George Lucas Gearing Up Live-Action ‘Star Wars’ TV Series?

Over on SciFi Squad, Mike Moody debuts his new weekly column called TV Geek Week, which will not only talk about the latest and greatest news in geeky TV land, but will also take a look at what fanboy-ish goodies are arriving on the boob tube this week. Check it:

Is George Lucas finally moving ahead with that promised live-action Star Wars TV show? Sources say yes. Sources also say the show will be produced in Australia by a hand-picked crew of Aussie TV vets. And we might even get to see it before the end of 2010. But I got a question: Do we really want a live-action Star Wars TV show?

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Star Wars Flash Drives Look Like PEZ Dispensers

Live Action “Star Wars” Series Could Have a Familiar Face

George Lucas’ live-action “Star Wars” series could see a face familiar to fans of “a galaxy far, far away.”  According to media outlets in New Zealand, actor Jay Laga’aia is in the running for a lead role in the series.  Laga’aia worked Captain Gregar Typho, the head of security of Amidala in episodes I and III of the prequel trilogy.

Whether or not Laga’aia would reprise the role or take on a new one isn’t known at this time.

The series will reportedly follow the Rebel Alliance as it slowly gains strength against the the evil Empire. The newspaper also reported that the show is a basic cable TV series and that it will feature stormtroopers, but not Jedi knights or Darth Vader. Lucas is currently casting for the series.

The fact that Laga’aia may be cast suggests that Lucas is considering shooting the show somewhere in Australia or New Zealand.

The actor is currently featured on “The Legend of the Seeker.”

Star Wars Live-Action TV Series Casting has Begun

For the last two years, George Lucas has been developing a live-action Star Wars television series. I think it was originally stated that they would not begin production until they had the first 50 scripts in hand, and I’ve heard about a bunch of screenwriters around Hollywood have been working on the series. 2009 was originally announced as the show’s targeted premiere (see the sign above), but Lucasfilm has since been quoted as saying 2010, and later 2011. With a lack of news leaking, I was beginning to believe that it might never actually happen. But MTV reports that casting is already underway. Rose Byrne, who played Dorme in Attack of the Clones, let it slip at the Knowing junket that a lot of her friends have been auditioning for the series.

Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the show has been described by Lucas as “Deadwood meets The Sopranos in space”. Told from the perspective of minor characters from the Star Wars galaxy (rumored to be a family in the underworld), the darker, grittier, more character-based story might also feature appearances and cameos from several major Star Wars characters, but not the heavy like Darth Vader.And now that the show has entered the casting stage, I’m sure we’ll start to learn more about the story and the characters.

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The Star Wars Force Trainer - Cool Toy Or Just Plain Weird?

This has got to be the best and most humorous use of brain wave technology.  Just like all the other brain wave games this one gives you an obstacle you have to accomplish by focusing and thinking hard on moving the object.  The more you concentrate, the better you’ll do.  Although the obstacle course with this one is far more simple than the Mindflex, it has plenty of geek appeal.  This one adds a Star Wars spin to the concept, which means there will likely be no shortage of fans pursuing this game.

Attach the headpiece to your head and use the The Force instead of those brainwaves.  After all this is a training device.  Of course they don’t mention how exactly you can become a Jedi by moving a ball up and down.  Nor do they say when exactly you get a shiny new lightsaber that actually cuts through things.  However, at least you’ll have the comfort of knowing that you’re helping to fund George Lucas and his many escapades.  You’ll be able to pick this up probably in the 3rd quarter of this year for about $100.

Source: Coolest-Gadgets.com

George Lucas Talks About Indiana Jones & Star Wars

George Lucas ventured down to Hollywood from his empire at Skywalker Ranch to present the American Cinematheque’s 23rd annual award to one of his favorite Jedis, Samuel L. Jackson, and ComingSoon.net intercepted the man behind some of pop culture’s most iconic mythologies. Lucas gave up a handful of plans that were not quite as secret as the plans to the Death Star, including his intentions for a fifth “Indiana Jones” adventure, and 3-D-ifying the classic “Star Wars” films.

ComingSoon.net: You had huge success this summer with “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Are you seriously thinking about another one? Harrison Ford’s said there may be plans afoot.
George Lucas: Yes - we’re looking for a “MacGuffin,” which is an object that he goes after. They’re very hard to come by!

CS: Would you want to keep the whole family together for a film - Indy, Marion and Mutt?
Lucas: It really depends on what it is Indy goes looking for and then how the story falls out of that, and then how convenient or inconvenient to have the group there.

CS: A while back when we spoke you were planning to take the six “Star Wars” films and put them into a 3D format. Is that still something you’re working towards?
Lucas: Oh yeah. The technology is very difficult. It exists - it’s just extremely expensive, and so what we’re trying to do is figure out a more practical way of pulling it off.

CS: And what about “Red Tails,” the project with the Tuskegee Airmen that you’ve been wanting to do for some time now - there’s progress there?
Lucas: We’re casting that right now and we’re shooting in the spring.

CS: Do you have a director lined up?
Lucas: Yes, we have Anthony Hamilton directing. Read more

Book Review: Star Wars - Millennium Falcon by James Luceno

Blake Matthews over at BlogCritics.org has a review of Star Wars - Millennium Falcon by James Luceno…

Many vehicles are beloved part of its owner’s lives, but what if you won your beloved vehicles in a card game and while you always meant to look into its history you’ve never had the time. That’s the plot of Star Wars: Millenium Falcon by James Luceno, set two years after the Legacy of the Force series.

The book starts with the initial construction of the ship which causes trouble in the production line where the Falcon suffers damages which actually afflicts the ship throughout its life and from owner to owner. We then follow the ship from owner to owner until we learn the vessel was both owned and used secretly by members of the Senate and Jedi, as part of an organization known as the Republic Group. They had some agents working for the Jedi shortly before Order 66 goes out that eliminated many of the Jedi as seen in Revenge of The Sith. The agents were hoping to own the ship someday, but are ordered to fly it to another agent and turn it over to them so they can go on a mission that should restore honor to the Republic.

In the current portion of the story, we find Han, Leia and their granddaughter Allana (see the Legacy of the Jedi for the answer to that one) who convinces him and Leia to take her on an adventure to discover the history of the ship. Han has always intended to look into the history of his beloved ship, but rebellions, wars and other incidents always side-tracked him. Han and Leia agree to the adventure and they start tracking down previous Falcon owners, starting with their old friend Lando Calrissian. Working backwards they cross paths with the agent who was working for the Jedi and was in stasis for almost 60 years while he healed from severe injuries sustained on his final mission. Once they all agree to team up we discover just what the mission was that was supposed to restore the Republic’s honor and how everyone knows only a portion of the story.

More importantly as the story unfolds, we learn of the different names the Falcon had been called which include Corell’s Pride, Fickle Flyer, Gone to Pieces, Hardwired, High Hopes, Meetyl’s Misery, Second Chance, Stellar Envoy, and Wayward Son. We also learn about the different modifications the Falcon had done to her over the years, who put in the hologame table and why, how the various owners came to own and lose the Falcon, and the various roles the ship had, from smuggling runs to diplomatic missions to being part of a traveling circus at one point, and even learn the origin of the name Millennium Falcon.

The book can be seen as a filler book since it bridges the Legacy of the Force series and sets things in motion for the upcoming Fate of the Jedi series. But Luceno is a Star Wars novel veteran since Millenium Falcon is his eighth Star Wars novel, and he doesn’t disappoint. It’s a fun book that fills in the gaps of one of the silver screens most iconic vehicles and is a good read to boot.

Source: BlogCritics.org

Star Wars The Force Unleashed Demo At E3

Buzz continues to build around LucasArts’ upcoming video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and SCI FI Wire got a chance to play a demo version of the game July 16 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

The game is slated for a U.S. release on Sept. 17, a date that LucasArts confirmed. The title also drops in Asia on Sept. 17 and in Europe on Sept. 19. The game will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii and Nintendo DS. Read more

Millennium Falcon Birthday Cake - Cool Or What?!

This Millennium Falcon was never going to do the Kessel Run… but it might just qualify as the most awesome birthday cake ever made. I mean, look at the detail! Made by Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, one lucky guy received it this weekend… Read more

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Gets Comic & Novel Adaptation

Proving you don’t need to make more Star Wars movies to keep the merchandising vehicle moving, Titan Books has confirmed that The Force Unleashed will receive both an official novelization and comic book adaptation in the next couple of months.

From August 22, Star Wars fans - or anyone, for that matter - will be able to buy a graphic novel or a hardback book chronicling the story of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. Read more