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Welcome
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Roderick Vonhögen's
Virtual Edition
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| March 2006 |
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Virtual Sequel themes
18th March 2006 |
| Plotting and conceptual artwork continues for the Virtual Edition Sequel Trilogy ! As I keep my eye out for possible virtual cast members - see the february editorial for the 'casting call' ! - I thought it might be a good opportunity to describe some of the themes that Scott and I are touching upon in the narrative. |
| Taking the conclusion of episode 6 as a starting point, we saw Luke learn a little more about his heritage and family, and Leia reveal the recalled "images" of their mother. Although the Sith Lords had been destroyed, Yoda had warned that the Dark Side is within us all. The Second Death Star may have been destroyed, but the Imperial Empire has not disappeared. |
| So 'family' and 'heritage' will be prominent themes as Leia comes to terms with her parents' fates, as well as her hopes for the future married to Han. Similarly, Luke must rebuild the 'Jedi family' that had been cut down by his father, as well as look to his own future happiness. |
| Amidst treachery, another primary theme will be 'freedom'. Often presented as an escape from oppression, We will repeatedly be looking at different facets and forms of slavery (whether it be from the tyranical Imperial regime, spirits constrained to the mortal world, or even something like drug addiction), and the final liberation of those who are bound. |
| As regards a glimpse of new artwork by myself and Scott, here is Luke meditating on the state of a Force-viewed galaxy .... |
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.... Scott's depiction of the grand court of Barrola the Hutt presiding on Nal Hutta .... |
| ....and a mythically creepy setting for a crypt also by Scott ! |
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| Taking the old Star Wars drafts as inspiration, over the course of the VE-ST we'll be visiting such worlds as Townowi, Nal Hutta, Kyber, and Had Abaddon, and returning to familiar planets such as Naboo and Kashyyyk ! |
| And some nuggets of information on the live-action TV series have been revealed in the wake of Rick McCallum's appearance at the recent EMPIRE awards. |
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"They'll be one-hour episodes", said McCallum. "The series takes place between Episodes III and
IV. It's going to be all-new characters, maybe a few bounty hunters in
there to start the series off. [Script and concept development at the
moment], but it's fantastic; we've got some incredible writers. It's
going to be much darker, much more character-based". Fan site TFN and the BBC soon picked up the story, with the latter adding, "It would cover the 20 years in the life of Luke Skywalker growing up
that remains a mystery to most film-goers. It's unlikely any of the stars of the movies would be involved in the TV series." |
| Now, although a little contradictory, this makes me think that the Jedi Purge, following Order 66, will be illustrated by showing the role of
the bounty hunters. This in turn will give those hunters seen in the OT all the more impact, including Jabba who made reference to "an old Jedi mind trick". We may well follow Luke's own adventures on the "planet farthest from the bright centre", but I would be very surprised if he will make up all 100 episodes ! Furthermore, although existing actors would unlikely return, it is conceivable that Darth Vader could be presented in CG or simply as a new suited actor (ideally voiced by James Earl Jones !), while a new actor could fill the transitionary shoes of Ewan McGregor and Sir Alec Guiness as Ben Kenobi learns from Yoda and Qui-Gon. |
| Nathaniel Reed, 18th March 2006 |
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