Get ready for Star Wars Rebels

Official press release below:

NEW ANIMATED SERIES STAR WARS REBELS COMING FALL 2014

May 20, 2013

Production has begun on Star Wars Rebels, an exciting, all-new animated television series based on one of the greatest entertainment franchises of all time. Scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel, it will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.

Leading the development of the series is a creative team of exceptional talent. Screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class,Sherlock Holmes, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is an executive producer on Star Wars Rebels and will write the premiere episode. He is joined by Dave Filoni as executive producer, who served as supervising director of the Emmy nominated Star Wars: The Clone Wars since 2008. Executive producer Greg Weisman brings with him a wealth of animation experience with credits such as Young Justice, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Gargoyles.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, “The entire team at Lucasfilm has provided extraordinary creativity and innovation for over three decades, and we’re thrilled to be bringing the expansive and imaginative world of Star Wars to Disney XD’s viewers.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to explore new corners of the Star Wars universe,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president, Lucasfilm. “I think Star Wars Rebels will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about Star Wars.”

The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV — an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen.Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.

Star Wars Rebels will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation, featuring many of the key talents that made Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Fans attending Star Wars Celebration Europe will be the first to get an exclusive look at the new series. Casting will be announced at a later date. More information about this developing project will be found on StarWars.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/starwarsrebels.

Darth Maul returns in Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Via Entertainment Weekly:

“I found it funny in The Phantom Menace when Darth Maul got cut in half,” Clone Wars supervising director Dave Filoni says. “I thought George was definitively saying to the fans, ‘There’s no way this character is coming back. This is not a Boba Fett/Sarlacc Pit situation where, because of fan love, Boba gets out of that thing any number of ways.’ Fast-forward ten-years, and I’m the one to bring Maul back.”

(far better video thanks to King Hulk Marco)

Well, mostly. Filoni acknowledges that the order to resurrect the Sith Lord came from George Lucas himself, who became more interested in his Phantom Menace creation while developing Savage Opress for the last season of The Clone Wars. Awesome as Maul was in the movie, he barely got to do anything before the old chop-chop. When asked if Maul’s return is motivated by the feeling that he was underutilized in The Phantom Menace, Filoni says, “I think in part.”

Filoni’s biggest challenge, though, will come from the legions of fans ready to shout “No way!” at the very idea of a Maul return. But addressing the (un)believability of his survival could make for some interesting drama. “First of all, how does he survive getting cut in half?” says Filoni. “Plus, he fell! And also, don’t forget Obi-Wan Kenobi is still around, so I’m sure Maul wouldn’t be very happy with him.”

Fans will note that there is precedent for this kind of resurrection. “The Dark Side of the Force is the path to many abilities some consider to be…unnatural,” Darth Sidious says in Revenge of the Sith. Sidious and his master found a way to use the Force to cheat death—that’s how he was able to keep Vader alive after that little swan dive into a lava field. Couldn’t Maul have picked up on some of that too? Says Filoni, “He’s suffered through a lot to keep himself alive and implemented the training of his master to do so.”

Once you get beyond the plausibility issues, what’s left is actually an amazing storytelling opportunity. The Clone Wars has featured other characters from the movies, but mostly original trilogy stalwarts like Chewbacca, Tarkin, and Ackbar. Those are all characters whose fates have already been decided. “Here, we’re moving forward with Maul,” Filoni says. “He’s more than ten years older than he was in The Phantom Menace. That’s immensely satisfying, because now nobody knows what’s going to happen to him. I know, but nobody else does.”

Thanks to Robb Hammond for the tip!

10/13/11 UPDATE:

Official press release

Darth Maul, the sinister Sith Lord who amped up the dark side in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, returns to the Saga this spring in Star Wars: The Clone Wars!

Revered by fans for his striking red and black tattooed-face, graceful but lethal fighting style, and signature double-bladed lightsaber, Maul was believed killed by Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of Episode I. In the Star Wars universe, however, one must never underestimate the power of the dark side!

“The decision to continue Darth Maul’s story was something that came directly from George,” says Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “We all agreed that his return needed to be unique, unexpected and revenge filled. We don’t know what his outcome will be, and as a fan – that’s exciting.”

While fans await Darth Maul’s return to The Clone Wars, they’ll soon be able to experience the excitement of his original introduction to the Star Wars Saga when Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is released in theaters on February 10, 2012 in spectacular 3D!

The trailer for Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3D will be attached to The Three Musketeers on October 21st and on select films throughout the holidays.

Conflict returns to Naboo in Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Official press release below:

A Conspiracy from the Shadows of Naboo Threatens the Peaceful Planet

In “Shadow Warrior,” this week’s episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the peace and unity that followed the defeat of the Trade Federation blockade seen in Episode I are shattered as the Gungans inexplicably march towards war against the Naboo city of Theed. Padmé Amidala rushes to investigate, discovering that General Grievous and his droid army stand poised to invade the planet. An unlikely imposter standing in for an injured Gungan leader may help stop the growing conflict, while Anakin Skywalker’s search for answers takes him into the shadowy lair of the enemy. There, the Jedi hero enters into an epic battle against his sworn enemy, Count Dooku, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 23rd on Cartoon Network.

The undersea battle continues in Star Wars the Clone Wars this Friday

Official press release below:

The battle for Mon Calamari escalates in the conclusion to an epic Star Wars: The Clone Wars three-part story arc

In “Prisoners,” the must-see conclusion to the epic two-part season opener of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, all appears lost as the Republic army and its allies the Gungans have been captured by Riff Tamson and his seemingly invincible Karkarodon forces. The future looks as murky as the turbulent undersea battlefields of Mon Calamari, but there still are holdouts. Now all depends on Ahsoka Tano helping young Prince Lee-Char find the internal strength to unite the fractured races of his planet to drive out the Separatist invaders in a pulse-pounding battle airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 23rd on Cartoon Network.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 premieres with ‘Water War’

Official press release below:

Take the plunge with more action than ever, as the fourth season of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS launches with epic underwater battles unlike anything you’ve seen before!

The heroic Jedi Knights and the clone army continue the fight to preserve order, and defeat the Separatist forces. As the battle escalates, the scope and scale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars continues to grow – with exotic adventures and enhanced animation strengthening ties to the Star Wars Saga. Fearsome foes from the past return to settle the score. Unexpected alliances are formed on both sides of the battle, as the action explodes and the course of the war takes an unforeseen turn!

Often described as a mini-Star Wars movie each week, the next chapter of Star Wars: The Clone Wars begins with a must-see two-part premiere, airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 16 on Cartoon Network.

In “Water War,” the spectacular — and previously unseen — ocean planet of Mon Calamari teeters on the brink of civil war. Separatist troublemaker Riff Tamson is stirring up hostile undercurrents between the planet’s two native species, the Mon Cala and the Quarren. The Republic sends Senator Padmé and her Jedi and clone protectors to negotiate peace, but it’s too late. With the assassination of the Mon Cala king, and young Prince Lee-Char not ready to unite his people, war is inevitable. A fierce underwater battle breaks out as SCUBA clones and new weaponry go head-to-head in an epic fight against overwhelming Quarren and Separatist forces.

“For these episodes we’re really under water the entire time, which presented a lot of new challenges–not least of which was creating animation while keeping the characters buoyant,” says supervising director Dave Filoni. “We wanted the cameras to feel like scuba cameras, and so the movements are slightly different than the ones you normally see in an episode. And the environment is populated with many small details such as a lot of coral and barnacles, which makes it feel as rich and dense as an ocean environment should be.”

The premiere episodes showcase the feature film quality found throughout Season Four. “In one of the premiere battles, there are thousands of characters at war,” Filoni says. “That gives you a sense of the scale we’re trying to deal with now when we say we’re doing a battle. In Episode III Revenge of the Sith we pan over the edge of the Jedi cruiser and reveal the massive space battle over Coruscant. That’s the kind of thing we’re aiming for in terms of combat in Season Four.”

Directly following “Water War” is “Gungan Attack.” Things look bleak for the Jedi, clones, and the Mon Cala, as they retreat to underwater caves following surprise Separatist attacks. Seeking to crush all hope of resistance, the evil Riff Tamson targets Prince Lee-Char. Jedi Master Yoda, unable to summon more Republic aid, turns to the powerful, amphibious Gungan army. But will they arrive in time and are they strong enough to break the Separatist siege?

“This season the fights reach a new level right from the get-go,” Filoni says. “The things we experimented with in the past, which were maybe one or two acts of a battle, are now becoming a whole arc over three or four episodes. We’re executing these battles on a scale not seen before. And while the battles are the big buzz this year, there will also be some surprises along the way.”

Star Wars Clone Wars Season 2: Episodes 1-3

I covered select episodes of the first season of the Star Wars The Clone Wars cartoon series here in my blog. In those reviews I noted that the episodes had grown in quality from week to week at an astounding pace. The main strength of the program’s first year, in my opinion, was the focus on the Clone Troopers themselves. As the series is based on the most eagerly anticipated era of the Star Wars mythos since Old Ben Kenobi first uttered the words ‘clone wars,’ the bar is set quite high for this cartoon. Depicting the war from the perspective of the Clone Troopers was a rather brilliant move and turned the program from high adventure to a war drama very quickly. This approach is hampered from living up to its full potential, of course, due to the fact that the enemy in the series is an army of bumbling Three Stooges knock-offs, but never mind.

The finale of the first season, ‘Hostage Crisis,’ introduced the blood-thirsty bounty hunter Cad Bane. A remarkable episode that again was full of top notch animation and characterizations, it left viewers hungry for more of this gravely-voiced bounty hunter. In the second season, they got three episodes in a row opening the series with Cad Bane launching a bold maneuver on behalf of the evil Darth Sidious.

The opening story of season two is composed of three episodes, ‘Holocron Heist,’ ‘Cargo of Doom’ and ‘Children of the Force.’ Hired by the shadowy scheming villain Darth Sidious, Cad Bane is given the task of thieving a holocron from the Jedi Archives. The holocron holds the location of children that are born ‘force-sensitive’ and watched for development into future Jedi. With this information, the Dark Side could strike at the very heart of the Jedi Order.

Bane employs the aid of a Changeling (much like the one hired by Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones) to infiltrate the Jedi Temple and uses his wise-cracking droid to hack the security systems. Thinking that the command center is the target, the Jedi are distracted away from the vault where the holocron is stored and despite numerous run-ins and close calls, Bane makes his getaway with the stolen goods. The following episodes see the Jedi struggling to stop Bane from obtaining a crystal that when combined with the holocron would reveal the hidden information. Using brilliant tactics and cold-blooded strategy, Bane single-handedly gives the Federation and the Jedi Order a run for their money.

It has been so long since a character so ruthless and cunning has been introduced to the Star Wars Universe. For my generation, this character was Boba Fett… until he got killed in one of the most unlikely death scenes ever. Jango Fett came close to filling the role of the legendary and dangerous bounty hunter, but he was dispatched very quickly by Mace Windu. Cad Bane is another creature altogether. Using several gadgets and his devious mind to outwit the Jedi and turn their confidence against them, he has proven himself to be a very real threat to the safety of the Jedi Order.

It is difficult to create any real sense of urgency and drama in this middle episode between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith as we all know the situation at the beginning of Episode III. That being said, the Clone Wars cartoon series has invigorated the Star Wars franchise in a most unexpected way. I think many discounted this series as ‘kid’s stuff’ after the less than impressive feature film but the weekly cartoon program is anything but childish. If you are a Star Wars fan and have not been watching this program, you are missing out on the story that fans have always wanted to see… and it’s certainly not what we thought it was.

Sometimes it’s nice to be surprised.

Star Wars the Clone Wars airs weekly on Friday nights on Cartoon Network.

Check local listings or airtimes in your area.