The Official Episode VIII Laura Dern Discussion Thread

I feel like we already have so many Resistance people who could fill that role (Ackbar, Ematt, Statura), I'm not sure why we needed another one. But I'm optimistic. Don't like people inferring that she'll "take over" from Leia, though, mainly because of what that implies.

 

Whether this rumor is true or not at least we have our first non-Reddit/4chan rumor to discuss. If this is true, I would think this comes towards the end of the movie

 

Is it because this scene will make for a bleak, cliff-hanger ending? Leia injured, and the desperate Poe being told by Laura Dern's character that the Resistance is finished. I do wonder if Laura's character is another villain, perhaps someone higher-up in the Republic who is in secret collusion with the First Order?

 

I mean, his line of thinking from what I've just read sounds extremely plausible but I agree never take LR seriouslt and it almost reminds me of The National Enquirer at times .

 

I take LR with a HUGE grain of salt these days. And I kind of doubt that they'd have gotten their hands on this already anyway.

 

Agreed I was confused the way they elevated Phasma as more powerful than Rey even though the latter had more scenes.

 

Although Latino-Review is not a bad source, it remains a rumor. My understanding was that this trilogy was meant to be more entertaining than political, sticking more to the OT than the PT. I have a hard time seeing how they will mix in direct politics with such an accomplished actor like Dern in a story that is meant to be pivotal and darker.

The short shoot in Dubrovnik, which has that political curve feel to it, makes me feel like that will be more part of a montage within the film of an attack than anything else.

 

Politics wasn't the main problem with the PT, just the delivery and type of it. A film can contain political elements and be entertaining at the same time while avoiding the vagueness which plagued TFA. I know that Abrams was told, by Kasdan I think, to trust the audience to figure out the background by themselves but the audience is meant to infer the situation not guess at it.

I think the ST should avoid emulating the OT or distancing itself from the PT too much and concentrate on being its own thing. Everyone's saying that Rian is doing something weird with Ep.VIII so I have high hopes, and politics, done well, is more than welcome in that.

 

Sure, a good balance of action, intrigued pace and politics can be welcome. We would have to see how much screen time Laura Dern's character will have considering the LR rumor. The problem I have with that rumor is that there was absolutely no mention of those political sides, neither in TFA, the novelization nor the script. Seems like a opportunistic grab to capitalize on a seemingly new element brought on by a simple reading of Claudia Gray's new Bloodlines novel synopsis.

I am intrigued about the seemingly 'authority' Laura Dern's character seems to have over Poe Dameron in that rumor, if true.

Speculative of course, could well be of a 'personal' type of authority, sort of like I mentioned a little earlier, step mom?

Another reason I base myself on her being Poe and Rey's step mom is the fact that in Kasdan's interviews they mention trying to parallel real life with what the viewer can relate to on-screen. With so many reconstituted families nowadays, definitely can be something viewers can relate to.

 

Okay so if the supposed leak is true... that Laura Dern is playing an authoritative political figure, I think I might know who she will be playing.

In August, Lucasfilm Ltd. trademarked a name no one had seen before. A few days ago, they updated the trademark to include things such as motion picture features, live performances, and merchandise. It seems that this character will be rather big in the Star Wars universe. The name in mention is "Mon Destra."

We all remember Mon Mothma, who was the first Chancellor of the New Republic in Episode VI. I think that Laura Dern plays Mon Destra, the daughter or heir to Mon Mothma, with "Mon" being a family name. After the death of Chancellor Lanever Villecham on Hosnian Prime, I believe Mon Destra will be appointed Chancellor (because of her heritage), and she will be a little corrupt. Sort of like the Kylo of the Republic. She's brought to power because of her family, and she may have conflicting interests with Leia/the Resistance. If this is true it would provide an interesting dynamic that I'd love to see!

 

Interesting theory, however, it is MON Mothma not Mos Mothma.

 

Whoops! Fixed

 

I doubt that Ep.VIII would go into the different factions outlined by Gray's novel but that doesn't stop the film showing divisions within the Republic through the medium of certain characters. Perhaps some, like Dern's character, are willing to go to extreme lengths to beat the FO while Leia's group isn't, which could be communicated by a few scenes of actions/dialogue. I doubt it would be a massive plot point anyway.

I doubt that Dern is related to Poe in any particular way. It will start getting ridiculous if they keep introducing new characters that are physically related to the existing characters. Star Wars does indeed have a particular penchant for familial soap opera drama but it is mostly limited to those drama queens, the Skywalkers. I hope they keep it that way, I'm tired of that one as it is.

Interesting, I didn't know this and looked it up to see if it was true and lo behold:

http://www.slashfilm.com/valara-saar-lucasfilm-trademarks/#disqus_thread
http://makingstarwars.net/2015/08/t...-trademarked-for-star-wars-the-force-awakens/

This character could indeed be related to Mon Mothma, if naming conventions on Chandrila dictate that the surname is said first, or simply be a character from Chandrila like Mon Mothma. Do we know if 'Mon' is a name or a title?

 

It's all speculative anyway.

All I know for sure is that Rian asked JJ to withhold some elements back in TFA so they can be introduced in VIII. What those are... Bope.

As for the Trade marked names, if not mistaken, they have essentially been trademarked for the Disney theme parks. To me they sound like different sections of the park, Mos Destra being the "Dark side" part of the park and "Valara" the light side.

Just a hunch due to a play on words. Destra=Destroy - Valara=Valiant.

 

I was wondering if the Force Back scene was altered to hold back stuff? I wonder where Dern's character will come in? I am guessing a Republic Senator of some sort.

 

I was thinking Leias assistant and friend Winter, codename Targeter. Laura Dern could pull it off

 

Well one aspect that is interesting in Rey's force back vision is the little boy at the end of the hallway.

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''Hello?" Wreathed in the irrationality of the moment, she called hopefully, but received no answer.

A boy appeared at the end of the hallway. She started toward him, and the world turned inside out, causing her to trip and fall.''
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I'd say that's a major hold back, It's canon since it's part of the Alan Dean Foster novelization.

A brother perhaps?

I still can't fathom an accomplished actor like Laura Dern, who has great emotional screen range and presence not use those abilities by playing a political figure.

 

We can actually see what was cut by looking at the leaked call sheets from the films production.

A heavy portion of Rey's flashback was cut. It was originally supposed to show the entire history of the Bespin saber. It was supposed to show someone discovering it on Bespin, then someone buying it off of a merchant, and then "strange hands" stealing it from Kylo during the Jedi Massacre. I guess Rian wanted to explain it's origins himself.

 

Ok now that's interesting. Leaked call sheets, I'm going to see If I can get my hands on those somehow. I loved TFA because it was TFA and not anything close to the PT but It could have been soooo much better.

 

http://makingstarwars.net/2016/03/s...cription-plus-info-on-the-dernleia-situation/