Carrie Fisher

Very sad news today...

One of the most iconic figures in modern film history is gone. Carrie Fisher, the actress known worldwide for portraying Princess Leia Organa in the Star Wars saga and for her second act reinvention as a novelist, diarist, screenwriter, and in-demand script doctor, has died just days after suffering a heart attack. She was 60. 

The daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds (whose marriage and tumultuous divorce made headlines while she was just a girl), Fisher grew up in Beverly Hills a bookish, reserved child, before embarking on an acting career while still in high school. She would make her first prominent acting appearance as a debutante and singer in the Broadway revival of Irene, which starred her mother. This was followed in 1975 with an acclaimed appearance in Warren Beatty’s hit comedy Shampoo. 

But it was of course her second film role that would catapult her to permanent and worldwide fame. Co-starring alongside Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill in the George Lucas-directed Star Wars – since retitled Star Wars: A New Hope – Fisher portrayed Leia Organa, Princess, Senator and in the most recent film, General. One of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance, Leia as portrayed by Fisher is a hard-as-nails, uncompromising freedom fighter despite losing her family and homeworld. Fisher would go on to portray Leia in the Star Wars sequels The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and 2015’s The Force Awakens, as well as the much-derided 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special.

Though as an actress her non-Star Wars roles were vastly overshadowed by the intergalactic Princess, Fisher continued to pursue varied and interesting roles in front of the camera. Among them, she notably appeared in The Blues Brothers, The Man with One Red Shoe, Hannah and Her Sisters, When Harry Met Sally…, and a slew of other films, often referencing her most well-known role.

Fisher is also known for her book, Postcards From The Edge, and wrote the screenplay for the movie from her novel. She was previously married to Paul Simon.

She was a very talented writer and actress with a colorful career and personal life and will certainly be missed.

New Star Wars Cast Announced

Well, after months of speculation, the truth is finally out there…

The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.



Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.

Well, they got most of the original main cast, plus Andy Serkis and Max von Sydow.

Gollum and Ming the Merciless seem like they should fit right in.

Exciting!

Trek Wars

It looks like J. J. Abrams is going to take over another beloved Sci-Fi franchise...Star Wars.

J.J. Abrams will direct the next "Star Wars" film for Disney, taking stewardship of one of Hollywood's most iconic and lucrative film franchises. 

Lucasfilm Chief Kathleen Kennedy has been courting Abrams, one of the most successful directors and producers in Hollywood -- and a man beloved by fanboys. He runs one of the industry's top production companies, Bad Robot, and created or co-created television franchises like "Lost," "Fringe" and "Alias." He has also directed film spectacles "Mission: Impossible III," "Star Trek" and "Super 8." 

Though he has several producing jobs in front of him, Abrams had been uncommitted as a director. He will have to jump right into "Star Wars," which Disney has slated for a 2015 release.

Honestly, I think he'll do as good a job as anyone else. I loved what he did with the updated Star Trek and he wasn't even a big fan of that show.

He loves Star Wars.

I'm in.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

The first trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was released today...



This film takes place before the original 1977 Star Wars movie and focuses on a team of rebels who are tasked with trying to steal the plans to the Death Star.

It looks pretty amazing and seems very much in line with the look/feel of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Can't. Wait!

The movie opens on December 16th.

Space Mouse

This is pretty big news for Star Wars fans....

Disney has just confirmed that it has agreed to acquire George Lucas‘ Lucasfilm Ltd, and that includes rights to the Star Wars franchise that will now continue on. The companies have targeted a 2015 release for Star Wars: Episode 7, with Episode 8 and Episode 9 to follow, as the the long-term plan is to release a new feature every two or three years.

The stock and cash transaction is worth an estimated $4.05 billion.



That should be another big cash cow franchise for Disney (like Marvel) and, if there is any justice in the world, the three new Star Wars films will actually have a good story and characters (I didn't care for the last three "new" movies, i.e: big video game for kids).

Also, I need to make friends with George Lucas very soon.

That $4 billion paycheck is not going to spend itself.

Star Trek 3: Starfleet Drift

The new director for the upcoming third Star Trek movie has finally been decided…

Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions and JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot just set Justin Lin to direct Star Trek 3, filling the biggest open directing assignment out there with the filmmaker credited with reviving the Fast & Furious series. Lin helmed four of the films that grossed $1.9 billion in worldwide box office. 

He replaces Roberto Orci, who got that job after being involved as co-writer of the revamped Star Trek series. The first two installments were directed by Abrams, who then left to direct a revival of the Star Wars franchise with Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Well, if nothing else, Justin does know how to direct an action movie…so there is hope.

I'm just glad it's finally moving forward.

Make it so and make it now!!

Kill Kirk

News today that Quentin Tarantino is developing a Star Trek movie idea with JJ Abrams at Paramount...

Already busy prepping to direct the film he just set up at Sony Pictures, Quentin Tarantino is also planning to boldly go where he has not gone before. Sources said that Tarantino has come up with a great idea for a Star Trek movie at Paramount. After sharing his idea with JJ Abrams (who himself is busy prepping Star Wars Episode IX), I’ve heard the plan is to assemble a writers room of scribes who’ll hear Tarantino’s take and begin to put together a movie. If it all works out, Tarantino might direct it, with Abrams producing.

Well, this will be interesting. Let's hope he's a big fan and not just doing it to fit in with his other movies. Otherwise it could be one of the most violent Star Trek movies ever made.

I don't want my Star Trek being too stabby.

New Star Wars poster

A new poster for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released last night in advance of a new trailer that is supposed to be released tonight during the football game (and, likely, online a few minutes later). Also, people can start purchasing tickets for the movie at select theaters after the trailer airs tonight as well.

Everyone seems to be represented, except for Luke Skywalker (unless he's in disguise in there somewhere).

Interesting.

I'm sure that all will be explained soon.

UPDATE: And here is the new trailer...



Awesome!

Baby Taco Bell

With Star Wars: The Force Awakens open on every movie screen in the world right now, I thought it would be nice to step back in time a bit to enjoy the original Star Wars films in a new way.

Behold...the Bad Lip-Reading versions (featuring the voices of Jack Black, Bill Hader, and Maya Rudolph).

May the cash be with you

As expected, Star Wars: The Last Jedi made just a "little" bit of money over the weekend....

Illuminating lightsabers in 54 material overseas markets, Disney/Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi showed its force with a $230M opening at the international box office. Combined with domestic, that puts the global launch at $450M. 

The worldwide figure ranks The Last Jedi as the No. 5 debut ever.

I could live off just the interest of that money for the rest of my life.

If only.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer #2

Squeeee!!

A new trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released today and it has a big focus on the original crew of Han, Luke, and Lia...plus lots of cool new footage.



I like the old school tone of this one and the fact that, although there are some great visual effects, it's not a crappy CGI-fest like the last set of three new films that were released. It's obvious that J.J. Abrams listened to fans and used a lot of real creatures and locations like the original films.







Exciting!!

OH...and this edited video of Matthew McConaughey's reaction to this trailer is hilariously perfect...

Star Wars VFX

You'll definitely appreciate how amazing the effects were in Star Wars: The Force Awakens after watching this rare "Behind the Magic" video....



Pretty awesome.

Star Wars: What's In The Box?

In honor of Star Wars: The Last Jedi opening TODAY (which I'm seeing tonight in IMAX 3D), here are two of the stars, John Boyega and Gwendoline Christie, playing a round of "What's In The Box?" for Vanity Fair....



Hilarious!!

Diahann Carroll

Very sad news today...

Diahann Carroll, TV’s history-making star of NBC’s 1960s sitcom Julia and Broadway’s first black Tony Award-winner in a leading role for the 1962 musical No Strings, died today of cancer. The Dynasty star was 84.

Already a popular stage and nightclub performer when she signed on to star in Julia, Carroll is credited with being the first African-American actress to lead a primetime series in a non-stereotypical role, and the first overall since Beulah, the 1950s sitcom about a maid. 

Julia became an immediate hit when it launched in September 1968, finishing at No. 7 among all primetime programs that season, and won Carroll a 1968 Best Actress/TV Golden Globe Award. The series was canceled after the 1971 season. Carroll would go on to earn three additional primetime Emmy nominations for roles in Naked City (1963), A Different World (1989) and Grey’s Anatomy (2008). She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 1999 for the children’s special The Sweetest Gift.

Various TV appearances followed (Roots: The Next Generations, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, even the destined-for-cult-classic-status The Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978), but Carroll’s next pioneering move came with her portrayal of Dominique Deveraux, first in 1984 on Dynasty and, later, crossing over to the show’s spin-off The Colbys. 

Though perhaps most widely known for her TV roles – she was a 2011 inductee in the Television Hall of Fame – Carroll was a longstanding and celebrated stage actress, following up House of Flowers and No Strings with a 1982 stint in Broadway’s Agnes of God and 1999’s Off Broadway landmark feminist production The Vagina Monologues. She again defied expectations in 1995 by starring as Norma Desmond in the Toronto production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard.

She was always enjoyable to watch and had a wonderfully long and successful career.

She will be missed.

Poehler-ized

Seth Macfarlane, creator of TV's Family Guy, is a very big fan of Star Wars and Star Trek. So, when the late Gene Roddenberry was inducted into the Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame recently...Seth was invited to do a tribut to Mr. Roddenberry.

His speech is great.

What's odd is Amy Poehler's awkardly stiff and seemingly unrehearsed introduction of the whole segment...



I love Amy and she is usually hilarious and comfortable whenever she speaks. Not so much on this day.

They should have let Stewie do Seth's intro...that would have been a hoot.

If you missed the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode of Family Guy, you can watch some very funny highlights here:

Road Wars

If Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Mad Max: Fury Road movie were combined, this is what we'd get to see...



The effects are pretty cool and, if it did exist...it would likely make a bazillion dollars.

The Name Game

And Star Wars VIII now has an official title...

The Last Jedi.

Do we really think there is only one left?

We'll find out when the movie opens on December 15th.

Skywalker, out!

The last of the Skywalker-focused Star Wars movies opens on December 20th.

Coming together

The final trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was released last night...



It's looking pretty epic and fun.

We'll see how this final entry turns out when it opens on December 20th.

The Mandalorian

In other Star Wars news, Disney+ released the first trailer for it's upcoming series, The Mandalorian...



I don't know much about the story, but the effects looks pretty great and it's got a good cast and director.

So, I guess I'll now have to get Disney+ in the fall to see it when it becomes available on November 12th.

Why must everything have it's own separate pay channel these days?!!