Star Wars Rebels trailer debuts on Star Wars Day

Lucasfilm has issued a press release announcing the worldwide premiere of Star Wars Rebels trailer on Star Wars Day:

The rebellion begins this Sunday. The trailer for the upcoming animated series "Star Wars Rebels" will premiere in a global, multiplatform debut on Star Wars Day, SUNDAY, MAY 4th – also known as "May the 4th Be With You," the unofficial fan-driven holiday celebrating Star Wars.

In the U.S., Disney XD will feature the "Star Wars Rebels" trailer during the premiere of LEGO's "Star Wars: The New Yoda Chronicles" at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT. Additionally, the trailer will air on Disney Channel, ABC, ABC Family, Fusion, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 at varying times throughout the day.

The trailer will also debut on Disney XD and Disney Channels in countries spanning across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Australia – reaching approximately 105 million households in over 50 countries, across six continents and over 20 time zones.

Star Wars: Episode VII cast revealed

Big news ahead of May the Fourth!

The Star Wars Team are thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.

Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Star Wars: Episode VII will be directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams is returning as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.

Via starwars.com.

Marvel's Netflix series part of the Cinematic Universe

Joe Quesada (Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment) has confirmed Marvel's upcoming Netflix series is connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will be available to binge-view from day-one.

Speaking on Kevin Smith's podcast, Quesada revealed:

"There will be some interconnectivity, much like the movies. They will exist within the Cinematic Universe again, so this is all the same world as S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers… Although these are superhero stories, this is different now. This is the street level… this is the street level noir side of the Marvel Universe. Something that you haven’t really, really seen in any of our Marvel movies. And probably more ground level, than I think you’ve seen. This is not like us doing Batman, Dark Knight or any of that stuff. This is very much Marvel doing street level superheroes."

"The scripts are coming in. They are pretty fantastic. They’re really emotional. They’re very, very original. But at the same time, it is Daredevil. It is Matt Murdock. We will eventually, hopefully start casting really, really soon, but I’m very, very excited about it."

When Smith asked whether Kingpin would be part of the Daredevil or Spider-Man universe, Quesada remained coy about the villain. “I’m not going to say who the villain is in our story,” answered Quesada.

This July Marvel's Netflix series begins shooting in New York for release in 2015. Presumably to tie-in with Avengers: Age of Ultron.

DC Comics please take note.

Via Live for Films.

Lucasfilm reboots the Star Wars Expanded Universe

I remember the moment I walked into WHSmith and picked up a copy of Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire!

Zahn's book reignited the Star Wars franchise, which lead to Dark Horse Comics' lauded Dark Empire graphic novel, new action figures and my all-time favourite FPS: Dark Forces. Good times!

Under Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy's direction, the company for the first time ever has formed a story group to oversee and coordinate all Star Wars creative development. Some might argue it's an elegant way to maximise monetization of the brand.

"We have an unprecedented slate of new Star Wars entertainment on the horizon," Kathleen Kennedy said. "We're set to bring Star Wars back to the big screen, and continue the adventure through games, books, comics and new formats that are just emerging. This future of interconnected storytelling will allow fans to explore this galaxy in deeper ways than ever before."



To preserve the element of surprise, the new Star Wars trilogy will not tell the same story told in the post-Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe. Fair enough.

Later this year fans will get a taste of the rebooted universe in Star Wars Rebels when the new series exclusively premieres on Disney Channel. Followed by all-new comics from Marvel in 2015.

Hate this? Love this? What's your thoughts?

How HP Z workstations empower creativity

HP’s Z workstations have been designed to meet the demands of professionals who may be working with intricate 3D models, complex datasets, video editing and photography.

HP’s workstations set the “standard for innovation, performance, and reliability” according to the company, and are used in areas such as media, entertainment, engineering, architecture and even life sciences.

HP Z workstations come in all shapes and sizes to fit a users needs; all-in-ones, desktop workstations, and even laptop workstations such as the HP ZBook 14 Mobile Workstation which offers a choice of Windows 8 and Windows 7 versions, a choice of processors including the Intel Core i7-4600U with Intel HD Graphics 4400, and a large 16GB of RAM.

While the types of devices are tailored for desktop and mobile scenarios they all offer the power that professionals require.

The Ultimate CGI showcase powered by HP Z

CGI is a staple of film and television production the world over. Award-winning FX houses The Mill, Milk, Imaginarium and Framestore leverage HP's technology to startling effect as evidenced by this video.



Advanced Video Editing Software on HP Z Workstations

Non-linear editing software has come a long way since pioneering work at Lucasfilm spawned EditDroid and SoundDroid during the production of Return of the Jedi. Here HP showcases how HP Z workstations can be utilised with cutting edge video editing software in time-sensitive environments.



This post is sponsored by Spreaditfast. Opinions are mine.

Nintendo confirms Mario Kart 8 bundle

An interest in purchasing a Wii U has been piqued by Mario Kart 8 and the allure of an official bundle this May.

The £249.99 Mario Kart 8 Premium Pack includes a 32GB black Wii U Premium console, black GamePad controller, the Wii U's sensor bar and a physical copy of Mario Kart 8.

A special edition bundle featuring either Mario or Luigi is available exclusively from Nintendo.

The Wii U has failed to reprise the blockbuster sales of the Wii! However, Mario Kart 8 may be the fillip the console needs and platform exclusive Bayonetta 2 beckons.

Beware the Batman exclusive to Prime Instant Video

My Prime Instant Video Watchlist is brimming with DC Comics' acclaimed animated series: from Batman: The Animated Series to Young Justice.

Beware the Batman is the latest exclusive on the streaming service in the UK.

"This milestone deal signals an exciting time in the growth of our exclusive content offering," said Tim Leslie, Vice President of Amazon Instant Video EU. "We're passionate about investing in the very best shows for our customers of all ages, and this is a great new series for a range of generations to immerse themselves in."

Jeffrey R Schlesinger, President of Warner Bros Worldwide Television Distribution, added: "Bruce Wayne is a character with so many stories to tell, and we're excited to have brought this cutting-edge animated series to a service like Amazon Prime Instant Video. Allowing the Caped Crusader's fans to enjoy all episodes on-demand means new audiences can experience the action-packed world of Beware the Batman whenever they want, however they want."

The Beginning: Making Star Wars: Episode I

The making of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is officially available online.

Anyone with a modicum of interest in media production will find this documentary insightful, and George Lucas' candour is refreshing.

If only Jar Jar Binks had been cut in pre-production...

Doctor Who and Sherlock on Prime Instant Video

Amazon has inked a deal with BBC Worldwide to add Doctor Who and Sherlock to its Prime Instant Video streaming service. Emphasising the company's continued investment in quality content for its members.

These award-winning drama series are already available on Netflix. However, more classic Doctor Who serials would be welcomed.

In other Amazon-related news. The online giant is buying ComiXology for an undisclosed amount. This could have far-reaching implications for the comic book industry.

Amazon Prime Instant costs £79 for a yearly subscription.

Bruce Timm's animated short Batman: Strange Days

A brand new short from producer Bruce Timm featuring a lost tale from Batman's past, the Dark Knight tracks a strange giant to the mysterious lair of Dr. Hugo Strange.



Bruce Timm's Batman: The Animated Series, inspired by Tim Burton's movies, is the quintessential incarnation of the Dark Knight and introduced fan favourite Harley Quinn.