TV/Movie News


New Sneak Peek for CLONE WARS at Celebration Japan

By: Jarrod Sarafin
Date: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Source: Lucasfilm Press Release

When the three-day "Star Wars Celebration Japan" opens at the Makuhari Messe center on July 19, attendees will be some of the first Star Wars fans in the world to glimpse never-before-seen, exclusive footage from the upcoming CG-animated adventure Star Wars: The Clone Wars, created by Lucasfilm Animation.

In a special digital theater that seats nearly 2,000 fans, special presentations will showcase brand-new footage from the animated feature that can be seen only in theaters beginning Aug. 23 in Japan and Aug. 15 in the United States and much of the rest of the world.
In addition, Star Wars: The Clone Wars director Dave Filoni will be a special guest, bringing audiences fascinating new insight into the development, creation and design of the first-ever Star Wars animated movie.

In addition to a chance to meet Filoni and see scenes from the upcoming movie, fans at "Star Wars Celebration Japan" will also get a glimpse of an episode of the "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" television series, which will begin airing this fall.

Famed Japanese animator Atsushi Takeuchi (Kôkaku kidôtai [Ghost in the Shell], Sukai kurora [The Sky Crawlers]), who serves as a guest director on an upcoming episode of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," will join Filoni in a discussion of the singular design of the newest addition to the Star Wars galaxy.

But that's only the start of the fun and surprises for Star Wars fans at the first-ever Japanese "Star Wars Celebration," which commemorates the 30th anniversary of the release of Star Wars in Japan in 1978.


They will also have the chance to receive exclusive Star Wars: The Clone Wars giveaways, as well as meet famed Star Wars actors, including Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO).
Other highlights of the not-to-be-missed three-day event include:

• Presentation of the acclaimed Vader Project, an art installation that filters the essence of Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, through the eyes of popular modern artists and designers – including never-before-seen Vader helmets created by well-known Japanese artists;
• An autograph hall, where fans can purchase photos to be autographed by a number of Star Wars actors and celebrities who will be in attendance;
• Spectacular photo backdrops and replica props and sets, where fans can photograph themselves as part of the Star Wars galaxy;
• A costume contest, highlighting the exceptional costuming talent of Star Wars fans in Japan;
• Special "Jedi Training" and a Star Wars "Family Area" for young fans to share the excitement with their parents and relatives;
• A floor filled with exhibitors and dealers who will be selling both new and vintage Star Wars items in every price range.
• An exclusive Star Wars "Celebration Japan" store, where items can be found that aren't available anywhere else in the galaxy!

Tickets to "Star Wars Celebration Japan" are on sale now and can be purchased at CelebrationJapan.jp (Japanese), or at CelebrationJapan.com (English), where continually updated news on "Celebration Japan" can also be found.

More Content By Jarrod Sarafin
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Comments/Responses
1
Flint521466 • Jul 01, 2008, 04:58pm •
My lil' brother is in the NAVY, stationed in Japan. He plans on going to the SW Celebration. Lucky bastard. Saw a preview for Clone Wars w/the Hulk. Looks cool. Does anybody know if the actors, ie..Hayden & Ewan, are voicing their cartoon alteregos?
Just wondering.

WISEGUY562 • Jul 01, 2008, 05:30pm •
To no one's surprise SL Jackson is back, this guy doesn't know the word NO. C.Lee is there too but I believe no one else worth mentioning is returning. Haven't seen the credits for it yet.

Flint521466 • Jul 01, 2008, 05:40pm •
Thanx, I hadn't heard anything. You know SLJ gotsta get paid!!

akobus • Jul 01, 2008, 07:07pm •
There's a reason really why Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christiensen (I know its mispelled) probably aren't returning, two words TYPE-CASTING, with the exception of Harrison Ford it happened to most of the original Star Wars cast, I mean Hammill and Fisher will be remembered for being Luke and Leia more than anything even though they've done other work.

Old Anakin and Obi-Wan basically got their popularity boosted by starring in the three Prequel films, and now everyone knows who they are, but the Prequel Trilogy ended and now they want to move on to escape being Type-casted into those roles forever.

On the other hand Samuel L. Jackson and Chrisopher Lee were icons before the Star Wars Prequels, so they are probably just reprising their roles for fun and a paycheck, but they will never be typecasted into those characters as they were Secondary Characters (Mace Windu and the Count) anyway, and the actors had flourishing careers before Star Wars.

Dazzler • Jul 02, 2008, 04:32am •
Type casting went out a long time ago if you ask me. After cable was invented is when it died. Everybody should reprise voices. Hell even Luke reprised on Robot Chicken ep's and it a regular on show to boot.

Flint521466 • Jul 02, 2008, 06:40am •
That because Mark Hamill never forgot who butters his bread

tiredjay • Jul 02, 2008, 10:25am •
Christensen openly offered to come back, as widely reported, but Lucasfilm obviously said no.

Ewan McGregor is in no danger of being typecast. I can't believe anybody would seriously even think that.

As for Christopher Lee not being typecast? That's hilarious. He's been typecast since the 60s.

Samuel L. Jackson is the only one who's in danger of being typecast.

velgron • Jul 08, 2008, 07:21pm •
Type casting will not be a problem for most since the SW 1-3 are really not that memorable. But Hayden may be typecasted as a bad actor, not just for SW, but also for most of his work (I don't get his appeal). Samuel L Jackson is the motha of the mofo's, and he's typecasted as that, just as he wanted.


I'm on an evil mood, sorry for the outburst.

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