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Star Wars News & Features

News and information from a Galaxy Far Far Away, and sometimes a little closer to home.

    A recent casting call in London suggests that the Star Wars Episode VII casting team are on the lookout for a new actor to replace Peter Mayhew in the role of Chewbacca.

    The casting call, which has been linked to director JJ Abrams and producers of Star Wars Episode VII, asks for a 7ft 3in actor with a slim build.

    Mayhew, who recently underwent surgery to enable him to walk again after years of poor mobility, told Bleeding Cool that he fully intends to pursue the role of Chewbacca. It is currently unknown whether he will be well enough in time for production to start in early 2014.

    Is Disney planning on recasting Chewbacca or a fellow Wookiee, or perhaps simply keeping their options open? Time will tell as we creep slowly towards production.

    Hamill in training for Episode VII

    By Andy, in The Movies,

    Although unconfirmed by either Disney or Mark Hamill himself, a source close to the actor has revealed that he is in training ready to appear in the latest installment of the Star Wars saga.

    Robert Englund, best known for his portrayal of Freddie Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street series, told reporters that his friend, Hamill, was in the gym preparing to return to Star Wars.

    Film bosses had allegedly told Hamill, along with Carrie Fisher, to tone up for a return as twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Both Hamill and Fisher previously played the brother and sister in the 1977 original, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, along with the two sequels of the classic trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

    Empire and Rebellion: Razor's Edge

    By Princess, in Books & Comics,

    New novel set to be released September 24

    <span style='color: rgb(0,0,0)'><span style='font-family: Arial'><span style='font-size: 12px;'><br /><span style='font-size: 14px;'>Times are desperate for the Rebel Alliance. Harassment by the Empire and a shortage of vital supplies are hindering completion of a new secret base on the ice planet Hoth. So when Mid Rim merchants offer much-needed materials for sale, Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo lead an Alliance delegation to negotiate a deal.</span></span></span></span><span style='color: rgb(0,0,0)'><span style='font-family: Arial'><span style='font-size: 12px;'><br /><span style='font-size: 14px;'>But when treachery forces the rebel ship to flee into territory controlled by pirates, Leia makes a shocking discovery: the fierce marauders come from Leia’s homeworld of Alderaan, recently destroyed by the Death Star. These refugees have turned to pillaging and plundering to survive—and they are in debt to a pirate armada, which will gladly ransom the princess to the vengeful Empire . . . if they find out her true identity.</span></span></span></span><span style='color: rgb(0,0,0)'><span style='font-family: Arial'><span style='font-size: 12px;'><br /><span style='font-size: 14px;'>Struggling with intense feelings of guilt, loyalty, and betrayal, Leia is determined to help her wayward kinspeople, even as Imperial forces are closing in on her own crippled ship. Trapped between lethal cutthroats and brutal oppressors, Leia and Han, along with Luke, Chewbacca, and a battle-ready crew, must defy death—or embrace it—to keep the rebellion alive.</span></span></span></span>

    Set before the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, this new novel is a thrilling follow-up toStar Wars: Darth Plagueis

    Set before the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, this new novel is a thrilling follow-up toStar Wars: Darth Plagueis

    It's kill or be killed in the space penitentiary that houses the galaxy’s worst criminals, where convicts face off in gladiatorial combat while an underworld gambling empire reaps the profits of the illicit blood sport. But the newest contender in this savage arena, as demonic to behold as he is deadly to challenge, is fighting for more than just survival. His do-or-die mission, for the dark masters he serves, is to capture the ultimate weapon: an object capable of obliterating the Jedi and conquering the galaxy.

    Sith lords Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious are determined to possess the prize. And one of the power-hungry duo has his own treacherous plans for it. But first, their fearsome apprentice must take on a bloodthirsty prison warden, a cannibal gang, cutthroat crime lord Jabba the Hutt, and an unspeakable alien horror. No one else could brave such a gauntlet of death and live. But no one else is the dreaded dark-side disciple known as Darth Maul.

    Spin-Offs Will be Origin Stories

    By Radioactive Isotope, in The Movies,

    We've known for some time that standalone films about famous suporting characters are in development alongside the trilogy beginning with Star Wars Episode VII. Now Rasulo reveals that those standalone films will be origin stories.

    Reaffirming that we can expect a Star Wars every year from 2015 on, [Disney's chief financial officer Jay] Rasulo's wording (only paraphrased by Variety) was that Disney will be alternating a trilogy film and "an origin story" annually. If you were an investor, you'd be reassured that that strategy sits alongside two Marvels, a Disney animation, and one or two Pixars.

    Read the rest of the article here.

    A new hope for Peter Mayhew

    By Andy, in General News,

    Star Wars veteran Peter Mayhew, who has been wheelchair bound for two years is recovering from double-knee replacement surgery which doctors hope will let him walk again.

    The British born actor, who towers above his contemporaries at 7ft 3, became a US citizen in 2005 and is best known for playing Chewbacca in four Star Wars episodes and hopes to gain a new lease of life from the surgery.

    Mayhew, 69, will also be the subject of a documentary called Standing in the Stars - The Peter Mayhew Story, which will highlight his medical conditions including gigantism, which is responsible for his tall stature.

    Chewbacca famously snagged the last line in 1977's Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and was more recently seen portrayed by Mayhew in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in 2005. It is unknown whether he, or Mayhew will return for Episode VII.

    RIP Ann Crispin

    By Andy, in General News,

    Author AC Crispin passed away on 6th September after a battle with cancer. The author, who was also former Vice President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, was best known in the Star Wars expanded universe for her novels in the Han Solo trilogy.

    Source: http://sf-fantasy.suvudu.com/2013/09/rip-ann-ac-crispin.html

    NY casting call for Episode VII

    By Andy, in The Movies,

    A casting call for three main roles has gone out in New York. The untitled Disney project features JJ Abrams as director, and is believed to be Star Wars Episode VII.

    Acording to Showbiz 411, the call is for three main roles which have previously been listed alongside others on a casting call for Episode VII, which suggests that some roles have already been filled.

    The roles are:
    Young Man - Early 20s. Handsome, but not necessarily heroic. He is witty and smart. Physically fit.
    Man - Late 20s. Physically fit, handsome and confident.
    Young Woman - Late teens. Physically fit, raw energy, independent with a great sense of humor.

    Could these be the offspring of the original stars of the classic trilogy?

    More Star Wars Episode VII casting rumours circulating the web at the moment include the possibility of the part of Han Solo's daughter being considered for actress Ksenia Solo.

    According to Jedi News the aptly named actress was tipped for the role by an anonymous source. Ksenia Solo has previously appeared in Black Swan, which starred Queen Amidala herself - Natalie Portman, and television show Lost Girl.

    As usual there is no official word from Lucasfilm or Disney, so we'll have to wait and see what happens. The possible role of Solo's daughter currently has no name attached, so Expanded Universe fans will be eagerly waiting to find out whether this is actually Jaina Solo, and if indeed her twin brother Jacen will also make it into Star Wars Episode VII.

    Star Trek: Into Darkness and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberpatch is rumoured to be among the first cast members due to be announced for Star Wars Episode VII.

    Reports suggest that Cumberpatch, who has previously worked with director JJ Abrams in Star Trek: Into Darkness, will soon be confirmed as joining the cast of Episode VII.





    Cumberpatch's representatives are currently denying these rumours.

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