JON FAVREAU TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE AND WRITE LIVE-ACTION STAR WARS SERIES. THE DIRECTOR OF IRON MAN AND THE JUNGLE BOOK WILL HELM THE SERIES FOR DISNEY’S NEW DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER PLATFORM.
Lucasfilm is excited to announce that Emmy-nominated producer and actor Jon Favreau has signed on to executive produce and write a live-action Star Wars series for Disney’s new direct-to-consumer platform. Favreau is no stranger to the Star Wars galaxy having played roles in both the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series and in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story.
“I couldn’t be more excited about Jon coming on board to produce and write for the new direct-to-consumer platform,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base.”
Favreau is thrilled to be returning to the Star Wars galaxy: “If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn’t have believed you. I can’t wait to embark upon this exciting adventure.”
Disney’s collaborations with Favreau extend back a decade, when he helped launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe as director of Iron Man and Iron Man 2 and as an executive producer of the Iron Man and Avengers films for Marvel Studios. For Disney, he directed and produced the massively successful The Jungle Book, which won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects. He is currently in production on Disney’s highly anticipated reimagining of The Lion King, set for release in 2019.
The untitled Star Wars live-action series does not yet have a release date.
GAME OF THRONES CREATORS DAVID BENIOFF AND D.B. WEISS TO WRITE AND PRODUCE A NEW SERIES OF STAR WARS FILMS
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are going from Winterfell to a galaxy far, far away.
It was announced today that Benioff and Weiss, creators of the smash-hit, Emmy Award-winning television series Game of Thrones, will write and produce a new series of Star Wars films.
These new films will be separate from both the episodic Skywalker saga and the recently-announced trilogy being developed by Rian Johnson, writer-director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
“David and Dan are some of the best storytellers working today,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. “Their command of complex characters, depth of story and richness of mythology will break new ground and boldly push Star Wars in ways I find incredibly exciting.”
“In the summer of 1977 we traveled to a galaxy far, far away, and we’ve been dreaming of it ever since,” Benioff and Weiss said in a joint statement. “We are honored by the opportunity, a little terrified by the responsibility, and so excited to get started as soon as the final season of Game of Thrones is complete.”
No release dates have been set for the new films, and there have (thankfully) been no sightings of White Walkers around Lucasfilm.
RIAN JOHNSON, WRITER-DIRECTOR OF STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, TO CREATE ALL-NEW STAR WARS TRILOGY
For director Rian Johnson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was just the beginning of his journey in a galaxy far, far away.
Lucasfilm is excited to announce that Johnson will create a brand-new Star Wars trilogy, the first of which he is also set to write and direct, with longtime collaborator Ram Bergman onboard to produce.
As writer-director of The Last Jedi, Johnson conceived and realized a powerful film of which Lucasfilm and Disney are immensely proud. In shepherding this new trilogy, which is separate from the episodic Skywalker saga, Johnson will introduce new characters from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored.
“We all loved working with Rian on The Last Jedi,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. “He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.”
“We had the time of our lives collaborating with Lucasfilm and Disney on The Last Jedi,” Johnson and Bergman said in a joint statement. “Star Wars is the greatest modern mythology and we feel very lucky to have contributed to it. We can’t wait to continue with this new series of films.”
Johnson’s upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi arrives in U.S. theaters on Dec. 15, 2017.
No release dates have been set for the new films, and no porgs were available for comment. [Reply]
Michael Waldron Reveals Exciting Approach to Star Wars Movie
Michael Waldron is about to take on one of the most dangerous, yet potentially rewarding tasks in Hollywood: writing a Star Wars movie.
The writer has earned an Emmy for his work on Rick & Morty, penned the upcoming Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, And is the head writer on Marvel’s new Loki series, and now he’s setting his sights on a Galaxy Far Far Away.
Michael Waldron Talks A Galaxy Far, Far Away
When questioned by GQ regarding his plans for the film, Waldron’s response should send fans flying high:
“I think the success of the MCU is, for all the amazing science-fiction and concepts and all that stuff; ultimately the success is built upon the characters, their humanity, their very relatable conflicts, friendships, and the family that is the MCU…. “And I think Star Wars, at its best, is a story about family. Han, Luke, and Leia were a family; you love seeing them together, and you hated it when they were split apart. It’s great characters. That’s nothing new. I am not going to blow anybody’s mind with that headline—but that’s my biggest takeaway.”
As is typical for an early stages Star Wars project, Waldron refrained from giving any specific details about what we can expect, but spoke highly about the collaborative spirts of Feige, Rick & Morty creator Dan Harmon, and Multiverse of Madness director Sam Raimi, stating:
“The thing Kevin Feige shares in common with Dan Harmon and with Sam Raimi is an absolute collaborative spirit and a remarkable lack of ego given what he’s accomplished.” “Kevin is a great listener. He wants to hear your ideas, take in how you might do something, and then help you make it better,” he continued. “Beyond all that, he’s just a cool guy.”
Tales of studio interference have become rather commonplace among blockbusters (especially Star Wars), but it sounds like Michael Waldron is steering his own ship and enjoying the collaborative process. While a release date and title are yet to be set, The Illuminerdi will keep you updated on Michael Waldron’s Star Wars project as it develops.
Nice. Rick and Morty has mostly been brilliant (a few really really odd), the first episode of Loki got knocked out of the park, and Dr. Strange 2 looks full of promise. Give someone like that autonomy in the Star Wars universe with a movie and see what they can do.
And Waldron has hit the triple/double for nerd dreamers everywhere, lol. [Reply]
Patty Jenkins’ ‘Star Wars: Rogue Squadron’ Taps Matthew Robinson to Write
After fleshing out the world that never lies in “The Invention of Lying” and the monster apocalypse in “Love and Monsters,” Matthew Robinson is penning the script for Patty Jenkins’ “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron,” which is currently scheduled to be released on Dec. 22, 2023.
While plot details are being kept under wraps, the film will loosely be based on the “X-wing” novels that were released by Bantam Spectra and Del Rey between 1996-2012. Jenkins’ film will usher in a new generation of X-wing pilots trying to earn their wings. Disney declined to comment on Robinson’s involvement.
Lucasfilm revealed that “Rogue Squadron” was in development during Disney’s investor day in December 2020. Jenkins, best known for directing “Wonder Woman” and its sequel, posted a video on Twitter where she revealed her fighter pilot father inspired her to join the project. “When he lost his life in service to this country, it ignited a desire in me to turn all of that tragedy and thrill into one day making the greatest fighter pilot movie of all-time,” she said in the video.
Robinson made his screenwriting debut in 2009 with “The Invention of Lying,” which he also co-directed with Ricky Gervais. He went on to write a slew of adventure blockbusters such as 2016’s “Monster Trucks,” 2019’s “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” and 2020’s “Love and Monsters.” He is also penning the screenplay to Doug Liman’s “Edge of Tomorrow” sequel as well as Greg Berlanti’s upcoming adaptation of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Robinson is repped by ICM Partners and 3 Arts Entertainment. [Reply]
I don't know how many of you guys are watching Bad Batch but last night's episode finally made the series relevant, which could have a major impact in the post-RotJ Star Wars lore, including the Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian and who knows what else.
It's a bummer that it took nine episodes to make watching it worthwhile, but I guess that's better than Resistance, which was awful from the start, so much so I stopped watching after 4 episodes.
For those of you not watching, I'll put the highlight in a spoiler tag.
Spoiler!
The child clone who's on the run with the Bad Batch isn't a kind of Jedi in hiding nor is she Force Sensitive: She is a 100% unaltered clone of Jango Fett, making her Boba's "sister".
The Kaminoans want her so that they can continue making clones for the Empire, which is why she's been chase by bounty hunters Fennec Shand and the old Clone Wars series baddie, Cad Bane.
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
I don't know how many of you guys are watching Bad Batch but last night's episode finally made the series relevant, which could have a major impact in the post-RotJ Star Wars lore, including the Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian and who knows what else.
It's a bummer that it took nine episodes to make watching it worthwhile, but I guess that's better than Resistance, which was awful from the start, so much so I stopped watching after 4 episodes.
For those of you not watching, I'll put the highlight in a spoiler tag.
Spoiler!
The child clone who's on the run with the Bad Batch isn't a kind of Jedi in hiding nor is she Force Sensitive: She is a 100% unaltered clone of Jango Fett, making her Boba's "sister".
The Kaminoans want her so that they can continue making clones for the Empire, which is why she's been chase by bounty hunters Fennec Shand and the old Clone Wars series baddie, Cad Bane.
I've enjoyed Bad Batch for what it's been to this point - mostly nostalgia. But you're right, that was a big reveal and makes the show relevant going forward with the lore. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
I've enjoyed Bad Batch for what it's been to this point - mostly nostalgia. But you're right, that was a big reveal and makes the show relevant going forward with the lore.
It's almost as if Bad Batch is a prequel to The Book of Boba Fett. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
I've enjoyed Bad Batch for what it's been to this point - mostly nostalgia. But you're right, that was a big reveal and makes the show relevant going forward with the lore.
What I really appreciate about Bad Batch is how nicely it's wrapping up The Clone Wars and expanding the lore.
They got really creative with it. It's just interesting to watch. I mean, meeting Captain Rex in a Republic cruiser graveyard? WOW.
And the abandoned cloning facility. Man, that could go anywhere. At first I thought it was going to be what eventually becomes Bespin. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
I don't know how many of you guys are watching Bad Batch but last night's episode finally made the series relevant, which could have a major impact in the post-RotJ Star Wars lore, including the Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian and who knows what else.
It's a bummer that it took nine episodes to make watching it worthwhile, but I guess that's better than Resistance, which was awful from the start, so much so I stopped watching after 4 episodes.
For those of you not watching, I'll put the highlight in a spoiler tag.
Spoiler!
The child clone who's on the run with the Bad Batch isn't a kind of Jedi in hiding nor is she Force Sensitive: She is a 100% unaltered clone of Jango Fett, making her Boba's "sister".
The Kaminoans want her so that they can continue making clones for the Empire, which is why she's been chase by bounty hunters Fennec Shand and the old Clone Wars series baddie, Cad Bane.
Can I watch just this episode without having to suffer through the rest? My son and I bailed after the first two. [Reply]
