Pre-order Star Wars: The Force Awakens via Amazon UK or Amazon US
It’s a very Blu edition of The Week in Star Wars as we’ve got details for The Force Awaken’s home entertainment release, a behind the scenes photo from Episode VIII, details on Star Wars Land, your usual Star Wars Rebels and comic book previews and more…
Our top story this week surrounds the Blu-Ray release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (or should that be, Blu-Rey?). We heard earlier in the week that Disney were releasing a 3-disc Blu-Ray for the movie, leading to many speculating that there will be loads of special features or an alternative cut. While this isn’t confirmed, it’s likely that it will be 1x Blu-Ray, 1x DVD, and 1x 3D Blu-Ray rather than an extended cut of the movie. J.J. Abrams said prior to the release that there wouldn’t be a director’s cut (though one is rumoured to exist), so we’ll see on this one for now…
…Speaking of which, a Swedish website posted the special features for the Blu-Ray release, which seems to suggest Mr. Abrams was lying when he said there were no deleted scenes to be found. The list also claims features will include a table read of the script (which sounds fascinating), some featurettes and the Force for Change videos. Again, nothing confirmed here so we’ll wait and see…
…The Blu-Ray cover has been released however via Wal-Mart, which you can see here…
…And speaking of featurettes, one of them promises to be a look into the score provided by John Williams – which you can watch here…
…The topic of gay characters appearing in the Star Wars Universe has been quite a hot topic over the last year when Mars Moff was introduced in Lords of the Sith. J.J. Abrams was applauded for having his main leads in Star Wars: The Force Awakens be a woman and a black man, both seen as under-used demographics in Hollywood. But could we see a gay character in one of the upcoming movies? “When I talk about inclusivity it’s not excluding gay characters,” said Abrams. “It’s about inclusivity. So of course. I would love it. To me, the fun of Star Wars is the glory of possibility. So it seems insanely narrow-minded and counter-intuitive to say that there wouldn’t be a homosexual character in that world. I think we all have a hell of a lot to do, and I think it is insane to me that we still have to have a conversation about inclusivity. It’s shameful. We all need to do better to represent this world. It’s something that is important to me, and is something that we’re focusing on at [production company] Bad Robot…”
…Abrams also spoke out about the fate of Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens saying, “”He was very thoughtful about it, and he got it. He understood why it was so powerful. And I think part of it was because Harrison himself — Han, the character — has so much ahead of him. Has so much life and fight and adventure — that this was the time to do that thing. If we felt like the character was sort of at the end of his days, it wouldn’t have been as powerful. The thing that made it potentially meaningful wasn’t just who does it and how it happened, but that it’s a character that is so vital that is meeting his demise. I’ll also say that Harrison’s always said that he knew that Han needed to have clear utility, and that’s what he wanted to do. And that’s why he argued back in the day that Han should die and George [Lucas] didn’t want to do it. And I don’t know what his utility in that regard would’ve been, though I’m sure Harrison would’ve come up with a clever pitch for it. But in this case there was such a clear utility — it’s about bringing this new villain to the fore, and there’s nothing I could think of that is more hideous than patricide, especially when it comes to Han Solo…”
…Looking ahead to Star Wars: Episode VIII, and Variety posted a new behind the scenes image which features Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker over at Skellig Michael…
…Harrison Ford was on hand during The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60 special to share some details about the upcoming Star Wars Land. “Star Wars is, for lack of a better word, awesome,” he said. “I’m so blessed that I had the opportunity to be a part of it. To walk in these iconic locations. And soon, you’ll be able to do that as well. Not in a galaxy far, far away, but in a place close to home.” A lot of the pictures shown are ones we’ve seen before, but there is a glimpse of a chance to fly the Millennium Falcon – which is worth the price of admission alone…
…Myself and Oli Davis talked about Star Wars Land in greater detail on the latest episode of the Flickering Myth Podcast, which also has a smaller audio version of this very article…
…If you missed the latest episode of Star Wars Rebels ‘The Honorable One’, then you can watch a clip of it here, read Chris Cooper’s review here and watch the Rebels Recon for the episode here. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a clip and images for Wednesday’s episode ‘Shroud of Darkness’ here…
…Ahead of its home entertainment release next week, Lucasfilm has released a clip from LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales, which sees Obi-Wan Kenobi paying a visit to Luke Skywalker with an important message, only to find Luke as a wampa’s planned main course. Check it out here…
…Marvel has announced its next wave of Adult Coloring Books, featuring Women of Power, Doctor Strange and Star Wars…
…And finally, here’s your comic book previews for the week. Firs up is Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1: How did C-3PO get his red arm?! Find out this March as the burning question is answered in STAR WARS SPECIAL: C-3PO #1! Reuniting acclaimed & award-winning creators James Robinson and Tony Harris for the first time in nearly two decades, follow everyone’s favorite protocol droid on a solo adventure leading up to his appearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens! STAR WARS SPECIAL: C-3PO #1 is the only place to learn the shocking truth behind how C-3PO lost his original arm – and the exciting origin of how he gained a new one. Get the full story and discover the origins of his new appendage when STAR WARS SPECIAL: C-3PO #1 comes to comic shops in March! And here’s the preview for Star Wars: Darth Vader #18: With resources vital to the Empire on the line, Vader makes his move… But Cylo and his forces are looking to show him up before he can! Full-scale warfare on the surface of Sho-Turun!
That’s all for this week – may The Force be with you. And don’t forget to pre-order Star Wars: The Force Awakens via Amazon UK or Amazon US…
Luke Owen
Originally published February 28, 2016. Updated June 30, 2023.
