Star Wars Weekly Buzz! Rian Johnson Teases “The Last Jedi” Opening Crawl, New Rogue One Concept Art and More!
This week in our Star Wars Weekly Buzz: Rian Johnson shares an image from the cutting room with the newly released Episode VIII title, Chuck Wendig’s novel Aftermath: Empire’s End is ready for distribution, even more concept art from Rogue One has been revealed, Star Wars merchandise score another record breaking year, the latest bits from Pablo Hidalgo and more…
Earlier this week, Rian Johnson took to Instagram to share a photo of The Last Jedi’s opening crawl. The black and white photo, shot in the editing bay, shows the first thing fans will see after the words STAR WARS flash on the big screen. It’s good the see the traditional crawl back after it was dropped for Rogue One.
Many people are wondering what exactly the new crawl will tell, since we know that Episode VIII starts exactly where The Force Awakens ended. Nothing much happened between the two films, so perhaps the crawl will focus on events that happened around the time when Rey took off for Ahch-to.
A video hit Instagram earlier this week, which shows The Last Jedi’s very own Daisy Ridley entering actor Josh Gad’s trailer in a robe and a head wrap. Ridley makes it clear right away that “we’re not doing this,” but her co-star Gad hilariously does not buckle under the pressure.
Check out the hilarious Instagram below…
Chuck Wendig’s closing chapter of the Aftermath trilogy is ready and waiting for its release on February 21, 2017!
Aftermath Assembled. The trilogy is complete. #EmpiresEnd #LifeDebt #Aftermath cc: @ChuckWendig pic.twitter.com/IPTDEsprwU
— Star Wars Books (@DelReyStarWars) January 26, 2017
StarWars.com caught up with lead designer Zoltan Vari this week over e-mail to discuss his new Rogue One digital table Pinball game. The game will be coming to PC and consoles on January 31 and mobile devices on February 2. You can view the entire interview here.
A talk with the lead designer of Star Wars Pinball: #RogueOne. https://t.co/E8bwjBXQkW pic.twitter.com/9hLov4zPMZ
— Star Wars (@starwars) January 24, 2017
Rogue One now has a hilarious 8 Bit version. Check it out:
Our friends from Star Wars Alert have created a new The Last Jedi teaser trailer:
That’s a pretty good guess for the Episode IX title, don’t you think so? 🙂
Damn spoilers. pic.twitter.com/cLIMEQUK0r
— Outstar (@outstarwalker) January 25, 2017
Star Wars toys rule the world once again:
#StarWars the Force was with SW toy merchandising in 2016 https://t.co/f7Im8q1HCE pic.twitter.com/fAfcAjakL9
— Star Wars EP8 (SWNN) (@SW_ROGUE_ONE) January 26, 2017
Research firm NPD Group said Star Wars sales totaled nearly $760 million in the U.S. alone last year, beating 2015 by $60 million. That made Star Wars the top property in the toy world, based on dollar sales. The perennially popular property has seen resurgent interest thanks to two recent films, 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and last year’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
Star Wars has its 40th anniversary in 2017, but that’s not all. The 501st Legion, dedicated to promoting any Star Wars events and charity initiatives, are celebrating their 20th anniversary. Congratulations!
2017 is the 20th anniversary of The 501st Legion! I am very proud of how much good a little group of bad guys could accomplish! #starwars pic.twitter.com/jTsmcNGoh5
— Michael Bender (@TK6682) January 25, 2017
The Death Troopers take over the new Star Wars Insider cover:
#StarWars #RogueOne SW Insider no. 171 is due out soon and features the cool Deathtroopers from Rogue One pic.twitter.com/sEL9NDi3jo
— Star Wars EP8 (SWNN) (@SW_ROGUE_ONE) January 25, 2017
These are some really impressive numbers. The data for Rogue One is a bit old. Now the movie has surpassed Finding Dory:
#StarWars #RogueOne an amazing year for Disney Studios, and Rogue One became the highest domestic release of 2016 pic.twitter.com/wv3vnL2w7F
— Star Wars EP8 (SWNN) (@SW_ROGUE_ONE) January 25, 2017
Little Ivy Wong is grateful for her involvement with Rogue One.
Thank you #Lucasfilm and all involved for letting Ivy be a part of @StarWars. Ivy really enjoyed #StarWars #RogueOne movie and Visual Guide! pic.twitter.com/skZBxW1EqI
— Ivy Wong (@ivyandhugo) January 14, 2017
Are you ready for the Season of the Force?
Can you sense it? Epic encounters and thrilling attractions await at Disneyland Park, during Season of the Force! https://t.co/5PuEroy3m6 pic.twitter.com/8QLV5bDv1u
— Disneyland Resort (@Disneyland) January 23, 2017
More new and very cool concept art images from Rogue One.
Check out #RogueOne : A #StarWars Story concept art by Matt Allsopp! https://t.co/UTmtAAxNNH pic.twitter.com/9NIjpKRYJO
— Concept Art World (@conceptartworld) January 23, 2017
Dan Aykroyd pay tribute to Carrie Fisher.
Dan Aykroyd writes a heartfelt tribute essay to his friend Carrie Fisher, exclusively for Empire: https://t.co/hcr1pDZmyC pic.twitter.com/3MgiF3RiMs
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) January 23, 2017
Really hope to see that scene in the Rogue One Blu-ray.
Krennic’s blaster is aimed at Tarkin after announcing he would take over control of the DS, another scene that didn’t make the final cut pic.twitter.com/G5fFEQek6U
— Star Wars EP8 (SWNN) (@SW_ROGUE_ONE) January 23, 2017
The latest from Pablo Hidalgo. All the tweets are self explanatory. Enjoy.
@t_chill_501 @jere7my The corporation of Disney does not work on the story.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 27, 2017
@AnthonyWang15 @Calanon @yanjimac Her mission was to get Obi-Wan and bring him to Alderaan.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 27, 2017
@JasonCh20429560 1. I’d say long before TPM. 2. No, of course Jar Jar is not a Sith Lord.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 26, 2017
@buckarooo77 Understand, yes. Speak? No.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 26, 2017
@caiqueizoton @starwars There is only one Chopper.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 26, 2017
@StarWarsMaven @missingwords @HolocronKeeper Oh, we’re all big fans. And yeah, we work with our games team to advise on units.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 26, 2017
@NashvilleWPDev Did you see the last episode of season 1? Fulcrum was an agent for Bail Organa. He connects to Hera.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 26, 2017
@StarWars_Q There was a very early version called Shadow of the Empire. But that was even before the director came aboard.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 25, 2017
@StarRider587 George suggested maybe Muun or Neimoidian. LucasArts played with human as an idea for a bit for a game.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 25, 2017
@TruJedi90 Sabine and Ezra are not Rey’s parents. Come on.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) January 24, 2017
Stay tuned for more next week.
With contribution by @SW_ROGUE_ONE
Nice Carrie Fisher tribute from Dan Ackroyd. Never knew they were once a thing.
Not sure what Ewan’s political views have to do with star wars…
Great article this week!
I am very confused by Pablo’s tweet about Darth Plagueis. He says Palpatine murdered Darth Plagueis “long before TPM”?? Did he not read the Darth Plagueis novel? One of the best things about it was that it improved TPM so much by explaining all the motivations, and intertwining the events within the movie timeline. It detailed how Palpatine murdered Darth Plagueis NEAR THE END OF TPM.
Of course I understand that the Darth Plagueis novel is now Legends, but it is the only official information out there regarding Sheev’s betrayal. So how could Pablo say something so… wrong?
Could it be that he is purposely misleading about Darth Plagueis because he will be making an “awakening”? That would be OK by me.
“Of course I understand that the Darth Plagueis novel is now Legends”
Then why are you so confused? It’s Legends. It’s non-canon. Pablo, the Story Group, and the fans are perfectly within their right to ignore it. Now, maybe the Plagueis novel was GOOD, but it’s not canon.
You don’t understand the point. I’m not arguing Legends. I am saying there is nothing in Legends OR canon to suggest that Darth Plagueis was killed “long before TPM”. He is not even mentioned until Ep. 3, and in that story told by Palpatine there is no mention of a timeline to Plagueis’ death. And then there’s the Darth Plagueis novel. (Incidentally one of the best SW novels ever written.) That’s all, no other material. UNLESS Pablo is aware of stuff that is not revealed yet, which is exactly what I was getting at.
Well of course Pablo is aware of unrevealed stuff. He runs the whole Story Group, lol.
Do you purposely reply to points that people are not saying? Is it that you are afraid of saying someone else is correct or that you agree? It’s just weird because I don’t remember saying that Pablo was not aware of future developments. I seem to remember saying that he did have access to such things, and I was speculating about Plageuis being one of those things.
So if you were to reply about whether or not Plageuis is currently under development, that would be a relevant point of debate. Your comment above however has nothing to do with the point.
“Do you purposely reply to points that people are not saying?”
No, you just have pitiful reading comprehension skills.
TUD’s turned into a bit of a prick, Speed. Just block him.
Damn, he must be bad if you’re freaken saying block him. I’ll have to edit my above statement.
what??
Hey. Even I have one person blocked on these forums.
I’m shocked..you usually handle people really well. Certainly the best debater I’ve encountered! Keep it up Grasshopper! lol 😉
Will do, hoss.
Just to warn you, you’re talking to one this comment board’s enlightened few. TUD can’t be bothered with the pesky rantings of those who would dare ask valid questions about Starwars.
If he feels you’re at the very least critical of anything SW, he’ll dream about ripping out your heart. Hail to the chief Pablo and all things J.J., and you’ll be fine
Or you can do what I imagine most do after coming across him, say you’re thankfuls your life isn’t that miserable where trolling the comment boards of a Starwars site is a special moment.
I’m not sure how my life is “miserable” when you are the angry one. Personally, I’m pretty content, all things considered. Maybe you’re a bit too emotionally invested 😉
He knows things over a year in advance of their release, he’s said so and he can’t talke about plots. I’m sure he knows who Rey’s parents are and has for at least 2 years.
Yep.
Well, technically Kiri Hart runs it, but I’m not gonna fence with ya. 😉
How much time do you spend in thus comment section pres tending you’re more enlightened than everyone else.
Sometimes I’ll come to see what people are thinking, and every time I read your passive aggressive comments. This was minor, but geez man. I see your name and I instantly know the next comment is in all likelihood something you vomited in what seems like a desperate plea to feel enlightened.
I don’t know, maybe you and American Ignorant just don’t realize you come off like that.
Maybe…
Or maybe you should stop being so overemotional, lol. It’s not the end of the world 🙂
Not sorry to lose that part of the EU at all. I love Luceno but it was downright stupid to have Plagueis around the same time as Maul violating the rule of two.
Yeah, Sidious tried to in Jedi but it’s believable that someone like him would be a rule breaker given that he thought he was the Sith’ari.
Ah. I didn’t really take any issue with Palpatine training Maul in violation of the Rule of Two. In fact, my guess is that what he did was more often the rule (no pun intended) than the exception.
Sith are sneaky and deceptive. And because of their often duplicitous nature, they’re probably apt at covering their backs. I actually can’t see a Sith offing his master before an apprentice is already lined up and proven worthy. It just makes sense that that’s how they’d do things.
Well, He was screwed for a few years after he was killed and had to work on Dooku. I think all that “as I have forseen” business was him bluffing half the time.
I agree. The Sith are deceptive. They cheat. They lie. Perhaps he did foresee things, but I wouldn’t necessarily bet on it.
No one was violating the rule of two.
I don’t feel Maul was breaking the rule of two.
Its similar to Dookus training of Ventress, officially she was an assassin, but only to Dooku was she going to be his apprentice.
Plagieus master also had a back apprentice but he was more of a trial foe Plageius than a full sith.
To be fair, Ventress was before TCW was intended to be canon. Maul was also far more skilled than Ventress and closer to his master as well.
Darth Plagueis, being Legends, isn’t canon…and like the EU itself, never was officially canon.
That being said, I agree with you that the book made TPM a more watchable experience. It seemed that in addition to telling his own story, Luceno sought the address a lot of the odd things that begged for explanations in the movie. And he did so in a way that didn’t seem didactic.
A lot of folks didn’t like this, but I sort of enjoyed the angle of having Plagueis stick around until the end of TPM. It was neat. I didn’t expect it.
Never knew that TIE Striker’s had proton bombs, Too engrossed in the story to see if they fired any. It really is the Imperial version of an airspeeder in a way.
lol I hadn’t watched that Joshgad video before. The look on her face… 😛
I can tell you Olaf is in Frozen 2…
Oh um… spoilers for Frozen. Sorry.
Daisy is so gorgeous.
” Nothing much happened between the two films, so perhaps the crawl will focus on events that happened around the time when Rey took off for Ahch-to.”
Not to mention there could be other relevant things happening in other parts of the GFFA that were not covered in TFA.