First off, I was all set to talk about Hurricane Sandy (hope everyone is safe) and then Disney went and dropped $4 million big ones on Lucasfilm, aka the home of Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Willow. (Yes, Disney owns WIllow. Is there anything they don't own??) As your resident geek, it's safe to say I need to address this news.
Along with this announcement comes the news that Disney is planning to release a new Star Wars trilogy that will take place after Return of the Jedi, starting with "Star Wars Episode VII" in 2015. And the best part that has fans all in a tizzy? George Lucas will only be involved in a consultant capacity.
While some fans are freaking out over the Mouse House ruining their childhood memories, it's important to remember that Lucas himself already ruined them with the prequels. Here's why Disney could be the best thing to happen to Star Wars in a long time ago and a galaxy far, far away.
George Lucas won't write or direct - Well, he's supposedly written treatments for the next three episodes, but the scripting (the dialogue, plot) and directing will be in someone else's hands. Already fans are dreaming of Joss Whedon, JJ Abrams, Guillermo Del Toro, Ridley Scott, Looper director Rian Johnson, heck, anyone except Lucas behind the camera. As long as Disney keeps Michael Bay away from it, the new trilogy will be in better hands.
We might finally get the original trilogy on DVD/Blu-ray - The holy grail for all Star Wars fans is a copy of the original trilogy without all the Special Edition nonsense that Lucas insisted on adding. Since Lucas basically hates fans, he refuses to acknowledge that the original films ever existed without his CGI Jabba the Hut and all the other unnecessary stuff that was added. The recent Blu-ray release of Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi contains ONLY the Special Edition versions. Interestingly enough, many fans have speculated that Lucas' hatred of the original trilogy stems from his ex-wife Marcia Lucas' work on the films as an editor. Rumor has it Lucas went back and changed things that Marcia did once they split up. Perhaps Lucas needs to read GuySpeak and get over his issues with his ex. But with Disney in charge, we might finally get the un-tinkered with original trilogy on Blu-ray that we all grew up with.
Star Wars meets Pixar?? - Yes, Yoda and Buzz Lightyear are now under the same home. While The Clone Wars cartoon is fine, the mind boggles at the possibility of a Star Wars/Pixar collaboration. Preferably one directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles).
No more Jar Jar Binks - Without Lucas behind the wheel, there's hope that we've seen the last of Jar Jar, Watto, young Anakin, the Trade Federation and everything else that prequels unleashed on the world.
Marvel could make Star Wars comics - Dark Horse has been doing a solid job on Star Wars over the years and there's no reason to think they'll lose the license anytime soon. But eventually Disney will want Star Wars comics to be in-house, and who better to tackle them but the folks at Disney subsidiary Marvel Comics? There are a ton of Marvel artists and writers I'd love to see doing Star Wars comics. Also, Marvel did Star Wars comics back in the '70s when there was only one movie out and they were insane in a good way. Also, it gets us one step closer to a Spider-Man/Luke Skywalker battle.
What do you think? Are you excited about this fresh start for Star Wars? Will Mickey be wielding a lightsaber anytime soon?
RELATED LINKS
10 Signs a Geek Likes You
How to be friends with an ex
Along with this announcement comes the news that Disney is planning to release a new Star Wars trilogy that will take place after Return of the Jedi, starting with "Star Wars Episode VII" in 2015. And the best part that has fans all in a tizzy? George Lucas will only be involved in a consultant capacity.
While some fans are freaking out over the Mouse House ruining their childhood memories, it's important to remember that Lucas himself already ruined them with the prequels. Here's why Disney could be the best thing to happen to Star Wars in a long time ago and a galaxy far, far away.
George Lucas won't write or direct - Well, he's supposedly written treatments for the next three episodes, but the scripting (the dialogue, plot) and directing will be in someone else's hands. Already fans are dreaming of Joss Whedon, JJ Abrams, Guillermo Del Toro, Ridley Scott, Looper director Rian Johnson, heck, anyone except Lucas behind the camera. As long as Disney keeps Michael Bay away from it, the new trilogy will be in better hands.
We might finally get the original trilogy on DVD/Blu-ray - The holy grail for all Star Wars fans is a copy of the original trilogy without all the Special Edition nonsense that Lucas insisted on adding. Since Lucas basically hates fans, he refuses to acknowledge that the original films ever existed without his CGI Jabba the Hut and all the other unnecessary stuff that was added. The recent Blu-ray release of Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi contains ONLY the Special Edition versions. Interestingly enough, many fans have speculated that Lucas' hatred of the original trilogy stems from his ex-wife Marcia Lucas' work on the films as an editor. Rumor has it Lucas went back and changed things that Marcia did once they split up. Perhaps Lucas needs to read GuySpeak and get over his issues with his ex. But with Disney in charge, we might finally get the un-tinkered with original trilogy on Blu-ray that we all grew up with.
Star Wars meets Pixar?? - Yes, Yoda and Buzz Lightyear are now under the same home. While The Clone Wars cartoon is fine, the mind boggles at the possibility of a Star Wars/Pixar collaboration. Preferably one directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles).
No more Jar Jar Binks - Without Lucas behind the wheel, there's hope that we've seen the last of Jar Jar, Watto, young Anakin, the Trade Federation and everything else that prequels unleashed on the world.
Marvel could make Star Wars comics - Dark Horse has been doing a solid job on Star Wars over the years and there's no reason to think they'll lose the license anytime soon. But eventually Disney will want Star Wars comics to be in-house, and who better to tackle them but the folks at Disney subsidiary Marvel Comics? There are a ton of Marvel artists and writers I'd love to see doing Star Wars comics. Also, Marvel did Star Wars comics back in the '70s when there was only one movie out and they were insane in a good way. Also, it gets us one step closer to a Spider-Man/Luke Skywalker battle.
What do you think? Are you excited about this fresh start for Star Wars? Will Mickey be wielding a lightsaber anytime soon?
RELATED LINKS
10 Signs a Geek Likes You
How to be friends with an ex
I fully endorse anything that promises to remove Lucas from any major creative role in the Star Wars universe. Yes it was his to begin with, but the special editions/prequels have proven that even the original author can indeed write fanfic of his own work. Bad fanfic. How I miss the days when aliens were made of clever makeup/intricate muppets and Han shot first. Yes Disney could be just as bad for the SW unverse, but they're a capable company and at the very least a fresh set of hands.
My only qualm is that since they won't be following the story set out by the SW novels, those stories essentially have become non-canon. I haven't followed the novels for a very long time, and since it was multiple authors they could be quite convoluted at times, but it feels akin to when we lost Pluto. Maybe good in the long run, but still sad.
I hope they use the original actors. :D