J.J. Abrams: ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ will honour past films

- June 10th, 2013

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J.J. Abrams is aware that pretty much anything he says between now and 2015 – the year his new Star Wars hits theatres – will be newsworthy. And speaking at the Produced By Conference in Los Angeles over the weekend, the director didn’t disappoint.

Abrams revealed he will be relocating his family to London later this year before the yet-to-be titled film begins shooting in 2014.

The Star Trek: Into Darkness director didn’t shed any light on the story, but did talk about how he will approach the new series.

“It is so massive and so important to people,” he is quoted by The Hollywood Reporter as saying. “I think the key to moving forward on something like this is honouring but not revering what came before.”

Abrams did express some reservations about uprooting his family from Los Angeles, and mentioned that the move would be something of an inconvenience for his kids.

“When you’re 13 and 14, it’s like, f–k that, I don’t care what the movie is,” he said.

According to THR, Abrams used some of his own money to ensure Star Trek: Into Darkness was filmed in Los Angeles.

When asked whether the new film, which is being scripted by Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), would take its cues from one of the many Star Wars novels that have been released since the original trilogy ended, Abrams wouldn’t comment.

Also not discussed is how Abrams plans on using original trilogy stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), who are all rumoured to have parts in the new film.

And if you think he’s done with the U.S.S. Enterprise, don’t lose hope just yet Trekkies.

In an interview with Playboy earlier this spring, Abrams said his involvement with Star Wars doesn’t mean he can’t do Star Trek 3.

“I would say it’s a possibility… We’re trying to figure out the next step. But it’s like anything: It all begins with the story.”

If you have an ideal plot line for the new Star Wars films, let us know your idea in the comments.

Tom Cruise agrees to do ‘Mission: Impossible 5′

- May 6th, 2013

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Tom Cruise’s dance card is filling up pretty quickly. The actor has the visually stunning Oblivion in theatres now, next year’s All You Need is Kill is in the can, and he has been tapped to star alongside Armie Hammer in the Guy Ritchie-directed The Man From U.N.C.L.E.. Now comes word via Deadline that Cruise has agreed to reprise his role as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible 5.

Cruise’s last outing as the IMF agent in 2011′s Ghost Protocol was not only the series’ most successful, it was the actor’s highest-grossing movie ever.

No writer/director is attached, but the film will be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot. Abrams helped reinvent the franchise by directing part III and helping land Brad Bird for the fourth instalment, which featured Cruise doing some death-defying stunts in Dubai.

But with Star Wars: Episode VII due to start shooting early next year, it’s unlikely that Abrams would have much creative involvement in the new film.

Also on Cruise’s plate (if you’re a fan, and I am) is a sequel to Jack Reacher. While that film, which is based on Lee Child’s long-running crime series, wasn’t a huge hit in North America, globally it made over $215 million according to Box Office Mojo.

Deadline speculates that Cruise’s Reacher director Christopher McQuarrie will be asked to helm Mission: Impossible 5.

Less clear, is whether Top Gun 2 will still proceed following director Tony Scott’s death last year. Cruise’s reprisal of Maverick was supposed to go before cameras ahead of M:I 5. Speaking with Yahoo! Movies, producer Jerry Bruckheimer said he is still optimistic that the sequel will happen. “We haven’t given up yet,” he said earlier this year. “It’s just figuring out how to do it, which I think we have a good handle on, and losing Tony slowed us down, but hopefully we can pick up speed again.”

Are you happy Cruise will be accepting another Mission? Let us know what you think in the comments.

J.J. Abrams says he can still do ‘Star Trek 3′

- April 25th, 2013

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Before J.J. Abrams starts working on Star Wars Episode VII full time, the director will have to walk the promo gauntlet for Star Trek Into Darkness where he will be asked endlessly how he plans on juggling two franchises.

Up to now, fanboys have just assumed he’ll ditch Trek entirely now that Disney has handed him the keys to a new trilogy of Star Wars films.

But in an interview with Playboy, Abrams says doing Episode VII doesn’t mean he can’t make another Star Trek.

“I would say it’s a possibility,” he tells the magazine. “We’re trying to figure out the next step. But it’s like anything: It all begins with the story.”

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Abrams also addressed some of the backlash he experienced when it was announced that he was helming the new Star Wars film.

“I mean, I get it. The worlds are vastly different. Honestly, that was why I passed on Star Wars to begin with. I couldn’t imagine doing both. But when I said that my loyalty was to Star Trek I was literally working on finishing this cut. I couldn’t even entertain another thought. It was like being on the most beautiful beach in the world and someone saying, ‘There’s this amazing mountain over here. Come take a look.’ I couldn’t balance the two, so I passed on Star Wars… In the end it was my wife, Katie, who said if it was something that really interested me, I had to consider it.”

The wide-ranging interview also touches on Fringe (I skipped that bit since I haven’t finished the series), the possibility of an Alias movie (“We discuss it. In the right circumstance and situation I would definitely be open to it”), Cloverfield II (“Part of me just wants to let it go”) and his un-produced Superman Flyby screenplay.

Check out the latest trailer below and let us know whether you think Abrams should be allowed to direct both Star Trek and Star Wars.

New ‘Star Wars’ movies every year starting in 2015

- April 17th, 2013

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So, good news if you’re a Star Wars fan. Disney has revealed it has big plans in store for the franchise.

Starting with 2015′s Episode VII, the company is planning a new film every year for at least five years.

Disney made the announcement at CinemaCon earlier today. The plan will see the company alternate between a new trilogy of films being kickstarted by J.J. Abrams and various spinoff pictures.

In February, Disney announced plans for standalone films focusing on a young Han Solo and Boba Fett.

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In addition to the Solo and Fett films, Ain’t it Cool reported that a standalone Yoda film is also in the works.

Episode VII will hit theatres in the summer of 2015 along with Avengers 2. So it will definitely be a busy summer for Disney, which owns both properties.

Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) is writing the screenplay for Episode VII, with Empire Strikes Back scribe, Lawrence Kasdan, and Simon Kinsberg (Sherlock Holmes, X-Men: Days of Future Past) writing the other two instalments.

Is this Star Wars overload or movie-going heaven? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Harrison Ford ‘looking forward to’ ‘Star Wars’ return

- March 19th, 2013

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After weeks of silence, Harrison Ford has finally addressed his rumoured return to the Star Wars franchise to reprise his iconic role as Han Solo in Episode VII.

And if you are in favour of the old gang you’ll like what he has to say.

“I think it’s almost true,” he told a reporter from Chicago’s WGN. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s not in the bag yet, but I think it’ll happen, and I’m delighted.”

Last month, famed movie reporter Umberto ‘El Mayimbe’ Gonzalez reported that a deal had already been made to bring back Ford as Solo.

Mark Hamill has also confirmed that he is in talks to reprise Luke Skywalker.

The film, which is being written by Oscar-winner Michael Arndt, will be directed by J.J. Abrams and is scheduled to open in 2015.

In addition to a seventh instalment, Disney has confirmed plans for spin-off films focusing on a young Han Solo and Boba Fett.

So, are you happy Ford’s happy? Are you thrilled they’re bringing back the old gang for Episode VII? Let us know what you think in the comments.