Path: lightning!telepost.no!eunet.no!nuug!trane.uninett.no!sunic!pipex!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov!nntp-server.caltech.edu!news.claremont.edu!pomona.claremont.edu!ASOOD From: asood@pomona.claremont.edu Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies Subject: FAQ: New Star Wars Films (v 1.4) Date: Sun, 01 May 1994 20:24:57 GMT Organization: Pomona College Lines: 328 Message-ID: <0097DC7D.F2013684@pomona.claremont.edu> Reply-To: asood@pomona.claremont.edu NNTP-Posting-Host: acme.claremont.edu There has been some confusion lately about the new Star Wars films, so I'm posting the latest version of my New Star Wars FIlms FAQ. -Aditya ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The New Star Wars Films FAQ Compiled by Aditya Sood Version 1.4 5/1/94 This FAQ deals with questions arising from George Lucas's recent announcement that he will indeed continue the most popular film saga of all time. Information for this FAQ comes from a wide range of sources, including publications such as The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Time, Newsweek and others; television shows such as Entertainment Tonight and from contributors on the net, including Skip Shaytovich, Chip Cataldo, Galandro (keeper of the rec.arts.sf.starwars FAQ) and many others. Any answer that is either speculative or from any source that is not either print media or television will be noted by an asterisk (*) ****IMPORTANT**** While I'm very keen that as many Star Wars fans as possible see this, and know this information, I'd appreciate it if you do not post this FAQ anywhere without asking me first. If you ask me, I will most undoubtedly say yes, but I'd just like to know where the FAQ is being posted. And please keep my name attached to this FAQ. I'm not interested in fame and fortune (well, actually I am...just not with this FAQ..;) But, I have put quite a bit of time into compiling this. A list of places this FAQ may be posted follows. If you see this FAQ someplace that is not on the list before, please e-mail me (asood@pomona.claremont.edu) Thanks, Aditya Sood This FAQ may be posted on: Rec.arts.sf.starwars Rec.arts.movies Rec.arts.sf.movies Rec.answers The Prism BBS Changes from previous versions: Version 1.0 (2/14/94): Version 1.0.1 (2/15/94): Added question 11a: Has John Williams retired? Appended questions 1, 4, 5, 8 Version 1.1 (2/22/94): Appended questions 5, 12, 13, 99 Added question#16: Will 20th Century Fox distribute the new films? Version 1.2 (3/7/94) Appended questions 1, 1a, 8, 11a, 13, 16, 99 Version 1.3 (4/6/94) Appended questions 5, 11a, 12, 12b, 14, 99 Version 1.4 (5/1/94) Appended questions 4 Added question 17: Was there a "Clone Wars" trailer before "The Paper"? Questions: 1. Is George Lucas gonna make any more Star Wars films? 1a. When are they coming? 2. Are these gonna be sequels? 2a. What's a prequel? 3. I just read three books by Timothy Zahn, are these the new movies? 4. So, will [insert my favorite character] be in the films? 5. What are the new movies gonna be about? 6. What are the titles of the new movies? 7. Who is in the new movies? 7a. I heard that Macauley Culkin would play Luke as a child, is that true? 7b. I heard that Mark Hamill would play Anakin Skywalker, true? 8. Who is directing the new movies? 9. What are the Clone Wars? 10. I have a script called "Fall of the Republic", is that the new Star Wars movie? 11. Is John Williams going to do the music? 11a. I heard that John Williams retired, is that true? 12. I heard John Williams is dead, is that true? 12a. I heard Alec Guinness is dead, is that true? 12b. I heard Frank Oz is dead, is that true? 13. Are there gonna be any Star Wars toys from the new films? 14. What is Luke and Leia's mother's name anyway? 15. What about the trilogy after Return of the Jedi? 16. Will 20th Century Fox distribute the new films? 17. Was there a "Clone Wars" trailer before "The Paper"? 99. I know this isn't Star Wars, but I heard that there will be a new Indiana Jones movie, is that true? A word of warning. Most of these questions don't have answers just yet. So please be patient. And if you have any answers or questions that you would like to add, please send mail to me at "asood@pomona.claremont.edu" Also, while I am very keen that this FAQ is seen by as many Star Wars fans as possible, please ask me before you post this FAQ to any other mailing lists. I have spent quite a bit of time on this list, and would appreciate my name remaining attached to it. Thanks. Thanks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Questions: 1. Is George Lucas gonna do any more Star Wars movies. Answer: Yes, he is! This has been confirmed in print in the October 4th, 1993 issue of Variety, as well as a number of other sources including George Lucas himself in an interview with Leonard Maltin on Entertainment Tonight, back in November 1993. LucasArts says that the first film will go into production "in about a year." 1a. When are they coming? Answer (*): It appears now that the first film will be released in 1996 or 1997 According to LucasArts, the 1997 figure is correct. They also said that the other films would "be released within a five year period after 1996." The old theory was that the first film will be released in 1997, the twentieth anniversary of the original Star Wars. For those of you who worry about dates, I figure that, in keeping with the pattern of releasing Star Wars films on the Wednesday before the Memorial Day weekend, the first film should be released either on May 22nd, 1996 (752 days away, at the time of this writing) or on May 21st, 1997. (1,116 days.) 2. Are they going to be sequels? Answer: No, these new movies PRECEDE the trilogy that we've seen (Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.) According to George Lucas, the first film takes place 40 (forty) years before Star Wars: A New Hope. 2a. What's a "pre-quel"? Answer: A pre-quel is the opposite of a sequel, it predates the film that it comes after. An example of a prequel is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which while it was made three years after Raiders of the Lost Ark, actually takes place a year before. 3. I just read three books by Timothy Zahn, are these the new movies? Answer: No. Not only are they obviously not the new movies (I-III), they are not Episodes VII-IX either. They are merely a "continuation of the Star Wars universe", and George Lucas reserves all rights to blow away anything that Zahn says in any of Lucas's future work. 4. So will [insert my favorite character] be in the films? Answer: Probably not, unless your favorite character is Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, The Emperor, R2-D2 or C-3PO, as they are the only characters that could reasonably be in the new trilogy. (Mon Mothma could be in the new films, but I have yet to meet someone whose favorite character is Mon Mothma.) There is a speculative rumor that Boba Fett has some sort of importance in the new films, but that is unconfirmed. Assassin droid IG-88 will play a role in the new movies. 5. What are the new movies gonna be about? Answer: Good question. Lucas has said that the movies will focus on Obi-Wan Kenobi, as the original trilogy focused on Luke Skywalker. Other than that, there is no definitive answer, but the most obvious topics would be: The Clone Wars, The Rise of the Emperor, The Fall of the Republic, The relationship of Anakin and his wife and the events that lead to Anakin Skywalker's conversion to the Dark Side of the Force (and how he becomes Darth Vader.) Another rumored subject is the enslavement of the Wookies by the Empire. Chip Cataldo has said that his source tells him that the films will "feature the Millennium Falcon, Wookies, IG-88, IG-72, IG-55, IG-30, and IG-4 and The Mandalorian Shock Force of 100,000 soldiers." The Mandalorian Troopers, apparently have the same armor as Boba Fett. 6. What are the titles of the new movies? Answer (*): Again, no one knows for sure. There have been rumors that the first film would be named "The Clone Wars" or "Enter the Dark Lord". The third film has rumored to be called either "Fall of the Republic" or "Battle for the Republic." 7. Who is in the new movies? Answer (*): Once more, nothing has been announced. People seem to be in agreement that, like the original films, Lucas will go with mostly un- or little-known actors. I think it's probably safe to assume that Frank Oz will reprise his role as Yoda, and that James Earl Jones would lend his voice to Darth Vader again. Other than that nothing is known. 7a. I heard that Macauley Culkin would play Luke as a child, is that true? Answer (*): While again, nothing is known, this is highly (thankfully) doubtful. 7b. I heard that Mark Hamill would play Anakin Skywalker, true? Answer (*): Again, not confirmed, but doubtful. (He certainly doesn't look right for the role.) 8. Who is directing the new movies? Answer: George Lucas seems to have completely changes his tune on directing the new films. He has said that he is completely open to directors, _including himself_. George Lucas has not directed a film since the original Star Wars, but he has said that he may direct one or two of the films. The only confirmed person that has actually been approached is Rocketeer director Joe Johnston. He used to work at ILM until about 1989. (He is listed in the Star Wars credits as Joseph Johnston.) A certain Video Game Magazine seems to perpetuate the rumor that John Woo is going to direct the films, but this seems ludicrous. (This same magazine also printed a story saying that a new Star Wars movie would be out in the summer of 1994, so you can take their word at face value.) Steven Spielberg has said, on record, that he feels that Star Wars is George's baby. (After all, would Spielberg get Lucas to direct E.T. 2 ?) 9. What are the Clone Wars? Answer (*): The Clone Wars seem to be a war between the Jedi and some unknown enemy. Some people claim that this enemy is a huge contingent of "Mandalorian Shock Troopers", who wear armor like Boba Fett. The source of this rumor, however is unknown. The only sure thing is that Obi-Wan Kenobi served under Bail Organa (Leia's adoptive father.) 10. I have a script called "Fall of the Republic", is that the new Star Wars movie? Answer: Quite simply, no. Lucasfilm dismisses this treatment by "John Flynn" to be nothing more than fan-fiction. 11. Is John Williams going to do the music? Answer: Probably. Someone told me that he had spoken to Williams, and that Williams had expressed interest to Lucas in doing the music for the new trilogy. 11a. I heard that John Williams retired, is that true? Answer: John Williams retired as the conductor of the Boston Pops orchestra, a position he had held since 1980. He is still writing film scores. (Jurassic Park and Schindler's List). One of the reasons he said that he retired was so that he could write MORE film scores than he had been able to do in the past (he averaged about two a year.) He has, however remained as a "consultant" with the Boston Pops this year, as they are trying to find a new conductor. 12. But, I heard John Williams is dead, is that true? Answer: No. He is not dead. I should know, I saw him conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic on Saturday, February 19th 1994, and 1 BILLION people saw him pick up his Oscar for Schindler's List. 12a.I heard that Alec Guinness is dead, is that true? Answer: No, he's not dead. (In his own words "Oh, he's not dead. Not yet.") 12b.I heard that Frank Oz is dead, is that true? Answer: No. He is still very alive, and is in pre-production as the director on the sequel to "Terms of Endearment" entitled "The Evening Star" at Paramount. Shirley MacLaine stars. He has also recently signed a 2-year producing/directing deal with Disney. 13. Are there gonna be any Star Wars toys from the new films? Answer: Yes. In fact, according to Chip Cataldo, Kenner, who is producing the new figures from the original movies, may or may not make the toys through the new films. 14. What is Luke and Leia's mother's name anyway? Answer (*): We don't know. The pseudo-treatment Fall of the Republic would have you believe that her name is "Lady Arcadia Skywalker". Lucas, himself, referred to her only as "Mrs. Anakin Skywalker" in his interview with Leonard Maltin, so perhaps it's either a secret, or he hasn't thought of a name yet. Or else, it may be crucial to the plot that we don't know! 15. What about the trilogy after Return of the Jedi? Answer: Conventional Wisdom tells us that these films will not be made (if ever) for a long time. (My personal take on the VII-IX trilogy is that Lucas will eventually do it, because of the way he was discussing the nonology on Entertainment Tonight.) 16. Will 20th Century Fox distribute the new films? Answer: The March 7th issue of Variety has said that all of the major studios are lining up for the rights to release the new films. Fox no longer has the right of first refusal on Star Wars sequels (they lost this, when the Studio was sold to Rupert Murdoch in the mid-1980's). According to Variety, Universal and Warner Bros. are looking like the front runners for the new films. The Star Wars films will be independently financed by Lucas himself, and distributed by the Studio. Lucas will meet with 20th Century Fox soon, and Peter Chernin, 20th Century Fox studio chief, has said that he would work very hard to "keep the crown jewel at the studio." 17. Was there a "Clone Wars" trailer before "The Paper"? Answer: No, this was a rumor started by someone on America On-Line, in an effort to drum up support for some video production of his. I saw The Paper, and there was no such trailer. No one else that I know ever saw this trailer. Besides, it would make absolutely no sense to have a trailer for a film that will not be completed for at least two or three years. 99. I know this isn't Star Wars, but I heard that there will be a new Indiana Jones movie, is that true? Answer: Yes, according to Lucasfilm, this project is "definitely happening" and will start production within "six to eight months." However, Steven Spielberg has recently said that he was going to take a year off from directing to spend with his family. Therefore, the new film will be out Christmas 1995 at the earliest, and possibly Summer 1996. According to the Sunday, February 20th Los Angeles Times, production on the film, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford, will take place next year. The film is being written by "The Fugitive" scribe Jeb Stuart. No details on plot, title, or cast other than Ford are known. However, Denholm Elliot, who played Marcus Brody in the first and third Indiana Jones films tragically passed away last year. In addition, an Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland is currently under construction. Called "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye", this attraction will be on the cutting edge of ride technology. Guests will board a jeep/simulator and travel along one of three possible adventures. The Temple is scheduled to open in February, 1995. ------------------------------------------------------------------------