Movies

Star Wars Bits: LucasArts, Daniel Day-Lewis, And J.J. Abrams' Lens Flare Addiction

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By Angie Han

Notorious lens flare addict J.J. Abrams takes the first steps toward recovery, just in time to shoot Episode VII. Also after the jump:

  • Yes, Samuel L. Jackson is still interested in Episode VII
  • No, Episode VII will not shoot in New Mexico
  • Daniel Day-Lewis has an interesting lunch date
  • The real story behind LucasArts' demise is revealed

    • They should figure out a way to bring my (rear) back from wherever I went when I fell out that window, because you know a Jedi can fall from incredible heights and not die. I'd just come back with a fake hand like Darth Vader and my purple lightsaber.

    Here's hoping this is the time J.J. Abrams was listening. [Playboy via USA Today]

    Meanwhile, Daniel Day-Lewis hasn't publicly spoken about a desire to appear in Star Wars Episode VII, but his reported choice of lunch companions has us wondering if he's considered it in private.

    Or maybe he just wanted to meet them so he could express his intense admiration for Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. You don't know his life. [Latino Review]

    It appears that Han, Luke, and Leia won't head to Planet Heisenberg after all. Contrary to rumors that Episode VII could shoot in New Mexico, a new report indicates that the state was "never on the list" to begin with. The project "is being filmed in London," the source added. [ABQ Journal]

    Fans of J.J. Abrams have (mostly lovingly) mocked his use of lens flare for years, and it seems the filmmaker has finally heard them. He admits that his habit may have gotten out of hand, and apologizes for those who were hurt by his addiction.

    I know I get a lot of grief for that. But I'll tell you, there are times when I'm working on a shot, I think, 'Oh this would be really cool... with a lens flare.' But I know it's too much, and I apologize. I'm so aware of it now. I was showing my wife an early cut of Star Trek Into Darkness and there was this one scene where she was literally like, 'I just can't see what's going on. I don't understand what that is.' I was like, 'Yeah, I went too nuts on this.'

    This is how stupid it was,. I actually had to use ILM [Industrial Light & Magic] to remove lens flare in a couple of shots, which is, I know, moronic. But I think admitting you're an addict is the first step towards recovery.

    Stay strong, Abrams. [Crave]

    While the news that LucasArts had shut down was deeply disappointing, it wasn't entirely surprising. Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm was bound to lead to some restructuring, and the game studio was coming off of some rough years. Now an in-depth report reveals how it really went down.

    Even before Disney purchased LucasFilm, the parent company of LucasArts, in November of 2012, the studio faced serious issues. LucasArts was a company paralyzed by dysfunction, apathy, and indecision from executives at the highest levels.

    "The bay area is filled with people who have had their hearts broken by LucasFilm or LucasArts," said one person connected to the studio. "The sad legacy of multiple presidents, multiple layoffs... there's a lot of people out there who've been treated badly by the company."

    Get the rest of the story at Kotaku.

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