Watching New Tricks on BBC1, is there a campaign to get Denis Lawson (played Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy IV-VI) to be in the new Star Wars VII movie?
I would have though he might get a part just down to tradition. New owners now so who knows if any old friends, favroutites and favours will be part of the new setup.
There will be a real temptation to put familiar faces in for the "Holy shit! It's Wedge / Lando / the Rancor Keeper!" factor, and to be fair to JJ Abrams, he managed to pull off the Old Spock appearance in the 2009 Star Trek. Putting old people into a fresh trilogy without good reason for them to be there story-wise would be a mistake.
There's nothing wrong with old people so let's not be ageist LOL
For example if the story has a rebel general why not make it Wedge!
Nothing wrong with old people at all, and they will be needed to give depth and gravitas to any good story. I just don't want all the original trilogy faces wheeled out, who are all in their fifties, sixties and seventies, just to pander to nostalgia in what needs to be an exciting and dynamic, young character-driven trilogy.
Battle star Galactica did it really well casting Richard Hatch (the original Apollo) as another character for the reboot.
They also reused the old Centurions who make cameo appearances in the pilot and in Razor and the original land vehicles make an appearance in Season 2 episode "Scar".
Little hat tips are great as long as they aren't pushed into your face, they only work if its subtle, otherwise it can potentially detract from the new movie.
Nothing wrong with old people at all, and they will be needed to give depth and gravitas to any good story. I just don't want all the original trilogy faces wheeled out, who are all in their fifties, sixties and seventies, just to pander to nostalgia in what needs to be an exciting and dynamic, young character-driven trilogy.
bit ageist aren't you? Who cares how old someone is or how they look now as long as they can still act.
I see no reason why he couldn't be included as an old Ambassador or something.
His participation in some of the most important events in the overthrow of the Empire must mean he is a proper hero of the Rebellion, and getting elected to office or being made the Star Wars equivalent of a 'Lord' would make sense.
Battle star Galactica did it really well casting Richard Hatch (the original Apollo) as another character for the reboot.
They also reused the old Centurions who make cameo appearances in the pilot and in Razor and the original land vehicles make an appearance in Season 2 episode "Scar".
Little hat tips are great as long as they aren't pushed into your face, they only work if its subtle, otherwise it can potentially detract from the new movie.
That doesn't apply here. BSG (2004) was a re-imagining of the original series. The occasional hat-tipping was a fun wink to the fans, and it worked well. The new Star Wars movies are part of an ongoing narrative. Whilst constant references to the earlier movies would probably be too much, occasional hat tipping wouldn't be enough. I'm sure the writers will manage to find a balanced and consistent level of continuity.
bit ageist aren't you? Who cares how old someone is or how they look now as long as they can still act.
No, I'm not ageist, and it's not about how they can still act. The nature of being an actor is that no matter how good you are, if you aren't right for the part, you aren't right for the part. The best parts of the Star Wars films are often the action, the lightsaber duels, the running around in the death star etc, and I don't think that will be best served by a grey, balding Harrison Ford, a wrinkled Carrie Fisher and a bizarre looking old Mark Hamill, stunt casted just to make the fanboys salivate. Shoehorning characters like Wedge in just for kicks would be even worse.
If the story warrants it though, as it did with Old Spock in Star Trek, then who knows...?
That could be partially due to the bad crash he had between the shooting of the last scenes in ANH and first scenes of TESB which is why the wampa attack was written into TESB.
Just to clarify I knew when you said 'old' you meant original characters and not old actors.
That doesn't apply here. BSG (2004) was a re-imagining of the original series. The occasional hat-tipping was a fun wink to the fans, and it worked well. The new Star Wars movies are part of an ongoing narrative. Whilst constant references to the earlier movies would probably be too much, occasional hat tipping wouldn't be enough. I'm sure the writers will manage to find a balanced and consistent level of continuity.
Its exactly the same principal and over use of the original trilogy and its characters to fluff sales could screw this up completely.
Its exactly the same principal and over use of the original trilogy and its characters to fluff sales could screw this up completely.
Of course it isn't the same principal. One's a re-imagining, the other a continuation. The continuation demands a level continuity, a level that you wouldn't see, or want to see, in a re-imagening. Pretty obvious really.
It's possible, Fett did escape from the Sarlaac in the EU and im pretty sure Wedge lived on for a while also.
There's a series of books about Rogue Squadron (they took out the Death Star) and Wedge Antillies features quite heavily in those books. He's one of the heroes of the Rebellion.
It's possible, Fett did escape from the Sarlaac in the EU and im pretty sure Wedge lived on for a while also.
I think Boba Fett coming back would be stupid, at his age there would be no way he would be able to do the things that he does. If episode 7 is set 20 years into the future he would be 54, if it's 30 years he will be 64, he wouldn't last 5 minutes in a fight
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If VII is to be filmed in the UK it could make logistics easier with his filming schedules.
As you say it will continue the tradition of him in IV-VI with his Nephew, Ewan McGregor, in I-III.
Totally agree if say Jar Jar Binks but disagree if Wedge gets a cameo or Boba Fett somehow...
Precisely, I hope they go with a new generation however, I'd love to see Mara Jade.
It's possible, Fett did escape from the Sarlaac in the EU and im pretty sure Wedge lived on for a while also.
There's nothing wrong with old people so let's not be ageist LOL
For example if the story has a rebel general why not make it Wedge!
Nothing wrong with old people at all, and they will be needed to give depth and gravitas to any good story. I just don't want all the original trilogy faces wheeled out, who are all in their fifties, sixties and seventies, just to pander to nostalgia in what needs to be an exciting and dynamic, young character-driven trilogy.
The empire was defeated. They wouldn't be rebels anymore.
They also reused the old Centurions who make cameo appearances in the pilot and in Razor and the original land vehicles make an appearance in Season 2 episode "Scar".
Little hat tips are great as long as they aren't pushed into your face, they only work if its subtle, otherwise it can potentially detract from the new movie.
bit ageist aren't you? Who cares how old someone is or how they look now as long as they can still act.
His participation in some of the most important events in the overthrow of the Empire must mean he is a proper hero of the Rebellion, and getting elected to office or being made the Star Wars equivalent of a 'Lord' would make sense.
That doesn't apply here. BSG (2004) was a re-imagining of the original series. The occasional hat-tipping was a fun wink to the fans, and it worked well. The new Star Wars movies are part of an ongoing narrative. Whilst constant references to the earlier movies would probably be too much, occasional hat tipping wouldn't be enough. I'm sure the writers will manage to find a balanced and consistent level of continuity.
No, I'm not ageist, and it's not about how they can still act. The nature of being an actor is that no matter how good you are, if you aren't right for the part, you aren't right for the part. The best parts of the Star Wars films are often the action, the lightsaber duels, the running around in the death star etc, and I don't think that will be best served by a grey, balding Harrison Ford, a wrinkled Carrie Fisher and a bizarre looking old Mark Hamill, stunt casted just to make the fanboys salivate. Shoehorning characters like Wedge in just for kicks would be even worse.
If the story warrants it though, as it did with Old Spock in Star Trek, then who knows...?
That could be partially due to the bad crash he had between the shooting of the last scenes in ANH and first scenes of TESB which is why the wampa attack was written into TESB.
Just to clarify I knew when you said 'old' you meant original characters and not old actors.
Its exactly the same principal and over use of the original trilogy and its characters to fluff sales could screw this up completely.
They need to be careful, very careful.
Age is relevant to the equation so how can it be "ageist"? Its like casting a male actor to play a male role, is that sexist? No, clearly not.
Of course it isn't the same principal. One's a re-imagining, the other a continuation. The continuation demands a level continuity, a level that you wouldn't see, or want to see, in a re-imagening. Pretty obvious really.
There's a series of books about Rogue Squadron (they took out the Death Star) and Wedge Antillies features quite heavily in those books. He's one of the heroes of the Rebellion.
I think Boba Fett coming back would be stupid, at his age there would be no way he would be able to do the things that he does. If episode 7 is set 20 years into the future he would be 54, if it's 30 years he will be 64, he wouldn't last 5 minutes in a fight
Getting back on topic to Wedge, I hope he is in the film in some capacity - hopefully as a high ranking officer (taking some cues from the EU).
Have a read of this as well about the fake Wedge:
http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2013/02/06/star-wars-mysteries-hunting-for-the-fake-wedge/
Sadly, Colin won't be available for the sequels:
http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2013/05/02/rip-colin-higgins-the-fake-wedge/
http://blogbypaul.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/every-star-wars-needs-an-emperor-right/
That would be awful as it would make the OT pointless.