While news on next installment of the “Star Wars” saga remains at the whims of Disney and Lucasfilm, that are instead spending time reminding viewers of the films that got it all started. Last week, the original teaser trailer for the first “Star Wars” arrived, notable for being pretty fairly underwhelming. But it seems for “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back,” everyone was so confident the followup to George Lucas’ smash hit would be a success, they didn’t bother any footage at all.
The original teaser trailer for ‘Empire’ has officially been dropped online, and all it needs to sell the sizzle is some voiceover and disorienting zooms and pans of Ralph McQuarrie‘s concept art. Well, that’s certainly one way to do things, and frankly, if they did that for ‘Episode 7,’ fans would eat it up regardless. A premonition of things to come? We’ll see… eventually… as the J.J. Abrams directed flick is still two years off.
But since we’re here, let’s drop in a couple of nuggets that are worth mentioning here, we suppose. The rumors around Benedict Cumberbatch‘s involvement in ‘Episode 7’ continue to swirl thanks to his non-denial denials, such as this recent statement to CraveOnline: “I was a massive schoolboy fan of [‘Star Wars’] you know? I still am. I love that series of films and I really, really enjoyed working with J.J. It was a trip and he’s a dear friend. And he knows, he knows my number and that’s all that anyone knows,” the actor said. “It’s not up to me to speculate. There’s been enough of that already. So let’s just wait shall we? Until J.J. goes and asks the people he wants to come and play with him. And then I’ll talk about it.” HMMM.
Meanwhile, Anthony Daniels aka C-3PO, sent fans in a tizzy at the New York Comic-Con thanks to this exchange during a Q&A, suggesting he too would be back for ‘Episode 7’ (via Business Insider):
Audience member: You’re the only actor who did all six movies.
AD: Yeah. I’m the only one who did all six movies.
Audience: And maybe seven?
AD: That was sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. There was a “Clones War” movie, I think, I’m not sure about that. I lose track. Yes, I’m the only actor to be in all seven, because either people died or they got –
[Audience gasps]
AD: Six, whatever!
[Cheers]
AD: I didn’t mean it. [Daniels looks up, and begins speaking to George Lucas at the imaginary hidden cameras.] I was just teasing them! All right, I’ll see you later then.