From: asood@pomona.edu (Ich bin ein Newliner)
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 1995 21:55:35 GMT
This is the latest version (2.0) of my "New Star Wars Films FAQ".
If you have any questions/comments/suggestions please e-mail me at
asood@pomona.edu
-Aditya Sood
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The New Star Wars Films FAQ V 2.0
Compiled by Aditya Sood
2/15/95
This FAQ deals with questions arising from George Lucas's recent announcement
that he will indeed continue the most popular film saga of all time.
Information for this FAQ comes from a wide range of sources, including
publications such as The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Time and Newsweek. Any
answer that is either speculative or from any source that is not either print
media or television will be noted by an asterisk (*)
****IMPORTANT****
While I'm very keen that as many Star Wars fans as possible see this, and know
this information, I'd appreciate it if you do not post this FAQ anywhere
without asking me first. If you ask me, I will most undoubtedly say yes, but
I'd just like to know where the FAQ is being posted. And please keep my name
attached to this FAQ. I'm not interested in fame and fortune (well, actually I
am...just not with this FAQ..;) But, I have put quite a bit of time into
compiling this.
A list of places this FAQ may be posted follows. If you see this FAQ someplace
that is not on the list before, please e-mail me (asood@pomona.claremont.edu)
This FAQ may not be reposted in any altered form without permission from the
author.
Thanks,
Aditya Sood
This FAQ may be posted on:
Rec.arts.sf.starwars
Rec.arts.movies
Rec.arts.sf.movies
Rec.answers
Alt.cult-movies
Alt.movies.spielberg
The Prism BBS
Fidonet Star Wars Echo
Star Wars WWW page
http://stwing.resnet.upenn.edu:8001/~jruspini/starwars.html
The VINE
Changes from previous versions:
Version 1.0 (2/14/94):
Version 1.0.1 (2/15/94):
Added question 11a: Has John Williams retired?
Appended questions 1, 4, 5, 8
Version 1.1 (2/22/94):
Appended questions 5, 12, 13, 99
Added questionJ16: Will 20th Century Fox distribute the new films?
Version 1.2 (3/7/94)
Appended questions 1, 1a, 8, 11a, 13, 16, 99
Version 1.3 (4/6/94)
Appended questions 5, 11a, 12, 12b, 14, 99
Version 1.4 (5/1/94)
Appended questions 4
Added question 17: Was there a "Clone Wars" trailer before "The Paper"?
Version 1.5 (5/28/94)
Added question 18: Will the original Star Wars films be re-released?
Version 1.6 (6/30/94)
Appended questions 1a, 7, 12b, 16, 99
Version 1.7 (8/25/94)
Added question 7c: I heard that Kenneth Branagh would be playing Obi-Wan
Kenobi in the new movies, is that true?
Added question 12c: I heard Peter Cushing is dead, is that true?
Added question 19: Have the Star Wars films begun production yet?
Added question 98: What other projects are Lucasfilm working on?
Appended questions: 1, 4, 8, 99
Version 1.8 (10/4/94)
Appended questions: 1, 1a, 7c, 98, 99
Added question 20: Who is writing the new Star Wars films?
Version 1.9 (12/1/94)
Appended questions: 1, 1a, 8, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 98
Reordered questions: 16, 17 and 18.
Added question 21: What aspect ratio will the new films be shot in?
Version 2.0 (2/15/95)
Appended question: 1a, 4, 5, 11a, 13, 20, 99
Added question 8a: Who is producing the new Star Wars films?
Questions:
1. Is George Lucas gonna make any more Star Wars films?
1a. When are they coming?
2. Are these gonna be sequels?
2a. What's a prequel?
3. I just read three books by Timothy Zahn, are these the new movies?
4. So, will [insert my favorite character] be in the films?
5. What are the new movies gonna be about?
6. What are the titles of the new movies?
7. Who is in the new movies?
7a. I heard that Macauley Culkin would play Luke as a child, is that
true?
7b. I heard that Mark Hamill would play Anakin Skywalker, true?
7c. I heard that Kenneth Branagh would be playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the
new movies, is that true?
8. Who is directing the new movies?
8a. Who is producing the new Star Wars films?
9. What are the Clone Wars?
10. I have a script called "Fall of the Republic", is that the new Star
Wars movie?
11. Is John Williams going to do the music?
11a. I heard that John Williams retired, is that true?
12. I heard John Williams is dead, is that true?
12a. I heard Alec Guinness is dead, is that true?
12b. I heard Frank Oz is dead, is that true?
12c. I heard Peter Cushing is dead, is that true?
13. Are there gonna be any Star Wars toys from the new films?
14. What is Luke and Leia's mother's name anyway?
15. What about the trilogy after Return of the Jedi?
16. Will the original Star Wars films be re-released?
17. Will 20th Century Fox distribute the new films?
18. Was there a "Clone Wars" trailer before "The Paper"?
19. Have the Star Wars films begun production yet?
20. Who is writing the new Star Wars films?
21. What aspect ratio will the new films be shot in?
98. What other projects are Lucasfilm working on?
99. I know this isn't Star Wars, but I heard that there will be a new
Indiana Jones movie, is that true?
A word of warning. Most of these questions don't have answers just yet. So
please be patient. And if you have any answers or questions that you would
like to add, please send mail to me at "asood@pomona.claremont.edu"
Also, while I am very keen that this FAQ is seen by as many Star Wars fans as
possible, please ask me before you post this FAQ to any other mailing lists. I
have spent quite a bit of time on this list, and would appreciate my name
remaining attached to it. Thanks.
Thanks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions:
1. Is George Lucas gonna do any more Star Wars movies.
Answer: Yes, he is! This has been confirmed in print in the October 4th,
1993 issue of Variety, as well as a number of other sources including George
Lucas himself in an interview with Leonard Maltin on Entertainment Tonight,
back in November 1993. Lucas confirmed this again, in an interview with TV
Guide (10/8/94) LucasArts says that the first film will go into production "in
about a year." People have estimated that this could be as early as January or
February of 1995. A more firm start date should be known in the next three
months. On October 10th. 1994, Lucas said, in an interview with Channel 13 in
Los Angeles that it takes "about a year to write these scripts, a year to prep.
a year to shoot and six months for post-production." Assuming that the scripts
have been in the writing stage for awhile now (although Lucas may have had
limited involvement, other than preparing the treatments), and given that ILM
has already stated that some test reels for the projects have been done (see
below), production should start within a year.
1a. When are they coming?
Answer (*): In the past few weeks, it has become more and more apparent that
the first new Star Wars film will be released in 1998, rather than 1997.
In the "Film Shorts" column of the November 12th, 1994 Hollywood Reporter said
the following: "Here's George Lucas' plan for the three prequels to the "Star
Wars" films: 'I'll take a year to write them, a year to prepare them, and a
year to shoot them. And I'll shoot them all at once....Lucas has said that he
hopes to have the first film in the new trilogy out by 1998 or 1999."
I figure that, in keeping with the pattern of releasing Star Wars films on the
Wednesday before the Memorial Day weekend, the first film should be released
either on Wednesday, May 20th, 1998 (1,190 days away, at the time of this
writing.)
The May 25th 1997 date reported by some people is incorrect, since that is a
Sunday. True, May 25th is the ACTUAL 20th anniversary of the release of the
original Star Wars, but Lucas (nor anyone else) would not release a film on a
Sunday. The reason is that the films would obviously make less money during
its opening weekend. One of the reasons that releasing a movie on the
Wednesday before Memorial Day makes so much sense is that it effectively makes
the opening weekend period last SIX days (Wednesday-Monday, Memorial Day),
rather than the normal three. Thereby doubling the first weekend gross.
Releasing a movie on the Sunday before Memorial Day would cut that number to
two, not to mention the fact that it would eliminate the Friday and Saturday
business--the most profitable of the whole week.
2. Are they going to be sequels?
Answer: No, these new movies PRECEDE the trilogy that we've seen (Star Wars: A
New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.) According to
George Lucas, the first film takes place 40 (forty) years before Star Wars: A
New Hope.
2a. What's a "pre-quel"?
Answer: A pre-quel is the opposite of a sequel, it predates the film that it
comes after. An example of a prequel is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,
which while it was made three years after Raiders of the Lost Ark, actually
takes place a year before.
3. I just read three books by Timothy Zahn, are these the new movies?
Answer: No. Not only are they obviously not the new movies (I-III), they are
not Episodes VII-IX either. They are merely a "continuation of the Star Wars
universe", and George Lucas reserves all rights to blow away anything that Zahn
says in any of Lucas's future work.
4. So will [insert my favorite character] be in the films?
Answer: Probably not, unless your favorite character is Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth
Vader/Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, The Emperor, R2-D2 or C-3PO, as they are the only
characters that could reasonably be in the new trilogy. (Mon Mothma could be
in the new films, but I have yet to meet someone whose favorite character is
Mon Mothma.) I guess Grand Moff Tarkin, or any of the minor generals and
admirals we see in the background (i.e. Admiral Tagge, Motti, General Dodonna,
Madine, etc.) could be in the new films as well. There is a speculative rumor
that Boba Fett has some sort of importance in the new films, but that is
unconfirmed.
5. What are the new movies gonna be about?
Answer: Good question. Lucas has said that the movies will focus on Obi-Wan
Kenobi, as the original trilogy focused on Luke Skywalker. Other than that,
there is no definitive answer, but the most obvious topics would be: The Clone
Wars, The Rise of the Emperor, The Fall of the Republic, The relationship of
Anakin and his wife and the events that lead to Anakin Skywalker's conversion
to the Dark Side of the Force (and how he becomes Darth Vader.)
Another rumored subject is the enslavement of the Wookies by the Empire.
6. What are the titles of the new movies?
Answer (*): Again, no one knows for sure. There have been rumors that the
first film would be named "The Clone Wars" or "Enter the Dark Lord". The
third film has rumored to be called either "Fall of the Republic" or "Battle
for the Republic."
7. Who is in the new movies?
Answer (*): Once more, nothing has been announced. Lucas has stated on
numerous occasions that he will go with mostly un- or little-known actors
rather than big expensive stars. I think it's probably safe to assume that
Frank Oz will reprise his role as Yoda, and that James Earl Jones would lend
his voice to Darth Vader again. Other than that nothing is known.
7a. I heard that Macauley Culkin would play Luke as a child, is that true?
Answer (*): While again, nothing is known, this is highly (thankfully)
doubtful.
7b. I heard that Mark Hamill would play Anakin Skywalker, true?
Answer (*): Again, not confirmed, but doubtful. (He certainly doesn't look
right for the role.)
7c. I heard that Kenneth Branagh would be playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the new
movies, is that true?
Answer: George Lucas _completely_ detonated this rumor, in his interview with
TV Guide, in October 1994. He said "Absolutely not. I've never met him
[Branagh] or talked to him. That's something the London tabloids made up. I'm
amazed at how the media comes up with this kind of 'news item'"
This particular rumor seems to have originated in the British press in early
June 1994. It was picked up on, by industry trade paper Daily Variety, in the
June 28th, 1994 Michael Fleming "Dish" column. Under the headline, "Branagh &
'Star Wars': a pint-size Guinness?" (You count the number of puns yourself),
Fleming says that "talk" in Hollywood has said that Kenneth Branagh will play
the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the new Star Wars films. However, it also goes on
to say that both George Lucas's press agent, and Kenneth Branagh's press agent
deny that any talk has transpired. Branagh's agent has later said that Kenneth
would be interested, but hasn't gotten any offers (Entertainment Weekly, August
26th/September 2nd Fall Movie Preview.)
The Branagh rumor is in direct conflict with George Lucas's repeated statements
that he would hire a cast of little, or complete unknowns for the new films.
And while, Branagh is certainly not as well known as say, Mel Gibson, he is
hardly an obscure actor either. In addition, Branagh has a wealth of projects
already, that he is very interested in pursuing. However, Branagh has
certainly shown that he is willing to do a "fun" project (i.e. Dead Again, or
Frankenstein), and it would take an actor of Branagh's caliber to match the
Oscar-nominated performance of Sir Alec Guinness in the role. In addition,
Branagh has just completed an adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, for
Lucas-pal, Francis Ford Copolla. (The script for Frankenstein, was co-written
by Frank Darabont, who co-wrote many of the Young Indy scripts with George
Lucas.)
8. Who is directing the new movies?
Answer: George Lucas seems to have completely changed his tune on directing
the new films. He has said that he is completely open to directors,
_including himself_. George Lucas has not directed a film since the original
Star Wars, but he has said that he may direct one or two of the films. The
only confirmed person that has actually been approached is Rocketeer director
Joe Johnston. He used to work at ILM until about 1989. (He is listed in the
Star Wars credits as Joseph Johnston.) Joe Johnston's current project, The
Pagemaster, is due for release this Christmas. He is also scheduled to direct
the fantasy-adventure "Jumanji" with Robin Williams (and ILM effects) for
TriStar starting sometime in the next four months. A certain Video Game
Magazine seems to perpetuate the rumor that John Woo is going to direct the
films, but this seems ludicrous. (This same magazine also printed a story
saying that a new Star Wars movie would be out in the summer of 1994, so you
can take their word at face value.) Steven Spielberg has said, on record,
that he feels that Star Wars is George's baby. (After all, would Spielberg get
Lucas to direct E.T. 2 ?)
8a. Who is producing the new Star Wars films?
Answer: According to the second issue of the Lucasfilm-sponsored Star Wars Fan
Club newsletter, Rick McCallum has been officiallu named the producer of the
new films. McCallum produced the Young Indy show along with Lucas. He also
produced "Radioland Murders" for Lucasfilm, and is the producer for Lucasfilm's
"Red Tails" project.
9. What are the Clone Wars?
Answer (*): The Clone Wars seem to be a war between the Jedi and some unknown
enemy. Some people claim that this enemy is a huge contingent of "Mandalorian
Shock Troopers", who wear armor like Boba Fett. The source of this rumor,
however is unknown. The only sure thing is that Obi-Wan Kenobi served under
Bail Organa (Leia's adoptive father.)
10. I have a script called "Fall of the Republic", is that the new Star
Wars movie?
Answer: Quite simply, no. Lucasfilm dismisses this treatment by "John Flynn"
to be nothing more than fan-fiction.
11. Is John Williams going to do the music?
Answer: Doug Adams relates the following story:
"On July 31, 1994 I saw John Williams conduct at Ravinia, Il. It was
a concert of entirely his own music. Before the suite from Star Wars
he said the following :
'George Lucas is now threatening to make more Star Wars films so I guess
I'd better get ready.'"
11a. I heard that John Williams retired, is that true?
Answer: John Williams retired as the conductor of the Boston Pops orchestra, a
position he had held since 1980. He is still writing film scores. (Jurassic
Park and Schindler's List). One of the reasons he said that he retired was so
that he could write MORE film scores than he had been able to do in the past
(he averaged about two a year.) He has, however remained as a "consultant"
with the Boston Pops this year, as they are trying to find a new conductor. His
next score is for the Sydney Pollack-Harrison Ford film "Sabrina", due out in
1995.
12. But, I heard John Williams is dead, is that true?
Answer: No. He is not dead. I saw him conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic
on Saturday, February 19th 1994, and 1 BILLION people saw him pick up his Oscar
for Schindler's List.
12a.I heard that Alec Guinness is dead, is that true?
Answer: No, he's not dead. (In his own words "Oh, he's not dead. Not
yet.")
12b.I heard that Frank Oz is dead, is that true?
Answer: No. He is still very alive, and is in pre-production as the
director for the film "The Indian and the Cupboard" for longtime Spielberg
producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. The Paramount film is scheduled
for release in 1995. The script has been written by Melissa Mathison, her
first script to go into production since E.T. (Mathison is, incidentally,
married to Harrison Ford.) He has also recently signed a 2-year
producing/directing deal with Disney.
12c. I heard that Peter Cushing is dead, is that true?
Answer: Unfortunately, this rumor is, in fact true, Peter Cushing died in late
August 1994.
13. Are there gonna be any Star Wars toys from the new films?
Answer: Yes. One of the sweetest deals in the Star Wars Universe for Lucas is
merchandising and licensing, so rest assured there will be plenty of toys and
collectibles from the new trilogy. In addition, there appears to have been some
sort of Licensing summit that took place at Skywalker Ranch in early November,
where merchandising ideas for the new films were discussed.
14. What is Luke and Leia's mother's name anyway?
Answer (*): We don't know. The pseudo-treatment Fall of the Republic would
have you believe that her name is "Lady Arcadia Skywalker". Lucas, himself,
referred to her only as "Mrs. Anakin Skywalker" in his interview with Leonard
Maltin, so perhaps it's either a secret, or he hasn't thought of a name yet.
Or else, it in some way may be crucial to the plot that we don't know!
15. What about the trilogy after Return of the Jedi?
Answer: Conventional Wisdom tells us that these films will not be made (if
ever) for a long time. (My personal take on the VII-IX trilogy is that Lucas
will eventually do it, because of the way he was discussing the nonology on
Entertainment Tonight.)
16. Will the original Star Wars films be re-released?
Answer: Yes. The following is a press release, dated Monday, November 21st,
1994:
"Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox today announced
plans to distribute a Special Edition of the original "Star Wars" motion
picture for worldwide theatrical release in 1997, twenty years after the film's
first release in 1977. The Special Edition will feature previously unreleased
footage, new digital special effects, and a digitally remastered soundtrack.
The recent breakthroughs in computer graphics developed by
Industrial Light & Magic will be used by George Lucas to create moving,
breathing creatures within the city of Mos Eisley outside the cantina and in
the Tatooine Dunes, as well as a host of new vehicles and Droids.
George Lucas states, "The digital technology that ILM pioneered in
films like 'Jurassic Park' and 'Forrest Gump' allows me to revise a few scenes
which bring the movie closer to my original vision." The technology will also
allow Lucas to complete the scene in which Han Solo confronts Jabba the Hutt,
filmed in 1976 but not included in the original film. The new work will add
approximately four minutes to the film.
"The original release of 'Star Wars' preceded the introduction of our
THX sound system in theaters," states Lucas. "I wanted everyone to
re-experience the film with the added benefits of today's motion picture sound
advances." Sound for the "Star Wars Special Edition" will be remastered in one
of the THX dubbing stages at Skywalker Sound and will be released in the new
digital formats now available in theaters.
Peter Chernin, Chairman of Twentieth Century Fox, comments: "We
wanted to give the new generation of children - and their parents - the chance
to experience 'Star Wars' on the big screen. The 20th anniversary year seemed
the perfect time."
Tom Sherak, Senior Executive Vice President of Twentieth Century Fox
comments: "The 'Star Wars Special Edition' is a distribution and marketing
dream. Any time George Lucas, who in my mind is the number one special effects
'genius' in the industry, has a chance to top his work, I'm excited about
Twentieth Century Fox being able to be part of it."
Production of the Special Edition recently began at Industrial Light &
Magic and Skywalker Sound."
In May, Variety reported that Lucas was interested in having special editions
for each of the three of the original films. Plans call for the three films to
be re-released, at two month intervals, sometime in 1996 at specially selected
theaters.
17. Will 20th Century Fox distribute the new films?
Answer: There now seem to be two prevailing theories on where the new films
will end up. The first is that they will in fact be distributed by 20th
Century Fox, and the other is that they will be distributed by the new,
as-yet-untitled, Steven Spielberg-Jeffrey Katzenberg-David Geffen studio.
According to The Hollywood Reporter (11/22/94), "[s]ources say the special
edition represents the initial stages of what Fox hopes will be continuing
relationship with Lucas, who insiders say feels an obligation to give the
studio first dibs on the next "Star Wars" projects."
However, Fox senior executive VP, Tom Sherak was quick to add, "Whatever Mr.
Lucas has planned for the next three (films) is his decision. This has to do
with an old alliance. What comes later comes later. As for this project, this
is a dream come true."
The Monday, October 31st 1994 Hollywood Reporter E-mail column says that Lucas
has been in discussions with the new Spielberg-Katzenberg-Geffen studio as the
possible distributor for the new films. Lucasfilm and the new studio deny that
any talks have taken place.
The March 7th issue of Variety has said that all of the major studios are
lining up for the rights to release the new films. Fox no longer has the right
of first refusal on Star Wars sequels (they lost this, when the Studio was sold
to Rupert Murdoch in the mid-1980's). According to Variety, Universal and
Warner Bros. are looking like the front runners for the new films. The Star
Wars films will be independently financed by Lucas himself, and distributed by
the Studio. The studio will be pay for the prints and advertising costs, and
in exchange get a small distribution fee. The lion share of the profits,
however, will got to Lucas. Lucas will meet with 20th Century Fox soon, and
Peter Chernin, 20th Century Fox studio chief, has said that he would work very
hard to "keep the crown jewel at the studio." (The Hollywood Reporter, Dec.
1993)
Lucas distributing the films through the new Spielberg-Katzenberg-Geffen studio
makes perfect sense for several reasons. The first is that the prevailing
wisdom was Lucas was going to distribute the films through Universal, because
of his friendships with people there. However, his relationships with
Spielberg and Katzenberg (who was at Paramount when Lucas made Raiders, and
collaborated with Lucas on several projects later at Disney) are probably much
stronger. Secondly, due to the nature of this new studio, Lucas will probably
be able to keep a large percentage of gross profit points.
18. Was there a "Clone Wars" trailer before "The Paper"?
Answer: No, this was a rumor started by someone on Prodigy, in an effort to
drum up support for some video production of his. I saw The Paper, and there
was no such trailer. No one else that I know ever saw this trailer.
Besides, it would make absolutely no sense to have a trailer for a film that
will not be completed for at least two or three years.
19. Have the Star Wars films begun production yet?
Answer: The answer to this question is a little more complex then one might
think. While neither principal photography, (i.e. shooting scenes with real
live main actors), nor special effects work has commenced yet, according to an
interview with Jim Morris, in the August 16th issue of the Hollywood Reporter,
"...Morris is already gearing up for production on Lucas' anticipated "Star
Wars" prequels. 'We're preparing for huge volume as well as new types of work.
George will be pushing the effects envelope on this...' What this means is
that there have probably been some test effects reels done.
Production on the Special Edition of Star Wars has already begun at Industrial
Light and Magic.
20. Who is writing the new Star Wars films?
Answer: George Lucas has said that he would be writing the new Star Wars
screenplays. However, he has not ruled out the possibility of a co-writer (as
the last two films of the original trilogy of Star Wars films were co-written
by Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. The original Star Wars screenplay had an
uncredited polish by Gloria Katz and Willard Huyuck.) In his 9/22 "Dish
Column", Michael Fleming says: "Hollywood sources say George Lucas wants
[Frank] Darabont to write the
script for a new 'Star Wars' film which will be a prequel to the first
trilogy. A Lucas spokeswoman said Lucas intends to write the first
draft of the script himself, but that Darabont is a candidate to do
the next draft. If Lucas actually makes his long overdue return to
directing on the next 'Wars', it's unlikely Darabont will stand in
the way. Lucas won't finish the script until next spring at the soonest."
(Thanks to Cindy Yan)
This is not particularly surprising, since Lucas has a tendency to use writers
on multiple projects, and Darabont co-wrote many of The Young Indiana Jones
Chronicles with him. Darabont has also written the screenplay for the
upcoming "Frankenstein" film, produced by Lucas' pal, Francis Ford Copolla, and
directed by Kenneth Branagh. Darabont, himself has made his directorial debut
with the critically acclaimed film "The Shawshank Redemption."
Darabont has also said that the two other scripters working on this project are
also Young Indy alums. If this is true, these are the writers that worked on
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Carrie Fisher, Jonathan Hales, Jonathan
Hensleigh, Matthew Jacobs, Gavin Scott, Julie Selbo and Rosemary Anne Sisson.
(Special thanks to Albert Murdiono for this list.) I doubt Carrie Fisher is
one of the screenwriters for the new films, however.
Please note that the Star Wars films are all based on original screenplays, and
are not adapted from pre-written books. The books you see bearing the titles
"Star Wars", "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" are novels
based on the screenplays, and not the other way around.
21. What aspect ratio will the new films be shot in?
Answer: Almost without a doubt, the new films will be shot in 'Scope (2.35:1)
If not just for continuity's sake, then because Lucas is clearly biased towards
the wider frame. All of Lucas's movies (both directed and produced by him)
have been 2.35:1. with the exception of Amblin's animated "The Land Before
Time."
98. What other projects are Lucasfilm working on?
Answer: The first new Lucasfilm theatrical release in five and a half years,
"Radioland Murders" was released October 21st, 1994 by Universal Pictures. The
film, directed by Mel Smith, stars Mary Stuart Masterson, David Benben, Stephen
Toblowsky and Christopher Lloyd. The film is based on an idea by George Lucas
and Willard Huyuck and Gloria Katz created over twenty years ago during the
production of "American Graffiti." In some ways, Radioland is a test-run for
the new Star Wars films, since it is the first time that the new digital
effects that Lucasfilm created for the Emmy Award winning TV-show "The Young
Indiana Jones Chronicles" are being used in a feature film. These processes
are crucial, according to Lucas, to make the new Star Wars films financially
feasible. In addition to "Radioland Murders", Lucasfilm is also in
preproduction on a film called "Red Tails", to be directed by Thomas Carter.
The film, not currently set up at any studio, is about the first all black air
squadron in World War II. Lucasfilm also has a fourth Indiana Jones production
waiting in the wings.
Lucas is also at work at four Young Indy TV-movies, and according to his
TV-guide interview, about to write another script.
99. I know this isn't Star Wars, but I heard that there will be a new
Indiana Jones movie, is that true?
Answer: Yes, according to Lucasfilm, this project is "definitely happening" and
will start production within "six to eight months." However, Steven Spielberg
has recently said that he was going to take a year off from directing to spend
with his family. Harrison Ford has already committed to his next film, a remake
of the Humphery Bogart/Audrey Hepburn classic "Sabrina." This Paramount film
goes into production later this year, for a 1995 release. The remake has been
written by Barbara Benedek. (Benedek, incidentally is ESB, ROTJ and Raiders
scripter Lawrence Kasdan's ex-wife.) Therefore, the new film will be out in May
1996 (Wednesday, May 22nd, 1996, to be exact), at the earliest. Variety
(August 21, 1994) has said that, if all goes to plan, Indy IV should roll
sometime next summer. According to the Sunday, February 20th Los Angeles
Times, production on the film, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring
Harrison Ford, will take place next year. The film is being written by "The
Fugitive" scribe Jeb Stuart. No details on plot, title, or cast other than
Ford are known. However, Denholm Elliot, who played Marcus Brody in the first
and third Indiana Jones films tragically passed away last year.
While the film's plotline, itself, is a closely guarded secret at this point,
the following is known. There will be no "comic-value" Nazis in the film and
it will take place, according to Harrison Ford, in a time closer to the present
than the first three.
As for Sean Connery's participation, Lucas says "It depends on the story. If
the father role is needed, we'd have him back."
In addition, an Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland is currently under
construction. Called "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye", this
attraction will be on the cutting edge of ride technology. Guests will board
a jeep/simulator and travel along one of three possible adventures. The
Temple is scheduled to open in March 1995.
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