While Josh Gad continues to bring in heavy hitters in search of a sliver of Last Jedi news, the Millennium Falcon building is going up, the riverbed tracks are sticking out, and the cockpit is getting very cramped. But first, a question…
Leia: Princess Or Legend?
Following the tragic death of Carrie Fisher, Cody Christensen, Utah resident and father of five daughters, started a Change.org petition to have Princess Leia declared a “Disney Princess”.
The petition is currently at 99.5K of 150K needed. The text of the petition is as follows:
“After the tragic loss of Carrie Fisher, we feel that it is only fitting for Disney to do away with the rule that an official Disney princess must be animated and make Leia a full-fledged princess. This would be a wonderful way to remember Carrie and a welcoming to one of Disney’s new properties that is beloved by millions.
What we are asking is that the Walt Disney Corporation hold a full ceremony inducting Leia as the newest Disney princess as well as a special service in memory of Carrie Fisher.” – Cody Christensen
The topic of Leia becoming an “Official Princess” has been talked about since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. But what does that mean?
Disney Princess is simply a marketing campaign from Disney Consumer Products. It was designed to promote sales among a sagging product line and offers no special reverence in the parks or anywhere else in the Disney culture. We already have access to Princess Leia merchandise. Is there a more appropriate honor?
Should Carrie Fisher be a Disney Legend? According to D23, the criteria for a Disney Legend is:
“The Legends are chosen by a selection committee, formerly appointed and chaired by the late Roy E. Disney. Since its inception, the program has honored many gifted animators, Imagineers, songwriters, actors, and business leaders as having made a significant impact on the Disney legacy.”
Carrie Fisher has had an incredible impact both on and off the screen. But her association with Disney only extends back to the Lucasfilm acquision and includes one movie with Disney. Is that enough to impact the Disney Legacy?
Consider these other Disney Legends: George Lucas was inducted in 2015.
While his association with Disney extends back to 1986 with “Captain EO”, this award does acknowledge the significance between Star Wars and Disney.
Also, Susan Lucci is a Disney Legend. She’s played Erica Kane on ABC’s “All My Children” from 1970 to 2011. Since then she’s appeared on various other ABC produced shows. Disney bought ABC in 1996.
Carrie Fisher’s accomplishments go far beyond her performance as Princess Leia. She’s been an advocate for mental health, social commentator, feminist icon and one of the greatest script doctors in Hollywood.
What do you think? Should Carrie Fisher be a Disney Legend? Disney Legends are inducted at D23, which takes place July 14-16 in Anaheim.
Josh Gad Wants To Know, Part 4
As we’ve seen over the past couple of weeks, Josh Gad has been hounding Daisy Ridley to get details on The Last Jedi. Last week he enlisted Judi Dench. This week, more reinforcements were brought in. Check out the latest video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-00h3WEmUO4
If you don’t recognize all the faces, they are (in order of appearance): Hamilton‘s Leslie Odom Jr., Episode IX‘s writer Derek Connolly, Episode IX‘s Director Colin Trevorrow (who are apparently trying to get notes for their script), Jurassic World‘s Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, Penélope Cruz, Sing Street‘s Lucy Boynton, Jekyll & Hyde‘s Tom Bateman, and finally, “The Force Awakens” Director J.J. Abrams. Come on! You can tell J.J.!!!!
News From The Outer Rim
Rogue One Home Video Release Date
Rogue One is being released on digital HD on March 24, 2017, with physical Blu-ray and DVD copies arriving on April 4, 2017. Features include:
- A Rogue Idea – Hear how ILM’s John Knoll came up with the movie’s concept – and why it’s the right film to launch the Star Wars stand-alone films.
- Jyn: The Rebel – Get to know Rogue One’s defiant, resourceful survivor, and hear what it was like for Felicity Jones to bring her to life onscreen.
- Cassian: The Spy – Diego Luna shares insights into his complex, driven character, who becomes a hero through selflessness, perseverance and passion.
- K-2SO: The Droid – Explore the development of this reprogrammed Imperial droid, from initial pitch and character design through Alan Tudyk’s performance.
- Baze & Chirrut: Guardians of the Whills – Go deeper into the relationship between these two very different characters, with Chinese superstars Jiang Wen and Donnie Yen.
- Bodhi & Saw: The Pilot & The Revolutionary – Forest Whitaker and Riz Ahmed reflect on Saw Gerrera, the broken Rebel leader, and Bodhi Rook, the Imperial pilot who defects.
- The Empire – Meet a dangerous new Imperial adversary…and cross paths once more with the most iconic villain of all time.
- Visions of Hope: The Look of “Rogue One” – The filmmakers describe the challenges and thrills of developing a bold new look for the movie that can fit within the world of the original trilogy.
- The Princess & The Governor – See what it took to bring the vibrant young princess of Star Wars: A New Hope – as well as one of her most memorable foes – back to the screen.
- Epilogue: The Story Continues – Filmmakers and cast celebrate Rogue One’s premiere and look forward into the future, to the Star Wars stories yet to be told.
- Rogue Connections – Uncover Easter eggs and film facts hidden throughout the movie that connect Rogue One to the Star Wars universe.
You can preorder your copy of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story HERE.
Han Solo Cast And Theatrical Release Date
Disney and Lucasfilm released the first cast photo of the yet-untitled Star Wars Story based on the young Han Solo.
The photo features (clockwise from bottom left): Co-Director Christopher Miller, Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo), Emilia Clarke, Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Co-Director Phil Lord and Donald Glover (Lando Calrissian).
Along with the photo was news that the release date is officially May 25, 2018, returning to the original Star Wars release season at the beginning of summer. The last two and next Star Wars films (all under the Disney banner) have opened in December.
Top Clone Wars Stories
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is leaving Netflix on March 7th. There’s an amazing amount of backstory in this series that has implications in the movies going forward.
Don’t have time to watch all 121 episodes and one feature film in a week and a half? Well, the Nerdist has compiled a list of the essential episodes to cram in. Check out the list HERE.
Star Wars Celebration Updates
2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. And it looks like the celebration will start at Star Wars Celebration. From StarWars.com:
“The Star Wars 40th anniversary panel, hosted by Warwick Davis and set for Thursday, April 13, will feature Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and discussions with some of the saga’s brightest stars. It promises to highlight the impact of the galaxy far, far away and the fandom that has propelled it for the last four decades; this marquee Celebration event will undoubtedly include many not-to-be-missed surprises. So set hyperspace coordinates accordingly…”
It’s also rumored that this panel will announce the anniversary release of a high-end (HD & 4K?), non-special edition, uncut original trilogy. And maybe even a screening…stay tuned!
4-day tickets for Star Wars Celebration are sold out, but you can still buy single day tickets for Celebration HERE.
Star Wars Land Construction
As we peek through the framing and knotholes of Star Wars Land this week, there are some interesting things to see. The Millennium Falcon attraction framework has started and the tracks under the Rivers Of America are taking shape again.
MiceChat created a graphic that shows what the area was like before, and what we expect the layout to look like when complete.
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[ View Map Large ]
I’ll refer to the areas in the photos by the geographic location in the aerial photo and the future development in the interactive graphic. We’ll start in the north (where the Millennium Falcon attraction will be) and go clockwise through Star Wars Land.
Though the Battle Escape show building is going up rapidly, we can still through the framework at what’s going on in the north end of Star Wars Land.
The Millennium Falcon show building is starting to frame out in the background. While one end is framed, the other end is laying the foundation.
In the ajacent Northeastern section of Star Wars Land, a berm has been built to separate the atmosphere of Star Wars Land from the newly re-routed Disneyland Railroad. Trees have been replanted recently along the new berm that will block the view from the Disneyland Railroad and Fantasyland into Star Wars Land.
The Southeastern area will be where the Fantasmic backstage will be along side the entrance to Star Wars Land from Frontierland.
The Fantasmic backstage, which is enclosed in this structure, has now been covered with dirt. Will more foliage follow?
Just beyond the Fantasmic boathouse and Frontierland entrance, we can see painters doing detail work on the rocks. More on that in a minute…
Going around to the Frontierland side of this area, we can see painters working on detailing the rockwork.
In the following photos, you can see the steel framework in transition to faux wood and rock.
And there’s a lot more rockwork to come!
The south section of Star Wars Land is where the Disneyland Rail Road will pass on the outer wall in front of a waterfall into the Rivers Of America and a walkway will go from Critter Country around the Hungry Bear Restaurant and into Star Wars Land.
Looking the other side of this area from the Hungry Bear Restaurant, you can see the same section a little further along in the process
And peeking through the knotholes, we can how the banks of the Rivers Of America are coming along. And another welcome sight, the bed of the river along with parts of the track looks like they are starting to form up.
The western portion of Star Wars Land is where the massive Battle Escape Attraction is going up on one side and down underground in a round structure on the other.
Starting on top, the roof is being set in place.
In the middle of this building, workers are in the pit and out of sight.
On the other side, the round structure is having the forms removed.
And at the fence line next to the tramway, the backstage entrance is coming together with what looks like a guard shack at the gate.
That’s it for this week’s update. If you want to catch up on how far the construction has come so far, you can check out the archives of Star Wars Land News HERE.
As Always…
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