NYCC Report: 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'
This weekend, a cloud of nerdiness loomed darkly over New York's Javits Center, bringing with it a storm of body odor, sword salesman, and more costumed, overweight versions of famous characters than Frank TV. It was the New York Comic Con, and I braved the crowds and movie panels to bring you special reports.
After showing up horribly late, the first panel I attended was on the upcoming animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It was a packed room, eager to find how how Lucas would further dilute their cherished series. Here's what I learned:
- Anakin's padawan--a new character named Ahsoka Tano--was described as "a feisty, fiery, and very funny character." As funny as Jar Jar? We could only hope.
- The producer or whatever (I came in late and didn't catch who was speaking) said the new film is so immersive that "it will almost be like the clone troopers walked off the screen and into your living room." At this point, several fully-costumed clone troopers walked onto the stage, simulating the claimed effect. It would have been more impressive if I hadn't already seen forty other guys walking around dressed as Star Wars characters.
- Lucas was originally going to be only marginally involved in the production; now he's gotten hands-on, stopping by to monitor progress once a week. Take this as you will (it's probably bad).
- Just as the previous Star Wars episodes attempted to create a new battlefront environment with each film (ice planet for Empire, jungle for Return of the Jedi, etc.), The Clone Wars does the same: this time it's fighting up a sheer cliff. The clips I saw weren't as Wile E. Coyote-inspired as it sounds, and it looked reasonably entertaining.
I don't think the preview has arrived online yet
