The Bearded Trio

Once again the official Star Wars Youtube channel brings us another gem.  This time we are treated to the making of Star Wars Episode One.  Over an hour of glorious behind the scenes including auditions, George Lucas interviews and loads more.  Sit back and enjoy. The Beginning is a documentary on the making of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, originally produced for the film's DVD release. It covers the entire production of The Phantom Menace, from preproduction to casting to visual effects, editing, and theatrical release. The Beginning starts with early production work on the film, as George Lucas (returning to the director's chair for the first time since Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope) and Lucasfilm plan how they will bring his vision to the screen. Jake Lloyd auditions for the part of Anakin Skywalker and is eventually cast in the role, joining Natalie Portman (Padmé), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn). Lucas leads ...

We are roughly 18 months away before we get to see the first of the new Star Wars trilogy hit the big screen.  With the lack of official news on Star Wars VII coming our way I thought it would be interesting to compare what we knew at around the same time in October 1997 on Episode One, roughly 18 months before its release. My source comes from the official Star Wars magazine from February 1997 to November 1997. As with 2013 the rumours in 1997 on the upcoming Star Wars movie were ridiculous and mostly made up.  Some of the rumours that were doing the rounds at the time were Episode One was to be completely CGI. The name of the movie will be called "Fall of the Republic." The movie will only consist of four actors, the rest will be computer generated. Alec Guiness performance as a young Obi-Wan will comprise edited out-takes from 1950's Ealing comedies. Kenneth Branagh had signed, Macauley Culkin was in talks. There will be no sets. Charlton Heston will p...

HollywoodLife  asked Hollywood power players JJ Abrams and Jon Favreau if they were interested in directingStar Wars: Episode VII. Abrams, a hugeStar Warsfan, stated: "I frankly feel that – I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series. I was never a big Star Trek fan growing up, so for me, working on Star Trek didn't have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more then anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!" Favreau was also asked and had this to say: "I think both J.J. and I come from a generation of people who formed our whole creative persona around what we experienced as kids from watching those films, and I have had the good fortune of working with George [Lucas] and around George, and whether it is doing a voice on Clone Wars, or being at the Skywa...