Of course, the domains could be a mix between possible move titles and video game titles, but they give subtle clues as to what the title will be about. Some of the more notable domain names that were registered include Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Wolf Pack, Star Wars Alliance, and our personal favorite: Wookiee Hunters.

Other domain names include Wolf Pack Adventures, Order 67, Bothan Spies, Gungan Frontier 2, Gungan Frontier 3, and Gungan Frontier 4. Of course, further details on these titles is far from unknown, but it at least tells us that Disney and EA are set to kick it into high gear with new Star Wars installments over these next few years.

Disney acquired Lucasfilm and LucasArts back in October, essentially getting full control over everything Star Wars. However, it came at a cost for the Mickey Mouse company, who paid just north of $4 billion for it all. It looks like that investment will come to good use, though, as Disney looks to milk the franchise for everything its worth.

[via Fusible]

In a recent video previewing The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Peter Jackson slipped in a quick look at what appears to be the cover of the script to Star Wars: Episode VIII. Of course, the video was posted on April 1 (a.k.a. April Fools’ Day), so this could just be Jackson’s own April Fools joke on all of the people who were carefully watching the video.

The reveal occurs at the 4:51 mark in the video, and it happens in a split second. You really can only notice it if you actually pause the video and attempt to see what it is. However, since it was on April Fools’ Day, is it just a funny little prank that Jackson pulled? Or was it a genuine slip-up on his part?

Of course, Peter Jackson isn’t involved in any Star Wars films, but it’s possible that he could be working on Episode VIII, or it’s possible that Disney and JJ Abrams share their work with Jackson, because he’s such an influential movie icon these days. Any input and advice from Jackson always goes a long way.

[via GeekTyrant]

LucasArts created a collection of games over the past couple of decades including such mega-hits as X-Wing vs TIE Fighter and Dark Forces and some relatively lesser-known titles that will effectively fizzle. According to a statement provided by Game Informer, layoffs are imminent, if not already in-effect.

“After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games. As a result of this change, we’ve had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles.” – Disney

Reports today suggest that every single one of LucasArts remaining 150 employees have been laid off this month. This is the last wave, it would seem, of a series of layoffs that span back several years. According to Ars Technica, LucasArts employees numbered closer to 500 back in the mid-2000s. This also isn’t the beginning of LucasFilm’s LucasArts licensing out the rights to games without in-house development.

• Star Wars: The Old Republic – Bioware
• Star Wars: Battlefront – Pandemic
• Lego Star Wars – Travellers Tales

Though it’s always difficult to report news of layoffs in any of the industries we report on, this information can be seen as a positive force for those interested in the further adventures of the characters inside the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and several other LucasArts title universe. Though we’ve not heard specifically about anything beyond Star Wars titles at the moment, we’re certainly all for developers from all over the wide world of gaming taking their crack at A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away!

If you’ll head to Twitter on March 12th (that’s a Tuesday) from 2-2:30 PM PST, you’ll find both Davis and Howard giving a talk – and you can join in if you’d like! Follow #WillowChat and you’ll see the whole epic trading of words commencing. Then comes the features in the actual release!

With this release of Willow as a 25th Anniversary Edition, you’ll find a brand new personal video diary from none other than Warwick Davis – he’s going all-out to promote this, one of this most well-known starring roles. You’ll find matte paintings, photos of on-set bits and pieces, and deleted scenes as well. You’ll be getting a set of remarks from Ron Howard as well – what better wait to gain insight into the making of the classic?

This release will also include a new introduction from Ron Howard to the original 1988 featurette for the film, “The Making of an Adventure.” You’ll also see special effects master Dennis Muren give a new introduction to his bit of the collection, “From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking.” Sounds rather great! We’ll see the release of Willow in its newest fully digitally restored edition on both Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack starting on March 12th wherever fine films are sold.

Have a peek at the timeline below for more Lucasfilm-related business in the recent past – there’s one whole heck of a lot of it!

While fans are sure to be a tad disappointed at the news that we won’t get to see episodes II and III in 3D for an indefinite period of time, there is a ray of light – this move allows Lucasfilm to focus 100-percent of its attention on the new movie, something that will (hopefully) be more satisfying in the long run. The company will announce when it has an update on its plans to release 3D versions of the two movies.

Last week, we reported that Abrams’ role as director had been confirmed on the official Star Wars website, with him being referred to as the perfect director for the job. No one knows if he’ll direct Star Wars movies after Episode VII, but it seems like a strong possibility, with George Lucas and others heaping praise on his past work and expressing enthusiasm about his involvement with the series.

Back on November 16, we reported that Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy has announced plans for 2-3 Star Wars movie releases per year following Episode VII. This followed Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm for over $4 billion. Disney has stated that it will be focusing on social and mobile Star Wars titles, more so than on console games.

[via Star Wars]

Abrams’ role as director was confirmed in a post on the official Star Wars website earlier this evening, with Kathleen Kennedy saying he’s the “perfect director” for a new era of Star Wars. The announcement also confirmed that Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will be penning the screenplay. Star Wars Episode VII, as many of you already know, will be the first in a new series of Star Wars movies that will be made under Disney‘s leadership, after Lucasfilm was sold to the company last year.

Abrams seems to have the blessings of many big names in the movie industry, including Dennis Muren from Industrial Light and Magic and the man who started it all, George Lucas. The creator of Star Wars says he’s “consistently been impressed” with the work that Abrams puts out, going onto say that the Star Wars legacy “couldn’t be in better hands.” Indeed, it seems that Disney and Lucasfilm could have done much worse when it came time to choose a director for the first Star Wars movie in a decade.

There’s no word on whether or not Abrams will direct more movies past Episode VII, but provided the movie performs well when it’s released in 2015, it isn’t hard to imagine Disney asking Abrams to return for more Star Wars films. More details will undoubtedly be revealed as we continue on through 2013, and we’re sure that plenty of fans have many burning questions about the direction Abrams is planning to take the series. What do you think of the choice of J.J. Abrams to direct the next Star Wars flick?

There’s always a problem, though, and this time that problem comes in the form of an Entertainment Weekly interview with Abrams from late last year. In it, he claimed that he wasn’t going to be directing the next Star Wars movie, seemingly settling the case. He’s also got something of a conflict of interest with his Star Trek films, the latest of which will be releasing in May. If he does sign on to direct Star Wars VII, that could potentially cause some issues with the Star Trek series should Paramount decide it wants a third film.

In any case, The Wrap says that LucasFilm’s Kathleen Kennedy has been spending time trying to sway J.J. Abrams to the project, and if these rumors are to be believed, then it sounds like she’s convinced him. Deadline has run a report supporting The Wrap’s claim, supposedly speaking to an anonymous source close to the project who claims that “It’s done deal with J.J.”

Again, keep in mind that with no confirmation from Disney or LucasFilm, it’s impossible to tell whether these rumors are legitimate or false. It goes without saying that you should take a claim as big as this with more than a few grains of salt, so it probably isn’t the best idea to get your hopes up for an Abrams-led Star Wars movie just. We’ll be keeping an ear to the ground for new details, so stay here with SlashGear for more.

As confirmed by StarWars.com and therefor Lucasfilm itself, film writer Michael Arndt will be writing the screenplay for Star Wars: Episode VII. Both Kennedy and Lucas have “begun story conferences” with Arndt, and from what we’ve heard from these heads of Lucasfilm, they’ve got some “blank spots” to fill.

Lucas: I just said that I would back her [Kathleen Kennedy] up and I would be there if – you know, especially with the script, in making sure the script, sort of… there’s a lot of blank spots in the story treatment that hopefully we can fill.

Kennedy: This is not like a series of books like Harry Potter where you’ve already got a template of what the stories might be. These are original stories and original ideas that come out of a world that, essentially, is inside George’s head. The beauty of the collaboration that can continue is that as we work our way through these scripts, if we stop and we say “hmmm, I wonder if this character can do that,” or “does this make sense within the rules of Star Wars.” He’s the keeper of the flame when it comes to that.

Lucas: It’s the same as the first three films. That’s all my job is, is to be the keeper of the flame.

After this one singular confirmation, everyone and their mother has been tipped as on or off of the project here well before they’d actually be called up to join in on the party. The two most important people up for the job thus far have been Steven Spielberg and Conan O’Brien, neither of whom have actually been asked or intend to audition for such a role. Conan has begun a collection of audition tapes – not his own – that parody what it might be like if prominent directors keep with their own genre and move into the Star Wars universe. One example is Wes Anderson, as seen here:

Meanwhile Access Hollywood has point-blank asked Steven Spielberg if he’d be up for directing a Star Wars movie.

“Would you direct one of the Star Wars movies?” – AH

“No. No because it’s not my genre. It’s my best friend George’s genre.” – Spielberg

Then there’s the inevitable questions asked of Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford about the next films. If you take a peek at what Fisher says, you’ll get a terrible lump in your stomach because the only word comes from celebrity tabloids invading her privacy while she’s walking her dog – shame on them – to the point where her answers really don’t confirm anything. So we’ll be waiting on that one, even though TheForce.net did re-report it.

UPDATE: Leslie Gornstein of E! Online has been contacted by a representative of Carrie Fisher who notes: “She hasn’t confirmed anything. Everything you’ve seen has been tongue-in-cheek.” Extremely likely considering miss Fisher’s sense of humor. And the fact that the other “confirmation” she made at a book signing where a fan asked if she’ll be in Star Wars 7, saying “Yes… I thought it was already common knowledge!”

Harrison Ford, on the other hand, has been reported by Entertainment Weekly as being open to the idea of joining the films – or just the first one – and is “upbeat” about it, too.

“Harrison is open to the idea of doing the movie and he’s upbeat about it, all three of them are.” – EW Source

The writer Geoff Boucher reports this information as coming from a “highly placed source” and we’re inclined to believe it as legitimate. On the other hand, he recalls being a moderator for a 30th anniversary screening of The Empire Strikes Back (in the year 2010) where Ford spoke shortly of the franchise’s “ascension in popular culture”:

“I don’t know that I understood it very well. I’m not sure I understand it yet…I was very happy to be involved. I was pleased to be a part of an ensemble.” – Harrison Ford

Boucher also spoke with Mark Hamill about the possibility of Han, Luke, and Leia returning to the series. Hamill noted that Lucas actually “summoned” he and Fisher to a lunch in August (2012) and they “learned about the idea” back then. Whether or not this means that they considered the idea of coming back to the films in-person is not entirely clear. Hamill was frank about the perspective of the fans, on the other hand:

“I can see both sides of it. Because in a way, there was a beginning, a middle, and an end and we all lived happily ever after and that’s the way it should be — and it’s great that people have fond memories, if they do have fond memories. But on the other hand, there’s this ravenous desire on the part of the true believers to have more and more and more material.” – Mark Hamill

Stay tuned to SlashGear as we continue to keep our nose to the grindstone and eyes on the Star Wars universe for more information about the 2015 launch of Star Wars: Episode VII as it appears. At the same time, please feel free to continue to send us all the information you’ve got on the subject, be it a secret tip or an official news blast you’ve seen from your favorite odd source!

[Images via World Famous Design Junkies]

Speaking this week with Entertainment Weekly in their cover story surrounding The Future of Star Wars, Kennedy made dreams come true and shattered many mind-grapes at the same time with a 2-3 movie releases a year announcement. The comment was apparently made first inside Lucasfilm not long after Kennedy was announced to be taking over for Lucas once the $4 billion Disney deal was complete.

This has gigantic implications for the Star Wars universe, especially considering what Disney has done with Marvel Comics since they acquired that massive environment several years ago. Since Disney got to work with Marvel, they made it possible for a knock-out combination of films to be released, including Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers.

The future of the Star Wars industry has been commented on by everyone from Robert Rodriguez to Jon Favreau, who captured it all very nicely with a simple: “I want so bad for it to be good.” With the Marvel universe expanding at a rather rapid rate in the film industry, chances are that Disney isn’t going to let an opportunity such as the one they’ve got here and now with Star Wars get away from them. Now we’ve just to hope they go with the Thrawn Trilogy like a good, sensible film production group would.

It was none other than Robert Rodriguez who made the comment about how quickly the film needed to be made. The excitement that many current big-names in directing and writing are feeling is a direct result of them having been draw into the industry originally by the first trilogy of Star Wars films. Rodriguez is certainly of age to remember the explosive nature of the first time Star Wars came into our universe.

“What an amazing world and legacy George Lucas has created — and it needs to continue in capable hands. I do think Disney is the best studio for the job and the fact that they brought in Kathleen Kennedy? I can’t imagine a better scenario. And 2015 can’t get here fast enough.” – Rodriguez

Kathleen Kennedy was up until now second in command at LucasFilm, and she’ll be in charge of operations now once the company is owned by Disney. Director J.J. Abrams had similar feelings about the situation, having once noted that it was difficult to pull Star Trek out into a major motion picture now in the present while Star Wars was still big, saying now that he’s pumped: “Part of me? Thrilled. Part of me? Terrified. Most of me? Thrillified.”

Disney also acquired Marvel Comics back in 2008, and since its acquisition made several films possible: Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers. Director of Iron Man Jon Favreau spoke up about the situation as well, noting that “The idea of another trilogy that further shrouds the Force in mystery as its secrets are lost to time – that’s extremely compelling. “I want so bad for it to be good. Can you imagine?”

We’ll be waiting too – and SlashGear will be running with no lack of insight on the goings-on inside LucasFilm and Disney as the next three years pass before Star Wars Episode 7 – prepare yourselves, readers!

NOTE: The image at the head of this post is a section of the cover art for Heir to the Empire, one of many possible next-episode storylines that will be followed by the ongoing Star Wars saga. Read it today!

[via Entertainment Weekly]