"Before the Empire, before the Menace, there was The Acolyte."
We're now just two weeks away from the premiere of the latest Disney+ live-action Star Wars series, and Lucasfilm has debuted an exciting first clip from the show along with a new TV spot.
In the extended sneak peek, we find Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) engaged in fierce combat with Mae (Amandla Stenberg), his former apprentice.
Or at least, who he believes to be his former apprentice!
Possible spoilers follow.
Based on what we can gather from recent leaks and the character name subtitle in last week's TV spot, this is not actually Mae at all, but her sister. Rumor has it that Stenberg is playing a dual role as a pair of twins, one good and one evil (the titular Acolyte), with the former blamed for her sibling's sinister actions.
The teaser also features some new footage, including...
We're now just two weeks away from the premiere of the latest Disney+ live-action Star Wars series, and Lucasfilm has debuted an exciting first clip from the show along with a new TV spot.
In the extended sneak peek, we find Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) engaged in fierce combat with Mae (Amandla Stenberg), his former apprentice.
Or at least, who he believes to be his former apprentice!
Possible spoilers follow.
Based on what we can gather from recent leaks and the character name subtitle in last week's TV spot, this is not actually Mae at all, but her sister. Rumor has it that Stenberg is playing a dual role as a pair of twins, one good and one evil (the titular Acolyte), with the former blamed for her sibling's sinister actions.
The teaser also features some new footage, including...
- 5/22/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
George Lucas vetted several options before roping in Richard Marquand to helm Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. Some directors were not interested in directing Lucas’s epic space film, while the creator rejected a few others. One of the directors whom Lucas didn’t want for the film was the Basic Instinct director Paul Verhoeven.
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in a still from George Lucas’s Return of the Jedi | Lucasfilm Ltd.
While he was a director with a vision, Verhoeven was known for including graphic scenes depicting violence and s*xual content in his films. Lucas wasn’t impressed by these scenes in one of the director’s films and decided to look for another director.
George Lucas Didn’t Want Paul Verhoeven To Direct Return Of The Jedi
Paul Verhoeven on the sets of Elle | Sbs Productions
Paul Verhoeven worked in the Dutch...
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in a still from George Lucas’s Return of the Jedi | Lucasfilm Ltd.
While he was a director with a vision, Verhoeven was known for including graphic scenes depicting violence and s*xual content in his films. Lucas wasn’t impressed by these scenes in one of the director’s films and decided to look for another director.
George Lucas Didn’t Want Paul Verhoeven To Direct Return Of The Jedi
Paul Verhoeven on the sets of Elle | Sbs Productions
Paul Verhoeven worked in the Dutch...
- 5/22/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
The Star Wars franchise has introduced or featured many stars of today in pivotal roles. While actresses such as Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman gained worldwide fame for their roles in the prequel trilogy, one other actress who started out her Hollywood career was Insidious star Rose Byrne. The actress played a handmaiden in Attack of the Clones.
Though she was in the film for barely a few minutes, Byrne reportedly mentioned that she had a good time on set. She has since gone on to establish herself as a bankable actress with franchises such as X-Men and Insidious. However, she maintains that her most challenging role was her breakthrough film The Goddess of 1967.
Rose Byrne’s Preparation For The Goddess of 1967 Was More Extensive Than Any Rose Byrne in X-Men: First Class
Actress Rose Byrne is known for her roles in films such as Bridesmaids, Insidious, X-Men: First Class,...
Though she was in the film for barely a few minutes, Byrne reportedly mentioned that she had a good time on set. She has since gone on to establish herself as a bankable actress with franchises such as X-Men and Insidious. However, she maintains that her most challenging role was her breakthrough film The Goddess of 1967.
Rose Byrne’s Preparation For The Goddess of 1967 Was More Extensive Than Any Rose Byrne in X-Men: First Class
Actress Rose Byrne is known for her roles in films such as Bridesmaids, Insidious, X-Men: First Class,...
- 5/22/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Yoda became a significant pop culture icon after his debut in 1980’s Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. Despite the mysterious nature of the character, the audience became fascinated with it and he went on to be a significant figure among the fans.
Before the world got obsessed with Baby Yoda after the release of The Mandalorian, the Og Yoda got one of his most fan-favorite action sequences in the Prequel Trilogy. However, despite becoming a favorite, Yoda did not have an electrifying debut as an old Jedi Master in the Original Trilogy.
Yoda in Empire Strikes Back | Lucasfilm
It is reported that the Star Wars creator George Lucas always regretted how the fans never got a badass Yoda sequence due to the technical limitations in the Original Trilogy. But he made sure to deliver some of the most iconic Yoda sequences when he returned to the...
Before the world got obsessed with Baby Yoda after the release of The Mandalorian, the Og Yoda got one of his most fan-favorite action sequences in the Prequel Trilogy. However, despite becoming a favorite, Yoda did not have an electrifying debut as an old Jedi Master in the Original Trilogy.
Yoda in Empire Strikes Back | Lucasfilm
It is reported that the Star Wars creator George Lucas always regretted how the fans never got a badass Yoda sequence due to the technical limitations in the Original Trilogy. But he made sure to deliver some of the most iconic Yoda sequences when he returned to the...
- 5/22/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
After the Hays Code was finally dropped in the late ’60s, it allowed filmmakers to make films without any restrictions, which led to the rise of some of the greatest names in filmmaking. This included acclaimed filmmaker George Lucas, who rose to prominence following the success of American Graffiti, starring Harrison Ford, which hit the shelves in ’73.
But it was his next collaboration with Ford that would go on to change Hollywood forever, kickstarting one of the most iconic movie franchises of all time. However, making Star Wars: A New Hope was pretty taxing for the filmmaker, as the sci-fi juggernaut almost fumbled after Lucas underwent some medical issues.
George Lucas’s Medical Emergency Almost Halted Star Wars’ Production
George Lucas on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. (Credit: Lucasfilm)
With A New Hope George Lucas not only created one of the most influential sci-fi releases of all time,...
But it was his next collaboration with Ford that would go on to change Hollywood forever, kickstarting one of the most iconic movie franchises of all time. However, making Star Wars: A New Hope was pretty taxing for the filmmaker, as the sci-fi juggernaut almost fumbled after Lucas underwent some medical issues.
George Lucas’s Medical Emergency Almost Halted Star Wars’ Production
George Lucas on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. (Credit: Lucasfilm)
With A New Hope George Lucas not only created one of the most influential sci-fi releases of all time,...
- 5/22/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
The Mandalorian has provided a new avenue for Star Wars to tell expansive stories, with fans falling in love with the journey of Din Djarin and Grogu. The duo will be making the jump to the big screen with the upcoming film The Mandalorian & Grogu, which is expected to commence filming soon, and Pedro Pascal is expected to reprise his role from the live-action series.
Pedro Pascal’s The Mandalorian will expand Star Wars lore with a theatrical film (Image Credit: Disney+).
In the series, a large focus has been placed on the Mandalorians and their use of Beskar to counter the lightsabers. However, in the upcoming film, another anti-lightsaber weapon could be introduced similar to the Darksaber, which was a major plot point in the three seasons of the series. Here is it makes sense to include this weapon in The Mandalorian & Grogu.
The Mandalorian & Grogu...
Pedro Pascal’s The Mandalorian will expand Star Wars lore with a theatrical film (Image Credit: Disney+).
In the series, a large focus has been placed on the Mandalorians and their use of Beskar to counter the lightsabers. However, in the upcoming film, another anti-lightsaber weapon could be introduced similar to the Darksaber, which was a major plot point in the three seasons of the series. Here is it makes sense to include this weapon in The Mandalorian & Grogu.
The Mandalorian & Grogu...
- 5/22/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
The Star Wars franchise has been around for over four decades and continues to enjoy an iconic status in pop culture. However, despite grossing over $10 billion, the franchise has recently experienced a slump, especially due to the mixed reception of its recent entries, both on the big screen and streaming.
George Lucas launched the Star Wars franchise with the 1977 film (Image via Lucasfilm).
Meanwhile, director Matthew Vaughn, known for his work on the Kingsman franchise, has suggested a complete reboot of the Star Wars universe. Vaughn cited the Spider-Man series a template for his proposed reboot of the space opera franchise created by George Lucas. Here is what Vaughn had to say about the rebooting of Star Wars and why it makes sense.
Kingsman Director Matthew Vaughn Reveals His Condition to Make a Star Wars Movie
Matthew Vaughn wants to reboot the Star Wars franchise. (Image via Happy Sad Confused...
George Lucas launched the Star Wars franchise with the 1977 film (Image via Lucasfilm).
Meanwhile, director Matthew Vaughn, known for his work on the Kingsman franchise, has suggested a complete reboot of the Star Wars universe. Vaughn cited the Spider-Man series a template for his proposed reboot of the space opera franchise created by George Lucas. Here is what Vaughn had to say about the rebooting of Star Wars and why it makes sense.
Kingsman Director Matthew Vaughn Reveals His Condition to Make a Star Wars Movie
Matthew Vaughn wants to reboot the Star Wars franchise. (Image via Happy Sad Confused...
- 5/22/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Han Solo as a character looks like he was built to deliver one-liners. Harrison Ford brought the character to life with his signature charm, which didn’t miss a beat when he returned to play the character in The Force Awakens. The actor’s handling of the role, along with lines that he improvised, has not only become important for Star Wars history but have become important moments in cinema history too.
Billy Dee Williams and Harrison Ford from Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back | Lucasfilm
One of the most iconic scenes from Empire Strikes Back has Princess Leia Organa confessing her love for Han Solo, to which the character simply responds with ‘I know’. Held in pretty high regard by cinema enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike, this particular line of dialogue was improvised by Harrison Ford on the set of the film.
Suggested“That might be the...
Billy Dee Williams and Harrison Ford from Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back | Lucasfilm
One of the most iconic scenes from Empire Strikes Back has Princess Leia Organa confessing her love for Han Solo, to which the character simply responds with ‘I know’. Held in pretty high regard by cinema enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike, this particular line of dialogue was improvised by Harrison Ford on the set of the film.
Suggested“That might be the...
- 5/22/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
The Empire Strikes Back remains one of the most iconic films of all time and arguably the best Star Wars film. As a result, many fans might be surprised to learn that the film was shot simultaneously with another iconic horror film the Stanley Kubrick directed The Shining. However, the latter was responsible for adversely affecting The Empire Strikes Back.
The Empire Strikes Back shared studio space with The Shining (Image credit: Lucasfilm).
The Empire Strikes Back and The Shining were shot at the same studio, where they shared some studio space. However, after an unforeseen accident caused the decimation of the Kubrick film’s sets, George Lucas had to give up some of the studio space reserved for the production of his much-awaited Star Wars sequel. Here is how The Shining led to troubles for The Empire Strikes Back‘s production.
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining Messed Up George...
The Empire Strikes Back shared studio space with The Shining (Image credit: Lucasfilm).
The Empire Strikes Back and The Shining were shot at the same studio, where they shared some studio space. However, after an unforeseen accident caused the decimation of the Kubrick film’s sets, George Lucas had to give up some of the studio space reserved for the production of his much-awaited Star Wars sequel. Here is how The Shining led to troubles for The Empire Strikes Back‘s production.
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining Messed Up George...
- 5/22/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Star Wars: The Acolyte's Timeline Takes Us to Samurai-Like Era - Main Image
The upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte's timeline is breaking new ground for the franchise. The series will be set in a time that has never been explored in any of the live-action shows.
We have become accustomed to seeing the Star Wars live-action projects explore various stories set in familiar eras, starting from the Fall of the Jedi in the prequel trilogy to the Rise of the First Order in the sequel trilogy.
Now, for the first time, Star Wars is tackling the High Republic in live-action, an era that was only previously explored in novels and comics and has no connection to the Skywalker Saga.
Also Read: New The Acolyte Teaser Seemingly Spoils Major Plot Twist
When is The Acolyte Taking Place? Timeline Explained
The Acolyte will take place around 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace,...
The upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte's timeline is breaking new ground for the franchise. The series will be set in a time that has never been explored in any of the live-action shows.
We have become accustomed to seeing the Star Wars live-action projects explore various stories set in familiar eras, starting from the Fall of the Jedi in the prequel trilogy to the Rise of the First Order in the sequel trilogy.
Now, for the first time, Star Wars is tackling the High Republic in live-action, an era that was only previously explored in novels and comics and has no connection to the Skywalker Saga.
Also Read: New The Acolyte Teaser Seemingly Spoils Major Plot Twist
When is The Acolyte Taking Place? Timeline Explained
The Acolyte will take place around 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace,...
- 5/22/2024
- EpicStream
Documentary, basically an extended ‘audience with’, is less revealing than Star Trek devotees might wish but he’s a charismatic raconteur
He has lived long and prospered. Now 93 years old (though looking like a slip of a lad of 70), William Shatner shares his wit and wisdom in a new documentary that is basically an audience with the great man. Sitting alone in a huge darkened warehouse space, he rambles on uninterrupted. It’s perhaps less fun than you might have hoped for, though Shatner is undoubtedly charismatic, and a pretty decent raconteur. He’s often entertaining, if not always necessarily in the way he intended. Here he is on acting, explaining that if he could win any award it would be for “keeping my inner child alive”. He’s deadly serious, I think.
He speaks like this, with a spoofy quality that is very easy to poke fun at. But Shatner is not completely un-self-aware.
He has lived long and prospered. Now 93 years old (though looking like a slip of a lad of 70), William Shatner shares his wit and wisdom in a new documentary that is basically an audience with the great man. Sitting alone in a huge darkened warehouse space, he rambles on uninterrupted. It’s perhaps less fun than you might have hoped for, though Shatner is undoubtedly charismatic, and a pretty decent raconteur. He’s often entertaining, if not always necessarily in the way he intended. Here he is on acting, explaining that if he could win any award it would be for “keeping my inner child alive”. He’s deadly serious, I think.
He speaks like this, with a spoofy quality that is very easy to poke fun at. But Shatner is not completely un-self-aware.
- 5/22/2024
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
Few directors reach the sort of stardom where their names are thrown on billboards. A Nolan or a Tarantino or a Peele become brands in and of themselves, while the other 99% bubble quietly under the surface; reliable journeymen, gallantly plugging away at the nuts and bolts of what used to be the mid-budget feature scene. These are the filmmakers who not only set the pace, but who change the very language of a genre too, consistently firing out exciting, crowd-pleasing, attention-grabbing stuff, year after year, decade after decade. Creative puppet masters living behind the scenes; their movies aren’t as stylistically loud, but their generation-spanning oeuvres are just as (if not more) legendary.
Don Siegel, J. Lee Thompson, Mary Lambert, Renny Harlin, Jonathan Demme, Doug Liman, John Frankenheimer – even just picking a handful of names at random gives you a who’s-who of filmmakers responsible for some of the most...
Don Siegel, J. Lee Thompson, Mary Lambert, Renny Harlin, Jonathan Demme, Doug Liman, John Frankenheimer – even just picking a handful of names at random gives you a who’s-who of filmmakers responsible for some of the most...
- 5/22/2024
- by Ben Robins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Star Wars is now one of the biggest franchises of all time. Whether it is the movies, TV shows, toys, or comics, the franchise has now become a part of popular culture and will undeniably remain so, for decades to come. Yet, the first-ever Star Wars movie was plagued with development and production issues, so severe were these issues that George Lucas nearly had a heart attack.
George Lucas via Star Wars/Youtube
In the middle of these issues, Lucas decided to screen the rough cut of the movie to some of his industry colleagues. While auteurs like Steven Spielberg struggled to understand it, even the movie’s editor, Paul Hirsch was unable to make heads or tails out of it.
Star Wars‘ Rough Cut Was So Bad That Even its Editor Did Not Understand it
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope | Disney+
Almost every Star Wars fan knows...
George Lucas via Star Wars/Youtube
In the middle of these issues, Lucas decided to screen the rough cut of the movie to some of his industry colleagues. While auteurs like Steven Spielberg struggled to understand it, even the movie’s editor, Paul Hirsch was unable to make heads or tails out of it.
Star Wars‘ Rough Cut Was So Bad That Even its Editor Did Not Understand it
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope | Disney+
Almost every Star Wars fan knows...
- 5/22/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
Mike Figgis has been shooting a behind-the-scenes documentary for the past 18 months about the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. It’s called Megadoc.
Figgis told me Monday that it’s been edited but there’s allowance for the fact that the film played in competition here at the Cannes Film Festival. He recorded an interview with the cinema titan the other day.
Figgis, who was introduced into the Coppola clan back in the mid 1990s after directing Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, told me that the documentary is “very much a fly-on-the-wall” and also features conversations with various cast members — Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Dustin Hoffman, Shia Labeouf — and Coppola’s wife Eleanor Coppola, who shot the footage and directed her own study of her husband’s work for the acclaimed Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, about the making of 1979s Apocalypse Now.
He will go...
Figgis told me Monday that it’s been edited but there’s allowance for the fact that the film played in competition here at the Cannes Film Festival. He recorded an interview with the cinema titan the other day.
Figgis, who was introduced into the Coppola clan back in the mid 1990s after directing Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, told me that the documentary is “very much a fly-on-the-wall” and also features conversations with various cast members — Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Dustin Hoffman, Shia Labeouf — and Coppola’s wife Eleanor Coppola, who shot the footage and directed her own study of her husband’s work for the acclaimed Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, about the making of 1979s Apocalypse Now.
He will go...
- 5/21/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Fred Roos, casting director for landmark films such as “American Graffiti” and who went on to have a close relationship with Francis Ford Coppola, including producing best picture winner “Godfather Part II” and “Apocalypse Now,” died Saturday in Beverly Hills. He was 89.
Roos was both casting director and executive producer on Coppola’s most recent film “Megalopolis” which premiered last week at the Cannes Film Festival. Last year, Coppola posted a photo of Roos with Adam Driver on Instagram and thanked him for his work on the long-gestating epic.
Roos was instrumental in helping stars including Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Carrie Fisher and Richard Dreyfuss get their early notable roles.
His long collaboration with Coppola as producer or co-producer included “The Conversation,” “One From the Heart,” “The Outsiders,” “Rumble Fish,” “The Cotton Club,” “The Godfather Part III,” “Tetro,” “Youth Without Youth” and “Tucker: The Man and His Dream.”
Roos was not credited,...
Roos was both casting director and executive producer on Coppola’s most recent film “Megalopolis” which premiered last week at the Cannes Film Festival. Last year, Coppola posted a photo of Roos with Adam Driver on Instagram and thanked him for his work on the long-gestating epic.
Roos was instrumental in helping stars including Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Carrie Fisher and Richard Dreyfuss get their early notable roles.
His long collaboration with Coppola as producer or co-producer included “The Conversation,” “One From the Heart,” “The Outsiders,” “Rumble Fish,” “The Cotton Club,” “The Godfather Part III,” “Tetro,” “Youth Without Youth” and “Tucker: The Man and His Dream.”
Roos was not credited,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
The Star Wars franchise is known for its iconic characters, epic battles, and intricate storylines. But what if we told you that Tom Hanks and his son Colin Hanks almost had a place in that galaxy far, far away?
As the star-studded universe of Star Wars continues to draw in audiences through its galactic tales, isn’t it intriguing to imagine Tom Hanks, the embodiment of American cinema charm, donned the robes of Qui-Gon Jinn? Well, rumors have long circulated that the actor was considered for the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, before Liam Neeson eventually got the role.
Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump | The Tisch Company
And to add an even more interesting twist to the story, his son auditioned for the role of Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy.
Unveiling the Untold Story: Tom Hanks’ Near-Star Wars Role?
Did you know that before...
As the star-studded universe of Star Wars continues to draw in audiences through its galactic tales, isn’t it intriguing to imagine Tom Hanks, the embodiment of American cinema charm, donned the robes of Qui-Gon Jinn? Well, rumors have long circulated that the actor was considered for the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, before Liam Neeson eventually got the role.
Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump | The Tisch Company
And to add an even more interesting twist to the story, his son auditioned for the role of Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy.
Unveiling the Untold Story: Tom Hanks’ Near-Star Wars Role?
Did you know that before...
- 5/21/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
“Chances are you’ve never heard of Preston Thomas Tucker; dreamer, inventor, visionary — a man ahead of his time.”
Chances are you’ve never heard of the movie made about him either. Like the car he had created in his name, it came and went in nearly the same breath. And yet, also like the car, the film’s legacy and staying power lies in the strength of its parts, as well as the personal passion put into it by its maker, Francis Ford Coppola. In fact, it’s hard not to watch his 1988 film “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” and discern a link between Coppola and the film’s eponymous character. Played by a still boyish Jeff Bridges with a glint in his eye and a manic energy that veers between zealous enthusiasm and fevered paranoia, Tucker is a man entwined with his dreams. Much like Coppola, he is driven by family,...
Chances are you’ve never heard of the movie made about him either. Like the car he had created in his name, it came and went in nearly the same breath. And yet, also like the car, the film’s legacy and staying power lies in the strength of its parts, as well as the personal passion put into it by its maker, Francis Ford Coppola. In fact, it’s hard not to watch his 1988 film “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” and discern a link between Coppola and the film’s eponymous character. Played by a still boyish Jeff Bridges with a glint in his eye and a manic energy that veers between zealous enthusiasm and fevered paranoia, Tucker is a man entwined with his dreams. Much like Coppola, he is driven by family,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Hollywood gentleman Steven Spielberg’s prowess as a director is well known to the world. The director is now one of the richest celebrities of all time, but he once went through a phase where he could not even think of dating anyone. Thanks to his endurance, the world is blessed with a legendary filmmaker who has several astonishing titles to his credit.
Steven Spielberg. Credit: CBS News/YouTube
Spielberg’s movies inherently possess the crux of unique storytelling, and the director has provided several astonishing blockbusters, including his highest-grossing movies Jurassic Park, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. But before crafting his legacy and a whopping $8 billion fortune, the filmmaker was financially struggling.
Steven Spielberg Didn’t Have Enough Money To Go On A Date
Steven Spielberg. Credit: Elena Ternovaja/Wikimedia Commons.
Steven Spielberg is one of the two billionaire directors with...
Steven Spielberg. Credit: CBS News/YouTube
Spielberg’s movies inherently possess the crux of unique storytelling, and the director has provided several astonishing blockbusters, including his highest-grossing movies Jurassic Park, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. But before crafting his legacy and a whopping $8 billion fortune, the filmmaker was financially struggling.
Steven Spielberg Didn’t Have Enough Money To Go On A Date
Steven Spielberg. Credit: Elena Ternovaja/Wikimedia Commons.
Steven Spielberg is one of the two billionaire directors with...
- 5/21/2024
- by Lachit Roy
- FandomWire
The desert may grow cold at night, but for two intrepid adventurers and would-be fortune seekers, the evening is flush with excitement. Earlier in the day these heroes—rugged Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) and effervescent Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz)—seemed to make a breakthrough on their grave-robbing exploits after they literally broke through the ceiling of a tomb, discovering a juicy mummy along the way. A little later, they got in a shootout with desert nomads and bedouin, which nonchalantly left a body count well into the double digits. And yet, none of that really seemed to matter in the grand scheme of things, either to the characters or the audience watching them. Nay, the most thrilling thing about this portion of Stephen Sommers’ The Mummy is just how buzzed they, and by extension we, are getting from the shared company… plus the bottle of 15-year-old Scotch they just swiped off a corpse.
- 5/21/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
The first three Star Wars films are often cited as some of the best Hollywood movies of all time, while The Phantom Menace received far less glowing reviews. George Lucas reacted to the critical trashing, saying the reviews for The Phantom Menace were identical to those for the previous Star Wars films. Fans should not take him at his word.
George Lucas defended a controversial character from ‘The Phantom Menace’
During a 1999 interview with Empire Magazine, Lucas shrugged off the negative reviews of The Phantom Menace. “The critics pretty much hated the first three movies; they said the dialogue is bad, the acting’s wooden, no story, too many special effects, it’s a children’s film,” he said.
“That same review got moved to Empire Strikes Back, that same review got moved to Return of the Jedi, and that is the review that is getting reprinted now. You’d think that after a while,...
George Lucas defended a controversial character from ‘The Phantom Menace’
During a 1999 interview with Empire Magazine, Lucas shrugged off the negative reviews of The Phantom Menace. “The critics pretty much hated the first three movies; they said the dialogue is bad, the acting’s wooden, no story, too many special effects, it’s a children’s film,” he said.
“That same review got moved to Empire Strikes Back, that same review got moved to Return of the Jedi, and that is the review that is getting reprinted now. You’d think that after a while,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There was a time when Star Wars was innovative. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was the moment George Lucas allowed the series to become a shell of its former self. While some fans feel that time has been kind to the movie, it’s only gotten worse with age.
25 years later, 2 elements of ‘The Phantom Menace’ are inexcusable
The Phantom Menace is a boring movie about political shenanigans starring a bunch of characters who rarely emote and a large orange lizard named Jar Jar Binks. If it was one of the many science fiction films made in the direct aftermath of the original Star Wars, like Message from Space or The Black Hole, no one would defend it. Because the movie has the phrase “Star Wars” in its title, it will always have defenders.
The movie was always bad, but age has made it worse for two reasons.
25 years later, 2 elements of ‘The Phantom Menace’ are inexcusable
The Phantom Menace is a boring movie about political shenanigans starring a bunch of characters who rarely emote and a large orange lizard named Jar Jar Binks. If it was one of the many science fiction films made in the direct aftermath of the original Star Wars, like Message from Space or The Black Hole, no one would defend it. Because the movie has the phrase “Star Wars” in its title, it will always have defenders.
The movie was always bad, but age has made it worse for two reasons.
- 5/21/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Steven Spielberg has managed to make a fortune off of his contributions to cinema. But the acclaimed director felt he was better off not knowing how much money he accumulated over the years.
What Steven Spielberg wants to do with his money Steven Spielberg | Stewart Cook/Getty Images
Spielberg has become one of the richest figures in the entertainment industry, constantly topping lists like Forbes. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the director has a net worth of $8 billion and earns $150 million annually. Spielberg has spent his earnings on a few extravagant purchases. He’s owned expensive homes, including his massive Los Angeles compound equipped with its own vineyard.
Still, the filmmaker has always dedicated himself to investing his money in more altruistic endeavors. This included forming the Shoah Foundation, which aimed to further educate on the Holocaust through video footage from survivors, documents, and photographs. He’s also tried to...
What Steven Spielberg wants to do with his money Steven Spielberg | Stewart Cook/Getty Images
Spielberg has become one of the richest figures in the entertainment industry, constantly topping lists like Forbes. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the director has a net worth of $8 billion and earns $150 million annually. Spielberg has spent his earnings on a few extravagant purchases. He’s owned expensive homes, including his massive Los Angeles compound equipped with its own vineyard.
Still, the filmmaker has always dedicated himself to investing his money in more altruistic endeavors. This included forming the Shoah Foundation, which aimed to further educate on the Holocaust through video footage from survivors, documents, and photographs. He’s also tried to...
- 5/21/2024
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Walt Disney Company has revealed the Disney Plus June 2024 release schedule, which includes new Originals, movies, and TV series. The Disney+ streaming service features movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more, alongside exclusive Disney+ Originals.
The schedule includes the two-episode premiere of Star Wars series The Acolyte, new episodes of Doctor Who, a celebration of Donald Duck’s 90th anniversary,
You can view the Disney Plus June 2024 lineup below and stay tuned to our dedicated Disney+ section for daily news on the streaming service.
Disney Plus June 2024 Schedule
Available June 1
New Library Titles
For the First Time in Forever: The Making of World of Frozen
Available June 3
New Library Titles
World Eats Bread
Available June 4
New Library Titles
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
Disney+ Originals
The Acolyte – Two Episode Premiere at 6 p.m. Pt
In Lucasfilm’s “The Acolyte,” an investigation into...
The schedule includes the two-episode premiere of Star Wars series The Acolyte, new episodes of Doctor Who, a celebration of Donald Duck’s 90th anniversary,
You can view the Disney Plus June 2024 lineup below and stay tuned to our dedicated Disney+ section for daily news on the streaming service.
Disney Plus June 2024 Schedule
Available June 1
New Library Titles
For the First Time in Forever: The Making of World of Frozen
Available June 3
New Library Titles
World Eats Bread
Available June 4
New Library Titles
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
Disney+ Originals
The Acolyte – Two Episode Premiere at 6 p.m. Pt
In Lucasfilm’s “The Acolyte,” an investigation into...
- 5/20/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
The Star Wars franchise is one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time and has spawned multiple films, shows, animated series, and comic books. The Galaxies created by George Lucas changed pop culture as well as blockbuster filmmaking since the first film was released in 1977. The film earned $775 million against a budget of $11 million.
While Lucas directed the first film in the original trilogy, he wanted to take more of a creative producer role in subsequent films of the original trilogy. The Empire Strikes Back was helmed by Irvin Kershner while Return of the Jedi was directed by Richard Marquand. However, Lucas reportedly first had David Lynch in mind for the latter.
David Lynch Rejected The Opportunity To Direct A Star Wars Movie George Lucas | Credits: YouTube/Full Bodied Productions
George Lucas’ Star Wars was and still is one of the hottest properties in Hollywood and many filmmakers would give...
While Lucas directed the first film in the original trilogy, he wanted to take more of a creative producer role in subsequent films of the original trilogy. The Empire Strikes Back was helmed by Irvin Kershner while Return of the Jedi was directed by Richard Marquand. However, Lucas reportedly first had David Lynch in mind for the latter.
David Lynch Rejected The Opportunity To Direct A Star Wars Movie George Lucas | Credits: YouTube/Full Bodied Productions
George Lucas’ Star Wars was and still is one of the hottest properties in Hollywood and many filmmakers would give...
- 5/20/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park came out way back in 1993, and was truly a landmark project due to a plethora of reasons. The classic story of what happens when human beings set out to play god came with some groundbreaking VFX and special effects, the kind that effectively brought increased the threshold of possibility when it came to how special effects could help filmmakers expand their horizons.
Generating a whopping $1.05 billion against a budget of $63 million, the movie not only sparked a franchise but also in some ways inspired a total of 3 further billion-dollar franchises. These include George Lucas’ Star Wars, James Cameron’s Avatar, and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, all trilogies.
How Jurassic Park inspired (at least) 3 billion-dollar franchises that came years later!
A still from Jurassic Park | Universal Pictures
George Lucas returned to direct The Phantom Menace after previously directing 1977’s original Star War film.
Generating a whopping $1.05 billion against a budget of $63 million, the movie not only sparked a franchise but also in some ways inspired a total of 3 further billion-dollar franchises. These include George Lucas’ Star Wars, James Cameron’s Avatar, and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, all trilogies.
How Jurassic Park inspired (at least) 3 billion-dollar franchises that came years later!
A still from Jurassic Park | Universal Pictures
George Lucas returned to direct The Phantom Menace after previously directing 1977’s original Star War film.
- 5/20/2024
- by Rishabh Bhatnagar
- FandomWire
The Shawshank Redemption director Frank Darabont was once approached to write a Star Wars film for George Lucas. The Star Wars director was not the best at writing dialogue and tried seeking outside help for the same. However, Darabont couldn’t go through with the negotiations to write Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The Green Mile director explained that he couldn’t affiliate himself with the project since it was a non-guild job.
A still from George Lucas’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Lucasfilm Ltd.
George Lucas exited the DGA, WGA, and MPA in 1980 after they fined his film The Empire Strikes Back for breaking the rules. During the prequel trilogy, Lucasfilm refused to become a signatory to any of these guilds, making it difficult for Darabont to accept the writing job.
The Shawshank Redemption Director Couldn’t Work For George Lucas...
A still from George Lucas’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Lucasfilm Ltd.
George Lucas exited the DGA, WGA, and MPA in 1980 after they fined his film The Empire Strikes Back for breaking the rules. During the prequel trilogy, Lucasfilm refused to become a signatory to any of these guilds, making it difficult for Darabont to accept the writing job.
The Shawshank Redemption Director Couldn’t Work For George Lucas...
- 5/20/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Steven Spielberg had a great run in the 80s and 90s churning out blockbusters while also venturing into compelling dramas. He entertained audiences with the Indiana Jones franchise that has since become a significant part of pop culture and also made audiences cry with emotionally driven films such as Empire of the Sun and The Color Purple.
George Lucas helped in the editing process of Jurassic Park for Steven Spielberg
The 90s saw some of the best works from the director and Spielberg managed to churn out two of the best films of the 90s in the same year Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List (both 1993). Star Wars creator George Lucas was instrumental in making that possible but when it came to Lucas needing help from Spielberg, the maverick turned it down for a very logical reason.
Steven Spielberg Turned Down the Offer to Direct One of the Star Wars Prequel...
George Lucas helped in the editing process of Jurassic Park for Steven Spielberg
The 90s saw some of the best works from the director and Spielberg managed to churn out two of the best films of the 90s in the same year Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List (both 1993). Star Wars creator George Lucas was instrumental in making that possible but when it came to Lucas needing help from Spielberg, the maverick turned it down for a very logical reason.
Steven Spielberg Turned Down the Offer to Direct One of the Star Wars Prequel...
- 5/20/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
In the 1970s and '80s, Jim Henson and the Muppets were on top of the world. And it's easy to understand why: The Muppets were magical. As a concept, Muppets are simple things; little more than crude hand-puppets. But through the work of Henson and his Muppeteers, the characters came to life in startling ways. We believe in the Muppets; we believe they exist in our world, and interact with us, and ride bikes, and play the banjo, and do all sorts of things we kind of take for granted. The fact that Disney now owns the Muppets and seemingly doesn't know what the hell to do with them is a great pop culture tragedy; we need the Muppets now more than ever. Bring the Muppets back, damn it!
Another franchise owned by Disney is, of course, "Star Wars." And in 1980, the world of the Muppets and the galaxy...
Another franchise owned by Disney is, of course, "Star Wars." And in 1980, the world of the Muppets and the galaxy...
- 5/20/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Originally released on May 19, 1999, Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Upon its initial release, George Lucas’ film was met with mixed reviews and was judged harshly by both critics and fans. While the visual effects for the film were appreciated, viewers weren’t too kind toward the characters or how the story played out.
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace | Lucasfilm Ltd.
As a result, The Phantom Menace became the lowest-rated film of the entire Star Wars franchise with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 53%. However, it now looks like the fandom has evolved and so has their original opinion on the first prequel film starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and more.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Celebrates 25 Years
Ahmed Best’s Jar Jar Binks in a still from The Phantom Menace | Lucasfilm Ltd.
Back when The Phantom Menace was first released in theatres,...
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace | Lucasfilm Ltd.
As a result, The Phantom Menace became the lowest-rated film of the entire Star Wars franchise with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 53%. However, it now looks like the fandom has evolved and so has their original opinion on the first prequel film starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and more.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Celebrates 25 Years
Ahmed Best’s Jar Jar Binks in a still from The Phantom Menace | Lucasfilm Ltd.
Back when The Phantom Menace was first released in theatres,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
George Lucas’ Star Wars prequel trilogy has often faced criticism for various elements, from the cast’s performances to the complex political narrative. After The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones did not fare well among the audience, fans had already lost hope for Episode III.
Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
While the movie defied expectations, with a positive box office and critical reception, it still faced criticism for aspects like Hayden Christensen’s performance and Lucas’s screenplay. However, as it celebrates its 19th anniversary, fans have gradually come to appreciate the film, recognizing it as an underrated gem in the franchise.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Celebrates 19 Years
Following the events of The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Episode III in the Star Wars trilogy features Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) eventual turn to the dark side as he joins...
Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
While the movie defied expectations, with a positive box office and critical reception, it still faced criticism for aspects like Hayden Christensen’s performance and Lucas’s screenplay. However, as it celebrates its 19th anniversary, fans have gradually come to appreciate the film, recognizing it as an underrated gem in the franchise.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Celebrates 19 Years
Following the events of The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Episode III in the Star Wars trilogy features Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) eventual turn to the dark side as he joins...
- 5/19/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
The "Star Wars" prequels constitute one of the biggest and most controversial set of movies of all time. Incredibly successful, both during its original theatrical run and in subsequent re-releases, "The Phantom Menace" was hugely anticipated by the summer of 1999, driving impossible-to-meet expectations. When the film was released, it made lots of money, but left some audiences cold. Over time, the image of "The Phantom Menace" as the beginning of the end for the franchise far, far away was cemented.
Except, that was 25 years ago. In the time since, kids who grew up on the prequels and additional material like "The Clone Wars" expanding the story and the characters have become more vocal online. It also helped that disappointment over the sequel trilogy has driven fans back to the prequels and George Lucas' unique and clear vision.
Rewatching "The Phantom Menace" during its 25th anniversary theatrical re-release, the movie's flaws are even more glaring,...
Except, that was 25 years ago. In the time since, kids who grew up on the prequels and additional material like "The Clone Wars" expanding the story and the characters have become more vocal online. It also helped that disappointment over the sequel trilogy has driven fans back to the prequels and George Lucas' unique and clear vision.
Rewatching "The Phantom Menace" during its 25th anniversary theatrical re-release, the movie's flaws are even more glaring,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Geroge Lucas changed the face of the galaxy far, far away when the first installment in the prequel trilogy of Star Wars movies was released in 1999. The Phantom Menace introduced viewers to the character of Qui-Gon Jinn, played by Liam Neeson, who plays an integral role in the stories of both Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn was not in George Lucas’ plans for The Phantom Menace.
However, according to reports, Lucas’ original plans for the film almost did not include Neeson’s character. Moreover, when Lucas did plan to incorporate the Qui-Gon Jinn character, the initial idea was so outrageous that it would have not only upset loyal fans of the franchise but it is hard to imagine Obi-Wan actor Ewan McGregor being on board with it. Here is everything you need to know about the original plan for Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace.
Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn was not in George Lucas’ plans for The Phantom Menace.
However, according to reports, Lucas’ original plans for the film almost did not include Neeson’s character. Moreover, when Lucas did plan to incorporate the Qui-Gon Jinn character, the initial idea was so outrageous that it would have not only upset loyal fans of the franchise but it is hard to imagine Obi-Wan actor Ewan McGregor being on board with it. Here is everything you need to know about the original plan for Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace.
- 5/19/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
On May 19th, 1999, the world was taken back to a galaxy far, far away after a sixteen-year hiatus from the last film, Return of the Jedi. Ever since The Empire Strikes Back was dubbed “Episode V” this lead to many believing that we would one day see the origins of Darth Vader, the fall of the Jedi and the slow rise of the empire. And now that time had come.
The first episode in the prequel trilogy lets us see a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) being found by master Qui-Gon Jin (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and freed from slavery to become a Jedi. He also meets his future wife, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). Meanwhile, from the shadows Darth Sidious (Ian McDirmis), and his apprentice Darth Maul (Ray Park), manipulate the galactic republic by causing a war on the plane of Naboo in an attempt to seize power.
The first episode in the prequel trilogy lets us see a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) being found by master Qui-Gon Jin (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and freed from slavery to become a Jedi. He also meets his future wife, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). Meanwhile, from the shadows Darth Sidious (Ian McDirmis), and his apprentice Darth Maul (Ray Park), manipulate the galactic republic by causing a war on the plane of Naboo in an attempt to seize power.
- 5/19/2024
- by Mr. Milo
- Pirates & Princesses
The "Star Wars" prequel trilogy kicked off 25 years ago with the release of "The Phantom Menace," aka Episode I. At the time, hype was off the charts for George Lucas' first new movie in a galaxy far, far away in more than a decade. Despite being a massive financial success, the movie's reputation, and the prequel trilogy's reputation for that matter, are complicated. Many people hated the movies in their day. While the narrative has changed a lot, Lucas had people warning him that the story he planned to tell of a young Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader might ruin the franchise. He just didn't care to listen.
In a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone around the time that "Revenge of the Sith" was hitting theaters, Lucas explained that those around him at Lucasfilm were nervous about his plans for the prequels. Darth Vader had a scary mystique around him as...
In a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone around the time that "Revenge of the Sith" was hitting theaters, Lucas explained that those around him at Lucasfilm were nervous about his plans for the prequels. Darth Vader had a scary mystique around him as...
- 5/19/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
There are many sung heroes associated with the overall Star Wars franchise, such as Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and George Lucas. However, all of these stars have been lauded for their work humungously and continue to receive praise habitually from fans of the never-dying series.
However, some names that also played a huge role in making the original trilogy of films a reality did not quite get the same due. Among them is none other than Frank Oz, originally a puppeteer, and the man responsible for bringing to life one of the most celebrated characters in the Star Wars universe: Yoda.
George Lucas wanted Frank Oz to be nominated for an Oscar after Empire Strikes Back. | Disney+
Oz’s troubles with respect to his work on the franchise included a ‘freaky encounter’ with snakes. Yes, actual, slithering, poisonous, moving, snakes that he was exposed to by the director, Irvin Kershner.
However, some names that also played a huge role in making the original trilogy of films a reality did not quite get the same due. Among them is none other than Frank Oz, originally a puppeteer, and the man responsible for bringing to life one of the most celebrated characters in the Star Wars universe: Yoda.
George Lucas wanted Frank Oz to be nominated for an Oscar after Empire Strikes Back. | Disney+
Oz’s troubles with respect to his work on the franchise included a ‘freaky encounter’ with snakes. Yes, actual, slithering, poisonous, moving, snakes that he was exposed to by the director, Irvin Kershner.
- 5/19/2024
- by Rishabh Bhatnagar
- FandomWire
John Boyega is a massive Star Wars fan and was fortunate to have starred in the high-grossing sequel trilogy of the space opera fantasy franchise. Yet, despite the massive opportunity and the effect it had on his career, the actor wasn’t afraid to call out Disney and others about how he and his character Finn were treated.
John Boyega in the Star Wars sequel trilogy
Over the years, while he seemed to have grown a more positive outlook on the fiasco, his fans are not ready to forgive Disney yet. Daisy Ridley, his co-star, will be returning to the Star Wars universe and remarked she would love to have Boyega back as well. However, Boyega’s fans don’t think that the George Lucas-created universe deserves him anymore.
Daisy Ridley Wants John Boyega Back in Star Wars Daisy Ridley in a still from the Star Wars franchise
Daisy...
John Boyega in the Star Wars sequel trilogy
Over the years, while he seemed to have grown a more positive outlook on the fiasco, his fans are not ready to forgive Disney yet. Daisy Ridley, his co-star, will be returning to the Star Wars universe and remarked she would love to have Boyega back as well. However, Boyega’s fans don’t think that the George Lucas-created universe deserves him anymore.
Daisy Ridley Wants John Boyega Back in Star Wars Daisy Ridley in a still from the Star Wars franchise
Daisy...
- 5/19/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
Mark Hamill remembered his Star Wars co-star Carrie Fisher in a 2023 interview and opened up about the tumultuous relationship they shared over the years. The duo were cast as siblings Luke and Leia Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy and reprised their roles in Disney’s sequel films. Fisher passed away in 2016 after suffering from a heart attack. Hamill recalled how they constantly argued and made up, presumably until her death.
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill in a still from Star Wars | Lucasfilm Ltd.
Hamill and Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourde spoke highly of the actress while unveiling her posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last year. It appeared that Hamill has a good relationship with Fisher’s family as well.
Mark Hamill Recalled The Tumultuous Relationship He Had With Carrie Fisher
Mark Hamill in a still from Star Wars: A New Hope | Lucasfilm Ltd.
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill in a still from Star Wars | Lucasfilm Ltd.
Hamill and Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourde spoke highly of the actress while unveiling her posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last year. It appeared that Hamill has a good relationship with Fisher’s family as well.
Mark Hamill Recalled The Tumultuous Relationship He Had With Carrie Fisher
Mark Hamill in a still from Star Wars: A New Hope | Lucasfilm Ltd.
- 5/18/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Over the years, there have been a lot of filmmakers who have been game-changers when it comes to filmmaking. Michael Bay has been receiving audiences by presenting them with movies such as ‘Transformers’ and the ‘Bad Boys' series. Denis Villeneuve has been recently wowing his audiences with Sci-fi epics like ‘Blade Runner 2049’ and the 2021 adaptation of ‘Dune,". Steven Spielberg is well-known for being a movie maker who influenced filmmakers who rose to fame after him. Just like the director Ridley Scott, Spielberg is an adaptable screenwriter by experiments in almost any genre, and he continues to successfully do so. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider...
- 5/18/2024
- by Marco Castaneda
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Jar Jar Binks has undeniably been a controversial addition to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. While initially intended to provide comic relief with his pseudo-Caribbean accent, he became the most hated character in the entire galaxy. Fans expressed dissatisfaction and viewed him as an annoying companion that detracts from the main storyline.
A still from George Lucas’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace | 20th Century Studios
So when the prequel trilogy unfolded, creators diminished his role and instead focused on his interactions with Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) on Naboo. Even in those moments, the frustration of Qui-Gon was evident as he criticized Gungan for his lack of intelligence and dismissed him. These encounters set the tone for the audience’s perception of Jar Jar throughout the trilogy.
Despite the character being disliked for his sarcastic nature, Star Wars fans may be surprised to learn that...
A still from George Lucas’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace | 20th Century Studios
So when the prequel trilogy unfolded, creators diminished his role and instead focused on his interactions with Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) on Naboo. Even in those moments, the frustration of Qui-Gon was evident as he criticized Gungan for his lack of intelligence and dismissed him. These encounters set the tone for the audience’s perception of Jar Jar throughout the trilogy.
Despite the character being disliked for his sarcastic nature, Star Wars fans may be surprised to learn that...
- 5/18/2024
- by Shikha Arya
- FandomWire
James Mangold has had an interesting filmography over the years venturing in various genres and not typecasting himself to a certain type of filmmaker. Films like Girl Interrupted, Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma, Logan, and Ford v Ferrari proved that Mangold could competently handle various genres with great relatability and emotional heft.
James Mangold most recently directed Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny
Mangold continued venturing into blockbuster studio filmmaking with 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny which did not fare well. He is set to direct an upcoming Star Wars film and franchise producer Simon Emanuel seemingly revealed the film’s title. Ironically, the title has a striking resemblance to an important element of Dune, adding to the discourse of Star Wars being a Dune rip-off.
Possible Title of James Mangold’s Star Wars Film Is Too Similar to Dune‘s Giedi Prime Giedi Prime...
James Mangold most recently directed Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny
Mangold continued venturing into blockbuster studio filmmaking with 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny which did not fare well. He is set to direct an upcoming Star Wars film and franchise producer Simon Emanuel seemingly revealed the film’s title. Ironically, the title has a striking resemblance to an important element of Dune, adding to the discourse of Star Wars being a Dune rip-off.
Possible Title of James Mangold’s Star Wars Film Is Too Similar to Dune‘s Giedi Prime Giedi Prime...
- 5/18/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
Paul Schrader has long been known for his gruff personality, but he was in good spirits and slightly nostalgic during the Saturday press conference at the Cannes Film Festival for his latest film, Oh, Canada, where he also revealed his next film.
Schrader’s iconic team-up with Martin Scorsese, Taxi Driver, premiered at the festival, and the filmmaker has had several runs at the French fest since. This year’s Cannes sees the return of not only Schrader, but Francis Ford Coppola with Megalopolis and George Lucas, who will be on hand to receive an honorary Palme d’Or.
When asked if, at the time, he knew that he and the other directors that were dubbed “New Hollywood” were changing film forever, Schrader said bluntly: “Yes.”
He addressed that time of anxiety in the industry that saw many films failing at the box office. “When the late ’60s hit, studios...
Schrader’s iconic team-up with Martin Scorsese, Taxi Driver, premiered at the festival, and the filmmaker has had several runs at the French fest since. This year’s Cannes sees the return of not only Schrader, but Francis Ford Coppola with Megalopolis and George Lucas, who will be on hand to receive an honorary Palme d’Or.
When asked if, at the time, he knew that he and the other directors that were dubbed “New Hollywood” were changing film forever, Schrader said bluntly: “Yes.”
He addressed that time of anxiety in the industry that saw many films failing at the box office. “When the late ’60s hit, studios...
- 5/18/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The restored version of Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal’s 1976 masterpiece “Manthan” (“The Churning”) is screening at the Cannes Film Festival’s Cannes Classics strand.
Shot by DoP Govind Nihalani in rural Gujarat, western India, the film is produced by 500,000 farmers who contributed towards its making, under the banner Gujarat Milk Co-Op Marketing Federation Ltd. The film is a fictionalized version of the beginnings of the dairy cooperative movement that transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer, inspired by Dr. Verghese Kurien. It also examines issues like caste, class, gender and economic discrimination. The cast includes Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, Anant Nag, Mohan Agashe and Naseeruddin Shah.
“The first thing we did was speak to the Gujarat Milk Co-Op Marketing Federation, and we had to make them understand that the film needs to be on 4K, we need to project it back on screen and...
Shot by DoP Govind Nihalani in rural Gujarat, western India, the film is produced by 500,000 farmers who contributed towards its making, under the banner Gujarat Milk Co-Op Marketing Federation Ltd. The film is a fictionalized version of the beginnings of the dairy cooperative movement that transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer, inspired by Dr. Verghese Kurien. It also examines issues like caste, class, gender and economic discrimination. The cast includes Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, Anant Nag, Mohan Agashe and Naseeruddin Shah.
“The first thing we did was speak to the Gujarat Milk Co-Op Marketing Federation, and we had to make them understand that the film needs to be on 4K, we need to project it back on screen and...
- 5/18/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Star Wars – one of the many phenomena that forever changed the landscape of pop culture in modern history – has brought us stories of unbridled joy, hope, love, friendship, camaraderie, candor, optimism in the face of utter loss, and resolution in the face of utter despair. And yet, there remain aspects of the narrative that are as mysterious today as they were 47 years ago.
After the first chapter of the story premiered with Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, George Lucas established a new dynasty belonging to new-age superheroes who defied the rules and boundaries of this universe to achieve heroic deeds that resound throughout the entire galaxy.
The Star Wars gang [Credit: Lucasfilm/20th Century Studios]Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo would then go on to be names that inspired indelible virtue, bravery, and strength of moral character for generations to come just as much as Darth Vader...
After the first chapter of the story premiered with Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, George Lucas established a new dynasty belonging to new-age superheroes who defied the rules and boundaries of this universe to achieve heroic deeds that resound throughout the entire galaxy.
The Star Wars gang [Credit: Lucasfilm/20th Century Studios]Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo would then go on to be names that inspired indelible virtue, bravery, and strength of moral character for generations to come just as much as Darth Vader...
- 5/17/2024
- by Diya Majumdar
- FandomWire
Star Wars has become much more than a franchise ever since the first film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope premiered in 1977. Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and, Carrie Fisher as the lead trio, the film introduced veteran actor David Prowse as Darth Vader.
David Prowse as Darth Vader in a still from the Star Wars franchise | Production: Lucasfilm
Although Prowse acted as Darth Vader, the voice of the character was superimposed by legendary actor James Earl Jones. Being known around the world for being the voice of Darth Vader, millions of fans love him for it. However, the actor revealed that he doesn’t consider the role of voicing Darth Vader as true acting!
Darth Vader From Star Wars Isn’t Real. Never Was
We mean, he is real in the hearts of countless fans of the franchise. However, the role of Darth Vader was nothing more...
David Prowse as Darth Vader in a still from the Star Wars franchise | Production: Lucasfilm
Although Prowse acted as Darth Vader, the voice of the character was superimposed by legendary actor James Earl Jones. Being known around the world for being the voice of Darth Vader, millions of fans love him for it. However, the actor revealed that he doesn’t consider the role of voicing Darth Vader as true acting!
Darth Vader From Star Wars Isn’t Real. Never Was
We mean, he is real in the hearts of countless fans of the franchise. However, the role of Darth Vader was nothing more...
- 5/17/2024
- by Visarg Acharya
- FandomWire
Dave Filoni at the Clone Wars premierePhoto: Natalia Stewart (Shutterstock)
To describe something in the Star Wars galaxy as divisive is merely to say that it exists. With each new movie or TV series that comes out, the fandom gets increasingly fractured, with factions picking sides and digging in on multiple fronts.
To describe something in the Star Wars galaxy as divisive is merely to say that it exists. With each new movie or TV series that comes out, the fandom gets increasingly fractured, with factions picking sides and digging in on multiple fronts.
- 5/17/2024
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom MenacePhoto: Lucasfilm
Regardless of how you feel about the Star Wars prequels—maybe they don’t actually deserve our hate, maybe The Phantom Menace is at least important, if not traditionally good, maybe they’re actually just terrible—there’s no denying that there...
Regardless of how you feel about the Star Wars prequels—maybe they don’t actually deserve our hate, maybe The Phantom Menace is at least important, if not traditionally good, maybe they’re actually just terrible—there’s no denying that there...
- 5/17/2024
- by Jen Lennon, Drew Gillis, Cindy White, Matt Schimkowitz, Matt Mitchell, Jacob Oller, William Hughes
- avclub.com
In October 2012, Disney dropped a bombshell, announcing their acquisition of Lucasfilm and the entire Star Wars universe. Along with that, they also revealed they’ve also snagged a treatment for Episodes VII-ix directly from the mastermind himself, George Lucas. Yet, amidst the chaos, it was the Star Wars fans who were confused the most.
George Lucas [Photo: Joey Gannon/Wikimedia Commons]As it wasn’t a secret that Lucas was content to bid farewell to Star Wars after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He had no intentions of making a seventh installment. Thus, this left room for many to speculate. And the questions raised: Did Lucas’ vision shape the new era of the saga, or did Disney chart a different course entirely?
George Lucas Didn’t Want to Make Star Wars: Episode VII!
Nearly a decade back, on CBS’ iconic 60 Minutes, host Lesley Stahl dropped a bombshell question on George Lucas.
George Lucas [Photo: Joey Gannon/Wikimedia Commons]As it wasn’t a secret that Lucas was content to bid farewell to Star Wars after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He had no intentions of making a seventh installment. Thus, this left room for many to speculate. And the questions raised: Did Lucas’ vision shape the new era of the saga, or did Disney chart a different course entirely?
George Lucas Didn’t Want to Make Star Wars: Episode VII!
Nearly a decade back, on CBS’ iconic 60 Minutes, host Lesley Stahl dropped a bombshell question on George Lucas.
- 5/17/2024
- by Sampurna Banerjee
- FandomWire
Set to receive the honorary Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, George Lucas is no stranger to the Croisette. The legendary filmmaker — whose first feature, Thx-1138, screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight in 1971 — brought Willow to the festival in 1988.
Directed by Ron Howard and counting Lucas as a producer, Willow follows the eponymous farmer, played by then-17-year-old Warwick Davis, joining disgraced warrior Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) on a mission to save a baby prophesized to end the reign of an evil queen (Jean Marsh). The movie hit theaters May 20, 1988, and collected $57 million worldwide ($151 million today), which was less than Lucas’ previous hits like Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. THR’s review called Willow “relentlessly flat” but noted that Howard’s “ever gentle but robust directorial touch is always in evidence.”
Ahead of the movie’s theatrical release, during a Cannes press conference, Lucas criticized the U.
Directed by Ron Howard and counting Lucas as a producer, Willow follows the eponymous farmer, played by then-17-year-old Warwick Davis, joining disgraced warrior Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) on a mission to save a baby prophesized to end the reign of an evil queen (Jean Marsh). The movie hit theaters May 20, 1988, and collected $57 million worldwide ($151 million today), which was less than Lucas’ previous hits like Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. THR’s review called Willow “relentlessly flat” but noted that Howard’s “ever gentle but robust directorial touch is always in evidence.”
Ahead of the movie’s theatrical release, during a Cannes press conference, Lucas criticized the U.
- 5/17/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lily Gladstone took a break from jury duty at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday to present Ron Howard with Variety’s Profile in Excellence Award.
Howard was the guest of honor at the annual Welcome to Cannes Party, hosted in partnership with the Gotham Film & Media Institute at Lucia Restaurant and Beach, where an array of industry veterans — including The Gotham’s Jeffrey Sharp, Focus Features’ Jason Cassidy, the Sundance Institute’s Eugene Hernandez and more — donned their best beach chic attire (with sunglasses) to mix, mingle and sip rosé.
Marjon Javadi, Ron Howard, Pam Levine and Charlie Andrews.
“It’s rare that a director speaks to you at two fully different stages of your life,” Gladstone said, pointing to “Willow” and “Arrested Development” as pieces of entertainment that helped shape her childhood and college years. “I want you to narrate my life.”
Howard granted that wish as he took the stage,...
Howard was the guest of honor at the annual Welcome to Cannes Party, hosted in partnership with the Gotham Film & Media Institute at Lucia Restaurant and Beach, where an array of industry veterans — including The Gotham’s Jeffrey Sharp, Focus Features’ Jason Cassidy, the Sundance Institute’s Eugene Hernandez and more — donned their best beach chic attire (with sunglasses) to mix, mingle and sip rosé.
Marjon Javadi, Ron Howard, Pam Levine and Charlie Andrews.
“It’s rare that a director speaks to you at two fully different stages of your life,” Gladstone said, pointing to “Willow” and “Arrested Development” as pieces of entertainment that helped shape her childhood and college years. “I want you to narrate my life.”
Howard granted that wish as he took the stage,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Angelique Jackson and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Though George Lucas is no longer at the helm of the Star Wars franchise, his influence continues to reverberate through each new project. Recently, his thoughts on the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series were revealed by Lucasfilm executive Pablo Hidalgo. According to him, Lucas found great enjoyment in this particular Disney+ series. In a conversation on the Full of Sith podcast, Hidalgo shared insights into Lucas’s involvement in the series’ early stages. He noted that engaging with him was crucial given the time period it covered, stretching between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. According to Hidalgo, Lucas was
The post George Lucas Shares His Thoughts on the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV Series first appeared on TVovermind.
The post George Lucas Shares His Thoughts on the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV Series first appeared on TVovermind.
- 5/16/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.