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This IS the Star Wars News You’ve Been Looking For
“We’re starting talk about what could happen after Episode IX. About what could be another decade-and-a-half of Star Wars stories,” Iger said Thursday during a talk in Santa Monica.
–The Hollywood Reporter, March 23, 2017
While the original trilogy is untouchable (the originality, cultural impact, cast, story, etc.), if The Force Awakens and Rogue One are any indication of the quality of the Star Wars films to come, then the quote above by Mr. Iger should be received with elation by fans. It’s clear that the next generation in this franchise is being introduced and groomed for their own bright cinematic spotlight. And, thus far, these 20-something and 30-something Star Wars newcomers (Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Felicity Jones) are impressing in exciting, dynamic ways.
Star Wars as a cinematic universe is here to stay and Star Wars as a vacation destination is on-track for a 2019 opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. The latter was confirmed in a report from last month.
This all started with one of the wildest and craziest ideas for a film that soared to impossible heights back in 1977. Amazing.
If these forthcoming Star Wars lands don’t perfectly capture the magic of movies, I don’t know what does.
Let’s Dance Like It’s 1984!
Don’t adjust your eyes, this is a real story from the city of Henryetta, Oklahoma.
“City leaders voted Tuesday to abolish an ordinance on dancing, the Tulsa World reported. The dance ordinance, with a penalty of $25, prohibited dance halls within 500 feet of a church or public school.”
–Associated Press, February 23, 2017
We all know and love Footloose, the 1984 B-movie that featured the premise of a small country town that had banned rock music and dancing. Again, that was the plot for a movie. A movie. To my surprise, and likely the surprise to any individual who discovered this news today, the ordinance in Henryetta, Oklahoma was a real thing…in the year 2017. Thankfully, the city’s leaders voted to rid their town of this nonsensical ordinance.
So, what now?
Perhaps a dance today, a Thursday, is necessary…maybe of the throwback variety?
If high school kids (and adults) of Henryetta, Oklahoma aren’t dancing to “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins tonight and this weekend, I think we’ll all cry a little.
People of Henryetta, you know what to do with those Sunday shoes.
Happy Monday
Did you think a trailer was the opening act for marketing a new movie in the 21st century?
Think again.
And then think about what this title means for the next epic chapter in the Star Wars cinematic universe.
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi was written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper, The Brothers Bloom, Brick) and the 43-year-old has set the bar at a next-level height for his December 15, 2017 release date. The title immediately brings to mind a battle of good vs. evil not seen since Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader’s iconic fight in The Empire Strikes Back back in 1980. Without diving too deep into the reaction Mr. Johnson and Co. expect, I caution you to take a step back and consider that the real hook in this title is visible, yet disguised.
In other words, I suspect “The Last Jedi” is (stay with me here) a Jedi mind trick in and of itself.
What kind of Jedi mind trick? I don’t know.
But extra curious of a mind-blowing, bonus twist I am.
Have a Better Week Than Last Week.
P.S. Remember that Rian Johnson released a special video for fans about wrapping Day 1 of filming Star Wars: Episode VIII back in mid-February of last year (as featured on Jimmy’s Daily Planet), so the hype for this movie has been building for what will turn out to be about 2 years come this December.
Will’s Coming Back…with Grace
A must see revival is in the works.
“NBC has ordered a 10-episode limited revival that will reunite stars Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes, and Megan Mullally during the 2017-2018 TV season, the network announced at the Television Critics Association’s press tour on Wednesday.
Original series creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan will act as showrunners and executive producers, while prolific director James Burrows, who directed every episode of the show during its initial eight-year run, is on board to direct and executive produce.”
–Natalie Abrams, Entertainment Weekly
This kind of return for Will & Grace may combine the best of both worlds:
Satisfying fans of the revered sitcom with a return of the original cast and crew, as well as making the updated walk down memory lane a limited comeback as to not overstay their welcome that’s powered almost entirely by nostalgia (you’ve seen those hilarious reruns on TV).
Recreating lightning in a bottle has proven to be a nearly impossible feat, even for beloved sitcoms of the same era as Will & Grace (ie – Girl Meets World, Fuller House, the Seinfeld non-reunion reunion). The one difference with Will & Grace is that the cast were full-fledged adults during the height of their success and impeccable comedic timing…and the cast of Will & Grace are still full-fledged adults who proved their timing is still gold with their recent reunion in a video posted online a few months back.
Amazingly, the structure of their triumphant return to network TV on NBC by way of a 10-episode stint is, ironically, modeled after the highly successful cable television model of 10-episode seasons for some of the most successful and groundbreaking TV shows in the modern era.
This experiment by NBC, a TV network clearly aware of the evolving realities, struggles and competition with the likes of HBO, Netflix, Amazon, original shows by Apple (really) and a laundry list of cable TV networks, could become a bellwether for the future of revivals regarding other popular shows from the past that people want to see years later.
Frasier? Cheers? Dare I say it…Friends?
For Ted Danson’s sake, a 10-episode revival would put him in an actual good place on NBC.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 