Lucas Report • The Live-Action Series • Showest 2008

[Ternian]

March 14 2008

SOURCES: (collider.com, comingsoon.net, ew.com, empireonline.com)

VIDEO: (collider.com)



LUCAS @ SHOWEST 2008

PRODUCTION

Lucas: "I'm just starting to work on the scripts now for the live-action TV series. And now I'm working on the scripts for the first year of the live-action show. Yeah, I'm going to 100 episodes no matter what. What we do in our TV series is we write the entire first year and finish it as a script. Then we start getting ready to shoot it, then we start casting, and then we do it. We know where the whole first year is before we even start to work on it. I mean, I can do that because I'm financing the whole thing."

"So I've got it pegged out for 100 episodes, and I know exactly what I'm going to do and how I'm going to do it and what the risks are. They're an hour. It's a regular live-action TV series — you know, Law & Order."

"The live action show probably won't start until 2010". (source: cs.net)

CHARACTERS

Lucas: "The live-action has nobody there, because it's after Episode III, so everybody's dead, basically, or hiding somewhere. You hear about the Emperor, just like you do in Episode IV, but it's mostly about a whole different world. I mean, there are a million stories in the big city — you've only seen one of them."

"Some of the characters from the features find their way in there, so it's not completely divorced. It's as if we just went down the street and told a different story."

"You know, we were doing, I don't know, 24, and now we're going to move down the street here and do The Wire. Same thing, it's just different people doing the same thing in the same city. Yeah, all the same rules, all the same places, all the same stuff, and a lot of the same species. So it's a familiar world, it's just that you're seeing a completely different side of it."

CANON

Lucas is also supervising all scripts for both series, since they are considered part of the official canon and must adhere to the existing mythology. (source: cs.net)



FROSTY @ COLLIDER's LIVE-ACTION SERIES REPORT

March 10 2008

source: Collider.com

Frosty @ Collider.com recently posted a report consisting of known information about the Live-Action Series. As the Non-Skywalker, Deadwood-style series has been stated by Lucas and McCallum in interviews since 2005.

The Collider.com report does contain new information in the form of the series being influenced by HBO's Sopranos, The Star Wars Underworld, and how the Live-Action Series fits into Star Wars Canon.

SUMMARY

• The Live-Action Series is Adult-Oriented & Clone Wars is Kid-Oriented.
• Live-Action Series & Clone Wars considered Star Wars Canon.
• Features Gangsters & Star Wars Underworld and maybe Crime Family.
• Live-Action Series is "Deadwood meets The Sopranos".
• HBO or Showtime considered as network home: Rated PG-13.

[Ayatollah Krispies]

So if I were to say exactly what I’ve heard and they changed it, I’d look like I didn’t know what I was talking about.

Oh, you mean like --

think Deadwood meets The Sopranos... The show is definitely PG-13.

Has this dumbass ever even seen Deadwood or The Sopranos? For one thing, neither one of them is remotely PG-13. For another, the likelihood that the mind who gave us Jar Jar Binks will even come close to the level of sophistication and/or intensity for which those two shows were known is infinitely small. OTOH, maybe these comments were meant to be funny.

Star Wars is definitely no stranger to hype, but let's not get stupid.

[Biggs]

This thing is going to be marketed ala Lost/Heroes and anyone that thinks differently is smoking something that needs to be passed around you don't need to be giving some skywalker ranch art-directors daughter the bean flick to get that kinda "inside scoop" it's just obvious!

[darthpsychotic]

There is nothing new in Frosty's Collider.com story I'm sorry to say, except for the Sopranos Underworld and "canon" information. McCallum stated in a few interviews that the series may be influenced by HBO's Deadwood series last fall.

http://www.scificentral.tv
http://www.aethercreations.com.au/dj/star_wars.php

[hr]
scificentral.tv: “Is there a desire to save Vader only for the film saga?”

mccallum: “Ah. We have a thing called sweeps in American television, sweeps weeks, when you really have to pump up your show. That would probably be the most opportune moment to bring Vader in for a guest appearance but right now NO. There is the presence of Vader and the presence of Palpatine but this is a whole other saga that’s happening around the galaxy.”


scificentral.tv ending interview comments: So there you have it. Although the answer is no for now, it seems that they are open to a guest appearance if needed, but it appears that they have faith in their new Bounty Hunter characters to carry not just one but possibly three separate television series. Rick also mentioned that the shows would be very dark--like Deadwood but without the heavy language.

[hr]

We already knew since 2005 when both television series were already announced that the Live-Action Series would not be about the Skywalker story and instead focus on background characters: Bounty Hunters, X-Wing Pilots, and TIE-Fighter Pilots.

Futhermore, HBO and Showtime have long been floated as homes for the Live-Action Series. However since The Clone Wars is going to be shown on both Cartoon Network and TNT (presumabley in HI-DEF) one can assume that the Live-Action Series could end on on a Turner channel also.

[DoubleSith]

So if I were to say exactly what I’ve heard and they changed it, I’d look like I didn’t know what I was talking about. Therefore I’ll wait a bit longer.

This dude doesn't know shit.

[Treadwell]

I'm also told there is a difference between the animated show and the live-action one.

Wow. I sometimes wish my finger was on the pulse too.

The seasons for the live action show might be as short as 12 episodes… again… think Sopranos.

There he goes again. Damn, that's so clever. 12 episodes would make it a series Sopranos was also a series, made up of episodes therefore this live action Star Wars thingy is going to be just like the Sopranos!

It's so obvious when you put it like that. Don't confuse it with Fawlty Towers, which ran for just 12 episodes, oh no, this is going to be just like the Sopranos, which ran for 13 or 21 episodes.

Think Deadwood meets The Sopranos

I'm trying my best to... *screws eyes up very tight and tries to imagine*

Tony: "What the fuck are you supposed be dressed as?"
Al: "No, what the fuck are you wearing, you cockksucker?!"

Tony: "What is this, a fucking fancy dress party? What's with the fucking Garth Brooks fucking outfit?"

*BLAM - an orgy of gunfire, everyone dies, either from bullet wounds or vereneal diseases*

I'm still not getting it... *Tries even harder*

Jabba: “Ta chutta da boonta lunka, poodoomuncha?

Generic figure from the ‘Galactic Underbelly’: “No, why are you wearing a polo shirt and slacks, you shit-eater? You're a big fat slug - you don't even wear clothes!”

Jabba: “Boska tosca toca mocha cheeba, poodoo poodoo!”

Generic figure from the ‘Galactic Underbelly’: “I wear a hat, waistcoat and six-guns because I am a cool bounty hunter, you ballbag!”

*BLAM - Jabba dies in an orgy of laserfire and sitting around being unable to move*

Right, yeah, I get it now.

[Cryostar]

Ok, come on guys, he says:

trust me, I’ve heard some things

We should all just trust him.

But let me tell you, as I type this thing, I have heard some new things and trust me I hear things all the time (TV, Computer fans, kids, demonic voices, the porn in the background), and I've heard if this show goes well the spin off is going to be a mixture of Huff, meets the Tudors and American Idol.

Want to know more? Me too, but I'm fresh out of acid, and my dealer isn't picking up the phone.

[Evil_Elvis]

empireonline.com story.asp?NID+22195

[hr]
George Lucas Talks Live Action series:

George Lucas was in Las Vegas this week, not for the loose women and fibreglass recreations of famous landmarks, but to bang the drum for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the upcoming animated film and TV series.

We also asked him about the current state of play on the long-planned live-action show, set to expand the Star Wars universe further. He was evasive on details, but he would say:

"The live action show doesn't have any of the characters from the movies. It takes place at the same time, between episodes three and four, but it doesn't have anything to do with the Skywalkers. You kind of hear about the Emperor, and it takes place in that world, but it's like you have the TV show 24 and the TV show The Wire; they're in the same place but they're two completely different things."

When we tried to push him on characters, he'd only say: "Well, we're still writing it, so I can't give anything away."

But, we like the fact that he's mentioning 24 and The Wire in the same breath. Clearly, he didn't mean to suggest that this show will be similar in tone to those shows – it was just an example – but we'd definitely watch a show about a lightsaber wielding dude on the edge dishing out cranky justice to terrorists and drug dealers.

[hr]

[Topeka]

24 & The Wire vs. Deadwood & The Sopranos.

[marq=right]:chewbacca:[/marq]

[darthpsychotic]

[hr]
moviesblog.mtv.com /star-wars-live-action-show-to-reveal-galaxys-greasy-seamy-underbelly/

Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 1:52 pm.

‘Star Wars’ Live-Action Show To Reveal Galaxy’s ‘Greasy, Seamy Underbelly’

If you thought the cantina in Mos Eisley was a “wretched hive of scum and villainy,” well you’d better be cautious because an upcoming journey back to the “Star Wars” universe is going to reveal the “greasy, seamy underbelly of ‘Star Wars.’”

That’s what Steve Sansweet, Lucasfilm’s Director of Fan Relations, revealed to MTV News at New York’s Comic Con yesterday about the much anticipated live-action “Star Wars” TV show in development. Confirming that the show will “involve some characters we know” along with new creations, Sansweet said the show would be “of epic scale.”

As for how Lucas and company are going to approach such a massive undertaking he said “it will take advantage of everything George has learned about digital.” I guess that means it will at least look a little better than that that “Star Wars Holiday Special.”

Sansweet said the initial writers of the show have been selected and “they’ve had their first couple sessions working with George and [producer] Rick [McCallum].” So when can we expect all of this? “We’ll see it in production probably sometime in 2009. Hopefully the series will be on by 2010,” said Sansweet.

[hr]



In addition to Lucas saying at the recent ShoWest 2008: "The live action show probably won't start until 2010" - Sansweet at the NYCC2008 is now saying "hopefully 2010" for the Live-Action Series.

[Raveers]

That's fucking lame they're waiting until then to start it. Which means it will probably get another delay then...

[DoubleSith]

Well, remember that the WGA strike delayed the conceptualizing/screenwriting phase by months.

[Mr J in the UK]

A “Star Wars” series that’s “greasy” and “seamy?” I guess that means there won’t be too many Ewoks dancing around. How does that sit with you, fellow “Stars Wars” fans?

That sits nicely next to me on a park bench, I like. Not too greasy though, don’t want him going all John Travolta on me.

[Gonzo]

How does that sit with you, fellow “Stars Wars” fans?

The used universe is a nice concept and I like watching the beacons of light amidst all the rubble. I really like the contrast between all those scruffy heck holes and clear, clean palaces - however, I don't think that either one should have dominion over the other. For me it doesn't work, at least.

[Biggs]

Don't get my wrong, I'm really looking forward to this TV-venture but the more they talk about this, the more this is sounding EXACTLY what Firefly was?

[Cryostar]

The flannel one jealous of someone creating a scifi cult without him?

[VT-16]

Didn't SW pretty much start the "used universe" aesthetics trend in sci-fi cinema?

[foxbatkllr]

The flannel one jealous of someone creating a scifi cult without him?

Yeah not quite. Firefly is a "cult" that is largely irrelevant to the masses. Star Wars is a global phenomenon. I definitely don't see a reason for Lucas to be jealous especially since he was doing the space cowboy/used universe thing long before firefly.

[corellian77]

Didn't SW pretty much start the "used universe" aesthetics trend in sci-fi cinema?

I believe I remember Ridley Scott saying that he was inspired to do Alien (a film well-known for its used universe look) only after he had seen Star Wars.

[Gonzo]

I think it was GL who simply put that thing in a more visible use. It's been out there since the beginning of sci-fi, in a form or another, I'd wager.