
A Galaxy Not So Far Far Away

Written by David Erlenbusch
Forget Jedi Knight. Forget Rebellion. Forget the Special Edition Trilogy even. None of these can hold a saber to the excitement being generated by the Lucasfilm project currently in production, STAR WARS, EPISODE 1. Savor that for a moment, let it roll around your mind.
 |
After so many rumors, false hope, missed start dates, and unfounded rumors, it’s REALLY being made. Right now Obi-Wan Kenobi,
Anakin Skywalker, Master Yoda, and the rest of the crew are setting down galactic history. Under the working title Balance of the Force, episode 1 is all but in the can. First unit photography wrapped on location in Tunisia a few weeks ago, and has since moved back to England and Leavesdon Studio to complete the bulk of principal footage on over 50 sets that have been constructed there.
In this month’s column, I’ll take you through the scraps of information Lucasfilm has given us, and guide you through the most reliable of the rumors that have floated up until today, Sunday September 14. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the rumors I’ve collected, the column will be divided up into two sections this month, a relatively spoiler-free zone, and a no-holds barred, gossip, rumor, and subterfuge spoiler section. You can read the first section relatively certain that what you’ll find there is nothing that hasn’t been leaked by Lucasfilm itself, to the net, or to various publications. The second section should be treated with care. Don’t look if you don’t want to know possible information concerning the film! And now, without further ado STAR WARS: BALANCE of the FORCE
While none of us may have the insight into the project as, say, a George Lucas or Rick McCallum, we mere mortals have been granted a few choice tidbits of info by the powers that be. The most revealing of these may be the cast list, or the POTENTIAL cast list if you would believe Lucasfilm. While they may officially claim to only be in negotiations with these actors, it only makes sense that, if filming is almost finished, Lucasfilm is well past the negotiation phase. Read and ponder -
- Liam Neeson - While his character has not been officially unveiled yet, Lucas has said that Neeson will be the central character of Episode 1.
- Ewan McGreggor - our young Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I think this bit of casting has me most excited of all the news. I love Ewan’s work, check him out in Shallow Grave, or Trainspotting for some of his best-known work. Word has it that he was holed up in his flat watching Alec Guinness movies for ages, trying to get Sir Alec’s speech patterns down cold. We can only wait.
- Natalie Portman - Mysterious indeed. Natalie Portman has been named only as 'The Young Queen' as of this writing.
- Jake Lloyd - Anakin Skywalker. Hot pilot, brilliant droid mechanic, and an 8-year-old bundle of force potential. Lloyd was last seen in the Schwarzenager comedy 'Jingle All the Way' this past Christmas.
- Pernilla August - Tentatively I’ll name Mrs. August as Anakin’s mother, as the vast majority of rumors would indicate this.
- Kenny Baker - Well, R2-D2 is in, so it only makes sense that Mr. Baker will return to fill his astromech torso out.
- Anthony Daniels - Okay, not officially announced, but come on. Daniels continues to work closely with STAR WARS, and 3PO is definitely in the film. Latest rumor has it that Daniels joined the cast late as he only has a fairly small role in episode 1.
- Frank Oz - Yoda returns. Oz will voice the aged Jedi Master, and perform the physical puppeteering for Yoda.
- Warwick Davis - No idea where Mr. Ex-Wickket will be cast. Lucas likes him, so it’s no surprise to see Mr. Davis return in another Lucasfilm project.
- Ian McDiarmid - Have I peaked your interest yet? Yes, talks with veteran stage actor, and evil despot Palpatine have indeed been in progress. How long will we have to wait until we know for certain? Well….you all going to be around May 20, 1999?
- Terrence Stamp - Terrance Stamp we know best from Percilla, Queen of the Desert, and Superman 2’s General Zod. A fine actor, and hopefully SW1, 2 and 3 have netted him.
- Samuel Jackson - We may be looking at a cameo Jedi Knight here kiddies. Jackson apparently very early on was pestering Lucas to let him do something in the new trilogy. Another fine addition to the SW 1 ensemble.
 |
As for the rest of the Lucasfilm list, its up to you folks to research these other folks (what, am I supposed to do everything?). No, actually, I just have no idea who these people are. Anyone with info mail me for a BIG PRIZE! - Ahmed Best, Adrian Dunbar, Hugh Quarshie, Brian Blessed, Khruu Chanchani, Ray Park, Margaret Tower, Ralph Brown, Silas Carson, Celia Imrie, Andy Secombe and Oliver Walpole.
The other interesting info distributed by Lucasfilm concerns Jedi combat, and Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard. Instead of relying on lightsaber duels patched together from various fencing, Aikido, and other martial art forms, Gillard has successfully created a unique, functioning Jedi martial art, focussed on the use of the lightsaber as the Jedi’s weapon of choice. The logic underlying the creation of this specialized martial art is primarily that if the actors know WHY they move a certain way, can understand the mechanics of the fight, they will be able to bring more of their character into the duels. This as of yet unnamed combat method (hmm…teras kassi?) is based on the understanding that the Jedi are often fighting opponents who will attack with long range weapons, such as a blaster.
 |
The new Jedi martial art is designed for “speed and economy of movement”. As of this writing both Neeson and McGreggor have been trained thoroughly in this combat, and are reportedly as good as the stunt people they are fighting with. This should be very cool, providing a unified, and at the same time, unique look and feel to Jedi combat in the new trilogy.
 |
But how good a story are we going to see all of this action taking place within? Initial reaction from many people to Lucas’ determination to bring Anakin in as an 8 year old child was “Oh no! Not another Ewok-Adventure disaster!” Additionally, copies of Lucas’ old early drafts of Star Wars 4 began surfacing as people read in horror about the Jedi-Bendu or Organna Major, General Deak Starkiller, and other assorted terrors. What would the final version of episode 1 look like? Writer Frank Darabont was signed as story editor by Lucas to check his finished draft of the screenplay. Darabont’s reaction? Well, as reported in the Daily Variety:
"I had nothing to tell him, not one idea. I said I wouldn't change
a single damn word, and I hope he didn't".
Methinks this bodes well for Star Wars fans everywhere….
 |
So the next logical question is how soon can we expect this film to be finished? Once again Lucas is bringing this project in on time as of now. Filming with the lead actors has finished in Tunisia for episode 1, and moved to England’s Leavesdon Studio for the remainder of the on-set principal photography. The plan, as it stands now, is to ABSOLUTELY finish principal photography at Leavesdon within the next 2 weeks. That’s right! By months end Star Wars Episode 1: Balance of the Force will be completed! Well, sort of. You see, there’s still the matter of second and third unit photography, possible reshoots Lucas will want, and the ILM magic which will be SO enormous in this film. So the plan after shooting finishes for the month is for Lucas to do a working edit of the film, and turn it over to ILM.
Once effects shots are completed (and BOY do they sound like they’re going to be good!), Lucasfilm will have maintained the lease at Leavesdon, and NONE of the sets are coming down, so Lucas will be able to do any addition or reshoot he feels is necessary. So, sadly, it’s going to be a while before we see the fruits of Lucas’s labor…. Or is it?
Now here’s the coolest rumor for immediate gratification I’ve heard in a long time. An insider at Leavesdon has leaked the information that Lucas MAY have filmed a teaser trailer for the film, showing the work in progress. This trailer is reported to be destined for release with . . . ALIENS: RESURRECTION, which, as you all know, will be released this November! Get set for some serious anticipation as A: R approaches release.. Will we or won’t we see this explosion of coolness?
Here endeth the relatively safe spoilers. Be warned, juicy stuff follows this link folks. If you don’t want to know, don’t click....
Back to D A R K N E S S F A L L S