This Might Be the News You’re Looking For…

“Thank you, Kathleen and Sharmeen, for having me back. I’m very thrilled to be continuing this journey. My heart is pounding!” — Daisy Ridley at Star Wars Celebration 2023

A couple weeks ago, I posted “This Is Not the News You’re Looking For…”, in which I discussed some generally negative news items about the Star Wars franchise from the past few months. This week, I have some more positive Star Wars news to review, most of which comes from announcements early last month (Apr. 2023). Shall we…?

At Star Wars Celebration 2023, Disney/Lucasfilm revealed a revamped official timeline for the Star Wars franchise, really nine eras: Dawn of the Jedi, The Old Republic, The High Republic, Fall of the Jedi (the prequel films), Reign of the Empire (“The Bad Batch”), Age of Rebellion (“Andor”, “Star Wars Rebels”, Rogue One, the original trilogy), The New Republic (“The Mandalorian”, “The Book of Boba Fett”, “Ahsoka”), Rise of the First Order (“Star Wars: Resistance”, the sequel trilogy), New Jedi Order.

They also talked about three Star Wars films in the offing, the first being Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Star Wars: New Jedi Order. This film (which I mentioned in my previous post) takes place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker and focuses on Jedi Master Rey’s efforts to re-form the Jedi Order, much as Luke wanted to do. According to Kathleen Kennedy,

“She’s attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order, based on the books, based on what she promised Luke, so that’s where we’re going. I don’t know as we’ll spend a lot of time in flashbacks or Force ghosts or things like that, but certainly, the spirit of what he represents to her is gonna be significant.”

It’s a quasi-sequel, but they prefer to call it a “standalone” — but one that could “grow”. In other words, they are hoping these new films will be successful enough to expand into sequels but don’t want to commit to trilogies at this point.

So far, Daisy Ridley is the only star from the sequel trilogy confirmed to be returning for Star Wars: New Jedi Order. The film’s premiere is currently set for either Dec. 19, 2025 (as I read in one article not long ago) or Dec. 17, 2027 (as per IMDB).

Confirming popular rumor, the second film in development will be helmed by James Mangold (Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). But, rather than a Boba Fett spinoff (which Lucasfilm denied back in 2018, anyway), the film will be about “the first Jedi in the earliest past.” Logic dictates that it will be set in the era now called ‘Dawn of the Jedi’. Will fans finally get an official story about the foundations of the Jedi religion?

The third film discussed will be from David Filoni — writer, director, and/or executive producer on multiple Star Wars projects (including “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka”). It will “culminate the story of ‘The Mandalorian’ and its respective spin-offs [as well as animated projects], likely in a battle between the New Republic and Grand Admiral Thrawn.”

Since they are much earlier in the development stages, there have been no announcements about casting, production, or release dates for the Mangold and Filoni projects. (Though, of course, Filoni’s will assuredly bring in characters from ‘The New Republic’ era TV series.)

Favreau (l) and Filoni (r)

Now, you may be wondering about the previously-announced SW film from Taika Waititi. While not a main topic at the Star Wars Celebration, Waititi’s project did get a mention from Kathleen Kennedy:

“Taika is still working away. He’s writing the script himself. He doesn’t really want to bring others into that process and I don’t blame him. He has a very, very unique voice. So we want to protect that and that’s what he’s doing. But we’re going to make that one day.”

Finally, we have a little something regarding “The Mandalorian” TV series. (If you haven’t yet watched the third season finale, you might want to skip the next couple paragraphs, as they contain SPOILERS.)

As many of you will remember, there was at one point going to be a “Rangers of the New Republic” spin-off series starring Gina Carano as Cara Dune, a freshly-badged New Republic marshal. But, Carano was fired and the show canceled before it got off the ground. So, Season 3 of “The Mandalorian” incorporated a few elements originally planned for the canceled series — i.e., the subplots of Elia Kane, Dr. Pershing, and Capt. Carson Teva. (That’s why the Kane/Pershing stuff seemed oddly out of place.)

As per Variety, writer/co-creator Jon Favreau says that Season 4 of “The Mandalorian” has already been written and will continue with more plot elements from “Rangers of the New Republic”. In fact, this was further set up in the Season 3 finale, when Mando visited Teva and arranged to not only get bounty-hunting assignments from him but to secretly work at hunting down Imperial warlords in the Outer Rim on behalf of the New Republic. (Something Cara Dune would have been doing, apparently.) This will in turn likely lead up to the events of Filoni’s film.

Sounds good to me.

Indiana Jones 5 Update

“When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy.” — Harrison Ford, on whether or not he would ever be replaced as Indiana Jones

Just the other day, producer Frank Marshall announced on Twitter that filming on the latest (and final?) installment in the Indiana Jones movie franchise has completed. After over a decade of development and production delays, creators and fans alike can now breathe a sigh of relief as the film enters the post-production phase. The official, theatrical release date is June 30, 2023.

But, what else do we know about it?

1) Steven Spielberg was originally scheduled to both produce and direct, as he did previous installments. But, other responsibilities forced him to hand over the latter job to James Mangold (Logan, 3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line) in 2020. This also led to a new script by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth (Edge of Tomorrow, Ford v Ferrari).

2) George Lucas is executive producing but, for the first time, not involved on the writing end. Other producers include Spielberg, Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, and Simon Emanuel.

3) John Williams is back to do the music. Yay!

4) Harrison Ford is, of course, returning as the title character. The man is 79 years old, so props to him! Will there be any de-aging technology used? Unknown.

5) As of this writing, the plot (including time period) has yet to be officially revealed. That being said, Mangold hinted back in Jan. 2021 that Nazis and the search for the Fountain of Youth would be involved. Also, 1960s New York City, the space race, maybe some time travel. Whether or not any of this found its way into the final plot, I haven’t read anything definitive. Bottom line, though, we can probably count on it following along the same lines and themes of previous IJ films — namely, world-spanning adventures in pursuit of supernatural-themed legends.

6) Will any other castmembers from the earlier IJ movies make an appearance? Also unknown. Karen Allen was rumored to be returning, but no alumni are listed in IJ5’s cast on IMDB. However, any surprise cameos probably wouldn’t be added (if at all) until after the movie is out. (Hopefully.)

Mikkelsen, Waller-Bridge, and Ford

7) Newcomers joining Ford for this one, though, include Mads Mikkelsen (“Hannibal”, Arctic), Toby Jones (“Wayward Pines”, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Antonio Banderas (The Expendables 3, Desperado), Boyd Holbrook (“Narcos”, Logan), Thomas Kretschmann (“Biohackers”, “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels”), Shaunette Renée Wilson (“Billions”, “The Resident”), and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Broadchurch”, “Fleabag”). Unfortunately, nothing has been announced about their characters at this time, not even the names. Rumor has it, though, that Mikkelsen will play the main villain and will be accompanied by an “evil and brutal killer” female associate.

8) No official title, as yet.

I see four possibilities for how they might end the film. One, Indy dies at the end — whether naturally or by injury — thereby ending the franchise. Two, Indy lives and finally retires as an old (and hopefully happy) man — thereby ending the franchise. Three, Indy is rejuvenated by the Fountain of Youth (thereby requiring a little of that de-aging technology), and he goes back to doing what he loves as a very hands-on archaeologist. But, given Ford’s actual age, that’s probably the end of the franchise. Four, Indy is rejuvenated by the Fountain of Youth but decides to take a very different course, perhaps settling down and having a family. (Perhaps it would be indicated that a protege of Indy’s would take on Indy’s adventuring mantle (and whip and fedora?), though not necessarily to spin off a new film series.) I’m not too keen on the first option, but any of the others would be acceptable to me.

The most recent Indiana Jones entry, 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, was a bit of a disappointment both critically and to the fans. (I didn’t think it was terrible, though.) George Lucas’s writing may have been a factor there. So, with Lucas not writing this one, that might bode well. Who knows?

Regardless, count me in among the original fans who await with great anticipation this final adventure with our favorite, whip-cracking archaeologist. Let’s hope the Hollywood magic is still there.