It may not be Force Friday, but the Friday before Labor Day Weekend is still a pretty darn good day. Especially with the new deets on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that we have in today’s Movie Morsels. Plus, the latest on Pitch Perfect 3, the Uncharted film, and much more!
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
As usual, some of the best intel on an upcoming Star Wars movie comes not from press releases, but the film’s tie-in literature. In this case, we’ve got some info on Rogue One, specifically about the Death Star and its villainous Director Orson Krennic (pictured above), via author James Luceno’s Star Wars novel Catalyst.
Set to hit bookstores on November 15, Catalyst‘s publisher’s synopsis reads thusly…
“War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building more and more deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of Chancellor Palpatine’s top secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can. And an old friend of Krennic’s, the brilliant scientist Galen Erso, could be the key.
“Galen’s energy-focused research has captured the attention of both Krennic and his foes, making the scientist a crucial pawn in the galactic conflict. But after Krennic rescues Galen, his wife, Lyra, and their young daughter, Jyn, from Separatist kidnappers, the Erso family is deeply in Krennic’s debt. Krennic then offers Galen an extraordinary opportunity: to continue his scientific studies with every resource put utterly at his disposal. While Galen and Lyra believe that his energy research will be used purely in altruistic ways, Krennic has other plans that will finally make the Death Star a reality. Trapped in their benefactor’s tightening grasp, the Ersos must untangle Krennic’s web of deception to save themselves and the galaxy itself.”
As Slashfilm points out, this confirms Rogue One‘s ties to the prequel era, since the word “separatist” is specifically used. Moreover, it makes clear the relationship between Krennic and the family of Rogue One‘s rebel leader Jyn Erso. And it all but confirms that Jyn’s dad Galen unwillingly built the Death Star’s planet-pulverizing laser.
Pitch Perfect 3
Pitch Perfect 2 was a modest hit under Elizabeth Banks, but the actor-director choice to not return to helm the third film in the a capella series lefts some uncertainly as to the franchise’s future. Well, no more. Because Banks has just announced her replacement via Twitter. Turns out it’s a filmmaker with some experience in the music department: Trish Sie, the Grammy-winning director of OK Go’s music videos as well as Step Up All In, is now the woman in charge…
#PitchPerfect has a new leader – so excited @bigbadtrish is directing #PP3! pic.twitter.com/KRbTv5oBsi
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) September 1, 2016
[Twitter]
Uncharted
Despite the fact that the long-awaited Uncharted movie had just signed on a big-name screenwriter in the form of The Grey‘s Joe Carnahan, we now hear that the video game adaptation’s June 30, 2017 release date has been removed from Sony’s calendar. Presumably, this is just to give Carnahan some additional time to work on the screenplay. This will be no mean feat, given the number of times that video game fans have been left disappointed by the film versions of their favorite games before.
Mascots
Has Christopher Guest ever made a bad comedy? Between Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and This Is Spinal Tap (which he didn’t direct, but did co-write) I’m hard-pressed to think of one. And Guest’s latest project looks like yet another winner. Here’s the trailer for Mascots, a Netflix original movie featuring Guest’s usual gang of comic geniuses in roles that appear once more tailor-made for their unique acting abilities…
[Netflix]
ARQ
Finally, speaking of Netflix, the streaming network has yet another original movie on the horizon that serves as further proof of its commitment to offbeat fare. ARQ stars Robbie Amell in a film that merges the dystopian science-fiction genre with the home invasion thriller. Check out the trailer…
[Netflix]
What do you think of today’s top stories? Let us know below!
Featured Image: Lucasfilm/Disney
Images: Lucasfilm, Disney, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Naughty Dog
