Here Is Your New Star Wars Cast

Just days before the fourth, the official cast of Episode VII has been revealed.  Interesting names like Andy Serkis and Max von Sydow appear along side original trilogy stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher.

More interesting is that this new cast is made up of relative unknowns.  Even Adam Driver might be unfamiliar to those who are not fans of HBO's Girls.

Click the RAWR for the complete announcement.

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Disney Buys Lucasfilm! New Star Wars in 2015?!!

In your WTF news for the day, multiple sources (including Deadline) are reporting that The Walt Disney Company is acquiring LUCASFILM and planning to release Episode 7 in 2015, plus more titles to follow.

This is either amazing news or the end of the world, depending on who you ask.

Read on for the press release:

Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. The final consideration will be subject to customary post-closing balance sheet adjustments.

"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney's unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value."

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and "evergreen" Star Wars franchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.

Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney's global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future.

The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.

Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm's legendary Star Wars franchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world's top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney's strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.

The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney's very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company's unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney's portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company's ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world's highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Lucasfilm have approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, and other customary closing conditions. The agreement has been approved by the sole shareholder of Lucasfilm.

Note: Additional information and comments from Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company, and Jay Rasulo, senior executive vice president and CFO, The Walt Disney Company, regarding Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, are attached.

SOURCE

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Movie Poster: The Phantom Menace 3D

Yeah.  This is happening.

In the meantime, you can get the entire series on Blu-ray now!

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Movie Trailer: Red Tails

So this is George Lucas' follow up to Star Wars.  It's ominous that they're releasing this movie in January.  Probably a good sign that it's terrible.  And like most of his other works, it looks beautiful but the acting sounds awful.  I'm not sure where he lost the ability to work with actors but it happened somewhere.

What do you think?  Will you catch Red Tails?

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Indy Five Is Alive!

Yes, it is true. The gangs all back for a fifth entry into the Indiana Jones franchise. We have confirmations from both Frank Marshall and Shia LaBeouf have confirmed that the wheels are in motion.

Please let it be good. Please.

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Howard The Duck on DVD tomorrow 3/10!

After years of waiting (at least for me) Howard The Duck is finally releasing on DVD tomorrow 3/10.

It's currently sitting at $8.99 on Amazon.

Buy it!

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Guess Who's Coming To DVD?

Howard The Duck! Ah yes, the George Lucas bomb heard round the world, and one of my favorite childhood movies, is finally coming to DVD on March 10, 2009.

It is available for pre-order for $10.49.

This movie has a spot already reserved on my DVD shelf.

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Fanboys Trailer!!!!

This needs to be released now. I can't wait any longer.

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South Park Returns with a non consensual bang!

After a so so first half of season 12, South Park was back on track after last nights hilarity.

This was probably one of the top 5 funniest episodes of South Park. The entire Indiana Jones storyline was absolutely brilliant and summed up exactly how so many of us felt when we were in that theater on Memorial Day weekend.

Way to go Trey and Matt!

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19 years waiting and finally it's here...

It's 12:19 am right now. I just watched the Grey's Anatomy season finale (great show btw). My thoughts right now are leaping to the future. About 20 Hours from now I'll be sitting in the theater watching a movie I have been waiting to see for nearly two decades.

Does that sound incredible to say? I grew up in the 80s with movies like Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Poltergeist, Monster Squad to name a few. While I loved, and still love, all of these movies none of them movies ever gave me such a feeling of awe and excitement as the Indiana Jones movies.

I watched the first two films on VHS and saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in the theater. I was 9 years old. I've never forgotten it. Quo Vadis in Westland. Sitting on the edge of my seat, my eyes widening with anticipation as the lights dimmed and finally it began.

Twenty hours from now, 19 years later, myself now 28, I'll be on the edge of my seat as the lights go down and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull begins.

I am trying to stay neutral. I am trying to keep my sheer nuclear excitement under wraps trying to protect myself in case it is ruined as the Star Wars movies were.

I find myself torn. I love Star Wars. I liked Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones was decent, Revenge of the Sith was horrible. I watched as they got worse and worse but I never truly understood what that might mean to star wars fans until now.

In twenty hours I may well be faced with the ruination of Indiana Jones.

It might seem silly but when I was nine I was already dabbling in writing. I was already formulating this dream of mine. Last Crusade did nothing but guide me towards what I want to do with my life. I wanted to be part of the magic that goes into bringing movies like this to the world. As soon as that theme music started my mouth split open in a grin that never once left my face.

What happens if tomorrow night I sit in that theater and that grin never comes? George Lucas himself said "it's just a movie." People felt I may have overreacted to that simple defensive statement. I'll state my case again. It is not just a movie. It's inspiration. It's magic. It's Indiana Fucking Jones.

It's me at 9 years old walking out of a ratty old theater, snapping an imaginary whip, wondering when I'd see Indiana Jones in action again.

It's been a long time coming and I never once lost faith that I'd see him again. I can feel the 9 year old me wanting to jump up and down with giddy excitement. I can also feel the 28 year old me who witnessed another beloved franchises near destruction. This me is saying don't let it fool you. Resist it. Don't get giddy when that damn lucasfilm logo flitters across the screen. Don't get excited when that damnable music starts.

I'm afraid I might not be able to do that.

So tomorrow night, roughly 19 and a half hours from now. I will sit in that theater and I will be reminded of the magic and the inspiration that those movies were to me. I will walk out of the theater cracking my imaginary whip and wondering when I'll next see Indiana Jones.

At least I hope so...

I'm not sure if that nine year old self could survive if that magic was gone. If I witness a travesty, if I witness something terrible. I will be heartbroken. That is the truth.

I will post a review after I see the movie and you'll know a few hours or a day after I do, whether or not my faith in George Lucas, a man which I held with such regard, respect and admiration, remains intact. You'll know whether or not Indiana Jones remains in tact.

19 hours and change to go...

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According to George: "It's Just A Movie."

In a recent interview with USA Today, George Lucas described the upcoming fourth entry in the Indiana Jones franchise as "just a movie."

In fact, here is the entire quote from the USA Today article by Scott Bowles:

"When you do a movie like this, a sequel that's very, very anticipated, people anticipate ultimately that it's going to be the Second Coming," Lucas says. "And it's not. It's just a movie. Just like the other movies. You probably have fond memories of the other movies. But if you went back and looked at them, they might not hold up the same way your memory holds up."

George, George, George. How far you have fallen.

There was a time when you were viewed as a visionary, a genius in your field. You were the mentor, the idol of so many people.

You brought us Star Wars, perhaps the greatest sci-fi trilogy ever. You brought us Indiana Jones, perhaps the greatest adventure icon in history and now you cheapen the impact these films have had on peoples lives as "just a movie."

These movies have inspired countless millions of people to follow and in some cases realize their dreams.

Movies are an art form. Even the worst movies have brought pleasure to someone and the people behind it are proud of their accomplishments.

You describing some of the greatest and most loved films as "just movies" is insulting and disrespectful to the people who grew up loving them and those who love them still.


Contrary to your belief that they don't hold up, the Indiana Jones series has stood the test of time. It continues to be the pinnacle of adventure films. There has never been an equal and odds are there never will be.

There is a reason peoples hearts started pounding when they watched Indy pick up that dusty fedora in the new trailer. There is a reason it has been viewed countless millions of times since its release.

The Indiana Jones movies are major parts of peoples lives. They're movies parents watched with their kids and cheered with every punch and whip snap. They laughed together with every wise crack.

These are movies that when watched, to this day, your eyes widen with wonder and awe. You know, damn it you know, this is what movies are supposed to be like. Magical. Exciting. Exhilarating.

For you, George, to label these as "just a movie" is just...well...sad.

It makes me wonder what happened that took you from that visionary to this person who would even utter those three words together.

There is no such thing as Just a Movie, George. Because no matter what movie you are referring to, there is someone in this world who sees it as more than that.

In the case of your own Indiana Jones films, there are millions of people who see them as more than that.

I can honestly say, those words, from your mouth, are probably the most disappointing words I have ever heard spoken in this industry.

But who am I?

Just a fan?

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