Disney Planning a Star Wars Spin-off Movie with a Young Han Solo and a Separate Film for Boba Fett

Via Entertainment Weekly’s EW.com: 

‘Star Wars’ spin-offs: A young Han Solo movie, and a Boba Fett film

Star Wars fans, admit it: you like scoundrels. And you’re about to get more of them in your life.

Yesterday, The Walt Disney Co. unveiled plans to make a number of spin-off movies set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away — in addition to the post-Return of the Jedi trilogy that had already been announced

Entertainment Weekly has learned details on two of the spin-off projects: A young Han Solo saga, focusing on the wisecracking smuggler’s origin story, and a bounty hunter adventure with Boba Fett at the center of a rogue’s gallery of galactic scum.

To read the full story, visit EW.com.

Anime Boston 2013 Welcomes Back Kari Wahlgren

Actress Kari Wahlgren returns for an appearance at Anime Boston 2013!

Anime audiences were first introduced to Kari Wahlgren as the Vespa-riding, guitar-bashing Haruko in FLCL. Since then, she has played a number of anime roles, including Celty in Durarara, Kagami in Lucky Star, Saya in Blood+, Robin in Witch Hunter Robin, Fuu in Samurai Champloo, Tsuruya in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Cher in Wolf’s Rain, Lavie in Last Exile, Anemone in Eureka 7, Tayuya in Naruto and Blue Rose in the upcoming Tiger and Bunny.

Wahlgren also provided the voice of Ariel in the movie Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, Scarlett in the anime feature Steamboy and the Princess in the movie Naruto: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow. She’s also voiced Emma Frost in Wolverine and the X-Men and currently plays Tigress on Nickelodeon’s Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.

Wahlgren has also done voicework for over a hundred video games, including the Jedi Female Knight in Star Wars: The Old Republic, Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man, Elika in Prince of Persia, Ashe in Final Fantasy XII, Shelke in Final Fantasy: Dirge of Cerebus, Vicki Vale in Batman: Arkham Asylum and Barbara Johnson in Bioshock II.

Wahlgren occasionally steps out from behind the microphone to do on-camera work. She had a recurring role as Helen in the Wizarding Office on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place and played Tink in the indie film Neverland. She has also appeared in commercials for Swiffer as the Mud Girl, T.J. Maxx, Lexus and Rolling Rock.

Anime Boston is a three-day convention held annually in Boston, Massachusetts, USA under the supervision of the New England Anime Society. Its focus is to celebrate and promote Japanese animation, comics, and pop-culture. This year’s convention will be held on May 24-26th at the Hynes Convention Center. For more details and tickets please visit the website: www.animeboston.com

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

Press Release:

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller.  He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg.  Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi.Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.

CA – Scoundrels Signing

Author Timothy Zahn signs at Mysterious Galaxy Books Saturday January 12, 2013 at 2:00pm!

About the Book
The Death Star has been destroyed. The Rebellion has had its first big victory. And Han Solo, newly conscripted to the Rebel cause, is on the run from the Empire and the bounty hunters eager to turn him in for the huge reward being offered by Jabba the Hutt. Now a mysterious stranger offers Han the resources to execute a daring robbery from a major crime lord. The mission is impossible, but the prize will make Han a free man. With no choice but to accept, Han Solo and his Wookiee partner, Chewbacca, set out to assemble a cast of rogues, knaves, and cons with the right combination of wits, skills, and derring-do to pull off an operation of this complexity and scale — the best scoundrels the galaxy has to offer. And then the game is on: a rip-roaring, intergalactic, Ocean’s Eleven-style heist adventure starring Han Solo, Chewie, and Lando Calrissian!

About the Author
Timothy Zahn is the author of more than forty science fiction novels. He has also written many short stories, as well as Cascade Point, which won the Hugo Award for best novella. His other works include the Dragonback series, of which Dragon and Thief was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and the bestselling Star Wars™ novel, Heir to the Empire. Zahn lives in Oregon.

Mysterious Galaxy Books
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111

MeCAF 2013 Adds More Guests

    

Brian Wood, Sean Murphy, and Raina Telgemeier have been added to the roster for Maine Comics Arts Festival 2013.

Press Release:

We are pleased to announce three more guests for MeCAF 2013. Look for even more announcements in the coming weeks.

Brian Wood released his first series, Channel Zero, in 1997 to considerable critical acclaim and has continued to produce comics and graphic novels at a brisk pace ever since. Focusing almost entirely on creator-owned works, he’s become one of the most notable creators of the last decade. He’s earned multiple Eisner Award nominations and editions of his work have been published in close to a dozen foreign languages. He is most known for original series such as DMZ, Northlanders, Demo, and Local.

Starting in 2012, Wood kicked off the second major phase of his career with the original series’ The Massive, Anthem, and Mara, as well as Star Wars and Conan the Barbarian for Dark Horse Comics and X-Men for Marvel.

Sean Murphy’s first creator owned book “Off Road” was released by Oni in 2005 and won an American Library Association award. Soon after, Sean signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics and moved to New York. His DC published work is what he’s most known for currently–Hellblazer: City of Demons, Joe the Barbarian, and American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest helped boost his career greatly. His latest book for DC/Vertigo, and creator owned mini series called “Punk Rock Jesus”, in stores now.

Raina Telgemeier grew up in San Francisco, but made her way to New York City when she was 22 to attend the School of Visual Arts as an Illustration and Cartooning student. She received her BFA in 2002, and has worked as a freelance artist ever since. She is the adapter and illustrator of four Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, the co-author of X-Men: Misfits, and the author-illustrator of the bestselling dental memoir graphic novel Smile, which won the Eisner Award for Best Publication for a Teen Audience. Smile was also an ALA Notable Book, a Kirkus Best Book of 2010, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Honor title. Smile won the Maine Student Book Award in 2011. Her most recent book, Drama, was released in the fall of 2012.

CA – An Evening with Being Human

The cast of Being Human appears on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Paley Center in Los Angeles, CA.

In Person

Sam Witwer, “Aidan”
Meaghan Rath, “Sally”
Sam Huntington, “Josh”
Kristen Hager, “Nora”
Anna Fricke, Executive Producer/Showrunner

Syfy’s hit reimagining of the popular British series follows three twenty-something Bostonians as they navigate the demands of contemporary urban life, which in their case is a bit harder due to certain existential complications: one’s a ghost, one’s a vampire, and one’s a werewolf. And you thought you had angst! The metaphorical possibilities are endless, and the series has won praise for explicating the humanity of its characters, in addition to their preternatural qualities. Among its fans is the Atlantic’s Alyssa Rosenberg, who lauds the series as a “sharp, charming twist on the supernatural that also deftly explores that most important of twenty-something relationships, being roommates.” The new season of Being Human premieres Monday, January 14 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Syfy.

Tickets available here ($10 for members, $15 for non-members)

The Paley Center for Media
465 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

AZ – Scoundrels Signing

Hugo-award winner Timothy Zahn, best known for his New York Times bestselling Star Wars novels, visits Changing Hands Bookstore on Sunday January 13th from noon till 2:00 pm with Scoundrels, his new novel set in the Star Wars universe. Members of the 501st Legion: Dune Sea Garrison also attend in full Stormtrooper uniform!

Han Solo should be basking in his moment of glory after having just played a key role in the daring raid that destroyed the Death Star and landed the first serious blow to the Empire in its war against the Rebel Alliance. But there’s a bounty on his head—and if he can’t cough up the credits, he’ll surely pay with his hide. The only thing that can save him is a king’s ransom. Or maybe a gangster’s fortune? That’s what a mysterious stranger is offering in exchange for Han’s less-than-legal help with a riskier-than-usual caper. So Han assembles a gallery of rouges—including his indispensable sidekick Chewbacca and the cunning Lando Calrissian. But will their crime really pay, or will it cost them the ultimate price?

EVENT DETAILS

Event ticket (admits two) is free when you purchase Scoundrels from Changing Hands Bookstore.

Letter groups (printed on top of ticket) will be called at 11am to fill seats and designated standing room.

If available, seating and standing room opens to those without tickets at 11:45am.

Space cannot be guaranteed for late arrivals.

Booksigning line forms by assigned letter group after the presentation. Those without tickets may get their books signed after ticket-holders, if time allows.

Event details may be subject to unannounced changes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TIMOTHY ZAHN is the author of more than forty science fiction novels. He has also written many short stories, as well as Cascade Point, which won the Hugo Award for best novella. His other works include the Dragonback series, of which Dragon and Thief was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and the New York Times bestselling Star Wars novel, Heir to the Empire. Zahn lives in Oregon.

THE DUNE SEA GARRISON is the Arizona chapter of the international Star Wars costuming club known as the 501st Legion. With over 3,000 members worldwide, the 501st, while not sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd., is Lucasfilm’s preferred Imperial costuming group. Members of the Dune Sea Garrison strive to create movie quality, screen accurate costumes of the “bad guys” from the Star Wars Universe. From Stormtroopers to Boba Fett, from Jawas to Darth Vader they strive for quality and accuracy in every costume they create.

Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283

IL – Star Wars Day

Jimmy “Mac” McInerney and Cris Macht celebrate the release of Dark Horse’s new Star Wars series at Challengers on Sunday, January 13, 2013 from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm.

RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

JIMMY “MAC” McINERNEY: Co-host and producer of The ForceCast, the official podcast of TheForce.net & RebelScum.com

CRIS MACHT: Star Wars documentary filmmaker of “The Force Among Us” and the upcoming “The Force Within Us”

Members of the 501st & Rebel Legion – Get your picture taken!

FOOD! Star Wars themed food & cake

PODCASTING! Jimmy Mac will be interviewing people at Challengers and they may appear on the ForceCast!

PRIZES! Everyone that buys a copy of Star Wars #1 will be entered in a chance to win prizes provided by Lucasfilm.

Come on out for a day of Star Wars fun!

Challengers Comics 
1845 N. Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

OR – Scoundrels Signing

Author Timothy Zahn signs at Powell’s Books on Wednesday, January 9th at 7:00 pm.

About the Book:

Ocean’s Eleven meets Star Wars in Timothy Zahn’s Scoundrels, a classic adventure set just after Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The Death Star has just been destroyed and Han Solo still needs the money to pay off the bounty on his head. Now the opportunity to make that money and then some has walked into his life in the form of the perfect heist. With nine like-minded scoundrels, he and Chewbacca just might be able to pull it off and live to tell the tale.

Powell’s Books
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005

NYC – Star Wars Launch Party

Writer Brian Wood celebrates the release of Dark Horse Comics’ ALL-NEW Star Wars #1 at Midtown Comics Downtown on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 6:30 pm!

Get 15% off ALL Star Wars products! Get 25% off ALL Star Wars products for anyone in costume!

Midtown Comics
64 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038

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