George Lucas advised Kathleen Kennedy to bring back Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett

In the new documentary Disney Gallery: The Book of Boba Fett, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy reveals that George Lucas advised her to bring back Temuera Morrison as Boba:

“When George first spoke to me about Boba Fett, he immediately said “I cast this amazing actor from New Zealand called Temuera Morrison to play Jango Fett”. He said “If you ever do Boba Fett, you should cast Temuera to play Boba because he’s such a remarkable actor.””

As is known, Lucasfilm followed Lucas’ advice and Morrison returned as Boba in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

Boba is the unaltered clone of Jango, who was played by Morrison in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Morrison actually already played Boba before The Mandalorian, but only as a voice actor (in the latest versions of Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and several video games).

Check out some concept art of Plo Koon for The Mandalorian Season Two

The upcoming book The Art of The Mandalorian (Season Two) includes some concept art of Plo Koon as the Jedi who saves the heroes at the end. The Prequel Trilogy character was actually used as a stand-in for Luke Skywalker, because the higher-ups wanted to keep Luke’s return under wraps. But the concept artists didn’t know that at the time.

And here’s concept art of Cobb Vanth’s speeder, made from a podracer engine.

(sources: Gizmodo, ComicBook.com)

George Lucas ‘has been very complimentary’ about The Mandalorian, says Dave Filoni

From The Hollywood Reporter:

“On Nov. 12, Disney+ launched with a major offering for subscribers: the first live-action Star Wars show and the most meme-able new TV character on the internet. Executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni’s The Mandalorian, which stars Pedro Pascal as a mysterious bounty hunter, fueled Disney+ to impressive signup numbers (the service now reaches more than 60.5 million paid subscribers) and was rewarded with 15 Emmy nominations, including a drama series nom that is rare for a sci-fi show. Filoni, who for years has masterminded many of Star Wars‘ popular animated shows, is also nominated this year for Star Wars: Resistance. The pair took a break from postproduction on season two (due out in October) to recall keeping Baby Yoda (which they call The Child) a secret and George Lucas’ reaction to the series so far. […]

Dave, you are very close with George Lucas and are considered by many fans to be his heir apparent. What kind of feedback did he give you about season one?

FILONI Not a tremendous amount. We talk about other stuff. When I talk with him, I like to get more knowledge. He’ll give me some reminders, especially before I shoot something, about how many setups I should try to get in a day, and I might rack his brain for certain things about how to cover a scene. He’s been very complimentary. I think he’s enjoyed the show, and he said once [that] now he gets to watch it as a fan and watch it as a viewer. My job is to bring that knowledge forward and pass on what I’ve learned from him in every discipline to Jon and to the creative departments. […]”

The Mandalorian publishing program revealed

From StarWars.com:

“Fans of the The Mandalorian will soon go deeper into the world of the Disney+ series than ever before.

StarWars.com is thrilled to announce a new publishing program dedicated to The Mandalorian, featuring books and titles for fans of all ages. The series kicks off this fall, with releases planned through the winter and spring. Check out the list below for a look at some of what’s in store, and get a sneak peek at the cover for The Art of The Mandalorian (Season One) featuring a new illustration by Lucasfilm’s Doug Chiang:

• The Art of The Mandalorian (Season One) by Phil Szostak; cover by Doug Chiang
• The Mandalorian: Original Novel (adult novel, Del Rey) by Adam Christopher
• The Mandalorian: The Ultimate Visual Guide (DK) by Pablo Hidalgo
• The Mandalorian: Allies & Enemies – Level Two Reader (DLP) by Brooke Vitale
• The Mandalorian: 8×8 Storybook (title to be revealed later) by Brooke Vitale
• The Mandalorian: Junior Novelization by Joe Schreiber

In addition, The Mandalorian-inspired comics are coming from Marvel and IDW Publishing, and magazine, novelty, and coloring and activity titles are on the way from Titan, Studio Fun, Crayola, Thunder Bay Press, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Dreamtivity. Younger bounty hunters can look forward to a Little Golden Book and a Screen Comix retelling of Season One.”

Rumor: Katee Sackhoff to play Bo-Katan in The Mandalorian season 2

From /Film:

“Battlestar Galactica star and Star Wars veteran Katee Sackhoff is joining The Mandalorian season 2. We have exclusively learned that Sackhoff will be playing a live-action version of Bo-Katan Kryze, a Mandalorian warrior she previously voiced in Dave Filoni’s animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and later Star Wars Rebels.

Although both Lucasfilm and Sackhoff’s reps declined to comment, we have confirmed this story with multiple sources. She filmed her role back in February before Hollywood production shut down due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Sackhoff has made a career of playing complex sci-fi tough women, recently appearing in Netflix’s sci-fi drama series Another Life. The Mandalorian season 2 completed principal photography in March and the post-production is being done remotely, so the new episodes will still hit Disney+ in October 2020.

Bo-Katan first appeared in season 4 of the Star Wars animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The character was a Mandalorian warrior – a lieutenant in the radical splinter group Death Watch, second-in-command to the group’s leader, Pre Vizsla. When Maul took possession of the Darksaber, executed Vizla, and took the throne of Mandalore, Bo-Katan refused to accept the outsider as her new leader. She was instrumental in recruiting the Jedi and the Republic to lay siege to Mandalore and oust Maul. Later in Star Wars Rebels, Sabine Wren chose to pass the infamous weapon to Bo-Katan, believing that she could unite the Mandalorian clans.

If you don’t know the animated series, it all boils down to this: Bo-Katan was an instrumental Mandalorian leader who once wielded the Darksaber, a weapon that the villainous Moff Gideon now controls, as seen in the first season finale of The Mandalorian. […]”

Report: Temuera Morrison to play Boba Fett in The Mandalorian

From The Hollywood Reporter:

“The Mandalorian is bringing a familiar helmet back to the Star Wars galaxy.

Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett in 2002’s Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, will appear in season two of the Disney+ Star Wars series.

Sources say Morrison will play Boba Fett, the famed bounty hunter who first appeared on the big screen 1980’s Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and who seemingly died in 1983’s Return of the Jedi as he fell into a sarlacc pit. Actor Jeremy Bulloch portrayed the character in the original trilogy.

Boba Fett is expected to play just a small role in season two of the series, after the character was teased in the season one episode “The Gunslinger,” when a mysterious figure sporting the bounty hunter’s trademark spurs approached the apparently lifeless body of Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen).

In Attack of the Clones, one of the storylines revolved around the discovery of a secret army of clones being amassed. The clones were built off of Jango. And it was further revealed that fan favorite Boba Fett was actually a clone Jango, being raised as his own son. Daniel Logan played a young version of Boba Fett in that film. While sources say Morrison is playing Boba Fett, it’s always possible that something sneaky involving cloning is going on.

The Mandalorian season two is slated to bow in October on Disney+, and will also include series newcomer Michael Biehn and features directors such as Alita: Battle Angel‘s Robert Rodriguez and Ant-Man‘s Peyton Reed.

Morrison appeared in 2018’s Aquaman as Tom Curry, father to Jason Momoa’s hero, and had a role in last year’s Dora and the Lost City of God. He has kept his connection to Star Wars by voicing Jango and Boba Fett, as well as other characters, in various Star Wars video games. “

Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian trailer revealed

From Star Wars:

“Go beyond the making of The Mandalorian. Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, an Original Series, starts streaming May the 4th, only on Disney+.”

‘Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian’ documentary series announced

From StarWars.com:

“This May the 4^th, also known as Star Wars Day, a brand-new series debuting on Disney+ will take us behind-the-scenes of the first Star Wars live-action series, The Mandalorian. What started as a fan-generated grassroots holiday, Star Wars Day has become a full-fledged celebration of the Star Wars saga embraced by the entire galaxy. This year, fans can look forward to the highly-anticipated conclusion of Star Wars: The Clone Wars alongside the global premiere of the new eight-episode documentary series, Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian.

In Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, executive producer Jon Favreau invites the cast and crew to share an unprecedented look at the making of the series that quickly became a pop culture phenomenon after premiering last November. Each chapter explores a different facet of the first live-action Star Wars television show through interviews, never-before-seen footage, and roundtable conversations hosted by Favreau himself.

“Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian is an opportunity for fans of the show to take a look inside and get to see a different perspective, and perhaps a greater understanding, of how The Mandalorian came together and some of the incredibly talented contributors throughout Season One,” said Favreau. “We had a great experience making the show and we’re looking forward to sharing it with you.”

Topics this season include the filmmaking process, the legacy of George Lucas’s Star Wars, how the cast brought the characters to life, the series’ groundbreaking technology, the artistry behind the show’s practical models, effects, and creatures, plus the creative influences, the iconic score, and connections to Star Wars characters and props from across the galaxy.

Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian will premiere on Monday, May 4, with new episodes every Friday on Disney+.

And, after seven seasons, one of the most critically acclaimed chapters in the Star Wars saga, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, will come to a close the same day, giving fans around the world the chance to watch the finale together for Star Wars Day.

The Emmy award-winning continuation of the greatest space fantasy of all time, Star Wars: The Clone Wars was created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm Animation with Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian) serving as executive producer/supervising director. With ambitious, ground-breaking computer animation, classic characters, astounding action, and the timeless battle between good and evil, Star Wars: The Clone Wars expands the Star Wars story with all-new adventures set in a galaxy far, far away. The series finale explores the events leading up to Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, and will premiere on Monday, May 4, on Disney+.”

Rumor: live-action Ahsoka Tano series being planned

From Star Wars Unity:

“Recently it was confirmed that Ahsoka Tano would be making her live action debut in the second season of The Mandalorian, and Rosario Dawson has been cast as the fan-favorite character from The Clone Wars and Rebels. If everything goes to plan, her appearance in the second season of The Mandalorian won’t be the only time we see the character in live action.

According to a source who has been 100% accurate when it comes to the Disney+ series, they are planning on spinning off Ahsoka into a live action series following Season 2 of The Mandalorian, but it’s very very early in development. It’s not known how this will connect or affect the rumored animated Rebels sequel. […]”

Rumor: Rosario Dawson to play Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian season 2

From /Film:

“We have exclusively learned that Rosario Dawson will appear in The Mandalorian season 2 and are excited to report that she will be playing a fan-favorite character previously only seen in the Star Wars animated productions. Dawson will be playing a live-action version of Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi padawan apprentice who appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. This would be the character’s first appearance in live-action.

Dave Filoni, the co-creator of Ahsoka in animated form, is a writer, producer, and director on The Mandalorian. He made his live-action directorial debut helming multiple episodes of the first season, and we saw a couple of weeks back that Dave Filoni had returned as a director for the second season. We have confirmed this Dawson casting with two independent sources. We reached out to Lucasfilm to request a statement from the company or Dave Filoni, but received no response. We have been chasing this scoop for a month now and have reached out to Rosario’s reps, who also didn’t respond.

This is a fan-casting dream come true. In 2017, a fan tweeted at Rosario Dawson, asking her to appear in a Star Wars movie as Ahsoka, and the actress responded, “Ummmm… yes, please?! #AhsokaLives” This tweet spurred groups of fans to campaign for her to play the role. Dawson was later asked about the fan campaign while appearing on Good Morning America, and she commented that “It would be amazing!” […]”