IS FUTURE OF STAR WARS IN TELEVISION?

As an '80s kid, Star Wars fanship was all about the movie theater experience of watching the original trilogy of films on the big screen during my youth. That was complimented by playing with Kenner action figures re-enacting your favorite scenes and imagining new adventures for the characters with the toys. All in all being a Star Wars fan was all about the movies back then.

Sharing my passion for Star Wars with my children though hasn't really been about the movies at all though. It has been about enjoying the Star Wars experience on television. They've grown up being excited each week when we spent time watching together as a family a new episode of one of the Star Wars animated series. The kids have gone from youngsters to teens watching The Clone Wars, Rebels and now the Bad Batch. My kids are more invested in the cartoon characters of Anakin Skywalker, Ezra Bridger and Omega than anyone from the movies.

In fact, they've told me they don't even like the three "Disney" movies or any of the characters from those films. My son even describes the adventures of Rey, Finn and Poe as "just a money grab" and "those movies kinda suck."  Yet he is excited whenever a new episode of the live-action Mandalorian or Boba Fett tv show are released. With the success of these Disney Plus shows and future Star Wars movie releases in limbo, you have to wonder did Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrahams kill the future of the franchise when it comes to blockbuster theatrical releases? And if so, does it really matter with Star Wars having moved to new platforms for people to enjoy through streaming and video games?

Star Wars may be as popular as it has ever been based upon its television shows. While George Lucas prequel movies are still dreaded by many, the Clone Wars animated series have redeemed many of the characters from those movies. Darth Maul evolved into one of Star Wars best villains thanks to his role in Clone Wars and Rebels. When I think of Anakin Skywalker it isn't Hayden Christian's performance that comes to mind but rather the Clone Wars character voiced by Matt Lanter. And his padawan in Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano has become a fan favorite with her own live action tv series on its way. She is more popular with my son and daughter than Princess Leia! 

Clone Wars wasn't just sci fi fluff; it had stories with real plots to them complimented with great action. It was a show that adults could appreciate just as much as kids. My son and daughter loved watching this show just as much as I did. While my Star Wars fanship began with the movie A New Hope, theirs originated through watching Clone Wars with their dad every Saturday for a number of years.

It continued with Star Wars: Rebels which we would always make a special effort to watch together on Thursday evenings when new episodes debuted on Disney XD. This show provided them with new characters to embrace separate from anyone from the movies. Ezra orphaned by the Empire sending his parents to a prison camp discovers he has a connection with The Force. He meets up with a former Padawan orphaned from the Jedi Order by the Empire's purge. Together with other colorful characters they begin a Rebellion. 

For my kids, not the new Disney movies but rather Rebels is the equivalent of what the original trilogy movies where for me. They are more excited about news of another season of the most recent Star Wars animated series, Bad Batch, rather than any announcements of new movies being produced. Bad Batch is further enhancing the cannon of the Star Wars television universe by connecting the time span between Clone Wars and Rebels. This follows a group of elite clone troopers finding their way through a changing galaxy at the end of the Clone Wars and protecting a very valuable and rare asset, Omega, a youthful female version of their kind.

In addition to the animated series, we now have live action shows in the picture. The Mandalorian with Baby Yoda was fantastic! And it is incorporating elements of the animated series creating a television cinematic universe that while related to the movies can essentially stand on its own merits. Seeing Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Ahsoka Tano, Cad Bane, Din Djarin and Grogu together merging cartoons, live action tv and movies in a chapter of the Book of Boba Fett was so incredible! I have to say Cad Bane is one of my favorite Star Wars characters overall so I was geeked to see him.

With Disney investing millions of dollars into promoting their Star Wars movie characters in The Last Jedi films and new theme park lands, the question is will there be a conflict with the television shows that seem to embrace George Lucas' vision of a galaxy far, far away versus these other films which really don't seem to have been very well liked by mainstream audiences. How will this impact the Star Wars Lands that at Disneyland and Disney World that are branded around the new movies' characters? Do you think we've seen the last of Rey and her Resistance allies? 

Is the future of Star Wars stories now going to be television focused based upon a new generation of fans like my own children who are more invested in them or is there a future filled with new theatrical movie releases? Where do you see the franchise headed when it comes to future Star Wars adventures? 

A SciFi Book Review: LORDS OF THE SITH

 **Warning Minor Spoilers**

I recently finished the newest Star Wars novel, LORDS OF THE SITH, written by Paul S. Kemp and found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.  Most of the Star Wars books I've read over the last few years have been pretty underwhelming and disappointing so I began reading this story without high expectations, but found myself pleasantly surprised by how much I really enjoyed this action packed novel.  I guess it takes a fellow Michigander like Paul S. Kemp to pen a quality story that will appeal to an adult audience of Star Wars fans like myself.  The novel starts out with an action packed space battle that reinforces why Darth Vader is a villain to be feared and wraps up with a jungle trek that shows why a menacing foe like Vader still bows down on one knee to Darth Sidious (aka Emperor Palpatine) as his Master.

LORDS OF THE SITH takes place a few years after the fall of the galactic republic and has Emperor Palpatine preserving order and allegiance to his imperial rule through military might.  The public, nor his military establishment,  realize that he is the powerful Darth Sidious and perceive Emperor Palpatine as an elderly and fragile politician.  On the other hand, Vader is not in the public eye but rather lurks in the shadows as an enforcer of the Emperor's most important mandates.  Rumors of Darth Vader's immortal feats are beginning to circulate throughout the galaxy adding a sense of fear to the public that the Emperor's minion is not one you want to cross.  The public doesn't really know if Darth Vader is fact or fiction until he is coming for them and by that time it is too late.  With this stage set, the Emperor finds himself with a firm grip of control over his Empire with only one person who could potentially challenge his dominion, Darth Vader.  So Darth Sidious sets out to test Vader's loyalty and demonstrate why the Emperor is the most dangerous and powerful of the two.

While the title would make you believe this is the principal storyline of the book, the relationship conflicts between the Lords of the Sith play a secondary role.  The main plot revolves around a character that was originally introduced in the Clone Wars animated television series named Cham Syndulla.  Cham appeared in two episodes of the Clone Wars leading a band of Twi'lek freedom fighters when their home planet Ryloth is invaded by the Separatist army during its battle with the Republic.  Now these freedom fighters are standing up against the Empire which has taken control of Ryloth and is abusing its population as a source of slave labor and depleting the planet's resources as the Imperials mine it for a mineral known as Ryll Spice which is a favorite narcotic used by many species throughout the galaxy.

Cham's efforts to bring down Imperial control of Ryloth are one of the first significant "rebel" challenges to the Empire's power and a spark for things to come in the Star Wars universe.  While no characters from the Star Wars: Rebels television show appear in this story, LORDS OF THE SITH does a great job of establishing a canonical bridge between that series and Clones Wars.  You see Cham's daughter is named Hera, who is one of the main characters in Star Wars: Rebels, and what transpires during LORDS OF THE SITH plays a big part in how Hera Syndulla gets to where she is at when the Rebels storyline begins.

You know Cham isn't going to win in the end of this story because it takes place well before the events of A New Hope ( aka the original Star Wars movie) but he provides a thrilling story that kept me enthused about finishing the book.  True Star Wars fans will appreciate  how this book lays a foundation for future events within the franchise and does a nice job of linking references from the prequel movies and Clone Wars tv series to the Star Wars: Rebels show and the original movies.

John Jackson Miller's book A New Dawn was supposed to be the setup book for Star Wars: Rebels, but because that novel really wasn't very interesting or well written I'd recommend skipping over that book if you haven't already read it and stick with Lords of the Sith as a bridge between the Clones Wars years and the Rebels time period.  Kemp really does a nice job of referencing other Star Wars events into the book, but it was also refreshing that he adds new characters, monsters, locals and scenarios into his book.  Too often authors writing Star Wars novels rely too much on the same established characters, creatures and settings that for me makes those stories uninspired and boring...I'm so sick of Rancors being used as monsters and stops on Tatooine - give us some new original monsters and locals please it is a big galaxy...and I was pleased that Kemp has done a nice job of using familiar but not over used elements while also putting his own original touches into the story.

So how does Cham and his band of Twi'lek freedom fighters get Darth Vader and the Emperor stranded in a dangerous alien jungle fighting against vicious Ryloth wild predators, treasonous Imperials, and Syndulla's forces hunting them down?  You'll have to read the book to find out!

LORDS OF THE SITH gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval because for casual Star Wars fans it provides a fun action packed SciFi adventure and for die hard fans it adds some great foundational elements to the canon of the franchise further tying together the movies and television series.  This book is suitable for tweens and up.

Star Wars Celebration Roundup

This last weekend there was a huge gathering of fans at the convention center in Anaheim California celebrating all things Star Wars.  If you were like me and wanted to go but just didn't have the extra time and money for a trip to CA, here's a roundup of many of the exciting announcements and previews that came out of STAR WARS CELEBRATION 2015.  The rest of this year and into next year is going to be full of Star Wars thrills!

MOVIES

Disney's first feature film since acquiring the Star Wars franchise hits theaters on December 18, 2018.  THE FORCE AWAKENS is set in a time of the Star Wars continuum approximately 30 years after the events that transpired in the movie RETURN OF THE JEDI uniting George Lucas' original trilogy of movies with a new era of story telling under Disney's stewardship.  A new trailer for the film was released at Star Wars Celebration and it really has given me a lot of encouragement that Disney is getting this film right producing something that old school fans like myself will love and a new generation of movie watchers will adore.  Check it out!

Disney also hosted a panel discussion at Star Wars Celebration about another new Star Wars movie it is producing called ROGUE ONE that will be hitting theaters during the 2016 Christmas season.  The film's director Gareth Edwards presented the official plot for the movie: A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans.  Edwards noted that the film which will take place between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars movie timeline will have a focus on the WAR aspect of Star WARS.  "It is called Star WARS" he joked to the panel audience.  To add some grit and realism to ROGUE ONE's portrayal of warfare, Edwards has enlisted members of his production team that have worked on war movies such as Zero Dark Thirty, Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down.

Filming for ROGUE ONE will take place this summer.  While the film hasn't been shot yet, Edwards did provide a glimpse at some concept art prepared for the movie and a teaser video of computer generated imagery to give people a sense of the vibe he wants for the Star Wars: Rogue One.  As the first stand alone movie, though it is somewhat tied to the others through the Death Star connection, this film really will have a big impact on Disney's long term viability for making more and more Star Wars movies.  Disney can't afford to have this movie be a JOHN CARTER type bust and it appears they are taking its production very seriously.  Just from the limited information I have on this movie already though I'm already excited about it and looking forward to learning more in the coming months ahead.

courtesy of StarWars.com

TELEVISION

DisneyXD's Star Wars: Rebels animated television series is returning this Fall for a second season.  When my 6 year old son thinks of Star Wars this TV series has really been his first exposure to these tales from a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.  This is a show that is very suitable for him to watch yet I also find very entertaining and interesting to watch as well.  The two of us have really enjoyed some bonding time together watching this show.  The trailer released at Star Wars Celebration shows that DisneyXD may be expanding upon a great first season with an even more incredible second season.

I really don't like the prequel movie trilogy -- it just stripped away too much of the magic and mystery of the original movies -- but found the Clone Wars animated television shows to be a decent program.  One of my favorite all time Star Wars characters actually is from the Clone Wars series, Cad Bane, a deadly bounty hunter that would give the legendary Boba Fett a run for his money. For my own personal viewing enjoyment, I just wipe out the prequel trilogies and the Star Wars timeline currently is made up of the Clone Wars and Rebels television shows, the original movies (Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi) and the upcoming Disney movies.  Because there is a large viewing audience that is younger than me that grew up watching Clone Wars on the Cartoon Network and a more "mature" group of fans like myself, Rebels is bringing some of these characters back.  Check out the trailer to see for yourself!

I'm really looking forward to watching with my son the showdown between his favorite Star Wars character, Ezra, and one of my favorite childhood villains Darth Vader. 

VIDEO GAMES

Electronic Arts showed off their first collaboration with Star Wars in its BattleFront video game.  I can't wait until November to load this game up on my Playstation4 and immerse myself in tackling the Empire from a speeder bike or x-wing.

COMIC BOOKS

I have to give kudos to Marvel because since taking over the brand they haven't just used it to cash in on the name, they've been publishing a great product.  I've read every issue they've published of their new series STAR WARS and DARTH VADER and have enjoyed every one of them.  Lando Calrissian will be joining these titles with his own mini-series STAR WARS: LANDO beginning in July which will feature a story that takes place between the events in A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.  Also coming in September will be a mini-series titled SHATTERED EMPIRE that will share what happened after the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi and bridge some of the gap between the movies Episode VI and the upcoming Episode VII.

The current story arc in Marvel's STAR WARS will wrap up in issue #6 this summer and a new arc will begin with issue #8.  Star Wars #7 will be a stand alone story featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi during his exile on Tatooine. 

So there you have it! It looks like there are going to be a lot of thrills for Star Wars fans throughout the rest of the year and into next.  I for one am really going to be enjoying it!

#StarWars #TheForceAwakens

LucasFilm Brings Star Wars Clone Wars to a Conclussion

On the eve of the premiere of the new Star Wars: Rebels animated television show on the Disney Channel fans of the cancelled Clone Wars series can also get some closure as videos portraying the final four episodes of that series have recently been posted on the official www.starwars.com website.

When Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise the Clone Wars animated television series that was airing on Cartoon Network was cancelled before  it could air its final season.  Most of that season was eventually shown on Netflix but the final four episodes of the series story arc were never completed for broadcast. Disney has now released videos of these four episodes that feature a pre-broadcast quality story reel and voiceovers from the cast.  While these aren't as visually enjoyable as a broadcast quality product they do provide full 22 to 23 minute chapters that fans of the series can appreciate.  Some of the scenes really aren't that bad and others look more like stick drawing with art direction scribbles/notes etched on the screen but they do tell full stories with the voice talents of  Clone War's cast - the voices just don't match the characters lips the two key players in the episodes Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi both look like they have holes cut in their necks during most of their scenes.  That being said for production to have been shut down before these episodes were completed the piecing of parts together to create these videos isn't bad.

The four episodes are titled A Death On Utapau, In Search of the Crystal, Crystal Crisis, and The Big Bang.   The teaser that ties these four episodes together is they revolve around a giant crystal that will probably be used eventually for the planet destroying laser of the Death Star but none of the characters at this time realize that premise because it is mysteriously shrouded in Palpatine's master Sith plan to create an Empire he rules.  Here is summary of each episode and links to the videos:

A Death on Utapau

Obi-Wan and Anakin investigate a mysterious death of a Jedi Master on Utapau, and uncover a secret Separatist weapons deal the likes of which they have never seen before.  CLICK HERE to view the video.

In Search of the Crystal

 Obi-Wan and Anakin’s investigation on Utapau continues, and they allow themselves to be captured by weapons dealers who possess a focusing crystal of unspeakable power. CLICK HERE to watch the video.

Crystal Crisis

 Obi-Wan and Anakin must escape from Utapau with a kyber crystal before General Grievous and his droid army track them down. CLICK HERE to watch the video.

The Big Bang

Obi-Wan and Anakin must do all they can to prevent a powerful weapon from falling into General Grievous’ hands. CLICK HERE to watch the video.

Watching these four videos is a decent way to close out The Clone Wars television series and prepare to enjoy the upcoming Rebels show.  Disney's Star Wars Rebels debuts with a one hour special on October 3, 2014 at 9pm ET.  The show will than air weekly with 1/2 hour episodes on Monday evenings on the Disney XD cable channel beginning October 13th.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars finds its way to Netflix

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6 "The Lost Missions" coming to Netflix March 7, 2014

Star Wars: The Clone Wars spent 5 seasons on Cartoon Network portraying the adventures of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and their fellow Jedi Knights during the time period set between Episodes II and III of the Star Wars movie franchise.  Of course the resolution of the tv series was somewhat of a given with Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader, Kenobi and Yoda going into exile, and the rest of the Jedi massacred by the Clones they spent fighting alongside that gave show it's name .   Yet some mysteries and cliffhangers remained that many fans hoped would be answered in a sixth season.  Than Disney purchased the Star Wars franchise and it was announced that the series would be concluded with Season 5 on Cartoon Network.

Production on Season 6 had already been begun by the animated series creative team at the time the show was cancelled.  Where any of these episodes completed? Would fans of the show ever be provided resolution to some of the series story arcs that hadn't been closed and movie mysteries that had yet to be answered?  Well we'll know on March 7th as Disney has recently announced that The Clone Wars will be moving to Netflix for its sixth and final season.  It appears there are 13 episodes of The Clone Wars that have been produced to makeup this sixth season. All 13 episodes will be available starting March 7, 2014 on Netflix streaming video service for U.S. and Canadian subscribers.

In one of the story arcs for Season 6 "The Lost Missions", Yoda will be visited by the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn, played by Liam Neeson in a reprisal of his Episode I - The Phantom Menace movie role.  This story arc may provide some answers to how Obi-Wan Kenobi disappeared in Episode IV -  A New Hope yet stayed in contact as a spiritual adviser to Luke Skywalker after his death in that movie and its sequels.  Another story arc will reportedly focus on the mysterious Order 66 that killed off the Jedi told from the Clones perspective.

One story that won't be concluded is that of Darth Maul.  The episodes that had been planned to wrap up his character's role in the series never made it to production.  That has been addressed though by the series' creative team through a partnership with Darkhorse Comics.  Darkhorse will be producing a 4 issue mini-series that will tell that story arc as had been intended to air on television but through comic books instead.  Look for Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir on retail shelves this summer as it adapts the screen plays drafted for the season 6 Darth Maul episodes that weren't produced.

In addition to the newly released 13 episodes of The Clone Wars, Netflix will also have the first 5 seasons of the show, never seen before footage/deleted scenes from the series, and other special content available for streaming viewing through a multi-year deal with Disney. While The Clone Wars will be available for an extended period of time for viewers to enjoy, I hope the Internet doesn't crash with people rushing to see "The Lost Missions" all at once becauseI know I'll be visiting Netflix on March 7th myself for a Star Wars watching marathon.

UPDATE:  Here's a more detailed trailer posted by IGN on youtube:

Zen Studios launches new Star Wars Video Pin Ball Game

 I lost a lot of laundry money in college throwing quarters into the Star Wars pinball machine on campus but it was well worth occassionally wearing some dirty clothes an extra week for the blast I had playing that game.  Zen Studios is launching a brand new video game this week that will give you unlimited play of a cool Star Wars themed pin ball table for under $3. Wow! I used to spend that much in an afternoon playing on the mechanical maching in the student lounge. This game should be even better than that older game providing you the fun of playing a mechanical machine combined with great special effects that can only be incorporated into a digital environment. 

Star Wars video pin ball will feature 3 themed tables: Empire Strikes Back, Clone Wars & Boba Fett. It appears you can buy them individually or as a combined package. Additional tables will be introduced later that can be purchased as add-ons at an additional cost. I'm really revved up to purchase this new  pin ball game myself after seeing this promo video for the Boba Fett table:

 

 

As you can see from the Boba Fett trailer, by reaching certain scores or hitting various patterns on the table you can trigger 3D special effects and video segments during the game.  You can tell that Zen Studios didn't just throw this game together to make some money using the Star Wars name from this trailer as it really appears some great production work went into this game.  The Empire Strikes Back pin ball table appears to even have more 3D sequences that include a Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader lightsaber duel and the AT-AT invasion of the rebel base on Hoth. 

 

 

 

I'm not a big fan of the 3 prequel movies and the Clone Wars tv show - those battle droids are just so annoying and we won't go into Jar Jar Binks but I have to admit from looking at the trailer for that pin ball table I'm pretty impressed by the artwork and special effects in that game.  It looks really fun to play which is what is nice about these video pin ball games is that they appear to be designed so that you don't have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy them but if you are a fan you'll probably love it!

 

 

Zen Studios' has posted the following about the release of Star Wars Pin Ball on their website:

 

It will be available on Tuesday February 26 on the PlayStation Network for download to PlayStation 3 & Playstation Vita for $9.99 for a package with all three tables.

 

It will be available on Wednesday February 27 to download on XboxLive for the Xbox360 through the Pinball FX2 game for 800 MSPs.

 

You can download the tables individually through the IOS-based Zen Pinball game for your iPad, iPhone or iTouch for $1.99 per table as of February 27.

 

You can download the tables individually for Mac App store through Zen Pinball 2 game for your  for $2.99 per table as of February 27.

 

Will be available on February 27 for $1.99 per table through Zen Pinball HD Google Play.

 

It also appears that you can purchase the Star Wars tables as a stand alone pinball game called Star Wars Pinball  on Apple App Store and through Google Play from the Zen Studios posted information. 

 

Check out www.starwarspinball.com for more information about the game, its pricing and to see some neat screen shot previews.

 















Congratulations on reaching 100 episodes Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Saturday mornings in our house are pretty typical, my wife heads to Meijer for the weekly grocery shopping trip while my son, daughter & I jump on the couch, switch on the tv, and watch the newest episode of the animated show Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network.  Clone Wars is in the middle of its 5th season now and this Saturday (January 5, 2012) will be it's 100th episode.  100 episodes is a landmark occassion for any television show to reach, but especially for a weekly cartoon series.  So I want to congratulate Star Wars: The Clone Wars on this milestone and wish them continued success and 100 more episodes that geek daddies can enjoy along with their younglings.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is set in a time period between Star Wars movies Episode II & III where the Jedi Knights of the Republic are fighting a civil war with Separatist robot armies led by the Jedi's arch nemesis the Sith. The "Clone Wars" were first mentioned in the original 1977 Star Wars "A New Hope" movie when Obi Wan Kenobi meets Luke Skywalker and tells him that he mentored and fought with his father during the Clone Wars.  The Clone Wars were than subsequently featured in the prequel films that were in movie theaters from 1999 - 2005 and in this current television show on Cartoon Network.  Haven't seen the show yet? Check out this great compilation video of the animated series provide by LucasFilm:

One of the special things about the 100th episode is that it features two fan favorites that bring together the interests of older and younger fans of Star Wars.  R2-D2 (the droid beloved by fans of the original Star Wars trilogy) must help a Republic Clone Commando named Gregor (the commandos are one of the more popular characters of the prequel movie era that have their own video games and books) overcome amnesia so that an important secret mission can be accomplished to help save the Republic.  Here's a peak at this milestone episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS airs on CARTOON NETWORK @ 9:30 E.T. Saturday mornings - for more information about the show visit: http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/