Christensen Will Don Darth Vader Suit
16 July 2002 (WENN)
Fans of Hayden Christensen will have to do without his hunky features in the new Star Wars installment - he will be wearing the body suit and mask of the evil Darth Vader. A source on the Australian Fox Studios set, where Lucasfilm representatives reportedly visited last week, reports that the new movie, Episode III, will begin filming next summer, with Boba Fett actor Daniel Logan told to keep the months of July and August free. In addition to Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, donning Vader's famous black suit, the source, quoted on the Ain't It Cool News website, reports that casting director Robin Gurland met with British stars Samantha Morton , Robert Carlyle and Christopher Eccleston in London earlier this month. Jonathan Hales will reportedly return as co-writer, as will the CGI version of cult character Yoda - and mountains and caves around Australia have been touted as possible locations for the movie.
McGregor To Quit Smoking for Lucas
3 July 2002 (WENN)
Scottish hunk Ewan McGregor is doing a favor for his pal and director George Lucas - he's quitting smoking. The Trainspotting star plans to end his nicotine addiction before he begins filming Star Wars: Episode III next year. Ewan says, "George says it's a terrible and unhealthy habit. He's right and I've said I'll kick it before we work together again."
Original Vader Aims To Return
28 May 2002 (WENN)
Despite arthritis, crutches and one useless arm, the man who played the original Darth Vader is determined to make his mark on the final Star Wars film. Life-long body builder David Prowse , 66, donned the famous black helmet for George Lucas ' first three episodes, and is eager to return for the historic final installment, which begins shooting next year. He says, "I still definitely want the part again. I'm going to have an operation on my hip in September and then I'm planning to go back to the gym. I should be fit and ready by next year. I have such a large following that if George Lucas offered the part to someone else, I'm sure fans would boycott the film." And Prowse is convinced he is in with a chance. Hayden Christensen , who plays Darth's Jedi alter ego Anakin Skywalker, is nearly one foot shorter than Prowse was as Vader.
Christensen Unsure If He'll Get To Wear Vader Costume
15 May 2002 (WENN)
Hayden Christensen is still waiting to hear if he'll get to wear Darth Vader's famous black costume in the third Star Wars film. The Canadian actor plays Anakin Skywalker in Attack Of The Clones, which offers glimmers of the character's eventual transformation into the villainous Vader. But Christensen says creator George Lucas has not told him how far the transformation will go in Episode III. He says, "I nag him every now and then about whether or not I'll get to wear the Darth Vader outfit, and he gives me a little wink- wink, nudge-nudge, that maybe I will." The actor has managed to try on Vader's helmet, just for fun, at Lucas' Skywalker Ranch. Christensen, 21, reveals, "Last time I was here, I went up to the archives and got shown around, and there was the dark helm. I asked if I could put it on and get a picture, which is pretty funny, because I'm wearing this gray track suit and had this enormous helmet on which is just completely disproportionate." Christensen has tried to pry more details about the next film out of Lucas, who begins shooting the third and final prequel next summer for release in 2005.
Jackman In Star Wars III?
9 May 2002 (WENN)
George Lucas has reportedly approached Australian actor Hugh Jackman to star in third Star Wars prequel. Fans who attended the "Star Wars: Celebration" convention in Indiana claimed they overheard producer Rick McCallum discussing the cast for Episode III. X-Men star Jackman is said to be considering a villainous role in the forthcoming movie, which is set to be released in 2005.
Only 19 Theaters To Project Episode II Digitally
30 April 2002 (StudioBriefing)
Despite George Lucas 's best efforts to push digital projection, only 19 theaters will be showing his Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones using digital projectors when it opens on May 16, Wired magazine reported on its website Monday. The 19 are: Harkins Arrowhead Cinemas 18 (Peoria, AZ); AMC Media Center 6 (Burbank, CA); Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 Megaplex (Irvine, CA); El Capitan Theatre (Los Angeles, CA); Loews Century Plaza (Los Angeles, CA); AMC Mission Valley 20 (San Diego, CA); AMC 1000 Van Ness (San Francisco, CA); AMC Pleasure Island 24 (Lake Buena Vista, FL); AMC South Barrington 30 (South Barrington, IL); AMC Studio 30 (Olathe, KS); General Cinema Framingham 16 (Framingham, MA); Show Case Cinemas Randolph (Randolph, MA); Edgewater Multiplex Cinemas (Edgewater, NJ); AMC Empire 25 Theatres (New York); Clearview Ziegfeld Theatre (New York); Loews Cineplex E-Walk (New York); Cinemark at Valley View (Valley View, OH); Showcase Cinemas Springdale (Springdale, OH); Cinemark at Legacy (Plano, TX). Lucas has said that no theater will be allowed to show Episode III unless it is equipped with digital projectors.
Time Writers Cheer Episode II
22 April 2002 (StudioBriefing)
Time magazine writers Richard Corliss and Jess Cagle, who have seen a rough-cut of Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones, which opens May 16, say that the new film marks a considerable advance over Episode I -- The Phantom Menace. "Clones seems poised to get the series back on track -- and provide an exhilarating two hours of serious fun," they write in the current issue. Their article also includes an interview with George Lucas in which the director expresses concern about whether audiences will accept what he has in mind for Episode III: "The next film is really dark," Lucas says. "The issue is, Will people stand for it? But I've got to tell the story. And when I finish it, I'll be 60. I've got a lot of things I want to do with my life other than more of this. I've got a bunch of TV shows that I want to do. I've got a half-dozen movies that have stayed in my brain the past 30 years. Some of them are extremely uncommercial; I may not even get them released. I'm in a position now where I can say, I'm gonna make this movie because I wanna see this movie. We'll have a couple of screenings somewhere and call it a day. Or just put it directly on DVD or on the Independent Film Channel."
Will Willy Ever Be Free?
29 March 2002 (StudioBriefing)
Cellular-phone pioneer Craig McCaw, who has contributed $10 million to date to a thus-far unsuccessful effort to introduce Free Willy star Keiko back to his ocean roots, has announced he is pulling out of the project. McCaw told Britain's Guardian newspaper through a spokesman, "After two years of solid attempt, if it hasn't happened yet, it's going to become a long-term project that should be funded by an animal-care organization."
CORRECTION: In Thursday's edition, we erroneously stated that Star Wars: Episode III is scheduled to be released in 2003. It is due to start production in 2003 and to be released in 2005.
Jackson Reveals Jedi Fate
28 March 2002 (WENN)
Samuel L. Jackson has revealed the fate of the Jedi in the third Star Wars prequel. All the Jedi, Jackson claims, will die in Episode 3, including himself. Jackson, who plays Mace Windu, says, "All the Jedi die in Episode 3 during the Clone Wars. I told George Lucas I didn't mind dying, I just didn't want to go out like some punk." The 53-year-old continues, "George said that was fine and he'd see what he could do about a fitting death scene for Mace."
Jackson On Episode III. A "Spoiler?"
28 March 2002 (StudioBriefing)
[POSSIBLE ****SPOILER**** BELOW]
Appearing to defy the nondisclosure pledge that George Lucas requires of anyone connected with his films, Samuel L. Jackson has revealed that in Star Wars: Episode III, due to be released next year, all of the Jedi are wiped out. "I told George I didn't mind dying," Jackson told the Calgary Sun, "I just didn't want to go out like some punk. George said that was fine and he'd see what he could do about a fitting death scene." Jackson also said that Lucas probably also okayed the screening of Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones for Harry Knowles , who has posted a review on his website [
http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com]. "I think it's pretty safe to say George knew the screening was going to happen. Harry has a huge website that kids hit all the time, and they're the audience for Star Wars," Jackson said.