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Lucas Financing 200 'Star Wars'-related TV Episodes


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Most of this is known already, of course. But here it is anyway...

 

George Lucas says that his upcoming animated series The Clone Wars is so far removed from typical animated TV fare that "we're still trying to figure out how to put it on the air." In an interview with the online edition of TV Guide, Lucas said that the series would be rated PG-13 if it were a movie. "Everybody's got the same conundrums -- 'How do we program it? Where does it live? Where can we put something like this?' You know, it has to go [on the air] after 9:00 p.m. and it can't be on a kiddie channel." But while the series doesn't fit into a convenient "niche" for advertisers and programmers, Lucas said, "It's Star Wars and it's really good, so I'm sure somehow or another, people will also start thinking outside the box and it will find its home." Lucas indicated that he is independently financing 100 episodes of the animated series as well as 100 episodes of a live-action Star Wars-based series that has not yet begun shooting. "We're just doing them on the faith that we're going to [sell them]," he told TV Guide. "But I have enough confidence that this is good, and I'll make it really good, so I'm not too worried about that part of it."
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Written in a sarcastic tone: Of course Lucas is taking a huge gamble in financing the television programs himself. I just hope he makes his money back and does not end up living on the streets.

 

Didn’t he do the exact same thing with all the movies except the original? He did it so that the studio could not tell him what or how to do something. He took the risk, (a very low one IMO) and reaped the majority of the reward (as it should be). Just looks to me that he is setting himself up to another huge payday. Every network will be throwing money at Lucas for either of these programs. Not that I care as long as we get to see more of the Star Wars universe.

 

They should put Clone Wars on Adult Swim.
Agreed, but only if Cartoon Network is in HD when these come out.
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waitasec.... The clone wars series isnt going to comprise the whole 200 hours is it ?? This figure was originally reported as teh sum total of the 4 seasons of live action series plus the animated series...

 

as for distribution.... I think one of George's concerns is piracy.... Theres no way he can stop it appearing on the net as soon as the first episode is aired anywhere.... but is there a way to minimise it, as well as release it to as many countries as possible... ??

 

If these babies were available on amazon at $1.99 an episode before they appeared on FTA TV here, I can see that Im going to start putting aside some cash for it ;)

 

One thing is for sure, TV will never be the same....200 hours of SW...c'mon !!! The hype and hullabaloo of a SW premiere for several years !!

 

mtfbwya

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If these babies were available on amazon at $1.99 an episode before they appeared on FTA TV here, I can see that Im going to start putting aside some cash for it ;)

He's doing it for the box sets...

 

A couple of series of the CW and Live Action as DVD or HD-DVD box sets = KA-CHING for Mr Lucas!

 

No matter where or when it gets aired, the DVDs will sell for lightyears to come just like the movies...

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Not surprised to hear that GL is willing to put his money where his mouth is by self-financing his new SW for TV productions. 100 episodes each of Clone Wars 3-D animation and live-action SW goodness. Let's see, that is about 4-5 seasons for each show, depending on how many episodes they do in a season. I guess it's probably 5 seasons as they're more likely to go 20 episodes/season than 25 episodes/season.

 

I've got digital cable now so I should be able to watch these shows on whatever TV channel they end up on. ;P

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I wonder exactly how loaded GL is if he can finance all this. I know the live action series will most likely be a big cost per episode for sets, special effects, props, cast, etc. I don't know about the CGI Clone Wars, as I don't know the usual budget for a purely CGI-made show. I'm just glad I have HDTV so I can watch it the best way, if it does come out on an HD channel. As for channels, I'm guessing Fox, since the movies themselves sported the golden spotlights. Star Wars just doesn't seem like it should be on the Sci-Fi Channel, since Star Wars is beyond conventional Sci-Fi IMO. As for Cartoon Network, they can only have the CGI Clone Wars, since the live-action series is obviously not a cartoon. Even then, it doesn't seem like the usual material in the generic Cartoon Network list, or for Adult Swim. Who knows, maybe they'll just ship everything straight to DVD.

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I wonder exactly how loaded GL is if he can finance all this.
Conservative estimate is that he is worth $3.9 billion.

 

"Star Wars creator working with fellow billionaire Steven Spielberg on 4th installment of Indiana Jones franchise; newest chapter slated for May 2008. Directed first movie, THX 1138, while studying film at U. of Southern California. Then Star Wars: original 1977 film remains 18th-best-grossing movie of all time with $800 million worldwide. Combined worldwide box office of all 6 Star Wars films: $4.3 billion. Combined sales toys, other merchandise even richer: $13.5 billion. Founded Industrial Light & Magic special-effects shop in 1975; now handles trickery for myriad blockbusters (Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean). Moving to TV: 3D animation series Star Wars: The Clone Wars in production, set for 2008; no sale to network yet."

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