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    Kathleen Kennedy To Appear At Star Wars Celebration Europe!

    May 15, 2013
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    The guest list for Star Wars Celebration Europe II just got even more exciting today, as it has been announced that the new President of Lucasfilm herself, Kathleen Kennedy, will be making her first appearance at a Star Wars Celebration this year at Celebration Europe II! Here are the details about her appearance:

    [blockquote cite=]Kathleen Kennedy, the President of Lucasfilm and producer of Star Wars Episode VII, will make her inaugural Star Wars Celebration appearance in Essen this July. Kennedy will make an appearance on the main Celebration stage talking with celebrity host Warwick Davis about her amazing career in the movie industry and her recent move to Lucasfilm.

    “When I joined Lucasfilm, I immediately saw the true passion shared by Star Wars fans around the world.  I’m thrilled to attend my first Star Wars Celebration and see in person that energy that makes the Star Wars experience so special.”

    Nominated for eight Academy Awards®, Kathleen Kennedy is one of the most successful and respected producers and executives in the film industry today. She joined Lucasfilm in 2012, personally selected by George Lucas to lead the company. As a testament to her standing in the film community, she is currently Vice President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), as well as sitting on their Board of Governors.

    Kennedy has produced or executive produced over 60 films, which have collectively garnered 120 Academy Award nominations and 25 wins. Among her credits are four of the highest-grossing films in motion picture history: Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and The Sixth Sense, as well as such blockbuster entertainment as the Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Gremlins, The Goonies, Poltergeist, War of the Worlds, Twister and A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

    Her diverse filmography also includes acclaimed dramas like Lincoln, War Horse, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Munich, Seabiscuit, Schindler’s List and The Color Purple, and animated motion pictures like The Adventures of Tintin, Persepolis, An American Tail and The Land Before Time.

    Kennedy has produced the films of such directors as Steven Spielberg, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Robert Zemeckis, M. Night Shyamalan, Frank Oz, Peter Bogdanovich, and Richard Donner.

    Prior to joining Lucasfilm, Kennedy headed The Kennedy/Marshall Company, which she founded in 1992 with director/producer Frank Marshall, and in 1982 she co-founded the phenomenally successful Amblin Entertainment with Marshall and Steven Spielberg.

    What is Star Wars Celebration

    Star Wars Celebration is a weekend fan festival that brings fans and families together, from all points of the globe, to celebrate the pop-culture phenomenon that is Star Wars. From its young fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars to die-hards fueled by the nostalgia for the original Star Wars trilogy; curious, casual followers; gamers, readers, costumers or collectors — there’s something for everyone at festival.  This July, Star Wars Celebration will come to Essen Germany and promises to deliver a landmark experience where memories are made, families brought together, old friends reunited and new friendships formed – all in the setting of the ever-evolving Star Wars universe[/blockquote]

    We’ll see if she makes any announcements regarding Episode VII at Celebration Europe, but if not, it’s still great to see that she will be making appearances at Star Wars Celebrations and communicating publicly with fans, just as George Lucas did at past Star Wars Celebrations.

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    Episode VII To Film In The U.K.

    May 10, 2013
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    Lucasfilm has revealed today over at StarWars.com that production for Episode VII will take place in the U.K., just as all six previous live action Star Wars films have been. Here is the official announcement from StarWars.com:

    [blockquote cite=]Lucasfilm announced today that production of Star Wars: Episode VII will take place in the United Kingdom. All of the six previous live-action Star Wars movies have included UK production in such famed studios as Elstree, Shepperton, Leavesden, Ealing and Pinewood Studios.

    “We’ve devoted serious time and attention to revisiting the origins of Star Wars as inspiration for our process on the new movie, and I’m thrilled that returning to the UK for production and utilizing the incredible talent there can be a part of that,” said Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm. “Speaking from my own longstanding connection to the UK with films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun and recently War Horse, it’s very exciting to be heading back.”

    Earlier this year, representatives from Lucasfilm met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, in London to establish an agreement to produce Star Wars in the U.K. “I am delighted that Star Wars is coming back to Britain. Today’s announcement that the next Star Wars film will be shot and produced in the UK is great news for fans and our creative industries,” Osborne said today.

    Star Wars: Episode VII will be directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Michael Arndt and is scheduled for a 2015 release.[/blockquote]

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    EA Acquires The Star Wars VideoGame License!

    May 6, 2013
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    After the announcement that LucasArts would be shutting down, the future of Star Wars games was clouded to say the least. But it has just been announced today that Disney has made a deal with the videogame publisher EA, for them to have the exclusive multi-year license for Star Wars, so that they can now both develop and publish new Star Wars games! Here is the official announcement:

    [blockquote cite=]

    Today it was announced that Lucasfilm Ltd. and Disney Interactive are entering into a multi-year, multi-title exclusive licensing agreement with Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) for the creation of new high quality Star Wars games spanning multiple genres for console, PC, mobile, and tablets.

    Industry leaders and creators of best-in-class blockbuster games, the development and publishing teams at EA will collaborate with the creative teams at Lucasfilm to provide audiences with all-new gaming experiences set in the ever-expanding Star Wars galaxy. As part of the agreement, EA studio teams DICE (Battlefield series) and Visceral (Dead Space series) will join BioWare (Mass Effect series, Star Wars: The Old Republic) in the development of new Star Wars games.

    “Our number one objective was to find a developer who could consistently deliver our fans great Star Wars games for years to come,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. “When we looked at the talent of the teams that EA was committing to our games and the quality of their vision for Star Wars, the choice was clear.”

    While EA studios will develop for the core Star Wars gaming audience, Disney Interactive will focus on delivering new Star Wars games for casual audiences on mobile, social, tablet, and online gaming platforms.

    “This agreement demonstrates our commitment to creating quality game experiences that drive the popularity of the Star Wars franchise for years to come,” said John Pleasants, co-president of Disney Interactive. “Collaborating with one of the world’s premier game developers will allow us to bring an amazing portfolio of new Star Wars titles to fans around the world.”

    “Every developer dreams of creating games for the Star Wars universe,” said EA Labels President Frank Gibeau. “Three of our top studios will fulfill that dream, crafting epic adventures for Star Wars fans. The new experiences we create may borrow from films, but the games will be entirely original with all new stories and gameplay.”

    More information, including titles in development, will be announced in the coming months. Continue to check StarWars.com for updates on the future of Star Wars gaming.
    [/blockquote]

    While the announcement of EA attaining the Star Wars license is definitely encouraging news for Star Wars fans who are gamers, the fact that they already announced that three games are already being developed by some of their top developers like Bioware (who are no strangers to Star Wars games) has me more than excited for the future of Star Wars videogames!

    Stay tuned for more details about this announcement, which will hopefully be next month at E3, where we’ll hopefully hear more about the specific games in development.

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    Mark Hamill Talks Episode VII At A Special Return Of The Jedi Screening

    May 5, 2013
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    After a special screening of Return of the Jedi yesterday for Entertainment Weekly’s CapeTown Film Festival, Mark Hamill made a surprise appearance and took part in an audience Q&A, where he briefly talks about the meeting he had regarding Episode VII!  Here’s what he had to say:

    [blockquote cite=]“I don’t even think I believed that the third trilogy would feature us. I thought it would be all different characters. To my knowledge, we were just going to do a beginning, a middle and an end [in the original trilogy] and it was over.”

    “I’ve only had one creative meeting about the new films, but I do remember saying, ‘We’ve got to find a proper balance between CGI and old school FX.”

    “That’s what the challenge is, is to try and meet expectations of what you guys want. I think there’s nothing wrong with CGI, but I think you have to have a balance, because the camera perceives the width and the depth and the weight – even if it’s a miniature model, the camera just realizes that. So when you have too much CGI and the clouds are CGI and the trees are CGI and the buildings are CGI, you’re getting to a point where the figure in the shot is like a hybrid of an animated film and live-action. And I want it to have an organic look so that we don’t get into Roger Rabbit territory. But I don’t imagine that the priority is what I want!”[/blockquote]

    You can check out the full recap of the Q&A with Mark Hamill in the link below.

    EW.com

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    The Clone Wars Nominated For 5 Daytime Emmy Awards!

    May 1, 2013
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    Even though production on The Clone Wars has started to wrap up, the phenomenal cast and crew who have worked on the show for many years are finally getting recognized by the The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, as the series has been nominated for 5 Daytime Emmy Awards! Here are the categories that The Clone Wars are nominated for:
    [blockquote cite=]

    Outstanding Special Class Animated Program
    George Lucas (Executive Producer), Cary Silver (Producer), and Athena Portillo (Line Producer)

     

    Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program:
    Jim Cummings as Hondo Onaka, David Tennant as Huyang, and Sam Witwer as Darth Maul

     

    Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program:
    Dave Filoni (Supervising Director), Kyle Dunlevy, Brian Kalin O’Connell, Steward Lee, and Bosco Ng (Directors)

     

    Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing – Animation:
    David Acord (Re-Recording Mixer) and Cameron Davis (Dialogue Recordist)

     

    Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition:
    Kevin Kiner (Composer)

    [/blockquote]
    For the full list of nominees, and to see who The Clone Wars is up against, you can check out the link below.

    Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations

    Congratulations to the cast and crew of The Clone Wars for their much deserved nominations!

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    Dave Filoni Talks New Clone Wars Story Arc!

    April 30, 2013
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    In a new interview with USA Today, Dave Filoni shared some details about one of the story arcs we’ll see in the “Bonus Content” of Clone Wars episodes, which looks to shed some light on the mystery of Jedi Sifo-Dyas! Here’s what Dave had to say on this new arc:

    [blockquote cite=]”There are questions that are pretty big as far as it comes with the Clone Wars and things that people have wanted to know. They’re just these concepts just hanging out there, and finally we’re going to deal with them.”

    “The Jedi have been fighting a war with an army that was commissioned by one of their own, Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. But who was Sifo-Dyas, and what happened to him? The dark lord of the Sith has woven an intricate web to ensnare the Jedi, but it is not full-proof and sometimes a small clue, and a bit of chance, can lead to the unraveling of the best-laid plans.”[/blockquote]

    Also in that article is a brand new clip that features Plo Koon and the Wolf Pack (in some very cool new armor) discovering Master Sifo-Dyas Lightsaber, which you can check out below.

    While there were still no details revealed in the article as to when we’ll start seeing these new episodes, one thing is for sure. Clone Wars is not quite yet done giving us some amazing new stories!

    You can check out the full interview with Dave Filoni in the link below.

    USA Today

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    Ways To Celebrate May The 4th!

    April 19, 2013
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    May the 4th is just a couple of weeks away, and as most Star Wars fans know, that is the day where we celebrate our love for the greatest franchise ever created! To help spread the word about May the 4th, and to encourage more people to join in on the fun, Lucasfilm has sent us some ways fans can celebrate on this day, as well as the details of how this Star Wars holiday first came to be.
    [blockquote cite=]

    Why is May the 4th Called Star Wars Day?

     Say “May the 4th Be With You” out loud and you’ll hear the pun that Star Wars fans worldwide have turned into a rallying cry to proclaim their love of the saga. It’s the worldwide day to say “May the Force be with you” to all, and celebrate the beloved Star Wars story that binds our galaxy together.

    One of the earliest known records of “May the 4th” used in popular culture is in 1979, as described here by author Alan Arnold while he was chronicling the making of The Empire Strikes Back for Lucasfilm:

    Friday, May 4th

    Margaret Thatcher has won the election and become Britain’s first woman prime minister. To celebrate their victory her party took a half page of advertising space in the London Evening News. This message, referring to the day of victory, was “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations,” further proof of the extent to which Star Wars has influenced us all.

    Once the Internet allowed Star Wars fans around the world to connect with one another, May the 4th soon became a grassroots tradition each year, with fans online and offline proclaiming it “Star Wars Day.”

    While the idea of May the 4th did not start with Lucasfilm, the film company that created Star Wars has fully embraced the spirit of fandom that makes the day so special. The official blog at StarWars.com as well as the official Star Wars social media channels on Twitter (@starwars #MayThe4thBeWithYou) and Facebook (facebook.com/starwars) help spread the word and showcase fan activity. More and more official partners have offered sales, giveaways and exclusives, and have hosted parties and other activities to mark the day.

    May the 4th kicks off a season of celebration, particularly since the month of May has always been important to Star Wars fans. The six live-action movies of the Star Wars saga debuted in May (starting with the original Star Wars on May 25th, 1977) and this year, May 25th marks the 30th anniversary of Return of the Jedi. The month of May includes George Lucas’s birthday (May 14, 1944), and has been the traditional start date of the popular Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World Resort (this year, the fun begins on May 14th).

    With the exciting launch of a new trilogy of movies beginning with Star Wars: Episode VII coming in the near future, this day to celebrate the saga and its amazing fans is certain to become even bigger each year.[/blockquote]

    And here the top ten things fans can do to celebrate May the 4th:

    [blockquote cite=]1. Have a Star Wars movie marathon with friends and family! But do you start with the prequels or the original trilogy? Do you mix in some episodes of The Clone Wars? Better decide before your guests arrive, or you may spend the day in a heated debate.

    2. Dressing up for special occasions is important, and May the 4th is no different. Wearing anything from your favorite Star Wars shirt to full-on Stormtrooper gear is completely acceptable. (It’s okay to dress up your pet, too. Bounty hunter bulldogs are especially encouraged.)

    3. Food is an essential part of any holiday. Death Star Popcorn Balls or Wookiee Cookies, anyone? Find a variety of recipes on StarWars.com!

    4. Toast the saga with the ultimate Star Wars-themed beverage: blue milk, just like Aunt Beru used to make! (Fortunately, unlike Aunt Beru, you don’t own the droids the Empire is looking for.)

    5. Feel the Force with Star Wars crafts: turn old socks and rocks into awesome Star Wars keepsakes! Learn how to make a Chewbacca Sock Puppet, Star Wars Snow Globe, and more at StarWars.com!

    6. You know that Rebel Alliance symbol tattoo you’ve been thinking about getting? Today’s the day.

    7. Have you Vadered anyone yet? Now’s the time to give it a try…and be sure to Tweet your photo to @starwars!

    8. Sometimes people use holidays to travel to new places. Why not go to Disneyland or Disney World and ride Star Tours? There are over 50 separate mission possibilities…so don’t plan on eating lunch beforehand.

    9. As Yoda said, “Pass on what you have learned.” Introduce a younger sibling, family member, or friend to Star Wars!

    10. Do you have any Star Wars toys that you don’t need any more? Donate them and make May the 4th really memorable for children in need.[/blockquote]

    There are many other activities fans can do on May the 4th to show there love of Star Wars, and you can check this out in the video below of Bonnie Burton, who writes for the official Stars Wars Blog, asking how fans plan on celebrating on May the 4th, as well as several images of fans showing their passion for Star Wars on this day!

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    New Star Wars Films To Be Released Every Year After Episode VII

    April 17, 2013
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    Today over at the CinemaCon event held in Las Vegas, Disney and Lucasfilm announced that they are planning for a summer 2015 release date for Episode VII, and after that, to have a new Star Wars film released every summer!

    While it has been previously known that 2015 was the planned release window for Episode VII, and that standalone films were planned, this is the first time Disney and Lucasfilm have a targeted a summer release for the Episode VII, as well as the plan to have a new Star Wars movie every year.

    While it looks like we’ll have a bit of a Star Wars drought for the next two years, we’ll definitely have all the Star Wars we can get in 2015 and beyond!

    Source: Coming Soon

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    Anthony Daniels To Appear at Star Wars Celebration Europe

    April 11, 2013
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    The guest list for Star Wars Celebration Europe II continues to grow, as Anthony Daniels, the man who’s played C-3PO for over 35 years, will be attending the event this summer. Here is the official announcement of Anthony Daniels appearance:

    [blockquote cite=]Anthony Daniels, the actor behind C-3PO, the golden protocol droid that was a central character in all six Star Wars movies, is scheduled to attend Star Wars Celebration Europe July 26-28 in Essen, Germany.  Daniels will be attending the weekend fan festival to sign autographs and meet fans in the Celebration Autograph Hall as well as appear on the main Celebration Stage for an interview with Warwick Davis.

    No stranger to Star Wars Celebrations, Daniels is always entertaining. In addition to his considerable contributions to the movies, the actor is steeped in Star Wars lore, having spent much of the past three years at the narrator of the spectacular symphony event, Star Wars- In Concert. Although he plays a character that is “…not very good at telling stories,” he does that very thing, every night at every concert performance. In shows across Europe, the USA, Mexico and Canada, the power of In Concert has completely changed Daniels’ feelings towards the whole Star Wars saga. He’s thrilled and honored to be a part of the whole phenomenon.[/blockquote]

    Star Wars Celebration Europe II takes place July 26-28, 2013. You can still purchase tickets for the event in the link below.

    Star Wars Celebration Europe

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