George Lucas Talks More 'Star Wars' TV
Filed under: Action, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, George Lucas, Home Entertainment, Remakes and Sequels
In a two-part interview with TV Guide, George Lucas talked some more about those two Star Wars TV series he currently has in the works. You'll remember that one Star Wars-related show -- the one that's the furthest along -- is animated, and will take place during the Clone Wars (or, more specifically, between Episode II and Episode III). The other series will be live action, and will take place between Episode III and Episode IV. But before you get all excited, thinking Darth Vader will make his first-ever appearance on the small screen -- keep reading.
On the animated series, Lucas said: "Unfortunately, it doesn't fall into the realm of what animation [typically] is, which is either adult, kind of off-color humor or kiddie stuff. This is, like Star Wars, sort of in between those two things. It's a lot of battle stuff, and it's obviously the Clone Wars, so it's a war picture. So it's kind of a PG-13 animated TV series, which is something that has never been done before and obviously doesn't fit in any of the conventional slots that these things fall into. In that, it's very different, and I think it's very exciting. It's got a very, very sophisticated look to it. It's very much like the features. We're still trying to figure out how to put it on the air." Lucas went on to say that they're on episode 40 right now, out of 100, and will look to put it on the air once they've arrived somewhere between 50 and 60 episodes. He also said that it wouldn't be a Saturday Morning Cartoon, and because of the content, will most likely air after 9 o'clock at night.
Regarding the live action series, Lucas said they'll first start writing it in about a month from now. He continued: "The live-action [series] is not the movie. It's the Star Wars universe, but it's characters from the saga who were [previously] minor, and it follows their stories. It's set between [movie episodes] III and IV, when the Empire has taken over. It's like Episode IV in that the Emperor and Darth Vader are heard about - people talk about them - but you never see them because it doesn't take place where they actually are. There are storm troopers and all that, but there are no Jedis. It's different, but I think it's very exciting because I get to explore a part of that universe that I haven't been able to explore." As far as episodes go, like the animated series, they're shooting for 100. So, are you excited about these? And which series do you think has the most potential?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-23-2007 @ 5:04PM
Tim said...
Meh.
Seeing how bad Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith were pretty much killed any desire of mine to continue with the series.
I imagine both series will bomb.
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9-23-2007 @ 7:14PM
madgamer said...
"they're on episode 40 right now, out of 100, and will look to put it on the air once they've arrived somewhere between 50 and 60 episodes."
holy crap. It must be nice working on an unlimited 'Lucas' budget. Most shows can't afford to do anything even close to that, especially an animated one thats never even shown a pilot on air. Unless each episode is like a 5-10min mini webisode or something.
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9-23-2007 @ 7:53PM
sean said...
Who in the world still cares about Star Wars at this point?
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9-23-2007 @ 9:34PM
snootyfox said...
Sean, have you ever been to a convention?
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9-24-2007 @ 3:07AM
bongo123 said...
Starwars is still alive and kicking and will be for the next load of years when lucas starts knocking out the original films all remastered for 3D... it'll never end.
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9-24-2007 @ 8:27AM
pedro said...
While the animated series seems pretty interesting, I'm very interested in a Star Wars series with no Jedis! That's a pretty fascinating concept for the big old geek in me.
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9-24-2007 @ 11:46AM
Tolu Abisola said...
I have no respect for Lucas.
How can you respect a man who has managed to destroy his own franchise?
How can you respect a man who is so far out of touch with what his many fans liked about Star Wars.
F**k Lucas and all who sail with him (apart from ILM, they still do quality work)
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9-24-2007 @ 2:45PM
Michael said...
"And, of course, I'm always outside the box, so it's like, "Uh-oh, we don't have a box for you.""
I love it how George Lucas is always acting like he's some kind of maverick indie filmmaker just because he made the Star Wars movies with his own money.
A note to George Lucas: You practically invented the modern blockbuster. You're not only inside the box, you are the box.
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9-24-2007 @ 3:18PM
Bill said...
I like the idea of a live action series with different characters (no Jedi). Maybe we could see a young Han Solo or Lando Calrissian? I hope it goes to a major network, not a cable network.
Still, I hope this isn't like Lucas' other TV shows like the Ewok Adventure or Young Indiana Jones. He has a pretty bad track record outside of the original trilogy.
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9-24-2007 @ 4:56PM
mnkylps92 said...
YAY!!!!!!! I cant wait for the live action one!!!! I always wondered what happened inbetween 3 and 4. Maybe there will be young boba too. But the part about no jedi?? i cant belive that....what about Yoda and Obiwan?? Yeah i know they went into hiding, but cant they just like pop out every once and a while??
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9-24-2007 @ 6:09PM
automaton said...
tonight's episode...
Bucky the Jawa, underaged and desperately curious, auditions for Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes... but when a devious Gonk droid steals his Kloo Horn, not only is the evenings performance at risk, the very tollerance towards droids, and their place in cantinas is at stake.
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9-24-2007 @ 7:40PM
pookiemang69 said...
wtf a live action star wars tv show with no jedi or sith it'll bomb.
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9-25-2007 @ 8:09AM
Darth Potato said...
Think of the horrible amount of commercials they'll force us to watch during these shows.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:37AM
John F.C. Taylor said...
Interesting that he'll take the time and effort to do a TV series, but won't do more movies. I didn't watch #1 - #3 because we all knew wha happened any way. I'd have much rather seen what happened to Luke and the rest in the 20 years since the Empire was defeated. Considering all the books, George could have done the movies using the books rather than have to work on his own screen plays. Then there's the time of filming involved. Couldn't he have done all three at once? Work for Back To The Future and Lord Of The Rings. What's really funny is The Transformers made more money than two of the Star Wars films. Check it out at www.movieweb.com. Click on the all time ranks.
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9-25-2007 @ 12:13PM
viktor said...
I'd like to see a live series taking place about the same time as the KotOR games....not that it would have anything to do with the plot in the games but i just like the idee of a story taking place so many years earlier than the movies. Would have been cool with thousands of jedis and siths in a time that wouldn't have anything to do with the movies...
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9-25-2007 @ 6:57PM
Joey said...
Transformers may have made more box office haul, but the merchandising is where Lucas made all his money.
For the same reason, he didn't use the books outlining the 20 years since the fall of the Empire. He may own the rights to the characters, but the stories are owned, at least in part by the writers like Timothy Zahn, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Stackpole.
If he writes his own, he keeps the biggest stack for himself. Plus, he usually films his own stuff anyway...
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10-05-2007 @ 10:25PM
jigen said...
It's interesting to read derisive comments about George Lucas...I always get the feeling they're from unsophisticated fanboys who wished the story had played out as blandly as they did it with their action figures...I wonder how many of those who hate Star Wars will still tune in. Probably the same number who hated, or were "disappointed" with, episode I but still put the time into watching episodes II and III. (Hypocrites, fools, corporate tools!)
The design of the films has always been rich, hinting at life beyond the story. I think by excluding Sith/Jedi, this will deepen and make more interesting the galaxy Mr. Lucas has created. Hopefully it'll have no "young" characters from episodes 4-6, or older versions of those in 1-3. I'd like to see more stories about the Hutts. They seem very American! :)
At least this isn't a series that takes place after episode 6 - you know, after the story ends. How boring would that be? They all lived happily ever after...well, that's predictable, boring and not worth watching. It takes place squarely in the middle of the growing Empire (a bit like contemporary America), in the rising action, rather than after the climax.
Good luck with this series. Intelligent people are looking forward to it. Detractors still have sports, Nascar, wrasslin and other television boredom to look forward to...
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9-27-2007 @ 9:18AM
Toddy said...
Speak for yourself. I loved Revenge of The Sith. I can't wait for the series.
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9-27-2007 @ 1:36AM
gerrytown1971 said...
I love Star Wars, but I also think Lucas needs to let go and move on to other projects. I think he's a smart guy, with the talent and resources to create and develop more wonderful adventures for us moviegoers. He produced 'Indiana Jones' , "Willow", etc. . Why not continue making other movies? For example, movies that "feel" like Lucas' offsprings are: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, Chronicles of Narnia, The Rocketeer, etc. Mister Lucas should take off his producer hat for a moment and fall in love with movies again.
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9-27-2007 @ 10:47AM
ciril said...
The last 3 movies were so awful, I cannot believe that any series will be any better. Lucas for some reason, HAD to trace all the major characters from the first three back 20 year - I'm speaking of Chewie, Boba, R2, & C3PO - that it was just stupid.
I read the books - some of them anyway (many are nauseatingly terrible) - and the authors did a much better job at telling the back stories.
All Lucas did was fuck everything up. Had it not been for the first 3 films and their devoted fans, the last three would have bombed.
Crap.
The TV shows will be crap too.
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