I recently obtained scans of historic photos taken at the Lucasfilm Archives at Skywalker Ranch circa 1996/1997, depicting original props, costumes, models, and other assets from the original Star Wars trilogy (A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi) as well as the Indiana Jones franchise (Raiders of the Lost Ark , Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade). [Read more…]
Yesterday’s announcement that George Lucas struck a deal to sell Lucasfilm Ltd (and related companies and properties, like ILM and Skywalker Sound, and the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises) came as a surprise to many. Along with the announcement were details about a third Star Wars trilogy with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy as Executive Producer – Episodes 7 (already scheduled for a 2015 release), 8, and 9… in the event the news in general didn’t warrant enough of a reaction on its own. For me, the most surprising aspect of the deal is that circa the 70s, George Lucas was known as being quite anti-establishment… a rebel and innovator, working outside of the system, and, well, Disney (which owns ABC, ESPN, Pixar, Touchstone, Marvel Entertainment, theme parks, resorts, cruise lines, television stations, etc.) is about as establishment and corporate-oriented as they come. Disney bought Marvel in 2009 (for $0.05 billion less), and hasn’t ruined it or anything, but Marvel is not Star Wars, and what little I’ve already seen worries me. 24 hours into this new Disney/Star Wars era, and a video is already released with Stormtroopers wearing Mickey Mouse ears riding a merry-go-round with Darth Vader. Really? [Read more…]
The catalog for the Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 42” event, as discussed in prior articles (see Profiles in History, SyFy’s Hollywood Treasure Seek Original Back to the Future Props to Support “We’re Going Back” Event & Profiles in History Announces ‘Hollywood Auction 42′ to Benefit “Variety, The Children’s Charity of Southern California”), is now available for download from the official website. [Read more…]
Profiles in History today published details about their “Hollywood Auction 42” event, first announced via my interview with Joe Maddalena at San Diego Comic Con in July (see San Diego Comic Con Interview with Joe Maddalena, Profiles in History… ‘Variety Kids’ Charity Auction). The auction will be held November 6th at The Globe Theater at Universal Studios, and will benefit “Variety – The Children’s Charity of Southern California”. [Read more…]
One of the organizers of the “We’re Going Back” 25th Anniversary Back to the Future event, to be held at Universal Studios and other locations November 5th-11th, has contacted me asking to publish a notice for a request for original production material from the classic trilogy. Profiles in History will be holding a special charity auction sale, which will be part of their new SyFy TV series, Hollywood Treasures, scheduled to debut November 4th. [Read more…]