Cast Already Read the Script?

It seems so I saw a Daisy instagram post yesterday of a gift of flowers from KK & JJ & just below was a document with the ep VIII title who knows, a bit early of AD to spill his circuits this way unless RJ gave the go ahead.

 

Daisy Ridley confirmed months ago that she had read the script (and apparently loved it). John Boyega said the same thing a few years ago (and called it "much darker" than TFA was). And now Anthony Daniels has as well it seems. Also, JJ Abrams apparently has read it as well.

 

Nothing really surprising, you do know they've already planned out the whole trilogy do you? I wouldn't be surprised if there is already a finished Ep IX script lying somewhere.

 

SFX interview from January 2016 issue. These magazine interviews are conducted well ahead of release time (typically December for a January issue). In this case, it was released in November.

They filmed some VIII stuff back in September 2015.

 

C3PO will be melted down, Leia keeps the bling.

 

Specifically they filmed some scenes on Skellig Michael (since that place is a big historical site and can be a nightmare to shoot at logistically), involving Luke and Rey obviously.

--- Double Post Merged, Jan 29, 2016, Original Post Date: Jan 29, 2016 ---

Not according to Colin Trevorrow. He mentions that they're currently in the writing stages for Episode IX. They DO seem to have the broad strokes arcs for the trilogy already mapped out (for example both JJ and Daisy have said that they already know what Rey's origins will turn out to be). But the details and specifics, those are being left up to the individual directions/writers it seems.

 

Boyega read it a few years ago? Wow... that's pretty amazing.

 

a month ago

 

I know.. I'm just pointing out the typing error.

 

This is the re-written script. As the whole thing went trough some major changes concerning the new characters.
Or at least that was the official explanation. Hopefully Disney didnt fck up Rian's original script because it was too weird or artsy for them.

 

Yeah that's what I figured as well! I'm thinking they already filmed all of Han Solo's scenes for VIII and possibly IX.

 

Are they referring to the redrafted version? Cause if so, I'm guessing it's only a minor redraft. Otherwise Rian Johnson would still be working on it.

 

This is not surprising news to be honest. First, let us remember that most of us here salivate at the idea of any Star Wars news. Disney has figured out something about fanbases that other studios have yet to figure out. The obvious and best example is Marvel. It is not a secret that the majority of the Marvel paying movie goer is not a "hardcore" fan. Those moviegoers do not go and check on marvel movies daily. However, with the Internet being so ingrained in culture now Disney has figured out that although the hardcore marvel fanbase is not the majority of their box office they know and understand that the "hardcore" fanbase is what keeps the conversation going.

While some may disagree I do believe Disney respects the Marvel fanbase tremendously. Yes they do change many things from the comics, but those changes are mostly made to fit the movie. They do not change the substance of the characters or worlds. One of the best examples that show that Disney respects the Marvel fanbase is the announcement of the Marvel movies. I believe it was maybe two years ago where they held that event in LA, invited Marvel fans and press (of course) to present the upcoming slate of movies. On the contrary DC announced their slate to bunch of shareholders. These gestures suggest that Disney understands that in order to keep the money train flowing they need the hardcore fanbase, who are the ones that keep the conversations going even when there are no movies, happy so that they continue those conversations in a positive matter. The more the core fanbase talks about Marvel movies in a positive light, the more that general audiences will be open to the conversations, which leads to box office money.

I believe that Disney will do the same with Lucasfilm. The number one thing Disney loves is money, I do not believe anyone disputes that point. They will employ the Marvel strategy to keep Star Wars buzz positively going. They want us to keep talking about Star Wars. For this reason I am very happy that they did some rewrites to the Episode VIII script. The biggest TFA complaints, at least the credible ones, do not really complain about characters. In fact I think the new characters are fantastic and the vast majority of the Star Wars fanbase agrees. Hence, why they "rewrote" some of the script to give them even more screen time. I also believe that Lucasfilm knows that despite the fact the vast majority of Star Wars fans loved TFA, they also heard that we also want something a little more different in the next movie. For the reasons I stated above I believe Disney will leave Lucasfilm alone. Why? because they want people like me and everyone else in the Cantina to continue to visit Star Wars websites, to continue to listen to Star Wars podcasts and so on and so on. At this point after the movie has been out for over a month, the general audience has basically moved on, for the most part. The dedicated Star Wars fan base is still formulating theories about Rey's parentage and will continue to do so. Disney knows that those conversations, while they do not generate the majority of the box office, they do generate the conversations that influence whether the general audience will see a movie or not.

While, the core fanbase may not be the main reason for huge box office dollars, the core fanbase does have the ability to destroy it, just ask Fant4stic.

 

Why is Kasdan not involved?

 

My guess is that he's focused on the Han Solo script.

 

I wonder why they'd let Theeepio read the script...I understand the main cast and all but it's like how Anthony Daniels was barely even in TFA and barely even had any lines unless he's way more prominent in VIII .

 

I think it is typical how institutions like Disney who make a lot of money are immediately distrusted for doing so. And as if every creative and artistic choice is some disney engineered plot to pull money from our purse. The reality is that Kennedy first discussed the essence and success of the original Star Wars and the failure of the prequels succesively with J.J. Abrams, Arndt and Kasdan (all die hard fans of Star Wars. Once they reached consensus on the general principles of the story and aesthetics of the new trilogy, Kennedy gave Abrams, Arndt and Kasdan cart blanche. Disney did not interfere with the artistic process and left this entirely in the hands of Kennedy and Lucasfilm. Disney was only involved with the all the stuff around the movie: merchandise, release dates, marketing etc. And even that was mostly Lucasfilm initiative. Disney was in fact very suprised the movie did so well and had such a universally positive critical reception. The reason why the movie is succesful is because for the first time Lucasfilm made the effort to actually understand its audience and also decided to respect its audience. Something George Lucas never did: he mistrusts his audience and thinks us stupid, hence the failure of the prequels.