An innocent blog entry by Thomas Dolby, a musician and producer best known for his 1982 hit “She Blinded Me with Science,” sent “Star Wars” fans into a tizzy this week. A single word buried within Dolby’s Dec. 5 entry touched off the storm:
“My host is friend and former collaborator Paul Sebastien, who over the years has worked for Xbox, Playstation, and now LucasArts. Last night he was telling me a little about the forthcoming Star Wars-related TV show, movie and online games — very cool indeed.”
In case you missed it, read that last sentence again. “Star Wars”-related TV show — we’ve known about this for awhile, though I’m beginning to doubt it will ever happen. Online games — also known to be in development.
But a movie?
Hold up, wait a minute.
Another movie?
The Internet exploded with speculation: Is it a prequel to the prequels? Are the animated “Clone Wars” getting the live-action treatment? Will we get to see Leia and Han’s kids?
It took five days of wild speculation for Dolby to blog this “correction” on Thursday:
“A slight correction about the Lucas thing that my friend Paul Sebastien pointed out to me: he’s actually not aware of any movie plans, and was just talking about the live action TV show that George had talked about in an interview with an Australian TV station a while back. ... Sorry to throw a bucket of water on it, Star Wars fans: I should have chosen my words more carefully given the ultra-sensitivity of your blogosphere!”
Uh, huh ...
Despite the Lucas folks’ adamant denials to the contrary, it wouldn’t be a surprise if George Lucas was mulling another film.
From the time “Star Wars: A New Hope” hit the screen in 1977 to the release of “Return of the Jedi,” Lucas ruled the world of special effects. All others bowed before his tiny ship models and dueling lightsabers.
And then James Cameron made a few small films — “Terminator” (1984), “Aliens” (1986), “Terminator 2” (1991) and “Titanic” (1997). Each time upping the ante on story, action and effects.
Meanwhile, Lucas was busy bringing the world “Howard the Duck.”
Following Cameron’s success with “Titanic” and feeling special effects had advanced enough to meet his vision, Lucas responded with the “Phantom Menace,” painting chapter 1 of his “Star Wars” world with beautiful computer effects. “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” quickly followed in 2002 and 2005.
Now, here we are four years later, and the pendulum has swung back the other way. Cameron will release “Avatar” on Dec. 18, an epic tale hailed for its advancements in 3D viewing and stereoscopic filmmaking with cameras specially designed for the film.
Lucas isn’t one to be left in technological dust. But is it enough for him to take up the franchise once again?
If so, let’s hope he hands the director’s chair to J.J. Abrams and writer’s pen to Joss Whedon.
Contact Heather Bremer, who would totally dig an “Origins of the Jedi” trilogy, at 640-4867 or heather.bremer@heraldbulletin.com.
