Disney to release new Star Wars film every year

Disney is apparently planning to release a brand new Star Wars film every summer from 2015 to 2019.

The company, which acquired Lucasfilm in a multi-billion-dollar deal last year, announced at CinemaCon that the JJ Abrams-directed Episode VII will be succeeded by Episodes VIII and IX in 2017 and 2019.

In the years between that, several stand-alone character spin-offs are scheduled to form their own franchises, following on from the success of films such as The Avengers and X-Men.

As of yet, there are no more details on who will work on the spin-offs, or which characters they will focus on. However, Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of  The Jedi), Simon Kinberg and George Lucas will have a say in the decisions made about the new storylines, as they remain as creative consultants for the projects.

Star Wars Episode VII is currently being written by Toy Story 3's Michael Arndt. Abrams, Kennedy and Bryan Burk will produce the movie.

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SOURCE: DIGITAL SPY

On 25 March 2013, we wrote...

JJ Abrams has opened up about working on Star Wars Episode 7.

The Star Trek director admitted that he is "just getting started" on the eagerly anticipated sci-fi sequel - the first with Disney.

He also discussed the similarities between the filming process it shares with his other big project, Star Trek Into Darkness.

Asked by Empire what his approach to the film would be, he said: "I don't know because we're just getting started. There are infinitely more questions than answers right now.

"Though I came at both [films] from very different places, where they both meet is a place of, 'Ooh, that's really exciting'.

"And even though I was never a Star Trek fan, I felt like there was a version of it that would make me excited, that I would think, 'That's cool, that feels right, I actually would want to see that'."

SOURCE: EMPIRE

On 20 March 2013, we wrote...

Harrison Ford has broken his silence on starring in Star Wars Episode 7.

The actor, who is set to reprise his role as Han Solo in the Disney sequel of the famous Star Wars franchise, said that he was "looking forward" to filming.

When asked about the sequel by WGNTV, Ford said, "I'm looking forward to it," before backtracking slightly, and saying: "I think it's going to happen."

If Ford does make a return, as he appeared to indicate initially, he will be joining former cast members Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia).

Ford is currently attached to several projects, including You Belong To Me, Ender's Game, Anchorman 2 and Indiana Jones 5.

Star Wars Episode 7 will be directed by JJ Abrams, and is scheduled for a 2015 release.

SOURCE: WGNTV

On 7 March 2013, we wrote...

George Lucas has confirmed that the original Star Wars cast are "already signed" for JJ Abrams' Episode 7.

Lucas, who sold the franchise to Disney for $4bn last year, will be involved in the remake and revealed the cast news in an interview with Business Week.

"We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison - or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation," he said. "So I called them to say, 'Look, this is what's going on'. Maybe I'm not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them."

The film-maker then seemed to back-track, saying: "I won't say whether the negotiations were successful or not."

The news comes after Carrie Fisher seemed to confirm her return yesterday in an interview with Palm Beach Illustrated.

But fans will have to wait some time before the seventh film appears in cinemas - it's not scheduled for release until 2015. As well as JJ Abrams and George Lucas, the crew will include Michael Arndt as screenwriter and Bryan Burk as producer. 

SOURCE: BUSINESS WEEK

On 6 March, we wrote...

Carrie Fisher has confirmed that she will star in the forthcoming Star Wars sequels, planned by Disney.

The actress, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars Episodes 4-6, revealed that she would be appearing in the new movies during an interview with Palm Beach Illustrated.

Asked if she could confirm her comeback to the sci-fi franchise, she answered simply: "Yes."

When questioned what she thought Princess Leia would be  like today, she added: "Elderly. She's in an intergalactic old folks' home [laughs]. I just think she would be just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle."

SOURCE: IO9.com, PALM BEACH ILLUSTRATED

On 29 January 2013, we wrote...

Chloe Moretz is being lined up as the female lead for Star Wars Episode 7, reports suggest.

The Kick Ass actress is apparently in the running to play the female protagonist in the forthcoming instalment of the sci-fi franchise.

However, the original rumour as reported by /Film suggested that casting the actress was part of Matthew Vaughn's pitch to the studio for the job of director - a role he lost out on to JJ Abrams.

Star Wars director Abrams recently described winning the Star Wars job as "wildly surreal".

SOURCE: /FILM

On 25 January 2013, we wrote...

JJ Abrams will direct the next Star Wars movie, it has been reported. 

The Star Trek director will oversee the making of Episode 7 in the legendary sci-fi movie franchise.

Episode 7 was announced last year after Disney acquired the rights to George Lucas' production company, Lucasfilms, in a multi-billion dollar deal.

According to movie gossip site The Wrap, Ben Affleck was also in line for the job, but it was Abrams that won the role.

Speaking to Deadline, an inside source said: "It's a done deal with JJ."

Abrams seemed to rule himself out of the running in December when he declared his commitment to Star Trek.

"There were the very early conversations and I quickly said that because of my loyalty to Star Trek, and also just being a fan [of Star Wars], I wouldn't even want to be involved in the next version of those things," he said previously.

"I declined any involvement very early on. I'd rather be in the audience not knowing what was coming, rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them."

Star Wars Episode 7 is being written by Toy Story 3 screenwriter Michael Arndt. It is set to be released in 2015.

SOURCE: THE WRAP, DEADLINE

On 6 November 2012, we wrote...

Harrison Ford is "open" to reprising his role as Han Solo in the new Star Wars trilogy almost three decades after he last played the role, it has been reported.

According to Entertainment Weekly, a source "close to Ford" suggested that the actor, 70, was enthusiastic about his return, the first of which is due to hit the silver screen in 2015.

Ford's Han Solo is one of three main characters in the original Star Wars, alongside Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, and Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher.

The apparently "highly placed" source told the publication: "Harrison is open to the idea of doing the movie and he's upbeat about it - all three of them are."

Hamill declared his interest in a future project back in August, when he revealed that he and Fisher were told by director George Lucas that Star Wars would be returning. Fish is yet to comment publically. 

SOURCE: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

On 1 November 2012, we wrote...

George Lucas will donate most of the money that he received from the sale of Lucasfilm to charity, a spokesperson for the company has revealed.

Lucas earned a mammoth $4.05billion dollars from the sale of his company to Walt Disney, in a landmark deal that was announced on Tuesday 30 October.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, the spokesperson said: "George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors."

Lucas established the George Lucas Educational Foundation in 1991. The foundation aims to foster innovation in schools.

SOURCE: HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

On 31 October 2012, we wrote...

Disney has confirmed that it will release Star Wars Episode 7 in 2015 after buying the multi-billion dollar rights for the movie franchise from George Lucas.

The Walt Disney Company announced that it agreed to acquire Lucasfilm for a cool $4.05 billion (£2.5bn) in cash and stock.

Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger also revealed his plans to release Episodes 8 and 9. He explained during a shareholder conference call: "Our long-term plan is to release a new Star Wars feature film every two to three years."

As part of the deal, Lucasfilm's current co-chair, Kathleen Kennedy, will become the company's president.

In a statement, George Lucas said: "For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers.

"I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organisation, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come.

"Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."

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SOURCE: DIGITAL SPY

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Robert Downey Jr at a photcall in London

Why? Because she’s the coolest chick ever, that’s why. As the Yeah Yeah Yeahs release their AWESOME new album, Mosquito, we look back at her best on-stage looks »

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Personal Best: Jordana Brewster

The 'Dallas' and 'Fast & Furious' star shares her healthy living secrets.By Stephanie Stephens
WebMD Magazine - Feature

With the revival of Dallas, which just wrapped up its second TNT season, actor Jordana Brewster stirs things up on the legendary Southfork Ranch as the cook's daughter, Elena Ramos. And in the film Fast & Furious 6 (which premiered last month), she takes her fourth turn as Mia Toretto -- the hard-action series began in 2001 with The Fast and the Furious. In her teens, she had a recurring role on As the World Turns and later appeared in TNT's Dark Blue, NBC's Chuck, the films The Invisible Circus, Annapolis for Disney, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel. A graduate of Yale University, Brewster was born in Panama City and has lived in London, Rio de Janeiro, and Manhattan. She now calls Los Angeles home.

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"I was just at the mall looking for tinted moisturizer! I drink a ton of water, 16 glasses a day. Also, be careful what you put on your face, and then remove it. With all the makeup I wear on set, some days I like to have nothing on my face."

When you're overworked and stressed out, how do you reset and unwind? 

"Sometimes I'm in Dallas or Los Angeles or on a plane to London, so regardless of where I am, it's really important to ground myself. I do Vedic meditation 20 minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon. It's really easy -- I started with 5-minute tapes I bought online. It helps me be mindful and present for the challenges we all face with stimulation and technology coming at us all the time.

"I love my two Labradors."

What's your go-to healthy snack and why?

"Chickpea snack bars from The Good Bean for protein are a go-to. I also mix almond butter in Greek yogurt with Stevia -- sweet and savory at the same time."

Healthy dinner?

"When I go out, I like grilled fish -- I don't like to make it myself because I really don't know how. For a really healthy Mexican dinner, I whip up an egg frittata in a whole wheat tortilla and dip it in Trader Joe's guacamole mixed with Greek yogurt. I also make healthy pizzas with whole wheat pita bread, low-fat cheese like mozzarella, Yves meatless pepperoni, and tomato sauce."

What three ingredients are always in your refrigerator and/or pantry?

"That would be egg whites and Greek yogurt -- I try to eat organic as much as I can -- usually Stonyfield. I keep some kind of high-fiber bread -- Rudi's or Ezekiel. I always have kale and arugula. When my husband makes a smoothie with Greek yogurt and a banana, I try to put a handful of kale or spinach in there! I like a MorningStar veggie burger on a whole wheat bun."

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Q&A With Common

The musician/actor talks about his latest film, his health, being a dad, and his work with children.

Hip-hop artist, television and film actor, author, businessman, philanthropist, father -- Lonnie Rashid Lynn, better known as Common, has taken on a wide range of roles since he first burst into the public eye with his first album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, in 1992. The two-time Grammy winner has since released eight more albums, most recently 2011’s The Dreamer/The Believer, with a new album -- featuring Kanye West -- due out in the fall. He’s had roles in nearly 20 movies, including Smokin’ Aces, Street Kings, and Date Night, appeared in Gap and Microsoft ads, and read poetry at the White House.

Your Common Ground Foundation, originally launched in 2001, provides summer youth camp and mentoring for kids in the Chicago public schools. It’s been recognized by CNN Heroes and BET Hip Hop Awards. What was your inspiration for creating it?

"Growing up, I was always looking around and seeing that my friends had more difficult situations than I did. Nobody’s perfect, but I had a mother who was there and provided and cared, and a stepfather who was there for me, and a lot of my friends didn’t have that. I always wished I could give them that support. Once I was able to afford it and was blessed with the platform to do art and music and business, I wanted to utilize it to help others."

Do you have any standout memories from your work with the foundation?

"It’s funny, at first the kids don’t want to be out in a place where there’s no cell phones, no tech. A lot of them are closed off to being out in nature and developing in that environment. Watching them start opening up and communicating, and how the camp affects them, is great. I remember specifically one time when we were doing programs at the Chicago Lighthouse in Englewood, and this young lady’s grandmother asked if I could get on the phone. She just said thank you -- her granddaughter had lost her mom, and didn’t have a lot of direction, and the program finally gave her something that she was enthused about. That really touched me."

Your 2011 memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense, was co-written with your mother, and your mom plays a key role in your foundation. How do the two of you work together?

"My mother is a really important part of my life. She’s provided a lot for me, and she’s always encouraged me to do more and help out more. As a teacher and a principal, she has always wanted to be present in the lives of young people, so working with the foundation is like one of her callings. Working with her on the book was really great. It was natural -- just her talking about her love, and her ideas, and the surprises and different things about dealing with me. It was really enlightening for me -- I didn’t know it would be so much fun!"

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Steve Coogan at The Look Of Love premiere in London

Looking every inch the porn baron with that floral shirt, Steve Coogan took to the red carpet at the premiere of his risqué new movie, The Look Of Love, in London last night. The Alan Partridge star admitted that he'd visited countless strip clubs as "research" for the role of the King of Soho, Paul Raymond. "Someone had to do it, I volunteered. It was very difficult but eventually I felt I got the handle on the character," he told The Independent. 

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Donna Ida at her pop-up store opening

Jeans queen Donna Ida knows how to make denim a DO every day - this cute and casual look at her London pop-up opening is a case in point.    

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