'HAN SOLO' MOVIE NEWS: ENTER RON HOWARD!

From WILLOW to the upcoming HAN SOLO movie, Welcome Back, Ron Howard! Image: STARWARS.COM

Things haven't been working out too well for the standalone STAR WARS movies since they were first excitingly announced a few years back. There was the seemingly aborted (for now) Bobe Fett film, the reshoots of ROGUE ONE, and now the recent sad predicament that there has been much discourse on the 2018 awaited Unititled Han Solo movie these past few months, confirmed with the news of the film's original, seemingly at first inspired directing partners Lord and Miller departing the project so near the film's completion of principal photography, followed by their film's original choice of editor,too.

Thankfully, a new day is dawning, of which their replacements on this important standalone couldn't be more experienced, more highly regarded nor more trustworthy in fusing character drama with exciting visuals: director Ron Howard (whom I've long hoped would direct a STAR WARS film and has been a clear fan of the saga ever since 1977, plus he's a long time friend of George Lucas) and new editor Pietro Scalia-one of the best of the best in his profession, having been a continuing strong creative right arm to director Ridley Scott in so many of his modern great projects. Good luck from STAR WARS AFICIONADO to these two talented men, whom we can't wait to see flex their creative talents in bringing us a striking and cohesive movie set inside our favouite universe...

Latest news:

http://www.starwars.com/news/ron-howard-to-assume-directorial-duties-on-the-untitled-han-solo-film

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/star-wars-han-solo-ron-howard-director-1202474294/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-han-solo-movie-firing-new-details-behind-phil-lord-chris-miller-exit-1016619

http://www.jedinews.co.uk/film-music-tv/articles/red-cup-filming-fuerteventura/

From June 6th, 2017: http://variety.com/2017/film/news/thandie-newton-star-wars-han-solo-movie-1202454548/

'INFERNO SQUAD': LATEST NEWS

Check out the latest interview with the confident, happy and totally sexy actress inhabiting the role of battle-hardened Imperial officer Iden Versio in the new BATTLEFRONT II saga online: Janina Gavankar, clearly pleased as punch, and beyond (and who can blame her!), to be a part of the STAR WARS universe in any of its diverse expanded universe forms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56TQzjUVY5g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDCmDglAZ8Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s3uqZ9NiQ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDCmDglAZ8Q

And read the first preview chapter of Inferno Squad's novel adventure (from Christie Golden) here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2017/06/21/star-wars-battlefront-ii-inferno-squad-exclusive-excerpt/103037074/


Latest US exclusive cover: http://www.starwars.com/news/these-star-wars-sdcc-exclusives-are-calling-to-you-first-look

Get Inferno Squad in UK Hardback (from Century Publishing) here:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Inferno-Christie-Golden/dp/1780894821/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498736106&sr=1-1&keywords=inferno+squad

EPISODE VII: IN STARKILLER SKIES!

The battle in and around Starkiller Base hots up and time is running out for the X-wing pilots of Red and Blue squadrons, including female ace Jess Pava, keeping things together as best she can against overwhelming odds and explosive skies, during the finale to THE FORCE AWAKENS.

CLASSIC IMAGE: EVIL OBSERVERS!

As Darth Vader initiates his ghastly carbon freeze "test" on Captain Solo, evil subordinates around him survey the nightmare scene, in a terrific and truly atmospheric image from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

THE 'HAN SOLO' MOVIE: LATEST NEWS

A composite of Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo. Image via Varners.com.

Next year will see us discover the genesis of everyone's favourite Corellian smuggler and owner of the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo, in what will hopefully be an exciting and fun action comedy space adventure.

Here's some recent news on the project:

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/817293/Star-Wars-news-title-of-the-new-Han-Solo-movie-Red-Cup

http://www.followingthenerd.com/movies/is-this-the-logo-and-title-for-the-han-solo-standalone-movie/ 

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/star-wars/feature/a784083/star-wars-han-solo-movie-actor-release-date-director-and-everything-you-need-to-know/ 

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/808507/Star-Wars-Han-Solo-movie-set-photos-podcar-fire-flamethrower 

 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/han-solo-movie-film-red-cup-cast-characters-jedi-quinlan-vos-dryden-a7695421.html

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE DANGEROUS DUG!

About to take a beating from the mean spirited Dug pod racer named Sebulba, poor old Jar Jar Binks is thankfully saved via the interruption of Anakin Skywalker, a racing rival whom Sebulba hates even more, in a mildly confrontational scene from EPISODE I.

EPISODE VII: A SCAVENGER'S EXISTENCE...

Rey's introduction and life as a scavenger at the beginning of THE FORCE AWAKENS is an evocative and moving sequence, truly powered up by a beautiful theme for her character via John Williams, so it was interesting to recently hear from one of the film's editors that her early opening sequence had some of her speaking dialogue cut. A wise editorial choice that ultimately benefitted the final release.

'VANITY FAIR' SPOTLIGHTS 'THE LAST JEDI'

The mystery linked to Luke Skywalker's return continues via this great shoot of Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill for VANITY FAIR- their latest SW issue out now. All images: Annie Leibovitz/VANITY FAIR.

Annie Leibovitz and her magic camera eye returns to the behind the scenes realms of the new sequel universe, her latest gorgeous showcase for VANITY FAIR magazine on The Last Jedi, featuring four stunning character covers to collect, out now worldwide.

The inside feature images also showcases the film's striking new guest cast: the always enigmatic Benecio Del Toro as the decidedly crafty 'DJ', and dedicated new Resistance leader Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, as played by Laura Dern.

Details here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxJZQJL4SHg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cub4znLiU0

Other EPISODE VIII news:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2017/apr/19/the-last-jedi-star-wars-rian-johnson-mark-hammill

http://www.empireonline.com/movies/star-wars-last-jedi/star-wars-last-jedi-new-look-cast/

https://dorksideoftheforce.com/2017/05/31/rian-johnson-addresses-concerns-last-jedi/

https://www.wired.com/2017/05/cantina-talk-35/

 http://lrmonline.com/news/star-wars-lego-sets-confirm-rumours-for-the-last-jedi

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/799783/Star-Wars-8-Last-Jedi-news-romance-Rose-Finn-Kelly-Marie-Tran

EPISODE VII: RATHTAR RIOT!

They're loose. They're hungry. They don't stop. Han Solo's commission to deliver the nasty, carnivorous and truly repulsive looking Rathtars to King Prana has now gone kaput thanks to Rey, though our hero and Chewbacca are soon able to use the resultant chaos to their advantage, in a fun sequence from THE FORCE AWAKENS.

British conceptual ideas for the Rathtar, briefly shown at CELEBRATION 2016.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "YOU WILL BE A JEDI. I PROMISE."

With the slaying of his master-to-be in Qui-Gon Jinn, young Anakin Skywalker's feelings of isolation and discomfort for his future are momentarily put at ease by the Obi-Wan Kenobi, promising to train the boy in the ways of the Force as best he can, in this memorable scene from EPISODE I.