Wednesday 31 August 2016

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: WHEN 'STAR WARS' MET 'GALACTICA'


1978- the amazing time when the epic sci-fi/fantasy universes of the two GL's - George Lucas and Glen Larson - met via the model shop of the Van Nuys ILM facility, with STAR WARS having been completed, and the majority of the crew now working on the pilot episode/opening two-parters of the subsequent BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TV series (model builder Jon Erland can be seen in the background). Note the original SW Star Destroyer model on one side of the photo, and a Colonial Viper and the Galactica itself on the other.

More on ILM/APOGEE's work: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SAGA OF A STAR WORLD: APOGEE

Tuesday 30 August 2016

CLASSIC IMAGE: GALACTIC WAX!


Madame Tussaud's highly recommended London STAR WARS EXPERIENCE may be getting all the plaudits, but let's not forget its Berlin-based counterpart, which has its own unique waxwork representations of our favourite heroes and villains from across the saga, including the recently added Rey from EPISODE VII.

Madame Tussauds™ Berlin |The legendary wax museum + best price guarantee

Sunday 28 August 2016

ROGUE ONE: TECHNOLOGICAL TERROR!


It was but a shell under construction, though an ominous one, when last we saw it amongst the closing scenes of EPISODE III. Now the completed Death Star space station - still one of the greatest and most memorable creations of the entire STAR WARS saga - looms large in an unknown region of Imperial controlled space, ready for further testing and checkouts before its power for destruction is fully unleashed within the storytelling of both ROGUE ONE, and A NEW HOPE.

This great image from John Knoll was a test shot for ROGUE ONE that was shown at London's CELEBRATION 2016 event. Here's hoping that the footage made it into the finished film.

Star Wars Archaeology Panel | Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 - YouTube

STAR WARS Rogue One SPOILER Unseen Clips! - YouTube

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY - Official International Trailer #1 (2016) Sci-Fi Movie HD - YouTube

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY TV Spot #1 - Rebellion (2016) Sci-Fi Movie HD - YouTube

8 Reasons Why the Rogue One Trailer Has Us Greedo for More | WIRED

Out now: EMPIRE magazine begins its exclusive ROGUE ONE coverage.

Saturday 27 August 2016

CLASSIC IMAGE: A FIGHT JUST BEGUN!


Sparks fly in the Separatist control room on Mustafar, as Anakin Skywalker fights back against his opponent Obi-Wan Kenobi, in a great shot taken during the climactic duel of EPISODE III.

'STAR WARS REBELS' SEASON TWO - COMING SOON TO UK BLU-RAY


The building darkness of the Empire, and the power of its shadowy agents led by the mysterious and deadly Darth Vader, spreads further across the galaxy as the Rebel cell led by Jedi fugitive Kanan Jarrus and pilot Hera Syndulla continues the fight back, aided by new friends in returning heroes Ahsoka Tano and former clone captain Rex, as the plot building and exciting second season of STAR WARS REBELS arrives on DISNEY Blu-ray and DVD in the US from August 30th, 2016, now getting a confirmed UK release date of October 3rd.

Blu-ray/DVD details: Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season Two Available Now on Blu-ray and DVD | StarWars.com

Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Trailer - YouTube
Star Wars Rebels Season Two - Mid-Season Trailer (Official) - YouTube
Dave Filoni Examines Vader VS. Ahsoka In New Star Wars Rebels: Season Two Blu-ray Clip | The Star Wars Underworld

UK pre-order here: Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season 2 [Blu-ray]: Amazon.co.uk: DVD & Blu-ray

Friday 26 August 2016

ROGUE ONE: THE WAR ACCORDING TO BODHI!


Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, or whatever kind of term is appropriate within the STAR WARS vernacular, top space vehicle pilot and key technician Bodhi Rook treads a fine line between his duties to the Rebel Alliance, now vitally needing his skills, and a working career linked to the Empire. Is he the kind of simple man trying to make his way in the universe that Jango Fett was? Or will his genuine support for the Rebels shine through on the tropical world of Scarif? We'll find out in ROGUE ONE this December.

Bodhi is played by Riz Ahmed, a fine young UK actor emerged from the world of TV (recent acclaim has included THE NIGHT OF mini-series for HBO) and now mixing strong indie film work (check out the recent NIGHTCRAWLER, with Jake Gyllenhaal) alongside blockbusters like JASON BOURNE and ROGUE ONE.

Rogue One Is a Different Kind of Star Wars Movie Says Riz Ahmed
Riz Ahmed Had Fire Zings for the Rogue One Panel -- Vulture
Riz Ahmed Reacts To Seeing His First 'Rogue One' Action Figure | The Star Wars Underworld

Out now, EMPIRE magazine begins its ROGUE ONE coverage.

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: IMPERIAL SHUTTLE INCOMING...


Servicing the Endor Imperial base is a full time job for the departing and incoming Imperial shuttles, in an intriguing and busy ILM composite image for RETURN OF THE JEDI, featuring matte work by Chris Evans, also showing us an Imperial Walker cameo and the second orbiting Death Star. I'm not sure whether this rare-ish image, possibly photographed by Roberto McGrath, was done at the time of release or after, but its great nonetheless.

Thursday 25 August 2016

BEHIND THE SCENES: CREATING CONFLICT!


It's a tense time for the friendship of Anakin and Obi-Wan during the Battle of Geonosis, as George Lucas goes through a scene with Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen on the Republic gunship interior at FOX Studios, for EPISODE II.

STAR WARS REBELS: BAKER AND THE BENDU!

A new discovery for Kanan in STAR WARS REBELS. Image: DISNEY/LUCASFILM.

STAR WARS fans previously enjoyed the further exploration of the Force and all its aspects within the adventures of THE CLONE WARS, now that storytelling aspect continues in STAR WARS REBELS, especially with this new third season coming to DISNEY XD US and UK screens next month, as the (temporarily?) blind Kanan encounters the mysterious Bendu alien creature on the Rebel's new base planet, discovering the creature's powers as a fellow Force-sensitive. The pairing should prove intriguing and hopefully not a singular encounter with the season opener. One thing's for sure, the Bendu's too big for Kanan to go backpacking with!

Master of time, space and franchises: Tom Baker. Image: Oliver McNeil.

For such a larger than life and charismatic alien character you need a larger than life and truly charismatic actor, one that's also played an enigmatic and amazing alien on TV, so former Fourth DOCTOR WHO Tom Baker, master of the scarf and the unending Jelly Baby bags, more than fits the bill, blessed with a rich voice that has been a mainstay of British television commercial voiceovers for forty years, and a welcome continuance of Dave Filoni's nice referencing to the classic British sci-fi series: Eleventh Time Lord actor David Tennant having previously voiced an award-winning droid role in the fifth season of THE CLONE WARS.

Tom Baker - The official site
Tom Baker is a ‘happy man’ to be involved with new Star Wars | Articles | Doctor Who

Dave Filoni Extended Interview | The Star Wars Show - YouTube
Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Things to Know | Collider

Wednesday 24 August 2016

THE FORCE AWAKENS: A WOOKIEE TO THE RESCUE!

Chewie rushes to his friends' aid.

Successfully landing the Millennium Falcon on the doomed Starkiller Base, albeit precariously in a snow forest under stress from ground quakes, Chewbacca rushes to aid Rey with the injured Finn, in a deleted moment from THE FORCE AWAKENS.

Having fun on set.
Filming close shots.
In-between filming for John Boyega and Joonas Suotamo.

In the Wookiee fur, Joonas Suotamo picked up and carried John Boyega during filming at Pinewood, aided by some wire support. In the end, however, the close-in footage wasn't used, replaced in the final cut with a silhouette-like long shot sequence with Rey joining them as they rush through the forest and into the Falcon.

What happened to Chewbacca after the death of Han Solo at Starkiller Base is revealed in an exciting sequence of Michael Kogge's Young Readers Edition adaptation of the film, out now in paperback. After detonating the explosives he aggressively tore through a squad of First Order Stormtroopers and escaped to the Falcon on a stolen speeder bike, of which he then dismounted to attack the Snowtroopers guarding the vessel (seen previously on the ship with Kylo Ren, during a Blu-ray deleted scene). Any shots of Chewie beating on Stormtroopers are great, so its a shame nothing like that was filmed for TFA that we are aware of.

BEHIND THE SCENES: BACK IN HIS SHELL!


At either Bray Studios (home to Brian Johnson's UK effects team) or more likely Elstree, Kenny Baker gets accustomed to the new Artoo Detoo shell being readied for his two legged droid filming of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and a first sequel that will heavily feature the droid in a lot more scenes with Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO remembers the recently passed Kenny Baker on his Birthday.

Tuesday 23 August 2016

'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE' AT 20: CANTINA CONFRONTATION!


He's snagged his biggest bounty yet in the carbonized Han Solo he plans on delivering to Jabba the Hutt, but actually getting to Tatooine in one piece to claim that subsequent monetary prize? Well, that's gonna be a lot harder than Boba Fett thinks, especially when his rivals also want a share of the pie, as seen on the cover of SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE's comic adaptation Issue 2, from 1996. Great art from Hugh Fleming for DARK HORSE COMICS.

CLASSIC IMAGE: AGILITY OF A SITH!


Darth Maul pulls no punches when it comes to displaying his fearsome double bladed lightsaber technique against the Jedi Knights he so desperately wants to kill, in this fun EPISODE I composition from AFICIONADO contributor Chris Baker, reminding us just why fans like the enduring Sith apprentice so much.

Ray Park Unleashed | Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 - YouTube
Ray Park (Darth Maul) introduces Star Wars marathon at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood - YouTube

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends out greetings and best regards to Ray Park on his birthday today!

Monday 22 August 2016

ROGUE ONE: THE THIRD 'EMPIRE' MAGAZINE COVER


For magazine subscribers only, here's the third cover to EMPIRE magazine's latest issue, showcasing the upcoming ROGUE ONE, out on newsstands from August 25th, 2016, and featuring a very distinctive cover star in former Imperial droid K-2SO.

Becoming K-2SO: Talking with Rogue One's Alan Tudyk | StarWars.com

Rogue One: exclusive new look at Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor and K-2SO | News | Movies - Empire

Alan Tudyk Talks K-2SO and 'Rogue One' at Fan Expo Canada | The Star Wars Underworld

AFICIONADO REVIEW: ROGER CHRISTIAN's 'CINEMA ALCHEMIST'



CINEMA ALCHEMIST: DESIGNING STAR WARS & ALIEN - THE FILM CAREER OF ROGER CHRISTIAN

By Roger Christian

Published by TITAN BOOKS


Reviewed by Scott Weller


1975. From almost dying of typhus during the location filming of the ambitious period comedy/drama star-vehicle LUCKY LADY in Mexico, to coming back to the UK to becoming part of a small early team of visionaries bringing to life an epic space fantasy vision concocted by the then still relatively unknown filmmaker George Lucas and producer Gary Kurtz- a project that he had wanted to make since childhood dreaming, designed in a revolutionary “used universe” style the likes of which had never been done before, Roger Christian, Set Decorator and later acclaimed director, takes himself and us back in time in a way that Doctor Who’s TARDIS never could, to a world on the cusp of STAR WARS (and beyond), with his candid and revelatory CINEMA ALCHEMIST, out now in hardback from TITAN BOOKS.

One of the original STAR WARS greatest behind the scenes contributors: Roger Christian.

As the book begins, Christian has already enjoyed a successful career as a film, commercials and TV set decorator, very much the young rock star-type of the UK industry, but his talents are soon put to better, brighter use via a new wave of filmmakers coming out of the UK and Hollywood, involving him in the biggest and most iconic film productions ever conceived, of which he'd also be blessed with some of the best friends and contacts in the business that anyone could have, of which Christian’s respect for production designer and trusted friend, the late John Barry, and his comrades in Les Dilley and Norman Reynolds, is clear across the seventies (and afterwards). This was a time when the impossible was (almost) becoming possible, as his work on the at first named THE STAR WARS would soon prove, bringing to life an incredible futuristic but believable reality with a set decorating budget that was a meagre $200,000 dollars- the kind of fee today that wouldn’t even pay for the catering on one of the TRANSFORMERS movies!

Christian with Les Dilley, John Barry, Bill Welch and Norman Reynolds at Elstree in 1976.

Working from Lee Studios in the project’s infancy, as it took its bold first steps, Lucas and Christian bonded well in a shared visual cause, fighting further budget cuts, and a shorter and shorter time frame pre- production window going into filming for the following March 1976, hindered by a stingy and faithless FOX licking its wounds from several flop films of the early seventies (including LUCKY LADY!), of which sci-fi was then a dirty word in Hollywood, despite Alan Ladd, Jr.’s true belief in the genius and talent of George Lucas, a man of true courage and a respected director who equally respected and encouraged Christian, on a project like STAR WARS that was lots of trial yet thankfully not error!

Ralph McQuarrie’s conceptual paintings would also be an incredible and inspirational start alongside the Journal of the Whills script for Christian, Barry and company, as the race against time in constructing the prototype for the most important make-or-break roles of the film beckoned, namely the two droids in R2-D2 and C-3PO, which had to look believable in their comic and dramatic scenes together, and in their interactions with others within a variety of landscapes. The squat R2 would be the hardest to realize, alongside the overall challenges of creating the shell/suits, and the right look, as well as nailing down the casting of the actors vitally needed to inhabit them. Christian’s early wooden prototype was instrument in telling FOX and the rest of the crew that this ambitious film could be realized.
 
The original interior of the Millennium Falcon, as set decorated by Roger Christian.

Equally important and the touch paper for the ultimate look of STAR WARS was Christian’s finding and using of old airplane scrap parts across the UK, sold cheaply but soon a rich commodity, as part of the film’s memorable dressing, vitally needed and never more successfully showcased than within the interior and exterior of the used Millennium Falcon pirate ship, a vehicle littered with “greeblies” (a fun term created by Lucas). As well as the Falcon, the remaining list of challenges and things to be created were a veritable mountain to be traversed for Christian, mostly working alone until early 1976, his talent and enthusiasm ultimately finding others who recognized his ideas for the movie, of which his quick and cheaply made lightsaber prototype would soon become the stuff of modern cinematic iconography.

Star Wars: ‘Designing The Lightsaber’ Bonus Clip | Official HD - YouTube

As things were hectically progressing and the days of filming dawned, other problems awaited, primarily the New Wave versus the Old Wave (notably led by cinematographer Gil Taylor and, to a smaller degree when reading the book, Peter Beale at FOX UK) at Tunisia and the studio- grumbling personnel at the time not ready to accept George Lucas and his ideas for a film they thought was just a kiddy flick, and not warranting such detail- never really believing or knowing the story during the entire UK shoot, whilst Barry and Christian tried to be the middle ground in diffusing the uneasiness whilst staying true to their ideals in getting the vision George wanted up on the screen.

Christian vividly recalls the first hectic and chaotic day of filming in the Nefta salt flats of Tunisia with the Sandcrawler and Lars Homestead, as droids went wrong and a unique back-up plan was initiated by him and John Barry, both of whom shared a lack of faith in UK practical effects man John Stears’ too ambitious ideas for the radio controlled droids, which ultimately worked but had problems early on. It's clear reading the book that Christian regarded Stears as being very much a part of the Old Wave.

In between the rising problems during studio filming and its blurry last few weeks, Christian also gives us some nice reminisces and observations about the cast, like Harrison Ford, early on happy to be at work with the carpenters at Elstree, a clearly insecure Carrie Fisher, and being impressed by Sir Alec Guinness in Tunisia.

Problems within the corridors of the Nostromo in ALIEN. Image: FOX.

Completing the experience that was STAR WARS, the intergalactic terrors of ALIEN soon arrived. Christian’s skilled and thoughtful on-screen work for George Lucas finally appeared in cinemas in May 1977 and was soon a quick influence on a young Ridley Scott’s career path after his first successful period film in THE DUELLISTS. Hiring Christian was a no brainer, though, like STAR WARS, his new assignment had as equally little precious time for pre-production, and was on an even bigger scale at Shepperton Studios. Thankfully, like Lucas before him, Christian and Scott were to think on the same shorthand wavelength as creation and set decoration commenced on the labyrinth once you’re in them its difficult to get out of them, claustrophobic sets of the commercial towing vehicle, the Nostromo, soon turned killing ground slaughterhouse for the most unusual and vicious Xenomorph life form ever conceived in cinema-dom.

Helping to launch Sigourney Weaver’s career with an important screen test as the gutsy heroine Ripley, there’s many anecdotes and remembrances to savor from Christian, talking in the fullest detail yet about the filming of the infamous “chest burster” - one of the greatest scenes in film horror ever.

Modern movie art poster for Christian's directorial debut: BLACK ANGEL. Art by Mark Raats.

In between such two great space epics, Christian returns to Terra Firma with the on and off and on again experiences of working with the zany and beloved Monty Python team for their controversial but inspired LIFE OF BRIAN and Marty Feldman’s innovative THE LAST REMAKE OF BEAU GESTE. Then he makes the bold leap of becoming a feature film director in his own right, bringing to life the story that literally came to being in his mindset via his aforementioned death’s door experience in New Mexico five years earlier: the now cult classic, low budget fantasy shot in the realms of an atmospheric Scotland: BLACK ANGEL, the cult short film made with little money but loads of enthusiasm by Christian, with the very best support from friends, getting the incredible advantage of being seen in 400 UK cinemas in deliberate pairing opposite THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and a final production much admired by the likes of Spielberg and Lucas, the latter taking a gamble that soon paid off in supporting Christian’s debut, with BLACK ANGEL perfectly complimenting and setting the tone for this dark new 1980 offering to the STAR WARS saga. Many years later rediscovered and restored to become an internet viewing hit, BLACK ANGEL is now on its way to becoming a major motion picture experience in its own right, of which we wish Christian success on his endeavours.


Back in Tunisia filming Pod Race footage for EPISODE I.

Having won an Academy Award for STAR WARS, Christian never forget the space epic roots that truly put him in the map, returning uncredited to help Lucas on several sequences for RETURN OF THE JEDI in 1982, and vitally helping to bring the new Prequel saga to life with EPISODE I in 1997, as second unit director. Sadly, his book recollection experiences on the latter are way, way too brief.

Rounding things out, and only available in the printed edition, is a nice selection of rare colour and black and white photos (and early concept drawings/blueprints), mostly linked to Christian and his work STAR WARS, though the caption for a colour image of Luke’s Landspeeder is incorrect- it was taken at ILM (as Paul Huston can be seen in the shot) presumably for January 1977's additional shooting in Death Valley, California, and not at Elstree.

A few other little editorial errors here and there also fall through the cracks (for STAR WARS there was no cantina band in the UK filming- all of it was done later by ILM in the US), but this is nonetheless an indispensable book for fans of set design, decoration and the STAR WARS and ALIEN films in general. CINEMA ALCHEMIST is the ultimate book for any budding enthusiast wanting to know why, how and where the incredible props and set decorations came to be on two of the greatest films of all time, and Christian should be applauded for his incredible memory, particularly in dispelling many of the behind the scenes modern myths that have been expounded over the years about the making of the original STAR WARS in later interviews, magazines and blog pieces.
 
Christian and friend...

The kind of comfortable to read memoir/book where you’ll learn more within its pages than attending three years of studying at film school, a key to Christian’s success hasn’t just been luck, he clearly had to get his head down and get on with things for the most part, finding a way, sometimes simple, sometimes difficult, to get things done. At its heart, Christian’s mantra of “if you want to do it, you have to go for it” shines through, of which a certain green Jedi Master would no doubt be proud…

AFICIONADO RATING: Perhaps it still needed some mild editing here and there, but CINEMA ALCHEMIST’s meticulous, often unprecedented detail makes it a terrific companion to J.W. Rinzler’s Making of Star Wars book from 2007, as well as other ALIEN related materials. 4 out of 5



ROGUE ONE: WHEN WICKET MET 'SPACE MONKEY'!


Originally known as "Space Monkey" when created for ROGUE ONE by Neal Scanlan and his dedicated Creature Team workshop at Pinewood, the cheeky new/old Rebel hero, later give the name Bistan from the Iakaru race, soon became an instant sensation with fans worldwide during his larger than life debut (on stage performed by Nick Kellington) at the London CELEBRATION 2016 event, especially the fun moment when he picked up and chucked a Wicket figure back at host Warwick Davis!


No matter how long or short his ultimate contribution to the film is, we can't wait to see him in action for the finale air/ground battle on the Imperial held tropical world of Scarif.

The Creatures, Droids and Aliens of Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 - YouTube

Sunday 21 August 2016

BEHIND THE SCENES: READY TO LEAVE!

Departure time for Han and Chewie on Yavin IV.

They've been as well paid as they can be for helping to rescue Princess Leia Organa and bring her to the Rebel base on Yavin IV, but now its time for Han Solo and his Wookiee first mate Chewbacca to depart before the Death Star and the Empire can come looking for them- a move that upsets their new friend in Luke Skywalker, ready to do his bit in the fight against the enemy, during this classic moment filmed at the UK's Shepperton Studios, on their then largest soundstage, during early Summer 1976.

The famous scene where Han says, "May the Force be with you" to Luke was originally cut from the movie by George Lucas in post production, under advice from his filmmaking friend and colleague Brian De Palma that the concept of the Force was to the detriment of the film and should be removed or curtailed where possible. Thankfully, Marcia Lucas, a fan of the Force's place in the saga, recognises the moment's importance for the character of Solo, and, to her great credit, reinstates it back into the film during its final lockdown edit by early 1977.
 

Filming a tense moment between friends.
"May the Force be with you."
Loading the containers.
Continuity Polaroid between takes. Image: Ann Skinner/BFI.

Numerous reference images of the massive hangar bay set were taken by Script Supervisor Ann Skinner for continuity during filming- two B/W Polaroids so far unpublished reveal the full size built X-wing and partial Y-wing prop re-arranged into different positions to make the set look even bigger and more varied in fighter compliment, as well as two other colour Polaroids- one showing the main hangar bay with its craft facing right to left, the other featuring the Y-wing and and a full-size X-wing fighter cut-out facing right to left in shot. One last unpublished colour Polaroid is a close-in shot of all the containers being loaded onto the transport.

Luke is stunned that they're actually leaving.
Another frame from that scene.
A moment of amusement for Ford, Hamill and Lucas.

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI.

Saturday 20 August 2016

AUGUST UK TV HIGHLIGHT: 'STAR WARS GREATEST MOMENTS' (2016 REVISED EDITION)

Composition by Steve Anderson.

A huge viewing success for the UK digital TV channel/platform in the lead-up to the then December 2015 theatrical release of THE FORCE AWAKENS (of which the film will soon be getting its exclusive premiere airtime, linked to/alongside the SKY CINEMA STAR WARS channel), SKY ONE's two-hour STAR WARS GREATEST MOMENTS programme, featuring memorable scenes and contributions from saga cast and crew, plus celebrity fans and film critics, gets an airing on Saturday 20th August, 2016 at 6-8pm, but please note that this is an updated version, featuring all-new material, clips and chat linked to EPISODE VII, plus presenter Alex Zane at the CELEBRATION 2016 UK London event, making it well worth catching up on...

Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Sky Movies

SKY CINEMA STAR WARS - GREATEST MOMENTS (2016 EDITION)

Collated by SKY CINEMA

20: Chasm swing
19: Vader's first breath (EPISODE III)
18: Speeder Bike chase
17: Rey feels the Force (duel)
16: Battle for Endor
15: The Twin Suns
14: Han Shoots Greedo
13: The death of Han Solo
12: Leia's Jabba's Palace costume
11: "It's a trap!"
10: Yoda lifts the X-wing
9: Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon versus Darth Maul
8: Vader's redemption
7: Falcon chase on Jakku
6: "That's no moon..."
5: "I love you", "I know"
4: Trench battle
3: The battle on Hoth
2: The Opening Shot (EPISODE IV)
1: "I am your father!"

Rey and Finn make their mark on STAR WARS GREATEST MOMENTS.

Friday 19 August 2016

ROGUE ONE: THE SECOND 'EMPIRE' MAGAZINE COVER


We've had the heroes, now its the turn of the villains - notably cruel-eyed Director Krennic and his Death Troopers - for the second of next month's EMPIRE magazine covers devoted to ROGUE ONE, available on UK newsstands from August 25th, 2016.

News | Movies - Empire

ROGUE ONE: DODONNA RETURNS!

A classic posed image of our Rebel heroes on Yavin IV.

He gets a mention in the opening episode of STAR WARS REBELS Season Three, now Yavin Base Rebel cell leader General Jan Dodonna (originally played back in 1976 by the late Alex McCrindle) will put in a cameo appearance in the upcoming ROGUE ONE, as seen in the film's teaser trailer and in the image below (in left background). I think it unlikely the character will have any dialogue or major scene, but Dodonna's presence there is nonetheless welcome on the continuity front.

Watch out for several more character surprises to come this December.

From the ROGUE ONE teaser trailer.

CLASSIC IMAGE: JAR JAR WAS A 'ROLLING STONE'...


Throughout its long legacy in print, music and media, ROLLING STONE magazine has had numerous cover stars who've looked like aliens (I've always thought Mick Jagger was of extraterrestrial origin!), so why not Gungan extraordinaire Jar Jar Binks, who was the controversial but highly memorable choice gracing the magazine in the Summer of '99 as part of RS's extensive EPISODE I coverage, where they also managed to sneak in a clever celebration of the 1977 Classic Trilogy cast, too.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends its best wishes and greetings out to Ahmed Best on his Birthday!

EPISODE VII: THE FALCON ON THE COMMON!


The superb Millennium Falcon half shell recreation can be seen in its nostalgic glory during filming at the UK's landmark Greenham Common airbase, the location soon on screen transformed into the Rebel Base of D'Qar, for THE FORCE AWAKENS. Note Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher rehearsing their goodbye scene and Greg Grunberg as fighter pilot Snap Wexley getting ready to film, alongside a host of other Resistance clothed extras.

Thursday 18 August 2016

ROGUE ONE: THE FIRST 'EMPIRE' MAGAZINE COVER


Here's the blurb: Empire’s first cover for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story revealed | News | Movies - Empire

ROGUE ONE: DK BOOKS COMING SOON...


Harder-edged and more adult ROGUE ONE will hopefully be, but the traditional adventure and excitement elements of STAR WARS are also in place to attract fans of all ages, as demonstrated with these character icon covers to two eagerly awaited titles from DK BOOKS, available December 16th, 2016.



Star Wars Rogue One The Ultimate Visual Guide: Amazon.co.uk: DK: 9780241232422: Books

Star Wars Rogue One Ultimate Sticker Encyclopedia: Amazon.co.uk: DK: 9780241232453: Books

Titles coming this December from DK BOOKS and EGMONT UK.

CLASSIC IMAGE: REMEMBERING 'SECRET CINEMA'


Sir Alec Guinness and Dave Prowse they may not be, but the regular actors locking lightsabers playing Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader every Summer night, during the highly enjoyable SECRET CINEMA STAR WARS 2015 evening event screenings, were clearly putting their all into the climactic fight within the Death Star, watched by thousands of appreciative fans in SC's most ambitious and most successful film immersion/tribute staging yet, which also acted as a fun lead-in/primer for the later in the year spectacular debut of THE FORCE AWAKENS.

Check out our original event review here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: CELEBRATING 'SECRET CINEMA: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK'