More From Mark Hamill on 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

ComingSoon.net and E! caught up with Mark Hamill last night at the LA premiere of his new film Sushi Girl, and it goes without saying that an update regarding Star Wars: Episode VII was on the hot topic list.

He doesn't appear to know much about any of the latest developments, or may just be keeping things to himself, but an update is nonetheless an update.

"We have questions about it," Hamill told E! about the next wave of Star Wars films under the new Disney banner, and presumably speaking on behalf of himself and Carrie Fisher, who also met with George Lucas last summer.

"I don't have any information that isn't already out there. And I'm in a place where sometimes I forget what's classified and what's not," Hamill told Comingsoon.net at the same premiere. "I said to my son – because my son is really the Star Wars fanatic in my family, of my three kids – I said, 'How come you know more about Star Wars than me or even Lucasfilm?' He goes, 'Well, Dad, I go to StarWars.com.' He knew about the new writer, Michael Arndt, before I knew about that," he revealed.

As far as exactly what he knows, Hamill isn't admitting to much according to Comingsoon's interview.

"I'm not holding out on you. I just know that nothing's been decided, whether we're in or out. I was surprised at how George announced it, because he told me about this last summer. Not about Disney, but just that they decided after all these years that they were gonna go do VII, VIII, and IX. We were just shocked. But it's so in the early stages… I thought he announced too early. I don't know what the timing was in terms of the Disney deal. But we don't know what's going on really. And when we do, believe me, we'll let you know!"

He also told E! he wasn't sure of what is in store story-wise. "And really, they're not even at the stage where they're able to answer those questions because, as far as I know, is there a story yet?" he continued. Though to answer that question, Lucas has treatments written for an entire new trilogy, so there is story enough in place for announced Episode VII screenwriter Michael Arndt to polish up.

Even though all rumors point to Hamill returning as an elder Luke Skywalker for the planned 2015 sequel to Return of the Jedi, E! asked what he thought about the possibility of re-casting the Tatooine farmboy turned Jedi Knight. "If they were going to do a story where Luke was too young or too old for me to play, they would get an age appropriate actor," said the 61 year-old sci-fi icon. "There's so many good people."

"Until I know more about what they have in mind, I think it's better to let Lucasfilm make the announcements," he said.

SOURCE: Comingsoon.net, E! Online

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The Circle Is Complete, Carrie Fisher Wants In For Next 'Star Wars' Trilogy

So we've heard sorta rumblings from Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford regarding their reactions for a return in Star Wars: Episodes VII, VIII, and IX. Last in line to complete the SW Trinity reunion is Carrie Fisher.

OK, not to slight Chewbacca, C-3P0, and R2-D2 on this, but Peter Mayhew reprised his role as the iconic Wookie in Episode III, and Anthony Daniels has been actively portraying C-3P0 in various forms since 1977. Original Trilogy fans are ecstatic at the possibility of finally seeing Luke, Han, and Leia back on the big screen together thirty years after Return of the Jedi, wrinkles and all.

TMZ caught up with our Princess Leia at LAX (caught up with as in stuck a camera in her face), and let loose with their form of assault 'journalism.'  The good news for us is they went right for the Star Wars jugular.

When asked how she felt that Leia is now a Disney Princess, she answered, "Fantastic. Made my day."

As far her response to if she wants to appear in the new Star Wars movie, Episode VII, "Yes, sure. Wouldn't you?" That'a a big 'yes' in my book, knowing she is sworn to secrecy to whatever she knows so far.

Although Mark Hamill revealed to Entertaiment Weekly that he and Fisher met with George Lucas last summer, and the sequel trilogy was indeed discussed, this is the first we have heard from her regarding anything to do with the new films since Disney bought Lucasfilm last week.

Good work TMZ, journalistic integrity be damned.

SOURCE: TMZ

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Harrison Ford Reportedly Open To The Idea For Returning In New 'Star Wars' Trilogy

Entertainment Weekly scored an interview with Mark Hamill earlier this week, now the magazine has word that Harrison Ford is indeed in the loop and willing to appear in the next wave of Star Wars films set to take place after the events of 1983's Return of the Jedi.

“Harrison is open to the idea of doing the movie and he’s upbeat about it, all three of them are,” a highly placed source told the mag.

In reference to "all three of them," fans will be happy to know that is Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher. Hamill and Fisher met with George Lucas last summer where the director brought up his ideas regarding Star Wars: Episodes VII, VII and IX. 

However, Ford may stipulate in his contract that Han may meet his demise at some point. It's no secret that Solo was originally supposed to be killed off halfway through Return of The Jedi in early drafts of the film, something the actor was not opposed to.

“I thought he should have died in the last one to give it some bottom…George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys,” Ford said in an ABC interview from 2010.

“We had an outline and George changed everything in it,” former Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz told the LA Times in 2010. “Instead of bittersweet and poignant he wanted a euphoric ending with everybody happy. The original idea was that they would recover [the kidnapped] Han Solo in the early part of the story and that he would then die in the middle part of the film in a raid on an Imperial base. George then decided he didn’t want any of the principals killed. By that time there were really big toy sales and that was a reason.”

EW reports any further movement on the return of Han Solo still depends on securing the script and director for Episode VII, which is targeted for 2015. Though it wouldn't surprise me to learn down the road that if Harrison Ford indeed reprises the role, it was mainly to give Han the proper poignant death the character was denied in Return of the Jedi. 

Also on the Star Wars update news ticker, Collider reports that Matthew Vaughn is on the short list for the coveted director's chair. The Kick Ass and X-Men: First Class director recently and abruptly dropped out of helming First Class' sequel, X-Men: Days of Future Past.  While he is still producing that film, and has a track record of leaving projects, he does have a lot more time on his hands to be a solid contender. 

This is going to be a story with non-stop rumors, speculation, and updates in the next few months, as it has been since Disney bought Lucasfilm last week. Even though the first new film under the new Disney banner is three years away, the undertaking will require some major things to be set in stone by year's end. Stay tuned...

SOURCES: EW, Collider

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Mark Hamill Has Discussed New 'Star Wars' Trilogy With George Lucas and Carrie Fisher

Entertainment Weekly caught up with Mark Hamill for his thoughts on the new future of Star Wars as part of the Disney Empire. While he does not know much about the grand plans that lie ahead, what is extremely interesting (and encouraging) is his revelation that he and Carrie Fisher had lunch with George Lucas last summer and discussed  Episodes VII, VIII, and IX.

Here is what Hamill had to say regarding Lucasfilm's purchase by Disney on Monday:

"I had no idea that George was going to sell to Disney until I read it online like everybody else. He did tell us last summer about wanting to go on and do [Episodes] VII, VIII, and IX, and that [newly appointed Lucasfilm president] Kathleen Kennedy would be doing them. He seems to be in a really good place. He’s really happy. And that’s nice because I know that when we were making the movies, he was not a jolly guy on set. [Laughs] I always felt badly for him because he agonizes over details, and I’m sure after imagining it in his head for so many years, to see it realized — he’d look up and just hang his head and groan. Harrison [Ford], Carrie [Fisher], and I were always trying to cheer him up and joke him out of his doom and gloom. I missed his call yesterday, but I spoke to him maybe three weeks ago. But until we know more, it’s hard to make any comment other than congratulations to George."

Hamill reveals that Lucas has been mapping out the path for the third Star Wars trilogy for some time (besides the fact that detailed story treatments have been written),  and has discussed it with both him and his former co-star Carrie Fisher:

Yeah, last August, he asked Carrie and I to have lunch with him and we did. I thought he was going to talk about either his retirement or the Star Wars TV series that I’ve heard about — which I don’t think we were going to be involved in anyway, because that takes place between the prequels and the ones we were in and, if Luke were in them, he’d be anywhere from a toddler to a teenager so they’d get an age-appropriate actor — or the 3-D releases. So when he said, “We decided we’re going to do Episodes VII, VIII, and IX,” I was just gobsmacked. “What? Are you nuts?!” [Laughs] I can see both sides of it. Because in a way, there was a beginning, a middle, and an end and we all lived happily ever after and that’s the way it should be — and it’s great that people have fond memories, if they do have fond memories. But on the other hand, there’s this ravenous desire on the part of the true believers to have more and more and more material. It’s one of those things: people either just don’t care for it or are passionate about it. I guess that defines what cult movies are all about. We’ll see. I’m anxious to know what’s going on, but the main story [yesterday] was the sale to Disney. I have mixed feelings about that, but they haven’t done badly by Marvel and the Muppets and Pixar. It’s one of those big decisions that at first seems unusual but then the more you look at it, the more it makes sense."

Hamill doesn't have much to reveal about the newer films, and even though at the time he was sworn to secrecy, hopefully will have more to share in the coming months.

"Well, no, he was just talking about writers and the fact that he wouldn’t be directing. I guess he wanted us to know before everybody else knew. He said, “Now you can’t tell anybody!” [Laughs] Even now I’m nervous about saying anything. I just don’t know!"

SOURCE: Entertainment Weekly

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Mark Hamill Reacts To 'Star Wars: Episode VII' News

We can assume Mark Hamill's phone rang a few thousand times yesterday. So he took to his Twitter account to update fans on Luke Skywalker's possible return as the Jedi in Star Wars: Episode VII, the 2015 film announced yesterday by Disney (as millions of voices cried out in joy all across the world).

Even if it's a cameo as an elder Jedi Master, Hamill's inclusion as Luke Skywalker is a must for the next chapter in the Star Wars saga, which by all accounts will follow the events of 1983's Return of the Jedi. George Lucas has a third trilogy plotted out, and it would be disappointing to learn that after all this time he has no plans to reveal what happens to the last Jedi Knight years after the death of Darth Vader and the downfall of the Galactic Empire. Let's keep an optimistic outlook for Hamill's opportunity return in an Obi-Wan Kenobi-esque role, but it's not like Star Wars fans have not developed a tough skin for disappointment in the last decade or so.

Congratulations to George for today's mega-deal! Can't comment on Ep 7 before I have all the facts which are short supply right now-Patience
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) October 31, 2012

SOURCE: Mark Hamill Twitter Page

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Videos of Darth Vader Visiting Disneyland...

The ink on the contract has barely dried on yesterday's big Lucasfilm purchase by the house of Mouse, and there is already video evidence of Darth Vader dancing through Disneyland. OK, these are not actually brand new videos, but commercials for Star Tours, which has been a co-production between Lucasfilm and Disney running in the theme parks for years. The original spot has been updated to reflect the recent new Alliance.

But no better time than today to get them out there again...

SOURCE: Disney Parks

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Disney Buys Lucasfilm For $4.05 Billion... Sets 'Star Wars: Episode VII' For 2015

In a surprise announcement by Disney, the House Of Mouse acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 Billion, encompassing all of its properties, Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound. The deal also obviously includes the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Under the new regime, a slate of Star Wars features will be produced. "Star Wars Episode 7" has been announced, with a targeted 2015 release.

With the title "Episode 7," it is implied, if not assumed that the next film would take place chronologically after 1983's Return of The Jedi. Do you hear that Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford?? The prospect of Mark Hamill returning as an elder Luke Skywalker, by this time a Master Jedi Knight, is extremely exciting to any Star Wars fan. Lucas in fact revealed today he has story treatments for an entire new trilogy, now in development with Kathleen Kennedy serving as Executive Producer.

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas in today's press release.

"It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime," he said.

"I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."

With the general disappointment felt by fans regarding the Star Wars prequels, all written and dircted by George Lucas, the fact that he is now stepping aside and letting fresh blood to take the reigns of the franchise may very well be a great thing.

Cartoon Network's animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars is proof positive of the potential an off-shoot series can have when Lucas is not directly steering the ship. With Lucas now in a Creative Consultant role, having new writers and directors in the mix provides exciting potential for the future of the franchise for those of us who have been put off by the last three big screen installments.

"We are absolutely going to make Star Wars movies," said Kathleen Kennedy, co-chair of Lucasfilm, in a video interview.

"We are in the midst of the really fun part of the process which is we are sitting down with a couple of writers and we're starting to discuss ideas and we're starting to talk about what those stories might be," she said.

In the video below, Lucas explains his thoughts behind Star Wars' future with Disney, and reveals he already has story treatments for Episodes VII, VIII, and IX.

Disney also bought Marvel Entertainment in 2009 for $4 Billion, and is in charge of all the big screen Marvel Studios films, which includes The Avengers and all the upcoming Marvel Phase Two films, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy. So any initial fear of what Disney may do with Star Wars can be put at ease, they seem to be allowing the proper people to handle these properties.


Highlights from Disney's Press Release:

Burbank, CA and San Francisco, CA, October 30, 2012 – Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.

"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney's unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value." 

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products." 

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and "evergreen" Star Warsfranchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.

Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney's global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future. 

The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo. 

Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm's legendary Star Warsfranchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world's top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney's strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.

The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney's very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company's unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney's portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company's ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world's highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.

SOURCE: Disney

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THE INTERNET IS AWESOME - 'Star Wars' Covers 'Call Me Maybe'

This was inevitable... And self explanatory.

Enjoy.

Maybe.

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8mm Behind-The-Scenes Footage From 'Return of the Jedi' Hits The Web

Courtesy of filmmaker Jeff Broz, seven minutes of grainy silent behind-the-scenes footage from the 1982 set of Return of the Jedi have hit the web.

This footage was shot as the the film was going under the faux production name Blue Harvest in the Buttercup Valley, CA desert. We get some backstage looks at the battle on Jabba the Hutt's Sail Barge (which is built high above the ground) above the Sarlaac Pit.

In A Documentary By Jeff Broz, the filmmaker is right there shooting action on the set, so this is not paparazzi footage from the pre TMZ and CGI era of 1982. He titles his doc as shot in 'Sand-O-Vision' and captures most of the scenes for the sequence of Luke Skywalker's battle after escaping death by digestion by the monstrous living pit.

We get glimpses of Anthony Daniels out of his C-3P0 costume before shooting, Boba Fett being hoisted into the air from place to place, R2-D2 shooting Luke's lightsaber into the air, Mark Hamill fighting Jabba's guards, Carrie Fisher running around in her iconic metal slave girl bikini, and George Lucas is spotted as well.

Thanks to /Film for finding this gem of a look back at the film and getting the word out.

SOURCES: Jeff Broz, /Film

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