Draven

The Thrawn series is great, and most of the New Jedi Order is solid. There are some misses along the way but for the most part, the EU books have been fine. 99% of them are better than the prequels.

And I too like the X-Wing series. In fact, they should have just made the X-Wing books into a BSG-eque TV show. That would have kicked ass.

Obi-Wanma

I read Shadows when it was all the rage, and I barely brought myself to finish it. I tried again with Thrawn, because people hold it in such high regard, and I gave myself two full books before I decided I wasn't interested enough to finish it, and I figured that if it represented some of the best of the EU, then the EU wasn't for me.

Not saying I won't ever try again or that none of it is any good, but it's hard to motivate myself to do it when I've been let down so hard twice.

taffer

You did say none of it was good.

I never liked Shadows of the Empire either, and I don't really know that many people that actually did like it. It was an overhyped multimedia event, but it doesn't seem like many actually liked it. Similarly the whole Forced Unleashed thing from a few years ago was overhyped crap.

My biggest problem with Shadows is how the author seemed to have such a raging boner for Xizor. I don't think he could write more than ten pages without going into this elaborate description of Xizor's physique, his "perfectly sculpted muscular body," or how badass he is. By the end of the book I was just thinking that the author and Xizor need to get a room already.

MLBFan24

My favorite EU book is Luceno's "Labyrinth of Evil" (leads up to Episode III). Felt like a movie when I was reading it.

Obi-Wanma

I said Snake's statement was true, in regards to what I read. Snake said none of it was good, but that's not necessarily what I said. Semantics maybe, but IMO, the Thrawn Trilogy does read like a fanfic.

joe_b

Latino Review is back at the rumor mill and are reporting that Saoirse Ronan went in for a part. Some are speculating that she could play a female villain. I'd rather see her in that kind of role than Han and Leia's daughter. Considering she's possibly the most acclaimed actresses in her age bracket, she was bound to be linked to this project at some point. Might explain why the talk of her playing Scarlet Witch in The Avengers II suddenly went away.

The also mention the production is looking at New Mexico to possibly film in The City of Crosses, Las Cruces. In regards to the Cumberbatch news, they say his denial is just a smokescreen -- which isn't too hard to believe. The actor never said doing Star Wars was out of the question, just that nothing was set and that Abrams hadn't contacted him about it.

EDIT: Bleeding Cool also confirmed the Saoirse Ronan news and said the part she went in for was (to the best of their knowledge) the lead role. They also mention other well known actresses have gone in already. I like Saorise (and would take her over Chloe Moretz), but would still prefer they cast lesser known actors. Kind of disappointed we haven't heard more about Rachel Hurd-Wood.

taffer

That's not confirmation. Rumors are never confirmation. Two websites reporting the same rumor is still a rumor and not confirmation.

Its not confirmation until its officially revealed by Lucas or Disney.

joe_b

Call it separate independent acknowledgments of a rumor, then.

I'm well aware Disney isn't going to announce who took a meeting for a role. Unless it's a misinformation campaign, multiple "insiders" reporting the same name just might know what they're talking about. Or it could all be a bunch of BS. Either way, it's something to chew on while we wait for something official.

Kal-El

Interesting. For what it's worth, I would take Hanna over Hit Girl.

joe_b

Latino Review is now reporting that Michael B. Jordon (Chronicle) and David Oyelowo (The Help) had meetings with J.J. Abrams. Assuming they're up for the same part, I'd go with Oyelowo. BTW, they both worked for Lucasfilm on Red Tails.

anomynous

lol,Red Tails

DaveyJoe

Michael B. Jordon was excellent in The Wire, I would not mind seeing him cast. I haven't seen the other guy in anything.

Obi-Wanma

Lando's kid?

Josh-da-man

No, Han and Leia's.

(But it's one of those things that nobody ever brings up since that night Leia had too many Colt 45s...)

TGM

roflmfao!

Josh-da-man

Sneak peek at the new Star Wars film:



L to R: Han Solo, Jr; Han Solo; Grando Solo; Londo Solo

Goldberg74

In all of the EU books I've read (most of them 90s era), The Courtship of Princess Leia was my favorite... followed by Outbound Flight (which only makes sense if you've read the Zahn Trilogy).

I still reread The Tales From Jabba's Palace every couple of years, too. Another favorite.

RocShemp

Luke: Han, those kid's dicks are bigger than these light sabers!

joe_b

According to Bleeding Cool, Disney is reaching out to agencies who specialize in actors with "extraordinary physiques" to cast a slim built 7 foot tall actor for Episode VII.

Could be a random Wookiee or a new character all together, but it's likely they are looking for an actor to play Chewbacca. As much as the fans would like it, I'm not sure Peter Mayhew will be physically able to reprise the role. He underwent double knee surgery a couple weeks ago.

RichC2

They should just get Nathan Jones to do it, and dub the roar.

Of course, they'd have to ignore his whole 7 years in maximum-security prison (in Australia), probably isn't what Disney wants.

islandclaws

Too bad Kevin Peter Hall is dead. How about Tyler Mane or Brian Steele?

joe_b

Bleeding Cool has a quote from Mayhew, passed along from the director who is documenting his surgery and recovery: "I intend to pursue the role of Chewbacca for Episode VII." Hopefully his rehabilitation goes smoothly and he can don the hairy suit once more. At the very least, it seems he could play Chewie in close-ups or in the co-pilot chair of the Falcon -- then have a double step in for anything strenuous.

BTW, the Hollywood Reporter wrote that David Oyelowo is up for a voice role in the Star Wars Rebels animated series. That was probably the meeting he went in for at Lucasfilm. A website called Jedi News has a source claiming that Oyelowo has already been cast in both projects, but no other site has followed up on that story.

Tyler's frame is probably too large for Chewie. I met him at a convention last year and can certainly vouch for that. I'm just under six feet tall and looked like a child standing next to him.

dex14

Saoirse Ronan confirmed she auditioned.

Sullivan Stapleton and Daniel Day Lewis are now being thrown into the mix as rumors.

TGM

Daniel Day Lewis? holy fucking shit!

stvn1974

I know Lucas isn't writing or directing but just imagining Daniel Day Lewis reciting the shit dialogue Lucas would have written makes me chuckle.