Lucasfilm's Future: Star Wars Films, James Bond Model, and Writer's Strike Impact

Delays and Apologies

• 🎙️ The hosts apologize for a significant delay in new episodes of "Looking at Lucasfilm," attributing it to personal commitments and a trip aboard the Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser.
• 📝 An email from a listener, Jeff Tessier, is read, expressing disappointment over the lack of recent episodes and missed Star Wars news.

Galactic Star Cruiser Experience

• 🚢 The hosts discuss their experiences on the Galactic Star Cruiser, noting that while the upper level of the Crown of Curillia dining room was empty, the lower level was full.
• 📉 Disney World announced discounts for the Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser, initially for annual passholders and then for Disney Visa cardholders, with a significant percentage off but still costing over $3,000 for a 2-day experience.
• 💡 Rumors suggest Disney is considering new itineraries, possibly based on The Mandalorian and Grogu, to boost interest and bookings.

Star Wars Film and Series Development

• ✍️ Damon Lindelof's Star Wars movie script was reportedly fired after Lucasfilm decided to bring back Daisy Ridley as Rey, though Lindelof expressed a desire to return.
• 🌟 Kathleen Kennedy is reportedly looking at the prequel generation as a model for future Star Wars films, anticipating a similar reassessment of the sequel trilogy films by a new generation.
• 🎬 James Mangold is developing a Star Wars film set during the High Republic era, with high praise from Steven Spielberg for his work on "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."
• 👩‍🚀 Charmaine Oai Shinoi, director of "Ms. Marvel," is handling the Rey movie, which was originally part of Lindelof's proposed project.
• 🚀 Projects like Rogue Squadron and Taika Waititi's Star Wars film were canceled, indicating a shift in Lucasfilm's development strategy.
• 🎯 Lucasfilm is considering a James Bond-like model for future Star Wars films, releasing them as major events every 3-4 years rather than annually.

Star Wars Celebration and Creator Recognition

• 🌟 Dave Filoni is being recognized for his significant contributions to Star Wars, with his upcoming movie set to unite characters from various Disney Plus limited series, featuring Thrawn as the main antagonist.
• 🎭 The casting of Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera and Lars Mikkelsen as Thrawn for the upcoming Star Wars movie was highlighted as a major announcement from Star Wars Celebration.
• 🌟 Carrie Fisher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a posthumous honor that was noted as long overdue.
• 🗣️ The hosts discuss the controversy surrounding Billy Lourd's decision not to invite certain family members to Carrie Fisher's star ceremony.

Industry Challenges and Future Outlook

• ✍️ The ongoing WGA writers' strike is a major concern, potentially impacting production schedules for Marvel and Lucasfilm projects.
• 💰 The strike highlights inequities in pay for writers, particularly concerning streaming revenue versus theatrical or network releases.
• 🎬 The hosts express hope for a swift resolution to the strike, which has historically occurred during periods of significant industry change.
• 📺 The discussion touches on the difference in pay rates for actors and writers between network television and streaming services.

Recent and Upcoming Content

• 🌌 Star Wars Visions Season 2 is praised for its animation and diverse studios, including Cartoon Saloon and Aardman Animations.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Simpsons short featuring Maggie Simpson in the Star Wars universe is noted for its numerous Easter eggs.
• 🧒 Star Wars: Young Jedi Tales, a preschool series, is introducing the High Republic era to a younger audience.