Oct 31 DEL Rey and LucasBooks have released Balance Point, the second hardback book in the New Jedi Order series. The official site said: " Written by Kathy Tyers, Balance Point continues where James Luceno's Agents of Chaos duology left off. In this excerpt, Jaina Solo -- daughter of Han and Leia, Jedi Knight, and Rogue Squadron pilot -- flies into combat against the dreaded Yuuzhan Vong."
Oct 27 THE official site updates today with a new Select image.The latest shows three heads in silhouette, two of which are against a yellow moon-shaped background. They look quite big heads, one a little like the ones from the Cantina scene, and one a bit like Lando's skiff guard disguise. Go here to see.
STAR Trek continues to boldly go forward, with Patrick Stewart (Capt Jean-Luc Picard) signed up for the tenth installment. USA Today said Stewart was the first crewmember Paramount Pictures chose to lock in before going after other Next Generation cast members.
The next show will be the fourth led by Stewart but it will not even begin before potential strikes by actors and writers are sorted out, that means after April 1.
YOUNGER Star Wars fans are in for some fun. Lucas Learning has sent out its latest Spark newsletter, offering readers the chance to send each other a Star Wars Halloween postcard, ranging from R2 as a ghost to Chewbacca as Elvis. There's some cool graphics to, go here for more.
A NEW book has been launched about fighter pilots - but it's only on the official site. The first part of the short story, Starfighter, can be read here.
Oct 23 APOLOGIES for the lack of news here, have been on holiday, but am back now. The official site has updated with a new Select picture, this time of Hayden Christensen (Anakin) looking solemn against a blue background.
LOOKS like we'll be seeing Christopher Lee wielding a lightsaber in Episode II. The legendary English actor is a 'charismatic separatist' in the new film, but little is known about what that means. However TFN says that producer Rick McCallum told the UK Star Wars magazine Lee would have the famous weapon. McCallum added that he never considered Lee for the role because he was looking for someone "tradditionaly more evil", which is possibly the first time it's been confirmed that Lee plays a bad guy.
IN one of the more predictable, and tongue in cheek, poll results of recent times, the Star Wars site asked fans if they took part in polls. A total of 93 per cent said they did, though paradoxically, seven per cent said they did not.
A belated happy birthday to Princess Leia. Actress and author Carrie Fisher was 44 on the 21st.
Oct 13 IF you missed the Art of Star Wars at London's Barbican gallery then don't worry, help is at hand. The exhibition is moving itself north to the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford. Among those present at a press launch was C-3PO himself, the brilliant Anthony Daniels. If you want to know what it's all about, check out this page.
ANOTHER Episode II select photo has been released. This one shows a shadowy figure in a bright yellow background, holding something which appears to be a rifle. Maybe it's a bounty hunter on what looks like Coruscant. Go here to have a look for yourself.
Oct 9 THE official Star Wars site has come up with a simple answer to the rumour that Ray Park is helping with Episode II - he isn't. One question the Jedi Council asked: "It's been said that Ray Park will not be reprising his role as Darth Maul in Episode II, but rumors have it that he has joined the production crew as your assistant fight choreographer for Episode II. Is any of that true? And the answer: "The rumours are false."
FOR some reason best known to themselves, the official site has decided to pay tribute to those furriest of Star Wars heroes - the Ewoks. The site said:When Endor was selected as the Death Star's construction site, the Empire underestimated its indigenous population. The primitive tribal culture of the Ewoks was no match for the modern, mechanized might of the Imperial war machine, or so the military commanders thought." It then lists several of the main protaganists.
Oct 8 HAYDEN Christensen, Anakin in Episode II, can finally be seen by British Star Wars fans. Hayden's soap opera Higher Ground can be seen on Sky One on Sundays at 2pm.
QUICKBAND will be releasing the George
Lucas film The Electronic Labrynth, JediNet
has reported. It will be part of Quick Bands forthcoming DVD compilation Short 10: Chaos.
For more details visit this
page at Film Threat or try Quick Band.
Oct 6 GEORGE Lucas' latest Select photo from Episode II is a bit easier to decipher - as George is in it. Lucas appears standing behind a bluey background screen in a large mac.
IN the latest Star Wars newsletter director of communications Lynne Halle talks about Episode II. Lynne, who created a diary for Episode I, said: "These past few months have been extremely hectic but exciting, Episode II was quite a different experience from Episode I. The lessons learned on the Episode I shakedown cruise came in handy for this production, as many of the first time ventures three years ago were now old hat."
She explained how using a digital camera made things much simpler and she told how she enjoyed working with the cast in Sydney.
Technological innovations abounded throughout the production, making a lot of lives easier. "Of course shooting with the digital camera was a big change from Episode I," explains Hale.
She added that Temuera Morrison, who plays a bounty hunter in the new film, said people were often afraid of him since they mix him up with the character he played. He is one of the most gentle people I've ever met, though."
WIZARDS of the Coast have revealed a whole new list of Star Wars books that are coming out soon. The official site has revealed the highlights are The Rebellion Era Sourcebook which has key information about the Empire and the Rebel Alliance from the classic Star Wars era and is due out in March, 2001.
The Living Force Campaign Pack details a star system, characters, organisations, and more for gamers. The 64-page supplement is scheduled for publication in March, 2001. The Secrets of Tatooine explores the sandy wastes in the Prequel, Classic, and New Jedi Order eras, and reveals information never before printed anywhere else. The 96-page supplement is due out in April, 2001.
For more information visit Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars website here.
LOOKS like Darth Maul actor Ray Park is keeping busy. In the latest newsletter to fans, Ray's site says he is currently in Japan preparing for the release of The X-Men there. As far as future movies go the site said: "Ray has been in talks with several film companies regarding his next movie role. The "Green Hornet" starring opposite Jet Li and "Iron Fist". Nothing has been decided on either of theses parts and production on "Green Hornet" has apparently been postponed until the script has been revised.
"Ray also has a few other
roles he is considering that we cannot discuss at this time. Whatever role(s) Ray
takes you can be sure it will be another performance to remember!"
Oct 4 HAYDEN Christensen gives his first in-depth interview in the new issue of the UK's Star Wars magazine. Hayden, who plays Anakin in Episode II, talks about his preparation for the role and the challenges he faces.
The official site said: "We celebrate The Art of Star Wars with Star Wars design gurus Ralph McQuarrie and Doug Chiang, who discuss shaping a galaxy far, far away, from A New Hope to Episode II. We also get under the helmets of the Bounty Hunters from The Empire Strikes Back, including Boba Fett, and Aurra Sing from The Phantom Menace. Issue 28 also features a new, extended 10-page Star Wars merchandise section, Jawa's Corner, including reviews of action figures, computer games, toys and novels."
Oct 1 SOMETHING which Star Wars fans have always known has been confirmed, Carrie Fisher did look good as Jabba's prisoner. A new survey of the top 69 sexiest costumes in movies by Empire magazine reveals who looked hot. Topping the list was skirt-wearing Russell Crowe in Gladiator but in second spot was Carrie Fisher for her revealing moment in Return of the Jedi. Liam Neeson was surprisingly also in the top ten for being Qui-Gon Jin in The Phantom Menace.
HARRISON Ford has revealed what he thought of The Phantom Menace. In the latest edition of Empire he says: "It's a very different type of movie to the films we made which depended on the relationships between three or four characters. I see it as groundwork for the other films George is doing now and understand and appreciate the efforts involved. I also think the actors involved are very good."
Ford also reveals he's looking forward to a fourth Indiana Jones movie, adding: "There is no barrier to Indiana Jones growing older, there's no reason why Indiana Jones can't be the same age as I am."
Archive news: April/May 1999 June/July 1999 August/September 1999 October/November December 2000 January February March April May June July August September