It was a big week in the Star Wars Universe. We got a bunch of great stuff from Star Wars Celebration, early news from Comic Con and a guide to Star Wars shopping at the Disneyland Resort. The coordinates are in the Nav computer. Let’s punch it!
Celebration 2016
Star Wars Celebration 2016, in London last weekend, was all about the few things they could tell us about upcoming Star Wars projects and all of the things they wanted to tell us last year about The Force Awakens. Here’s some of the new stuff:
Rogue One Sizzle Reel
We hoped for a new trailer for Rogue One. That technically didn’t happen, but we got something just as good. Director Gareth Edwards gave us a sizzle reel that showed a bunch of awesome new footage:
No Opening crawl?
The idea for Rogue One, the first stand-alone Star Wars Story, came from the opening crawl from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, was asked last month if the stand-alone movies would have an opening crawl. Her response then was:
“We talk about that all the time. It’s something that we’re right in the midst of discussing even now, so I don’t want to say definitively what we’re doing. The crawl and some of those elements live so specifically within the ‘saga’ films that we are having a lot of discussion about what will define the [stand-alone] Star Wars Stories separate and apart from the saga films. So we’re right in the middle of talking about that.”
When asked again after the Rogue One panel, she elaborated:
“You know, we’re in the midst of talking about it, but I don’t think these films will have an opening crawl. I think that’s what we kind of telegraphed at the beginning of the event today.”
So the movie that came from a crawl won’t have one. Still, check out the way the Rogue One panel opened on Friday with the words that started it all”
Rebels Season 3
One of the most engaging speakers at Celebration was Rebels creator and showrunner Dave Filoni. He headed up the Rebels Panel on Saturday and brought a lot of exciting news, starting with the trailer for Season 3:
He also unveiled new looks for the main characters; a surprise introduction to Wedge Antillies and even suggested Ahsoka Tano may not be dead. But the moment that brought the house down was at the 2:00 mark in that trailer when we meet Grand Admiral Thrawn!
Thrawn
Not only did we get news that the fan-favorite character introduced in the 90’s book series was being brought into the canon in Rebels, but he is also getting a new novel of his own. The characters original creator and author, Timothy Zahn is writing this novel. The new book begins with his first contact with the Empire and ends just before the events of Rebels season 3. His first adventures in print took place after the Return of the Jedi.
Darth Vader VR Project
ILMxLab has been experimenting with applications for Virtual Reality, which it sees as the future of storytelling. The Lucasfilm Story Group has mapped out stories for the next six years and is working on different experiences based on those stories. The studio has plans to work with big name filmmakers on creating VR and the first one announced was David Goyer (writer, The Dark Knight and Man Of Steel; director: Blade Trinity). Goyer elaborated that you are not a “player” in the VR experience he is creating, but a “visitor”. He goes on to describe the project:
“It’s surprisingly very emotional. It can make you sad. It can make you lean in and feel for a character in a way you haven’t before. In a way you really can’t do in any other medium, in books, in film… And it can scare you, trust me, in a way you’ve never been scared before. It’s experiential storytelling and there’s the plot but its surprising how much you feel and how emotional it is. Even as we’re experimenting with it, there is stuff that makes you tear up and cry, and its really phenomenal.”
I can’t wait to see where this goes!
New Character At Comic Con
Looking ahead to San Diego Comic Con going on this weekend, we are already getting news of a new character from Rogue One being displayed on the floor. He is a Tognath bounty hunter and pilot named Edrio Two Tubes.
From the official Star Wars Facebook page:
“Edrio Two Tubes is a mercenary pilot who flies alongside his eggmate, Benthic. The two share the nickname derived from the breathing apparatus that allows their Tognath physiology to process oxygen atmospheres. Edrio’s home world Yar Togna was conquered and occupied by the Empire, forcing him to flee as a refugee. Desiring to strike back at the Empire, Edrio and Benthic have allied with Saw Gerrera.”
Star Wars is featured on several panels at SDCC this weekend. While we’re not expecting any Naboo-shattering news coming just a week after Celebration, we will be keeping a Maz Kanata eye out for anything new.
Where Are The Droids You’re Looking For?
Almost every shop in Disneyland has some sort of Star Wars merchandise. Who has time to visit them all? Here are some of the best places to get your Star Wars Swag.
If you’re not going into the park, Downtown Disney has a couple primary destinations. First up is World of Disney, right next to where the Tram stops.
Closer to the Downtown Disney Monorail Station, D-Street is a small store with Star Wars and Marvel items. This store features more unique items, including artwork and small selection of the Star Wars Comics. You can also get customized cell phone cases made here.
And right next door is the WonderGround Gallery that features a number of artists’ take on the Star Wars Universe.
Disney’s California Adventure doesn’t really have a Star Wars centric store like Star Trader. But Off The Page carries a nice selection of books, comics and sometimes art you can’t find anywhere else.
The main hub for Star Wars merchandise in Disneyland is Star Trader in Tomorrowland. The exit for Star Tours takes you through the store. Here’s you’ll find the biggest selection of clothes, books, toys and art.
Around the corner, the small shop Tomorrow Landing is tucked away at the base of the old Peoplemover. This is the only place to get custom engraved Star Tours pins just like the Cast Members wear. You can have engraved in English or Aurebesh. They also do bracelets and luggage tags.
Steps away, Star Wars Launch Bay carries a selection of higher-end product and collectables. It’s the only in-park location to make custom cell phone cases.
Star Wars Land Construction
Let’s take a peek behind the deflector shield to see what’s going on far, far away…
After putting up a new fence along Disneyland Drive to obstruct the pedestrian view and removing the old DL Tram gate, the area started to be cleared this week for the backstage access road that currently runs through the middle of the project.
At the north end of the site, the dirt mound is getting smaller.
In the middle section, much of the dirt has been completely removed.
The south end walls are still formed up. This cuts right through the old Big Thunder BBQ area.
From the Hungry Bear Restaurant, work continues on shaping the turn around the island.
That’s a wrap for this week. Join us on Monday for a full Disneyland Park update. May the Force be with you!
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