5 top Star Wars VII rumours

Here at Stealth Media Films we’re as excited as anyone about next year’s Star Wars VII. In the digital age the rumours around the hotly anticipated film are running wild on the internet. In fact, the chat has reached a crescendo this week with Luke’s severed hand and Jar Jar Binks’ return leading the way.

So, to save you time Googling what’s being said, we decided to put all the conjecture, rumour and outright fabrication in one easy to digest blogpost.

Luke’s missing hand

One rumour that surfaced to us seems, a little ridiculous. The rumour involves Luke’s severed hand landing on a distant planet. Presumably this is the hand that Darth Vader severed during the infamous “I am your father” sequence in Empire Strikes Back.

The rumour seems to have developed further and indicates that it’s not ‘that hand’. We’re big fans of the Star Wars series, and we can’t remember Luke losing two hands, so we’re a little confused about this.

The hand is supposedly found by John Boyega and Daisy Ridley who team with Han Solo to track down Luke and return the hand (which is still gripping a Lightsabre – ouch).

The Emperor strikes back

Ian McDiarmid is brilliant throughout the series as Emperor Palpatine. For those who recall, he’s killed off in Return of the Jedi. This fact, hasn’t stopped the rumour mill online, who claim that McDiarmid is set to return as an Obi style ghost.

McDiarmid was speaking at the London Film and Comic-Con earlier this month, where he said he was “definitely” not in “Episode VII. That’s put that to rest then, or has it?

Jar Jar is back

Jar Jar Binks is set to return? We’re not sure this much reviled character will be turning up in part VII. This hasn’t stopped the rumour mongers who claim that Jar Jar will be played by actor Andy Serkis.

Andy has been kind enough to reveal that he definitely won’t be playing Jar Jar Binks.

Darth Vader

Darth Vader died in Return of the Jedi, however, spies on the set have reported that Vader’s costume has been seen, namely the iconic helmet. The original sculptor of the helmet, Brian Muir, recently admitted online that he was returning to work on the new series.

He fuelled conspiracy theorists when he later deleted the post.

If any of these rumours prove to be true we at Stealth Media films wouldn’t be too surprised, it’s certainly fun speculating on what the film-makers have in store for a new generation of Star Wars films. 

Who Are the Top Five Stars of Tomorrow?

It’s an exciting time to be an up and comer in Hollywood, and Stealth Media Films believes that’s especially true for these five emerging Hollywood stars.

Lupita Nyong’o

This woman is all anyone can talk about at the moment. Why is that? Well she’s pretty darned impressive. She rose to fame in a supporting role in film epic 12 Years a Slave, after graduating from the Yale School of Drama, and off the bat, she won an OSCAR.

You’d think that most people would stop and take a breath after such a stunning achievement, but Lupita is not most people, and she’s determined to become a Hollywood legend, clinching an upcoming role in the latest Star Wars movie! We so can’t wait!

Adam Driver

Another up and comer in Hollywood who’s slated to take a trip to a galaxy far far away in the next outing of the Star Wars franchise is Adam Driver; an acting talent set to take Hollywood by storm.

Driver first came to our (and the world’s attention) in massively popular HBO television series Girls, and has since gone on to appear in a number of prestige projects over the last two years, including Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln and the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, cementing his position as one of tinsel town’s most credible rising talents.

Karen Gillan

Whoever would have believed that little Amy Pond would have ever gone so far without the help of that flying blue box. Increasingly, Gillan is establishing a presence in Hollywood, and is set to take the US by storm.

She’s done a few projects since saying goodbye to the Doctor, including creepy horror flick Oculus and fluffy rom-com Not another Happy Ending. Now, she’s slated to appear in blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, and new US television series Selfie; it looks as though Karen is rising through the ranks faster than ever.

John Boyega

Go back six months and it’s unlikely you’d have ever heard of this emerging star. Boyega’s turn in Joe Cornish’s alien adventure flick Attack the Block had put him on some people radars, but since then, he’d kept a low profile with unremarkable TV roles.

What a difference a few months makes. First, he appeared in the first episode of Fox’s highly anticipated series, 24: Live Another Day, then was cast in what is believed to be a main role in the latest Star Wars movie. Suddenly, his future is brighter than the sun on Tattooine.

Stacy Martin

This British actress pretty much was thrown in at the deep end with Lars Von Trier’s four hour erotic epic Nymphomaniac, but she rose to the occasion, enchanting audiences and critics alike. Now she’s clinched a role in Ben Wheatley’s anticipated adaptation of JG Bellard’s High Rise, and is set to make a splash in Hollywood circles. 

Stealth Media Films’ Top Five Classic Rom Coms!

In a salute to love this week, we thought we’d take the time, here at StealthMedia Films, to list our top five rom coms of all time!  Get ready for waterworks!

They Make Us Believe in the Power of Love

There’s nothing better than breaking out the popcorn, cracking open a bottle of wine or two, and  settling down on the sofa with your loved one for an evening of classic rom-comy goodness.

Literally, a romantic-comedy, they are made to get us to laugh and cry in equal measure, ultimately getting us to once again believe in the power of love. Considering just how depressing love can be sometimes, they’re practically preforming a public service!

Stealth Media Films’ Classic Top Five

A truly classic rom-com is like a long-term relationship – we love it so much, we can’t help but go back and watch it again and again. In the course of Stealth Media Films’ extensive rom-com watching career, we’ve found that these top five films typify the rom-com genre!

The Proposal: Career enthusiasts everywhere cried tears of joy when 2009 rom-com The Proposal was first released.  Starring Sandra Bullock as a career obsessed Canadian woman looking for a green card, and Ryan Reynolds as the assistant she marries to get it, this situation comedy has us crying into our popcorn every time!

You’ve Got Mail: First released in 1998, You’ve Got Mail has been hailed as the rom-com that brought the genre into the digital age. Starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as a couple who fall in love through the use of e-mail, it practically gave birth to the modern online dating phenomenon!

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson reminded us of the thin line between love and hate in ode to accidental love, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. If only it were this exciting for the rest of us!

The Holiday: Romance and Christmas go together like PB&J, which is why we never get tired of classic Christmas rom-com, The Holiday, First released in 2006, and telling the story of two lovelorn women (Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) who find love after swapping homes for the holiday season, it single-handedly continues to give hope to singletons everywhere whenever the holiday season rolls around.

Serendipity: Another holiday rom-com, Serendipity was the film that reassured the lovelorn singles of the world that you may meet the partner of your dreams when you least expect it. For that, this holiday classic will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Stealth Media Films Believe These Five Pop Stars Should Never Have Gone Into Movies!

Don’t you groan with despair when a pop star decides to act? Stealth Media Films does, and in our opinion, here are five pop stars, who really never should have tried.

Pop Stars, Please Stick To Singing

We love pop stars here at Stealth Media Films. We think they’re amazing and we’re so thankful that they’re making music. Emphasis on the music. What we don’t love is when they forsake music for an attempted career in Hollywood.

That’s because – and we know you’re all thinking it – the vast majority of pop stars can’t act. Admittedly, some can, and they’re pretty damned fantastic. Most of them though, are just so wooden there’s no possible way you can believe they’re even playing a human, never mind a complex character that’s supposed to be someone we can actually identify with.

Stealth Media Films’ Top Five

Of course some pop stars stand out more for their abysmal performances than others, and in our opinion, here are the top five pop stars who had no business transitioning to the big screen:

Britney Spears: The one time Britney tried acting resulted in the blight on humanity that was Crossroads. We still shudder every time we even think about it.

Madonna: Admittedly, she’s had some success with flicks like Desperately Seeking Susan and Evita, however she’s had a hell of a lot of stinkers too. Madonna, you’re never going to get an OSCAR, please stop trying.

Snoop Dog: Yes Snoop Dog or Snoop Lion or whatever moniker he’s going by these days tried acting in 2004 comedy Soul Plane. The lesson we learned here; Snoop Dog’s only funny when he’s not actually trying to be.

Christina Aguilera: It actually seemed that XTina would be able to pull off her performance in 2010’s Burlesque. In actuality, it just left you feeling slightly uncomfortable. We’re thankful she’s stuck to singing since.

Jennifer Lopez: She’s always going on about how she’s still so real, but the truth is, her performances in films like Maids of Manhattan and Gigli, couldn’t have been less real.

So let that be a lesson to any pop star out there who’s thinking of trying their hand at acting. You’re great at singing, why don’t you just stick to belting out the pop tunes we fell in love with you for?

Film4 looking for new boss

Stealth Media Films was keen to learn about the announcement earlier this year by Film4 boss Tessa Ross that she was stepping down from her post at Film4 to become head of the National Theatre. The announcement was made in March this year but ScreenDaily is now reporting on the likely candidates jostling into position to interview for her role.

Tessa Ross over saw production on a string of acclaimed films including Slumdog Millionaire, In Bruges, This Is England, The Last King of Scotland and more recently 12 Years a Slave. 

She leaves a long and successful legacy behind her at Film4 and her successor will have large shoes to fill.

The Contenders

London based David Kosse is currently president of international for Universal. He’s opted to stay in London when it was announced that he job was relocating to LA. He’s the favourite candidate for many in the industry. However, former head of drama at Channel 4 Liza Marshall is also a popular choice. Marshall had TV hits with The Red Riding Trilogy and The Long Firm.

Two other contenders are in with a chance for the role, these are Jenny Borgars and Alison Thompson. DNA’s Allon Reich has also been mentioned as an outside chance for the 

appointment, which could be a job share between two people.

Film4

Film4 has an important part to play in the UK film community, a healthy and well run Film4 is good for the UK film industry as a whole. At Stealth Media Films we’re pleased to see that all the candidates have a strong commercial mind set. It’s important for the sustainability of Film4 that some of their films do have an impact at the box office.

Slumdog Millionaire is a great example of the perfect Film4 production, a worthy and important subject combined with a populist approach that resulted in a box office bonanza and multiple industry awards. Film4 is a leader in this field, as the worldwide success of 12 Years a Slave has proved.

The high profile of Film4 under Ross has been a great aid to the wider film industry in the UK. Ross leaves her post to become chief executive at the National Theatre towards the end of the year. It’s fair to say UK film industry types will be keeping a keen eye on who takes over.

Stealth Media Films

Our current slate of films includes the eagerly anticipated Gummy Bear the Movie featuring the voice of John Travolta. We’re always keen to hear from parties interested in film investment, and we’re available for comment on film industry investment news. If you’re considering film investment you can contact Stealth Media Film Investments here. 

Stealth Media Films is pleased that the ‘Force is Strong’ for UK film production

Stealth Media Films was pleased with the news this week that yet another Star Wars film is set to shoot in the UK next year. Chancellor George Osbourne (not Chancellor Palpatine) was proud that his tax breaks are helping to keep the UK a first choice for film production.

American film companies benefit from choosing the UK as a production centre with 25% tax relief on the first £20m of qualifying expenditure and 20% thereafter. This is proving an attractive draw for companies looking to get maximum bang for their buck.

Tradition of the Star Wars Franchise

The treasury reported a massive boost of over 14% in film production investment on the previous year. In 2013 alone there was a massive £1bn investment into UK film production. It’s not just the tax breaks that attract film-makers, it’s also the talent and expertise of UK film technicians.

Disney and Lucasfilm have decided to shoot at Pinewood Studios which is a great boost for the UK industry and those employed here. It’s also in keeping tradition with the Star Wars franchise, the original film was partly lensed at Elstree Studios.

The Chancellor Speaks

Visiting the set of the current Star Wars film, the Chancellor George Osbourne praised the decision. "Lucasfilm and Disney's decision to shoot the Star Wars standalone movie in the UK is testament to the incredible talent in Britain," said Mr Osborne.

"This will mean more jobs and more investment. It is great news for people working at Pinewood Studios, from the set designers to the carpenters.

"As Chancellor I have been determined that we back our brilliant creative industries which is why we have invested in skills and training as well as providing tax relief for films, high-end TV, animation, video games and regional theatre.

"The further changes the Government made to the film tax relief at Budget 2014 will support our highly skilled, innovative creative sectors so that they continue to thrive and encourage more films to be made in the UK."

Stealth Media Films

At Stealth Media Films our current slate of films includes the eagerly anticipated Gummy Bear the Movie featuring the voice of John Travolta. We’re always keen to hear from parties interested in film investment, and we’re available for comment on film industry investment news. If you’re considering film investment you can contact Stealth Media Film Investments here.

UK Box Office Spellbound by Maleficent

It’s official, dark sorceress Maleficent has taken over the world. News sources announced that the Disney Film topped the UK box office over the weekend, and left us all spellbound. This week Stealth Media Group asks: just what is all the fuss about, and what are the reviewers saying?

Maleficent Clear Winner at UK Box Office

With the power of dark magic, a classic story of the anti-heroine, Angelina Jolie in the title role and the weight of the Disney film-making machine by its side, Maleficent steamrollered over its competitors this weekend, dominating the UK and Ireland box office with a power we can only call cataclysmic.

In its debut weekend, it managed to amass £6.6 million in the UK, knocking X Men: Days of Future Past into second place. Furthermore, the hype around the film hasn’t died down stateside either, as it cruised to the top of their box office last weekend. What’s in store for you if you’re thinking of taking a trip down local cinema to judge the Disney production for yourself?

The Tale of Maleficent

Maleficent is a retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale from the point of view of the villain. It’s similar to Wicked, in the way that it takes a bright, essentially good, young girl, and shows the audience how outside influences led her down the path of the dark side.

It’s everything you’d expected from a Disney film that has Angelina Jolie at the helm, and the ever delightful Elle Fanning in the supporting role of Aurora (sleeping beauty to the uninitiated). So what are the critics saying?

Angelina Jolie’s Greatest Performance?

It’s a bit of a mixed reaction. Ann Hornaday at the Washington Post called it “a relatively subdued, even dour affair,” however Betsey Sharkey at the Los Angeles Times hailed it as “visually striking” and reviews have fallen at every degree between these two extremes across the board.

However there is universal praise for Jolie as the enchantingly nasty, yet vulnerable Maleficent. Geoffrey Macnab at The Independent labelled her performance “diva like,” Sheri Linden at the Hollywood reporter says of her turn in  the role  that “she infuses it, wielding a magnetic and effortless power as the magnificently malevolent fairy,” and Hornaday says that the film is “improbably entertaining watch, due solely to its title character.

Stealth Media Group: If You Like Angelina Jolie, This Film is For You

So at Stealth Media Group, we think it’s a pretty clear consensus: Maleficent may be a bit of a mixed bag, but Jolie has been universally praised as its saving grace. If you’re a fan of the perennial actress, this is one film you have to see!