Rob V

George was given a $4B golden parachute... he should have known they weren't going to let him have any REAL input into the ST. And I agree, George created the world, but he has no idea what made it special to the fans.

joe_b

To the studio's credit, it's been well documented that they tried developing his outline into a script for over a year before going back to the drawing board... and Ardnt keeping his screenplay credit indicates a reasonable portion of it was retained. It's not like Lucas signed the papers and they immediately told him to fuck off. Personally, I think it's a little tacky on his part to accept such a huge payday and then speak publicly about "breaking up" with Star Wars because they wouldn't do it his way. At the very least, it's a slight to Kathleen Kennedy.

It is funny that he keeps restating that the series is "more than just spaceships"... like these new movies will be nothing but mindless action spectacles. There's more emotion on display in the latest TFA trailer than in the entire prequel trilogy. His ego won't let him admit that someone else could do it better.

Timber

Is it at all possible that the fans weren't interested in more "immaculate conception" storylines. He creatively couldn't come up with a father for Anakin but we're to believe that he could come up with a story for the grandkids?

windom

I don't remember any "immaculate conception" storyline in the prequel. There was possible instance a "virgin birth" but that is not the same thing as immaculate conception.

SmackDaddy

Either way it was a ridiculous plot device. I wonder if it was part of his original 9 movie arc?

Artman

"I let them... I decided... I..."

Unless he was talking about the time prior to signing the deal... I don't think he had any say in what happened after, but he still framed it like he gave his non-approval blessing anyways. Hopefully we get a Rinzler 'Making of' book in a few years.

A little more commentary on pre-sales:
http://deadline.com/2015/11/star-war...ce-1201631598/

I think the first week will approach 300m, with following weeks at 200m, 100m... final gross around 800m maybe?

DthRdrX

Disney rightfully noticed that George needed to be kept separate at this point, if for no other reason he has made so many bad storytelling choices that the fans needed some separation. I do think he has great ideas, but his inability to take constructive criticism from his staff were his weakness. The best example of this is in the extras for TPM. George is seen walking around telling everyone what he wants without anyone offering any other ideas. During the preview screening at the end everyone is uneasy about the film but not a single producer speaks up, even after Lucas suggests he "may have gone too far". You definitely get the sense that no one wants to cross the boss. Having Kathleen Kennedy stay on, as she is familiar with the franchise, without Lucas was probably the best choice.

It is interesting to hear him say SW is about more than spaceships, when most of Hollywood considered the PT to be an audition roll for ILM with next generation CGI. His stories were not very good, and the love story was cringe inducing.

spsimmons

It's so weird to see George Lucas say that he has no control over a Star Wars movie.

devilshalo

Is that $800M domestic only? Because I find it hard to believe it wouldn't make less than Furious 7 or Jurassic World WWBO numbers.

Artman

Yep. No doubt SW has grown quite a bit internationally since the prequels... should be 1B there I would think.

Ranger

At Target, I saw a bunch of 3-4-foot tall figures of Vader, new stormtrooper and Kylo Ren for $99 and up. Were those by Hot Toys? Are other figures going to be released? A 4-foot Boba Fett or Emperor would be nice to have!

Supermallet

You're not going to find Hot Toys figures at Target. I've seen the ones you're talking about, they're nice but they're not Hot Toys nice.

stvn1974

If they were Hot Toys they would have been announced 6 months ago but not actually ship until Episode XII comes out at the theater.

Mike86

Yeah you won't find Hot Toys figures in big box retailers simply because they're higher end figures and would never sell to casual shoppers. Maybe in comic book shops but even then most probably won't carry that many unless they're specially ordered. Hot Toys are mostly available online in the US.

They take their time but they've gotten better since I've been collecting in regards to getting figures out around the time they initially estimate when pre-orders go up. There used to be longer delays it seems like. It still takes longer to get them in the US but there's not a lot that can really be done about that. Kylo Ren and some of the First Order Troopers should be available when the film is out or shortly after.

Paul_SD

Kurtz was the "no" man in the operation. When he was cast off, Lucas rolled on, unimpeded, with some of the worst storytelling decisions of the property.
The main problem with the first six movies is that the Luke/Leia/Han romantic triangle is beautifully set up and embellished in the first two films(acts) and then hits the third film/act and is completely invalidated and obliterated.
Had Lucas made that the cruxt of Luke's moral dilemna and choice at the end (step over to the dark side and gain ultimate power, defeat your father/enemy, and win the girl of your dreams- resist that and possibly lose it all), it not only would have made Jedi a better and more fulfilling and mature end to the Luke trilogy, it would have given him a more solid footing when he started the prequels. The prequels could have shown another quasi triangle with Obi-Wan/Padme/Annakin* and showed what happens when the "hero" makes the wrong choice.

Without having something more mature to riff off, his next thought for the prequels should have been to tell the stories from the POV of associate characters who are not the ones we know the fates of, but who are 'in the room' with those characters and privvy to their private moments. The audience needed to be able to be invested in primary characters who can surprise them.
And yeah, Annakin should have been older...but the property was really fucked in any case by that point.

I have friends (who should know better) that are super hyped for TFA.
They're a few years younger than me and they never had the problems with Jedi that I did because that was their childhood gateway to the franchise.
I would love to be on board right now. The trailers and spots are all viscerally cool, and allude to what could be some fine character/dramatic moments. But when Solo somberly intones "It's true...all of it" I get goosebumps until I remember that part and parcel of "all of it" is some of the worst and most unjustified betrayals of characterization and motivation in storytelling ever.

That, and what looks like Abrams penchant for fan servicing in the worst way, are my big reservations with this.
______________
*not just make it a carbon copy rehash of the Luke/Leia/Han triangle- Annakin would have made a logical roguish Han equivalent. The future Emperor could have then played Iago to Annakin's Othello and set into motion the entire decimation of the Jedi order through that wedge- causing Annakin to be jealous and suspicious of "close, good friend" Obi-wan. When you start with a more solid foundation, this stuff almost writes itself.

Throwing Copper

I'm going to believe The Force Awakens is awesome until it's proven to me that it isn't (fingers crossed).

I think Abrams learned something from the stupid prequels. It was a good start by hiring solid actors for the new roles.

d2cheer

I think when it is all said and done the final gross will be lower than most think. Everyone thought the second Avengers would break all these types of records as well. How did that turn out? Avatar was a fluke and it also had new technology on its side. Everyone thought the prequels were break records too.

E Unit

If Abrams delivers the fanboy dream we hoped with the prequels, this will be have a repeated audience for a while. That alone will push the numbers higher. I already plan on watching it once in IMAX 3D and another in 2D.

Ranger

Does Walmart or Target sell the 6" black series action figures? I think I might have seen some for Rey and Kylo Ren and new stormtroopers at Walmart for $15 each but I wasn't sure if they were black series editions or not.

joe_b

They do, but they're $19 each at my local Wal-Mart... and the only one I've seen for the last three months has been Chewie. I think I'd have a better chance of spotting Bigfoot than finding the full black series line in stores.

auto

I think it's funny when people mention this. The prequels cast some great actors and some unknowns. The new film cast some great actors and some unknowns.

I trust Abrams and think the result will be much better though. Not sure how they couldn't be.

Ranger

OK. hopefully they will be in stores by the time the movie comes ot.

The $15 figures I saw probably were the 3.75" figures.

Artman

There was some talk of trying to beat Titanic, but I don't recall a huge number of serious analysts thinking it would (including George himself).

I think Avatar is very much in reach for TFA... TPM adjusted for todays tickets is 750M. (Titanic is at 1.1B!) Yeah, the prequels lost some fans, but with the OT cast, good reviews... could bring them back (my parents are interested again just because the OT cast is in it), along with kids today watching clone wars and rebels.

joe_b

I'm kind of jonzing for that 4-foot talking stormtrooper. Don't know where the hell I'd put the thing, but it's awesome. I probably won't blow $100 on it, but I have been dropping hints to family members .


As for what's available at the big-box stores, here's a quick rundown of the different lines that are out there. I'm not collecting this stuff myself, but do enjoy keeping tabs on what's available.

stvn1974

I have found Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma, First Order Trooper, Finn, Rey, Poe in X-Wing uniform and Constable Zuvio in the 6 inch black series at my local Wal-Marts. I already had a Chewy so didn't feel the need to buy another.


Even my parents are excited about the new film. My brother who hates movies in general is planning on going to see it with me.