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Lucasfilm Needs to Plan Ahead as Actors Age

Discussion in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' started by tm0910196, Apr 15, 2017.

  1. tm0910196

    tm0910196 Guest

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    In light of Mark Hamill's comments about him wanting Luke to have reunited with Han in The Force Awakens, I'm finally getting this off my chest. I've thought of it, to varying degrees, with The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and The Last Jedi, but the tributes to Carrie Fisher this weekend have brought it to the forefront of my mind. I think this deserves discussion.

    I don't want it to sound like I'm placing blame on the fact that Carrie Fisher passed away, or like the movies are of even remote importance compared to her death, cause I'm not doing that, and they aren't. But in light of the fact that Carrie Fisher is now no longer with us, Han Solo has been killed, and The Last Jedi is apparently unchanged despite Fisher's passing, I really feel like the Lucasfilm team ought to plan for the worst in the future, from now on, when making decisions like this. If they're not doing that already.

    Nobody could have predicted that Carrie Fisher would suffer a heart attack, of course. It shocked all of us; it still shocks us. The tributes done to her this weekend prove that. And if they're not changing The Last Jedi, then they must have a reasonable "out" for Leia in Ep. IX.

    But back to Han Solo's death: I know they wanted to do something "bold," to borrow JJ's term, but they really should have given us something to reunite the three (four - don't forget Chewbacca!) OT leads. Cause now we have no Han Solo, no Leia, and apparently no Lando, either. And unless we'll get an unexpected flashback with Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie in The Last Jedi, then the OT cast has been forever separated, in ways that could have been avoided with different planning during The Force Awakens.

    Does all of this really matter? No, it doesn't. They're movies. We'll probably love them however they turn out. But these things make me realize, the OT group isn't getting any younger. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, John Williams... We should be putting them in everything we can, while we can, because no one can replace them. This is the same reason I was disappointed to hear about the fact that James Earl Jones has a few scenes of dialogue cut from Rogue One, and that Billy Dee Williams won't be in The Last Jedi. These actors will only be with us so much longer.

    Couldn't Lucasfilm make more of an effort to include these people?
     
    #1 tm0910196, Apr 15, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 16, 2017
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  2. Nathan_Marrek

    Nathan_Marrek Force Attuned

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    Totally. I still feel after all these years - way before the PT came out, Lucas should have done the ST and waited out on doing the PT some time after that. A missed opportunity there...but you know, it is what is. It was very unfortunate that we lost Carrie. I am actually trying not to cry right now just thinking about her and everyone who looked up to her. She was a princess to our hearts and always will be.

    I say this now, only time will tell until TLJ comes out this christmas...At this point, we don't know how it will turn out but here's hoping that it is just as good or better and be up there as one of the best SW films next to The Empire Strikes Back and Rogue One.

    I am ready for anything - I am still waiting for a Old Republic trilogy set way before the PT, OT and ST. It be exciting times if the Mandalorians can be further explored in future films and in any tv series.
     
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  3. tm0910196

    tm0910196 Guest

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    That is true - we don't know that The Last Jedi won't give Leia a reasonable sendoff, or that they won't be able to engineer one for Episode IX. But as you said, the planning so far has created some missed opportunities.

    Billy Dee Williams, for example? He's actively expressed interest in returning, but unless he's messing with us, he won't be returning until Episode IX. He may have a cameo in the Han Solo movie, but why not use him in the sequels? Without Lando, Han might still be in carbonite and the second Death Star would still be around. He's as important as Luke or Han or Leia if you ask me, even if he entered the series a bit late.
     
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  4. Nathan_Marrek

    Nathan_Marrek Force Attuned

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    Agree about Lando. It would be a nice nod if he somehow showed up and it'll be a heartfelt reunion for Leia and Luke and Chewbacca.

    We shall see...I think there is still more than enough room in the ST for plenty of surprises.
     
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  5. Lock_S_Foils

    Lock_S_Foils Red Leader

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    One of the best posts I have seen on the Cantina!
     
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  6. MarsPhoenix

    MarsPhoenix Sith Psychiatrist

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    With ALL respect to the OT gang:

    Harrison Ford is finished with the character of Han Solo.
    Carrie Fisher, unfortunately, will be finished with Leia in Episode VIII, how.... we'll discover in December.
    Peter Mayhew is already replaced as Chewbacca so was Kenny Baker & David Prowse.

    James Earl Jones... I think is done with Vader.

    Billy Dee Williams, I am not sure Lando will come back in the ST. It is not a liability to the story.

    John Williams.... I am sure, may start a little earlier this time working on themes for Episode 9, and this will be his final score for a Star Wars movie.

    Mark Hamill & Anthony Daniels are two actors that would be almost impossible to replace for Episode 9. I would take really good care of these two actors for the next 2 years.
     
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  7. tm0910196

    tm0910196 Guest

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    Yes, Peter Mayhew and Harrison Ford, I'm not as concerned about. Mayhew has found his replacement and Ford's character has been killed in the story.

    James Earl Jones? Well, I do imagine Rogue One was probably the last time he'll be voicing the character on the big screen. But considering how popular Vader is, and fans clamoring for a Vader film, I feel like Lucasfilm would happily try to include Vader in more stuff again; and as long as Jones is able, the role is his.

    Billy Dee Williams? Maybe I place more importance on Lando than other people do, because a friend of mine also just thought, "Eh, I never considered his character that important." I always felt like he had become an integral character by the end of ROTJ (again, he flew the Falcon and helped destroy the second Death Star, and he was at the celebration on Endor). That, coupled with that fact that BDW wants to do the role again, just makes me think they should find a way to write him in. They got Nein Numb and Admiral Ackbar in TFA, who are less important overall than Lando.

    Thank you, @MarsPhoenix, for a wise perspective. :)

    Thank you!
     
    #7 tm0910196, Apr 15, 2017
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  8. Bandini

    Bandini Jedi Commander

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    The main problem is the story and how you want it to be told.

    I think that most of the fans were expecting to see most of the characters again because of nostalgia but if it doesn't fit the story, having too much fan service is not a good idea.

    It could have been weird to see this old crew like 70 years old reuniting and telling the audience hey guys, you took 40 years in your face :D
     
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  9. tm0910196

    tm0910196 Guest

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    Well I guess that's the question, then: is it really a matter of fitting the story? Michael Arndt said Luke was taken out of TFA because he was distracting, and a lot of people say that if it doesn't serve the story, then the presence of iconic characters is pointless. And that's a fair argument. Story should trump fan service.

    But these stories are brand new developments. They come out of someone's head, so they can be whatever the writers want. Would it be that difficult to come up with ways to include these characters in productive, meaningful ways? If the writing is good, it won't be fan service. It will just make sense.
     
  10. Linnus

    Linnus Rebel General

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    Really is Fan Service the problem TFA relied on plenty of nostalgia. We had a modified version of the ANH plot. We had plenty of iconic or slightly updated ship designs and trooper armor.

    I dont think wanting one scene of the OT together is too much to ask.
    Nor is finding some scene you can stick Billy Dee Williams in for is too much to ask for.

    Yes story reasons but TFA is not the only way you could tell a story 30 Years later.

    No Luke was taken out because he overshadowed Rey and no way KK would ever allow that.
    Finn getting constantly overshadowed by Rey fine. Luke, a Jedi Master and Iconic character with plenty of experience overshadowing a novice like Rey not on my watch.
     
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  11. tm0910196

    tm0910196 Guest

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    Good point about TFA. That whole movie was kind of crafted with fan service in mind anyway, as admitted by JJ Abrams and (apparently) as Disney told George Lucas. I don't see how including something with the OT group together would be problematic in that case.

    I also agree with what you said about TFA and the direction of the story, and it kind of goes into what I wrote just above. There are endless ways the story could have been done, and done well. TFA is one of those ways, and sure, a reunion wouldn't have fit the TFA we got, but it could have fit a different version. Or they could have included a reunion via flashbacks as Han told Rey and Finn about Luke, the Force, and Kylo Ren.
     
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  12. MarsPhoenix

    MarsPhoenix Sith Psychiatrist

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    Thanks for your post.

    The problem I see with Lando is that his role is currently filled by Maz Kanata. They are interchangeable. And it would have make more sense if Lando got a hold of the blue saber since he was the owner of Cloud City ;)

    As for James Earl Jones, with all my respect for the venerable actor, his voice can be replaceable, for instance if Vader would have to appear in an Obi Wan or Boba Fett spin-off.

    You have generations and generations of voice actors that forged their imitation of Vader and Yoda's voices.
     
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  13. Pastor Barndog

    Pastor Barndog Force Attuned

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    I can see Mark Hamill joking about the contractually obligated protective bubble now.
     
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  14. Linnus

    Linnus Rebel General

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    How so Maz is a Yoda knockoff.

    I mean sheesh we are going to a casino planet in TLJ and your telling me you can fit in Lando at or running a casino.

    Or heck in the old EU, he started a weapons company seems like someone you could easily have Leia call up looking for help to rearm the Resistance.

    I dont think its hard or especially difficult to work in Lando.
    Such that you would have to make serious changes to the film.

    Its not happening because LF doesnt want it to.
     
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  15. Mudbone

    Mudbone Rebel General

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    Would've made more sense for Lucas to have done the sequel trilogy before the prequels, if actors getting too old for their roles was a concern.
     
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  16. Pastor Barndog

    Pastor Barndog Force Attuned

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    His plan was 2011 according to Hamill.
     
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  17. Linnus

    Linnus Rebel General

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    Probably changed due to selling it to Disney.
     
  18. Darth Holmes

    Darth Holmes Rebel Official

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    Take care of them? Should Disney add do not die clauses in their contracts?

    Life happens. People die. I dont see how Disney can somehow manage that so we can get everything we want in our precious movies. We should just be happy we're getting these movies at all. Thank god George sold Lucasfilm or we wouldnt even be having this conversation.

    As for Billy Dee Williams - Please dont cram him in out of fear that he won't be around forever. Tell the story you want to tell. I'm sure they have a plan and a reason we haven't seen his character yet.
     
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  19. Rogues1138

    Rogues1138 Jedi Sentinel - Army of Light
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    I like BDW but his interview really made me cringe. He seemed disgruntled and upset. I think its his age and attitude thats keeping him out of the trilogy. They put him in Rebels strange that they didn't invite him for the ST.
     
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  20. Linnus

    Linnus Rebel General

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    Well wouldnt you be disgruntled. You want a cameo, you play ball and do Rebels and they dont give you ****.
    Who wouldnt be annoyed.

    I am not sure what age has to do with anything.
     
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