Star Wars: Underworld

The Star Wars live-action TV series is a TV series confirmed to be made in the near future by Star Wars creator, George Lucas. This announcement was made at the Star Wars Celebration III by him, following the completion and success of his Star Wars films in 2005. The show will be set sometime in the 19-year timespan between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (19 BBY-0 BBY). It will focus on minor characters of the Star Wars Galaxy, rather than the main ones seen prominently in the films.

Release
This show is to be released after the 3-D Clone Wars animated series, in order to keep Star Wars alive in the minds of the fans and the general public. It is unknown at this point exactly when either of the series will be released, however the Live-Action series is likely to be released in 2007 or 2008, based on a comment by George Lucas. He stated at April 2005's Celebration III, that, referring to the 3-D animated Clone Wars series, "we probably won't start that until sometime next year." This would lead fans to believe that since production will begin, according to his remarks, in around April 2006, the following year, production could end later that same year and the show could air that year. Lucas also said that "we will probably do the animated series first," and he later confirmed this statement. This further proves the idea. The Live-Action show should air some time after the 3-D Clone Wars show, once production on the first season has completed, which should be some time in 2007. If the production doesn't take long, that could mean that the show could air that year. But, if there is a longer production schedule, or conflicts, its release could be pushed up to 2008. Lucas should reveal the release year soon. Lucasfilm will likely wait to release the Live-Action series also, until a time has passed since the 3-D Clone Wars series has aired, in order to maximize fan and public anticipation, and ultimately, the profit made.

Even those reports may be conflicting however, in a recent interview, Steve Sansweet has said the live action series may not be released until near the end of the decade.

Facts

 * The series will focus on minor characters in the Star Wars films, ones who viewers have seen on screen before in the films themselves.
 * The entire series will be set in the 19-year time period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
 * It will last 100 episodes.
 * Each episode will be 1 hour long (though this means each episode is actually 45 minutes long, minus other commercial breaks).
 * Boba Fett is a possible, though not necessarily main, character for the series; Rumors say Daniel Logan, who played the young Boba Fett, has been asked by Lucas to reprise his role for the new series. Quinlan Vos is another likely addition to the cast of characters as Lucas specifically told his staff to make sure Quinlan Vos "does not die in Revenge of the Sith, nor the comics".
 * Lucas will write the entire first season all at once.
 * Lucas will direct the first season.
 * Lucas will get the show started with his work on the first season, and then "hand it off from there."
 * The style of the series will be in a similar style to Lucas's Young Indiana Jones TV series.
 * Lucas will be organizing all casting and getting together the complete crew to fill the various positions required for the show.
 * Cameos by main characters are not totally out of the question.
 * The show is still in its early planning stages, so many plot and/or story elements may change, as Lucas has shown to change his mind easily.
 * The show will be shot on consumer-level digital cameras, according to series creator, George Lucas.
 * George Lucas has stated on production of the show, that, "we will do what would typically cost $20 million, for $1 million."
 * Jimmy Smits (Bail Organa), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine), and Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett/clonetroopers) have expressed their interest in occasional appearances.
 * A.C. Crispin has stated that she proposed a book series dealing with Princess Leia between Episode III and IV, but that "Lucasfilm didn't approve the idea of a Leia backstory because they want to keep that era of the SW continuity untouched for the television series they're considering."

IGN announcement
On September 15th, 2005, the website IGN FilmForce released the following statement:


 * ''IGN FilmForce can exclusively report that Lucasfilm is seeking screenwriters for its planned TV series based on George Lucas's Star Wars film saga.


 * ''Keeping with Lucas's penchant for security, the show will be scripted at the bearded one's secluded Skywalker Ranch. Work will commence this January. Lucas and his colleague Rick McCallum will produce the still untitled show.


 * ''The series is slated to run 50 hours and will be a mixture of live-action and CGI. Principal photography will begin in 2007 with filming to take place in Australia.


 * While the show will apparently revolve around imperial bounty hunters, there could be other directions taken. The series will take place after the Empire has risen to power.

Link to Statement

Episode III DVD release interview
On October 6th 2005, at an interview for the upcoming release of the Episode III DVD, Rick McCallum stated that, in relation to Episode III, the show "...is going to be much darker, much grittier, it's much more character-based." McCallum also repeated that the show will have an 100 hour-long episode format, and also announced that Expanded Universe characters will appear in the show. He went on to talk about the filming of the show:


 * "Principal photography will take place all around the world, probably with a base in Sydney. And, yes, we will be shooting in hi-def. Or, if anything else evolves within the next 12 months, you know, that would replace hi-def. I don't see that happening, but there may be new and more, or less expensive cameras with more optical imagery or optical discs that we record on. But basically it will be hi-def, yes."

Ian McDiarmid, who was also there, said that although he has not been approached to reprise his role as Palpatine, he would be willing to if asked.

Rob Coleman, special-effects animation specialist, said that CGI characters in the show are a certainty, although they haven't started working on them yet.

Link to Source

Steve Sansweet interview
On February 15th, 2006, Steve Sansweet revealed in an interview that:


 * 1) Rumors of Kevin Smith's involvement are false;
 * 2) That "We're looking at a 1 hour show and Rick McCallum has said the ideal would be to come up with 100 hours to really get into the story line and characters, and that's the direction we're going in. So that is really targeted more towards the end of the decade."
 * 3) Concerning characters: "For the most part, it's going to be characters you've seen a little of or seen some of, and they will be the central figures. But of course the plot lines will have to take into account what is happening in the rest of the galaxy, so you'll hear the names Luke and Han and Darth and things like that."
 * 4) Concerning the show's format: "I think there will probably be story arcs where we'll have some very familiar kinds of character continuity. Ya, I think you need to do that to do it like a movie. For most movies, not like Star Wars, but most movies where every movie you do it's a different group of characters. No I don't think that's what Star Wars fans want or expect."
 * 5) On special effects: "With computer animation and storage and rendering getting faster and faster, I think you'll be able to see some of the things you see in the movies be transfered to the TV. Look at some of the shows like Galactica and some of the other shows that have amazing special Fx."
 * 6) On music: "Of course we used John Williams music in The Clone Wars, the cartoons on Cartoon Network. I don't know if any specific decision on that has been made."

Link to Source

Rumors and speculation

 * In addition to the above, it is also speculated that Wayne Pygram (Tarkin) would be likely to have occasional appearances, due to his large role on the cult science fiction show Farscape.
 * Lucas dictated the ending to the comic Star Wars Republic 83: The Hidden Enemy, Part 3 and insisted that its main characters live; this could mean he is planning on their involvement in the show, especially since one of said characters was Quinlan Vos, who was mentioned (and originally to be shown) in Revenge of the Sith.
 * Matthew Newton, of "Farscape," "Queen of the Damned," and "Blurred," is likely to be cast as some character in the series. The word is that Lucas has crossed path with this man before, even considered him as Anakin at one point, and is now interested in him for the TV series. The rumor going around has been that he will play Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, since it would be difficult to get Hayden Christensen back for the part, and Newton was Lucas's rumored second choice. It is also rumored that he may not play Anakin/Vader at all, and will play some as of yet, unknown character.
 * The show is likely to be broadcast on FOX or one of its subsidiaries, due to the past business moves of Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox.
 * The show is likely to be shot in HDTV and widescreen format, instead of the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio.
 * It may show a young Luke at one point, according to Rick McCallum.
 * It may show the beginnings and forming of the Rebel Alliance.
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda may appear, based on Lucas's comment on the possibility of guest stars.
 * The show may depict Leia as she grows to adulthood.
 * The series might focus on the Jedi (other than Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda) who survived the issuing of Order 66 and are on the run from the newly-formed Empire. It might depict their persecution and elimination by Imperial agents, such as the Emperor's right-hand man, Darth Vader.
 * The series might explain how the Great Jedi Purge eventually ignites the Galactic Civil War.
 * The show may reveal the transformation of clone troopers to Imperial stormtroopers in closer detail other than Star Wars: Battlefront II.
 * The show might show a cold opening of each episode.