McCallum Interview • Star Wars Television • Red Tails & Indiana Jones 2006

[pjvader]

March 14 2006

source: empireonline.com

EmpireOnline: The big news is that George Lucas has approved an Indiana Jones IV script and returned it to Spielberg for more polishing, and that the Star Wars TV show is a go as Rick McCallum attended last night’s Sony Ericsson Empire Awards.

He was there because Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was picking up Best Sci-Fi Film and Scene of the Year at last night’s Sony Ericsson Empire Awards, but he gave a few more tidbits on Lucasfilm’s next few projects.

First up, the Stars Wars TV series that we’ve been hearing about since Sith came out:



LIVE-ACTION SERIES & CLONE WARS CGI

Rick McCallum: “That’s not going to happen probably for another year and a half while we develop scripts and everything else.

It’s fantastic; we’ve got some incredible writers. It’s going to be much darker, much more character-based, and I think it’s going to be everything the fans always wanted the prequels to be. They’ll be one-hour episode. It takes place between Episodes III and IV.

It’s going to be all-new characters, maybe a few bounty hunters in there to start the series off.”


RED TAILS & INDIANA JONES

EmpireOnline: But where does this leave Lucas’s long-cherished World War II fighter pilots film Red Tails? Or for that matter, a certain Dr Jones?

Rick McCallum: “We’re working on Red Tails right now. George is writing the script as we speak. He’s just finished the Indiana Jones script, and Steven’s having that rewritten and a few things done. And then we start hopefully in October or November looking for another writer for Red Tails when George puts together his ideas of what he wants it to be. Then hopefully next year we’ll start on that.”


EmpireOnline: Red Tails and Indiana Jones IV and a Star Wars TV show all lined up and headed our way? Has Christmas come early? Let’s just hope that Spielberg gets sufficiently fired up over this latest script to give up on that year long holiday idea and make Indy IV already!

[Topeka]

It’s going to be much darker, much more character-based, and I think it’s going to be everything the fans always wanted the prequels to be.

I'm not bashing the prequels, but haven't we heard that before?

[darthpsychotic]

That’s not going to happen probably for another year and a half while we develop scripts and everything else. But it’s fantastic; we’ve got some incredible writers.

It’s going to be much darker, much more character-based, and I think it’s going to be everything the fans always wanted the prequels to be. They’ll be one-hour episode. It takes place between Episodes III and IV. It’s going to be all-new characters, maybe a few bounty hunters in there to start the series off.

The Lucas-made Red Tails comes off to me as Indiana Jones only with black characters... "Alabama Jones". Indiana Jones IV more like Temple of Doom II.


As for Star Wars Live Action TV... 100 hours of Star Wars. I can't wait for 2008.

[Hade]

It all reeks of disaster.

Red Tails? Can anyone imagine that script? Lucas dialogue will make this a sure winner.

Indy 4? F^#* me. Did anyone see Firewall? Harrison Ford looks like a cross between the Crypt Keeper and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons. And lose the fucking earring, you're 100!

Last Crusade came out in 89' 89!

I love Han and Indy as much as the next guy, but stop the maddness. For Heaven's sake, leave Indiana Jones alone.

And new characters for the TV series? How does that accomplish anything? The series should touch on the lives of all the characters we know...

I want to see some of Luke's experinces on the farm. I want to see Leia growing up on Alderaan. (i.e. Their contrasting lives) Bail's life as an Imperial Senator; having clandestine meetings with Mothma, secret and cool spy shit. Boba and other hunters tracking down Jedi, assassinating politicians for Palps, etc. I want to see Vader going from heartbroken guy with nowhere to turn to bitter, cold-hearted bastard we see entering the Tantive IV in ANH. Maybe young Han joining the Academy, freeing Chewie from slavery. Some Han and Chewie adventures, etc.

There is so much there already. We have all the characters we need. Just get some good writers. You take a LOST approach and devote two episodes per character per season. You get a nice mix of action, story...subplots.

The last thing we need is a whole group of new characters in the forefront and Lucasfilm trying to sell us on the idea that they are Star Wars.

I'm already having Jar Jar and Grievous nightmares.

[Stonegaijin]

It all reeks of disaster.
I'm already having Jar Jar and Grievous nightmares.

Grievous died in Ep3, these take place after Ep3, but I agree with you on the JarJar comment

[VT-16]

Lucasfilm trying to sell us on the idea that they are Star Wars.

I don't give a flying fuck if SW doesn't have any Skywalkers, just make a good story with good characters, dammit.

Wasn't Red Tails supposed to be more of a docu-drama than Indy Jones: Back in Black?

[Hade]

Grievous died in Ep3, these take place after Ep3,
but I agree with you on the JarJar comment

I should have been clearer.

What I meant was that I think it is stupid for him to create a whole bunch of new characters for us to try and care about when he has ample characters to choose from already.

Sure, they're will be new characters in the background and foreground of the series, but who needs a show entirely built around new characters? Why should we care?

Just because he slaps a Star Wars label on it, does it really make it Star Wars? Hell, just look at the joke that is 95%of the EU.

[Ayatollah Krispies]

What I meant was that I think it is stupid for him to create a whole bunch of new characters for us to try and care about when he has ample characters to choose from already.

Those characters were introduced into the story precisely when they needed to be introduced. I have no interest in seeing young Luke or young Leia, and definitely no interest whatsoever in seeing Han appear anywhere in the overall story before he shows up in Mos Eisley.

Besides, what actors would be accepted by the fans in these roles?

[Hade]

Well, if the show is supposed to fill in the large gap in years between Episodes III and IV, the gap should be filled by the life experiences of characters we know/care about (i.e. How they got to where they are in the OT).

Why would anyone give a fuck about new, probably pointless characters simply slapped with that trusty Star Wars label? I know I don't, but maybe I'm in the minority. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Star Wars is pretty much dead to me now.

Besides, what actors would be accepted by the fans in these roles?

You're definitely right about this.

[Darth Duster]

Well, if the show is supposed to fill in the large gap in years between Episodes III and IV, the gap should be filled by the life experiences of characters we know/care about (i.e. How they got to where they are in the OT).

Why would anyone give a fuck about new, probably pointless characters simply slapped with that trusty Star Wars label? I know I don't, but maybe I'm in the minority. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Star Wars is pretty much dead to me now.

Well, i see no need in filling the gap with the youth of the OT characters. It's more important to see how the Empire and the Rebellion came to the point we know them from Ep4. And that can be very well established with new characters.

If you don't care about new characters, most parts of the prequels must have been totally uninteresting for you...