Archived Rumours X

• Plot Spoiler: Queen's Decoy.
  Rose Byrne when asked how she 'landed' a role in Star Wars Episode 2 she replied that she plays a handmaiden to Natalie Protman's charaacter, the Queen, and they needed someone to at least resemble Natalie since Rose is a decoy.

• More Shooting Locations!
  In preparation for the shooting of the new "Star Wars II" trilogy, work has started on the building of the film sets in the Tunisian south. Filming locations will include Chott El Jerid, Chott El Gharsa and Matmata, on the edge of the Tunisian Sahara.
  On August the 9th in Lenno, Italy, there has been the casting for scenes to be filmed in Villa Balbianello. The newspapers says that filming in Como (the villa is on Lake Como) will begin on September 1st (so we might say that they will be there for a while, then they'll move to Caserta, in Southern Italy, then to Tunisia).-theforce.net

• Plot Spoiler: Lightsaber Battle in the Rain!
  There is a scene in Episode II involving rain. One of the lightsaber battles take place in the rain. As the fighters battle, the rain hits their sabers and sizzles. It promises to be an incredibly stunning sight. ILM and Ben Burtt will have their hands full.

• Yellow Speeder..!
  Apparently there was an Episode II scene with Anakin and Obi-Wan that was filmed in the past few weeks over in Australia - one where the two are riding around in a landspeeder type vehicle. The speeder itself is yellow, and was being filmed getting bounced up and down like it was moving quickly and against blue screen, so it could have taken place on any planet. -theforce.net

• Episode II Spy Photos!
  Here are some spy photos of Episode II cast and crew on the grounds of Fox Studios Australia. Photos include Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor riding push scooters (Christensen has a [cigarette] hanging out his mouth - so THAT'S where Darth's breathing problems came from!) Christensen is also wearing a trenchcoat - his new-style Jedi outfit isn't very visible. McGregor is bearded and his hair is shoulder-length at the back. There are also pics of McGregor and his wife and daughter, and McGregor in his Jedi garb with his personal assistant. The photos are a little grainy and appear to have been taken from outside the complex using a zoom lens.Pictures obtained from Sir Steve Guide -theforce.net
  
  

  Extras!	Left: Ewan and daughter Right: Actor w/phone	Extras!
  Ewan!	Hayden having a break.	Ewan with Obi Wan costume.

  
  

• Coruscant will return in Episode II
  Here's an update from starwars.com; According to them, Coruscant will return in Episode II, and new locales of the cosmopolitan planet will be explored in 2002.

• Episode II Teaser Trailer!
  Last week, theforce.net released a EPISODE II TEASER TRAILER! According to theforce.net, The amazing teaser trailer has reached astounding new heights in the short time since TFN FanFilms first released it. AdCritics.com has just named the EPISODE II TRAILER the #1 Commercial and Reel.com just published a story from Jeffrey Wells about his meeting with the Anonymous Director at San Diego's Comic Con. Total downloads predicted by the week's end is over a quarter-million. Check out TFN FanFilms!

• Jackson: More scenes with Yoda.
  Dark Horizons recently posted an interview with Samuel Jackson; here's a extract of the interview:
  Jackson gets to do far more in this episode of the new trilogy, and says he has more scenes with Yoda. "This time we're more or less on an equal footing", he says. "I still call him Master, but we have casual conversations now; it's not all business between us."

• Aussies join Star Wars cast.
  According to The Age Online, 20th Century Fox, said this week Marton Csokas, Anthony Phelan, Ronald Falk and Phoebe Yiamkiati would join big-screen stars Ewan McGregor, Samuel L Jackson and Natalie Portman in the $115 million Star Wars: Episode II. Click Here! for the full story. Thanks to Chris.

• Christopher Walken Confirmed for Episode II.
  According to AICN, Christopher Walken has been confirmed for Episode II. The announcement should be up on the official site within days. According to them, the character name he is playing is Darth Bane. Thanks to cyatic for the heads up!

• First Official Episode II photo released!
  The official site has just released a production photo of Episodeii !!
  Click Here! to view the photo.

• Casting Updates!
  - Joining the cast of Star Wars: Episode II is Emmy-award winning actor Jimmy Smits. Smits has worked in television he has been honored with an Emmy award nomination. He received six consecutive nominations for his role as Victor Sifuentes in L.A. Law, winning the award in 1990. For his role as Bobby Simone in NYPD Blue.
  
  - Acting legend Christopher Lee would also be joining the cast of Episode II. Christopher Lee has defined the macabre for generations of horror film enthusiasts. His long film career began in 1947. In 1957, Lee appeared in his first Hammer Film Production, The Curse of Frankenstein, opposite Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars: A New Hope). With the success of Frankenstein, Lee would go on to star in numerous Hammer films throughout the 60s and early 70s, often co-starring with Cushing.
  
  - Joel Edgerton has been cast in Episode II. For a young actor, Edgerton has a large body of work on the theatrical stage having played King Henry in Henry V, Prince Hal in Henry III, and others including Road, Blackrock, Third World Blues, and Dead White Males. His work also includes television projects such as The Three Stooges telemovie, The Secret Life of Us and Saturn's Return as well as the feature films Praise, Erskinville Kings, Dogwatch and Sample People. -starwars.com

• A Much Darker Star Wars
  From starwars.com Doung Chiang is quoted saying that Episode II will be darker in tone and style than Episode I.

• Darren Hayes not in Episode II
  A very reliable source of theforce.net has confirmed that the singer, Darren Hayes of Savage Garden is not in Episode II, and even doubted he was ever up for a role. Sounds like wishful thinking, despite the fact that many mainstream media outlets reported it as fact, many even including the role of the actor in Episode II.

• Secret Word!
  Here's something from theforce.net: There's one word that according to an insider we'll not ever hear in Episode II. It seems to be the number one thing fans write in to talk about and if you didn't know it, the armor Boba Fett wears is supposedly from this place. Apparently, the word Mandalorian never appears in Episode II, at least not at this point in the ever-evolving script.

• Australian cast for Episode ii interviewed
  On the entertainment show Premiere, aired in Australia, they interviewed three of the Australian cast for Episode II. Leanna Walsman spoke of how she is playing the 'skilled bounty hunter' and she said that 'it is cool to play a baddie'. Rose Byrne spoke of how she is playing a handmaiden and she and Leanna were chosen by Gurland after Gurland saw them in a play called 'La Dispute'. Rose mentioned how 'we are just people' after speaking on the status Star Wars has, and the affect it could have as an actor. Joel Edgerton was also interviewed and spoke how 'he is playing Anakin's step-brother, Uncle Owen'. -episodeii.com

• Shmi Skywalker will be in Episode ii
  Pernilla August (Shmi Skywalker in TPM) was interviewed on the Swedish TV-show "Dansk skalle, svensk tiger!".

  They didn't talk much about Star Wars, but when asked, Pernilla said she would be in the next Star Wars film and that she got it confirmed only a couple of weeks ago. She also said that she had no idea on how big her role in the film would be, and that the script had not yet been completed. -theforce.net

• More effects in Episode ii
  According to one of the force.net 's source went to at an Art Directors meeting with ILM and the Women from ILM stated that director George Lucas would be leaving to start filming next week. She did also state that this film would have MORE Effects then Episode One.

• Another Episode ii prop!
  Sydney Sun-Herald has an article about Hayden Christensen now training in Australia for the filming of Episode 2 later this month. Included in the artcicle is an Episode 2 prop which looks like Chancellor's Podium. To view the article, Click Here! -theforce.net

• Ray Park in Another Role?
  "The Big Breakfast (UK TV programme) collared George Lucas and Samuel L. Jackson on their way to a premiere/awards ceremony and managed brief interviews/soundbites with both.
  Jackson gave a brief interview - stating that he starts work July 6th and that 'he has a real big fight scene'. George Lucas laughed and said that Sam probably knew more about it than him since he hadn't been to Australia yet but that he'd seen some stuff on tape.
  He also confirmed (again) that Darth Maul wouldn't be appearing but THAT RAY PARK WOULD BE IN THE FILM IN ANOTHER ROLE!" -theforce.net

• Hayden on TV Guide
  In TV Guide for the week of June 10-16, Hayden Christensen is mentioned in the Hollywood Grapevine section. Here is the short article:
  You've probably heard there's a new Anakin Skywaker/Darth Vader tearing up the galaxy. Hayden Christensen beat out all other Hollywood hunks (even Leo DiCaprio was once interested) to land the lead in the next two Star Wars flicks. The 19-year-old already knows a little about the dark side, having played the dope-smoking , acid-dropping teen molested by his stepmom on Fox Family Channel's Higher Ground, a drama about troubled kids. Insiders day he's the most popular kid on the show-- which has not yet been renewed for next year-- drawing 1000 e-mails a week, mainly from kids. The next Star Wars begins shooting later this month. -theforce.net

• Quarshie Declines Role?
  According to theforce.net, a source very close to Hugh Quarshie has told The Danish Star Wars Association that he won't repeat his role as Captain Panaka in the upcoming Episode II. It is allegedly problems surrounding the his contract which has prompted the charismatic actor to turn down Lucas Film. Hugh Quarshie stated in his own humoristic fashion: "They gave me an offer I had to refuse".

• Homing Beacon Update #11
  Episode II -- By The Numbers As producer for Episode II, Rick McCallum constantly has to juggle numbers to make sure the movie is done on time and on budget. Here's a look at some of the numbers being crunched during these final weeks before production begins.
  -- Hundreds Number of people Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard is looking at for potential stunt roles
  -- 300. Number of workers currently involved in construction.
  -- 24 Hours a day sets are in construction.
  -- 1,200 Costumes to be created, similar to the number crafted for The Phantom Menace.
  -- "A lot" The number of different new looks for Natalie Portman, according to Rick McCallum. -starwars.com

• Jackson: I have not seen the script.
  Samuel L. Jackson was on Rosie to promote his new movie "Shaft". He was asked this Episode II question:-
  Did George Lucas tell you how much action your character Mace Windu will see? His answer: I have not talked much to George about Star Wars, and I am shooting the movie next month and I have not seen the script.

• Darren Hayes Interview
  Here's something from theforce.net:
  Darren Hayes of Savage Garden was interviewed and asked about a possible role he might have in one of the upcoming Star Wars films. He simply grinned and said "I can't talk about it." He was later asked to do an impression (which he apparantly likes to do) and did a great Jar-Jar Binks.

• Jedi Training!
  Here's someting from Sun TImes,
  May the force be with you, mate. Very quietly, the forces behind "Star Wars: Episode II" are gathering in Sydney, Australia, where Jedi boot camp begins this week. Hayden Christensen, the 19-year-old newly minted Anakin, will be taught the hard way to love the (Jedi) knight life. "Episode II" producer Rick McCallum says, "As soon as he gets off the plane, we'll be handing him over to (stunt coordinator) Nick Gilland for Jedi training plus hair, makeup and wardrobe. He'll be flat out from the minute he gets here until shooting begins."
  According to theforce.net, Hayden would be arriving in Australia this week.

• Yoda's Screen Test
  During the past few months, ILM animators have been doing CGI Yoda tests. For the tests, the animators have taken footage of Yoda in close-up from scenes on Dagobah from The Empire Strikes Back and have tried to match the puppet movements exactly. Some of the tests have been quite impressive and have followed the old footage precisely. Of course, it remains to be seen if Frank Oz's characterizations as a puppeteer can be properly mimicked for entirely new scenes created from scratch. This CGI Yoda is more than likely a Plan B. Plan A is almost certainly still to have Oz and fellow puppeteers on set. It is conceivable that Yoda's sequences will be shot at a later date after the film that Frank Oz is directing this summer has wrapped. Lucasfilm pretty much has full control of much of the Fox Australia soundstages for quite some time, so that is not really an issue.

• Quarshie: Kept in the dark on the plot
  According to theforce.net, IMDB ran a little blurb talking about how the stars of Episode II are generally being kept in the dark on the plot. Hugh Quarshie, aka Captain Panaka, had the following to say:
  "They have invited me back, which is great, and I'm seriously considering the request. But, let's put it this way - I've got a costume fitting but I've yet to see a script and personally I would like to see a script before we start shooting."
  And the actor says he would pull out of the movie if there is a nasty surprise in the script when it finally arrives. He adds, "I won't be doing it if I die too early in the movie - I don't want that!"

• Battle Tanks in Episode II
  Here's something that was leaked to theforce.net, according to thier source;
  There will be Battle Tanks again in Episode ii. There was some discussion before I was told this and I'm sure this will make Lucasfilm just put his hands on their head and shake it with a grin when they read it this morning. I got a look at the drawings which they had with them. These were the master architectural plans for various places, ships and droids.

• Articles on Hayden Christensen
  Hayden Christensen, the new Anakin for Episode ii, was featured in the Toronto Sun and The London Guardian.

• starwars.com: Naboo, Tatooine and Coruscant will all return
  Starwars.com opened their Episode ii locations section this evening with a partial list of the planets appearing in Episode ii, confirming that Naboo, Tatooine and Coruscant will all return.

• starwars.com: "We're making the movie"
  May 24, 2000 -- In the past few weeks, subscribers to the free starwars.com email newsletter, the Homing Beacon, were told about the return of actors Anthony Daniels and Ian McDiarmid, and ILMers John Knoll and Rob Coleman to Episode II production. They also received a run-down of some of the production activities in the busy first week of May.
  That week of firsts was nothing compared to the frenzy of activity currently surrounding the film, according to Producer Rick McCallum. "We're down to the wire trying to get everything ready for when George [Lucas] arrives in Australia," McCallum explains. "This is when everything major happens. We're making the movie."
• Naturally, the crew is still buzzing about the casting of Hayden Christensen as Anakin. "Everyone's excited because I showed them some of the screen test," McCallum said. "He's really an unknown. I think the casting sends the signal that we're living by our word and that we are anxiously working to deliver something new with this film."
• When Christensen arrives in Australia in a few weeks, it will be anything but a vacation. "As soon as he gets off the plane we'll be handing him over to Nick Gillard for Jedi training," McCallum smiled. "Plus hair, wardrobe, makeup. He'll be flat out from the minute he gets here until shooting."
• Of course, Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard hasn't been waiting for his new pupil like a hermit. "Nick has been doing lots of interviewing," McCallum reports. "He's been going to a lot of fight clubs all over Sydney and seeing hundreds of stunt fighters."
• Having had time to settle into his new location, McCallum is definitely enjoying life down under. "The weather is much better in Australia," he grins. "It's hard work, but Sydney is a great place to be doing it. While we enjoyed England equally, we're having a great time. The studios are great and the people are fantastic." -starwars.com

Rumour Highlight

One of the lightsaber battles take place in the rain. As the fighters battle, the rain hits their sabers and sizzles. It promises to be an incredibly stunning sight

Episode II Information

-- Hundreds Number of people Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard is looking at for potential stunt roles
-- 300. Number of workers currently involved in construction.
-- 24 Hours a day sets are in construction.
-- 1,200 Costumes to be created, similar to the number crafted for The Phantom Menace.
-- "A lot" The number of different new looks for Natalie Portman, according to Rick McCallum.

Episode II Spoiler

Coruscant will return in Episode II, and new locales of the cosmopolitan planet will be explored