consider this likely to happen. Over 100 episodes, the temptation of somehow dragging Luke in every other plot will be too great to resist.

Oh-- and expect a long and drawn-out plot arc in which Obi-Wan takes increasingly dangerous journeys into the underworld in a desperate attempt to make the last three clumsy minutes of dialogue in Return of the Sith seem dramatic and important instead of just being a hastily composed plot band-aid. Expect Luke to feature in these semifrequently, although he supposedly had never met Old Ben before the beginning of A New Hope.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Lewisham]

I think it'll be all Luke. As you've come close to saying, this smacks of Smallville - Clark + Luke + Sand.

Chances that Tatooine looks a lot like the Mohave? I wouldn't even take that bet.

I only trust Joss Whedon to pull off a half-baked idea like this. I bet he won't touch it with a ten-foot pole as he's already done sand and teenage heroes.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Kenshin]

They're almost certainly going to pack luke's early life with exciting star-flung adventures, cameos of star wars characters, and a constant use of the force powers he supposedly didn't know he had.

So, in other words... "Smallville". In space.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Tetris Ling]

Actually, the movie implies that Luke has met Obi-Wan. After all, Luke quickly recognizes the name "Kenobi" when he hears it, and knows where his house is. Luke is just unaware of the connection between Kenobi and his father and all that.

I don't mean to imply that this makes the show's concept any better. Just trying to keep our facts straight.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Guppy06]

"Luke Skywalker is in fact just as experienced and battle-hardened as any character from Sailor Moon."

Mark Hamil in a girls' high school uniform?

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[killtherat]

I thought the whole point of the opening on Tattooine was that Luke was bored to tears on his home planet, and that his whole life up until this point was a choice between tendin' to the vaporators and picking up power converters at Tosche Station.

Maybe they could frame it like 'that 70's show'. You know, for Luke as the 'Eric Foreman' character, hanging out in tattooine (probably as boring as Wisconson). They he could have a wacky set of freinds that come over after working on vaporators. Have that one crazy driod/alien with a weird accent, that hot chick from the farm next door, the rebelious kid (who wants to join the rebelion). Then fill it with retro jokes about about how their parents used to go pod racing in corn fields.

See, it can always be so much worse.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Anonymous Coward]

....now I must claw out my eyes in horror.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[bburns]

They're almost certainly going to pack luke's early life with exciting star-flung adventures, cameos of star wars characters, and a constant use of the force powers he supposedly didn't know he had.

Hahah. You mean that Luke's entire childhood and adolescence will be filled adventures that he--and the writers--will ignore and forget. He will demonstrate unknown, confusing powers that he will confront with his family but will suppress around friends and outsiders. He will have relationships with characters that he will be intricately involved with later in life, yet everyone involved will ignore their early experiences. And there will be plenty of teen angst, forbidden love, and sexual tension.

In fact, Rich McCallum will not have to develop any new plot lines, and the writers can lift them directly from Smallville. Just replace Clark with Luke, the Kents with the Lars, Lana Lang with Leia, Chloe with C3PO/R2D2, Lex Luthor with Darth Vader, and Lionel Luthor with Emperor Palpatine!

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm hoping that the series does not include Luke as a character at all. It should revolve around

A) The empire hunting the last of the Jedi. Because you could easilly extend that Yoda and Obi-Wan are not the only ones to escape.

and

B) For those who know Lukes identity, stopping anyone from the big bad empire knowing who he is or what he knows.

Of course, a much better series, IMHO would be a post episode 6 series, rebuilding the Jedi order, a new Jedi Academy and a new Enemy.

You could even have Mark Hamill reprise his role as an old Luke Skywalker. he's been out of work for a long time.

This series should be set 20 years AFTER episode 6, not the 20 years between episode 3 and 4.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[jafac]

By the time the series ends, whatever suspension of disbelief the once-powerful opening scenes of A New Hope originally conjured will have been totally destroyed by the knowlege that Luke Skywalker is in fact just as experienced and battle-hardened as any character from Sailor Moon.

Pure Slashdot Gold.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

actually, mark hamill turned into a pretty accomplished voice actor. he even had live-action roles in SeaQuest and in cut-scenes for the video game series Wing Commander. sure, his career has not followed the same trajectory as harrison ford's, but considering his horrible car crash, i think he's done quite well for himself. a long, happy marriage, 3 kids, plenty of regular work. we should all be so lucky.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Anonymous Coward]

Others have contemplated Star Wars on the small screen. The results are not pretty.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Anonymous Coward]

a long, happy marriage,

How do you know how happy his marriage is?

Just curious...

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Anonymous Coward]

Mark Hamil in a girls' high school uniform?

  Ack! Now THAT'S a splinter in the mind's eye!

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[nwbvt]

Had they met? I'm trying to remember, its been a while since I saw that movie (I refuse to watch the new updated versions, so I havn't seen it since our old VHS versions died). But I seem to remember that Obi-Wan didn't recognize Luke, and being that he was the son of his old friend, that probably means they were not that close.

The fact that Luke recognizes the name "Kenobi" doesn't mean that much. I mean I would recognize the names 'Bush', 'Kerry', 'Cheney', and 'Edwards', even though I have never met any of the four people we associate with those names (although John Edwards did try to kill me once, but thats another story...).

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Blackforge]

I do have mod points right now, but there's no selection for "-666 Points Burn in Hell you dirty bastard!"

Mark Hamil, uniform... EEP! While he's strutting his stuff like Britney Spears ;)

BAHAHAHAHA!

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[Anonymous Coward]

...just as experienced and battle-hardened as any character from Sailor Moon... "My name is Tsukino Usagi (). I'm 14 years old, and in second year of junior high. My birthday is June 30th, and my birthstone is a pearl. My sign is Cancer, and my blood type is O. My character is a little more careless than other people, and a little bit of a cry baby." Because Sailor Moon is all about the battle-hardened characters, rather than a normal person thrown into a horrible war they don't want to fight who at the very end is still hasty, clumsy, and a crybaby.

Re:Could've picked a better setting

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

a fair question, it is true that i assume this based on the fact that they married before he became insanely famous, remained married for almost 30 years, and have had 3 children (spread across nearly 10 years). but your point is taken, i have no way of knowing that he has a happy marriage, only a long one, with children, and not a single news story that i've ever seen to indicate the opposite.

I Can't Wait

[BRock97]

You thought moisture farming was fun and exciting before, wait until you see it in HD! Plus, I can't wait to see a permiere for the new season of the O.C. during the last five minutes of a Star Wars television episode!

Re:I Can't Wait

[wolfponddelta]

Ooooohhhh....
I see crossover potential....

Re:I Can't Wait

[Anonymous Coward]

Plus, I can't wait to see a permiere for the new season of the O.C. during the last five minutes of a Star Wars television episode!

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced....
 
..meanwhile....

Producer:Do you think the new Star Wars series will take off if we make it a teen angst love story ala O.C., Roswell, Smallville and ditch all that sci-fi mumbo jumbo?

New Characters?

[magicsquid]

It will be interesting to see if they create the new characters with the ultimate eye towards plot development or whether they are simply created in order to sell merchandise.

Given Lucas' focus in the last 5 years, I'd guess merchandising.

Re:New Characters?

[Anonymous Coward]

Last 5 years?!? What do you think the Ewoks were?

Lucas has been a merchandising tool for 20+ years now.

Re:New Characters?

[Braino420]

What gave you that idea?

I LOVE the darth vader/death star lounge pants!

Re:New Characters?

[crazdgamer]

We do get to see Luke's childhood friends though.

Remember, Biggs grew up with Luke (maybe Wedge did too, I forget), and I'm pretty sure there's a girl named Camie that's also from Tatooine.

Re:New Characters?

[shokk]

Yes, Luke's childhood friends San Holo and Bew Chacca will make for great weekly entertainment. And don't forget baby Greedo and their ever evil foil Fuckgantua the Hutt.

We'll even get to see the Death Star grow up to where it can finally emit.

Re:New Characters?

[captjc]

He can finally get in more money, and even try to capture some new markets

I can see it now:

Star Wars the Lunch Box, Star Wars the Breakfast Cereal, Star Wars The Coloring Book, Star Wars the Flame Thrower (the kids will love that one), and Lucas' Favorite Star Wars the Talking Doll, George Lucas saying "May the Schwartz",...i mean "...Force be with you." (It will be so adorable).

Who knows...Star Wars the Bed Sheets, Star Wars the Toilet Paper, Star Wars the merchandising ripoff of Spaceballs...The list goes on.

Just remember, Lucas is not an ordinary Genius. His brain doesn't just stop at light speed, It jumps straight to Ludicrous Speed!

Oh God...

[eno2001]

I have a bad feeling we'll be seeing a lot more "Wickets" and "JarJars". The only thing "darker" about this series will be that it will follow the method that all other science fiction TV shows have followed since the X Files and shoot in low light conditions so you can barely see what's happening most of the time.

Re:Oh God...

[1u3hr]

it will follow the method that all other science fiction TV shows have followed since the X Files and shoot in low light conditions so you can barely see what's happening

Actually, I think it will have lots of completely CGI characters and aliens, and be in full sunslight (both of them) most of the time. Lucas did a lot of Young Indian Jones like that, almost 10 years ago, he'll use it to showcase ILM as much as possible.

i thought

[stoolpigeon]

luke just hung out on his uncle's farm. if he actually did anything interesting, that would fly in the face of everything he says and does in ep 4.

Re:i thought

[Digital Vomit]

And that would conflict with Lucas' concept of "continuity" how?...

Re:i thought

[javaxman]

luke just hung out on his uncle's farm. if he actually did anything interesting, that would fly in the face of everything he says and does in ep 4.

Well, it should be cheap to make. Lots of desert scenes. Re-used special effects and props developed for the movies.

You do point out a major problem, though... Luke's life is supposed to have been deadly boring. They'll either not have to focus exclusively on him, or they'll have to ( shudder ) milk some sappy drama out of relatively boring day-to-day life on a desert planet on the outskirts of a developing revolution. That, or they'll screw up A New Hope for my kid even more than has already been done.

It could be done, I suppose, but I'm afraid it might be as interesting as Chewbacca's family life on that scary-bad Christmas special... maybe Lucas will hand the creative direction to someone else, and it'll actually turn out OK. Don't get me wrong, I actually still have some respect left for the man's abilities ( though it's difficult after watching Attack of the Clones a couple of times )... but his skills clearly lie in getting a special effects department to do a good space battle, not in directing human actors in drama... and a relatively cheap, made-for-TV show with Luke stuck on his uncle's farm is going to be all about human actors and drama, I'm afraid...

Re:i thought

[Anonymous Coward]

Hold on here boys.. I got the solution to all our problems.

TIME TRAVEL!

Re:i thought

[drinkypoo]

There's a LITTLE more to it than that. For instance, he used to race through beggar's canyon in his T-16 back home. (Having done this in one of the games, I have a little more respect for Luke, even in his whiny bitch phase...) And he shot womp-rats while flying it. Clearly we can make 100 episodes out of this.

Re:i thought

[AeroIllini]

if he actually did anything interesting, that would fly in the face of everything he says and does in ep 4.

Like George Lucas has ever given a damn about continuity. Didn't Yoda mention that he taught Obi-Wan? How does Vader not recognize R2-D2 and C3P0?

Lucas doesn't care about the story. He puts in familiar characters just so you'll say, "Hey! I recognize him!" and go buy the action figure. If you thought any further than that about it, you're out of Lucas's league. This TV show will be no different.

Re:i thought

[viking099]

"How does Vader not recognize R2-D2 and C3P0?"

Do you recognise the Lego blocks you played with as a child? Or maybe the Apple IIe you might have used around 20 years ago? How about the little "robot in a kit" you might have assembled back then?

What about the vacuum cleaner your mom used when you were 10? The hammer your dad might have used?

No? Why not? Oh, because they were beneath the level of attention you gave other, more important, things. The Star Wars world is FULL of such things. In ANH there are like 3 or 4 protocol droids shuffling around in Princess Leia's ship, and I'm sure it's the same with R2 units.

Just because important things happened to people while some "things" are around doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be remembered decades later. Not even the contexts were the same.

Lucas is guilty of a lot of stuff when it comes to plot holes, retconning storylines, and dumb editing, but this one is always trotted out as a prime example of his hubris, when to me it's just another statement of the ubiquitous nature of robotic assistants in his world.

There is no reason for Vader to remember R2D2 or C3P0, because they're just tools, despite their personalities or presence during important events.

Re:i thought

[waif69]

Yes, Luke hanging out on his uncles farm will make for a lame series, but it could be done well. I doubt it will though, as many posters have already stated, it is going to be butchered.

They could do the romance that Luke had with the girl on another farm, and how she was sold into slavery. They could show Luke being very adept with a laser rifle, but his Uncle never letting him compete in the school shooting team. They could show what Han was doing and how he got the MF. They could show Leia and her trials and tribulations. They could show Vader growing in power and show some of the plans that he was devising and ones that failed due to challenges from the Rebels.

They could do those things and make a compelling show that makes you understand the subtext or lack thereof in IV. But, they won't and the producers will look for easy storylines that include Luke in everything and can be wrapped up in a hour. They will push for episodes that will help market new products instead of telling a good story first.

Kinda makes one sad to be able to know what will be done rather than what should be done.

Re:i thought

[sdsichero]

Didn't Yoda teach Obi Wan before Qui Gonn took him as his Padawan? Seems that Yoda teaches most of the younglings before they become apprenticed...

Re:i thought

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

don't forget holodecks. between those two elements alone, we could come up with, say, 4 or 5 seasons worth of shows.

Re:i thought

[exKingZog]

If it wasn't for Lucas' lazy writing, we wouldn't HAVE to be explaining this! You shouldn't have to force yourself into mental convolutions to explain the continuity. Why have R2 and 3PO in the prequels? No reason except to cover up for the dearth of interesting new characters. By simply not including them, we'd never have had to have this debate, and the prequels would have suffered not at all.

Re:i thought

[Anonymous Coward]

If I had spend ages building the Apple ][e and it walked and talked back to me, then yes, I think I'd recognise it. You are just an apologist for Lucas' crimes against continuity.

Re:i thought

[celeste_]

You might recognize it, yes. i.e. "Hey look! An Apple ][e! I built one of those!" But would you remember your *specific* Apple ][e?

Like what was said previously, they were common models of droid, there's no reason he should be expected to remember them. He probably sees protocol/astromech droids on a daily basis.

Re:i thought

[GeorgeMcBay]

Like George Lucas has ever given a damn about continuity. Didn't Yoda mention that he taught Obi-Wan? How does Vader not recognize R2-D2 and C3P0?


There are tons of other droids that look a lot like R2D2 and various ones were shown in the films that look EXACTLY like C3PO, simply with different paint jobs. Why would anyone recognize them as specific droids when they live in a galaxy full of such droids that look pretty much the same?

Also... Yoda did train Obi-Wan, he trained all the Padawans.

There is plenty to dislike about the prequels, but the examples you use make me wonder if you even watched the movies.

Re:i thought

[mgblst]

Ha... good point, and I had pretty much started to think the same thing. But if you look at it in another light, would you recognise the vacuum cleaner that you had built up from bits in your spare time, and then many years later come across repeatedly just when things start to go wrong?

Of course, darth might just be so pre-occupied with his current position that things like this don't even register for him anymore. Or perhaps he has squashed his early memories, in an effort to complete his transition to the dark side. Or maybe, just maybe, this was a stupid oversight on the behalf of George.

Re:i thought

[Captain_Chaos]

I agree.

Also: the main reason we remember R2D2 and C3PO is because we are shown many scenes from their point of view, but for most of those scenes no other characters are present (or paying attention to them), so none of the other characters in the movies actually have much reason to be especially interested in them.

In other words: they are special to us, because they represent us, the audience, in the movies. But to the other characters in the movies, they are mostly just part of the background.

Heh

[Moby Cock]

I feel A New Pessimism about the story that leads to A New Hope.

jump the shark

[Douglas Simmons]

I think TV Star Wars just jumped the shark before it even started...

Freaky

[dada21]

I just re-read the original Thrawn/Zahn trilogy (one of my favorite canned sci-fi series actually) about 3 weeks ago and had a dream a few weeks back about Star Wars coming to TV. Very freaky.

My better half and I were debating how much we would hate to see an Ender's Game movie but how much we'd prefer to see Star Wars come to the small screen format -- especially a darker Star Wars a la Episode IV. Star Wars was better when it was made in an older film format and everything was "dirty" so hopefully they can find a way to scrub the digital feel of the last 3 movies (which I won't bother owning) and bring us something similar to maybe Firefly. I know that us "Brown Coats" are beginning to get hated for the show we loved, but I have to admit I'd rather see Firefly come back than Star Wars if it is made like Eps I-III.

I'm assuming there could not be a Solo in this TV show, and Star Wars isn't Star Wars without Solo.

Re:Freaky

[voice_of_all_reason]

I'm assuming there could not be a Solo in this TV show, and Star Wars isn't Star Wars without Solo

Actually, Lt. Solo's dark years in the service of the Empire before he rescued Chewie sound a lot more interesting than Luke's story.

Re:Freaky

[Nilych]

I could be mistaken, but isn't Harrison Ford in the scientology cult now? But that besides, him being greatly aged and sporting a look that is decidedly un-Solo (and un-Indiana-Jones) would not add anything to the show. It might even approach negative information - I will know less after watching than I did before. As for the Ender's Game, it would be glorious if they could make it properly...But I think one has better chances at winning the lottery than Hollywood not ruining the movie. Would it even be conceivable for hollywood to make an ending to Ender's that wasn't cuter, cuddlier? Not to mention the inevitable Bugger comic relief.

"a whole bunch of new characters"

[Anonymous Coward]

Think of the action figures!

Least interesting part?

[irc.goatse.cx troll]

It seems like a silly timeframe for a star wars show. Jedis when theyre hiding, luke when he doesn't know anything about the force, dark side ruling without any serious opposition.. The way they described it makes it sound like there won't even be any light sabers.

Seems like theyre trying to clone the success of Smallville, except Superman found out his powers on his own-- Luke didn't know about them until taught.

Attack of the clones, indeed.

Re:Least interesting part?

[Ucklak]

And don't forget all the pop music that ruins the show and makes it a commercial.

Re:Least interesting part?

[DeeSnider]

Seems like theyre trying to clone the success of Smallville, except Superman found out his powers on his own-- Luke didn't know about them until taught.

      Shudder. That's just the feeling I had when I saw it was supposed to be a "Young Skywalker" series. I can already see all the ridiculous scenes with Luke and Wedge in the hallways of their high-school, the alt-rock soundtrack and the inevitable "love interest" for young Skywalker; Leia Lang (probably played by Kristin Kreuk.)
      I swear if this is on the WB I'll claw my eye's out as a precautionary measure.

Re:Least interesting part?

[bckrispi]

It seems like a silly timeframe for a star wars show. Jedis when theyre hiding, luke when he doesn't know anything about the force, dark side ruling without any serious opposition.. The way they described it makes it sound like there won't even be any light sabers. Silly timeframe? The 20 years between RotS & ANH are arguably the *darkest* period in the whole saga. There are plenty of interesting plot threads that can be covered:

1. The subjugation & enslavement of resistant worlds by the Empire
2. Vader "hunting down and destroying" any Jedi who survived Order 66
3. Bail Organa & Mon Mothma stirring the seeds of rebellion.
4. Obi-wan's early relationship with Luke and Uncle Owen. We know from ANH that there is history between these characters.
5. Palpatine consolidating his power away from the Imperial Senate to his hand-picked regional governors.

Re:Least interesting part?

[gentlemen_loser]

Ah yes, Smallville.

Just think though, they could use the same opening song - it'll be great! :)

"Sumbudy saaaaaaaaaaaaavee meee!"

Seriously though, pretty much everyone on Slashdot made good points about this - I do not really have anything to add. Lucas has completely lost me and in the process of doing so corrupted my fond childhood memories of those movies. I think I'll sit this one out.

Re:Least interesting part?

[vain gloria]

Seems like theyre trying to clone the success of Smallville, except Superman found out his powers on his own-- Luke didn't know about them until taught. [emphasis mine]

I hope you enjoyed voicing that opinion as it's the last time you'll be able to safely do so online without being corrected by some snot-nosed kid citing the series as evidence that you're wrong.

Actually, scratch that, if previous form is anything to go by it'll probably be Lucas putting you straight personally :(

Re:Least interesting part?

[Jerim]

I agree that the time period has the opportunity for great story telling. For instance, how many Jedi fought hopeless fights in the name of saving a few people from the rampage of the empire? How many families were torn apart when brothers chose opposite sides in the conflict? How many great scientist and teachers died at the hands of the empire? How many Jedi became broken down old fools only to once again become heroes, if only for one day? How many romances were destroyed by the war? How many mothers lost their sons? This has all the possibility of WWII and Civil War stories. If done right, there could be so much drama. But it shouldn't be all drama, should have some lighthearted moments from time to time. Don't want it to be too serious. But it can definitely be an engaging time period as people's lives turn from happy normal ones to dark lonely ones.

Re:Least interesting part?

[Jerim]

I even forgot about the whole resistance movement. Who started the rebellion? Who was the dynamic leader who rallied everyone to the his side in battling the empire on a united front? Sure, there were people who wanted to opposse the empire, but there had to be a few individuals who inspired them to take action even against the overwhelming odds. Also, if you played the PC games, there are great moments when the first Tie Fighter is delivered to the empiral fleet, or when the Rebels test out the prototype X-wing. There are plenty, plenty storytelling opportunities.

Re:Least interesting part?

[vodkamattvt]

All of which a young Luke was not involved in ....

Which is why this is a monumental mistake on Lucas' part, he will make Luke a part of all of it and he will ruin what little continuity the universe has left. Star Wars is dead.

Re:Least interesting part?

[Enzo the Baker]

Obi-wan's early relationship with Luke and Uncle Owen.

There could be some pretty interesting plots where Obi-wan keeps the wrong people from bumping into Luke.

Re:Least interesting part?

[bckrispi]

*waves hand*

This is not the boy you're looking for...

Re:Least interesting part?

[bckrispi]

he will ruin what little continuity the universe has left.

And what continuity was 'ruined' by the prequels??

What'cha got???
What'cha got???
nothin'?
I thought so...

Re:Least interesting part?

[vodkamattvt]

Haha, you are joking?

If not ... the training of Obiwan, the droids (jesus I mean Obiwon had massive adventures with them and then he doesnt say a thing later?). Not only that, but Darth Vader doesnt recognize the droids? According to the prequels he built C3PO himself. Not even mentioning that there are many C3POs that come off an assembly line as was understood before the stupid prequels.

Those are the obvious ones, its probably not the tip of the iceburg. If Lucas wrote the whole thing, as we see it now, at one time .. he was on drugs. More likely it was tied together later and changed for purposes unknown ($$$$$$).

Re:Least interesting part?

[bckrispi]

Haha, you are joking?

I never joke when I smack on a GLRMC hater who has no clue what he's talking about :P

If not ... the training of Obiwan

What about his training? Obi-wan was trained by Yoda as a Youngling, then was taken as a Padawan by Qui-gon.

jesus I mean Obiwon had massive adventures with them and then he doesnt say a thing later

So he didn't say anything. Big fucking deal! In all of the prequels he had not one line of dialog with C-3PO. He did know R2 - the same R2 who tricked Luke into removing his restraining bolt so he could personally deliver a message to Kenobi. Even Luke mentions that he's "never seen such loyalty in a droid before".

Not only that, but Darth Vader doesnt recognize the droids?

Name one scene that Vader and R2 shared together....

...I didn't think so.

And as far as 3P0, the *single* time he was in a scene with Vader was when he was strapped to Chewbacca's back in the Carbon Freezing chamber. And as you said, 3P0 units are produced en masse on an assembly line. Why would Vader recognize him? He had far more pressing things on his mind than a toy he built as a child - from a life he's intentionally forgotton.

Is that all you got?

Re:Least interesting part?

[chrono325]

Although there is plenty happening around that time, I think it might be interesting, as a departure, to do something in the Old Republic timeline. Over the course of 100 episodes, you could really create a compelling, interesting world. Aside from the little bit mentioned in the movies and EU books, there is a lot left unexplained about the Old Republic, like the Mandalorian wars. In Knights of the Old Republic, Canderous, a Mandalorian, would tell stories of the wars and nature of the Mandalorians which were fascinating. I think something from that line would really be interesting and there would be less chance of conflict with existing material. Or you could just take Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy and Spectre of the Past and Vision of the Future and chop them into 100 episodes and be done with it.

Re:Least interesting part?

[vodkamattvt]

Sorry man, I have to spoil this for you ...

Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker

Re:Least interesting part?

[bckrispi]

I even forgot about the whole resistance movement. Who started the rebellion? Who was the dynamic leader who rallied everyone to the his side in battling the empire on a united front?

From the deleted scenes in RotS, Mon Mothma and Bail Organa were the chief architects of what became the Rebellion.

*weep*

[that_xmas]

There...there....there is no god. Unless Irvin Kershner directs the series.

60 Second Version

[ndansmith]

"But I was going to [location] to pick up some [items]!"
</whine>
ad nauseum

Re:60 Second Version

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't forget Luke kicking the sand at the end of EVERY episode!

100 episodes... of...

[ChePibe]

of... what exactly?

20 years of Luke growing up? Call me crazy, but Episode IV points to Luke's childhood being quite boring, comparatively. It sounds as if he raced a lot, argued with his parents, and generally did "kid stuff" with little to no understanding of precisely what the force was and only the ocassional trip beyond the confines of his farm to spice things up. His caretakers obviously were not on the run to avoid detection, as he was dropped off at the same place he grew up and left in Episode IV.

I think this will turn quickly into Lucas's "Smallville" and, as such, fail to connect with "true" fans.

Re:100 episodes... of...

[Tebriel]

Watching Luke grow from a whiny baby to a whiny naive farm boy with no real-world experience sounds extremly boring.

Re:100 episodes... of...

[Ucklak]

Can't wait for the episode where he blasts wamp rats with his T-16.

Re:100 episodes... of...

[grungebox]

They didn't say it'd be an action adventure series. I can think of several variants that might be possible.

Soap Opera (a Desperate Moisture Farmers, if you will): Uncle Owen has a two-year-long fling with one of the members of that cantina band down at Mos Eisley. Aunt Veru kills their neighbor Chuck when she finds out he's the one that sexually assaulted their droids a few years ago. Luke knows about her crime, but he knows if he turns her in he'll have to live with Owen and that creepy bassoon player Owen's sleeping with...what should Luke do? Stay tuned!
Sitcom: Here's a sample episode - Luke steals Owen's speeder to go shoot womprats out at Beggar's Canyon with Biggs. While they go to pick up the womprat carcasses, someone steals the speeder (uh oh!). Luke scrambles to find a replacement speeder before his uncle finds out, and builds one out of sand, scrap metal, and Bigg's droid girlfriend She3PO. It doesn't fool Owen, and Luke gets in trouble. It turns out Owen stole the speeder back and didn't tell Luke...just to teach him a lesson! See? Comedy and a lesson. TV gold.
Crime Drama - Before they were moisture farmers, Owen and Veru were gumshoes, private eyes, solving crimes on Tatooine the non-existent police didn't care about. They always get their man - why? Their ace in the hole, Luke. He's like Monk with moxie, Encyclopedia Brown with blond hair and a killer smile. Watch out when the team takes on their toughest adversary: TK-421! They searched for him at his post, but he wasn't there. Where could he be? Stay tuned!

See? The list is endless. I'm sure it'll be great, and that there'll be a million stories to tell. I didn't even get to the part where they catch Luke finding Wookie porn on Owen's computer. Oh, the hijinks that ensue!

Re:100 episodes... of...

[Anonymous Coward]

20 years of Luke growing up?

Star Wars... The Wonder Years. Voiceover by Daniel Stern.

Re:100 episodes... of...

[shokk]

If you thought High School in LA was facinating, wait until you see what High School is like Tatooine-style!!! With teenage dugs and ithorians and such. The whacky messes they get into will spin your head. Of course, there will be the weekly, don't do death sticks message. And the special season finale where Luke's best friend joins the Academy will bring a tear to your eye as he's zapped 3/4 of a second after stepping foot planetside.

Damn that's good TV!!

Re:100 episodes... of...

[garethwi]

Perhaps it will be Malcolm in the Middle of Tatooine

Great idea!

[Locke2005]

The long, slow, painful death of Jar-Jar should make for a great first season... but what are they going to do for the second season?

Re:Great idea!

[castleguardian]

Easy...Jar-Jar *clones* undergoing long, slow, painful deaths.

"Tonight, on a very special Star Wars, Jar Jar #TK-421 undergoes a short, quick, pain-free death."

Fans can't get enough of those Jar-Jar deaths.

Re:Great idea!

[Achoi77]

If your idea turns out successful, then Lucas will capitalize on the popularity of that last season, and by the second season he will give us another long, slow, painful death of Jar-Jar(because he mysteriously survived). But this time in High Def. :-(

And in a volcano. :-(..

Under water. :-(....

On an ice planet.

That's being sucked into a black hole.

That's actaully an alternate dimension to the DC universe

Where Brainiac rules the unvierse

Oh, the drama that this will cause!!!

Re:Great idea!

[Anonymous Coward]

> The long, slow, painful death of Jar-Jar should make for
> a great first season... but what are they going to do for
> the second season?

Why mess with a winning formula?

Let's hope that...

[CountBrass]

George Lucas has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Re:Let's hope that...

[NeuroManson]

That's what happened with The Star Wars Holiday Special. Are you sure you want that?

My one wish

[MrDoh1]

Won't this Star Wars crap finally go away??

Re:My one wish

[MrDoh1]

Glad to know my personal view on the entire Star Wars franchise is flamebait

just one more season

[klang]

It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers. ..we already know what he did .. he lived in the dessert, he helped with the harvest, he was not allowed to go out with his friends.

20 years of "just until after the harvest", "but that's a whole other year" .. makes for great season finales! woohoo

Re:just one more season

[heritage727]

we already know what he did .. he lived in the dessert, he helped with the harvest

What did he do, harvest ice cream sundaes? That should be worth a couple of episodes at least.

Re:just one more season

[klang]

you are one sick puppy! :-)

They should have done this sooner!

[Pitr]

Will Wheaton is too old to play the part now! ;)

Re:They should have done this sooner!

[CrackedButter]

Watch what you say, he might be here lurking and signing the very contract. He has a crazynickname.

Re:They should have done this sooner!

[nitemayr]

Wil for Uncle Owen...

Go CleverNick Name!!!

Re:They should have done this sooner!

[RangerRick98]

Watch what you say, he might be here lurking and signing the very contract. He has a crazynickname.

Actually, I thought Wil's nickname here was less crazy and more clever.

Re:They should have done this sooner!

[CrackedButter]

I stand corrected, I haven't seen him post for a while, my bad!

100 episodes guaranteed

[truthsearch]

100 guaranteed episodes? To me that implies they're extremely confident it will be successful. Unless Lucas is thinking if it fails on TV he can sell it on DVD and make his money back.

should this be here?

[notrub225]

haha this has nothin to do with tech news this is just nerd news.

Re:should this be here?

[ekiller200]

Um, did you read Slashdot's Tag line? "News for nerds, stuff that matters". Maybe that will help explain why this post is on slashdot..

MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!

[autopr0n]

Each episode of the new starwars movies was supposed to be 'darker' then the last, and each one was ridiculous.

Still, if it means that someone else will be doing the directing, it will have to be an improvement.

Re:MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!

[bckrispi]

Each episode of the new starwars movies was supposed to be 'darker' then the last

Apparently you missed the one where the Jedi were massacred, the Rebublic crumbled into a facist Empire, and Anakin decapitated an unarmed Sith, murdered a temple full of children and tried to kill his pregnant wife before having three of his limbs sliced off - falling next to a river of lava where he is engulfed in flame and burned to a cinder. Even when he was reconstructed as Vader, he was awake, concious, and un-anesthetized.

That's not dark enough for you? Fuck man, you're *sick*!

Re:MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!

[Achoi77]

Perhaps you misundestood what they meant by 'darker.'

You see, by the time the show gets airtime, technology for new LCD and plasma televisions will be quite mature, mature enough to the point where the BLACK levels will begin to rival CRT. As of right now, black levels for LCD televisions are quite poor, the closest we can get to rich black levels would have to be DLP, but those television units are not as thin. It'll be quite amazing actaully, to see a new darker star wars on 50 inch LCD television units! I can't wait.

Oh, what, did you think they were talking about the content? They already mentioned 'a bunch of new characters,' what other content would you possibly need?

Re:MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!

[Kaki Nix Sain]

All those events happened in the movie. Which makes even more strange the consensus that it wasn't a dark movie. I blame the comically dumb dialog and character motivations. Perhaps together they null out the events and leave the bland impression. Or maybe those negatives also needed our knowing just what had to happen and nothing at all being surprising (except in how poorly it was executed). Whatever combination did it, the consensus was formed.

Re:MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!

[bckrispi]

Which makes even more strange the consensus that it wasn't a dark movie.

A dozen, whiney "George Lucas raped my Childhood!" fanboyz does hardly a "consensus" make...

Obligatory

[krajo]

Joss Whedon is my master now!

Even though Serenity didn't live up to my expectations, it was still better (for me) than the three prequels put together.

What Lucas did to SW just makes me wanna hurl.

Bring back Firefly damnit!

Oh, and Han shot first

Re:Obligatory

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, and Han shot first

He did NOT shoot FIRST. The bounty hunter didn't shoot at all.

I rented the tape (not the DVD), the old original tape, when I bought EP III and where the DVD rediculously shows Solo relaxed and unconcerned as the bounty hunter misses his head by six inches (not unlike a modern Chicago gang banger), in the original tape it shows Solo cradling his weapon in his lap, followed by a flash and a lot of smoke, with Solo emerging, tossing coin on the bar, and apologizing for the mess.

The bounty hunter didn't shoot AT ALL. There was only one shot.

It has a lot to live up to

[blibbler]

Everyone remembers how wonderful the previous starwars TV shows have been. I hope this lives up to the brilliance of "droids", and the Christmas special. I would like to see a "Luke in the Middle" sitcom style... except without any brothers... perhaps they could adopt a jawa.
later on, it could morph into a "the OC" style show, set in Mos Eisley... "the ME"

Re:It has a lot to live up to

[Anonymous Coward]

though you've forgotten clone wars, the one exception to the rule..... brilliant show (mainly due to lack of dialogue)

A long time ago, In a galaxy far, far away..

[Metabolife]

George Lucas was in it for something other than the money.

Let me guess...

[Anonymous Coward]

... they will be casting Screech as Luke.
Because Lucas' kids liked him in syndication.
Oh, and can't forget the pop star du jure will be providing a special performance in the Cantina every week, which has become the local ice cream shop instead of a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Dammit, George, you have enough money to finally go do your "indie" films. STOP MILKING Star Wars for every last cent like a Hutt squeezing frogs down its slimy gullet.

The bad new is...

[jilbert]

... reading the story Lucas seems to be involved in the writing:

Star Wars creator George Lucas has just completed writing the script for the next Indiana Jones film and will then begin work on Red Tails, about African-American pilots in World War II.

Following completion of that film, work will begin on the Star Wars TV series.

or maybe I'm being overly pessimistic? Please George, no more writing! Leave it to some professional screenwriters! And that sounds like an awfully long time to wait too!

Sounds like they're following the wrong Skywalker

[Channard]

'Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader' shows that there's still plenty of mileage in Vader's post ROTS and pre-New Hope years. Hunting down rogue Jedi, dealing with the rebel resistance etc - more fun than Luke Skywalker's life would be.

I Have a Bad Feeling About This...

[malikvlc]

It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers.

I am confused - just HOW much of a mystery could his life have been? Growing up on the moisture farm, rise early to avoid the heat, dust off the droids, whine to Uncle Ben, lots of sand on Tattoine...

Lucas should not milk this cow any longer, prequels are not his strength! I'd root for something that picked up twenty years after Ep VI, the books are full of the political intrigue and scandal Lucas adored so much for Ep's I, II, and III...

Ok, maybe even that would suck.

Re:I Have a Bad Feeling About This...

[engagebot]

You mean Uncle Own. Sorry, just had to do it...

Re:I Have a Bad Feeling About This...

[TPJ-Basin]

Uncle Ben? Doesn't he make rice? Uncle Owen, maybe?

Re:I Have a Bad Feeling About This...

[Steve525]

I'd root for something that picked up twenty years after Ep VI

Yes, and I know exactly how it should go. Now that the evil dictator is overthrown, the different races/species all fight each other for power. The new leaders (the former rebels) can't keep the peace, but the various races can't fight their new leaders directly. Chaos ensues as fanatics resort to setting off thermal detanators in crowded places, blowing up themselves and whoever is aroud at various markets and cantinas. (I really want to know is how this is going to turn out...)

(I am aware of the books you are talking about, but I thought my take on it would be more, uhm, current).

Re:I Have a Bad Feeling About This...

[malikvlc]

Uncle BEN?!? Crap...

COPY!!!

Re:I Have a Bad Feeling About This...

[malikvlc]

Yeah, I'm thinking along those lines and I'm wondering... When does Bush roll out the Death Star? He's already stolen the Axis of Evil title from his library stash - no license is safe from his powers of misappropriation.

Han better be in there somewhere...

[mobiux]

Like a side story, just bringing him into the story.

That type of character is what was missing from #1-3.

People aren't just good or bad, some people walk the line between the two.

Re:Han better be in there somewhere...

[TheGreatGraySkwid]

Somebody hasn't been paying attention.

Han's perfectly good. He only shoots in self defense, now.

Now, if you'll excuse me for a minute, I'm going to go flagellate myself in a corner for having said that.

Re:Han better be in there somewhere...

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

~25 years ago I read the 'original' Han Solo Trilogy by Brian Daley and thought it was great stuff.
Those stories would make for a great, action-packed arc of a tv series.

Learning to act?

[smoor]

As long as George Lucas has almost nothing to do with the casting or scriptwriting it might actually be entertaining... Gee, I wonder if that Jake Lloyd kid is available still...

much more dramatic and darker

[Expert Determination]

Does that mean that even more people will have their hands amputated? What does Lucas have against hands anyway?

Re:much more dramatic and darker

[smoor]

Yeah, I've noticed that. It seems likes hands and arms are a dime a dozen in the future.

I still can't help but laugh when I see Anakin get his legs and arm cut off, and THEN catch on fire. Now that's good theater... The "Noooooooooo....." just tops it all off.

How am I supposed to defend that sitting next to my wife? Why must George put me in that position?

Re:much more dramatic and darker

[geekoid]

It is his subconsious telling us to cut his hands off before he writes any more!

Skywalker story is already told

[Cy Sperling]

I wish they would just leave the entire storyline of the movies out of it. The universe he has created is so textured and interesting- why do we need to see Young Skywalker? Can't we just go to a new world and witness all new characters struggle with life under the Empire? More forced connections to the films just makes the narrative clumsy and self concious. Let's see an action series about a rebel resistance group, or the exploits of a Han Solo type anti-hero/outlaw (Oh wait, that was Firefly).

Re:Skywalker story is already told

[mickyflynn]

I guess for the same reason they had a Young Indiana Jones: to try and get impressionable kids into something that originally wasn't really for them in the first palce. Kind of like Joe Cammel.

Re:Skywalker story is already told

[snib]

It doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with the movies. Knights of the Old Republic I & II, totally unrelated to the movies or any other storyline, were both great games and were awarded Game of the Year.

Re:Skywalker story is already told

[Ogive17]

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see any mention that the 20 year focus would be solely on Luke's life. What I read stated the time frame would cover those 20 years.. probably because we know what happens before Luke is born, and we know what happens when Luke is around 20 years old. I expect 10% of content to focus on Tatooine and Luke.

Re:Skywalker story is already told

[Epistax]

Why do we need to see the greatest heros of it? How about those who failed? Are they less interesting because they lose? I mean, there wasn't just one single movement that fought against impossible odds and won, right? There must be a bunch, a whole lot going on. When do the planets individually say "oops" about creating the empire? How do the hutts feel? Do they have any vested interest one way or another except to act is a middleman for supplying the empire on one side or possibly smuggling for rebels on the other (for heaps of cash of course)? Does the empire have a single political entity at all or is it just a fleet that stomps on people every once in a while? I mean, what the hell is going on? How did Han Solo get Chewbaca, exactly, freed from slavery I presume?

Obviously I speak from the perspective of people who have only seen movies, ever read any of the books, and this is the audience this series is targeted to.

Woot!

[ssand]

Mesa thinks this be ghud.

Epic party foul

[milamber3]

Why don't they realize no one wants to see the hero of an epic grow up? Most good epics start with the hero grown and only elude to events surrounding their birth or youth, it's practically a rule. It would be so much better to make the series continue with the story following episode 6. Everyone and their dog has been begging for that storyline. Is there something I'm missing, is no one allowed to make tv or movies that cover the later years where Luke is a badass? What gives?

If Star Wars Galaxies...

[kfractal]

won't die, then neither will this.

Makes Me Shudder...

[u16084]

Jumpin in the fire pit with everyone else... But comparing The Greatest Movie Saga EVER to smallville..... OK you win, lets tivo to the commericals... and skip the show....(Camera zooms on to luke smoking a joint) "This Shit Got some force!"

:)

The death of Star Wars?

[Kranfer]

Now while I will fighting off "flamebait and trolling remarks" I must bring up that I think this might be a very BAD thing for Star Wars. While I love the movies, I can't help but think about Star Trek: Enterprise and how it ruined the franchise of Star Trek. A prelude to the first Star Wars movies as a TV series while in cecept might be a good idea, but what happens when the series starts to venture away from the accepted timelines of events that has been set forth by Lucas.

Personally, I think a series after the first three star wars films (A new Hope, Empire strike back, return od the Jedi) might be something that would attract more of an audience myself. I am still looking forward to whatever comes out of Hollywood as far as Star Wars goes but I am taking this news with a grain of salt until I actually see what is produced.

Re:The death of Star Wars?

[BrainRam]

Enterprise did not ruin the Star Trek franchise. Bad writing, a failure to create compelling plot lines, and a complete lack of vision ruined the Star Trek franchise. If this show has a good team with a vision and the ability to execute, the show will be good. Sure, we'll all argue whether it's "The One True Star Wars" or not, but if it's compelling, people will watch. All the "Star Wars" brand gives them is a built in larger starting audience, more hype, and a huge set of expectations to live up to.

Re:The death of Star Wars?

[Kranfer]

While I completely agree with the second part of your post... I must disagree with the first part. Enterprise as a whole ruined Star Trek. Not only that but Paramount as well, but not even attempting to promote the series and put it on the real networks, ABC, FOX etc..

As for the built-in audience I agree. The Star Wars show will take off, and I hope against hope that they get better writers, producers, advertising than Star Trek did because its about time a good sci-fi show take the numbers for once. I pray it does well :)

Re:The death of Star Wars?

[bckrispi]

While I completely agree with the second part of your post... I must disagree with the first part. Enterprise as a whole ruined Star Trek.

Before Enterprise, you had the lackluster 'Voyager', and the steaming piles-of-shit 'Generations', 'Insurrection', and 'Nemesis'. Enterprise didn't ruin the series. It was just the final nail in a very large coffin.

Let us pray...

[DoctorPepper]

That this isn't on The WB (or the CW, as I think it's going to be called). The thought of a whiney Luke, with all that teen angst The WB throws in the show would be way too much for me!

Instant write-off...

[Faust7]

There are certain things that you can just write off without knowing anything specific about them. Such things include commercial American beer, the Doom movie, and most of Africa.

This TV series joins those hallowed ranks.

Darker and more dramatic?

[Anonymous Coward]

...as if a giant space station filled with hoards of storm troopers, killing billions of people at a time by blowing up their planets is not dark and dramatic enough?

Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Lave]

It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up [on a farm, doing nothing, with no powers]

Rather than post and post, about why this is a fucking stupid idea. Lets just all post the words:

Worst. Idea. Ever.

And mod each other +5 insightful.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[smidget2k4]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Laserwulf]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Anonymous Coward]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

lol slashdot: "This exact comment has already been posted. Try to be more original..."

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[AdamHaun]

Worst. Idea. Ever

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[nicolasmendo]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Anonymous Coward]

Why does everything think this means that the entire series will focus on Luke?
The quote says: It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up
THE 20 YEARS in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up, as in that time period.
Vader, Palpatine, Tarkin, Jabba, and many other interesting characters existed during this time period. Vader still has a LOT of work to do after EP3, and I can't wait to see it.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Kingrames]

Free. Karma. Points.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Tezkah]

Honk if you love Jes....er.... Worst. Idea. Ever.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[yivi]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Makarakalax]

Hopefully you'll lose your karma in meta-moderation.

Re:Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Branigan]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

So what?

[C10H14N2]

It will sell oodles of CDs for whatever whoring record label will saturate the non-stop teenage angstfest.

Any fan that has put up with the last three flicks and is still clinging on any announcement of--gack--MORE, is clearly so devoted that Lucas could air 42 hours of whitenoise and they'd still dutifully watch every second of it waiting for an easter egg to tell all their friends about.

Tonight, on the WB, a very special Star Wars...

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/04/27

Now, that's teen drama you can sink your wookie into.

I can imagine the PETA response, now...

[ChePibe]

Mass protests outside of Lucas's ranch, banners declaring "Digital Animals Feel Pain, Too!", "Pixie Sticks, not Pixels!", and "Holocaust on your DVD Player!"

They'll probably get some Anime babes to join them, too.

Dare I hope to dream?

[Eggz Factor]

Since Lucas was quotes some time ago that he would let "others" call more of the shots in the TV series (AICN), I hold a tiny bit of hope for a show that will be CHARACTER driven as much as FX driven. I hope they take a cues from the new Battlestar Galactica, and Firefly. Keep George away from the dialogue, and it just might be worth a look.

Kurosawa

[corporatemutantninja]

I've been thinking for years that Lucas should do a Star Wars version of the Yusagi Yojimbo story. It got retold as a Clint Eastwood Western (For A Few Dollars More), so why not as Sci Fi? Lone Jedi on a remote mining colony, two alien races in conflict, light saber vs. blaster. "My mistake, make that 4 cryogenic suspension tubes."

A TV Series would be a perfect opportunity for this idea.

Re:Kurosawa

[Ubergrendle]

Yojimbo is the commonly told story, but the sequel Sanjuro is just as enjoyable. 2 pre-made, ready to film movies.

He's already lifted from the Hidden Fortress heavily, why not continue working it? I doubt 99% of his target audience even know of Yojimbo, let alone the plot to Sanjuro.

PS Sanjuro has the best final sequence to an action movie, ever.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself

[DerGeist]

I hear it'll be called "Star Wars 2: The Search for More Money"

*runs*

Obligatory Penny Arcade Strip...

[caenorhabditas]

"Next week, New Found Glory guest stars on a very special Star Wars...."

"much more dramatic and darker"

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course. The series is going to be much more dramatic and darker. Ever since the sixties Batman TV series went overboard in the other direction it seems the pop culturati have to make everything "much more dramatic and darker". How about a Star Wars comedy: "That Damned Wookie!" in which Luke has to pretend his Wookie friend is a large dog to avoid the wrath of his bigoted Aunt and Uncle.

Re:"much more dramatic and darker"

[Thrymm]

Might get as dark as the New Jedi Order series of books where basically the New Republic is in tatters and millions/billions of beings are murdered ruthlessly by the Yuuzhan Vong invaders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jedi_Order

And 2 Days Later...

[Coolnat2004]

No New Series of Star Wars - Slashdot Exclusive

You heard it here first..

Now that would be worth watching

[MrNougat]

Ah well, I never watched Star Trek anyway.

In the vein of "Alien vs. Predator," someone should make "Star Trek vs. Star Wars." Wherein the nth Captain of the Starship Enterprise finally reaches the "galaxy far far away," introducing humanity to the Empire, and teleporters to the Rebel Alliance.

Discuss.

Re:Now that would be worth watching

[Znork]

I suggest you contact the authors of Star Wreck: In the pirkinning.

A Star Trek/Star Wars crossover in Finnish should at least be quite a bit more entertaining than anything either of the franchises have managed lately.

"Much more dramatic and darker"

[SlashNut]

That's what we really need after Eps 1-3. Something darker. Yeah.

I'd rather have 100 TV episodes of 'Serenity'

[ironduke-particle]

... and I'm not the only one, see paragraph 6: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/15/star_wars_ tv_spin_off/

It's simple

[sterno]

If Lucas mostly keeps his hands off of this it will be good. Lucas is really good when it comes to the big picture view of the Star Wars universe. He did a fantastic job of creating this rich world with all kinds of potential. But if you look at the output from his work, the more involved he is with the movie, the more it sucks, generally speaking.

What is the best Star Wars movie of all time? Empire Strikes Back, the one he had the least involvement in. Lucas is bad at writing and directing. He really struggles to bring any sense of emotion to the characters. Whenever you see emotion it feels like Soap Opera camp. You look at the stilted dialogue of Padme and Anakin in Episode 2 and 3 and it's just painful.

So I believe that if Lucas is willing to keep his hands mostly off of this project and let it become it's own thing it stands a chance of not sucking. But it does fascinate me how things have come full circle. Star Wars set a bar and Battlestar Galactica came out shortly after trying to meet that bar and failing quite specatcularly. Now Star Wars comes to television and we have a very high bar set by Battlestar Galactica for what a sci-fi television show can be. Can Star Wars hold up? Probably not, but there's always hope I guess :)

Re:It's simple

[qeveren]

The only thing the new Battlestar Galactica has done is made me wish every last character would suffer a horrible, horrible, slow, agonizing death. All of them. oO;

Re:It's simple

[MBraynard]

The only thing the new Battlestar Galactica has done is made me wish every last character would suffer a horrible, horrible, slow, agonizing death. All of them. oO;

And what's great about the show is that it might just be the actual outcome. See the passion it stirs in you?

I'm not sure there is any character on that show I totally 'dig' personally. Admiral Adama comes closest. But they are all very flawed characters.

Re:It's simple

[skam240]

Even without Lucas they're going to have a hard time making this both interesting and true to the starwars story line. Luke is pretty much some country bumpkin living on a farm in his youth. He doesnt ever leave the planet, he's ignorant of city life in episode 4 so he probably won't be going to cities and running into the native crime lords that much, he won't know anything about or be learning the force and the character wont really develope at all given that luke starts off episode 4 as a winey, naive kid. That pretty much just leaves the sand people. A hundred episodes of fighting sand people sounds pretty terrible. Sure there's a few other bits you can throw in there (like him developing his piloting skills through the canyons) but I just don't see how there's all that much good material to go with here.

Re:It's simple

[WCityMike]

Lucas is bad at writing and directing. He really struggles to bring any sense of emotion to the characters. Whenever you see emotion it feels like Soap Opera camp.

"Oh, Ani, hold me! Hold me like you did at the lake on Naboo!"

Indeed.

Re:It's simple

[gnarlin]

Oh, Ani, use the force again!

Re:It's simple

[Mr. Flibble]

If Lucas mostly keeps his hands off of this it will be good. Lucas is really good when it comes to the big picture view of the Star Wars universe. He did a fantastic job of creating this rich world with all kinds of potential. But if you look at the output from his work, the more involved he is with the movie, the more it sucks, generally speaking.

I believe that Lucas originally wanted to remake Flash Gordon, but could not get the rights - hence Star Wars appeared, and he created his own Mythos in the process.

However, many /. geeks (myself among them) accuse Lucas of bastardizing his own work.

I think it would be interesting to "add" to the Flash Gordon Mythos and send it on over to Lucas. You know, add annoying Gungans and Ewoks to the Flash Gordon mythos and see how Lucas feels about that!

*Evil Laugh*

Lucas "image"

[wolfponddelta]

If the photo accompanying the BBC article is any clue, Lucas is working hard to transform himself so he can guest star as Jabba in the series.

Uh-oh

[Reducer2001]

I have a bad feeling about this.

Re:Uh-oh

[Amouth]

i feel a sudden disturbance in the force..

as if millions of slashdoters screemed out all at once and where not silenced

Why choose Luke? There is another...

[Anonymous Coward]

Why not track the story of how Leah became a key player in the Alliance. More on her and her family on Alderan would be more entertaining than anything about Luke.

Or Grand Moff Tarkan and the construction of the Death Star.

Or Han Solo and Chewey smuggling and fighting bounty hunters, or AS bounty hunters. Throw in a little Lando. Works every time...

Or Boba Fett's adventures as a bounty hunter, and perhaps an akward relationship with Vader.

Or the further slauter of Jedi by Darth Vader. Have him track down Jedi and kick the crap out of them. Show him get more and more evil. This can be be supplimented with yoda training a few of the better Jedi that are fugitive.

Any of this is better than tracking Luke or Obi-Wan. Putting Luke into forced adventures on Tatooine will really ruin the whole story, it doesn't fit well with A New Hope.

The only Star Wars you need - Asciimation!

[Anonymous Coward]

Star Wars Asciimation

The "real" quote...

[nsmike]

McCallum said there would be 'a whole bunch of new characters' and the series would be 'much more dramatic, darker and suck a whole lot.'

Well, at least that might be what McCallum's thinking.

Be afraid, be very afraid

[zakezuke]

I can understand how fans can be frustrated with writers who go out of their way to produce a story... esp long epic stories... and want more not understanding the story has already been told. The Pierce Anthony Zanth series is a good example of this... in fact from my understanding he kept on making them due to demand. The first one is pretty good, and the first 5 are readable... but after that they start degenerating into the hip punny catchprases with no real substance. Note i've not read all 31 of them, nor do I wish to. But some bugger is reading them.

Robotech / Macross is another excelent example of this. SDF Macross is a long epic with good closure and along comes Harmony Gold expanding a damn good series of 36 episodes to 85 Monster that is the Robotech saga, which basicly from my memory took two unreated series, put in some "protoculture" references and wrote a script that pretty much matched the same story arc (War #1, War #2, War #3). This is not to say that Macross didn't have it's spinoffs. There was a movie, an unoffical movie, a prequel, and Macross 7 (ORE NO UTA O KIKE!) but for the most part Macross does a great job of standing by it self, where Macross 7 comes across as a vehicle to sell music and got mixed reviews. After all, what story could there be after Macross other than rebuilding and making babies than stumbling upon some left over villain while you're wondering around finding a new place to build and make more babies.

So we have here, George Lucus... who like many fans is not understanding the story has been told. Even better was helping establish a new ecconomic model for film and TV... make your money selling crap, people like crap. He did the sequels, he did and the prequils, and what is he doing next, a sequel to the prequel? 20 years of growing up as a dirt farmer on some backwater planet? Star Wars is done... the story has been told, the back story has been told. There is nothing more to really tell esp in the inbetween period of the fall of the republic and the early days of the Empire, except perhaps for a few rogue Jedi stumbling around trying to find a planet to continue training and making babies, but you can't exactly show *that* on network television.

Re:Be afraid, be very afraid

[NeuroManson]

Don't forget Macross Zero, the OAV miniseries that sets up the whole Macross scenario, excellent CG animation, decent story and plot (which in turn kind of spells out how the human race is just a cargo cult for space aliens). Good character development as well (the early years of Roy Fokker and a few other related characters who came back in the TV series).

Tech geeks would soil their trousers watching the technical effects as well.

Re:Be afraid, be very afraid

[zakezuke]

Don't forget Macross Zero, the OAV miniseries that sets up the whole Macross scenario, excellent CG animation, decent story and plot (which in turn kind of spells out how the human race is just a cargo cult for space aliens). Good character development as well (the early years of Roy Fokker and a few other related characters who came back in the TV series).

Tech geeks would soil their trousers watching the technical effects as well.

I thought I said "prequel" in relation to macross... which would be Macross Zero. What I wasn't remembering was Macross Plus, a sort of spinoff OVA/Movie. I tend to forget about that one though the english sub was pretty top notch.

But yes, Macross Zero is worth very much worth watching.

new show

[spartacus_prime]

Hmm...somehow, I think this is going to end up very similar to "Smallville." Luke had no knowledge of his abilities before Obi-Wan Kenobi told him. Although there is a plethora of non-canonical information on what exactly happened before Episode 4, is it really going to keep Star Wars fans entertained? I have my doubts, I'd rather see a show about Leia's childhood, or perhaps a show dealing with both.

A better setting, indeed

[Pootenheimer]

At first I thought it was saying the series would cover the 20 missing years of Anakin Skywalker's life. Am I the only one who think that would be far more interesting, to see how Darth Vader's path progressed from a broken jedi to a full-fledged Sith Lord?

Uhg...

[Cyno01]

Luke is the last character we wanna see as an adolescent. C'mon, he was a farmer on a desert planet, snore. Even leia would be more interesting. Her dad was a senetor in the imperial senate. And anyone whos read the illustrated starwars universe knows how kickass alderran is. The character that me, and im sure everyone else would like to see grow up between epIII and IV... Boba Fett. C'mon, his father gets killed in front of him, thats gonna make for an extra angsty teen. From kid to the biggest badass in the universe. Now that would be a cool show. Not Dawsons Creek with landspeeders and Jawas like this is gonna be.

Re:Uhg...

[triffid_98]

Luke is the last character we wanna see as an adolescent. C'mon, he was a farmer on a desert planet, snore. Even leia would be more interesting. Her dad was a senetor in the imperial senate. And anyone whos read the illustrated starwars universe knows how kickass alderran is. The character that me, and im sure everyone else would like to see grow up between epIII and IV... Boba Fett. C'mon, his father gets killed in front of him, thats gonna make for an extra angsty teen. From kid to the biggest badass in the universe. Now that would be a cool show. Not Dawsons Creek with landspeeders and Jawas like this is gonna be.

Which is cheaper? Armies of blue screen techs simulating a 'high culture' planet, or 2 camera guys following Dawson around a quarry while he pines away for his latest love interest. Right.

Artistic license with story...

[catdevnull]

I wonder if there will be an "amnesia" plot device that has made the E4 Luke forget all the "Young Indiana Jones" mis-adventures set for this series? I mean wamp rats and moisture farming on a desert planet would make such an interesting show and all, but they're gonna have to punch it up and figure out a way to tie into "A New Hope."

Maybe Lucas can just finally move on to another universe outside of Star Wars now that he's milked it dry.

Re:Artistic license with story...

[d474]

"Young Indiana Jones" is the first thing that popped into my head when I read this. Good call on that.

Luke in A New Hope

[joshuao3]

To me, Luke in episode 4 was a naive and unexperienced boy. That signifies a rather unremarkable childhood. I hope that they don't fill has childhood with all sorts of adventures that would contradict his demeanor in the movies. Oh wait, if they did that, then it wouldn't be much of a series.

I think the years prior to Episode 1 would be much more interesting. They could cover the adventures of a young Obi Wan or Mace Windu (spelling?).

Duh!

[Anonymous Coward]

Each week it'll be Ken'ny, a recursive iteration from a new line Jedi clones.

(Sorry, just had a flash of Chief Tyrol: "You just killed Sharon...YOU BASTARD!")

It might be good...

[Telastyn]

I mean, that time period *is* where the Empire ruled with an iron force empowered fist. Using such a period as SciFi is supposed to [provide fantastic scenarios to mirror current events], would be interesting given recent strives to curtail Freedom around the world.

No, it's not at all likely compared to something like "Tatooine, 90210"; still, the opportunity is there.

Re:It might be good...

[Digital Vomit]

The Slashdot community does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation.

Someone had to say it

[JoeD]

I sense a great disturbance in the Force...

Who confirmed this ... ?

[fuzzylollipop]

Hope it wasn't Billy West!

Re:Why choose Luke? There is another...

[jameskojiro]

They have a perfect man for Moff Tarkin and that is actor Wayne Prygram...

He was awesome as Scorpious on Farscape and would be killer as Moff. LOL

Maybe they should steal the idea of a jedi on the run, like Farscape.

OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[Anonymous Coward]

What is it with SciFi authors putting apostrophe's in character names? For some reason it bugs the hell out of me and I can't finish (and won't start) any book with crap like this.

Mod this into oblivion (as it should be) but I'd love to hear somebody defend the practice.

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[Gramie2]

What is it with Slashdot poster putting apostrophe's [sic] before every "s" they see? In case you missed it, Dave Barry was being sarcastic: an apostrophe is not used to alert the reader that an "s" is coming!!!!

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[hunterx11]

From JBR's excellent primer for SF xenolinguistics:

If they use apostrophes, ignore them - they're not serious. Some aliens will try to tell you that "'" stands for an obscure vowel (F'lar, T'pau, Sp'thra), or a silent consonant (Dra'Azon, Ka'a Orto'o), but in reality it's purely decorative. It's not clear why they choose to use apostrophes rather than, say, umlauts (à la Mötley Crüe) - or peculiar alien squiggles, come to that. Maybe they just want to keep things convenient for ASCII.

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[Cunk]

Probably for the same reason they don't name characters from the 50th century Steve Smith and Brad Johnson. They want the names to sound futuristic or exotic. You can argue the apostrophe thing is an overused crutch but what other techniques are there to achieve that effect?

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[pla]

It's not clear why they choose to use apostrophes rather than, say, umlauts (à la Mötley Crüe) - or peculiar alien squiggles, come to that.

Because umlauts have a preexisting (and presumeably incorrect for the context) meaning as regards pronunciation, and standard English keyboards lack peculiar alien squiggles.

Although I might have it totally wrong, the use of an apostrophe in transliterated "alien" words always made perfect sense to me - Just a sort of stutter or very short pause. This serves to break up what would otherwise amount to a dipthong, or allows vocalization of two identical sounds (the "silent consonant" theory, or just lets you reposition the tongue between two awkward consonants (a sort of "silent vowel", not necessarily a "strange" one).

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[hunterx11]

In reality, you're giving it a lot more thought than most people writing "alien" names do--they just randomly throw in apostrophes to make a name look weird.

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[qeveren]

"F'lar", if you're referring to the character from Dragonriders of Pern, is actually a contraction, so the ' is perfectly appropriate.

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[mpathetiq]

This is the way I look at apostrophes as well. I guess I learned that from Hawai'i and the Hawaiian language.

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[StalinsNotDead]

I may be wrong, but I believe that in Hawai'ian, the apostrophes in words represent glottal stops. So maybe that's it.

Re:OT: SciFi and apostrophe names

[Crunchie Frog]

Probably for the same reason they don't name characters from the 50th century Steve Smith and Brad Johnson. They want the names to sound futuristic or exotic

Amusingly enough, Peter F Hamilton does have a character with a name very close to "Brad Johnson" in his Pandora's Star/Judas Unchained novels, called "Bradley Johansson" and they're set in the far future.

Still, i know what you mean :p

'Cover' might mean 'including'

[Anonymous Coward]

Hopefully this 'covering the 20 years of Luke's life' would mean _some_ of his story would be told, but not the _only_ thing we'd see in 100 episodes...

When I heard this was being made, I talked to a good friend of mine (www.suckadelic.com) and we, like many others I'm sure, thought this idea might work if there was a mix of 7-8 (or even more) story arcs, rotating between episodes: Tarkin's rise via the defeat of the wookies, remaining Jedis tracked down, Obi-wan checking in on Luke/butting heads with Owen, the 'obligatory Biggs/Beggar's Canyon' stories, Leia on Alderaan, organization of the rebellion, clone experiments, Vader's adjustments and subsequent self-loathing, Empire stuff... An occasional random dramatic battle sequence that later proves to be crucial to the over-all arc, but might not involve ANY familiar characters...

I mean, really now, the ideas are so fertile to be interesting to Star Wars heads they CAN'T limit it to Tatooine... Christ, that stupid planet has been in 5 of the 6 films! Stop it!

more darker?

[fahrbot-bot]

...the series would be 'much more dramatic and darker.'

Like Battlestar Galactica, except this will suck.

I don't get it. When we meet Luke in episode IV, he is an innocent, disconnected farmboy. They're going to make this life interesting, how? I don't think, "Get to work on those moisture 'vaporators boy and leave them sheep droids alone." is going to cut it in primetime.

The real deal

[Anonymous Coward]

Does everyone really think the show is going to be about Luke's childhood on Tatooine? There are a lot of comments where it doesn't look like people are kidding. It's obvious that would be an awful show.

"I find your lack of faith disturbing."

If you did just a little research, at Wikipedia for example, you'd see that the show will probably be about the consolidation of power of the Galactic Empire, its reign, and the formation of the Rebel Alliance. Someone's childhood will be shown, it's true. It's not Luke's, its Boba Fett's! That sounds a lot more interesting to me.

Not only that but "Frank Oz (Yoda), Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine), Jimmy Smits (Bail Organa), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett/clonetroopers) have expressed their interest in occasional appearances."

McCallum also confirmed at a recent press conference that "many characters from the Expanded Universe will be seen in the series..."

Oooh

[electrichamster]

This reminds me of my favourite slashdot comment ever. I can't remember who wrote it, but it was on the topic of the third star-wars movie, and it's prequels:

"Episode One raped my childhood."

Whoever you are sir, thousands of geeks salute you for summing it up so succinctly.

Do they actually take lessons in sucking?

[raduf]

    This is _exactly_ why I switched to anime! If there is a less interesting period I can't find it. The guy just grew up at his uncle's farm! Why can't you live it at that? He was a simple farmer's boy (or raised as one) with dreams of adventure. That's what made him so likable. Now they're gonna say, no, by the time he met obi-wan he had already saved the republic three or for times. Geesh! Get a life people...

Dude!!?!!

[kingbill]

I thought the whole point of the opening on Tattooine was that Luke was bored to tears on his home planet, and that his whole life up until this point was a choice between tendin' to the vaporators and picking up power converters at Tosche Station.

You forgot Bulls eyeing womprats. That's exciting ... sort of.

Why Jar Jar exists

[John Bayko]

I think there was a very good reason for the introduction of the character of Jar-Jar, and a reason why he was almost non-existant for the next two films.

Lucas knew that these movies would show the Jedi at their peak, energy and action that made the fights in Empire and Return of the Jedi pale. And Yoda was a Jedi master.

But you can't be a Jedi Master if you are a puppet with a hand up your backside. So for the prequels, at some point, Yoda would have to be a CGI character. But being known and loved by one and all, the technique would need to be absolutely perfect, with no chance to make mistakes and learn how to do it better.

Hence, a throw-away CGI character which was unimportant and nobody needed to care about - even a clownish one so that any mistakes wouldn't be noticed.

Jar-Jar was needed as he was so that Yoda could kick ass in the second movie, then kick ass's ass in the third.

Re:Why Jar Jar exists

[Anonymous Coward]

Amazing, simply amazing. You went through all that without a single "smiley" emoticon.

All this time I was wondering what happened to the Iraqi Information Minister, and here I find he is posting on Slashdot! Next you'll mention how there are no American troops in Baghdad, and the addition of Jar Jar was solely for artistic reasons and the vital importance to the plot and the story.

As a Lucas apologist, I am eagerly waiting your explanation for the importance and necessity of adding the Ewoks to Jedi.

Re:Why Jar Jar exists

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

obviously, the ewoks were added to show that the ultimate downfall of the empire was that they underestimated native peoples like the ewoks. duh.

consider: had the planet been full of rebel humans, would the empire had taken things so lightly with respect to their "trap" plans, to security? but because they were "just stupid little furry creatures, not even people, they don't even have blasters", the empire overlooked them completely. and without this oversight, the empire would have won. but it is things like this oversight which literally defines the empire.

Not just Star Wars - Trek too

[DG]

I was in a similar boat, but with Trek instead of Wars. Bought and read every single paperback that came out, starting with Blish's novelizations of the TV eps, then moving to Alan Dean Foster's novelizations of the animated series, then all the other paperbacks up to about #100 or so, when I finally gave up.

Some of these, especially later ones, sucked really REALLY hard. But there were some landmark books in this series with some solid writing and adult tones and themes.

FASA latched on to some of this material for their Trek-based role playing game, but Paramount explicitly ignored it when they did Next Gen... and it was around that time that the quality of the writing did an absolute nose-dive and they became downright juvenile.

Shortly thereafter, I "grew out" of Trek, and with a couple of exceptions (a few Next Gen eps, and most of DS9) the quality of the work being produced validated that decision.

Somewhere I've got a big box full of Trek paperbacks. I wonder what they'd fetch on EBay?

DG

Re:Not just Star Wars - Trek too

[TacNuke]

"Somewhere I've got a big box full of Trek paperbacks. I wonder what they'd fetch on EBay?"
 
  200 quatloos

Re:Not just Star Wars - Trek too

[Zemrec]

Oh man, did this dredge up a bad memory. I was a Trekkie geek like you back in Junior High. I read Star Trek books for book reports, and had to stand in front of class and give them orally. (AHem..., pervs.)

One time I just froze. I had read the book, but when I walked up to the teacher's desk and turned to face the class, I completely forgot everything! I sort of stammered for a few minutes, with everyone looking at me like I'm the world's biggest douche. Finally the teacher prompted me..."and what did Spock do in this situation...", etc. And I took it from there.

Holy crap was that embarrassing.

Re:Not just Star Wars - Trek too

[sik0fewl]

Somewhere I've got a big box full of Trek paperbacks. I wonder what they'd fetch on EBay?

Your mom probably already sold them at a garage sale.

(sorry)

Re:Not just Star Wars - Trek too

[DG]

Nope, I've still got them.

For what that's worth.

DG

This is EXCITING!

[pornking]

Luke grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere, ignorant of who he was, and of pretty much everything else except vaporator maintenance and sand. Here's a few potential plot ideas:

Every once in a while, some nutjob hermit wanders in to check on him. Maybe he's demented. Maybe he's just some old pervert. His uncle seems to know something, but refuses to talk about it.

Sometimes, a vaporator breaks down.

Those Jawas can certainly be annoying!

A severe sandstorm traps everyone inside for a few days. Members of the Skywalker clan look back on the past season's events with mixed emotions.

On a very special episode, Biggs has gone to the academy. His girlfriend starts catting around for someone to take the edge off her loneliness. Does Luke tell Biggs? When she tries to corner Luke, he decides he should do the right thing. That's when he finds out Biggs really left to be with Wedge, far away from small towns with small minds. The girl moves on to other prey. In a subplot, Uncle Owen seems a lot happier these days, and his aunt's mysterious headaches have stopped.

Luke gets accepted into the academy. His whining finally annoys his uncle enough to buy a couple of droids to help out. But his tightwad uncle buys the cheapest, most useless piece of shit droids he can find. The first is a 35 year old astromech built for hull maintenance and little else. It has no speech capability and severely limited mobility on anything bumpier than freshly laid tarmac. The second is an equally ancient protocol droid that looks like it was built from spare parts by a 10 year old boy. It therefore comes as no surprise when the astromech blows a fuse and takes off into the desert.

On second thought, that last one might be a good way to start a movie.

100 episodes, eh?

[Rob T Firefly]

I predict that by the time episode 100 premieres, Lucas will have already re-released heavily re-edited "Special Editions" of episodes 1-47.

Crossover

[Anonymous Coward]

How about a Borg guest appearance. Short of that, perhaps Apocolypse can have a cameo. If not that, I would love to see CPT Janeway get preemptively lasered in half by Harrison Ford.

Even better, an explanation as to how Leia came into existence if Luke's mother died short after he was born. No, I didn't read the books. If you need to read the books to gain insite into a movie storyline, perhaps they should make the movies more inclusive.

Re:Crossover

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

either you are retarded, trolling, or honestly don't realise that luke and leia are twins...

Re:Crossover

[Anonymous Coward]

Better Yet, Darth Jay and Darth Bob (maybe Silent Palpatine) Smokin' some Kashyyyk weed. They can hang outside the Local Death-Stop manned by Storm Troopers Dante and Randal. They can have a black guy named Lando who gives them advice. There can be a subplot where Randal sells Cigarettes to a very underage Luke. Then they could have a BIG AMERICAN PARTY!!!! with everybody disco dancing and bears driving cars. Meanwhile nothing can kill the Grimace.

They could also show the total destruction of the Gungan Homeworld...maybe show it on the opening credits. It could be an ongoing joke that Jar-Jar dies in every episode like Kenny in South Park.

Done right, this could be an awesome show.

It could've been worse.... It's worse.

[Steve B]

The series will be set between episodes three and four of the film saga. It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers.

The life of Luke Skywalker growing up was boooooring. Retconning that pretty much invalidates the whole "Hero's Journey" story, thus damaging the story on a far more fundamental level than any of the other stupid fiddlings (up to and including Who Shot First in the cantina).

Somebody Grab an ALIEN egg and some duct tape...

[Anonymous Coward]

And tape the egg to the back of Jar Jar Binks -
Lets see how the Empire deals with Alien queens.

Firefly was a nice ship -
too many horses and whores for sci-fi.
It would be nice if they could get the same group from Firefly,
and work on the next Star Trek,
a little more grit, with more natural lighting.

Memory Wipe!

[Anonymous Coward]

Obviously everyone who's worried that Luke will have dozens of amazing adventures before the start of Ep. IV has forgotten that this is GEORGE LUCAS we're dealing with, who won't have any reservations at all about having Luke's memory wiped in the final minutes of the series finale, thereby totally invalidating the entire series.

i'd rather see...

[rhesuspieces00]

jar jar binks die at the beginning of every episode, where by the beginning, i mean everything before the closing credits. each week, we are shown new and creative ways for jar jar to die slowly and painfully. For the first episode, I propose the use of any combination of at least 4 of the following: chain saws with dull rusty teeth, bolt cutters, horse syringes, ewoks, various acids and bases, hot molten stuff, pixie cups, and/or freddy kreuger.

In the second season, they kill George Lucas.

Re:i'd rather see...

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh My God! They Killed Jar-Jar! You BASTARDS!

Wrapping Jar-Jar in an orange overcoat tied tight enough around his face to make his speech all sound like "mwfmwfmwfmwmfmfmwfmwmfmwfmw" would be good enough, though.

Re:i'd rather see...

[Anonymous Coward]

> each week, we are shown new and creative ways for jar jar to die slowly and painfully.

Oh my god! You killed Jar-Jar! You... magnificent bastard!

Re:i'd rather see...

[An ominous Cow art]

Hmm, I think you want the "Itchy and Scratchy and Jar-Jar Show"...

Re:i'd rather see...

[BRSloth]

Hm... Han Solo shots (first) Jar-Jar on every episode, maybe?

Small budget

[tbcpp]

Give them a small budget and it might turn out okay.

Growing Up

[Anonymous Coward]

It seems that common undercurrent flows through most discussions about the Star Wars universe, the lack of adult themes in the later works.

This is reasonable considering that the people who complain about the lack up a "grown up" Star Wars are at an age where they have grown up. Unfortunately, Star Wars is, always has been and always will be at an "adolescent" level.

The problem is not that Star Wars has no adult themes its that the kids who grew up consuming the Star Wars universe have not grown up and accepted that they have outgrown their play things.

The exciting life of a bunch of moisture farmers

[elrous0]

Can't we just get Bea Arthur back to do a sequel to the holiday special instead?

-Eric

hmm, Meditate On This ...

[schlumff]

.. I Will.

No movie actors...

[cttforsale]

"He added that it was unlikely any of the stars of the movies would be involved in the TV series"

BUT word has it Beatrice Arthur and Harvey Korman have confirmed...

Follow Han, not Luke

[Pfhorrest]

That's something I'd be far more interested to see. The history of Han Solo leading up to ANH. Luke, as has been said everywhere, was a boring farm boy on a backwater planet. Han Solo was a riotous space cowboy smuggling for the Fetts. His story would be far more interesting.

Besides, Han is about the only character from the original trilogy whose ancestry/history/whatever aren't talked about in the prequels already...

Re:Follow Han, not Luke

[araemo]

It's been done, in a (rather good, in my opinion) trilogy of books. Officially, the books are 'official' parts of the storyline, but noone at lucasfilm cares enough to keep them from contradicting eachother, or to keep the movie from contradicting any of the books(Like the one that explicitly gives you Boba Fett's back-story, which doesn't match the movies...)

Re:Follow Han, not Luke

[freeweed]

We called that series 'Firefly'.

You're right, it rocked.

Re:Follow Han, not Luke

[smellsofbikes]

Brian Daley wrote a trio of books about Han and Chewie before meeting Luke. I liked them (but less than some of his other writing.)
"Han Solo at Star's End", "Han Solo's Revenge", and "Han Solo and the Lost Legacy", I think they were called.
Daley also wrote the radio adaption of Star Wars, some not-so-great mercenary books, and some cute cross-genre fantasy stuff, with armored-personnel-carrier.vs.dragon action and the like.

Re:Follow Han, not Luke

[Anonymous Coward]

You're right, Adam Baldwin would make a good Wookie.

Re:Follow Han, not Luke

[quantaman]

I wonder if we could convince Lucas to change the subject to Han Solo and give completely control of the series to Joss Whedon...

Re:Follow Han, not Luke

[Sparky9292]

That's something I'd be far more interested to see. The history of Han Solo leading up to ANH. Luke, as has been said everywhere, was a boring farm boy on a backwater planet. Han Solo was a riotous space cowboy smuggling for the Fetts. His story would be far more interesting.

Yeah, that was done before, I think it was called Firefly.

I'd rather that more Firefly episodes were made. Mal makes a much better Han Solo.

Re:Follow Han, not Luke

[blankoboy]

Han Solo was a riotous space cowboy smuggling for the Fetts.

Boba Fett also had a big crime family too? No doubt they were all eaten by the Hutts. Yummy Mandalorian BBQ!

Somebody just shoot Lucas NOW!

[HornWumpus]

He has turned into the worst hack in film (and that's saying something).

Imagine what kind of travisty 'American Graffiti' would be if he made it today.

Marketing links for the new 'stang galore but no soul left. None.

Re:Somebody just shoot Lucas NOW!

[Anonymous Coward]

"...the worst hack in film..."

Nope, that honor goes to none other than Quentin Tarantino. Lucas is a god. Virtually everything you see on the silver screen today is due to his innovation and creativity. You're entitled to your opinion, but your opinion is ignorant.

Imagine what kind of travisty 'American Graffiti' would be if he made it today.

What an incredibly ignorant remark. Imagine what kind of person you would be without this man's personal influence in your pitifully mediocre existence.

Based upon your ignorance, where in Eps1-3 do you see marketing? Dumb fuck.

For all you nay sayers

[Testicon]

http://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2004/10/star_ wars_tv_series_a_go.html
and
http://www.iesb.net/tv/tvt92804.htm
and
http://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebratio n/f20050419/indexp17.html
not to say that lucas won't decide to do everything himself, but i'm hopeful

Lucas rape the classic trilogy? No way, dude!!

[elrous0]

Just look at how faithful his "special edition" versions of the film were to the originals as evidence of how much he loves and respects the original canon.

-Eric

Re:Lucas rape the classic trilogy? No way, dude!!

[pilkul]

I'm not sure why anyone expects Lucas to worship the original canon. I mean, he made it. There's no reason why he should respect it if he believes he can do better now. (He can't, but that's not my point.)

Season 2

[Valiss]

I think this could work well for season 2.

whoops!

[Pfhorrest]

Ack... revoke my geek card and s/Fetts/Hutts. Gah.

Great idea!

[Happy Lemming]

Perhaps Iain Banks should write the scripts? The Force meets The Culture...

Bah.

[Ophion]

The only thing that new-style Star Wars has contributed to our household is a phrase that my wife and I use when raiding the pantry: "Meesa hungry and weesa out of food."

Fanboy alert!

[MMaestro]

However, despite the fact that they predate episodes 1 2 and 3, they have many glaring inconsistencies.

Timothy Zahn came first, and wrote that part of Vader's history, and Lucas screwed it up.

Oh yeah, George Lucas really screwed things up by not having Anakin in his 20~30's when Episode 1 came around. Timothy Zahn is a great storyteller, but in terms of timeline continuity, you can't fault George Lucas for overriding Timothy Zahn.

Pre-Episode 1, 2 and 3 stories + Anakin != Blame George Lucas

Seriously, the guy places his stories PRIOR to Episodes 1, 2 and 3 and you blame George Lucas for the inconsistancies? Timothy Zahn flat-out screwed up in using Darth Vader in his stories. Anyone who watched the original Episodes 4, 5 and 6 knew Episodes 1, 2 and 3 would simply be 'how it all started' stories. (Where did the Emperor came from? What happened to the Jedis? Where did the stormtroopers come from? How is Darth Vader Luke's father? Etc.)

I'm tired of everyone bashing Jar Jar!!

[elrous0]

Dammit, as a racist, I really liked the Jar Jar character! He was funny, goofy, and his ethnic caricatures reminded me of the good old days of Amos 'n Andy.

Oh, Jar Jar, why can't all minorities be as kid-friendly and happy as you?

-Eric

Re:I'm tired of everyone bashing Jar Jar!!

[Vinnie_333]

Jar Jar: "Ooo, Meesa horny! Whe'r da white woman at!"

You hit that like a whomp rat -- dead on

[ianscot]

More forced connections to the films just makes the narrative clumsy and self concious.

No kidding. Cue montage of "Enterprise" moments in which Scott Bakula spells out exactly what would be needed in the Prime Directive or whatever. Clumsy and self-conscious: check. (The only variation that was any good was Bakula positing that, someday, ships would be equipped with red uniforms that could naturally draw fire in a crisis situation, sparing crucial personnel. And that one didn't happen.)

Here's hoping that the new series is set during that time period, but somehow avoids the sin of Luke as the hero.

It's amazing how the games make this work, more or less, but the movies and this proposed series seem like crud. Granted, Kyle Katarn is eventually going to prevent the universe's being taken over by the Big Bad Guy du jour, but in the meantime Jedi Knight II was darn fun in that expanded universe way. They chose the right setting to have it work -- and by contrast, this series seems to have blundered from the starting line.

It could've been worse

[MMaestro]

I believe that he has made mistakes in giving himself supreme veto power over what is shown or added in the movies and I think this attitude has ruined Star Wars for me somewhat.

At least he didn't cede power to the major studios. Given the sheer amount of remakes and sequels of older movies recently (King Kong anyone?), at least George Lucas is keeping a tight rein on things instead of letting the studios run amok with it.

Will there be a bunch of kryptonite everywhere?

[elrous0]

Hey, works for Smallville. Just whenever he gets too cocky and starts to use his latent powers, lay some "Jedinite" on his ass to smack him down. Then end the episode with a poignant conversation with Uncle Owen or his will-they-or-won't-they girlfriend (preferable set to a pop song the studio is trying to promote). Rinse, lather, repeat.

-Eric

Re:Will there be a bunch of kryptonite everywhere?

[joecat2000]

Totally - this smells like Smallville. - However where Smallville had a few good things going for it -- teen following, eye candy, moral lessons, all the angst of someone growing up different, etc -- what will this have? It's all about the cash grab... Leia's story would be more interesting: royal drama, political drama, secretly working for the rebellion. Maybe they'll focus on what Obiwan did all those years in hiding, keeping watch on Luke.

he already told us what he did...tashi-station!!

[Anonymous Coward]

he bag'd womp rats with his t-16 in beggars canyon and whined about not being able to go to tashi-station to pick up some power converters which was the local strip mall that all of his friends hung out at that is until they all went off to fight with the rebellion/acadamy, remember luke didn't have many friends left according to beru!

A Book for a Simp in the Field

[eldavojohn]

Good ole Kevin J. invented the super-weapon of the week club. The Deathstar 3, the Sun blaster who whatever that little twit jedi character he wrote used to blow up a star. It was just lame.

Yeah, I sure did enjoy it when I was an grade school farm hand. I liked the part where stuff 'sploded! I didn't have the luxery of owning the movies but I had seen them and the books were freely available at the library.

You (and a number of other posters) seem to be highly critical of my grade school interests. Isn't it amazing that low grade science fiction is entertaining to someone who has to geld piglets and pick rock? Hell, Kilgore Trout would have satisfied me then. Now I read James Joyce, Herman Hesse or any number of various real authors. That's not to say I fail to recognize my roots in reading.

Do I feel like a smarter person now? Do I reject reading and liking Star Wars paperbacks on the grounds that they're literary trash? Not at all. I remember them. I remember liking them. And I always will. Laugh and jeer all you want, I'll defend Anderson because he gave me something to enjoy as a kid.

Call me crazy but I'll also always find the original Tetris to be more sacred than any religious work due to the amount of time I invested in stacking bricks. It was like ... virtual hay bailing ... with rockets! Far out!

So go ahead and trounce Kevin J. Anderson and Stephen King and Michael Chrichton and a number of other authors I read in grade school. I'm not really concerned about what literary snobs have to say about them. I don't care if you think Madeline L'Engle, Ray Bradbury, Brian Jacques or Laura Ingals Wilder suck as authors, I still love them--even though I've met people here and there that have a good time picking them apart and laughing at their simple plot lines.

Re:A Book for a Simp in the Field

[Philosinfinity]

w00t for the Madeline L'Engle reference. Solid author.

Re:A Book for a Simp in the Field

[kcarlin]

Actually, you make a good list there. Michael Crichton's Andromeda Strain, both the novel and the movie, combined a tight A-novel/A-movie sensibility with science fiction without completely losing the audience the way the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey did, helping science fiction overcome its B-Movie reputation in the mass culture. (Planet of the Apes and Omega Man were fine adventure vehicles for Charlton Heston, but Andromeda Strain was relevant in a more immediate way.)

Stephen King is a good enough writer to have convinced me to read Salem's Lot and the Shining long after I had lost interest in genre horror and fantasy, his realism was top-notch in Salem's Lot. His long suffering at the hands of screen adapters reputedly ended with the Stand, so perhaps I'll watch that some day.

L'Engle and Bradbury and Heinlein were the best of their day. "Great Works" is a game for academics trying to bring what they consider best forward, and it changes radically and routinely. In High School we read Moby Dick, the Scarlet Letter, and the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. The pantheon of literature changes some each year, but it is a messy and perverse process, not to be mistaken for a mechanism for personal validation. Every year something abominable slips in and something core and critical is lost. Literary fashion and clothing fashion both enjoy heights and valleys. In the 1950's, only a handful of academic specialists had spent any time on the Romantics for about a hundred years, their opus of incomplete works, their subversive hedonism in life and on page, the classicism/paganism. And fantasy was routinely disguised or passed off as science fiction to avoid giving offense to religious elements, with a fraction of the titles released per year that we see now. Suddenly pot, LSD, Stranger in a Strange Land, Lord of the Rings, were front and center and the Romantics were suddenly campus favorites.

Whenever you look at anyone's pantheon, ask the following:

1. Who picked the works? There is always an agenda. Take the Bible, take Catcher in the Rye, take Bug Jack Barron, take the Satanic Verses, why were these things included or excluded? What would you include or exclude?

2. What viewpoint do they represent? Are they trying to sell me something unsavory? (I have met too many narcissistic ideologues that cheerfully hijack a course to bully students into echoing a bankrupt position to achieve a passing grade. I believe in giving everyone a hearing, but forced conversions are Muhammed's folly, and the notion that the curriculum planned is of no import compared to their unapproved and uncataloged replacement requires some examination. A good literature teacher will draw out student debate on a literary position, and only reluctantly put a position forward themselves and only when the discussion has gone horribly wrong.)

3. What other competing pantheons are out there? What does Berkeley do? What does the University of Chicago do? What about Hitler, Stalin, Mao? What about C. S. Lewis, Maya Angelou, or Victor Davis Hanson? Do they align more closely with my core beliefs? Most people actually do have core beliefs, and any pantheon that is aggressively or subversively in opposition to those beliefs will find opposition in the engaged reader.

4. Most of all, people should read what they enjoy. I enjoy comic books and I have translated Chaucer hundreds of lines of Chaucer orally for a class as easily and accurately as one might read a passage from a Star Wars novelization. I have enjoyed treatments of Beowulf by John Gardner, Crichton, and Niven/Pournelle/Barnes. If you have acquaintances too rude and narcissistic to be polite on matters of literary conviction, you might want to consider changing friends. Some people you meet in life will be Hitlerites or Stalinists or Jihadists or Maoists, and it won't always be obvious which is which off the bat.

Before I concern myself with whether someone validates me in some ar

Biggs & Luke Duke of Hazzard

[Loether]

It'll be like the Dukes of Hazzard... In Space. Luke & Biggs Duke. I can almost hear the song. Just the good old boys never meanin no harm... They steal Uncle Owen's land speeder and always get in trouble with the local dim witted imperials. Those crazy kids. Tuskan Raiders/Jawas/Hutts/Wamprats loads of fun for the whole family. How many times will the Blue Milk gag work? I started of in sarcastic mode now I'm looking forward to seeing it. oh well...

Re:Why choose Luke? There is another...

[eMartin]

"Why not track the story of how Leah became a key player in the Alliance."

To me that's sounds like a great idea... until I remember that she was pretty much a stuck up brat until Empire Strikes Back.

Luke shouldn't be IN it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Luke is off dusting crops on his farm and blasting desert critters to stave off boredom. Luke shouldn't even be MENTIONED. Obi-Wan and Yoda should also be left out of the story line.

I my eyes, the ideal situation would be this:

The heroes would be a small group of young Jedi survivors who escaped being killed at the end of the war. They know that the Jedi temple was destroyed thanks to Obi-Wan and Yoda, but do not know that the two ore alive, how many others lived, or where any other Jedi may be hiding. They're pretty much on their own. They see the Emperor consolidating power, and they do whatevever they can to disrupt it when given the chance. They make friends with the likes of Bail Organa, Mon Motha, etc. and their efforts would help establish what becomes the Rebel Alliance.

Early in the series, Darth Vader would be alerted to these Jedi, and would begin to mercilessly hunt them down. Many of them would die through the course of the series at his hand.

No Jar Jar either.

(Yawn)

[danwesnor]

'a whole bunch of new characters'

And a whole bunch of new action figures to go with them. Maybe Lucas should start actually developing the characters he creates instead of just turning them into over-priced bits of revenue-producing plastic.

But then again, I could say that if I had his ability to turn crap into cash that I would be able to resist it either.

Bring the producers, programming directors, Lucas,

[NeuroManson]

And I'll get the carbonite ready.

Re:For good Star Wars, keep an eye on the comics

[MrClear]

Yes, some of the Star Wars comics have been hit and miss. Your primary (and well-deserved) critiques are for material that is ten years old now, and there has been plenty to enjoy since.

Here's a rule of thumb for great Star Wars stories - keep your eye on John Ostrander. He's a fantastic writer with a great eye for characterization and relevant but never preachy social and political commentary. His usual partner in crime, Jan Duursema, is a wonderful artist. Pick up their graphic novels such as Twilight or Rite of Passage for some very entertaining stories. As you'll see, they made a conscious effort to stay away from the "big brand" characters so they'd have more creative freedom.

I was hoping that they were going to be the ones to tackle this period between episodes III and IV - primarily focusing on the formation of the rebellion. That would have been perfect for Ostrander. While I don't always agree with his political conclusions, I always enjoy the way he presents them.

Their next project, Legacy, takes place 100 years after all of the other material we've seen. Again, I assume that was designed to give them maximum latitude. I'm looking forward to it.

That's not to say that John and Jan are making the only good Star Wars comics. John Jackson Miller's Knights of the Old Republic has gotten a strong start and the most recent collection of stand-alone stories, Star Wars Tales Volume 6 really shows the story-telling potential of that universe

I'd highly recommend picking that up.

NO!

[Anonymous Coward]

Noooooo!!!!!

Hope it does well!

[mxronin]

As long as they dont put it on UPN 33 the'll be fine. No one watches that station.

Umm..

[eebra82]

So what now? Are we gonna see hundreds of Star Wars nerds in costumes outside the TV production offices, or are they gonna rally up at the local TV store before every new episode?

Re:Umm..

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

there will be "star wars tv watching" parties, much like there were "sex in the city" parties, "friends" parties, "survivor" parties, and "sopranos" parties.

geeks will get together and make a weekly ritual of watching. eventually, most will stop dressing up and/or bringing their star wars action figures.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

[Nom du Keyboard]

Every new installment of ever science fiction show seems to promise to be Darker. Nothing is ever promoted as lighter, more musical, more fun than you've already had in the past. No, it all has to take a turn to the Dark Side. I can only guess that this is what Hollywood thinks sells. Fluff to start with, followed by dark, dismal, gloomy, un-fun stories.

Isn't that cow dry YET?

[The_REAL_DZA]

eom (at least until "episode nine" of this post...)

Damn you are an ass clown.

[HornWumpus]

Get your mouth off lucas' asshole for a second and you will see that EP 1-3 are nothing but marketing for the crap toys your butt buddy keeps pumping out.

And I just can't let this pass: 'Virtually everything you see on the silver screen today is due to his innovation and creativity.'

Name ONE? (Lucas INVENTED special effects /sarc, 2001 had better).

Face it Lucas once had a little talent (for theft) now he is just a worthless hack. Tarantino at least make entertaining films. Name the last Lucas film an adult could watch without cringing? (American Graffiti not the god awfull sequel, maybe the original Star Wars though not if the viewer has seen 'Hidden Fortress').

re

[Anonymous Coward]

it's gonna flop... there's nothing exciting about being a moisture vaporator farmer on Tatooine

I wonder if...

[UglyTool]

The new series is going to be as good as the Star Wars Holiday Special.

The Usual Childishness

[Anonymous Coward]

A bunch of childish geeks who want to bash Star Wars. How predictable.

Time To Start The Campaign...

[CheeseburgerBlue]

...to resuscitate The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster, I reckon.

The people have a right to know how the series could've been had Lucas any writing chops worth writing home about.

new slashdot moderation required

[Anonymous Coward]

+5 Oh my GOD NO!

covers 20 years, not necessarily luke

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

otherwise 20 years of whining, farming, and womp-rat shooting... yeah, that sounds great.

let's say that instead they focus on leia and political intrigue on alderaan. on the emperor and vader's dominance throughout the empire. on han getting the millenium falcon from lando.

maybe on the massive fucking rebellion that had barely begun? on the rise of grand moff tarkin and admiral piett? on wedge antilles? boba fett's quest for vengeance? mon mothma and the rebellion?

a few episode titles...

[JohnnyCanuck]

I am sure we can get teenage angst regarding lots of time between

0) the kids of tatooine high
1) alderran 90210
2) buffy the jedi slayer...

A New Episode IV

[alexgieg]

What might happen after this disaster is that George Lucas will edit episode IV again, this time entirely replacing the first scenes with Luke Skywalker, putting flashbacks of the TV series or something like that in place of them.

Then he'll edit the ending of episode III, and the whole episode I, to show the new Tattoine. After all, who said Luke has grown on a farm? Or that Tattoine is a desert planet? In a CG age everything can change.

And be prepared to only be able to purchase this new version (in BD/HD-DVD), since the old, deprecated "sandy", "boring", "teen-farmer" Luke version won't be available anywhere anymore.

OMG, what a nightmare!!!

That would totally ROCK!

[Schwarzchild]

They should focus on Han's exploits. IIRC, there was a trilogy that came out about Han, Chewie, Lando and their exploits. It was fun reading.

These rumors of the series being about young Luke Skywalker make me think that I won't watch it.

Teh O.C. - in Space!!!1one

[Anonymous Coward]

Seriously - that's exactly what you're gonna get - whiny teenage drama that's set in the SW universe.

With the success of Smallville and The O.C. I'd be willing to bet that is exactly how it was pitched. Gets the teen girls to watch to see if Biggs and break up while the geeks tune in for the SW factor.

And it'll be off the air by episode 13.

Product Placement

[MrSteveSD]

Darth Vader: "I see you have constructed a new lightsaber." Luke: "That's right. And I power it with new Duracell Ultra-Life Batteries." Darth Vader: "I see. wwwwhoooor poooooow" Luke: "You sound a bit congested. Why don't you try new Lemon-Flavor Beecham's Flu Powder?" Darth Vader: "I will, but later my son. Now I must text the Emperor on my new Blackberry 7100r." etc etc

Rich Greedy Bastard: George "F_cking" Lucas

[Anonymous Coward]

This new small-screen version of "Star Wars" is the beginning of the end of the "Star Wars" franchise. Look at what happened to "Star Trek" after "Star Trek: Enterprise". After "Star Trek: The Next Generation", the writing, the acting, and (dare I say "it"?) the directing all declined rapidly. I did not think that anything worse than "Star Trek: Voyager" could come along, but then "Star Trek: Enterprise" was vomitted out of Paramount Studios.

When "Star Trek: the Original Series" was the only available "Star Trek", it was like a rare, precious gem. After 9 films and 6 series (including the animated version), "Star Trek" is like the worthless, commonplace grains of sand on a beach.

"Star Wars I", "Star Wars II", and the animated Ewoks cartoon were dire warnings that the "Star Wars" franchise might degenerate into another "Star Trek". This new "Star Wars" TV show just might be the final nail in the coffin.

F_ck you, George Lucas. You sh_t on my childhood.

There was a good Star Wars TV series

[wickedj]

It's called Clone Wars and was animated by Genndy Tartovsky. Mace Windu and Yoda were badass. Even Anakin was cool. Yeah, here's hoping Lucas will give control to someone as talented as Tartovsky.

Re:There was a good Star Wars TV series

[Anonymous Coward]

hahaha. No, I see this coming in like the other Star Wars series. Y'know, the one with the Ewoks. That was some quality television. Now excuse me, I have to go visit the garbage compactor to smell something better.

I don't think it will be about Luke Skywalker

[DPK99]

My hunch is that the quote is wrong or came out the wrong way. He is probably referring to the 20 year period in the Star Wars universe between Episodes III and IV. These years just happen to be the first 20 years when Luke was growing up, and for refrence sake Luke's name was used to better identify the time period. I think the tv shows arc will end up being the early stages of the rebellion with several characters on the run from the empire, bounty hunters, etc.

Smallville Tatooine Graffiti County

[YHZ_MadMonk_CAN]

Great, we're going to see Berman try to recreate what people think is American teen culture (The OC, Fast'n'Furious, Clerks) on Tatooine using Luke Skywalker instead of Superman.

Watch Luke drag race his tricked-out Accura Skyhopper in Beggar's Canyon.

Watch Luke not get any at the Lookoff.

Watch Luke pine about the girl he never gets (who looks mysteriously like his sister) while some girl (probably a strong-willed red head) pines about Luke.

Watch Luke avoid disaster after disaster while the mysterious Imperial Governor's son lurks around and insists he and Luke are best friends.

I was going to say that Luke would battle giant carnivorous beavers but I don't think he's going to even get that close to getting any.

Did Luke or Anakin go fur hunting?

[WillAffleckUW]

I hear Ewoks have some mighty nice pelts.

Re:Did Luke or Anakin go fur hunting?

[mrjah]

Do the Ewoks have large talons?

Re:Did Luke or Anakin go fur hunting?

[Testicon]

Haha, i saw this subject and thought of something totally different than hunting animals....Oh man

Hear that sound?

[scoser]

That is the sound of my childhood crying out as it is abused again and again.

Synopsis of the first few episodes.

[Mogomra]

They also released a synopsis of the first few episodes:

1 - Luke helps out on the farm, collecting moisture for the harvest.
2 - Luke helps out on the farm, collecting moisture for the harvest.
3 - Luke helps out on the farm, collecting moisture for the harvest.
4 - Luke helps out on the farm, fixing the family landspeeder.
5 - Treadwell goes on a rampage, and Luke and Owen have to put him down.

Sounds like gallons of fun.

Re:Rich Greedy Bastard: George "F_cking" Lucas

[Anonymous Coward]

Not that I disagree with anything you wrote......

> but then "Star Trek: Enterprise" was vomitted out of Paramount Studios.

With the exception of the last year of this disaster, I sat down every single week and thought, "Well, it can't be worse than last week." And, every single week I was surprised.

You left out:

[Radical Moderate]

...as if millions of geeks cried out...and kept on crying.

Re:Why choose Luke? There is another...

[escay]

...taking it one step further, let every episode be half about luke and half about leia.

let the story of luke and his lackadaisical days on tatooine be along the lines of umm..seinfeld, with him and a few of his buddies sitting and moping around, while that of leia and her skirmishes with the empire be of a more 'Xena - warrior princess' nature.

Han and Vader will have guest episodes to spike up the ratings once in a while...

...and as the series comes to an end we see the two parallel tracks converging on EP4. ah...if only i had lucas's email ID...

Drama

[pete-classic]

It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers.

McCallum said there would be "a whole bunch of new characters" and the series would be "much more dramatic and darker".

It seems only natural that the adolescent antics of a farm boy would be darker and more dramatic than his subsequent struggle to free the galaxy from the tyrannical grip of his father and an evil wizard.

(I want to drown George Lucas in Rick McCallum's blood.)

-Peter

Re:Drama

[Blackforge]

Adolescent farm boy? Tyrannical grip?

Much darker indeed. He'll go blind!

I can see the pitch session now...

[jpellino]

You'll love it, baby - think "The Andy Griffith Show" - but with marauding sand people!
The lovable aunt, the local yokel imperial stormtrooper set to partol the armpit of the solar system, the laconic barber with laser clippers, the goofy landspeeder greasemonkey, and good old Bachelor Ben...
We need to find the next Opie - call every casting director we know!

Zahn, Stackpole. And others.

[demonbug]

Stackpole was pretty good (the X-Wing/Rogue Squadron series is the best Star Wars I've read aside from Zahn), I tried reading one of Anderson's books and it was pretty bad. Zahn's are definitely the best of the Star Wars books by far (and his other books are pretty damn good, too - try the Conquerors series, or Icarus Hunt). I remember when Heir to the Empire came out, it was just awesome - it was the first non-Lucas Star Wars book out there (that I'm aware of) and it was very well written. Zahn has consistently lived up to it, alhtough I have to say his latest book in the Star Wars universe wasn't nearly as good. Outbound Flight just felt rushed, and a littel bit stilted - but part of that might be due to Zahn trying more to fit in with episodes I-III. The parts where Zahn stays with his own characters (Thrawn, etc.) are much better than the parts where he includes Ben and Anakin et al.
That said, it is still a hell of a lot better than most of the Star Wars crap that is out there now. The whole "expanded universe" thing is really, really lame - if there was ever a case of "Too many cooks ruins the soup", it is Star Wars (at least the books - the movies, strangely enough, seem to exhibit the reverse).

On a somewhat related note, Give Me Another Tie Fighter (or X-Wing - I loved those games)!

Close second

[SuperKendall]

Actually I am not sure if Empire is better, or Clone Wars season 2 - really a whole movie by itself, and a damn good one.

One of them is a close second to the other, at any rate.

That the Clone Wars project was so good is further proof of your statemnent that Star Wars TV will be pretty successful if Lucas backs away from it a bit.

no need to know the future...you're already there!

[Anonymous Coward]

If you look at the date, it's been there for almost a week. ;)

At the risk of sounding like a nerd...

[Comboman]

At the risk of sounding like a anal-retentive nerd; Star Wars has had promotional tie-ins with Burger Chef, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut but there has never been a McDonalds Happy Meal(TM) based on Star Wars.

Theres not even a pilot, calm down

[G-Sil]

I think we should wait and see. There's not even a pilot episode and we are judging it. With Battlestar Galactica was the same thing, and now everybody is loving it.

What were they thinking?

[Captain Scurvy]

I love the idea of a [well-done] Star Wars television series, but this has to be one of the most boring timeframes they could have chosen. On the other hand, if they had announced a TV series that would explore the time of the Sith, that would have been cool.

Dear Lord, let it die

[motivator_bob]

Please let shows like this just fade away. We already have our ideas of what we loved / hated about these series, we don't need more crap to tarnish our memories & the reputation of those involved. (I'm not going to claim George raped anyones childhood, but my perceptions of past experiences have certainly changed.)
I guess if there's a buck to be made, then it will be done. The only way we can stop things like this is to give them as little of our money as possible. Shows like The Simpsons, Star Wars, Star Trek et al, were all great in their time. But they have run their course.

Please let them die an honourable death.

see, here's the problem

[blair1q]

luke skywalker grows up bored

he wants nothing more than to get off the farm and fly

he's had no adventure

what the hell will the series be about?

all the stuff that doesn't happen to him?

all the adventure that he just misses when he turns a corner?

Lucas: Just End it.

[darkani]

The starwars universe should be sealed up put in a glass case, and put for exhibition only. I liked the way RotS concluded everything and linked the prequels with the sequels. Leave it like that. Any contrived plot with forced cameo appearances of classic characters will just ruin whatever respect left we have for lucas and his cash cow franchise.

Mmmm, stirred seeds and mixed metaphors...

[Hamster Lover]

Bail Organa & Mon Mothma stirring the seeds of rebellion.

Man, using metaphors is not rocket surgery.

Re:Mmmm, stirred seeds and mixed metaphors...

[Mercuria]

Oh, for crying out loud, this is Lucas we're talking about! Stirred seeds is exactly what we can expect for dialogue.

Re:Mmmm, stirred seeds and mixed metaphors...

[Blackhalo]

Ah, but it could be a brain science.

"More dramatic and darker"? B.S.

[stlhawkeye]

McCallum said there would be 'a whole bunch of new characters' and the series would be 'much more dramatic and darker.'"

Yeah, whatever. When the prequels were in the queue, this is what they said about them. They'd be more dramatic. Darker. Lucas was even going to pitch the familiar theme music and do something different. It all sounded wonderfully original and artistic until somebody said, "George, nobody wants that. People want the same score, the same movies all over again." So George, 20 years older and basically living off the technology royalties from ILM, having not written anything worth watching (note that Indiana Jones is basically a really awful movie that is saved by an enchanting combination of a fun score, the kinetic influence of Spielberg, and chemistry among the actors), writes Episode 1. I don't want to rehash the myriad complaints about Star Wars, but Episodes 1-3 were supposed to be "much darker". Well, the watered-down scene where Anakin kills the Tusken raiders elicited a yawn from me. I still get uneasy watching the scene of Han Solo of being tortured for no reason other than the Empire delights in torture. "They never even asked me any questions." Yeah, they do'nt care, they just enjoy inflicting pain and suffering. Then Lando walks through the corridors of his city arguing with Vader with the sounds of Solo screaming in inhumane pain behind him ... that's dark. Nothing about Anakin's fall from grace was dark. It barely even made sense, nor did Padme's perplexing passion for him. The films were written by a guy in his 60's who has clearly forgotten whatever he once knew about the passionate love of youth.

So now they're going to make a "darker" TV series. Well, bullshit. Sorry. Their last attempt at "darker" gave us the slapstick antics of Jar Jar Binks flopping around a virtual soundstage and spouting sentence fragments and stepping in crap and tripping over shit and basically irritating the hell out of everybody.

There's also a tendancy among bad writers to assume that "dark = deep". If I'm really depressing and dark and morbid and whatever, it means I'm deep and insightful and consumed by the pain that wracks our world in shuddering convulsions, blah blah. This misattribution of insight to misery is probably what fuels the Goth kids. Easy to sit around hating the world and thinking you're above it all simply because you're unhappy. Anyway, when I read, "this is goign to be dark" I hear, "weighty subject matter is going to substitute for insightful writing."

But I'm cynical.

Tatooine Grafitti...

[jzarling]

When Luke gets to be 16 there will be a 3-4 episode arc devoted to the cruising culture of Tatooine. Set against the backdrop of his friends signing on to fight in the Galactic Civil War.

Thank you.

[Belial6]

I thought I was the only person that saw that the emperor had no clothes. The level of cheese in the new BSG is amazing. I probably wouldn't mind so much if they had called it something else, but the original show was way much better than this remake.

Re:Thank you.

[Aqua OS X]

Cheese? You prefer the show where the good guys run around with capes and shoot sword wielding robot bad guys that talk like a 1984 Mac?

Thew new show is soooo much better the original... or most filmed SciFi.

Re:Thank you.

[Moofie]

You're comparing cheese to a show where there was a kid always getting lost/stowing away/getting kidnapped with his robot dog?

I was skeptical about the new Battlestar Galactica. I don't really understand why they chose to set it in the same world as the old BSG, but damn the new show is good.

You might not like it...that's cool. But to call it cheesier than Dirk Benedict's mugging for the camera...I just have to think we weren't watching the same TV shows.

As I recall...

[Kozar_The_Malignant]

>It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers.

Episode Four starts out with Luke whining about what a crashing bore his life has been up to this point. Certainly fertile ground for thrilling stories: The paint drying episode, the evaporator rusting episode, the wanking in the desert episode. Wonderful stuff.

And if you want to keep up with it....

[Pedrito]

There's already an entry in the Internet Movie Database for the series. IMDB is pretty good at keeping up with movies and TV shows that are still in development, so it'll probably be a good place to check back periodically to monitor progress of who comes onboard.

Re:Why choose Luke? There is another...

[BrainRam]

In the actual article, note that the statement: It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up that remains a mystery to most film-goers. is not in quotes. That means it is quite likely that the writer was trying to explain to readers who may not be SW-savvy that between episodes three and four of the film saga means the period of time when Luke was growing up. So we only know the time period. We also have "at least a hundred episodes", which tells me that they probably have a four year story arc and hope to syndicate the series.

So far we have hundreds of comments criticizing the content of a series that is not even being written yet, based on what appears to be a poorly written web article that summarizes an interview that most of us have probably never heard. Let's hold off on destroying Lucas and the series producers until they actual give us something to destroy.

What I learned from this article is that while most people (including myself) do not like what Lucas did with Episodes 1-3, there is still a lot of excitement, or at least fan energy, in this franchise. Which makes it ripe for a TV series, wouldn't you think?

Maybe now we can see

[Malakusen]

some post RotJ stuff in a TV series. Maybe we can get TV adaptations of the storylines in the books. Shoot, it's all already written, it's right there. Easy! Let's get us some Mara Jade!

That 70's show

[pankajsethi]

Will this be a version of that 70's show in a galaxy far far away

Re:Read her books in 4th grade...

[Jim_Callahan]

Unfortunately, I had a half-decent grade school education and a dictionary (to look up words like 'tesseract' and know how cellular biology basically worked), so the fact that even the remotest semi-scientific allusion in L'Engle's work was completely (a) wrong or (b)poorly explained to the point where it might as well have been wrong kind of put me off of her books. The fact that she didn't bother to make the fantasy bits internally consistent finished it off for me.

I think I might have forgiven her if the story was even slightly original, but as it was, I just refuse to read any author with a spelling anywhere within three alterations of her name. I wanted my money back after reading those things, and they were borrowed!

Worse. Idea.

[TeatimeofSoul]

Actually, I can think of an even worse idea: 101 episodes.

People, it's not an action series!

[TCQuad]

Too much of the character's development in ANH starts with the premise of Luke as an inexperienced farmboy.

There won't be any conflict... The series will just be "Little House on the Tatooine Prairie".

Actually...

[JayBlalock]

Vader and the droids are almost never in the same room together throughout the trilogy. He *never* re-meets Artoo, and the only time he shares a scene with Threepio is the carbon freeze sequence. (where Threepio is just a squawking mess of metal on Chewie's back, across the room, and as such, is probably occupying a whole .0001% of Vader's attention)

The problem, actually, is explaining how Obi-Wan doesn't recognize them. By Ep 3, he clearly knows Artoo and is used to working with him.

/sad geek

Re:Actually...

[Gogo Dodo]

Are you sure Obi-Wan didn't recognize them or was he just being coy about it?

Reminds me of something I read awhile back... A New Sith, or Revenge of the Hope, Reconsidering Star Wars IV in the light of I-III

Re:Actually...

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem, actually, is explaining how Obi-Wan doesn't recognize them. By Ep 3, he clearly knows Artoo and is used to working with him.

You've got to remember that dishonesty is one of the hallmarks of Obi-Wan's character.

"So what I told you was true... from a certain point of view" = "yeah, I lied about some minor details like whether someone killed your dad"

Just assume that this was another one of his little deceptions.

Re:Actually...

[rbarreira]

Very nice link, thanks :)

If anything, this makes the old episodes seem even more interesting, contrarily to what many people say here...

Wow

[Liam Slider]

A TV show about a whiny little bitch on a dusty little failing farm, on a dirtball planet, who hangs out with his boring friends and races speeders and shoots the occasional desert animal. Such exciting show potential, I'm sure it will make...

*pinky*

ONE MILLION DOLLARS

Why oh why

[Man in Spandex]

do we want to see another young whiny bitch whining about how boring his current life is? I say they should take www.storewars.org and make it into a series. The life of Tofu-D2 is most probably more interesting.

Death Star 5

[Anonymous Coward]

It was the dawn of the third age of mankind, ten years after the Clone Wars. The Death Star was a dream given form. The first three Death Stars were destroyed by the Rebel Alliance. The fourth was used in Spaceballs. This is the story of the last of the Death Stars. The year is 2258 (in a galaxy, far far away). The name of the place is the Death Star.

Open Letter to Rick McCallum and George Lucas...

[irving47]

Mr. McCallum and/or Lucas

As a longtime fan of the big three "Star" franchises (Wars, Gate, Trek) I just want to beg you to consider the following:
Don't screw up the continuity. Berman and Braga did this, and frankly, the F'd it up. Not only did they F it up, but they insulted the fans that called them on it, complain, or tried to give constructive criticism by calling them "continuity pornographers."

It's probably so obvious, it doesn't need to be said- If Luke hears the words "The Force," in the show, it's over.

I also want to say thanks for confirming the show's time-frame and setting as you have. B&B kept lying to us until the pre-production was WELL underway or even after episodes were already shot and in the can, saying, "Oh, no, there are no final decisions that have been made yet." when we wanted to voice concern over those same issues...

Thanks for your time!

Harry Potter Analogys?

[JhohannaVH]

Why is it that the first thing that goes running through my head is a bunch of Jedi kids running around at Hogwarts?? That's about the best thing that comes to mind. I hope it hits development at least... I'll hold my breath until I see an air date. With 2 movies to make before production even starts, Lucas could be dead by then.

Re:Why choose Luke? There is another...

[hyperizer]

Or Boba Fett's adventures as a bounty hunter, and perhaps an akward relationship with Vader.

You're right, it would be hard for them to kiss, what with the helmets and all ;-)

I think a star wars TV series should be...

[jonwil]

A series of stories about the various characters and events alluded to in the movies that we DONT see.

For example, one epoisode (or episode arc) could be a story covering han solo and just exactly WHY jabba the hutt is so pissed off at him. Or a story arc covering the theft of the plans for the first death star (leading into a chase of the blockade runner by the imperial fleet which then leads into episode 4) Or a story arc covering how Leia (lukes sister) ended up becoming a princess on Alderan. Or a story arc showing more history of the Millenium Falcon (up to the part where we first see it in episode 4)

Does it have to be the farmboy?

[coffeechica]

100 episodes. So, five seasons, most likely. How many vaporators can you possibly repair? And what will the season finale be like? Luke heads out to a vaporator but forgets his toolbox, and drama results?

The sad thing is, when you look at the EU, 5 seasons would be so easy to fill. Give one to the Thrawn trilogy, another to the X-Wing universe (or two - Allston would be worth a try too). Filter NJO for the good plotlines, that would be a third. And two more shouldn't be a problem either - there are enough novels which would do for three to four episodes. It would hardly be chronological, and continuity might be screwed, but hey, this is SW. We got episodes 4-6 before 1-3, and continuity doesn't exist in that galaxy.

Han Solo

[Anonymous Coward]

Am I the only person who read the Han Solo/Lando Calrissian books?

Those were better than all the jedi trash out there.

Re:Why choose Luke? There is another...

[R3d M3rcury]

"Or Grand Moff Tarkan and the construction of the Death Star."

Perhaps they could have an episode which shows the difficulties Tarkan had hiring Independent Contractors to build it...

(Yes, I know--they're talking about Return of the Jedi...)

I have a better idea

[kimvette]

Rather than a 100-episode long television series, why not, oh, I don't know, pick up where Episode VI left off and develop VII through IX, like Lucas originally said he'd do?

I'd love to see the rest of the Imperial forces and rogue governors chased down, the Republic restored, and the Jedi to come back.

More of This, Less of That

[dcollins]

McCallum said... the series would be 'much more dramatic and darker.'

But, will it be less sucky and shitty?

Interesting post...

[chriswaclawik]

But I got a small nitpick. You're actually thinking of "Fistful of Dollars." Kurosawa actually sued the filmmakers for $100,000, an apology, and 15% of profits in Asia (since he filmed the movie yojimbo first).

The "old" Han please...

[dstj]

I agree, stories about Han Solo would be much more interesting, but I doubt Lucas would go for it. Remember that he now wants to portray Han as a good guy instead of a ruffian that he is...

Greedo DID NOT shoot first! Han killed him! Final.

Until Lucas decides to apologize for this fiasco, I don't think that anything about Han would win the heart of the fans.

It's not about Luke!

[das_klaun]

A little truth serum here: No official source has EVER said that it would cover Luke's early life. That was a misinterpretation, apparently by a British tabloid, that seems to be quickly spreading. Lucas and his sources have said repeatedly that the series would not focus on any of the main characters, but that active characters like young Boba Fett could turn up.

Hate to say it, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

Expect a bastardization of the original Star Wars "canon" (or what little remains of it now) when this series goes into production.

Why? Basically, there are two George Lucas's: The first Lucas of days gone by envisioned the original Star Wars as a basic good v evil story set in a futuristic, science fiction background, rendered in never-before-seen grandiose fashion, with the irony of stylistically paying tribute to the old movie matinee serials of the 40s. (A LONG TIME AGO, in a Galaxy, far far away...) The story of Star Wars, according to the first Lucas, largely centered around Luke Skywalker and the challenges and confrontations he faced as the epic unfolded. An early working title for Star Wars was "The Further Adventures of Luke Skywalker." Purportedly, legend (now denied by Lucas) has it that there were basic drafts for 9 episodes, divided into three trilogies, and the middle trilogy was the basis for the original Star Wars. The first trilogy would deal with the rise of the empire, and the final trilogy would deal with the offspring of Luke and Leia maintaining control of the Republic.

The second Lucas, the Lucas of today, says that in fact, the entire series was based on "the tragedy of Darth Vader" and claims that he was taken aback during the time of the original series by the public's perception of the character of Vader as the most revered movie villain, the ultimate bad guy. You would be hard-pressed to find Lucas offering that surprising and important insight back then. It almost seems that the Lucas of today, like the character of Luke, is having a difficult time confronting evil. The second Lucas appears intent on the mission of redemption, of removing the polar concept of the "twisted evil" that served so effectively as the dramatic basis for the original series. Vader, you see, really isn't a bad guy at all, and Han? Well, he's not a cold-blooded murderer, because upon closer examination, we see that he really didn't shoot that bounty hunter first. Just self defense...

The second Lucas has indeed turned to the dark side. The concepts that made the original series a legend proved to be no match against his army of special effects technicians. The original Star Wars canon has been soundly defeated in three acts by Lucas's impenetrable digital film-making empire. Thus, the TV series will be yet another "tragedy," not one of drama but in the inexorable rewriting of the original Star Wars story.

In the words of Vader: "It is useless to resist"

Open-mindedness? Pfft, that's for n00bs!!

[celeste_]

It seems like a silly timeframe for a star wars show. Jedis when theyre hiding, luke when he doesn't know anything about the force, dark side ruling without any serious opposition.. The way they described it makes it sound like there won't even be any light sabers.

Actually, I think it's a very interesting time period in Star Wars history, and probably the one that we know the least about. Sure, the Empire is ruling without opposition, but this is the time period during which the Rebel Alliance is forming, and it would be interesting to see that come together.

After reading all the comments here, I think everyone needs to just settle down a little bit. We don't know anything about the show. Just because they say it's set during the time when Luke is growing up doesn't mean that it will be *centered* on his boring farm-boy life in a Smallville-esque way. He may not even be in it.

I'm just saying, it would be nice if everyone could hold off on their decision that it's the worst show ever until we've actually SEEN it.

...but I guess that's not the cool thing to do.

Did anyone actually READ the article?

[celeste_]

The article that we're all making our theorized statements based on clearly states:

McCallum said there would be "a whole bunch of new characters" and the series would be "much more dramatic and darker".

He added that it was unlikely any of the stars of the movies would be involved in the TV series.

It's not about Luke growing up, people. It's set in the *time period* when Luke grew up. I have not seen anything, anywhere, that alludes to this series becoming a Smallville ripoff, except on this very forum.

And seriously, the thing isn't even going to start filming for another 2 years. How can we make decisions about how horrible it's going to be when we don't know a single thing about it?

*Can* you torture a zombie Gungan?

[Anonymous Coward]

I sure hope so.

Lando

[Anonymous Coward]

Give me some Han Solo show boating and Lando womanizing and I'll watch it. At least a couple espisodes anyway. Then toss in some hot babes with tight clothes (think 7of9) and it'll be a hit. To me anyway. Thankfully I am easily entertained. Strip clubs are expensive. True Story.

Colt 45, Malt Liquor.

But T'Pol was so hot

[Werrismys]

Hottest Trek female after Kirstey Alley in Wrath of Khan.

Re:But T'Pol was so hot

[m1ddle]

Oh, yeah...especially in the 'decontamination' scenes....*drool*

Lightsabre fights

[forgoil]

How are they going to be able to throw in one lightsaber fight per episode, when there are hardly any Jedis around? Or are we going to see how it is growing up in the dullest sadest place in the universe when Luke grows up a farmer and tinkers with droids? There is almost no story between ep 3 and 4. Darth probably kills a few more Jedis he missed, that's it. Why not make a series between ep 6 and 7 instead?

Didn't they do this already?

[Half a dent]

I thought the TV show was called Firefly. :-)

At least if this show comes out then Firefly might get a second season off the back of it (and probably be better too).

I sense a great disturbance in the force...

[gijoel]

... as if a billion fanboys cried out in horror.

Re:Rich Greedy Bastard: George "F_cking" Lucas

[arvid]

So damn true. I have to admit that I was too young to watch Star Trek:TOS, but I love the Next Generation. And this is the last series of Star Trek I liked to watch. Everything else was awful to watch.

I think it is a great idea to tell the part between Epiodes 3 and 4, because the first three episodes are so awful told, that the cineast won't be able to put all together. But, I can't imagine that the tv series will work at all. It will become something no hardcore fan will like and lots of new merchandise will hit stores nobody wants to buy... and then Star Wars is dead. The saga does not continue. Not even in a cinema near you...

Re:"More dramatic and darker"? B.S.

[rbarreira]

note that Indiana Jones is basically a really awful movie that is saved by an enchanting combination of a fun score, the kinetic influence of Spielberg, and chemistry among the actors

So what's the bad part?

McCallum will ruin it

[Anonymous Coward]

If Rick is behind this, it will be terrible. This guy helped ruin the prequels.

But..

[Makarakalax]

Isn't that missing the point that vadar built C3PO? I'd recognise everything I ever built. Even if I built it from a kit that half a million other kids used. There's always a scratch or badly done part that I'll recall a story about or something.

See Smallville

[Anonymous Coward]

Great does this mean we get Smallville for Luke Skywalker? Or His Aunt and Uncle hiding him from constant Imperial discovery? Or is this going to be about Jawas raping people? Oh-Teenie!

Re:"More dramatic and darker"? B.S.

[stlhawkeye]

So what's the bad part?

The screenplay.

Wookie Christmas

[BodhiCat]

However the new Star Wars series turns out it can't be as bad as the Wookie Christmas special that aired about the time that the first (Ep. IV) Star Wars movie was released. Does anyone else remember that? Was it as bad as I think it was?

Oh joy!

[Antaeus Feldspar]

Oh joy! This is exactly what I've been waiting for! See, we know who Luke Skywalker is at the beginning of Star Wars (the movie's title is not A New Hope, thank you) -- he's a naive farmboy whose life on a backwater desert planet is so deadly dull that a trip into town to pick up power converters is a major treat for him. But what happened before that? I mean, besides "nothing"? Finally, the answer will be revealed! One hundred episodes detailing that deadly dull farmboy life! My lightsaber quivers just thinking about it.

Zahn is overrated (at least for Star Wars)

[Antaeus Feldspar]

Frankly, Timothy Zahn's books are not the example I would hope they'd take for how to do the new series -- though I suppose they will anyways. Zahn's Dark Fleet Trilogy would be fine -- if it wasn't in the Star Wars universe. He takes a series whose fundamental principle is mysticism and makes it mechanical. The Force is no longer a mystical force flowing through every living thing -- now it's an energy flowing through every living thing except for this one species of jungle lizard which not only does without it, but evolves the ability to surpress it in a sphere around itself. Luke's vision in the cave on Dagobah is no longer a warning to him of the danger posed by his own dark side -- now it's a precognition that -- spoiler -- he's got a crazy clone out there. This was just the wrong way to go and unfortunately it's the road Lucas himself took with the whole "midichlorians" bit.

Re:"More dramatic and darker"? B.S.

[rbarreira]

Sorry, I had read "score" and assumed "screenplay" :P

Smallville on Tattoine

[m00nshadow]

So this is going to be the next Smallville.. see Luke in middle / high school as he discovers his powers and battles the freak o' the week. Sigh.