October 8 2005

source: nowMagazine

Prequel producer Rick McCallum revealed to Now Playing Magazine some of the details of the two upcoming TV series based on the franchise created by Lucas:

Rick McCallum: "The live-action television series is something we're planning for just at the beginning of 2007," McCallum said in an interview while promoting the upcoming DVD of Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith at Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in northern California. "We're just starting to interview writers and trying to really figure out which direction [to go]."




McCallum added that the series will have a different tone than the features and will introduce characters that weren't seen on the big screen.

Rick McCallum: "It is going to be much darker, much grittier. It's going to be character-based. [Lucas] envisions somewhere like 100 hours, [set] between Episode III and Episode IV, with a lot of characters that we haven't met, but [who] have been developed in some of the novels and other things. We're really excited about that, because I think finally we're going to have the opportunity to answer everybody's questions once and for all by the time we finish the series."




McCallum also revealed that the live-action series is likely to be based in Sydney, Australia, and will be filmed in hi-def, while production on the animated series is already underway at Skywalker Ranch.

Rick McCallum: "The animation is being done as we speak".

"It's starting to prep. That's being done here at the Ranch. A lot of the effects are being done in Singapore. ... I think it's just now in the conceptual work and script work [phase]. I think George is trying to get 13 scripts done first before we really start to get into the pipeline of it. But that'll start happening probably at the end of March."

Isn't that what they said about ROTS?

more info on The Ramp-Up of the Shows from the ROTS DVD Press Junket


The live-action project is still in script mode, First off, production will most likely be taking place all over the world with a home-base in Sydney, and they'll be shooting on hi-def, unless something better and more affordable comes out before then.

As far as story goes, producer Rick McCallum says that they're looking to focus on about 100 hours between Episodes III and IV, "with a lot of characters that we haven't met but have been developed in other novels and other things." He feels that, by the end of the series, all of your questions will be answered. Frankly, I don't have any questions Rick, but that doesn't mean I can't make up a few between now and then.

Frank Oz (the voice of Yoda) was also in attendance and admitted that he is involved in the animated series, but that the live-action one was still too far away to claim yay or nay. Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) also couldn't give a straight answer regarding his involvement but did note that "George's intention is to follow one of the characters who's been less highlighted up to now, but has been very popular (Boba Fett???) with the audiences." He also noted that Peter Cushing played a "very effective representative" of the Emperor, so expect there to be a "number of very effective representative's" down the line.

Finally, Lucas himself did not attend the junket, but McCallum did give an update on Indiana Jones 4 by saying that George should finish the script by Sunday and will meet with Steven Spielberg next week to hash out final adjustments. To see that this project is still in script mode kind of makes me feel as if the news of the mysterious Laura Dutta being cast may have really been some kind of publicity stunt.

The only thing I missed was an explanation of how to become immortal. Everything else looked just fine.

It's just Rick being Rick. I wouldn't take it too seriously.

"In Episode III, you will see why Boba Fett hates the Skywalker family!!!"