By: Dominic
Jones
Star Wars
Celebration Europe is just around the
corner. Soon Star Wars fans from around the world will be gathered at the
Messe Essen for three days of non-stop Star Wars goodness. As is the case
with every Celebration, CEII features a jam packed schedule with more panels
and activities than anyone person could experience in a week, let alone three
days. The challenge for fans now is what do they want to see and what
should they miss. And with the future of Star Wars looking brighter than ever
and so many new projects on the horizon, you never know what might be revealed.
Here are, what I
feel are, the can't miss panels of CEII.
Friday
Designing a Galaxy: Doug Chiang and Ian McCaig
Where: Celebration Stage
When: 2:00pm-3:00 pm
Official Description:
Artists Doug
Chiang and Iain McCaig, both instrumental in shaping the look of the Star Wars
saga, reunited at the start of this year as part of the team assembled to
create an exciting new future for the Star Wars saga. On the Celebration Stage
they will discuss their careers, their work on past Star Wars films, and show
some of their incredible artwork from earlier projects.
Why it's
can't miss:
This panel will
feature a rare on stage reunion of two of the most influential Star Wars
artists. The designs of both McCaig and Chiang were crucial to the
prequel trilogy and were the inspiration for many iconic characters from Star
Wars: The Clone Wars. In additional, it has been confirmed that these two
are among the artists working on future Star Wars films and while the official
description says they will only be showing art from previous projects, you
never know what they might bring...
Secrets of Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Where: Behind the Scenes Stage
When: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Official Description:
Learn more
about the making of the hit television series. The Clone Wars Supervising
Director Dave Filoni will join host Pablo Hidalgo to share behind-the-scenes
stories and answer questions about the ground-breaking production.
Why
it's Can't Miss
Anytime Dave
Filoni speaks, it's worth listening. Filoni is an expert on all things
Star Wars and a protege of George Lucas' and a fan favourite a Celebration -
you only need to see one of his famous Q&As to understand why. Plus
this will be a great opportunity to hear the behind the scenes stories from
what was the best show on TV for the past five years and who knows, maybe we'll
even learn something about it's future...
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Where: Digital Stage
When: 5:00pm-7:00pm
Official Description:
Experience
one of the most epic Clone Wars story arcs of all time in a feature-length
theatrical format. Season five episodes “Revival,” “Eminence,” “Shades of
Reason,” and “The Lawless,” featuring the hypnotically evil and legendary Darth
Maul, have been edited together into a special directors cut specifically for
Celebration attendees. Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Dave
Filoni is scheduled to introduce these exclusive screenings, and share insights
into their inspiration.
Why
it's Can't Miss
Four
of the most action packed and ground breaking episodes ever, cut together into
a feature length presentation featuring content that was censored by Cartoon
Network, plus an introduction by Dave Filoni - this one practically sells
itself! The episodes being screened feature two of the greatest
lightsaber duels put to screen, ever, and will make you laugh, cheer and
cry. Seeing Revival on the big screen at Celebration VI was incredible,
I can only imagine the rest of the arc will follow suit.
30th Anniversary Outdoor Return of the Jedi Screening
Where: Tummelwiese, Grugapark
When: 7:30pm-9:30pm
Official Description:
In recent
years, few have had the good fortune to see Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the
Jedi theatrically. Even fewer, however, have seen it on the big screen,
outdoors, and under the stars. Star Wars Celebration Europe
attendees now have that chance! In this special evening event, fans can attend
a free outdoor screening of Return of the Jedi in honor of the classic film’s
30th anniversary. Food and beverages will be available to purchase in the park,
and attendees are welcome to picnic while they enjoy the movie.
Why it's
Can't Miss
Celebrate the
30th anniversary of Return of the Jedi at an outdoor screening with thousands
of other Star Wars fans...nuff said.
Saturday
Kathleen
Kennedy: Her Celebration Debut!
Where: Celebration Stage
When: 10:30am-11:30 am
Official Description: Kathleen Kennedy, the President of Lucasfilm
and producer of Star Wars Episode VII, is making her inaugural Star Wars
Celebration appearance on the Celebration Stage. Kennedy, one of the most
successful and respected producers in the movie industry today, will talk with
host Warwick Davis about her amazing career and her recent move to Lucasfilm.
This will be a landmark experience especially for fans at Star Wars Celebration
Europe!
Why it’s Can’t Miss:
Kathleen Kennedy
is one of the top producers in Hollywood, who’s credits include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and many, many more and the opportunity to hear
her speak about that alone would make this worth while. Oh and she’s also president of this little
company called Lucasfilm and producing a film some of you out there might be
looking forward to called Star Wars Episode VII. Expect Kennedy to discuss what convinced to
her to make the move to Lucasfilm and where the production is on Episode VII,
and maybe reveal a secret or two about the film...
First Look:
Star Wars Rebels
Where: Celebration Stage
When: 12:30pm-1:30pm
Official Description:
Exclusive for Celebration Europe, a
first glimpse into the production of Star Wars Rebels, an exciting, all-new
animated television series slated for release in 2014. Rebels executive
producer Dave Filoni, who was supervising director of Star Wars: The Clone
Wars, will discuss the inspiration for the new series. Rebels is set between
the events of Episodes III and IV, an era spanning almost two decades of Star
Wars stories that have not yet been explored on screen. Details about the show
are a closely-guarded secret at this point, but fans at Celebration Europe can catch a first look into production.
Why it’s Can’t Miss:
After the disappointing
news that The Clone Wars is “winding down”, Star Wars Rebels was the
announcement that brought the excitement back the fans of Star Wars animation
on television. The series, which is
slated to be released in 2014, features Exectutive Producers Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars), Greg Weisman (Young Justice), and Simon Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes, untitled Star Wars
spin-off film) and not much more than that is known about it. Dave Filoni revealed on RebelForce Radio that
fans can expect to see some of the locations and vehicles that will be
appearing on the series revealed at the panel.
Plus you never know what other surprises they may have in store.
Master’s
Challenge: Dave Filoni with Pablo Hidalgo and Leeland Chee
Where: Behind the Scenes Stage
When: 5:30pm-6:30pm
Official Description:
Dave Filoni, executive producer of Rebels and supervising director of
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, knows a thing or two…or three…about the Star Wars
galaxy. Can he, with help from members of the audience, stump resident Star
Wars experts Pablo Hidalgo and Leland Chee? Here’s your chance to test your
Star Wars knowledge against Lucasfilm’s finest!
Why it’s Can’t Miss:
Dave Filoni indirectly previewed
this panel during his latest appearance on RebelForce Radio, where he revealed
that Hidalgo
and Chee know the names of the ugnaughts who try to stop Chewie from recuing 3PO. Expects lots of laughs as the three experts
sit down for an interactive trivia contest.
Sunday
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the
Clones in 3D
Where: Digital Stage
When: 10:30am-1:00pm
Official Description:
At these exclusive Celebration Europe
screenings, Star Wars fans can see Attack of the Clones in 3D. With a new focus
on the production of Star Wars: Episode VII, Lucasfilm had postponed a wide
release of its 3D editions. Fans at Celebration Europe
will have the opportunity to experience the iconic moments of the movie like
never before. Everyone who attends one of the special Attack of the Clones 3D
screenings will receive a pair of souvenir 3D glasses created exclusively for
Celebration Europe by RealD®, sponsor of the Digital Stage.
Why it’s Can’t Miss:
If you were disappointed
that Lucasfilm cancelled the 3D rereleases of the Star Wars prequels, then you
are in luck. There are three exclusive
screenings of Attack of the Clones throughout the weekend, so be sure to take
in at least once. Also high attendance
to these screenings may show Disney/Lucasfilm that it’s worth their while to
continue with the rereleases, it’s a long shot – but you never know...
Mark Hamill:
The Jedi Returns
Where: Celebration Stage
When: 2:30pm-3:30pm
Official Description:
Don’t miss Mark Hamill on the
Celebration Stage, interviewed by host Warwick Davis. The actor who portrayed
Luke Skywalker, and the talented voice actor behind iconic characters, Hamill
will share Star Wars memories and stories from his career.
Why it’s Can’t Miss:
Hamill is one of
those guys who I could just listen to talk all day. Expect lots of great stories from the set of
the original trilogy and from his voice acting career. After seeing his panels at CV and CVI, I can’t
wait to see him again on stage during CEII.
Plus with Episode VII on the horizon, this is prime time for Luke to
make a return to the big screen...
Celebration Europe Closing Ceremonies
Where: Celebration Stage
When: 4:00pm-5:00
Official Description:
Finish your Star Wars Celebration weekend in the best possible way at
the Closing Ceremonies. We’ll look back at some of the best moments of the
weekend – some that you might have missed – and look ahead to the exciting
future. Celebrate the memories together with your friends. Hosted by Warwick Davis, David
Collins, and Pablo Hidalgo.
Why it’s Can’t Miss:
There’s no
better way to end the convention then with a look back at all the fun that was
had. Plus if the Celebration VI closing
ceremonies were any indication we can expect an announcement or two about the exciting
future for Star Wars fans.
So there you have it, the panels I am most excited for and plan on attending. If a panel is not on this list, but sounds good to you, you should absolutely attend it as a you are almost certainly going to have a great time. In Part II I'll be tackling some of the panels that are just don't fit in my schedule, but may be perfect for yours! Coming Soon...
This article is an opinion piece and represents the views of the writer, and not the entire Star Wars Underworld organization.
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