Viggo Mortensen is a legendary actor, from his Oscar-nominated turns in Eastern Promises, Captain Fantastic, and Green Book to his iconic role as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, some may not realize that Mortensen is just as talented behind the camera as he is in front of it.
Mortensen’s sophomore feature as a director, The Dead Don’t Hurt, debuted at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews. While Mortensen did get to promote The Dead Don’t Hurt at the premiere despite the then-ongoing strikes thanks to a SAG waiver, he’s getting more of a chance to talk about his feminist Western now as we near its U.S. release.
We at FandomWire got the opportunity to discuss The Dead Don’t Hurt with the one and only Viggo Mortensen, talking about its fusion of the genre’s grammar with a unique vision.
The Dead Don’t Hurt...
Mortensen’s sophomore feature as a director, The Dead Don’t Hurt, debuted at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews. While Mortensen did get to promote The Dead Don’t Hurt at the premiere despite the then-ongoing strikes thanks to a SAG waiver, he’s getting more of a chance to talk about his feminist Western now as we near its U.S. release.
We at FandomWire got the opportunity to discuss The Dead Don’t Hurt with the one and only Viggo Mortensen, talking about its fusion of the genre’s grammar with a unique vision.
The Dead Don’t Hurt...
- 5/29/2024
- by Sean Boelman
- FandomWire
After beaching off Ken in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and highlighting the hard work of stunt performers in David Leitch’s The Fall Guy, Sony is capitalizing on the “Gosling-ssance” with the release of his 2011 thriller Drive on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The brutal film from Nicolas Winding Refn drips with style, presents Gosling in one of his most iconic roles, and is due for a comeback in crisp, clean, high definition.
Here’s Sony‘s official synopsis for Drive:
Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stunt driver for movies by day and moonlights as a wheelman for criminals by night. Though a loner by nature, “Driver” can’t help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), a young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by the return of her ex-convict husband. After a heist goes wrong, Driver finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves,...
Here’s Sony‘s official synopsis for Drive:
Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stunt driver for movies by day and moonlights as a wheelman for criminals by night. Though a loner by nature, “Driver” can’t help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), a young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by the return of her ex-convict husband. After a heist goes wrong, Driver finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
This episode of Revisited was Written by Cody Hamman, Narrated by Travis Hopson, Edited by Juan Jimenez, Produced by Adam Walton and Chris Bumbray, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
Universal Pictures wanted a car chase spectacle that would appeal to fans of their Fast & Furious franchise. What director Nicolas Winding Refn and star Ryan Gosling delivered was something far from that. They made a fairy tale-inspired arthouse thriller with ‘80s vibes, a deliberate pace, and bursts of graphic violence. The film was the 2011 release Drive (watch it Here) – and it’s time for it to be Revisited.
Drive started as a crime novel that was written by James Sallis and published in 2005. If you’re familiar with the film adaptation, you’ll recognize characters and story elements in the book. It follows a man known only as Driver. He’s a stunt performer by day. At night he...
Universal Pictures wanted a car chase spectacle that would appeal to fans of their Fast & Furious franchise. What director Nicolas Winding Refn and star Ryan Gosling delivered was something far from that. They made a fairy tale-inspired arthouse thriller with ‘80s vibes, a deliberate pace, and bursts of graphic violence. The film was the 2011 release Drive (watch it Here) – and it’s time for it to be Revisited.
Drive started as a crime novel that was written by James Sallis and published in 2005. If you’re familiar with the film adaptation, you’ll recognize characters and story elements in the book. It follows a man known only as Driver. He’s a stunt performer by day. At night he...
- 12/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
From November to December, it's time for what's next at Plex! Prepare for your "Killers of the Flower Moon" screening by catching one of Martin Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio's collaborations, "The Aviator," taking flight on the free streamer on Dec. 1.
The platform will also add romantic dramas and thrillers such as “Two Lovers” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow and double the dosage for A24 heads with “It Comes At Night” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.”
Check out The Streamable’s top picks for Plex’s December additions and see everything getting added to the library throughout the month!
Watch Now Tba plex.tv What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Plex in December 2023? “Barking Dogs Never Bite” | Friday, Dec. 1
“Parasite” filmmaker and Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho makes his directorial debut with the 2000 black comedy that follows Yun-ju (played by Lee Sung-jae), a part-time...
The platform will also add romantic dramas and thrillers such as “Two Lovers” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow and double the dosage for A24 heads with “It Comes At Night” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.”
Check out The Streamable’s top picks for Plex’s December additions and see everything getting added to the library throughout the month!
Watch Now Tba plex.tv What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Plex in December 2023? “Barking Dogs Never Bite” | Friday, Dec. 1
“Parasite” filmmaker and Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho makes his directorial debut with the 2000 black comedy that follows Yun-ju (played by Lee Sung-jae), a part-time...
- 11/30/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Few careers are as dangerous and exciting as that of a spy. Agents in charge of going behind enemy lines, uncovering secrets, and toppling empires from the inside hold the keys to stories best-selling authors can only dream of. Now Errol Morris is investigating one of the greats for a new documentary. Today, Apple Original Films unveiled The Pigeon Tunnel trailer, a stirring portrait of the master of espionage fiction, John le Carré.
In The Pigeon Tunnel, “Morris pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of former British spy David Cornwell—better known as John le Carré, author of such classic espionage novels as “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “The Constant Gardener,” says the documentary’s official press release. “Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into the present day, the film spans six decades as...
In The Pigeon Tunnel, “Morris pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of former British spy David Cornwell—better known as John le Carré, author of such classic espionage novels as “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “The Constant Gardener,” says the documentary’s official press release. “Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into the present day, the film spans six decades as...
- 8/30/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: David Cornwell, the British spy better known to the world under his pen name John le Carré, reveals secrets of his extraordinary life in a documentary directed by nonfiction filmmaking legend Errol Morris.
The Pigeon Tunnel, from Apple Original Films and The Ink Factory (The Night Manager), is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on October 20.
Following a career in Britain’s MI5 and MI6 in the 1950s and ‘60s, Cornwell became the mega-bestselling author of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Night Manager and The Constant Gardener, all of which were successfully adapted by Hollywood. His fictional creation George Smiley, the veteran intelligence officer who appears in many of those books, has been played on screen by James Mason, Alec Guinness, Denholm Elliott, and Gary Oldman.
“Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into present day, the film...
The Pigeon Tunnel, from Apple Original Films and The Ink Factory (The Night Manager), is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on October 20.
Following a career in Britain’s MI5 and MI6 in the 1950s and ‘60s, Cornwell became the mega-bestselling author of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Night Manager and The Constant Gardener, all of which were successfully adapted by Hollywood. His fictional creation George Smiley, the veteran intelligence officer who appears in many of those books, has been played on screen by James Mason, Alec Guinness, Denholm Elliott, and Gary Oldman.
“Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into present day, the film...
- 7/24/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Winners include Cynthia Lowen for ‘Light Mass Energy’, abut pioneerin physicist Mileva Maric Einstein.
US not-for-profit scientific organisation the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has selected four filmmakers to receive a combined 70,000 in funding as part of the Sundance Institute’s Science-in-Film intitiative.
Writer John Lopez received the 25,000 Sloan Commissioning Grant for Incompleteness, an adaptation of Rebecca Goldstein’s book. Set in the lead up to the Second World War, the story follows Kurt Godel, a logician who falls in love and discovers two mind-bending proofs that shake mathematics and philosophy to their cores.
Previously a writing fellow at the Sundance Institute’s Episodic Lab,...
US not-for-profit scientific organisation the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has selected four filmmakers to receive a combined 70,000 in funding as part of the Sundance Institute’s Science-in-Film intitiative.
Writer John Lopez received the 25,000 Sloan Commissioning Grant for Incompleteness, an adaptation of Rebecca Goldstein’s book. Set in the lead up to the Second World War, the story follows Kurt Godel, a logician who falls in love and discovers two mind-bending proofs that shake mathematics and philosophy to their cores.
Previously a writing fellow at the Sundance Institute’s Episodic Lab,...
- 1/24/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Television executive and producer Erynn Baldwin, most recently founder and CEO of the storytelling app Lugu, has joined Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Television as Vice President. In her new role, Baldwin will be responsible for bringing in new projects and developing series across comedy and drama.
Baldwin will be joining the television team which includes SVP James Seidman, VP Natalie Berkus, and Director of Development Nicole Scott, across a strong slate of projects.
“Erynn is going to be an incredible addition to the Imagine team,” said Kristen Zolner, Head of Imagine Television. “She is an excellent executive, who cultivates strong relationships with her creative partners through her curiosity and passion for storytelling.”
Baldwin launched Lugu during the Covid-19 pandemic. She built the app, which helps users create and share their life story, after seeing that there was no simple way for her grandmother to capture her legacy in the digital age.
Baldwin will be joining the television team which includes SVP James Seidman, VP Natalie Berkus, and Director of Development Nicole Scott, across a strong slate of projects.
“Erynn is going to be an incredible addition to the Imagine team,” said Kristen Zolner, Head of Imagine Television. “She is an excellent executive, who cultivates strong relationships with her creative partners through her curiosity and passion for storytelling.”
Baldwin launched Lugu during the Covid-19 pandemic. She built the app, which helps users create and share their life story, after seeing that there was no simple way for her grandmother to capture her legacy in the digital age.
- 10/3/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Rupert Friend, Sung Kang, Moses Ingram, Vivien Lyra Blair, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, O’Shea Jackson Jr. | Written by Stuart Beattie, Hossein Amini, Joby Harold, Hannah Friedman, Andrew Stanton | Directed by Deborah Chow
Isn’t it kind of fascinating how we live in a world where it seems as though everybody now loves the Star Wars prequel trilogy all of a sudden? When those films were initially released, they were met with some of the most insane waves of criticism any franchise has ever seen. Do you know how much the Star Wars sequels are hated? That’s essentially how much the prequels were hated on back in the day.
But, fast-forward to 2022, it seems as though everybody has embraced them and cherishes them. But, let me tell you – this Star Wars fan has been a fan of those three movies since the very first time my eyes saw them.
Isn’t it kind of fascinating how we live in a world where it seems as though everybody now loves the Star Wars prequel trilogy all of a sudden? When those films were initially released, they were met with some of the most insane waves of criticism any franchise has ever seen. Do you know how much the Star Wars sequels are hated? That’s essentially how much the prequels were hated on back in the day.
But, fast-forward to 2022, it seems as though everybody has embraced them and cherishes them. But, let me tell you – this Star Wars fan has been a fan of those three movies since the very first time my eyes saw them.
- 6/27/2022
- by Caillou Pettis
- Nerdly
This Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi article contains spoilers.
Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6 closes another chapter in the wise Jedi Master’s life, but is this really the last we’ll see of Ewan McGregor in the Star Wars universe? The final scenes of the show certainly suggest that this is the end of the road. Obi-Wan has saved Leia, made peace with Anakin’s fate, and ended his watch over Luke until the time is right. He even reunites with his old master Qui-Gon Jinn, setting up Sir Alec Guinness’ own story arc in the Original Trilogy — Obi-Wan will learn how to become one with the Force. Soon, he will be more powerful than Darth Vader can possibly imagine.
But let’s face it: Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s ratings have been massive on Disney+, with the most watched debut in the streaming service’s history. If there’s an appetite for more Obi-Wan,...
Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6 closes another chapter in the wise Jedi Master’s life, but is this really the last we’ll see of Ewan McGregor in the Star Wars universe? The final scenes of the show certainly suggest that this is the end of the road. Obi-Wan has saved Leia, made peace with Anakin’s fate, and ended his watch over Luke until the time is right. He even reunites with his old master Qui-Gon Jinn, setting up Sir Alec Guinness’ own story arc in the Original Trilogy — Obi-Wan will learn how to become one with the Force. Soon, he will be more powerful than Darth Vader can possibly imagine.
But let’s face it: Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s ratings have been massive on Disney+, with the most watched debut in the streaming service’s history. If there’s an appetite for more Obi-Wan,...
- 6/22/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This post contains major spoilers for the third episode of "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Three episodes in and "Obi-Wan Kenobi" -- unlike its eponymous character -- is showing no signs of slowing down. Last week's two-part premiere impressed viewers with its surprisingly nuanced, emotionally compelling reintroduction of the defeated and much more rugged Jedi in exile on Tatooine. The secretive story, directed by Deborah Chow and written by Joby Harold, Hossein Amini, Stuart Beattie, delivered a blisteringly fun (if familiar) character dynamic between Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan and a young Princess Leia (played by Vivien Lyra Blair), fun cameos, and a cliffhanger ending that teased this week's long-awaited rematch between Hayden Christensen's Darth Vader and his...
The post In Appreciation for Obi-Wan Kenobi's Exceptionally Talented One-Off Guest Stars appeared first on /Film.
Three episodes in and "Obi-Wan Kenobi" -- unlike its eponymous character -- is showing no signs of slowing down. Last week's two-part premiere impressed viewers with its surprisingly nuanced, emotionally compelling reintroduction of the defeated and much more rugged Jedi in exile on Tatooine. The secretive story, directed by Deborah Chow and written by Joby Harold, Hossein Amini, Stuart Beattie, delivered a blisteringly fun (if familiar) character dynamic between Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan and a young Princess Leia (played by Vivien Lyra Blair), fun cameos, and a cliffhanger ending that teased this week's long-awaited rematch between Hayden Christensen's Darth Vader and his...
The post In Appreciation for Obi-Wan Kenobi's Exceptionally Talented One-Off Guest Stars appeared first on /Film.
- 6/1/2022
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
This review contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, now streaming on Disney+.
“I’m not who I used to be,” Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Bail Organa late in the first episode of Obi-Wan’s self-titled Disney+ series. It is 10 years after the events of the third Star Wars prequel, Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Republic has fallen. Most of the Jedi are dead, and the remaining ones are being hunted by a pack of evil ex-Jedi known as the Inquisitors. Everything Obi-Wan fought for, everything he believed in,...
“I’m not who I used to be,” Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Bail Organa late in the first episode of Obi-Wan’s self-titled Disney+ series. It is 10 years after the events of the third Star Wars prequel, Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Republic has fallen. Most of the Jedi are dead, and the remaining ones are being hunted by a pack of evil ex-Jedi known as the Inquisitors. Everything Obi-Wan fought for, everything he believed in,...
- 5/27/2022
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” is premiering on Disney+ a few hours earlier than planned, the “Star Wars” show announced Thursday night.
West Coast viewers will be able to stream the first two episodes of the show, starring Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, starting at 9 p.m. Pt. Originally, they were set to become available at midnight.
The news was announced in a tweet from the official “Star Wars” account. “The time for @ObiWanKenobi has arrived… early,” the tweet reads. “Start streaming the first two episodes Tonight at 9 p.m. Pt on @Disneyplus.”
The time for @ObiWanKenobi has arrived…early.
Start streaming the first two episodes Tonight at 9Pm Pt on @Disneyplus. pic.twitter.com/LgdRC51GW2
— Star Wars (@starwars) May 27, 2022
Earlier today at the Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, Calif., “Star Wars” fans were surprised with a premiere screening of the show at 7 p.m. Pt — and now viewers at home...
West Coast viewers will be able to stream the first two episodes of the show, starring Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, starting at 9 p.m. Pt. Originally, they were set to become available at midnight.
The news was announced in a tweet from the official “Star Wars” account. “The time for @ObiWanKenobi has arrived… early,” the tweet reads. “Start streaming the first two episodes Tonight at 9 p.m. Pt on @Disneyplus.”
The time for @ObiWanKenobi has arrived…early.
Start streaming the first two episodes Tonight at 9Pm Pt on @Disneyplus. pic.twitter.com/LgdRC51GW2
— Star Wars (@starwars) May 27, 2022
Earlier today at the Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, Calif., “Star Wars” fans were surprised with a premiere screening of the show at 7 p.m. Pt — and now viewers at home...
- 5/27/2022
- by Adam B. Vary and Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
On May 27, director Deborah Chow and writer Joby Harold will introduce Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to a new generation of Star Wars fans. Crafting any tale in this universe can be a huge undertaking, so just imagine the expectations that come with continuing the story of the most important Star Wars character of all time.
“I think at the beginning, you feel the intimidation, for sure. You’re lying if you say you don’t,” Harold tells Den of Geek over Zoom. “Once upon a time, George Lucas wrote that name on a piece of paper, and now you are custodian of that name for this period of time. You feel the weight of that.”
The writer behind recent Netflix zombie hit Army of the Dead took over script duties from original screenwriter Hossein Amini (Drive), a creative shakeup that saw the story become a pseudo-continuation of the Prequel Trilogy.
“I think at the beginning, you feel the intimidation, for sure. You’re lying if you say you don’t,” Harold tells Den of Geek over Zoom. “Once upon a time, George Lucas wrote that name on a piece of paper, and now you are custodian of that name for this period of time. You feel the weight of that.”
The writer behind recent Netflix zombie hit Army of the Dead took over script duties from original screenwriter Hossein Amini (Drive), a creative shakeup that saw the story become a pseudo-continuation of the Prequel Trilogy.
- 5/18/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
The end of the Skywalker Saga doesn’t mean the end of the story of the galaxy far, far away. It means countless new possibilities, both on the big and small screens. In fact, Disney has already announced more than a dozen live-action and animated projects that explore other corners of the Star Wars universe, from adventures starring the brave X-wing pilots and clone troopers on the front lines of countless wars to tales of bounty hunters and even the Sith. And plenty more in between!
We’re keeping track of all the upcoming Star Wars movie and TV releases as they’re announced and release dates are set. Hit the links in each entry to read articles that tell you more about what you need to know about all these new Star Wars adventures!
First up are the TV release dates but scroll down for the movies…
Upcoming Star Wars...
We’re keeping track of all the upcoming Star Wars movie and TV releases as they’re announced and release dates are set. Hit the links in each entry to read articles that tell you more about what you need to know about all these new Star Wars adventures!
First up are the TV release dates but scroll down for the movies…
Upcoming Star Wars...
- 5/17/2022
- by Jbindeck2015
- Den of Geek
Much will be written in hindsight about the making of Obi-Wan Kenobi, which is set to bring back two of the biggest stars in franchise history to Disney+ in May. Ewan McGregor reprises his role as an older, broken Obi-Wan living in exile on Tatooine, while Hayden Christensen will complete his transformation into Darth Vader, donning the cyborg suit for the first time since Revenge of the Sith. It’s no exaggeration to say that their rematch is one of the most anticipated pop culture events of the year.
But behind the scenes, depending on who you ask, this surprise, pre-a New Hope clash between Jedi Master and Dark Lord of the Sith was either always part of the plan or the result of a creative shake up that saw Joby Harold (Army of the Dead) replace Hossein Amini (Drive) as series writer.
In March, THR reported that Amini’s...
But behind the scenes, depending on who you ask, this surprise, pre-a New Hope clash between Jedi Master and Dark Lord of the Sith was either always part of the plan or the result of a creative shake up that saw Joby Harold (Army of the Dead) replace Hossein Amini (Drive) as series writer.
In March, THR reported that Amini’s...
- 4/25/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
The premiere of Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi is only a few weeks away. It’ll not only see the return of Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan from the Prequel Trilogy but also Hayden Christensen, this time in the dreaded armor of Darth Vader. It will also introduce one particularly well-known Star Wars animated character to live action.
Rupert Friend (The French Dispatch) plays the cruel Grand Inquisitor, leader of an order of Jedi hunters who work for Vader and the Empire. The show’s trailer hints that it’s the Grand Inquisitor’s arrival on Tatooine that forces Obi-Wan to come out of hiding for one more fight.
While we don’t know exactly how things will play out, Friend has been talking hinting at what fans should expect from the upcoming Disney+ series. In an interview with Hey U Guys, the actor teased the sheer amount of fan service...
Rupert Friend (The French Dispatch) plays the cruel Grand Inquisitor, leader of an order of Jedi hunters who work for Vader and the Empire. The show’s trailer hints that it’s the Grand Inquisitor’s arrival on Tatooine that forces Obi-Wan to come out of hiding for one more fight.
While we don’t know exactly how things will play out, Friend has been talking hinting at what fans should expect from the upcoming Disney+ series. In an interview with Hey U Guys, the actor teased the sheer amount of fan service...
- 4/18/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
It’s no secret that Lucasfilm’s next big Star Wars series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, will be filled to the brim with nostalgia and fan service. The first trailer confirmed the show will bring back Luke Skywalker, Uncle Ben, and Aunt Beru on Tatooine; the Inquisitors from the Rebels animated series will be hunting Kenobi; and Darth Vader is back for revenge. And there are plenty of rumors and leaks out there suggesting that these are only a fraction of the cameos and callbacks in this six-episode limited series. Obi-Wan Kenobi will undoubtedly deliver the easter egg-y goodness Disney fans crave.
Bringing back these elements from the Prequel and A New Hope eras of Star Wars is a no-brainer, considering the Disney+ show takes place in between the two — 10 years after Revenge of the Sith but 9 years before the Original Trilogy. Like Rebels before it, Obi-Wan Kenobi is in the unique...
Bringing back these elements from the Prequel and A New Hope eras of Star Wars is a no-brainer, considering the Disney+ show takes place in between the two — 10 years after Revenge of the Sith but 9 years before the Original Trilogy. Like Rebels before it, Obi-Wan Kenobi is in the unique...
- 3/16/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
As excitement builds for “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” new information continues to reveal that the Disney+ limited series was once supposed to look very different. Following last week’s news that the first batch of scripts from writer Hossein Amini were scrapped in favor of a more uplifting story, a new report from The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the show was also set to feature legendary “Star Wars” villain Darth Maul. However, the character ended up being a casualty of the show’s creative overhaul, when pre-production was halted in 2020 and writer Joby Harold was brought in to craft a new story.
Original actor Ray Park (who played Darth Maul in 1999’s “The Phantom Menace”) had signed on to reprise his role as the Sith Lord, according to multiple sources in the article. The report contains conflicting stories from different sources, with some saying that Park was simply rehearsing with the show...
Original actor Ray Park (who played Darth Maul in 1999’s “The Phantom Menace”) had signed on to reprise his role as the Sith Lord, according to multiple sources in the article. The report contains conflicting stories from different sources, with some saying that Park was simply rehearsing with the show...
- 3/14/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’: Darth Maul Appearance Was Scrapped In The Previous Hossein Amini Version Of Series
Just last week, right before the “Obi-Wan: Kenobi” trailer first hit, Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy explained the reasons why the original version of the series—penned by “Drive” screenwriter Hossein Amini—was scrapped. You’ll remember in early 2020, the original “Obi-Wan: Kenobi” series was put on hold, and ultimately, Lucasfilm scrapped all the scripts they had and started over with Joby Harold (“King Arthur: The legend of The Sword”)
“We’re looking, ultimately, to make a hopeful, uplifting story,” she told EW recently about the change of direction in the story.
Continue reading ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’: Darth Maul Appearance Was Scrapped In The Previous Hossein Amini Version Of Series at The Playlist.
“We’re looking, ultimately, to make a hopeful, uplifting story,” she told EW recently about the change of direction in the story.
Continue reading ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’: Darth Maul Appearance Was Scrapped In The Previous Hossein Amini Version Of Series at The Playlist.
- 3/14/2022
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
When “Obi-Wan Kenobi” hits Disney+ this spring, it may be the most high profile “Star Wars” television show that Disney has produced to date. “The Mandalorian” benefited from being a largely original story, allowing it to massively overdeliver on low expectations (to the extent that it’s possible for a “Star Wars” project to have low expectations). “The Book of Boba Fett,” on the other hand, expanded on one of the franchise’s most beloved side characters, but it also had the benefit of following a character who had never spoken in a film before, giving the creative team plenty of freedom to develop him as they saw fit.
But “Obi-Wan Kenobi” follows one of the series’ biggest characters, and brings back an A-list actor in Ewan McGregor to reprise his role from the prequel films. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, the show also features Darth Vader. In a new EW feature,...
But “Obi-Wan Kenobi” follows one of the series’ biggest characters, and brings back an A-list actor in Ewan McGregor to reprise his role from the prequel films. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, the show also features Darth Vader. In a new EW feature,...
- 3/13/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
“Obi-Wan Kenobi,” the Disney+ series based on the beloved “Star Wars” character, has had a long and winding path to Disney+. But it’s nearly here and there’s a brand-new trailer. Perhaps balance is returning to the Force.
The trailer offers a new view of Kenobi’s hiding-in-the-desert years, with Inquisitors (dark Jedi-hunters) hot on the trail of our favorite Force-wielder, and him keeping a close eye on a young Luke Skywalker.
A proposed Obi-Wan Kenobi-centered spin-off has been in the works since at least 2017, when director Stephen Daldry and “Drive” writer Hossein Amini attached to direct a feature-length version of the story. After the middling box office of “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” spin-off movies were scrapped with more emphasis being placed on potential Disney+ series. The series was announced at the D23 Expo in 2019, with McGregor joining Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy for the big news. (This is...
The trailer offers a new view of Kenobi’s hiding-in-the-desert years, with Inquisitors (dark Jedi-hunters) hot on the trail of our favorite Force-wielder, and him keeping a close eye on a young Luke Skywalker.
A proposed Obi-Wan Kenobi-centered spin-off has been in the works since at least 2017, when director Stephen Daldry and “Drive” writer Hossein Amini attached to direct a feature-length version of the story. After the middling box office of “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” spin-off movies were scrapped with more emphasis being placed on potential Disney+ series. The series was announced at the D23 Expo in 2019, with McGregor joining Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy for the big news. (This is...
- 3/9/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Since the 1980s Alberto Iglesias has created beautiful, thrilling music for the screen working broadly throughout his native Spain and Hollywood and with a versatile array of directors and genres—underpinned by his iconic collaborations with Pedro Almodóvar. Iglesias' film suites are fashioned with lucious jazz and emotive orchestral poetry. He beautifully balances the tension of theatrical melodrama with voyages into memory and the vibrancy of inner-city life, with its sophisticated glamour and debauched underbellies. This mix provides a healthy dose of Iglesias collaborations with Almodóvar, from their early years with films such as The Flower of My Secret (1995) and Live Flesh (1997) to this year’s Parallel Mothers and The Human Voice (where Igelsias’s key focus was to riff on his Almodóvar themes of the past). Julio Medem’s Sex and Lucia (2001) defines the 2000s moment of contemporary Spanish cinema’s bursts on the global sphere, soundtracked by that early millenium “Igelsias” sound.
- 11/23/2021
- MUBI
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader will face off once again in the Disney Plus series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” — at least, that is the strong implication in a sneak peak of the Lucasfilm production released on the streamer on Nov. 12.
While the preview did not include any footage from the series, concept art appears to show Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and Vader (Hayden Christensen) locked in a lightsaber battle.
McGregor further underlined the confrontation in an interview in the preview: “To have another swing at each other might be quite satisfying,” he said.
The moment resolves a lingering question in the “Star Wars” canon: After Obi-Wan’s tragic battle with Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” which forced Anakin to wear his iconic black armor and helmet as Darth Vader, did the former brothers-in-arms see each other again before their final battle in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” set 19 years later?...
While the preview did not include any footage from the series, concept art appears to show Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and Vader (Hayden Christensen) locked in a lightsaber battle.
McGregor further underlined the confrontation in an interview in the preview: “To have another swing at each other might be quite satisfying,” he said.
The moment resolves a lingering question in the “Star Wars” canon: After Obi-Wan’s tragic battle with Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” which forced Anakin to wear his iconic black armor and helmet as Darth Vader, did the former brothers-in-arms see each other again before their final battle in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” set 19 years later?...
- 11/12/2021
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Lucifer actress Aimee Garcia and New York Times bestselling author Aj Mendez have been brought on to pen the upcoming untitled 47 Ronin sequel for Universal 1440 Entertainment. The action-fantasy pic, which is being directed by Mulan‘s Ron Yuan as we first told you, is the follow to the 2013 Universal Keanu Reeves movie which grossed over $151M WW.
The original film was directed by Carl Rinsch and written by Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini from a story conceived by Morgan and Walter Hamada. Also starring in that pic were Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi and Ko Shibasaki. Based on Chūshingura, 47 Ronin tells a fictionalized account of the titular 47 rōnin, a real-life group of samurai in the 18th century who set out to avenge the death of their master who was killed by a merciless shogun.
“Aj and I are excited to write a diverse and inclusive action film,...
The original film was directed by Carl Rinsch and written by Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini from a story conceived by Morgan and Walter Hamada. Also starring in that pic were Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi and Ko Shibasaki. Based on Chūshingura, 47 Ronin tells a fictionalized account of the titular 47 rōnin, a real-life group of samurai in the 18th century who set out to avenge the death of their master who was killed by a merciless shogun.
“Aj and I are excited to write a diverse and inclusive action film,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series at Disney Plus is preparing to begin production, with the series also adding several new cast members.
Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie have all joined series lead Ewan McGregor, who will reprise the role of Kenobi from the “Star Wars” prequel films. Details on who the others will play is being kept under wraps, though Edgerton and Piesse will likely be playing the role of Owen and Beru Lars, Luke Skywalker’s uncle and aunt, whom they played in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” all but confirming that Luke will play a role in the series somehow.
It was previously announced that Hayden Christensen would return in the role of Darth Vader. Varma’s casting had been reported earlier in March as well.
Production on...
Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie have all joined series lead Ewan McGregor, who will reprise the role of Kenobi from the “Star Wars” prequel films. Details on who the others will play is being kept under wraps, though Edgerton and Piesse will likely be playing the role of Owen and Beru Lars, Luke Skywalker’s uncle and aunt, whom they played in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” all but confirming that Luke will play a role in the series somehow.
It was previously announced that Hayden Christensen would return in the role of Darth Vader. Varma’s casting had been reported earlier in March as well.
Production on...
- 3/29/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Indira Varma has joined the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series at Disney Plus, Variety has confirmed.
The details of the character Varma will play are being kept under wraps. She joins previously announced series lead Ewan McGregor, who will reprise the role of Kenobi from the films. Hayden Christensen will also appear, once again playing the role of Anakin Skywalker, a.k.a. Darth Vader.
Varma currently stars in the ABC legal drama “For Life.” She is also known for appearing as Ellaria Sand in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Her other recent TV credits also include “Patrick Melrose,” “Paranoid,” and “Carnival Row.” On the film side, her most recent releases were the crime thriller “Crisis” and “The One and Only Ivan,” the latter of which debuted on Disney Plus. She is repped by Gersh, Principal Entertainment LA, and Dalzell & Beresford Ltd.
McGregor confirmed that he was returning to play Kenobi...
The details of the character Varma will play are being kept under wraps. She joins previously announced series lead Ewan McGregor, who will reprise the role of Kenobi from the films. Hayden Christensen will also appear, once again playing the role of Anakin Skywalker, a.k.a. Darth Vader.
Varma currently stars in the ABC legal drama “For Life.” She is also known for appearing as Ellaria Sand in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Her other recent TV credits also include “Patrick Melrose,” “Paranoid,” and “Carnival Row.” On the film side, her most recent releases were the crime thriller “Crisis” and “The One and Only Ivan,” the latter of which debuted on Disney Plus. She is repped by Gersh, Principal Entertainment LA, and Dalzell & Beresford Ltd.
McGregor confirmed that he was returning to play Kenobi...
- 3/1/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
“Game of Thrones” alum Indira Varma has joined the upcoming “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series on Disney+, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
No word on who Varma is playing, but she joins a cast that so far includes Ewan McGregor as the Jedi Master and Hayden Christensen, who reprises his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader.
The “Star Wars” series begins 10 years after the dramatic events of the film “Revenge of the Sith.”
McGregor will executive produce the series, alongside series director Deborah Chow and writer Hossein Amini. Jason McGatlin, Lucasfilm’s executive vice president of production, will serve as co-producer.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” is one of numerous “Star Wars” series headed to Disney+ in the near future, following the success of “The Mandalorian.” There are three spinoffs of the Jon Favreau-led series: “Ahsoka,” “Rangers of the New Republic” and “The Book of Boba Fett,” along with a...
No word on who Varma is playing, but she joins a cast that so far includes Ewan McGregor as the Jedi Master and Hayden Christensen, who reprises his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader.
The “Star Wars” series begins 10 years after the dramatic events of the film “Revenge of the Sith.”
McGregor will executive produce the series, alongside series director Deborah Chow and writer Hossein Amini. Jason McGatlin, Lucasfilm’s executive vice president of production, will serve as co-producer.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” is one of numerous “Star Wars” series headed to Disney+ in the near future, following the success of “The Mandalorian.” There are three spinoffs of the Jon Favreau-led series: “Ahsoka,” “Rangers of the New Republic” and “The Book of Boba Fett,” along with a...
- 3/1/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
The awards season’s narrative has been the “year of the women,” as female filmmakers, screenwriters and artisans have been making strong cases for nominations at the Oscars in categories like best picture and director. The Writers Guild of America Awards, however, might have missed the memo, only nominating four women over two films: Emerald Fennell for “Promising Young Woman” and Jena Friedman, Erica Rivinoja and Nina Pedrad, three co-writers from “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.”
In the three categories for original, adapted and documentary feature, 31 total screenwriters were nominated, four of which are women, and three come from the same feature film.
Many high-profile contenders were not eligible for recognition, including “Nomadland” (Chloé Zhao) and “Pieces of a Woman” (Kata Wéber), along with independent darlings like “The Assistant” (Kitty Green), “Farewell Amor” (Ekwa Msangi) and “Herself” (Clare Dunne). Despite this fact, there were still many to choose from.
Nina Pedrad, sister...
In the three categories for original, adapted and documentary feature, 31 total screenwriters were nominated, four of which are women, and three come from the same feature film.
Many high-profile contenders were not eligible for recognition, including “Nomadland” (Chloé Zhao) and “Pieces of a Woman” (Kata Wéber), along with independent darlings like “The Assistant” (Kitty Green), “Farewell Amor” (Ekwa Msangi) and “Herself” (Clare Dunne). Despite this fact, there were still many to choose from.
Nina Pedrad, sister...
- 2/16/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Darth Vader is returning to a galaxy far, far away. President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy announced at the Disney Investors Day that the “Star Wars” prequel star Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Darth Vader for the Obi-Wan spinoff series.
The Obi-Wan series, starring Ewan McGregor (who played the beloved Jedi in prequel films) will air on Disney Plus. According to Lucasfilm, the new series begins 10 years after the dramatic events of “Revenge of the Sith.” Additional actors joining the series include Genevieve O’Reilly (who will appear as “Star Wars” legacy character Mon Mothma), Stellan Skarsgard, Kyle Soller, Denise Gough, and Adria Arjona. Fans will remember that “Revenge of the Sith” saw Anakin Skywalker transform from padawan to sith lord Darth Vader. Whether we’ll get to see Christensen without the all important Vader mask remains to be seen. However the character’s evil ascent into terrifying villain of...
The Obi-Wan series, starring Ewan McGregor (who played the beloved Jedi in prequel films) will air on Disney Plus. According to Lucasfilm, the new series begins 10 years after the dramatic events of “Revenge of the Sith.” Additional actors joining the series include Genevieve O’Reilly (who will appear as “Star Wars” legacy character Mon Mothma), Stellan Skarsgard, Kyle Soller, Denise Gough, and Adria Arjona. Fans will remember that “Revenge of the Sith” saw Anakin Skywalker transform from padawan to sith lord Darth Vader. Whether we’ll get to see Christensen without the all important Vader mask remains to be seen. However the character’s evil ascent into terrifying villain of...
- 12/10/2020
- by Meredith Woerner
- Variety Film + TV
Hayden Christensen is set to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader for Disney+’s upcoming “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced during Disney’s investor day Thursday.
The “Star Wars” series stars Ewan McGregor as the Jedi Master originally portrayed by Alec Guinness and begins 10 years after the dramatic events of the film “Revenge of the Sith.”
McGregor will executive produce the series, alongside series director Deborah Chow and writer Hossein Amini. Jason McGatlin, Lucasfilm’s executive vice president of production, will serve as co-producer.
Earlier in her presentation, Kennedy revealed that Disney+ has ordered two spinoffs of “The Mandalorian” from series creator Jon Favreau.
One will focus on Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and the other on the Rangers of New Republic. The Ahsoka Tano-centric series will debut on Christmas Day 2021.
In “Star Wars” lore, Ahsoka Tano is the former Jedi apprentice of Anakin Skywalker (aka...
The “Star Wars” series stars Ewan McGregor as the Jedi Master originally portrayed by Alec Guinness and begins 10 years after the dramatic events of the film “Revenge of the Sith.”
McGregor will executive produce the series, alongside series director Deborah Chow and writer Hossein Amini. Jason McGatlin, Lucasfilm’s executive vice president of production, will serve as co-producer.
Earlier in her presentation, Kennedy revealed that Disney+ has ordered two spinoffs of “The Mandalorian” from series creator Jon Favreau.
One will focus on Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and the other on the Rangers of New Republic. The Ahsoka Tano-centric series will debut on Christmas Day 2021.
In “Star Wars” lore, Ahsoka Tano is the former Jedi apprentice of Anakin Skywalker (aka...
- 12/10/2020
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Disney Plus’ hotly anticipated limited series featuring the return of Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi starts shooting in a matter of months, meaning that the casting process is set to ramp up in the very near future. So far, the Scotsman is the only onscreen talent officially confirmed for the Star Wars show, although Hayden Christensen has been heavily rumored for a recurring role as Anakin Skywalker in flashbacks set during The Clone Wars.
Meanwhile, things have finally settled down on the creative side after the entire crew was sent home for the scripts to be reworked, with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword‘s Joby Harold replacing original writer Hossein Amini, although he remains onboard as an executive producer alongside The Mandalorian veteran Deborah Chow, who will direct all six episodes.
Ewan McGregor Says A Fan Thought Up The Perfect Title For The Obi-Wan Show 1 of 2
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Meanwhile, things have finally settled down on the creative side after the entire crew was sent home for the scripts to be reworked, with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword‘s Joby Harold replacing original writer Hossein Amini, although he remains onboard as an executive producer alongside The Mandalorian veteran Deborah Chow, who will direct all six episodes.
Ewan McGregor Says A Fan Thought Up The Perfect Title For The Obi-Wan Show 1 of 2
Click to skip...
- 11/24/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
In his latest podcast/interview, host and screenwriter Stuart Wright talks to Alistair Owen, author of The Art of Screen Adaptation: Top Writers Reveal Their Craft, about his picks for 5 Great Screen Adaptations – dipping into 5 case studies from the book:
Drive – Hossein Amini – how to write a great opening Atonement – Christopher Hampton – fidelity to the novel Pride & Prejudice – Deborah Moggach – importance of point of view / use of voiceover (compare and contrast with Andrew Davies’ TV version) Great Expectations – Sarah Phelps – how small changes can make a big difference (compare and contract with David Nicholls’ film version) Wild – Nick Hornby – the challenges of nonfiction
Hollywood. Netflix. Amazon. BBC. Producers and audiences are hungrier than ever for stories, and a lot of those stories begin life as a book – but how exactly do you transfer a story from the page to the screen? Do adaptations use the same creative gears as original screenplays?...
Drive – Hossein Amini – how to write a great opening Atonement – Christopher Hampton – fidelity to the novel Pride & Prejudice – Deborah Moggach – importance of point of view / use of voiceover (compare and contrast with Andrew Davies’ TV version) Great Expectations – Sarah Phelps – how small changes can make a big difference (compare and contract with David Nicholls’ film version) Wild – Nick Hornby – the challenges of nonfiction
Hollywood. Netflix. Amazon. BBC. Producers and audiences are hungrier than ever for stories, and a lot of those stories begin life as a book – but how exactly do you transfer a story from the page to the screen? Do adaptations use the same creative gears as original screenplays?...
- 11/9/2020
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
“Falling” will be the opening film of the 28th edition of the EnergaCamerimage Intl. Film Festival, which focuses on the art of cinematography. The film’s director Viggo Mortensen and cinematographer Marcel Zyskind will attend the opening, which takes place on Nov. 14 in Toruń, Poland.
The film, which will compete for Camerimage’s Golden Frog, centers on John, who lives with his partner, Eric, and their daughter, Mónica, in California, far from the traditional rural life he left behind years ago. John’s father, Willis, a headstrong man from a bygone era, lives alone on the isolated farm where John grew up. Willis’s mind is declining, so John brings him West, hoping that he and his sister, Sarah, can help their father find a home closer to them. Their best intentions ultimately run up against Willis’s angry refusal to change his way of life in any way.
The film stars Mortensen,...
The film, which will compete for Camerimage’s Golden Frog, centers on John, who lives with his partner, Eric, and their daughter, Mónica, in California, far from the traditional rural life he left behind years ago. John’s father, Willis, a headstrong man from a bygone era, lives alone on the isolated farm where John grew up. Willis’s mind is declining, so John brings him West, hoping that he and his sister, Sarah, can help their father find a home closer to them. Their best intentions ultimately run up against Willis’s angry refusal to change his way of life in any way.
The film stars Mortensen,...
- 10/14/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Ewan McGregor’s upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ show is gearing up to resume filming.
McGregor was a guest on “The Graham Norton Show” on Friday and confirmed the series had a new start date. “It’s the Obi-Wan Kenobi story, I suppose,” McGregor said. “We start shooting it in March next year.”
He also added that while doing research for the “Star Wars” prequels, he took inspiration from the late Alec Guinness, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original 1977’s “Star Wars.”
“The fun thing about doing them in the first place when I was much younger was trying to imagine Alec Guinness, how would he play these scenes as a younger guy? It led me to watch a lot of his early work, which I hadn’t seen before. Brilliant movies, wonderful films that he’d been in and I had such a great time studying him in those movies.
McGregor was a guest on “The Graham Norton Show” on Friday and confirmed the series had a new start date. “It’s the Obi-Wan Kenobi story, I suppose,” McGregor said. “We start shooting it in March next year.”
He also added that while doing research for the “Star Wars” prequels, he took inspiration from the late Alec Guinness, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original 1977’s “Star Wars.”
“The fun thing about doing them in the first place when I was much younger was trying to imagine Alec Guinness, how would he play these scenes as a younger guy? It led me to watch a lot of his early work, which I hadn’t seen before. Brilliant movies, wonderful films that he’d been in and I had such a great time studying him in those movies.
- 10/10/2020
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Ewan McGregor will soon be donning Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Jedi robes once again.
During a Zoom appearance on the BBC’s “The Graham Norton Show” Friday night, McGregor revealed that Disney Plus’ untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi series is finally set to begin filming in March of 2021.
“It’s the Obi-Wan Kenobi story, I suppose. It’s not all me, but it certainly will be a lot of me, which is good,” McGregor said of the show. “We start shooting it in March next year.”
Though the Obi-Wan-centric series was first announced back in Aug. 2019 and meant to begin filming the next year, the shoot was delayed when writer Hossein Amini left the project in Jan. 2020.
Amini was eventually replaced by Joby Harold in April of 2020, and script rewrites forced production to be delayed into 2021. Then, the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Deborah Chow, who directed part of Disney Plus’ “The Mandalorian,” remains at the helm of the series.
During a Zoom appearance on the BBC’s “The Graham Norton Show” Friday night, McGregor revealed that Disney Plus’ untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi series is finally set to begin filming in March of 2021.
“It’s the Obi-Wan Kenobi story, I suppose. It’s not all me, but it certainly will be a lot of me, which is good,” McGregor said of the show. “We start shooting it in March next year.”
Though the Obi-Wan-centric series was first announced back in Aug. 2019 and meant to begin filming the next year, the shoot was delayed when writer Hossein Amini left the project in Jan. 2020.
Amini was eventually replaced by Joby Harold in April of 2020, and script rewrites forced production to be delayed into 2021. Then, the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Deborah Chow, who directed part of Disney Plus’ “The Mandalorian,” remains at the helm of the series.
- 10/10/2020
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
While an update on the Disney+ Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi spinoff series has been overdue for quite some time, new comments from its role-reprising headliner, Ewan McGregor, seem to imply that the show’s 2021-scheduled production still has the high ground over the proverbial Dark-Side-turned apprentice of delays.
McGregor paints an auspicious picture about the Obi-Wan Kenobi series in a podcast interview with Empire, which is the latest example of the dribs and drabs of updates that have been slowly surfacing about the long-gestating project. Indeed, set to work under the auspices of director Deborah Chow, the actor is clearly excited to return to the role he played in the 1999-2005 Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, continuing to build upon a legacy started by Alec Guinness’s portrayal in the Original Trilogy. As McGregor lauds of his impending return:
“I’m more excited about doing this one than I was doing...
McGregor paints an auspicious picture about the Obi-Wan Kenobi series in a podcast interview with Empire, which is the latest example of the dribs and drabs of updates that have been slowly surfacing about the long-gestating project. Indeed, set to work under the auspices of director Deborah Chow, the actor is clearly excited to return to the role he played in the 1999-2005 Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, continuing to build upon a legacy started by Alec Guinness’s portrayal in the Original Trilogy. As McGregor lauds of his impending return:
“I’m more excited about doing this one than I was doing...
- 9/11/2020
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Star Wars fans are getting ready to say “Hello there” again to Obi-Wan Kenobi when his much-hyped solo TV series eventually hits Disney Plus. However, we shouldn’t be expecting it to be an ongoing show starring the legendary Jedi Master. That’s because Ewan McGregor has confirmed that, as far as he knows, there’s only one season planned.
The Scottish actor – who first starred as Obi-Wan 21 years ago in The Phantom Menace – spoke to Entertainment Tonight to promote his new Apple TV series, Long Way Up. Naturally, the topic of the Kenobi show was discussed and McGregor made clear his excitement to get cracking on it, but said he believes it’ll only be a one-off. Though it doesn’t sound like this is a 100%, cast-iron fact.
“Spring next year we start. I’m really excited about it. It’s gonna be great, I think,” he said. “As I understand,...
The Scottish actor – who first starred as Obi-Wan 21 years ago in The Phantom Menace – spoke to Entertainment Tonight to promote his new Apple TV series, Long Way Up. Naturally, the topic of the Kenobi show was discussed and McGregor made clear his excitement to get cracking on it, but said he believes it’ll only be a one-off. Though it doesn’t sound like this is a 100%, cast-iron fact.
“Spring next year we start. I’m really excited about it. It’s gonna be great, I think,” he said. “As I understand,...
- 9/10/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Even though Ewan McGregor isn’t expected to don the robes to reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Disney Plus limited series until early next year, recent rumors claimed that the hotly-anticipated show could start shooting some second unit footage as early as this month, which looks to have been confirmed by set photos that revealed construction was underway in the same exterior location that Disney and Lucasfilm had previously used for The Mandalorian.
There’s still no concrete information available about the plot though, which is hardly surprising when the crew were sent home and the project was hit with a lengthy delay after the studio ordered that the existing scripts be scrapped and started again from scratch. McGregor may have dismissed reports that Obi-Wan was in trouble, but original writer Hossein Amini was still given his marching orders and replaced by King Arthur: Legend of the Sword scribe Joby Harold.
There’s still no concrete information available about the plot though, which is hardly surprising when the crew were sent home and the project was hit with a lengthy delay after the studio ordered that the existing scripts be scrapped and started again from scratch. McGregor may have dismissed reports that Obi-Wan was in trouble, but original writer Hossein Amini was still given his marching orders and replaced by King Arthur: Legend of the Sword scribe Joby Harold.
- 9/1/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
After it was announced that the entire crew had been sent home just as pre-production was starting to gather pace, a lot of Star Wars fans were getting worried that the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series might end up being canceled altogether. Disney and Lucasfilm’s track record of handling the franchise has been less than stellar to put it lightly, so you can understand why people thought they might have dropped the ball yet again.
Returning star Ewan McGregor was quick to pour cold water on the idea though, confirming that the show was definitely still happening, and shortly after, The Mandalorian‘s Deborah Chow signed on to direct the entire run of episodes, with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword writer Joby Harold taking over scripting duties from Hossein Amini.
Shooting wasn’t expected to begin until next year given that Obi-Wan Kenobi won’t be arriving on Disney...
Returning star Ewan McGregor was quick to pour cold water on the idea though, confirming that the show was definitely still happening, and shortly after, The Mandalorian‘s Deborah Chow signed on to direct the entire run of episodes, with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword writer Joby Harold taking over scripting duties from Hossein Amini.
Shooting wasn’t expected to begin until next year given that Obi-Wan Kenobi won’t be arriving on Disney...
- 8/21/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Disney and Lucasfilm could really do with hitting a home run when it comes to Star Wars, because with the exception of The Mandalorian it feels like every single one of their projects set in a galaxy far, far away runs into some kind of trouble. But with the big screen Skywalker Saga having finally drawn to a close after over 40 years, former Mouse House CEO Bob Iger has hinted that Disney Plus could be the focal point for the next generation of stories.
All sorts of Star Wars shows have been rumored, but the only ones that have been officially confirmed so far are the Rogue One prequel series focusing on Cassian Andor and, of course, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The massively-anticipated return of Ewan McGregor’s legendary Jedi has already faced some high profile setbacks, with the crew abruptly being sent home just as pre-production was ramping up, while original...
All sorts of Star Wars shows have been rumored, but the only ones that have been officially confirmed so far are the Rogue One prequel series focusing on Cassian Andor and, of course, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The massively-anticipated return of Ewan McGregor’s legendary Jedi has already faced some high profile setbacks, with the crew abruptly being sent home just as pre-production was ramping up, while original...
- 8/16/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
47 Ronin may not have made an impact as an action flick—released in 2013 headlined by a post-Matrix, pre-John Wick comeback Keanu Reeves—but someone over at studio Universal apparently has enough love for the medieval-Japan samurai film to greenlight a sequel—specifically a cyberpunk sequel set in the far-future. Now, said sequel has a director.
Ron Yuan, an actor who moonlights as a director, has been hired to helm the untitled 47 Ronin sequel movie, according to Deadline. The film, set up at Universal Pictures Home Entertainment subsidiary Universal 1440 Entertainment, will contrast starkly from its historically-based, Reeves-starring predecessor, touted as a genre-hybrid cyberpunk story set 300 years in the future. It is also reportedly set to be directly distributed by Netflix, although that notion doesn’t seem to be reflected in the source report (at least in its current form). As appointed Yuan expresses in a statement:...
Ron Yuan, an actor who moonlights as a director, has been hired to helm the untitled 47 Ronin sequel movie, according to Deadline. The film, set up at Universal Pictures Home Entertainment subsidiary Universal 1440 Entertainment, will contrast starkly from its historically-based, Reeves-starring predecessor, touted as a genre-hybrid cyberpunk story set 300 years in the future. It is also reportedly set to be directly distributed by Netflix, although that notion doesn’t seem to be reflected in the source report (at least in its current form). As appointed Yuan expresses in a statement:...
- 8/13/2020
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: Mulan actor Ron Yuan will sit in the director’s chair for the upcoming untitled 47 Ronin sequel. The action-fantasy pic will be produced by Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
“I’m incredibly excited to be working with Universal and the producing team on this genre-blending, martial arts, action, horror and cyber-punk film,” said Yuan. “This will be a fun, intense, supercharged thrill ride for viewers globally.”
The original film was directed by Carl Rinsch and written by Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini from a story conceived by Morgan and Walter Hamada. Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi and Ko Shibasaki starred in 47 Ronin, which was based on Chūshingura. The pic tells a fictionalized account of the titular 47 rōnin, a real-life group of samurai in the 18th century who set out to avenge the death of their master who was killed by a merciless shogun.
“I’m incredibly excited to be working with Universal and the producing team on this genre-blending, martial arts, action, horror and cyber-punk film,” said Yuan. “This will be a fun, intense, supercharged thrill ride for viewers globally.”
The original film was directed by Carl Rinsch and written by Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini from a story conceived by Morgan and Walter Hamada. Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi and Ko Shibasaki starred in 47 Ronin, which was based on Chūshingura. The pic tells a fictionalized account of the titular 47 rōnin, a real-life group of samurai in the 18th century who set out to avenge the death of their master who was killed by a merciless shogun.
- 8/12/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney Plus’ Obi-Wan Kenobi series doesn’t even have a completed set of scripts yet, but the highly-anticipated Star Wars show has already suffered from some pretty major setbacks that have found the entire project being reworked from the ground up.
With pre-production ramping up and a start date in sight, the crew were abruptly sent home and an indefinite delay was announced, leading fans to expect the worst given Lucasfilm’s recent handling of the franchise. Original writer Hossein Amini was ditched and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’s Joby Harold brought in as his replacement, with The Mandalorian’s Deborah Chow also signing on to direct the entire run of episodes.
That hasn’t stopped rumors of behind the scenes turmoil from making their way online, of course, but Ewan McGregor’s return as the legendary Jedi is still expected to start shooting next year to arrive...
With pre-production ramping up and a start date in sight, the crew were abruptly sent home and an indefinite delay was announced, leading fans to expect the worst given Lucasfilm’s recent handling of the franchise. Original writer Hossein Amini was ditched and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’s Joby Harold brought in as his replacement, with The Mandalorian’s Deborah Chow also signing on to direct the entire run of episodes.
That hasn’t stopped rumors of behind the scenes turmoil from making their way online, of course, but Ewan McGregor’s return as the legendary Jedi is still expected to start shooting next year to arrive...
- 7/30/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
It’s little wonder that Star Wars fans are more disenfranchised with the handling of the beloved sci-fi saga than they’ve ever been when almost everything Lucasfilm touches encounters behind the scenes problems of some kind. The Mandalorian may have largely escaped unscathed, but there’s still rumors that a civil war is brewing at the studio between Jon Favreau and Kathleen Kennedy.
The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker split opinion straight down the middle, Gareth Edwards was replaced for Rogue One’s reshoots, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were booted out of Solo, Josh Trank and Colin Trevorrow were both given their marching orders and Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss walked away from the franchise almost as soon as their proposed trilogy had been announced.
The upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series for Disney Plus still has a lot of goodwill with the fanbase,...
The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker split opinion straight down the middle, Gareth Edwards was replaced for Rogue One’s reshoots, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were booted out of Solo, Josh Trank and Colin Trevorrow were both given their marching orders and Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss walked away from the franchise almost as soon as their proposed trilogy had been announced.
The upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series for Disney Plus still has a lot of goodwill with the fanbase,...
- 7/19/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Fans had been hoping for years that Ewan McGregor would one day return to Star Wars as Obi-Wan Kenobi to fill in some of the narrative gaps between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It seemed increasingly unlikely once the idea of a big screen spinoff was abandoned following the end of the Anthology experiment, but now the advent of Disney Plus has firmly set the stage for an entirely new generation of stories set in a galaxy far, far away.
People lost their minds when it was confirmed that the Scottish actor would be reprising the role in a limited series, but because this is the Disney era of Star Wars we’re talking about, the almost inevitable setback soon followed. Just as Obi-Wan was gearing up to shoot, the crew were abruptly sent home and it was announced that the entire show was being reworked from...
People lost their minds when it was confirmed that the Scottish actor would be reprising the role in a limited series, but because this is the Disney era of Star Wars we’re talking about, the almost inevitable setback soon followed. Just as Obi-Wan was gearing up to shoot, the crew were abruptly sent home and it was announced that the entire show was being reworked from...
- 6/8/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
You might have heard this one before, but one of Disney and Lucasfilm’s live-action Star Wars projects has recently found itself the subject of some behind-the-scenes reshuffling. Following in the footsteps of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s Solo, Colin Trevorrow’s Episode IX, the trilogy from Game of Thrones’ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and Hossein Amini’s scripts for Obi-Wan Kenobi, Stephen Schiff has become the latest name to depart the franchise and will no longer act as the showrunner for the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story spinoff series.
Tony Gilroy was recently named as his replacement, and is already well-versed in the character having co-wrote the script for Rogue One and overseen the extensive reshoots that effectively saw Gareth Edwards locked out of his own movie. The latest major creative reshuffle has seen the show pushed back as the entire concept is reworked from the ground up,...
Tony Gilroy was recently named as his replacement, and is already well-versed in the character having co-wrote the script for Rogue One and overseen the extensive reshoots that effectively saw Gareth Edwards locked out of his own movie. The latest major creative reshuffle has seen the show pushed back as the entire concept is reworked from the ground up,...
- 4/27/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Long before Disney officially unveiled their streaming platform, we began hearing plenty of rumors with regards to what shows and movies the House of Mouse was actively working on. At the time, there was a lot of positive buzz surrounding The Mandalorian (the pre-release excitement turned out to be well-warranted, too), but we also heard a handful of rumors about other Star Wars projects planned for Disney Plus, including an Obi-Wan spinoff that would feature Ewan McGregor himself.
Over the past few months, the studio has shed some much needed light on the series, too, confirming Ewan’s involvement and the show’s placement in the timeline, among other things. However, we’ve also heard plenty about the series’ troubled development, including reports that production has been delayed indefinitely, with the crew and cast being sent home. And ever since then, the fate of the show has been a bit unclear.
Over the past few months, the studio has shed some much needed light on the series, too, confirming Ewan’s involvement and the show’s placement in the timeline, among other things. However, we’ve also heard plenty about the series’ troubled development, including reports that production has been delayed indefinitely, with the crew and cast being sent home. And ever since then, the fate of the show has been a bit unclear.
- 4/5/2020
- by Shaan Joshi
- We Got This Covered
Lucasfilm has finally found a new writer in Joby Harold to work on the highly anticipated ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ series.
The series was put on hold back in January when Hossein Amini left the project. Now things seem to be back on track with Harold making his first dip into writing a TV series.
Ewan McGregor was set to reprise his role as the titular character with Deborah Chow slated to direct.
Initially, the spin-off was meant to be a stand-alone feature, but due to a less than favourable reaction to ‘Solo’ the idea was put on hold. The series would be the third live-action ‘Star Wars’ show on Disney+ alongside Jon Favreau’s ‘The Mandalorian’ and one based on Cassian Andor in which Diego Luna will reprise his role.
Also in news – Anne Hathaway cast in ‘French Children Don’t Throw Food’
McGregor took over from Alec Guinness who played...
The series was put on hold back in January when Hossein Amini left the project. Now things seem to be back on track with Harold making his first dip into writing a TV series.
Ewan McGregor was set to reprise his role as the titular character with Deborah Chow slated to direct.
Initially, the spin-off was meant to be a stand-alone feature, but due to a less than favourable reaction to ‘Solo’ the idea was put on hold. The series would be the third live-action ‘Star Wars’ show on Disney+ alongside Jon Favreau’s ‘The Mandalorian’ and one based on Cassian Andor in which Diego Luna will reprise his role.
Also in news – Anne Hathaway cast in ‘French Children Don’t Throw Food’
McGregor took over from Alec Guinness who played...
- 4/3/2020
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Joby Harold has reportedly been tapped to write the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi “Star Wars” series on Disney+. Variety reported that Harold will take over writing duties on the mysterious series from Hossein Amini, who exited the show in January. Sources close to production confirmed Variety’s report with IndieWire.
Few details are known about the upcoming Obi-Wan series, though prequel trilogy star Ewan McGregor is confirmed to reprise his role as the beloved Jedi. Deborah Chow, who directed two of the best episodes of “The Mandalorian,” will direct the Obi-Wan series.
More from IndieWire'Rise of Skywalker' Axed Storylines: Finn's Lost Sibling, Poe's 'Apocalypse Now' Journey'Elephant' Review: Meghan Markle Narrates Another Emotional, Educational Disneynature Doc
Harold most recently executive produced “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.” Whether this means that McGregor’s Obi-Wan will have the unique pleasure of killing a Stormtrooper with a pencil remains to be seen, but...
Few details are known about the upcoming Obi-Wan series, though prequel trilogy star Ewan McGregor is confirmed to reprise his role as the beloved Jedi. Deborah Chow, who directed two of the best episodes of “The Mandalorian,” will direct the Obi-Wan series.
More from IndieWire'Rise of Skywalker' Axed Storylines: Finn's Lost Sibling, Poe's 'Apocalypse Now' Journey'Elephant' Review: Meghan Markle Narrates Another Emotional, Educational Disneynature Doc
Harold most recently executive produced “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.” Whether this means that McGregor’s Obi-Wan will have the unique pleasure of killing a Stormtrooper with a pencil remains to be seen, but...
- 4/2/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
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