Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion

[CyberJCM]

I'm pretty much with the rest of you guys. Although, I have to admit that while not as good as the Original Trilogy, I was entertained by the prequels. You know what I think it was about them? Lightsabers. The Lightsaber is my absolute favorite thing about Star Wars, and the level they took the Lightsaber combat to in the prequels was awesome.

I think thats the thing about SW, is that everyone except Ouch can find something in it that entertains them, or matters to them or even speaks to them on some level. It might sound silly, but I found the redemptive moments between Vader and Luke in VI to be very moving, and made me long for some redemption between my own dad and I. Big point being, the films cast a wide net of interest.

I honestly don't see how they can continue the story with the original cast. Look at 'em, they're old farts! Granted, Disney did some neat things with Jeff Bridges for Tron Legacy, and that may work.... But I imagine it isn't worth it to them. If it stays with those characters they will be recast, like Star Trek. If there are people in charge of that film who truly give a crap this can work out great. I think they did a great job with casting Trek. It can happen! Personally I hope they don't grab a subplot or subcharacter and run with it. Not at first, or maybe not in large film. Perhaps TV. The romoured TV series Lucas was developing was very likely going to have alot to do with the underground criminal elements in SW. Speaking of which, has anyone seen footage of the new game 1313?

What do you guys think of the future of Indiana Jones? I see that as more of a Disney-esque property. I hope they continue it somehow. Just NO ALIENS! I think there is potential to run with Indys son, played by that Shia LaBeouf kid. He's entertaining. There's some interesting potential there, as far as timeline goes. They left off where, right at the end of WWII? I think we could definitely see Indy Jr. in the future. What do you guys think?

 

[Slowhand]

I wish I hadn't seen that picture of Carrie.

 

[mretzloff]

Most movies are quickly ruined with prequels and sequels. I think the Saw series is the best example. By the time they came out with the third, some will even argue the second, movie, the series was trash. Star Wars on the other hand, has not been ruined by the prequels. A lot of people will argue that the prequels were no good, but I think most would agree that they did not ruin anything. Because of this, I think what Disney does will be good. Some will not care for the new trilogy just because they think the original trilogy is all that matters, but I am looking forward to the next three.

 

[barrycv]

What? III (Jedi) is not trash? Ewoks having a Han Solo BBQ is not trash?

OK, Roman Numeral failure here on my part. Should have said VI was icky, but IV & V were good for what they were/are.

 

[Omak]

 

[JHCC]

The Star Wars franchise couldn't get any more Disneyfied than it is already.

 

[Phog Allen]

All salient points guys. And this is why I think they need to go into the sub characters for some inspiration. IF you recast Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill it will have to be as they are. Middle and retirement age guys. Han Solo on the floor of Han's Cafe Americain. Support characters. They cannot carry a swashbuckler and that is precisely what the original Star Wars was. It is why Pirates of the Caribbean worked so well for Depp and Geoffrey Rush. It was lighter fare but you get the drift. And like everything too much of any cast can truly cheapen it. The Pirates movies are done to death. How about a few Jedi tracking down bounty hunters(hint hint Boba Fett) in the old days?

I know the prequels get hammered for being too bright and cgi laden. But you have to remember, we already knew the ending. It is mighty hard to make it a surprise. And another thing is the era. IV, V, and VI dealt with an empire that had spent two decades decimating a Republic. The image of the old Republic was directly akin to Constantinople in its glory days. Beauty to make any man stand in awe. The Empirical era was dark and foreboding. Hence the sort of beat up image of the equipment and people in those movies. Those of us old enough to remember Sir Alec Guinness in movie star glory went; Say what? When he appeared in the originals. He was perfect as the aging sage who was not physically able to swash the buckle so to speak but used experience, ingenuity, and cunning to make his way. Casting, casting, casting. The prequels fell a bit short on this because other than Liam Neeson there was no quality character actors. Anakin as young adult seemed way too forced. Did Jango looked angst ridden? No he did not. Torn between ideals and ambition is one thing. Whining around is another. Hayden Christensen is not a bad actor but lord did he need a bit more unforced swagger. And I would have cast him as a bit older when he suffered his fall. Makeup, cgi, whateverI never got the idea in the originals that Vader was some twenty year old punk that got suckered in by the pimp daddy emperor. Again, cast things well and all will be well. Come up with the Brangelina look for the main bad arse character and you get let down. We shall see how it goes. I do agree that serious adult drama is pretty lacking these days. Case in point is my dad. Never a scifi fan he really liked the originals. Simply because there were life like characters that you sensed could be killed or hurt instead of surviving a nuclear blast or whatever with a few bruises and a "man that was close". Great discussion lets hear more plot ideas.

Cheers, Todd

 

[oc_in_fw]

I've never understood the aversion to reboots and sequels (or prequels). They don't detract from the quality of the original film; or the original trilogy, in this case. I have more of a problem with the alterations that Lucas made to the original trilogy than I do with any sort of new films made by whomever.

One reboot I am glad of is Batman. The ones prior to Christian Bale were horrible

 

[CyberJCM]

This is a great discussion! I like your insights Todd.

Ive got an idea, let's have a little hypothetical fun! Suppose they continue the story arc post Ep. VI, and recast the main characters. Say, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and Lando Calrisian too.

Which actors would be your best or favorite pick to play them?

ill put my picks up after I think on it a bit

 

[Phog Allen]

I am not sure but I think they would have to be relatively unknown. Such iconic characters are hard to cast with actors that are already famous for being associated with other onscreen persona. I think the hardest to cast would be Han Solo. Capturing Ford's easy swagger and character vulnerability would be nigh impossible I think. So for me it would be almost impossible to get into reboot but who knows? It was like the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still. After watching Michael Rennie it was a bit hard to watch the boyish Reeves as Klaatu.

Cheers, Todd

 

[oc_in_fw]

Simba is in trouble now.

 

[Loric]

I am not sure but I think they would have to be relatively unknown. Such iconic characters are hard to cast with actors that are already famous for being associated with other onscreen persona. I think the hardest to cast would be Han Solo. Capturing Ford's easy swagger and character vulnerability would be nigh impossible I think. So for me it would be almost impossible to get into reboot but who knows? It was like the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still. After watching Michael Rennie it was a bit hard to watch the boyish Reeves as Klaatu.

Cheers, Todd

I think this guy could do it.

 

[CyberJCM]

I think I have a good recast Han Solo pick: Hugh Jackman

 

[coloradomonkey]

Fact is, Lucas was always pretty bad on his own. He needed someone there to take his ideas and tweak them so that they'd turn out well.

Excellent point. Lawrence Kasdan wrote V, arguably the best. He also wrote the brilliant Raiders of the Lost Ark. Compare that to the terrible Temple of Doom.

 

[oc_in_fw]

I think this guy could do it.

I think you are right. Clooney has had some impressive performances, and is the epitome of classy, yet unattached, males

 

[CyberJCM]

I think you are right. Clooney has had some impressive performances, and is the epitome of classy, yet unattached, males

I really only liked him in Oh Brother Where Art Thou?

 

[Phog Allen]

Definitely Jackman over Clooney as Solo. About the right age too. Good call. Ewan McGregor is a very good Obiwan Kenobi and could be aged or made to look more youthful with minimal digital enhancement. Leia and Luke? I don't know. This also goes to the supporting character actors. The supporting cast in IV was grand. Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin is a great example. Fine, fine English actor he brought a seasoned weight to a role that was only seen in the movie for a total of about ten minutes. This is one of my pet peeves about modern cinema. With all the formulaic cookie cutter characters the good supporting roles get left out. Heck, Lucas cast a near 80 year old Christopher Lee( All 6'5" of him) to great effect in the prequels. BTW, Cushing and Lee were good friends. If you want to see why I piint to these older actors check out Lee's portrayal of Blind Pew in 1989's Treasure Island. Now here's a question for you. Who would play a late twenties/early thirties Boba Fett?

Cheers, Todd

 

[bakerbk73]

I threw up a little at the mention of Clooney as Han Solo. Harrison Ford is old, but he's still Harrison Ford and still head and shoulders the best choice for playing Han Solo. Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill could spend some time at the gym and get back into decent shape to play their parts too. They're both older and a little worse for wear, which is what the role would call for anyway. The point is that they're all still around and can play the parts they need to play, which in this case is a supporting role for younger actors to take up the story arc. Any recasting those roles would be a huge mistake IMO, the heavy lifting for any sequels would be done by the next generation of actors. The original cast would be the new "Alec Guiness'" ie. the voice of experience and the voice of caution to a head-strong youth. Just one man's opinion.

 

[Phog Allen]

I was just ding a bit of Googling about possible actors to reprise the three main characters. I just about chucked up at two of the leading suggestions for Han Solo. Ryan Gosling and Channing bloody Tatum. This is of course only media speculation but since Hollywood types all live and talk in the same hemisphere...I get nervous. Luke and Leia? As I suspected sggestions are all over the place. Han is the anchor character in the trifecta no doubt. This is why I hope it is all new characters and adventures or if they indeed go with Luke rebuilding the Jedi after the Empire falls they reprise the three originals as elder statesmen so to speak and limit their screen time whilst focusing on their progeny and their taking the reigns of a new Republic and Jedi counsel.

Cheers, Todd