SWTOR, Underworld, and the sequel trilogy

[Soma]

First post, forgive me if I ramble a bit.

Does anyone else remember that, after the release of Ep.6: RotJ, people were clamoring to know about further SW films, which Lucas had hinted at from the get-go? And yet, ca. 1984-1993 - Lucas was cagey on the subject. There were no plans to produce more films. Discussions about sequels and prequels were dismissed for various reasons.

It took a decade or more before we were being teased toward an answer - at last, Lucas was ready to reveal what he had planned all along, but not before the original films were restored and redressed. Jabba enters Ep.4, and against any sense of smuggler reason, Greedo became merely a really bad shot instead of the idiot Rodian patsy we expected to be pa-crispa'd. No worries, though, because we got a glimpse of how CGI would change everything. And then, the prequels, in all their conflicted glory. No need for protracted comments on the films, but I loved them, they were a labor of love, and I never understood people claiming their childhoods were raped by Jar Jar. Needless to say, the prequels were not universally acclaimed. Lucas has said in response, why bother with more Star Wars?

And yet, we got The Clone Wars. And then, talk of a SW TV series called Underworld. (TOR has given us a glimpse of life in the SW underworld, with agents, Hutts, Twi'lek strippers and such.) The show is delayed, possibly never going to happen, but who knows? With HBO level production values, and iptv prospects, I think it could be huge. There were other rumors (which I personally saw, but can no longer find citations) that some sources saw an Old Republic (ie pre-prequel) film project under consideration. Perhaps that was just speculation based on TOR development? (Read somewhere that the devs have compared TOR to doing a TV series...?) Also saw suggestions of a Yoda based prequel.

So, to the belabored point. Am I really going out on a limb when I suggest that there is no question that Lucas will continue to draw from the Infinite Empire he created? He originally planned 9 films - I think we'll see them.

[azraghoul]

Actually I highly doubt 7 8 and 9 will be made. If they are it most likely won't be by GL. It is I believe confirmed by GL himself that the production rights to 789 were given to his long term friend Steven Speilberg (just butchered his name).

I remember this from an article I read in a magazine about a year ago. Wish I could remember wich one so I could verify.

It was part of his "I am retiring from movie making" eopie poopie, bantha poodoo I say.

[Scripts]

Lucas is also blaming the fans for killing 7, 8 and 9. He faced such backlash from the prequels (Episode 1-3) and the changes he made to the original trilogy for the anniversary that he's officially proclaimed that he's done making SW movies, after he finishes redoing the series for 3D, of course.

[Cadika]

If you were gonna tap an area for a tv series, the kotor graphic novels would probably be the most desired. Second to an xwing series and the the legacy graphic novels(150 years later) both are able to get casts for easily. And honestly, the success of the clone wars begs the question, why do a movie when cgi is so heavily used, just do it animated. You can keep characters and even use voice actors from the games and movies.
One area that could produce success is this new dawn of the jedi comic series.

[Soma]

But do you believe him?

[Soma]

All that great expanded universe content from books and comics...I think that too will someday get its due, but I doubt Lucas would let it happen until he personally was TRULY DONE. And I guess my point above is that I don't believe Lucas is truthful about his SW plans. I think the evidence is that Lucas keeps changing his mind, and has a history of obfuscation.

Probably we'll never see old Hamill, Fisher, and Ford in an Ep. 7. All for the better. But will there never be another Star Wars feature film? I find that impossible to believe. The existence of TOR is proof that Lucas wants to milk the cow forever, and I hope he does!

[Guiseppe]

I think that IF there were to be a 789, (big IF), zahn's trilogy would make an excellent screenplay. Those three books are really what got me drawn into a galaxy far, far away.

[Cadika]

The thrawn trilogy and the dark empire novels and to an extent the jedi acdemy all deserve screen time. The problem is that those faces we wanna see are far older than the 6-8 years after battle of yavin. Which brings back up, make them animated. The final fantasy advent children movie is proof you can do it right and spirit's within that you can do it wrong. But for a franchise that has everything from darths of epicness to wookie christmas specials of epic fail cheesy glory. We have a true full scope of potential

[Schismatist]

The thrawn trilogy and the dark empire novels and to an extent the jedi acdemy all deserve screen time. The problem is that those faces we wanna see are far older than the 6-8 years after battle of yavin. Which brings back up, make them animated. The final fantasy advent children movie is proof you can do it right and spirit's within that you can do it wrong. But for a franchise that has everything from darths of epicness to wookie christmas specials of epic fail cheesy glory. We have a true full scope of potential

Why am I the only person that enjoyed spirits within?

[Cadika]

You're not the only one that enjoyed that movie. I think it is a really good movie. But not in the slightest bit do I connect it to final fantasy. There wasn't one funny looking "ostrich" in the whole movie

[Cethron]

I think there are all sorts of possablities here. If GL gave the rights to Steven Speilberg there could not be a better director. George Lucas is an awsome writer and has an awsome dream. But his directing skills are not quite up to snuff. Don't get me wrong I admire him and enjoy his work but Steven and George are awsome and a proven team that could do anything together.

So if Steven does have the rights to the SW movies we can probably plan to see somthing amazing come out of it.

[Sasir]

But see... I think it was a good thing that he made 1 - 3 just for lore sake

[Garou]

I personally think the next generation stories where the kids are pre and young teens could be done right now. They might have to put a bunch of make up on Ford, Fisher has lost some weight, Skywalker had that short period with the Dark side to explain away the scars on Hamil's face. If they wait too much longer they wont be able to use the original actors as they will be way too old.

[Soma]

I remember Hamill saying way back when that Lucas really wanted to just own their likenesses, or to be able to put them in carbonite, something to that effect. I could easily see the veteran actors being CGI'd in the same way Jeff Bridges was in Tron 2.

[Cloud]

I saw a post on yahoo the other day, George Lucas was saying Star Wars is dead.