How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise

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How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise Page 62

by Taylor, Chris


  283“Darth Vader in America now,”: TASS quoted in “Soviet Critic Says Reagan like Darth Vader,” United Press International, June 13, 1983.

  283“Star Wars, your honor, is a fantasy,”: Lucasfilm Ltd. v. High Frontier, DC District Court, November 26, 1985.

  283“I definitely got the feeling: Dan Madsen, author interview, August 12, 2013.

  284“It was not a great time: Howard Roffman, “Interacting with Star Wars,” TEDxSoMa, YouTube video, 12:40, January 22, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAb1Dzkc8KU.

  19. THE UNIVERSE EXPANDS

  287“Make it work as a Sergio Leone: Transcript published in Star Wars Insider, no. 145 (December 2013): 20.

  287“the story of Chewbacca’s second: Alan Dean Foster, author interview, June 26, 2013.

  288“We can’t do these casually,”: Lou Aronica, author interview, August 15, 2013.

  289“I’ll never forget the day that Lucy: Howard Roffman, foreword to Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, 20th Anniversary Edition (New York: Ballantine Books, 2011), 1.

  289initial print run of seventy thousand copies: Timothy Zahn, author interview, August 16, 2013.

  289“They didn’t approach us: Aronica, author interview.

  290“I was a physicist,”: Zahn, author interview.

  293“They shunt her to the side: Tracy Duncan, author interview, January 28, 2014.

  294“He told us we could kill anyone: Shelly Shapiro, author interview, August 24, 2013.

  295“It was guidance in the sense: Foster, author interview.

  20. RETURN OF THE WRITER

  296“My oldest daughter was sick: Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, DVD extras (Twentieth Century Fox, 2001).

  297“For every person who loves: Laurent Bouzereau and Jody Duncan, The Making of “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace” (New York: Del Rey, 1999), 149.

  297“You just never know with these: The Beginning, Star Wars, Episode I, DVD extras.

  298“everyone had tears in their eyes,”: Marcus Hearn, The Cinema of George Lucas (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005), 174.

  299“I could see George: Hearn, Cinema, 172.

  299“The great thing about Rick: Hearn, Cinema, 201.

  300“Part of the reason: Lucas press conference transcribed by Sally Kline, in George Lucas: Interviews, ed. Sally Kline (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1999), 181.

  300“It would hopefully make me: Lucas on The Charlie Rose Show, September 9, 2004.

  300Lucas started writing about: Episode I draft details from Michael Kaminski, “The Beginning: A Look at the Rough Draft of Episode I,” The Secret History of “Star Wars,” November 10, 2007, http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/thebeginning.html.

  301“dyed-in-the-wool 99-percenter: Bryan Curtis, “George Lucas Is Ready to Roll the Credits,” New York Times, January 17, 2012.

  301“I’m a very ardent: Lucas to Charlie Rose, CBS This Morning, January 21, 2012.

  306Lucas says he modeled this new comic relief: According to Lucasfilm creature designer Terryl Whitlach at DragonCon, Atlanta, July 1, 1999, http://dailydragon.dragoncon.org/dc1999/jar-jars-mom-speaks/.

  306“Rastafarian Stepin Fetchit,”: Joe Morgenstern, “Our Inner Child Meets Young Darth,” Wall Street Journal, May 19, 1999.

  306“How in the world could you take: Lucas interview on Newsnight, BBC 2, July 14, 1999.

  21. SPECIAL ADDITION

  308“I used to be able to catch: Arthur Penn dinner account from the diary of Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Dale Maharidge, provided to the author.

  310“It’s like a screen door: “The Force Is Still with Us,” Newsweek, January 19, 1997.

  310“If I had the money: The Making of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” ed. John Philip Peecher (New York: Ballantine Books, 1983), 89.

  311“I thought it was a very virile: Making, ed. Peecher, 89.

  311“The thing was to create a real Jabba: “Life After Darth,” Wired 13, no. 5 (May 2005).

  312“Those animals moving actually distract: Kurtz to Ken P., IGN.com, November 11, 2002, http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/11/an-interview-with-gary-kurtz.

  312“They’re shit.”: Peter Hall, “Brilliant Effects Master Phil Tippett Sheds Some Light on George Lucas’ ‘Star Wars’-Tinkering Mind,” Movies.com, September 1, 2011, http://www.movies.com/movie-news/phil-tippett-star-wars/4324.

  313“We hadn’t sold very many VHS: “Life After Darth.”

  314“Does a filmmaker have the right: “Is George Lucas Tampering with History?,” Chicago Tribune, January 19, 1997.

  315“People who alter or destroy works of art: “The Greatest Speech Against the Special Edition Was from George Lucas,” Saving “Star Wars,” 2010, http://savestarwars.com/lucasspeechagainstspecialedition.html.

  315“To me, it doesn’t really exist: “Lucas Talks as Original Trilogy Returns,” Associated Press, September 15, 2004.

  315Luckily, the 1977 negative: Library of Congress information provided by Mike Mashon, Head of Moving Image Section, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division, Library of Congress, email to the author, September 3, 2013.

  315“disappointed in myself”: Spielberg quoted at Raiders of the Lost Ark thirtieth anniversary screening, Film.com, September 14, 2011.

  315“I felt that so long as the originals: “Dennis Muren: Interview,” Sci-Fi Online, August 16, 2004, http://www.sci-fi-online.com/Interview/04-08-16_DennisMuren.htm.

  315“six ways from Sunday”: Hollywood Reporter, February 9, 2012.

  316“I’m sorry you saw: “Lucas Talks as Original Trilogy Returns.”

  317“a little bit too disco.”: Making, ed. Peecher, 109.

  317“The success of that rerelease: “Life After Darth.”

  317Ian McCaig had been asked: Ian McCaig, interview with Pablo Hidalgo, Star Wars Celebration Europe II, July 27, 2013.

  318“deeply in love”: “A Long Time Ago: The Story of Star Wars,” BBC Omnibus, season 33, episode 10, July 7, 1999.

  318“‘Do you want to do Star Wars?’: The Beginning, Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, DVD extras (Twentieth Century Fox, 2001).

  22. THE LINE

  319by “Yoda”: Laurent Bouzereau and Jody Duncan, The Making of “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace” (New York: Del Rey, 1999), 76.

  319“This isn’t real,”: McGregor in “A Long Time Ago: The Story of Star Wars,” BBC Omnibus, season 33, episode 10, July 7, 1999.

  320“I thought he should take: Eon Magazine, September 1999, http://www.theforce.net/episode1/story/darabont_kasdan_on_helping_george_with_ep_i_ii_78815.asp.

  320“write better dialogue”: “Sky’s the Limit,” Detroit Free Press, May 19, 2005.

  320“The film is going to come out: The Beginning, Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, DVD extras (Twentieth Century Fox, 2001).

  321“Now he’s so exalted,”: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Tosche Station: FFC Interviews Mark Hamill,” Film Freak Central, March 19, 2013, http://www.filmfreakcentral.net/ffc/2013/03/mark-hamill-interview.html.

  322“It’s bold: Quotes from Lucas and Ben Burtt from The Beginning.

  323Chris Giunta moved from Maryland: Story details and quotes from Chris Giunta, author interview, August 29, 2013.

  323“Everybody had different motivations: Shanti Seigel, author interview, April 23, 2014.

  324“It was nightmarish at night,”: Todd Evans, author interview, August 17, 2013.

  23. THE PREQUELS CONQUER STAR WARS

  328“believe these pointers can help: “S.F. Gets Tough on Popular Laser Pointers,” San Francisco Chronicle, May 19, 1999.

  329“the score’s most delightful: Joshua Kosman, “Inspired Phantom Menace Soundtrack Recalls Movie Moments,” San Francisco Chronicle, May 19, 1999.

  329“over my dead body.”: David C. Robertson, Brick by Brick: How Lego Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry (New York: Crown Business, 2013), 39.

/>   330“a flood of biblical proportions.”: Steve Sansweet, “Star Wars: 1,000 Collectibles,” Harry N. Abrams, 2009, 17.

  331“The actors are wallpaper: Peter Travers, “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” Rolling Stone, May 19, 1999.

  331“Dialogue isn’t the point,”: Roger Ebert, “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” Chicago Sun-Times, May 17, 1999.

  331Gallup released a Phantom Menace poll: Press release, Gallup, June 25, 1999, http://www.gallup.com/poll/3757/public-gives-latest-star-wars-installment-positive-rave-reviews.aspx.

  331“It’s entirely critic-proof,”: Elvis Mitchell, PBS Newshour, May 19, 1999.

  332“about a quarter of the way: Star Wars Insider, no. 45 (August/September 1999): 63.

  332“started on page one: Jody Duncan, “Star Wars” Mythmaking: Behind the Scenes of “Attack of the Clones” (New York: Ballantine Books, 2002), 13.

  333“Jar Jar’s Great Adventure”: Marcus Hearn, The Cinema of George Lucas (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005), 216.

  333PADMÉ: Representative Binks: Excerpts from draft scripts on http://starwarz.com/starkiller/episodeii.

  334“This was much more like a movie: Duncan, Mythmaking, 89.

  334“Is that it?: Lew Irwin, “‘Attack of the Clones’ Attacked,” Hollywood, August 8, 2001, http://www.hollywood.com/news/brief/473238/attack-of-the-clones-attacked.

  334“I was always worried: Lucas, Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, DVD Commentary (Twentieth Century Fox, 2005).

  336“Right now we don’t need a script,”: Star Wars Insider, no. 48 (February/March 2000): 11.

  336“The dialogue was, well: “Sky’s the Limit,” Detroit Free Press, May 19, 2005.

  337“The screenplay would make Buster Crabbe: Michael Atkinson, “Reproductive Rites,” Village Voice, May 14, 2002.

  338“I was wonderfully blindsided: Timothy Zahn, author interview, August 16, 2013.

  339“coolest job in the world.”: Wired, August 2008.

  339“Luke is obviously a 1,”: Leland Chee at Star Wars Celebration Europe II, July 26, 2013.

  340“most fun to do.”: Gary Dretzka, “Lucas Strikes Back: ‘Star Wars’ Creator Defends Jar Jar and Says Plot Rules His Universe,” San Francisco Chronicle, May 13, 2002.

  340“I’ve been thinking about it,”: J. W. Rinzler, The Making of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” (New York: Del Rey, 2005), 31.

  341“disassemble Episode III: Rinzler, Making of “Revenge,” 36.

  341“painted myself into a corner”: Hearn, Cinema, 240.

  341“All democracies turn: Jess Cagle, “Yoda Strikes Back!” Time, April 29, 2002.

  342“I didn’t think it would get: “Sith Invites Bush Comparisons,” Associated Press, May 16, 2005.

  342“inertia. Procrastination: Rinzler, Making of “Revenge,” 47.

  344“Steven confirmed that most: Rinzler, Making of “Revenge,” 188.

  344“sharp right turns”: Rinzler, Making of “Revenge,” 204.

  345“To be very honest: Lucas at Star Wars Celebration III, April 26, 2005.

  24. BUILDING CHARACTER

  347Take the story of Chris Bartlett: Story details and quotes from Chris Bartlett, author interview, August 23, 2013.

  349the R2 Builders Club: Story details and quotes from Chris James, Grant McKinney, and Gerard Fardardo, author interview, September 15, 2013.

  350“And they break down all the time: Bonnie Burton, author interview, January 31, 2014.

  25. HOW I STOPPED WORRYING AND LEARNED TO LOVE THE PREQUELS

  356“People were getting back: Kyle Newman, author interview, August 14, 2013.

  356“You weren’t there at the beginning!: “Change,” Spaced, series 2, episode 2, directed by Edgar Wright, March 2, 2001.

  357“We know we had a real: Interview with Jon Stewart, Star Wars Celebration V, August 15, 2010.

  357“It was a magnificent: Liz Lee, author interview, February 14, 2013.

  358“None of my three kids: Chris Giunta, author interview, August 29, 2013.

  358Machete Order: Rod Hilton, “Star Wars: Machete Order,” Absolutely No Machete Juggling, http://static.nomachetejuggling.com/machete_order.html, accessed April 1, 2014.

  358“With the Machete Order,”: “Would George Lucas Approve of the Star Wars Machete Order?,” Den of Geek, April 3, 2012, http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/star-wars/18992/would-george-lucas-approve-of-the-star-wars-machete-order.

  359“Part of the fun for me: J. W. Rinzler, The Making of “Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith” (New York: Del Rey, 2005), 84.

  359“We realized that these were fans: “The Phantom Edit,” Salon, November 5, 2001.

  359“well-intentioned editing demonstration”: “The Phantom Edit.”

  360“It plays on a distinctly: Emily Asher-Perrin, “Watching the Star Wars Prequels on Mute: An Experiment,” Tor.com, January 16, 2013.

  361“I’m not convinced that George: Matt Wild, “The Audience Strikes Back: Mike Stoklasa’s Very Detailed (and Very Late) Takedowns of Star Wars,” A.V. Club Milwaukee, April 13, 2010, http://archive.is/YgsWm.

  363“Plinkett is skewering: Michael Barryte, author interview, January 12, 2014.

  366“Dealing with prequel hate: Bryan Young, author interview, September 5, 2013.

  26. USING THE UNIVERSE

  371“We spent a lot of years: “Lucas’ New Headquarters Give Bay Area Film a Lift,” New York Times, July 20, 2005.

  372“A lot of Star Wars is over,”: author transcript of Lucas press conference, June 25, 2005.

  373“If there were a way: Dale Pollock, Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas, updated ed. (New York: Da Capo, 1999), 178.

  373“Deadwood in space.”: James Peaty, “Rick McCallum Interview: Dennis Potter, Star Wars TV series, George Lucas and Red Tails,” Den of Geek, June 3, 2012, http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/rick-mccallum/21562/rick-mccallum-interview-dennis-potter-star-wars-tv-series-george-lucas-red-tails.

  373“But then George would come in: Anonymous Lucasfilm source.

  374“We were building this show up: Anonymous Lucasfilm source.

  375“We can do better,”: Anonymous Lucasfilm source.

  375“After the TV series: Richard Corliss, “A Conversation with George Lucas,” Time, March 14, 2006.

  376“I talked a lot about Star Wars: Steve Heisler, “Dave Filoni,” A.V. Club, August 14, 2008, http://www.avclub.com/article/dave-filoni-14293.

  377“No,” he said: Dave Filoni, Star Wars Celebration Europe II, July 26, 2013.

  377“Sometimes George works: “The Force Lives On, as Do the Toys,” New York Times, July 1, 2008.

  378“obsessively-compulsively cluttered: Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly, August 14, 2008.

  378“a deadening film that cuts corners: Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, August 14, 2008.

  378“We weren’t ready for prime time,”: James Arnold Taylor, author interview, June 18, 2013.

  380“He always wanted to be there: Filoni at Star Wars Celebration Europe.

  380“we need 100 more: Star Wars Insider, no. 140 (May 2013): 20.

  27. HELLO DISNEY

  381“I’m moving away: George Lucas Is Ready to Roll the Credits,” New York Times, January 17, 2012.

  381“With the Internet, it’s gotten: “How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—and Its Plans for ‘Star Wars,’” Bloomberg BusinessWeek, March 7, 2013.

  382“I never had a story: David Kamp, “The Force Is Back,” Vanity Fair, February 1999.

  382“I’ve left pretty explicit instructions: Matthew Leyland, “George Lucas,” Total Film, April 2008.

  382“Star Wars obviously snuck up: Interview with Jon Stewart, Star Wars Celebration V, August 15, 2010.

  383“quite a mess”: Rob Smith, Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2008), 176.

  384“used to being able to change: Jason Schreier, “How LucasArts Fell Apart,” Kotaku, September 27, 2013, http://kotaku.com/how-lucasarts-fell-apar
t-1401731043.

  384“Star Wars-level quality: Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011), 243.

  386“Hello boys, it’s take your girlfriend: Anonymous source, Lucasfilm.

  387“I’m not ready to pursue that now,”: “How Disney Bought Lucasfilm.”

  387“ruminated on it endlessly”: Quotes from Lucas and Kennedy from “George Lucas & Kathleen Kennedy Discuss Disney and the Future of Star Wars,” YouTube video, October 30, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyqlTi7lkhY.

  388“afford me the ability: Kathleen Kennedy, Celebration Europe II, July 27, 2013.

  388“I’ve got to build this company: “How Disney Bought Lucasfilm.”

  388“Wait,” said Jett: “Jett Lucas Interview: Star Wars Episodes 7, 8 & 9, New Cast Rumours & J. J. Abrams,” Flicks and the City, YouTube video, 13:02, October 16, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnr18AUym-o.

  389“I was shocked by how: “Power Lawyers: How Star Wars Nerds Sold Lucasfilm to Disney,” Hollywood Reporter, May 31, 2013.

  389“Trust became important,”: Iger to producer Brian Grazer, Newsmaker Luncheon, Los Angeles, January 23, 2013.

  389“The writing was on the wall,”: Episode 6, Full of Sith podcast, January 27, 2013.

  390“something that’s unprintable”: “On the Brink of the Future,” Starwars.com, October 30, 2013.

  390“Ultimately you have to say: “How Disney Bought Lucasfilm.”

  390“We thought from a storytelling: “How Disney Bought Lucasfilm.”

  391“the steadiest of all the studios,”: “George Lucas & Kathleen Kennedy Discuss Disney.”

  393Disney had made a video: “Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm,” YouTube video, 5:39, October 30, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIkqX5fG_tA.

  CONCLUSION: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

  396“Only a few of them recognized: Ates Cetin, author interview, August 26, 2013.

  398“create a bit more attention.”: Paul French quoted in “The Empire Strides Back for Starlight,” Magnet (Australia), March 21, 2012.

  399“He thought it was a good omen: Hal Barwood, author interview, May 21, 2013.

  399“I’m hoping that if the film: Paul Scanlon, “The Force Behind Star Wars,” Rolling Stone, August 1977.

 

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