Star Wars live action TV series on hold for Three to Five years
Producer Rick McCallum has now come forward with new information, and according to him, the Untitled Star Wars TV Series is on indefinite hold for three to five years, and may never see the light of day despite there being fifty third-draft scripts ready to go into production at this very minute.
The hold-up is purely financial, as each episode would cost roughly the same price as a feature-length film. At this point, Rick McCallum doesn't even think the series will get made due to the world of broadcast and cable television imploding. He doesn't feel there will be a marketplace for a well-written sci-fi drama in five years time.
This is what he had to say.
"The TV series is on hold, but that has nothing to do with the Czech Republic; it has to do with [the episodes being] so ambitious. We have 50 hours of third-draft scripts, but the problem we have is there is a lot of digital animation; we don't have the technology yet to be able to do them at a price that is safe for television. Since we would be financing them, it would be suicide for us to do this [now]. So we are going to wait three or four years. Network television and cable television as we know it are completely imploding, so we're not really sure that in five years' time we can release a dramatic one-hour episode because it is all reality TV now."
Rick McCallum also gave the most detailed description of the Untitled Star Wars TV Series that we've heard thus far, comparing it to the The Godfather trilogy.
"It takes place between episodes three and four, when Luke Skywalker was growing up as a teenager, but it has nothing to do with Luke. Basically, it is like 'The Godfather'; it's the Empire slowly building up its power base around the galaxy, what happens in Coruscant, which is the major capital, and it's [about] a group of underground bosses who live there and control drugs, prostitution."
Rick McCallum confirmed that a teenage Luke Skywalker would not appear in the series, but he didn't reveal if any other popular characters would (or wouldn't) be dropping in.
Do you care if the Untitled Star Wars TV Series becomes a reality at this point? Should Rick McCallum and George Lucas shave these fifty hour-long scripts into a six-hour feature film trilogy? To read more with Rick McCallum,
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SpaceCowboy
Ha. Thumbnail made me laugh.
5 months agoby @SpaceCowboyFlag
aoshi
"Network television and cable television as we know it are completely imploding, so we're not really sure that in five years' time we can release a dramatic one-hour episode because it is all reality TV now."
What is Rick McCallum smoking?
7 months agoby @aoshiFlag
Steven Dusseau
Why would he write 50 hours of script if he isn't even going to do anything with it? wtf. At least condense it and make a few movies or something. I thought George likes his $$$, so why doesn't he make a few movies?
10 months agoby @Steven-DusseauFlag
Lautarous
Too expensive for your pocket George? I'm so sorry . . .
How about to spend money in creativity for once after 30 years of crap?
12 months agoby @LautarousFlag
Bane5000
@jptheredskull...Thats right buddy, they will think wow that scene with Han and Jabba in the hanger was awesome, how did Lucas think of that way back then...becuase it wasnt in the film till almost two generations later, if i can find a copy of the original trilogy, even if it is on VHS and hell, laser disc LOL, i'll re-buy it and watch it in all its glory how it was before all the changes
12 months agoby @bane5000Flag
Bane5000
@bawnian-dexeus...My mistake was letting someone borrow the VHS trilogy and never saw it again, ive learned my lesson, never again, specially with Star Wars
12 months agoby @bane5000Flag
Titanictom
I'd Rather see Another Star Wars Movie and 2 more Indiana Jones Films!!!!!!!!!!
12 months agoby @titanictomFlag
Diaigma
Considering the success of the animated series . . . I don't see the hesitation.
Yet I agree. To think a series would be no problem with practical effects (like the originals), but now the look is so vast, you can only really get away with features.
12 months agoby @diaigmaFlag
Perickson81
Lol @ bud2fresh.........GFY!
12 months agoby @perickson81Flag
bud2fresh
It's nice to think about but this show will NEVER happen and that sucks.Lucas just keeps bringing this up to keep fans stirred up so we keep buying his sh*t.....works everytime.
12 months agoby @bud2freshFlag
Rufio
two things:
1. about the no room for a "well-written sci-fi drama" statement: has he (or agent orange - whoever said the comment, since it doesn't appear in the guy's quotes) SEEN any of the 6 movies?!?!?! top writing/dialogue is NOT a forte of the series. story and characters? yes. writing/dialogue? um, no.
2. a story about mob bosses and prostitutes? outside of the very brief Jaba/slave girl Leia, bounty hunters and Han Solo as one of many smugglers there is NO mention of mob bosses and PROSTITUTION! even though they are probably part of the world/universe, they've NEVER played a role in star wars, why start now?? this is STAR WARS, not NYPD Blue, The WIre or any other gritty series. no need for exploitation (the audience is already built in).
12 months agoby @rufioFlag
J.P.
@bane5000 If he did that, it would shut us fans up for a long time. Also, one concern is that people just now being introduced to it can't "appreciate" his changes to the films if they don't even know that they were made..... newer generations will be under the impression that it was this way from the beginning.
12 months agoby @jptheredskullFlag
J.P.
@bawnian-dexeus WHAT THEE F*CK! If she wasn't your mother I'd say kill the bitch.
12 months agoby @jptheredskullFlag
Nautical
Man that sux. With every movie having so much CG you would think it would be cheaper to use it!!!! WTF!!! i would love a TV series!
12 months agoby @nautical05Flag
TheMime
love the picture....
12 months agoby @themimeFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@bane5000 my mom threw away the original VHS trilogy. Like a light saber to my chest.
12 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Bane5000
@jptheredskull...LOL seriously man, to be honest and its sad for me to say, with all these special editions and new footage and added VFX, ive forgotten how the original, orginial trilogy even looked like and certain scenes that were in it that Lucas later changed, and i used to have them on VHS years ago
If Lucas really wants to please true Star Wars fans, then yes, release the un-altered original trilogy on dvd
12 months agoby @bane5000Flag
Mutant
I was upset earlier since I was suppose to meet someone for a job.
Anyhow, I see where this is going and I dislike it.
Oh sure its about money but I bet George wants to get the feature films out of the way and just launch it after the sixth film.
As much as we would like to see books, video games turned into a SW film we have to wait until he dies. Sad but true.
He announced sometime ago that all the books and video games are no longer in continually to his films.
I wish someone would tell him to go home and retire and leave it to people that have real talent.
12 months agoby @zenderFlag
J.P.
@bungalow359 F*cking nothing except for 1 good and 3 bad Indy flicks.
12 months agoby @jptheredskullFlag
J.P.
@bane5000 Maybe if he was in Carbonite we could get a rerelease of the original cut of the original trilogy.
12 months agoby @jptheredskullFlag
Rudy
This is stupid, Lucas has enough money in his POCKET to pay for the entire first season. This is bullsh*t, but like everybody else, we'll be stupid enough to wait those years and he makes even more money. Oh one more thing........OUT OF EVERYTHING HE COULD HAVE BASED IT ON, rebels, other jedi....NO he bases the tv show on alien mob bosses and twi'lek prostitutes...WHAT THE F*CK!!! It's gonna be a disaster, what a dumbass!!! He could have done a tv show based on Force Unleashed or KOTOR or rebel jedi or some sh*t like that, but no he does mob bosses. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKK!!
12 months agoby @rudyFlag
Zyclops
i dont care no more.
12 months agoby @zyclopsFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
Mr Lucas, I find your lack of faith disturbing
12 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Bane5000
Maybe if they ever do put Lucas in Carbonite, these Star Wars projects might actually get made :D
12 months agoby @bane5000Flag
Playhouse
I never liked the idea of a TV series set between Ep. III and Ep. IV anyway. The whole timeline has been played to death. Give me a 'Knights of the Old Republic' series that doesn't have to worry about stepping on continuity in the existing movies. And, at some point, you can settle for what they are doing in SFX on TV today. With the advancements made on the film end and what they're doing with quality Sci-Fi shows, you can come to some happy medium that doesn't break the business. If you're that concerned about the quality, George, than TV is not the way to go.
12 months agoby @playhouseFlag
bungalow359
much as i love star wars this is just a money making exercise and here's why: the first star wars in 3D begining of next year and then the rest every 6 months thats 3 years. then the box set of the 3D versions on blu ray even thought were are getting the blu rays in september. thats about 4 years just in time for a new TV series. it's called maximising product longevity. ask yourself this what has Lucus done sinces Star Wars
12 months agoby @bungalow359Flag
ADDICTION NON-FATAL
It's irrelevant now, what makes Lucas think it'll be relevant 3-5 years? Go Away!
12 months agoby @addiction-non-fatalFlag
felipe-11
Yeah this was kinda obvious. A shame, but obvious
12 months agoby @felipe-11Flag
Jcberry526
OMFG looks at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6IAoPAjzpw
damn i hope a movie was based on this story WOW beats Lucas(as) anyday... maybe when am 50 we get that movie (am 20 at the moment)
12 months agoby @jcberry526Flag
slysnide
I like the reference to the implosion of the network tv market. So true.
12 months agoby @slysnideFlag