Lucas to make 'Star Wars' prequel

[saurabh]

There's great news for "Star Wars" fans - a seventh blockbuster is being planned for the series, although director George Lucas had previously said the current "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" would be the last.

Lucas now appears to have changed his mind and is reportedly developing a prequel to the 1999 flick, "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace", reports Internet portal Femalefirst.

"George believes there are even more stories to tell. His latest idea would feature an almost all-new cast, apart from the Jedi master Yoda, who would be the hero of the new movie," an insider said.

According to reports, the film would be set 100 years before the current movies. Lucas will reportedly try to take a backseat throughout the next production.

[audioqueso]

Who is the source of this information?

[Foxman]

Hmmm curious this is, link I have to a slightly differant version os star wars.

Store Wars

[David Meek]

George believes there are even more stories to tell

Yeah. The original plan was to make 9 movies with the last 3 taking up the story after Return Of The Jedi. I guess Georgie shelved that one.

[Andrew Pratt]

Much confusion there is on this matter hmmmm.

[David Meek]

Let me clarify a bit. When I say "original plan", that is circa 1977.

[RebelMan]

Yeah. The original plan was to make 9 movies with the last 3 taking up the story after Return Of The Jedi.

I heard about this (rumor) also. However. I saw an interview where Lucas has denied that. There never were plans to have 9 films. Sorry. If he has decided (now) that there are more stories to tell, then that is good news!

[Brandon B]

Lucas is mistaken or lying. I very specifically remember several printed interviews circa 1977 or 1978 where he said there would be nine films in total. It is not something fans interpreted or made up. He has simply changed his mind, and does not want to be pestered. He did not begin denying this would happen until 6 or 7 years ago.

BB

[rdram]

Ditto on that. I remember the same "rumor". Nine (9) Star Wars Movies. Guess we'll have to take whatever he gives us.

Rich

[Penningtonsm]

I would watch as many Star wars movies as George would like to make. He can make three more after ROTJ and tell how Luke trains Leia and then goes to the dark side. (I read that one)

[Chris D]

I don't know of a new prequel. Lucas has said that something like 75% of all background story he had in his mind to tell before Episodes 4-6 were contained in Episode III. Most of Episodes I and II were just setup with a lot of filler--"fluff" as Lucas described it.

This makes me doubt that Lucas has a lot of significant substance to tell in another prequel. Yes, the story of the Sith Wars would be interesting, but I wonder if Lucas REALLY has it to tell.

[Chris D]

As for Episodes 7-9, yeah, I'm up for them. I'd have to wonder if they'd really be part of the SAGA, the story that began with I and ended with VI. Yes, there would be the same characters in 7-9, but how would the SAGA continue?

There don't seem to be any real loose ends left open with VI, I wonder if 7-9 would be more of a beginning of a new story with the same characters. (I've heard rumors from people that have read the books that the Emporer survives the fall at the end of 6 and still lives---weeeeeelllllllll.... okay, I guess you could try to keep it going on that.)

[RebelMan]

Lucas is mistaken or lying. I very specifically remember several printed interviews circa 1977 or 1978 where he said there would be nine films in total. It is not something fans interpreted or made up. He has simply changed his mind, and does not want to be pestered. He did not begin denying this would happen until 6 or 7 years ago.

BB

Technically, he wasn't planning on six or even three for that matter, it just ended up that way, for reasons you should already know. I don't think he was mistaken or that he was lying at all. If you didn't see or hear him speak it then you got to take print for what it is. I never said the fans made up the rumor. I only said that I have heard about it. Don't let the power of the press influence you. Be mindful of what Lucas says, not what others think he said. :wink:

[Gordon Moore]

Wishful thinking and fanboy rumour. Lucas said that that's truly it. no more StarWars nadda, fini, the end. There will be 2 TV spinoffs and that's all. I'll eat my shorts if I'm wrong but I tend to believe that StarWars has had it's run. In fact Lucas has begun a new film project already and then there's Indy IV coming. He has other things on the go. I doubt he'll greelight something like this and allow it the Star Wars name.

[Nick M]

I heard hes working on another Indiana Jones film now.

[Chris D]

Yes, Indiana Jones 4 is already being talked about online and is in production.

Gord, I agree, Lucas does control Star Wars very closely, and is very careful who he gives rights to. (and for a good reason, it's his baby! I'd probably do the same thing)

[saurabh]

Who is the source of this information?

Well I read it on MSN news and also came up in the local newspaper here. The Location and date was "London, 27th May".

[Brandon B]

Well aware he never had concrete plans before release of the first one.

After the first film's success, he said several times, in several interviews, that there would be 3 trilogies. There were no interviews or statements from him denying that these interviews were valid, and some were in fairly notable publications. If I were going by what the press says now, yeah, I'd agree, take it with a cup of salt. But I read everything I came across in print by or about him back then, and this was universally the same in every interview.

So at that point, he was planning nine movies. He subsequently changed his mind (certainly his perogative). But for him to say that he did not at any point state his plan was nine movies is pretty diingenuous. It was not speculation by the press, it was a quote in more than one interview. No bearing on what he wants to do now, but it is what he said.

BB

[RebelMan]

If he denies saying there were going to be nine episodes then what the press reports (reported) isn't (wasn't) true or is (was) inaccurate. Period. The fact that only six were made proves this. The only reason it took so long for him to finish the saga was because he was waiting for the technology to catch up with him.

Things get misconstrued by the press all of the time. To what interviews are you refering? I distinctly recall his interview with Leonard Maltin when he was asked about this very subject and he said that it was not true that nine episodes were needed to tell the story. I'm prepared to back my case up with real references. Can you B?

[autio]

INteresting thread and as I am a casual Star Wars fan I thought I would do some research check out
http://scifi.about.com/library/starw...-sixornine.htm Where I read


Even if you aren't sure about Kurtz's take on the whole thing, you should look at Lucas' own words. Here is a quote from a George Lucas interview done on July 19th 1979:

"The first script was one of six original stories I had written in the form of two trilogies. After the success of Star Wars I added another trilogy. So now there are nine stories. The original two trilogies were conceived of as six films of which the first film was number four."

(You can find this quote, as well as many others, about the number of episodes of Star Wars there would ultimately be, here. Thanks to TheForce.net)

or

http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,6737,716449,00.html

here we read

In his head, Lucas sees the nine films as a whole. He can't wait for the next generation of children to watch them in the right sequence. He gets enormously animated about it. "It'll be a very different experience, because when Darth Vader walks into that spaceship with the princess, they're going to think, 'Oh my God, that's Anakin!' and they're gonna see Luke and think, 'Oh my God, that's his son!' And rather than a surprise when he says, 'I am your father,' it'll be like, 'Oh my God, finally he's told him!"

I ask if the children will notice the disparity in special effects between the first and the middle three episodes. "I really don't think so, because it's about telling a story, not about special effects. The first series was written very carefully around the technology of the time and it pushed the effects as far as they could take it. That's why it all takes place on Death Stars, in the outreaches of the galaxy, in areas where there isn't much stuff going on. And the back-story was never written to be made into a movie because technically you couldn't do it - to get Yoda to actually have a swordfight would be impossible. I mean, I could barely get him to walk."


Probably not. Nothing can match the environment that a movie theatre can provide, that communal sharing and enjoyment. Movies are made to be shown in theatres, not on small TV screens . . . The next innovation that I would like to see is a system where the movie can be sent to the theatre either through phone lines or satellite transmission. In this way, the movie can be shown as its creator intended and the presentation is not made dependent on the skill, or lack thereof, of the projectionist."
and in this interview with Maltin http://protonforce.tripod.com/lucas_online.html

"Will we ever get to see Episodes 7, 8 and 9?" Gordon Elders, Newcastle, Quebec

Lucas: "Right at this moment, the answer is no. Once the prequel trilogy is complete I plan to put Star Wars on the shelf and walk away from it for good. There are many other kinds of films I would like to make."

I guess we will have to keep on guessing

[David Meek]

I'm prepared to back my case up with real references. Can you B?

RebelMan, you need to chill. Conversation and discussion is good, confrontation is not.



.

[RebelMan]

RebelMan, you need to chill. Conversation and discussion is good, confrontation is not.

David I am as cool as they come! 8) LOL

My intentions were not to be confrontational. However, I believe in situations like this where comments are made to sound like fact more so than opinon, they need to be backed up.

For instance, here is an excerpt from the Leonard Maltin and George Lucas interview that I was refering to. (Leonard was asking George questions that were taken from people that participated in an online discussion.)

Leonard: Todd says, "It has been mentioned in other interviews that nine episodes were created, 1-3 are about Anakin, and 4-6 are about Luke. Who are episodes 7-9 about, and will they ever be made?"

George: Well, Todd, 7-9 really came about when I was on these press junkets and somebody asked if I was going to do sequels. I said, "Well, I have these prequels, but I'm not sure I'll ever do sequels." They said, "Oh, you should do sequels." So I said, "Well, maybe someday I'll do sequels," and that's how 7-9 came to be. There was never a script so I haven't the vaguest idea what would happen, and I really don't think they will ever get made because I would be like 90 years old by the time they were finished.

As you can see, the press misconstrued what George was really saying. Whether he changed his mind or not, or doesn't recall or is not completely honest about it is irrelevant because it cannot be proven that he intended on making nine episodes.

You can "view" this interview in its entirety if you have access to the Star Wars Trilogy (Second Edition) on VHS format.

James

[autio]

Rebel,

was that from the 1997 Maltin interview, If you look at my post above there is a reference from a George Lucas interview done on July 19th 1979:

"The first script was one of six original stories I had written in the form of two trilogies. After the success of Star Wars I added another trilogy. So now there are nine stories. The original two trilogies were conceived of as six films of which the first film was number four."

Well you never know rebel maybe making all these movies has affected his memory

[RebelMan]

I agree, It would appear that he is contridicting himself. Appearances, though can be deceiving. I saw and heard the 1997 interview. I believe one can only read what the 1979 interview had to say.

A person can choose to believe what George says or they can choose to believe what someone else says. However, I think it was pretty clear which to believe when I "witnessed" him (George) say... "There was never a script so I haven't the vaguest idea what would happen,..."

[Sithlord]

I think GL is actually a Sith Lord and has currupted you all. Begun the Thread Wars have. Just my 2 cents.

[RebelMan]

LOL :lol:

[mvoorberg]

While the Star Wars movies are very good, the rate at which they've been released is a bit anti-climactic. I'm not interested to hear any more media hype about them and am glad the last one has finally been released. I think George hit the nail on the head when he said

...and I really don't think they will ever get made because I would be like 90 years old by the time they were finished.

That has a movie released every 30 years, sounds about right to me...

[Andrew M Ward]

too bad

As i walked out of the latest Star Wars movie i actually became angry. Not because the movie was bad, but because it was so damn good. in fact i think it's an excellent film.

i am angry because he chose to make the prior two films into childrens movies and now (only now) do i realize what he has been capable of making.

the first two just were terrible in my opinion, annoying and vitually unwatchable, yet this third one is amazing.

what a waste...

[Gordon Moore]

Not a waste....just 3rd time's a charm

I'm glad he went out on a high note....as opposed to (and this is simply my opinion) :

LOTR, where the first movie was a perfect 10 and dropped off by the 3rd movie. The final installment was not as worthy of all the academy accolades....I think the awards should have been presented to the first....it's just that they were so taken off-guard by the quality of a Sci-Fi movie that I don't think they knew what to do with themselves the first time around. By the 3rd movie they had no choice but to recognize the achievement of such magnitude.

Not to say it wasn't deserving....just not as deserving as the first (which in my book was a perfect or near-perfect movie).

[Nick M]

Gordon, I think they waited because they knew it was a trilogy, and didn't wan't to issue too many awards the first time around, only having to do it again and again for the next two releases (which I think it should have received). While FOTR was my favorite of the three, I thought they were all excellent, with my second favorite being ROTK. If I could only keep one series between LOTR and SW, I'd keep LOTR without a thought.

[i_amadeo]

As i walked out of the latest Star Wars movie i actually became angry. Not because the movie was bad, but because it was so damn good. in fact i think it's an excellent film.

i am angry because he chose to make the prior two films into childrens movies and now (only now) do i realize what he has been capable of making.

the first two just were terrible in my opinion, annoying and vitually unwatchable, yet this third one is amazing.

what a waste...

i can not agree with you ...each one of the three were wounderfuly done .... believe me Lucas knows what he is doing

first one anakin as a small boy ...lightsabor fights got me jumping in my seat the score was outrageously lovely nananananananana ........

second one anakin a teenager in love ......what could be more lovely than that ....and a build up to the third

.......clone wars although a cartoon series they are as good (as a story , editing and total understanding of the prequels ..

last one ROTS......anakins darkside unleashed.......magnificent