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One of the biggest themes that seems to be popping up this week is the production returning to old haunts from the Original Trilogy. Yes, we’ve heard about Tatooine and Hoth in the rumor mill previously, and the production team has reminded us that there are other desert and ice planets in the galaxy – true enough! – but we’re getting so many of these that I’m starting to wonder if the production is trying to stack the deck in Episode VII by giving OT fans a dose of what they love, as a way to ease them into the new trilogy.
What do you think? Will Abrams and Kasdan purposely try to put things in the movie to appeal to the original base of fans? Chime in at Facebook.com/sw7x7.
Some major filming took place in the Forest of Dean in Wales this past week, and allegedly there were “thousands of extra hands” on set, implying that some sort of major battle was being filmed in the woods. John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and Pip Andersen were there, too, along with stunt doubles. There’s some talk that this means we’re in for a return trip to Endor. Endor?! Really? And is this a return trip, or one of the flashbacks we’ve been hearing about?
In the past, there’s been speculation that a cyborg-y looking guy holding something black and broken that could be holding the remains of Darth Vader’s mask from the Endor funeral pyre, so maybe this one holds a little weight.
Meanwhile, Jedi News across the pond reports on a rumor about a rumor: Namely, that the rumor about Luke being missing for many years, and that it’s a major plot driver, isn’t exactly the case.
On tangentially related news, /Film took note of the fact that Daisy Ridley’s and John Boyega’s Twitter accounts have disappeared off the face of the earth. And a Lucasfilm rep said there were as surprised as anyone to hear about that. Crazy! Where did they go, and why?
And MakingStarWars.net has been on fire with rumors and spoilers breaking this week, including:
The role of Max von Sydow’s character in the movie – not a Sith Lord or some aristocrat linked to the family of Count Dooku. Something somewhat more benign than that…
The Greenham Common set, and claimed that it’s a different base from another one that’s supposed to appear in the movie – and that other one would take us back to Yavin IV and a location referred to as the “Pirate’s Cove.” So there’s your second OT planet reference for this episode! Although, Jason Ward ended that post with a “Baba Booey,” which for the non-Howard-Stern fans out there, makes me wonder how legitimate that rumor is
The potential home of Daisy Ridley’s suspected main character, which has something to do with the apparent AT-AT foot seen in the desert in Abu Dhabi. Which, despite assertions from the production company, may mean that we are, in fact, going back to Tatooine for the sixth time in seven movies…
What the next generation of R2 units could look like, and the scene in which it appears…
The possible return of creature guru Phil Tippett to the Star Wars team, and maybe to work on something as huge as a Hutt, for starters…
And a couple of other items about whether Chewie has a robotic arm, a Chrome trooper’s weapon, something about a Felucian and lightsaber crystals, and other such stuff…
But the mind-blowing rumor is detailed here, and here, and it’s crazy enough that I simply don’t want to talk about it. As more details come out about his rumor, the more conflicting the information seems to be with previous rumor reports. It’s being referred to as an “I am your father” level plot twist, but after having read it – if it’s true – I’d say it makes for a heck of a cliffhanger, but it’s not like what’s being reported actually rewrites the way we look at the movies which have come before it, like what happened in Empire. At least, I don’t see it that way.
But what about you? Do you have thoughts to share on any of these rumors? Let ‘em rip at Facebook.com/sw7x7!
Star Wars Fun Fact
Surprising or little known Star Wars tidbits, sometimes related to today’s Force Feature.Did you hear? It was reported this week that David Fincher had been in talks to direct Star Wars: Episode VII before the job ultimately went to J.J. Abrams. Well, when you hear this quote from Fincher, you can probably guess why he lost out on the job:
I always thought of Star Wars as the story of two slaves [C-3PO and R2-D2] who go from owner to owner, witnessing their masters’ folly, the ultimate folly of man… I thought it was an interesting idea in the first two, but it’s kind of gone by Return Of The Jedi.
Life on “Tweet”-ooine
A featured dispatch from the Star Wars Twitterverse!#starwars Luke Skywalker publicity photo for Empire pic.twitter.com/7IibtBilxM
— Classic Star Wars (@ClassicStarWars) October 5, 2014
Star Wars Swag Bag
So many fun, quirky, and awesome ways to bring Star Wars into your daily life!Exclusive “Le Death Star” Ladies’ Scoop Neck Sweatshirt – click the pic for a closer look!
Trivia Time!
Test your knowledge of the Star Wars universe!Yesterday’s answer: Lando
Today’s question: Who killed the rancor?