May 10 2010

source: (fieldmuseum.org, rebelscum.com)

Lucas: "On Hold" - 30th Anniversary Empire Strikes Back Screening Question & Answer.








EXCERPT:

Audience: How are things going with the Live-Action TV Show?

Lucas: "The Live-Action TV Show is kind of on hold because we have scripts, but we don't know how to do them. Because they literally are Star Wars - only we're going to have to try to do them - a tenth the cost. It's a huge challenge - lot bigger than what we thought it was gonna be."

Thanks for the heads up DS.

While I enjoy the New Clone Wars - it's starting to run out of steam and the new Seth Green produced comedy-animated series isn't going to get fans excited like the LAS. Although the mention of scripts is somewhat hopeful.

Lucas also had this to say: Watch The Clone Wars next year, third seasons' way better than the second season.

The fact that they're pushing it back is somewhat unsettling, but reading between the lines, they've obviously got something HUGE up their collective sleeves and can't work out a cost effective means, of making it happen on a smaller budget.

Doesn't look like it's going to happen in 2012 then. That fucking sucks!

I'd really rather they just do the scripts of the Live Action Series in the animation style of the Clone Wars. They know they can do that, and it works.

Lucas sent a congratulatory letter to the producers of LOST. There might be some significance to this if Lucas is looking to tap some talent for the Live-Action Series.

I'm sure it is incredibly difficult for a movie producer to try and conform to tv budgets. We are talking about a guy who basically pioneered cinema in order to make his movies. There are backers for things like that which can be make back on a one off production. This is an ongoing thing that needs continuous financing, and TV networks are way cheaper than movie studios.

This is both bad and good news. Good that he isn't trying to skimp in order to get it done, but bad that he may never get enough funding to do what he would be satisfied with. I'll throw in 50 bucks, anyone else?

There may be a hint in the final sentence: "I'm sad that the series is ending, but I look forward to seeing what you two are going to do next."

If you are making a sci-fi TV series steeped in mythology, Cuse and Lindelof are the one's to tap.

I am still skeptical that the LAS ever happens.

I think they are just buying a little time. A group of pre-production folks have been working on locations, characters, CGI and all sorts of supporting stuff for years now in Singapore and New Zealand. Plus "Pre-Viz" the Mandalorian and the rest of the Wolf in Sheep's clothes AKA Clone Wars is laying the groundwork for for the Live Action show.There is too much in the bag to just let it go.

"On Hold" just means they need a bit longer. It will come, but now that they have scripts, actors (perhaps already filmed) and lots of pre-viz I think they just want to keep things quiet while they work a bit more. Maybe Seth Green's show will help get enough of the supporting materials together for the LAS to happen in a budget that works. Then again, isn't Lucas donating 1.5 billion to charity? Maybe he could spare .5 of that to make a killer tv series. Oh well.

On another note: what a disappointment Celbration V was. All that hooplah and the ONLY news is blue ray (BFD) and a sneak peek at some cool Sith Witches, who apparently run the show on their planet.

I don't have a clue of what type of investment this would take and who it is that is putting it up, but if Lucas is willing to share the back end with investors or the studio I can't believe that one of the major networks or even a cable network with deep pockets would kill for the chance to own a piece of this. I can't imagine it is expected for this to do anything but rape all competition in whatever time slot it goes to.

Money in movies just doesn't exist in television, however this is a franchise that doesn't loose money, and since the creator has resisted the fans demands and not gone crazy just putting out everything possible to cash in. There is still plenty of room for films or shows or videos.

Shit, he could go straight to video with this and charge a fuck ton and sell a huge number. People will pay for star wars, I just can't believe that it is money that is holding this up.

I saw an interesting post over at . Apparently, Sam Witwer aka Starkiller in TFU hinted at his involvement with the LAS during an interview this week.



[hr]
Jerec350:

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, if so I apologize, but there is an interview posted on Xbox Live where they are asking Sam Witwer some questions regarding his thoughts of the Force Unleashed II game.

Towards the end of the interview they ask him what is he up to now to which he says he is doing some shots right now for an upcoming series. He says he is working uncredited right now and he can't say what the series is because he promised the exec producer he would not mention what it was and we won't hear any details until...(dramatic pause)...later.

He goes on to say you'll love the series and you actually have probably already heard about it. As he says that he glances over to the Forced Unleashed stand up beside him.

That sounds very promising.

That could explain why TFU3 was scrapped.