Respawn Entertainment CEO Briefly Talks About Upcoming 'Star Wars' Game

Still from Respawn's segment of EA's E3 2016 Look Ahead video

By: Dominic Jones

Founder and CEO of Respawn Entertainment, Vince Zampella (creator of the Call of Duty and Titanfall franchises) spoke with IGN recently and touched briefly on the upcoming 3rd person Star Wars game his studio is currently developing.  Zampella spoke about how a visit to Bad Robot Studios during the production of The Force Awakens that inspired him to pitch a Respawn Star Wars game to EA and how the game nearly didn't happen.  Check out the video below (the Star Wars talk begins at 41:12),

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Star Wars Content Added to Bad Robot's 'Action Movie FX' App

By: Dominic Jones

The popular 'Action Movie FX' app by Bad Robot Interactive has been updated to include new Star Wars content, including content from The Force Awakens.  The app is available for iOS devices in the Apple App store and all proceeds from the app will go to Lucasfilm's "Force For Change" initiative benefiting UNICEF.  Check out the awesome trailer for the Star Wars update below,

Action Movie FX + Star Wars = Mind blown! http://apple.co/ActionMovieFXStarWars
Posted by App Store on Thursday, November 5, 2015

The Star Wars features included on the app are (via: App Store),

STAR WARS update includes: exclusive access to 7 FX made by the same VFX and sound design teams who made the feature films!
- 3 FX from the original trilogy: Vader’s Revenge, Lightsaber Fight and AT-AT Smash
- 4 FX from the new film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Falcon Battle, BB-8 Spark, BB-8 Escape and BB-8 Surprise
- FREE Star Wars FX: BB-8 Spark
- Bad Robot will donate 100% of the sales price of Star Wars FX packs to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support UNICEF Kid Power (from Nov. 5, 2015 to May 5, 2016)

This looks like a lot of fun, be sure to share your creations with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Source: Star Wars (Facebook)

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Ben Affleck Reveals Origin Of Batman V Superman/Star Wars Crossover Rivalry

By: Benjamin Hart

You've probably seen or heard about the crossover rivalry between Zack Synder and J.J. Abrams. The directors of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Star Wars Episode VII, respectively, have had an ongoing back-and-forth on Twitter these past few months that have given us several fantastic photos, and one video, that crossed Batman and Superman with the Star Wars universe. From the beginning it was a mystery as to the reasons behind the this duel, but now Batman himself is here to set the record straight. Ben Affleck, who is playing the Caped Crusader in Batman V Superman, recently spoke with Yahoo and spilled the beans on the origin of the rivalry:

“I think it was started because J.J. [Abrams] and Colin Anderson, who is a great [camera] operator who always works on my movies, and J.J. is always trying to steal, and I’m trying to steal back, sent me a picture of the two of them wearing cheap Batman masks,” Affleck revealed. “I showed it to Zack [Snyder], and said ‘this is bulls***, we have to do something.’ And Zack had the means at his disposal to retaliate with appropriately art-directed stuff….I think it’s cool. The sort of meta-awareness of these movies, and the two directors going back and forth… I like it, it’s cool.”

You can hear Affleck's comments a video here.

Many, including myself, believed that the contest could be hinting at Snyder's possible involvement in future Star Wars projects, which he was previously rumored to be. But now it appears we can finally put that speculation to rest, at least for now. Nevertheless, J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot Studios certainly upped the ante with that last video, so I do hope this rivalry continues!

If you happened to miss the rivalry thus far, you can check out our reports on the various chapters of it here, here and here.

Source: Yahoo Movies
Via: SuperHeroHype

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Bad Robot Reveals Batman Easter Egg On Millennium Falcon

By: Benjamin Hart

So you might have heard that Zack Snyder and J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot studios have been in a bit of a rivalry lately about who can create the best Star Wars/Batman/Superman crossover. Well, it appears Bad Robot may have just won the contest.

A few minutes ago Bad Robot tweeted a video titled "HUNKA JUNK" that features a fly-by of the starboard side of the Millenium Falcon. But as the camera moves towards the bow and under the ship the music changes drastically and it focuses in on a specific piece of the hull and reveals that... well, just watch:



Yes, that's right. A tiny version of Batman's Tumbler from the Dark Knight Trilogy is attached to the underside of the 'Falcon. Pretty cool, huh? Last week Snyder set the bar high when he tweeted a photo of a Stormtrooper being arrested in Gotham City. Now it looks like Abrams has won the day... But is this contest over? I certainly hope not!

Source: Bad Robot(Twitter)

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J.J Abrams Sends 'Force For Change' Thank You With Robotic Hand

By: Benjamin Hart

Just a few weeks ago the Star Wars: Force For Change initiative to benefit UNICEF ended. Throughout the campaign director J.J. Abrams encouraged fans to participate to have a chance at winning a role in Star Wars Episode VII. He even filmed a few videos on the Episode VII set, which you can watch here and here.

Today, Abrams' production company Bad Robot tweeted an interesting photo thanking everyone who took part in Force For Change. In it, hand written not from J.J. is being held by a familiar-looking robotic hand.

#ForceForChange @starwars #EpisodeVII @omaze @UNICEF #uinnovate @UNICEFinnovate pic.twitter.com/pCAbhcjKxn
— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) August 11, 2014

Now, I think it's safe to say we're all thinking the same thing at this point; could this be the hand of Luke Skywalker? Many recent rumors have pointed to Luke's hand and Lightsaber being a macguffin of sorts in Episode VII. And if this is indeed a human hand, I'd say this is a pretty solid confirmation of those rumors. But let's not jump to conclusions just yet. Considering how many different kinds of Droids there are in the Galaxy far, far away, plus the ongoing trend of Skywalker's losing right hands, this very well could be something completely different.

So what's your theory? Let us know in the comments below!

Update: Lucasfilm has revealed a video featuring D.C Barns, whom J.J mentions in the note, being surprised with the news of winning a role in Episode VII!

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Zack Snyder VS Bad Robot On Twitter

By: Benjamin Hart

Zack Snyder, whom most know as the director of such films as 300(2006), Man Of Steel(2013) and the currently filming Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice(2016), has been sharing some intriguing Star Wars themed tweets as of late. Snyder has yet to have any professional connections to Star Wars, which makes this all the more interesting. The first thing Snyder himself tweeted was a photo of Superman actor Henry Cavill dressed in black cloak and wielding a red Lightsaber.

#SuperJedi pic.twitter.com/PyNbELK8UZ
— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) July 24, 2014

And he didn't stop there. Later he tweeted another photo, this time featuring Batman and R2-D2 in a Tatooine-esque canyon. This sparked even more speculation. Could he be hinting at an upcoming Batman/Superman/Star Wars crossover of some kind? Or maybe he's next in line to direct one of the Star Wars stand-alone films? Well as far as we can tell(so far), this is nothing more than Zack having a bit of fun.

BATMAN & R2BIN @bad_robot pic.twitter.com/yWPmGPKJ3f
— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) August 2, 2014

But the plot continues to thicken. Yesterday, Star Wars Episode VII director J.J. Abrams' production company, Bad Robot, responded to Snyder with a fascinating photo of a very Batman-like C-3PO overlooking a cityscape and the Rebel Alliance Starbird symbol being projected on the clouds above.

THE C3PED CRUSADER @ZackSnyder pic.twitter.com/wh0m6GF15p
— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) August 8, 2014

So what's the point of all this? Well, Batman News reports that the first photo is actually a set photo from Batman V Superman. Apparently Henry Cavill and other cast members must wear black robes in between filming scenes to hide their costumes. A little on set fun and photoshop magic led to what you see above. The second picture with with Batman and Artoo was actually done with miniatures, as this tweet points out. And still no word on the context of Bad Robot's Threepio photo, aside from the obvious.

So, does all this add up to something? Is a Superman V Luke Skywalker or Batdroid film in the works? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Sources: Twitter, Batman News

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JJ Abrams Responds to Leaked Set Photos, Confirms Millennium Falcon for Episode VII

By: Dominic Jones

Anyone who's been following Star Wars news over the past two days knows that over 60 pictures from the set of Episode VII have been leaked by TMZ.  Director JJ Abrams, who's been known for his love of secrecy, responded in the best possible way.  Abrams production company Bad Robot tweeted a picture of a note from JJ on the set, which read,

"I wish people would stop leaking photos from Episode VII and making ridiculous claims that the Millennium Falcon is in the movie.  -JJ"

The best part, the picture of the note, showed it on the Dejarik table from the Millennium Falcon!  This, to me, is confirmation that the Millennium Falcon will be making its triumphant return to the silver screen on December 18, 2015.

pic.twitter.com/wQYfaVtwFU
— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) June 4, 2014

I must give kudos to JJ for a well played response to the leaks.  It also says to me that anyone who was worried about spoilers in the leaked photos, need not worry about having the film ruined for them by looking at the pictures.  Even JJ Abrams isn't worried about you seeing those pictures!  Plus it's great to get the confirmation of the Falcon being in Episode VII, even though it was expected.

Source: Bad Robot

You can follow Dominic on Twitter: @DominicJ25

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Report: Bad Robot Santa Monica Facility Being Updated for Episode VII

By: Dominic Jones

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that JJ Abrams production company Bad Robot is updating their Santa Monica facility in preparation for Star Wars Episode VII.  While the film will be primarily shot in the U.K, the Santa Monica facility will be used for post-production. The facility already includes editing bays, screening rooms, and studio for making props, will reportedly be updated to include a green room and sound stages.  

This report is still unconfirmed by Lucasfilm or Bad Robot.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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Is the Episode VII Script Finally Done?

By: Dominic Jones

After months of hearing that they'd really begin moving forward on Episode VII when Michael Arndt's script is done, could the aforementioned script finally be done?  JJ Abrams' production company Bad Robot tweeted an image of some scripts with the description "Hot off the presses. Can you guess what's behind the cover? #FoundAtBR #MysteryScript"

Hot off the presses. Can you guess what's behind the cover? #FoundAtBR #MysteryScript pic.twitter.com/VFvoxedpqC
— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) July 17, 2013

While there is no confirmation that this is the Episode VII script, what else could it really be?  The script is too thick to be for television and Star Trek 3 doesn't seem to be far enough along in production for there to be a script.  Also production on Episode VII is expected to begin in early 2014, so if they plan on following that schedule they need a script.  Plus we know that casting descriptions have been sent out and a story would need to be pretty close to finalized for that to happen.  

All signs seem to point to that being the Episode VII script but, as usual, nothing is official until confirmed by Lucasfilm or Disney.

Update: TheForce.Net has confirmed that this is not the Episode VII script.

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