Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Chewbacca Lives!

I'm not sure if any of you have been following the tiny trickle of "news" items on Episode VII, and if you're anything like me, at this point you're barely listening because for the past eighteen months we've been given barely any shreds of details as far as what is going on aside from, "Hey, we're making a new one!"  And of course a bunch of rumors we aren't sure if we should believe, plus big press releases telling us things like, hey, R2-D2 is going to be in this one!  Even though they already told us that months ago. 

So, when I heard this latest bit of news, I wasn't entirely sure if it was actual news, or if it was "news" like Carrie confirming she was going to be in it months ago, before she backtracked and now acts like she's not sure.  But it appears to be confirmed now: Chewie, AKA Peter Mayhew, will be back for Episode VII.  I know we've talked at least a little bit about what they are or aren't keeping from the EU, and this news seems to imply that we are erasing Chewie's death (although Push did say yesterday that maybe he would come back as a Force ghost) and of all of the things to get rid of, I'm very happy with that.  I think your casual fan who never knew he died would be appalled to learn that he had been killed off. 

I'm extra happy to know that this means that this also probably means that the Yuzhan Vong never happpened, Anakin never died and Jacen never went dark.  Although of course we're not even sure if those kids exist yet, but I'll settle for now for being happy with the Chewie thing.  Although now I'm left wondering if he really has stuck by Han (and, hopefully, Leia and their kids) all this time or if he is coming back or something.  It will be interesting to see. 

Push laughs at me for getting wrapped up in this, but really, I just want to know if Han and Leia have been together all this time and who their kids are.  In a stupid way, I admit I don't want totally different kids to ruin my stories!  But I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.  I do feel like the final casting announcement has to be imminent at this point, especially with added reports that they have actually started shooting.  December 18th, 2015 sure still feels like a long way off.

22 comments:

  1. Yay Chewie! I can't picture him without Han. And Han without Leia. And...

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  2. This pretty much confirms the post ROTJ is going to be obliterated doesn't it? Unless they cut it off at a certain point, like say everything up until the end of the Bantam era is in and they throw out the NJO onwards, but to be honest, I think it's all gone and we are looking at something completely different to what we know, which while exciting is actually pretty scary. But I can live with it, providing Han and Leia are still together and have a couple of kids. It would be great to have Chewie alive, and it really wouldn't be the same without him. I just hope the Chewie suit looks better than the one they used in ROTS, that didn't look right somehow.

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    1. I'd definitely prefer a ret-con of the Yuzhon Vong... just so did not care for that whole setup.

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  3. How can Peter play that role now? I wish they would just start fresh. I don't want old, half-assed Harrison Ford Han. The only one I can see pulling this off is Mark. Can't believe I am typing this but it's how I feel.

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    1. I can respect that, but I can't agree. I want Harrrison back. I want to see Han and Leia together with kids, even grandkids. But that's just me.

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    2. I'd argue that Harrison, in spite of being like 10 years older, is doing better than Mark at the moment.

      And Chewie's role actually wasn't that physical in the OT, either. He walked around (I don't even think he ran much) shot stuff and sat next to Han on the Falcon. I think he can handle that.

      Other fact is that real people age, too. No reason we can't see an older version of our characters without them having to try to act like they're still 25. From what we've been told, the point of this movie is familiar characters to then pass the torch onto the new guys. I don't see a problem with that.

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    3. Think we should have some faith in the Big 3, because I really do think they will do a terrific job. There's no reason why they shouldn't. And Harrison, who has developed a great sense of humour recently seems ready to embrace the franchise that made him famous once again.

      And yeah, Chewie doesn't have to do a great deal. Just to have him sitting next to Han in the Falcon would be enough to geek me out.

      And I'd much rather see older versions of these characters than start from scratch and *shudder* recast them. No thanks. I'll take the wrinkly version any day.

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    4. Once again, claire1976, I agree with you completely. I think I should just hand my brain over to you and call it a day.

      Bring on the big 3! I can't *wait* to see them again, I don't care how "old" they are. Truthfully, I don't think I'd be half as excited about the new movie if they weren't going to be in it.

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  4. Sorry, but I really want to see the three originals bring it on.

    And, whether or not you like it, you're going to age as well. VII opens a few days after my 60th birthday.

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  5. I'm with claire1976... bring on the old versions of the big 3. I'd love to see them aged. And if you didn't see Harrison in Ender's Game... no running but still a commanding presence. And not bad to look at either.

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    1. He was great in Ender's Game. He hasn't lost his screen presence.

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  6. Haha. I know I am aging as I type. I am not ageist. I prefer to leave the Big 3 in the past. I want to remember those characters as they were. I fear it will come off as forced or hokey. I hope I am wrong, believe me! Great AMA by Harrison today on Reddit, BTW.

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  7. Speaking of the AMA, in the "proof" photo, Ford is standing behind a director's chair w his name on it. The chair next to his is partially visible, and its owner's first name apparently begins with "CA." Aaaaaagh!!

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    1. We shouldn't get too excited about the chair with the CA on it. Even though many people have suggested the CA spells CARRIE, it should be noted that one of Harrison's co-stars in the movie he's currently shooting is called CATE, and that is almost certainly what that means. Unless maybe Calista has her own chair too :)

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  8. Oh! Oh! Check it: http://clubjade.net/?p=57934

    Club Jade thinks _something_ _might_ be happening this week!

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    1. hmmmmmm could there be news??? will wait and see... but holding my breath I am not.

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    2. Let me guess, there was no news? That's what I thought. I swear, I've given up expecting to ever hear anything about this.

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    3. You are spot on, Zyra! This event was a big load of nothing as far as Episode 7 is concerned. It sounds like it was a meeting of the Disney and SW big wigs about the new SW themed character breakfasts that Disney are introducing, and nothing more than that.

      Oh well, maybe May 4th will be the BIG day for news...but not necessarily THIS year's May 4th ;)

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  9. Nerdist had some more tidbits.... http://www.nerdist.com/2014/04/disney-chairman-drops-star-wars-episode-vii-tidbits/

    Still not holding my breath ;)

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