A legal dispute over who has the right to provide extras for Star Wars: Episode 7 revealed a very curious tidbits about the story of the upcoming movie. The following story might contain small spoilers so continue reading at your own risk...
Possible SPOILERS!
(May 18, 2014)
From MailOnline (via JediNews):
It is a story set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away where Jedi knights battle an evil empire.
But before even a phaser has been blasted or a lightsabre drawn in the highly anticipated new Star Wars movie, the first battle is expected to take place at the High Court over who will supply the hundreds of stormtroopers and wookies.
And at the centre of the legal fight is 32-year-old Eleanor McLaughlin who is accused of trying to steal a lucrative contract to provide extras for the forthcoming seventh instalment of the sci-fi saga.
British agency Mad Dog Casting is suing her for up to £250,000 after claiming it had entered ‘mature’ negotiations to supply extras for crowd scenes that involve aliens and other creatures last year.
However, it argues McLaughlin, a former employee, quit the firm to set up her own casting agency and also started competing for the £1million contract.
Fears have now been raised that the legal fight could delay the shooting of some of the big crowd scenes for Star Wars: Episode VII.
In legal documents submitted to the High Court, the firm accuses Miss McLaughlin, whose film credits include the latest James Bond movie Skyfall, Pirates of the Caribbean and World War Z starring Brad Pitt, of taking the personal details of thousands of extras from its database.
It adds that through her new company called ‘We Got Pop’, Miss McLaughlin emailed them touting work and took ‘further steps to pursue the Star Wars Episode VII opportunity’. Miss McLaughlin denies the allegations.
Filming has already begun on the movie which will reunite many of the original stars.
Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher will reunite for the new Star Wars film almost 40 years since the original cast members first appeared on screen together. The trio were pictured in a rehearsal room reading through the script for the seventh instalment of the hit sci-fi saga.
Directed by Hollywood star JJ Abrams, the £120million movie also features original actors Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew - reuniting to play C-3PO R2-D2 and Chewbacca respectively.
As always all these bits are just rumors until we hear something official from Disney/Lucasfilm. I just hope that this won't cause delays with the filming process.
UPDATE!
I don't know if the writer of the above article was speculating about the stormtroopers and wookies, but here's another report suggesting the same thing.
From BleedingCool:
Because I kept reading about the Iceland shoot and would bring it up in pretty much every Star Wars chat I’ve had, I’ve been included in a few off-the-record conversations about the location. Nobody could go so far as to tell me which characters would turn up in the scenes, however, and it wasn’t until today that I got some idea.
The best lead on who we might see in action on Hoth is probably (and improbably) 2000AD and Warhammer alum Gordon Rennie. According to a recent Facebook update, he’s been chatting to an unnamed member of the 2nd unit team who has been shooting in Iceland and they revealed to Rennie that the scenes will feature Chewbacca and “old skool” Stormtroopers.
I expect these would be longshots with stunt Chewie and stunt troopers, and that they would be meant to be cut together with close-ups of “real” Chewie and other lead characters, shot at another time and in a friendlier location.
I don't know if it's a coincidence with the above report but it also matches the report we shared with you about the helicopter crash with some 2nd unit crew in Iceland. Whatever it is, it's just a rumor for now.
UPDATE 2!
A slight clarification from the first writer of the article:
@stan4prez examples - hope that helps?
— Ryan Kisiel (@RyanKisiel) May 18, 2014
Still I doubt there's anyone here who thinks that the sequel of ROTJ won't feature stormtroopers and wookies. The troopers might be slightly redesigned, but my bet is that they will be there.
UPDATE 3!
Even more signs for stormtroopers on the set:
From another extra on #StarWarsEpisodeVII on 18th May - "stunts, explosions, robots, star troopers, yes yes I need more sand in my mouth!"
— Daisy Ridley News (@DaisyRidleyNews) May 29, 2014
@MakingStarWars they were Polish so I think that's what they might mean.
— Daisy Ridley News (@DaisyRidleyNews) May 29, 2014
From reading the article, I think the "stormtroopers and wookies" bit is just them "speculating" on what the extras will be. I saw no proof that this was over anything but extras in general.
ReplyDeleteFirst I thought the same, but with the bits about the Big Three in the rehearsal room and the big crowd scenes with aliens made me think that they might know something we don't. Still that's why I say that it's just a rumor for now.
DeleteAgreed, we still have no idea what'll be in the movie
DeleteYep, my impression as well.
DeleteThanks for the precaution. I think it is a kind gesture towards fans who don't wanna know any plot points ahead of Episode VII's release.
DeleteViral Hide, the "rehearsal room" is just referring to the cast pic where they are reading the script. Nothing new there. The aliens and other creatures in crowed scenes is just referring to what would naturally be called for in a Star Wars film. Almost every film has at least one crowed scene and SW would naturally call for aliens and creatures. I don't believe for a minute that they know anything beyond the dispute over extras.
Delete*crowd. Oops.
DeletePhaser? WTF?
ReplyDeleteAhh, what difference does it make. It's gonna end up like "Star Trek", anyway: an empty shell of it's glorious former self.
DeleteThe new Star Treks are as good as the old ones. Other than Wrath of Kahn.
DeleteAnyone who claims that EpVII will be anything like the recent Star Trek films has absolutly no idea what they're talking about. Just because they have lasers and starships doesn't mean they're the same franchise.
DeleteOh, boy!! A new "Star Wars" movie's gonna have wookies & stormtroopers in it PLUS the three main protaganists-Han, Luke & Princess Leia-- wait for it ... ARE GONNA BE IN A SCENE TOGETHER!!!!
ReplyDeleteGolly, now the whole movie's ruinec for me.
Diarrhea of the mouth.
Delete...dont forget STAR TROOPERS
DeleteI'm pretty sure the rehearsal is just referring to the script read-through picture.
ReplyDeleteNothing to see here. Stormtroopers and Wookies is just media talk from those who dont know Star Wars, and the rehearsal statement is referring to the cast announcement photo. Move along.
ReplyDeleteI hear from a big news site that teh new "Star Trek Wars" (must be teh new title!) is gonna have "little green men" in it! What could teh Little Green men be other then Yodas!!!!
ReplyDelete"Star Wars Episode VII: The Final Trek
DeleteThey already did "horde of wookiees" (in a crappy way) in EPIII, I dare say we won't get a repeat of that. Then again I didn't believe they'd go back to Tatooine either. The more old elements added the less fresh it risks becoming. Sorry for being pessimistic, but I still wake up in the very dark of night, wishing I could just wish away the first three episodes.
ReplyDeleteHaHa, well you know what they say... it's always darkest before the dawn.
DeleteYou wish you could wish away the first three episodes, sounds very similar to Anakin wanting to wish away his feelings! haha I for one would not like to see stormtroopers in episode 7. I believe the Empires storyline ends in episode six. Maybe a film about X-wing pilots could be made that takes place after ROTJ but I do not believe we should see stormtroopers in Episode 7 which is going to take place 35 years after the death of the Emperor.
DeleteI also at first didn't want to see Tatooine again in this film. It has already been seen in 5 of the 6 films and I personally want to see new planets, but I have warmed up to the idea of revisiting Tatooine again because like R2 and 3PO, Tatooine has been a central piece of Star Wars in both the OT and PT. So I warmed up to the idea of Tatooine being in episode 7 but only episode 7. I want to see new places in 8 and 9.
Yeah I was kind of riffing off Anakin on purpose there ;-) The prequels aren't canon in my head, but I couldn't resist using that extremely bad line of dialogue.
DeletePersonally, I'd love to see the galaxy fractured: In I-III (I know, not canon) we had the Republic; in IV-VI we had the Empire; in VII-IX we could have...no big government. In the time after JEDI, the Alliance did try to gather the systems again, but people were sick of this, what with the failure of the Jedi first, and then the domination of the Empire. So it's each star system on its own, which can cause more than enough trouble for a trilogy or two.
I think it is important for the writers to remember that THIRTY fricking years have passed since JEDI, so they should preferably build a kind of "time table" with events to kind of "color in" the time between trilogies. Doesn't even need to be mentioned in the films, it will just ground them better.
In this regard, there's one essential plot point they CAN'T forget. If LUKE SKYWALKER is going to fire up a new JEDI ORDER, he will need Force-sensitive people. Now, who can make those?
That's right, LEIA. So she will have been on her back the last thirty years, mass producing babies with Jedi potential.
In a Game of Thrones - twist, Luke could be their father, to ensure the best Jedi potential.
You simply can't have Leia NOT being a baby factory, all things considered. Have a great night!!
That's silly Anon 8:15!!! There were heaps of force sensitive children in the galaxy. We saw them in CW. Their was a holocron list of them.
DeleteEven if Leia had to have children for the Jedi to come back, she doesn't have to have them with Luke, who is her BROTHER. That would be more likely to produce deformities than better Jedi. She has plenty of Mediclorians she can marry Han Solo and produce force sensitive children just fine. His Mediclorian count doesn't have to be super low, it just isn't high enough to make him force sensitive.
So all things considered you can't have Leia as a baby factory. Have an actual great night!
Yeah well, the article starts out saying "a *phaser* has been blasted". Chances are these folk probably caught a glimpse of Obi-Wan watching the clones marching in Ep. II, and then the Wookies getting ready to fight the clones in Ep. III, and now they think that's pretty much what happens in every SW film.
ReplyDeleteThat pretty much says how much they know about SW, so I wouldn't really take their words too seriously.
um ... well, I can picture the big three rehearsing together in the same room ... because we've seen the picture ...
ReplyDeleteI don't see how this could affect the movie. The disagreement is between the two agents and does not directly involve Lucasfilm. Besides, I don't think there is much of a case to answer here. 'Mature negotiations' are not legally binding. And theft of information would be difficult to prove. Sounds like a classic case of sore loser to me.
ReplyDeleteI think what we can take from this rumor is that the large scale battle will involve real human beings in costumes rather than the CGI video game style battles in the Prequels. No surprise there. This film will have some huge scenes and I think JJ is going to take his visual style to the next level, with special effects, too. Especially after his praise of what Alfonso Cuaron did with the visuals in Gravity.
ReplyDeleteRevenge of the Sith also featured actors mixed with CG animation ... remember the Battle of Kashyyyk? Extras in Wookiee costumes?
DeleteTrue, JJ could use that blend, too.
DeleteI was thinking of the droid army vs. the Gungans in EP 1 as a video game battle.
DeleteMature negotiations?
ReplyDelete"No, I call it aggressive negotiations."
This whole problem would be solved if Abrams wasn't so paranoid about using CG effects to simulate crowds. I think its been done before...
ReplyDeletesigh...
no. must not use actors. must not do tangible filming. must be digital. must be whatever is easy and convenient to do. no real people. no crowds. stop the MADNESS!! ..
DeleteDid you have a nice birthday, George?
DeleteNo I did not. The crowd of people at my birthday party ..
Deletethey ...they were real..
they weren't ..
.. they weren't CG
*shivers*
Hundreds of stormtroopers and wookies huh? Sounds like George is recycling the bit about a 10 year old Han Solo in E3 which was wisely discarded then but would be more tolerable now with an old Solo. Now that I think about it, would make sense for Han, if he has any say in his marriage with Leia, to go live with the wookies.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Viral Hide, you need to redo this article. The read through is simply the first cast picture and the Stormtroopers and Wookies is just a non-fan trying to talk like they know what the franchise is about. "That's that movie with the guys in white armor and the big apes, right? What are they called now?"
ReplyDeleteI think Chewingtabacca should eat a Ballpark Frank® so he can get super hot dog powers, right? Then he can beat-up Richard Dreyfuss.
DeleteThe update sounds interesting..... I always like the look of chewie on Hoth with all the snow in his fur. However the horde of wookies in EP III was silly and screamed of green screen. Not authentic feeling at all.
ReplyDeleteI think the premise of episode VII is that the empire is still prevalent in the galaxy, with the rebels gaining the upper hand. The empire didn't fall after episode VI, just The Emperor and Vader. The above mentioned rumor sounds to me like the wookies are trying to reclaim the planet, Hoth for the rebels.
ReplyDeleteThere shouldn't be stormtroopers in this movie.
ReplyDeleteWhat side will they be on? Are they reconditioned clones and lead by Luke and Co. Or are they still under Empire rule.
DeleteOr Does New threat of ruling villians have their own new batch of clones based on new DNA of alien breed?
Are we going to have Alliance troopers?
Perhaps soldiers with retroactive armor in a 30 year later war that the rebels are still fighting?
Regardless, all star wars movies need Space Troopers of some sort, just reinvented or repurposed. And I bet a very Vaderish look to some character will be incorporated in this film as well or some nod to Vader will be made. As far as I'm concerned, Luke's got that Helmet in a trunk, like Obi wan had Anakin's Light saber.
Star Wars = storm troopers IMO. To leave them out would be a crime!
DeleteIt would be a crime not to come up with something new.
DeleteLuke's dna is frozen in the bacta tank.
ReplyDeleteSo is Han's in carbonate what's your point?
DeleteStormtroopers and Wookiees were used only as "examples" according to this update.
ReplyDeletehttp://jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=16856
I doubt this info just based on the "old skool" Stormtroopers comment. If it is indeed a "Hoth" type planet, then it would be Snowtroopers.
ReplyDeleteStormtoopers are Snowtroopers... they're just wearing climate appropriate "armor".
ReplyDeleteYes I know that....but they are called "Snowtroopers" when wearing artic gear!
DeleteNo they're not....
Delete"Stormtroopers have entered the base, Stormtroopers have entered the base."
Actually, AnonymousMay 19, 2014 at 12:30 PM the line goes, "Imperial troops have entered the base! Imperial troops have entered the base!"
DeleteI don't mean to be a stickler, but I feel the clarification was necessary.
The real question is why are they going back to Hoth? What's so important about that planet? Either its a flashback or another frozen hell.
ReplyDeleteUpdate! Breaking. Duh, what else would be in the story? This reads like an Onion article only its written in a serious tone? Sad
ReplyDeleteNice work viral.
ReplyDeleteAnd folks please remember that this is rumors.
In a way it's like silly season in soccer. where all big clubs signs with Messi or the same young upcoming Star.
Why is everyone assuming if they shoot in Iceland it's Hoth?
ReplyDelete1. Hoth scenes were shot in Norway
2. Iceland is not covered in snow! Greenland is, but not Iceland!
http://www.icelandguest.com/travel-guide/about-iceland/iceland-travel-faq/
DeleteHow is the weather in Iceland?
Iceland is not considered a warm place by any normal standards, but thankfully the Gulf Stream does have a moderating effect on the temperatures. Average temperatures in July are about 12 degrees centigrade in Reykjavik, and usually a bit warmer in the north and east of Iceland.
And despite the icy name, it doesn't snow as much in Iceland as you may think, especially in Reykjavik where there is usually little snow to be seen, even in winter. However, there is more snow in the winter in the north and east of Iceland and the West Fjords.
it would be so much simpler for the filmmakers if they contacted the 501st Legion instead of hiring a lot of extras, it would definitly save them time & the fans would be ecstatic to be stormtrooper extras in the movie
ReplyDeleteGood post! I wonder the same thing!
DeleteMaybe because the armor designed has changed.
DeleteHave you seen their stormtroopers? Some are fat....
DeleteAt first I wanted the empire to be back as the bad guys but then I thought I'd like something new so I started to prefer something different like an alien invasion threatening to take over the galaxy or something so now I have no idea how to feel about anything. Seeing the empire with the stormtroopers and star destroyers still around would definitely be super awesome (Hearing the Imperial March in theaters again anyone?). I would probably die with fangasm if the empire was still around. But hopefully it will be a fresh new take. No death stars and shield generators please. Maybe Max Von Sydows character is the new emperor. Hopefully he's still a sith too.
ReplyDeleteI'd much rather have the same ol' Empire return than watch an alien invasion occurring in a galaxy where space travel is already common.
DeleteYeah I meant like, for example, an alien species that were harrassed by the empire and almost killed out built up their species in some remote part of the galaxy and as an act of revenge to the galaxy they threatened to invade and take over system by system, and yes, obviously via space travel ;)
DeleteTrying to stop a cold war from going to a galaxy wide war would be the most interesting.
ReplyDeleteIf the galactic civil war style empire returns those original movies are overall pointless. You undermine the original movies if they come back as a threat.
ReplyDeleteI prefer something new. No Empire, No stormtroopers, No Sith. And since hyperspace travelling is already old news, no surprise alien invasion. Evil could be found in this Galaxy, after all, it´s big enough....
ReplyDeleteProves JJ is trying to fix everything that was wrong with EP6 , 1, 2 & 3 - remember it was originally going to be Stormtroopers vs Wookies in EP6 but we got Stormtroopers vs Ewoks !........
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people forget that there was a time when we all didn't know anything about Star Wars and everything was new. We old fans couldn't do that with the PT since it was what came before and so we were given presumably what to expect in the movies we grew up with. But now Episode 7 goes into uncharted territory and there is a great potential for Star Wars to be fresh and new again. All I am saying is be willing to leave what you know to the previous movies and be that first time watcher again since right now we have no reason to hold these new movies to anything that came before.
ReplyDelete