Star Wars and Disney make strange bedfellows

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      Confession time: I'm a bit of a Star Wars nerd. I say "a bit" because I'm not enough of a nerd to have extensive knowledge of the Expanded Universe, I don't really care who shot first, and I'm not an apologist for the prequel trilogy (although Revenge of the Sith actually wasn't too bad).

      I am, however, exactly the right age to have grown up with the original trilogy. Between 1977, when Star Wars came out, and 1983, when Return of the Jedi was released, I was between the ages of 4 and 10. In fact, Star Wars (it wasn't called A New Hope back then, padawan) was the first movie I ever saw in a cinema. (And even if it actually wasn't, I'll go to my grave insisting that it was.)

      I have a sentimental attachment to the whole franchise (and not just because of my surname), so I have been watching the long-awaited development of the third trilogy with mixed feelings. Mostly positive ones, though. I was happy when I heard that members of the original cast will be returning. My hopes were buoyed when I read that director J.J. Abrams would be shooting the seventh installment on 35mm film. And I have been pretty excited to see the photos that have leaked out, which show that Abrams and crew are shooting on location, building real sets and props (including the Millennium Falcon), and using practical effects instead of CGI. (Some of those on-set stills showed real dirt and actual smoke! And did you see that big piglike creature?!) I also think it's pretty cool that the CGI work that will be featured is being done right here in Vancouver.

      I must admit, though, that I have been a little leery about the fact that the Star Wars franchise is now in the hands of Disney. Not because I think this will mean the new films will be unduly kid-focused. Hell, at its heart, Star Wars is an elaborate fairy tale, and it has always been for kids—I did mention that I fell in love with it as a preschooler, right? No, my trepidation stems from the great and terrible crossover potential with Disney's other properties. I really, really don't want to see Donald Duck in a Stormtrooper uniform.

      Oops. Too late.

      Well, I sure hope I never have to see Kermit the Frog dressed as Luke Skywalker and Miss Piggy as Princess Leia.

      Oh. All right, then. (Sigh.)

      As you can see from the photo up top, Disney has released a press shot of a lightsaber-brandishing Mark Hamill posing with someone in a Mickey Mouse costume. And not just any old Mickey Mouse costume, but a Jedi Mickey Mouse costume. I'm dying inside. And seeing it on video doesn't help:

      On the bright side, I still think the Abrams movie is going to be great! Maybe. As long as it doesn't feature a cameo by Goofy.

      Comments

      2 Comments

      Bruce

      Jun 6, 2014 at 3:13pm

      Han shot first. Would Mickey have shot first? I don't think so.