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Liam Neeson Returns to Star Wars

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Liam Neeson is lending his voice to a pivotal, 3-episode story arc set to premiere this Friday on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. On Friday’s episode, entitled “Overlords,” The Clone Wars reaches its approximate mid-point as a series, and Lucasfilm Animation is giving the show a fittingly epic storyline for this turning point.

Hot off the “Savage Oppress” story arc, in which the season finally heated up with a turn away from all the political maneuvering and (spoiler alert!) we learned that Darth Maul might have somehow survived his Episode I encounter with Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Clone Wars are finally digging deep into the mythology of the Force and Anakin’s status as the Chosen One. “Overlords” finds Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka drawn to a mysterious planet called Mortis, where Anakin learns about his destiny from a family of unusually-powerful Force users. Pernilla August also returns to voice her film character, the late Shmi Skywalker, Anakin’s mother.

Cartoon Network has been promoting Season 3 with the tagline “Secrets Revealed,” and this story arc appears to contain most of those promised secrets. Lucasfilm is touting “momentous revelations” along with some stunning betrayals. Below you’ll find a pair of brief clips from the episode. I for one will be on the edge of my seat!

Clone Wars Unveils New Character Models

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This week’s episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a milestone in the series’ history, because it introduces brand new CGI character models for Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano.

Showrunner Dave Filoni explains that since the show is getting ever-closer to the events of Revenge of the Sith, it was time for the characters to reflect the changes they’ve gone through, to get them more in-line with what’s to come. As a result, Anakin and Obi-Wan both sport new clothes that more closely reflect where they are in Episode III. Ahsoka doesn’t appear in the films (leading most fans to assume she has a sad fate before the end of the Clone Wars) but Filoni decided to update her appearance as well, to show how much she’s grown, both in age and maturity as a Jedi.

Filoni says the new models are more expressive, and use newer tools of the trade. To this reporter’s eyes, they appear to be less angular than the old models, with softer edges. Below is a short clip that Lucasfilm Animation produced to introduce the new models.

‘Clone Wars’ Imports George Lucas’ Movie Character

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars is continuing to explore every last nook and cranny of the Star Wars universe, that there wasn’t time to highlight in the films. The latest aspect to fall under the magnifying glass? The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it character “Papanoida” that was played in Revenge of the Sith by none other than George Lucas himself. Lucas is not voicing the character that borrows his likeness.

Clone Wars‘ upcoming episode “Sphere of Influence” upgrades the character with a full backstory, bringing him to the forefront when Papanoida’s family is kidnapped and held for ransom. The three children in the story are modeled after Lucas’ own children, Jett, Amanda, and Katie, though none of the real-life Lucas siblings lend their voices to the production either. “Sphere of Influence” takes viewers into the underbelly of Coruscant, where Papanoida gets revved up into a blaster-shooting action hero, Han Solo style.

I’m curious to see how fans will react to this one. Fun tribute to Star Wars’ creator, or self-serving waste of a half hour? Decide for yourself when “Sphere of Influence” airs this Friday night, October 1st, on Cartoon Network. Here’s a quick glimpse at Papanoida in action:

Clone Wars Season 3 premiere date + trailer

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You may or may not recall that Star Wars: The Clone Wars was originally proposed as a five-season, 100-episode series that chronicles the events of the Clone Wars between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Jedi. If that’s still the plan, then it’s hard to believe that we’re almost halfway through.

The CGI animated show really hit its stride in Season 2, with numerous multi-episode arcs and some of the most imaginative storytelling from the franchise since the original trilogy. Cartoon Network has just announced that Season 3 will premiere with a one-hour episode on Friday, September 17th at 9:pm EST/PST. Season 3’s 22 episodes will unfold on subsequent Friday nights.

Lucasfilm Animation’s hyperbole-filled press release hints at major developments, describing the new season this way:

As war continues to rage throughout the galaxy, the dark side grows even stronger and the Jedi Knights are pushed to the breaking point.  The lines between good and evil become blurred as secrets are revealed, truths are questioned and alliances are betrayed. Loyalties are tested as new enemies emerge and heroes rise — and fall. In this transformative new season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, surprises wait at every turn, the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance and the destiny of the “Chosen One” will at long last be uncovered.

Don’t we already know who the Chosen One is? That’s kinda what the whole prequel trilogy was about. Anywho, here’s the teaser trailer for Season 3:

Clone Wars season finale

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The second season finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars airs this Friday. “Lethal Takedown” features the return of the teenage Boba Fett, and Cartoon Network is promising that one character will “pay the ultimate price.” (Here’s hoping it’s Anakin’s annoying protege, Ahsoka.)

Clone Wars has grown on me. It was the definition of cheese when it first began, but its quality and depth have increased steadily since it began. It’s found its groove, and while it’ll never be Mad Men in terms of storytelling, it’s a great little half hour of science fiction.

I’m pleased to present this special preview of “Lethal Takedown”: