The Bearded Trio

Imperial Stormtroopers pursue the escaping Rebels as they flee Cloud City Guest Post by Justin Berger In 1980 The Empire Strikes Back was released in theaters and broke box office records. Not surprising in hindsight given it was the sequel to the most popular film ever made, but during production George Lucas wasn’t sure if the film was going to be the huge hit everyone expected it to be. With budget problems, extended shooting schedules, disgruntled actors and major setbacks seemingly every step of the way, Empire was not an easy film to make. Four decades ago filmmaker George Lucas handed the reins of his big budget Star Wars sequel over to director Irvin Kershner and producer Gary Kurtz. Having just finished directing the original Star Wars roughly two years earlier, Lucas had decided that he was done directing and planned to remain behind-the-scenes for the follow-up, The Empire Strikes Back. This was due in part to Star Wars taking a major toll on him and also out of ...

The final cover and roster of authors for the upcoming 40th anniversary collection of short stories, Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View , were revealed today by Star Wars publisher Del Rey. Most of the authors are well-known to fans of the Star Wars canon, while a few might be a surprise. Here's the announcement from the Star Wars Books Facebook page : To celebrate Friday, here is the FINAL cover for our upcoming 40th anniversary novel, STAR WARS: FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW. (otherwise known as #OperationBlueMilk ) The final cover contains all 43 contributors to the 40 stories contained inside. It includes a few new authors only recently announced: Kieron Gillen (Dr. Aphra, Darth Vader) Greg Rucka (Shattered Empire, Guardians of the Whills) Elizabeth Wein (the upcoming COBALT SQUADRON) Jeffrey Brown (Vader and Son, Jedi Academy) The book is on-sale Oct 3rd and is available for pre-order wherever you enjoy buying books. Source: Star Wars Books | Del Rey Cont...

Happy Birthday Star Wars.  40 years ago today movie history was created.  I was lucky enough (and old enough) to remember the phenomenon that changed my life.  I was five years old and from the moment I left the cinema I've craved Star Wars.  Thank you George Lucas for giving the world Star Wars and for letting us play in your galaxy. I was either five or six being either 1977 or 1978 when Star Wars first hit our cinemas here in South Wales.  In those days, there always seemed to be a huge gap between US releases and the rest of the world.  Anyway I had never heard of Star Wars and out of the blue my brother, who is sadly no longer with us asked if I would like to go and see this space film.  Any trip to the cinema back then was like someone taking you to a magical land.  Of course I said yes. The cinema was a small two screen affair.  No multi screens in those days, well at least not around our way.  One screen was showing Sta...

Back in 77 when I was lucky enough to watch Star Wars for the first time, I remember leaving the cinema with my brother full of excitement and a craving that really hasn't gone away.  Sitting down to watch Star Wars for the first time initiated my need for a daily dose of that galaxy far far away. Way before the Internet or multi channel TV, Star Wars fans of the seventies would find their Star Wars fix in any way they could.  For me this fix would be finding any snippets of Star Wars on TV, whether it be an interview with a member of the cast (usually on Saturday morning kids TV,) collecting the Topps trading cards, collecting the Kenner figures and ships, buying Star Wars books and comics or by listening to the soundtrack. It was this last one for me that really helped my fix.  The first Star Wars album I owned was not the original soundtrack but it was as close as you can get.  Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra the album consisted o...

I was lucky enough to have caught Star Wars in the cinemas when it first hit the big screens way back in 1977.  From the moment I left the cinema screen in South Wales I couldn’t get enough of that galaxy far far away.  My favourite Star Wars fix were my Star Wars figures, recreating scenes and inventing an elaborate expanded universe all from the comfort of my bedroom. My first figures were Luke Skywalker with his yellow telescopic lightsaber and Princess Leia with her white plastic cloak.  Filling in for the ‘baddies’ back then was a figure of Maximilian from Disney’s The Black Hole.  The cast was a mishmash and a bit small but it didn’t stop my imagination.  Soon they were joined by a cocky Han Solo and a Millennium Falcon.  Now we’re talking, although the plot from that moment on involved the Empire somehow trying to steal the Falcon.  Sometimes they succeeded which would carry over to next play time. That was my Star Wars fix for a...

This is a compilation of interviews with cast members from Star Wars plugging and talking about the movie back in 1977. Sequels were mentioned, even back then. George Lucas hints that Luke is "interested" in Leia. Rumours of an ice planet in the sequel and Gary Kurtz talking about the new Kenner Star Wars figures about to come out. Hope you like it. Happy 40th Anniversary Star Wars. Thank you for being a loyal friend for all these decades. The Bearded Trio - The Site For Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, John Williams and a whole lot more. THE BEARDED TRIO ON FACEBOOK THE BEARDED TRIO ON TWITTER THE BEARDED TRIO ON GOOGLE+ THE BEARDED TRIO ON PINTEREST CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON STEVEN SPIELBERG CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON GEORGE LUCAS CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON JOHN WILLIAMS